Chapter 288: Chapter 281: A Display of Authority (Extra)
Baofeng Bank also operates in the Twelve State Commerce, and Manager Wang, being the chief shopkeeper of the main trading house, naturally took over the position of shopkeeper. He had arrived at Jinzhou ten days prior to Fengyu and had already grasped the operational details of the Twelve State Commerce, compiling a report for Fengyu. Manager Wang’s younger brother, Little Wang, originally ran a gambling house, but since the Twelve States prohibits casinos and Xue Yu strictly enforces anti-gambling laws, the townsfolk dare not act recklessly. Therefore, Little Wang was tasked to gather information on the salt merchants and iron mines in the Twelve States for Fengyu.
Fengyu arrived in Jinzhou at a quarter past noon. Manager Wang had already purchased a residence for her, a quiet retreat in the affluent eastern district of Jinzhou, nestled amidst a bustling area yet secluded and peaceful. He also employed eight servants who kept the house immaculately clean. Qiuxiang and Chunlu inspected the layout, the kitchen supplies, and the grains, with Chunlu taking charge of the household administration.
Nuanyang liaised with Manager Wang to coordinate the transport of six million taels of silver out of the city. Such a vast amount of silver, requiring more than a hundred horse-drawn carts for transportation, inevitably attracted attention. Were news of this shipment to spread, the notorious bandits of the Twelve States would surely swoop down, making a sizeable cavalry escort imperative.
Fengyu allocated an additional one million taels primarily to give Xie Jue some leeway in his tasks. She had drafted preliminary plans and estimated that, even with stringent cost-saving measures, at least five million would be needed. If the Second Young Master exceeded the budget, the extra one million could fill the gaps, preventing a cash crunch. Besides silver, there were also food supplies, though gold was not commonly circulated in Ningzhou, so she did not plan to transport any gold there. Fengyu instructed Manager Wang to source as much additional grain locally in Jinzhou as possible for shipment, given that the autumn harvest was nearing and there would likely be surplus grain available.
Qiuxiang oversaw the preparation of a comforting meal for Fengyu in the small kitchen—bird’s nest porridge, tender roast beef, steamed fish, and a pot of clear chicken soup, made from a skinned old hen.
"Miss has been eating dry rations on the road; you’ve grown visibly thinner," Qiuxiang remarked. "You must replenish your strength properly."
It had been years since Fengyu endured such rough conditions, and she admitted to herself that she was indeed craving a hearty meal, consuming nearly a whole bowl of meat. After lunch, she went to inspect the trading houses. The silver and grain were already being loaded onto carts—180 carts for silver and 300 for grain. Typically, grain transport involved human or horse power, so Fengyu planned to discuss with Xie Xun the possibility of switching to warhorses for grain transport, as warhorses offered both greater endurance and load capacity.
"I must earn more money!"
This shipment of six million taels of silver would leave Baofeng Bank with limited reserves. Every so often, they would need to find ways to transport funds from the Capital City.
As Fengyu toured the trading houses, the shops under the Twelve State Commerce calmly welcomed the presence of their owner. Many of the accounts were obviously fudged—meant to deceive her youth and presumed inexperience. Yet Fengyu saw through everything but chose not to confront anyone immediately.
A master of disguise, Fengyu, though newly of age, had a delicate, fair face; a soft and supple figure; and an appearance so fragile and endearing that others could not help but feel affection for her. She resembled a flower trembling in the wind. Many of the shopkeepers deemed the Third Miss better suited for a life of luxury, being pampered and cared for rather than engaging in trade. To them, she hardly seemed like a businessperson, and they believed she was unfamiliar with the trade’s intricacies. The shopkeepers of the Twelve States were optimistic, confident she wouldn’t remain in the Twelve States for long and would likely return to Ningzhou with Prince Qin after a short stay. They figured they only needed to muddle through for a while.
The Prefectural Magistrate’s Mansion sent over an invitation: Xue Yu was hosting a banquet, inviting the merchants of the Twelve States upon learning that the Su Family Trading House’s Fengyu had arrived in Jinzhou, and the invitation was intentionally delivered to her.
Fengyu smiled faintly and said, "Please inform Mr. Xue that Fengyu will attend on time."
"Yes!"
During Fengyu’s inspection of the trading houses, Qiuxiang and Chunlu purchased many outfits and accessories according to her tastes. The journey had been rushed, leaving Qiuxiang and Chunlu only enough time to pack the account books, tokens, and documents from the Twelve States. It was Chunlu, being more level-headed, who had the presence of mind to pack a jewelry box for Fengyu before their departure.
From the Capital City, to Salt City, then to Ningzhou, Fengyu had accompanied Xie Xun in mourning, refraining from wearing brightly colored attire or eye-catching jewelry.
For tonight’s banquet, as a sign of respect, Fengyu donned a light blue Hundred Flowers dress. She styled her hair in the latest fashion favored by young women and adorned it with pearl flowers and a jade magnolia hairpin. A hair ornament swayed from her cloud-like bun, adding an air of elegance and nobility.
When she appeared at the banquet hosted by Prefect Xue, she stunned the crowd. The delicate and gracefully curvaceous young lady stood under the courtyard’s silk lanterns, her skirt swaying gently, exuding unparalleled poise and charm.
"As expected of a noblewoman from the Capital, her beauty is unmatched, capable of toppling cities and kingdoms alike."
"That bearing, that visage—even the celebrated courtesan Yan Hong of Jiangnan’s Xiuchun House would feel inferior in comparison."
"To think that Su Ming entrusted the Twelve States to his frail and delicate granddaughter—what could she possibly achieve?" one male shopkeeper sneered. "Raise your voice a little, and she’ll probably burst into tears!"
The gathered shopkeepers roared with laughter. While they marveled at Fengyu’s beauty, they dismissed her as weak and inexperienced, perpetuating the stereotype that young women newly of age were fragile and easily manipulated.
Fengyu greeted Prefect Xue with a bow, though Prefect Xue only dared to accept a half-bow before hastily urging her to rise. "Third Miss, tonight’s gathering is an assembly of Jinzhou’s business leaders to discuss local commerce. Here, there are no officials or commoners—only citizens united for Jinzhou’s development. There’s no need for formalities; please be seated."
Xie Xun, whether remaining loyal to Yanyang as the Young Marquis of Marquis Zhenbei Mansion or severing ties to lead the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry as Prince Qin, commanded immense influence. Prefect Xue dared not fully accept Fengyu’s bow.
"As someone new to Jinzhou, I’ll rely on the state’s administration for guidance," Fengyu said, waving a hand. "This is partridge tea from Ningzhou—a small token of respect."
Prefect Xue, his palms sweating nervously, maintained his composure as he accepted the gift handed to him by Chunlu. "Thank you, Third Miss."
With a smile, Fengyu took her seat, the prime spot at the banquet, accompanied by Qiuxiang and Chunlu. Two seats remained empty: one in the center and another at the head of the table. Without glancing aside, Fengyu seated herself at the head spot.
"Third Miss, this is Manager Cheng’s seat. Yours is here," a nearby shopkeeper said politely, gesturing to the center seat.
Fengyu arched a brow. "Was this banquet invitation extended solely to the shopkeepers of Jinzhou trading houses?"
"Yes, everyone present is either a shopkeeper or a family member."
Smiling faintly, Fengyu replied, "I am the head of the Su Family Trading House in the Twelve States. The Su Family Trading House in Jinzhou falls under my purview. For such banquets, I’m uncertain how seats are arranged elsewhere—whether in the Capital or Jiangnan. But the precedents are either ranked by family status, adhering to the principle of hierarchy, or by commerce tax contributions. On the matter of family status, I am Su Ming’s granddaughter. On the matter of commerce tax, whose contributions in Jinzhou surpass those of the Su Family? If my seat here is inappropriate, then surely the seating arrangements must have been mistaken."