Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Caught a Flaw
Pei Ji’an had always instructed the Four Protectors to follow Qu Fulan. If she called out now, the Four Protectors would come out, but it’s not appropriate to call them just because someone chatted with her, as it would be embarrassing if word got out.
"If it were something else, it might be different, but this involves the Heir, and it cannot be taken lightly, nor can it be handed over to others. I hope Second Young Master Jin will understand."
Jin Pan merely glanced at the other’s beige attire, hair tied high, with a clean and delicate appearance, like a typical pretty boy, making him even more eager to look at her.
However, since the other had said so, how could he have the nerve to obstruct further?
"Then how about we set a location?"
Still unwilling to give up.
Qu Fulan remarked with some sarcasm, "Is Second Young Master Jin so free? Don’t you have anything else to do?"
Jin Pan, however, did not detect the sarcasm and instead boasted more proudly, "I haven’t taken over the affairs of the mansion yet, so naturally, I’m free. Even if in the future I do take over the matters here, there will be stewards to handle things. Otherwise, why keep them around?"
These words carried much implication, so Qu Fulan probed, "I suppose Second Young Master Jin is more capable than Mr. Jin; otherwise, how would the house let you manage it, and not him?"
Jin Pan became even more boastful, "Of course, I am naturally a hundred times more formidable than him."
At this moment, a steward came to call for him. He impatiently responded, then left a message saying he would visit Qu Fulan in the evening before leaving.
Qu Fulan only turned back to look once he walked away.
Nothing but a toad, likely even a treacherous wolf.
Upon meeting Heir Pei, she noticed that his room was filled with people — Prince An, Wei Xu, and others were present.
The words she wanted to say on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back.
"Speak your mind, no need to hold back," Pei Ji’an said.
Qu Fulan hesitated briefly. Did she have words written on her face? She hadn’t said anything, so how could he see what she wanted to say?
Now was not the time to dwell on this. Qu Fulan wanted to stroll around; after all, Ganhe Town was a good place. She had noticed it when she disembarked; it was a great place for business.
She initially planned to tell him that she wanted to take the Four Protectors out for a stroll, but ran into Jin Pan midway, turning one issue into two.
Matters needed prioritizing, so the important thing had to be addressed first. Qu Fulan didn’t hesitate anymore and directly said, "Mr. Jin’s study caught fire. I’m afraid it wasn’t an accident. Send someone to investigate now; maybe some clues can still be found."
Prince An, Wei Xu, and Chu Jin were all stunned, immediately turning their gazes towards her.
Pei Ji’an stood up and walked towards her, his voice sounding calm, "Take your time explaining. No rush."
Qu Fulan then shared her speculations.
Mr. Jin is still around, yet Second Young Master Jin is already certain that he will inherit the Jin Mansion in the future.
There is only one reason: Second Young Master Jin knows that Mr. Jin is bound to be short-lived. Once Mr. Jin dies, he will be the only male heir in the entire Jin Family, so naturally, it would be his.
But Mr. Jin only has a leg injury and is otherwise healthy. The only reason he could be short-lived is...
The fire last night was deliberate.
One failed attempt, there would be another.
So Second Young Master Jin dares to be so certain.
He doesn’t believe Mr. Jin can avoid calculated schemes time and again.
After hearing Qu Fulan’s analysis, Prince An, Mr. Wei, and Mr. Chu were dumbstruck.
"You figured out so much just from two sentences he said?"
"Inconceivable epistemic prowess."
"If it were me hearing the other say that, at most, I’d think this person was somewhat arrogant and overconfident."
"Me too, hahaha."
Qu Fulan said, "It’s no trouble investigating, better safe than sorry. If it isn’t, all the better, but what if it is?"
In truth, she had already made up her mind.
Because that’s just human nature.
Whether or not to investigate, it was up to Heir Pei.
After Qu Fulan expressed her desire to go out, she received consent from Heir Pei and left.
Ganhe Town was a port town facing many overseas sources.
A trading hub indeed, with imports from other countries and local specialties.
Many businesses in Capital City sourced their goods from here.
Fabric, tea, all were procured from here.
As a businessperson, Qu Fulan was quite envious upon seeing these.
Although many things weren’t useful to her yet, understanding various sources early on would be convenient for her own business endeavors later.
This little stroll indeed led to some worthwhile discoveries.
"How much for this?" Qu Fulan stepped forward to ask.
"Young Master, why not look at something else? I was coaxed into stocking this. They said it was delicious in foreign lands, but I haven’t been able to sell it here. If it weren’t so costly, I would have given it away by now. I have no plans of selling such goods in the future."
Qu Fulan: "..."
These were coffee beans.
Given they hadn’t become popular yet, it’s no wonder they were hard to sell.
Back when the Prince An’s family received many tributes, she and Heir Pei went over, and they even allowed her to choose freely from the lot.
Being a first-time guest, how could she request such things?
It was due to that incident that the idea of selling coffee brewed in her mind, though she hadn’t ample time to plan it out since she was working on setting up a milk tea shop.
This was why she ultimately positioned milk tea as a mid-range product, because she envisioned opening a coffee shop later on to target high-end consumers.
The only uncertain aspect was the source since it was a tribute and not regularly available, which is why she had shelved the plan.
Now though, she had stumbled upon a source location.
Qu Fulan busied herself asking several questions, finally learning the root cause of coffee beans being hard to sell.
Turns out overseas merchants were shrewd, merely touting its tasty attributes without teaching how to prepare it. Those buying it back for high prices ended up eating it directly?
While coffee beans can be eaten directly, the taste is worlds apart from prepared coffee.
"I’ll take all of these goods. If I want more in the future, can you provide a stable supply?" Qu Fulan asked.
"What will Young Master do with these? Eating them directly isn’t particularly pleasant, yet expensive," said a woman in her thirties, everyone calling her Sister-in-law Chen, honest yet shrewd.
In this era, it was rare for women to engage in business publicly, especially one so weathered as her. It was clear she had been doing it for some time.
"I have my own use for them. Just tell me if you can supply consistently," Qu Fulan insisted.
"I can do that, but for this item, a deposit is necessary before I can procure more," Sister-in-law Chen pointed out.
She was indeed clever, fearing that once she got the goods, Qu Fulan might refuse them.
"I’ll only take what you have on hand now. If I need more, I’ll contact you in advance. Rest assured about the deposit," Qu Fulan assured.
Qu Fulan left empty-handed, but returned "fully loaded."
Back at the Jin Mansion, she was called into Heir Pei’s room.
"There’s been a result regarding the study fire," Pei Ji’an began calmly.
After he spoke, Prince An and the others looked at her with peculiar expressions.