Chen Er paced back and forth at the dock, making circle after circle. The sun had already risen high, and by all reason they should have returned long ago — yet there was still no sign of them. It was just the sun, something visible on every clear day — what was there to keep staring at? Chen Er could not understand what the people from the capital were thinking. But the contract had not yet been signed, so he dared not be careless in the slightest. Even if they intended to watch for an entire day, he would still have to wait here.

“They’re back, they’re back! Manager Chen, look!”

Chen Er immediately looked out toward the sea — sure enough, it was their fishing company’s boat. He quickly instructed the haulers to come forward and prepare to receive them.

It was not long before the boat docked at shore. Hua Zhi was unsurprised to see Chen Er there. “We have kept Manager Chen waiting for quite some time.”

“No waiting at all, no waiting. Please mind your step.”

When no one was making things difficult for her, Hua Zhi was always willing to keep things pleasant all around. As she stepped off the boat, she said, “No need to return to the inn. Let us go directly to the fishing company.”

“Yes, please, right this way.” Chen Er smiled from ear to ear as he led the group to the carriages. Before coming, he had even asked his own wife to give the carriage a thorough going-over, and had placed a fragrant new cushion inside.

Shao Yao picked it up and gave it a sniff, then set it back down. The contents of the cushion were not bad — refreshing to the mind and invigorating to the senses.

Even the finest carriage still jostles, but fortunately the road through Shuiguang Village had been well-maintained by several of the fishing companies, and the journey was not far at all — so it could be endured.

“Huahua, are you really going to take those siblings with you? I don’t like the older sister. The younger brother, though, has real potential. How about you give the brother to me instead? Master said I can start taking in disciples’ disciples now.”

Hua Zhi had already made up her mind on this matter, but hearing Shao Yao say so, she asked, “Does he have a gift for medicine?”

“He can’t even get out of bed — how would I know if he has any gift for it?” Shao Yao pouted. “But we’re both in bad shape, so we’d be good company for each other.”

So that the two of you could go off and wreak havoc on the world? Hua Zhi felt at once troubled and a little amused. Cao Cao had been raised by the former Wang Fei since childhood, and even after losing her memories, her foundational character remained — all the more so with Yan Xi standing guard at her side. As for that boy, he was extraordinarily eloquent — truly let him learn Cao Cao’s full set of abilities, and no one could guarantee he would not go astray.

It was easy to become a good person, but becoming a bad one was all too effortless.

She pressed two fingers to Shao Yao’s forehead. Hua Zhi was not about to agree.

Shao Yao cuddled up to her ingratiatingly. “His resilience is excellent — he would certainly put in the hard work to learn. He’ll master it well as long as he’s diligent.”

“He won’t do. When you meet someone suitable in the future, I’ll keep an eye out for you.”

“All right.” Shao Yao did not press the matter. After all, if Huahua said she would set someone aside for her, she certainly would. She was not dead set on having a disciple — though having one would be nice. There would then be tasks she didn’t want to do that she could hand off to a disciple. That was exactly what Master did. He clearly could not stand cutting medicinal herbs at all — even the ones he needed himself he cut with no more than the barest reluctant effort — yet the moment Master returned, every last one of his herbs had to be cut by her! Just thinking about that miserable chore made Shao Yao firmly resolve that she absolutely had to take on a disciple. After all, disciples exist so that their masters need not do the tiresome things — Master had taught her that himself.

The carriage came to a stop. The moment Hua Zhi stepped out, she saw Wu Zheng waiting beside the carriage. She smiled faintly and, as she descended, remarked, “Manager Wu looks positively radiant — the look of a man with good news.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Miss. Please, come inside.” Wu Zheng’s smile was open and easy, carrying a certain air of high spirits and confidence.

Gesturing for the others to remain outside the reception hall, Hua Zhi brought only Xiao Liu and Cao Cao inside with her. Once host and guest had taken their seats, Wu Zheng was just about to express his gratitude when Hua Zhi went straight to the point. “I imagine Manager Wu has already settled on his thinking. I wonder how you feel about the price?”

Wu Zheng was momentarily taken aback, and privately marveled at how forthright this young lady was. He fell right in step with her. “Wu Mou accepts that price.”

Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow. “Manager Wu, please do not think I am leveraging a favor for gain — it would never have reached that point. Had that Cao Dahai not come to provoke me, I would not have done anything to him. We are speaking as merchants. If Manager Wu agrees readily today and then feels he has come out short when delivering the goods — and tries to pass off inferior product — I will not let the matter rest.”

“Wu Mou is wholehearted in his desire to conduct this business with you, Miss. The profit to be gained is one reason, but more than that, your manner of doing things genuinely puts Wu Mou at ease.” Wu Zheng’s expression grew particularly earnest. “Given how you conduct yourself, I need never worry at any point in the future that you would act against my interests in our dealings. To have a patron such as yourself, what does it matter if I earn a little less?”

Wu Zheng laughed again. “Besides, the price offered is perfectly calibrated — it gives me room to profit without being unreasonable. You are truly capable, Miss.”

Hua Zhi glanced at Xiao Liu. The Sixth Prince’s eyes held a smile, though his expression carried a trace of bashfulness. It was truly wonderful that Sister Hua had not been shortchanged.

“In that case, I have a small request. With each shipment, I would ask Manager Wu to arrange for some seawater to be included for use in changing out along the way. The shellfish I am not concerned about — the issue lies with the sea fish. My hope is that the majority of these seafood items will still be alive upon reaching the capital.”

Seeing Wu Zheng’s face take on the look of someone wanting to say something but hesitating, Hua Zhi knew exactly what was on his mind, and smiled. “Of course, I cannot have Manager Wu bear the losses for that. The goods will still be settled by weight. Manager Wu need only transport some seawater to the Donglaichuan Shipping Company at the same time the goods are delivered — I have already made arrangements on that end.”

Wu Zheng’s expression eased, and he agreed at once. That was not much trouble at all — though, “I should let you know, Miss, that even with seawater, some of the fish may not survive all the way to the capital. I am afraid the goods may not meet your requirements upon arrival.”

“If even half arrive alive, I will be satisfied. For those that do not survive, I will find another way to manage them. I will send someone to Zhenyang at that time — once he has inspected the goods and found no issue, whatever happens afterward will not be attributed to Manager Wu’s account. That I can promise you.”

“Ha ha ha! Doing business with you is simply a pleasure, Miss. Then shall we sign the contract?”

“As for a witness — might I ask who Manager Wu intends to invite?”

With matters having come this far, the deal was already eighty percent done. In high spirits, Wu Zheng signaled Chen Er to go fetch the person, and explained to Hua Zhi, “We have invited Elder Lin, a man of exceptional standing in our community. His elderly eyes can still read, and he carries weight even at the Zhenyang County Office. This transaction benefits many people, and the old man is quite willing to serve as witness.”

He was likely one of the local elders of the community. Making a mental note to have Xu Ying look into it later, Hua Zhi chose not to inquire further.

Elder Lin arrived swiftly, aided by Chen Er. He was a thin and spare old man with a sparse beard, dressed with exceptional neatness and dignity, his back held perfectly straight — the finest person Hua Zhi had encountered since arriving in Zhenyang.

She rose and greeted him with a bow. “I have troubled you, Elder.”

The elder quickly reached out a steadying hand. “I dare not accept such a bow from you, Miss. It is our Shuiguang Village that has benefited.”

Hua Zhi did not engage with the veiled meaning of that remark, and with a composed gesture invited everyone to be seated once more.

Chen Er brought in brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and stood nearby attentively grinding the ink.

The elder wrote each character with great care and precision. Wu Zheng looked it over, then passed it to Hua Zhi.

Glancing through it, Hua Zhi said, “I would ask the elder to add one further line at the end: should Antai Fishing Company deliver inferior goods in place of what was agreed, Xianxiang Zhai reserves the right to confiscate both the goods and the vessel.”

Elder Lin glanced at Wu Zheng. Wu Zheng knew this was the only condition the young lady required, and nodded his agreement without hesitation.

Once this clause was added, three copies were written in full. All three parties pressed their handprints to the documents. The contract was sealed.