Chapter 38: Bargaining

You know this square table is an eyesore, too, Shen Shurong thought, remaining unmoved.

Xie Yunzhao squatted down to look at her. “She’s not a little girl; she’s sixteen.”

“So am I, what about it?”

“Because you are, she should have left even sooner.” Xie Yunzhao mumbled.

Shen Shurong smiled, stood up, and pulled him to sit by the bed. “No matter what, she’s still a girl, with thin skin. You should speak nicely to her. You’ve made the poor girl cry.”

“Understood.” I’ll make sure Rongrong doesn’t see it if I make her cry again.

Shen Shurong leaned against him, and Xie Yunzhao put his arm around her shoulder. See, I told you that girl was a nuisance.

He tried to recapture the interrupted mood, but before he could make any progress, someone knocked on the door.

They sat apart, and Suihan entered. The manager San of the treasury, in charge of fabrics and silks, had sent word that they would meet tomorrow to discuss the matter.

Shen Shurong was happy. Cotton cloth was not popular in the capital, but it was the best for keeping warm.

“I’ll go tomorrow, too. Don’t leak any information.”

“Yes, Junzhu.”

“I’ll accompany you tomorrow.”

“Your back injury?”

“It won’t affect going out.”

Shen Shurong skipped lunch and stayed at the mansion for a while.

At the lunch table, the Commandery Princess Consort watched her eat. Shen Shurong ate slowly, enduring her mother’s gaze, and picked up some food for her. “Mother, you need to eat to have the strength to beat someone up.”

The servants in the room burst into laughter, thinking that she was going to get a beating.

The next morning, Shen Shurong went out and saw a handsome man riding a horse. Thank goodness he wasn’t like Xie Yunzheng, who was both talented in literature and martial arts, or else countless butterflies would be vying for him.

Seeing her come out, Xie Yunzhao dismounted and helped her into the carriage.

Qingzhu and Qingying performed their courtesies well today, their heads almost touching the ground.

Shen Shurong was startled. “Quickly, rise.”

She then looked at Xie Yunzhao. “You’re going to sit in the carriage with me.” Her tone was commanding. What if his injury reopened while riding a horse?

Xie Yunzhao smiled and got in.

Qingzhu and Qingying led the horse, rubbing their butts as they walked. The second master’s kicks had been too painful yesterday.

The second master was right; with the Junzhu’s status, there was no need to pretend with him.

Therefore, the Junzhu was just getting rid of the annoying heir.

In the carriage, Xie Yunzhao inquired about today’s business. This was his first time participating in the treasury’s external affairs, and he didn’t want to let Rongrong down.

Shen Shurong patiently explained to him about the unusual seriousness of this matter. This cotton cloth was durable and warm, and it had been introduced in the past two years. However, because cotton was produced in the southwest, transporting it to the north, where it was most needed, was difficult.

It was only distributed as far as the capital, but the capital did not have many cold days, and the cotton cloth was only available in a single color, so sales were not high.

So far, the price of a bolt of cloth was only 500 wen, and that was the retail price. The cost should be around 250 to 300 wen.

“So, Rongrong wants to sell it to the north by boat?”

Shen Shurong nodded. “I’m here today to discuss the cost price.”

Xie Yunzhao understood. “We have a high demand, so they can give us a discount.”

Shen Shurong shook her head. “No need, the quality shouldn’t change, and we shouldn’t use our power to bully them.”

Xie Yunzhao nodded. “We can increase the price by five wen based on the 500 wen price for selling it to the north.”

Shen Shurong shook her head again. “Brother Yunzhao, the north is not as wealthy as the south. I want them to be able to afford it.” So they wouldn’t suffer from the cold in winter.

Xie Yunzhao stared at her, lost in thought for a long time. His Rongrong was so kind.

He suddenly smiled. “I’ll do whatever you say.”

They arrived at the agreed location, a teahouse.

Shen Shurong and Xie Yunzhao sat in a private room, while the manager San was responsible for meeting them in another room.

The man was invited in, and the manager San introduced him as Wang.

Shen Shurong and Xie Yunzhao sipped their tea and waited for the conclusion.

The manager San chatted for a while, then ran in to talk to Shen Shurong before going out again.

When he came back, he shook his head. “Junzhu, after learning about our request, they’re sticking to 400 wen.”

Shen Shurong chuckled. She had offered a decent price, 280 wen.

Xie Yunzhao slammed his fist on the table. “You went back and forth three times, and it’s still 400 wen? Who gave him the guts?”

Shen Shurong held him back and asked the manager San in a low voice, “Does he know your identity?”

The manager San hesitated. “Logically, he should, since we made the appointment yesterday. If he doesn’t know, he has had time to inquire.” How could anyone do business without finding out?

Shen Shurong was frustrated. Knowing that it was the treasury’s request, they were still so stubborn. This was difficult.

Meanwhile, at the opposite teahouse, in the best private room, two men were sitting.

The man in yellow robes spoke in a cold voice, “Isn’t your father quite happy about this?”

“What can he accomplish? My father is being too optimistic.”

“Do you think they’ll accept 350 wen?”

“A lady from a noble family, and a man who only knows how to play around, what kind of business can they negotiate?” The man took a sip of tea. “Besides, he has your support. 350 wen is your order.”

…

The manager San went out again, and when he returned, he spoke with difficulty. “I mentioned you, and he gave in a bit.”

Shen Shurong rubbed her temples. He only gave in a bit. In the past life, after two years, Xie Yunzheng saw the advantage of cotton cloth and negotiated a price of 280 wen. Was it because she had brought the timing forward?

“How much?” Xie Yunzhao was anxious, seeing Rongrong’s headache.

“350 wen. He said it can’t be any lower, no one can.” The price was too high; it lost the advantage over ordinary cloth shops.

“I’ll go!” Xie Yunzhao stood up. “You two protect the Junzhu.” He left Qingzhu and Qingying behind and strode out.

Shen Shurong couldn’t stop him. How could they compete with the managers in their expertise?

The manager San quickly followed him; he had to lead the way.

The manager San had just arrived and hadn’t even reached the door when Xie Yunzhao kicked it open.

Wang and the two accountants in the room were startled by the noise and stood up. “Who is it?”

Xie Yunzhao walked in leisurely, hooked a chair with his foot, pulled it over, and sat down. “Close the door!”

The manager San, who was standing outside in a daze, came to his senses and quickly went in to close the door. “Second Master…”

“You’re Wang, right?” Xie Yunzhao extended his hand to stop the manager San from introducing him. “This isn’t how business is done, is it?”

Wang had been startled by the other party’s recklessness, but now he had recovered, though he was a bit confused. “I don’t know who you are.”

“Who I am, does it matter to the price per bolt of cloth?”

Wang sat back in his chair, raised his eyes, and showed a standard smile. “It doesn’t matter; the price has been settled, and we can’t lower it any further.”

Clap, clap, clap—

Xie Yunzhao clapped his hands. “200 wen!”

Wang looked at him blankly, then burst into laughter. “Haha, what kind of joke is this, young master? If that’s the case, I guess there’s nothing to discuss.”

The accountants and clerks behind him covered their mouths and chuckled; they had never seen business done like this.

After laughing, Wang, feeling like a senior, said, “I advise this young master to follow your manager and learn properly. This business of…”

“200 wen per bolt of cloth, I want the quality to be the same as it is now, and I only take what I need, and you can sell the rest to others.” Xie Yunzhao interrupted him.

Wang looked at him as if he had heard something unbelievable. “Young master, what makes you think I’ll agree to such an unreasonable request?”

Xie Yunzhao chuckled, took out a gold badge, and placed it on the table. “Because of this.”

The three of them looked down, ‘Order of the Duke of Lu’s Mansion’?

Xie Yunzhao leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a mocking smile curving his lips. “Did you see it clearly?”

“Dare you provoke?” He raised his eyebrows, tilted his head, looking both evil and cool.