Chapter 278 – Not Very Profitable
As Yan Xiaosi watched Long Yi hand the bank notes to Shopkeeper Wan, she sighed deeply looking at those notes.
She had exhausted her mental energy to get that grain out of her portable space, and racked her brains to reach an agreement with Shopkeeper Wan, only to earn just over a thousand taels of silver.
It seemed that growing grain was not as promising as growing medicinal herbs.
Three palm-sized human-shaped heshouwu roots had easily earned her fifteen hundred taels of silver. In the future, she should focus on growing medicinal herbs.
However, having requested to use the empty land in the military camp to grow grain, she wouldn’t go back on her word.
Though the profit wasn’t much, it benefited the army and relieved the War King of his concerns about military provisions.
Next, it took another hour for the hundred-plus soldiers to load the hundred and fifty thousand jin of grain onto carts.
More than eighty horse carts were packed full with the grain.
The long convoy of supply wagons lined up on the street was quite a magnificent sight.
Fortunately, the soldiers who came to escort the grain were all disguised as traveling merchants; otherwise, they would have caused panic among the civilians.
“The grain has all been loaded, Young Master Yan. Let’s head back.”
Yan Xiaosi was waiting for Long Yi and his men to leave so she could split the proceeds with Shopkeeper Wan. How could she possibly go back now?
She stuffed several paper packages from her bosom into Long Yi’s arms.
These were the osmanthus cakes, date cakes, lotus cakes, and walnut-peanut cakes she had bought on the street earlier.
“Guard Long Yi, these are what your master asked me to buy. Please take them back to your master for me.”
Accepting the several packages of sweet pastries, Long Yi was visibly stunned.
Did his master enjoy eating these things?
“Young Master Yan, aren’t you coming back with us?”
“I still have matters to attend to. I’ll return after I’ve finished.”
Long Yi was reluctant to leave her in Daxing Town, but he needed to transport the military provisions back to the camp to prevent further incidents.
“Young Master Yan, please be careful on your own.”
“You two, stay behind to protect Young Master Yan.”
Seeing that he had assigned two soldiers to protect her, Yan Xiaosi quickly refused.
“Thank you for your kindness, Guard Long Yi, but I’m not an important person. There’s really no need to leave people behind to protect me.”
Long Yi thought to himself: You’re important to my master, how can you say you’re not important!
“Long Yi, you can confidently take the grain back. I’m here, and I’ll take good care of Brother Yan.”
Having finally managed to get out for a stroll, Murong Qinjian didn’t want any tails following them either.
Murong Qinjian was skilled in both medicine and martial arts. Although he couldn’t defeat a true master, he had few opponents in the martial world. Protecting Young Master Yan would absolutely not be a problem.
Long Yi deliberated for a moment and finally nodded.
“Then I’ll trouble Master Murong to look after her. Before nightfall, you must bring Young Master Yan back.”
Otherwise, the master would be angry.
Murong Qinjian shot Yan Xiaosi a proud glance.
“No problem. I’ll definitely bring Brother Yan back before dark. You should hurry back to report.”
After Long Yi and Long Er left with the military provisions in grand formation, Yan Xiaosi left Murong Qinjian behind.
“Doctor Murong, wait for me here for a moment. I need to go in and discuss something with Shopkeeper Wan. I’ll be out shortly.”
Murong Qinjian said, “Call me Brother Murong when we’re outside.”
Yan Xiaosi considered that the title “Military Doctor Murong” might easily reveal their identities.
“Brother Murong, please wait for me here for a moment.”
“Does Big Brother need to accompany you inside?”
“Not necessary.”
She was just going to split the earnings—what would she need Murong Qinjian for?
Shopkeeper Wan had been waiting in the store for some time. Seeing her enter, he rose to greet her.
“Brother Yan, didn’t you say I would get some benefits from selling grain to the Tongluo Plain military camp? But I only received some bank notes, and now those people have left. Where am I supposed to claim these benefits?”
Yan Xiaosi smiled reassuringly, “Shopkeeper Wan, don’t worry. Those people may have left, but I’m still here. The benefits I promised you will absolutely not be reduced.”
Only then did Shopkeeper Wan’s expression improve.
“Brother Yan, I trusted you so much. Don’t deceive me.”
“How could I possibly deceive Shopkeeper Wan? You’ve done a great service to the tens of thousands of troops at Tongluo Plain this time. When I return to the military camp, I’ll request a signboard personally written by the general for your Wan Family Grain Merchants.”
Shopkeeper Wan was overjoyed.
If he could obtain a signboard personally written by a great general and hang it at the entrance of the Wan Family Grain Merchants, he would never worry about business again.
“Brother Yan, you promised this, and you can’t go back on your word.”
“I won’t go back on my word.”
Yan Xiaosi grinned and extended a hand toward Shopkeeper Wan.
“Shopkeeper Wan, where are my bank notes?”
Shopkeeper Wan was honest and promptly placed a stack of bank notes in her hand.
“Brother Yan, here’s twelve hundred and twenty taels. Count it yourself.”
Yan Xiaosi counted eleven hundred taels and returned the remaining hundred and twenty taels to him.
“Brother Yan, what are you doing?”
“I said I would give Shopkeeper Wan some benefits. Please accept these hundred and twenty taels.”
Only then did Shopkeeper Wan smilingly accept.
“Thank you, Brother Yan. If there’s such good business in the future, please come find me again.”
“Certainly. If there’s such an opportunity again, I’ll definitely come to Shopkeeper Wan first.”
Murong Qinjian waited for quite some time before finally seeing her emerge from the Wan Family Grain Merchants with a satisfied smile.
“Didn’t you say you’d only be a moment? Big Brother has been waiting for over a quarter of an hour.”
Yan Xiaosi, seeing his impatient expression after the long wait, apologetically said, “Sorry to keep Brother Murong waiting. Let’s go buy seeds first, then visit the blacksmith shop, and afterward I’ll treat Brother Murong to a meal at Yu Family Private Kitchen.”
“What are you buying seeds for? Are you going to the blacksmith to forge a sword?”
The annoyance on Murong Qinjian’s face instantly disappeared at her words.
The two led their horses down the street, searching for shops selling seeds.
“I’m buying seeds to plant, of course. I’ve discussed with the War King about cultivating the empty land in the Tongluo Plain military camp to grow food crops and vegetables. I’m going to the blacksmith shop to order a batch of farming tools.”
Hearing this, Murong Qinjian realized he didn’t know Long Yu at all.
Perhaps the War King he knew before was an impostor.
“And Long Yu agreed to this?”
“It’s a military restricted area. Naturally, I obtained the War King’s permission before daring to do this.”
Murong Qinjian turned his face, examining Yan Xiaosi with scrutiny.
“Brother Yan, honestly, did you give Long Yu some kind of love potion?”
“No love potion, but the War King did eat my pan-fried small potatoes.”
“So pan-fried small potatoes conquered Long Yu?”
“Who knows?”
Yan Xiaosi spotted a small shop selling seeds in the distance. Not wanting to chat idly with Murong Qinjian anymore, she led the chestnut horse toward that seed shop, tethering it to the hitching post at the entrance.
Murong Qinjian followed her inside.
Since it wasn’t market day, there wasn’t much business in the small shop. The shopkeeper was dozing off, leaning on the counter.
