Chapter 117: Exorbitant Profit [seeking Monthly Votes]
She got up and placed the milk bottle on the small bench, went to meet him, and got straight to the point: “What happened?”
“Niangzi.” Lu Chengjing grabbed Shang Wan’s hand, frowning as he complained, “Someone tried to feign an accident to extort money.”
Shang Wan had taught him the term “feign an accident to extort money.”
“Feign an accident to extort money?” Shang Wan raised an eyebrow with interest, “Who?”
Lu Chengjing explained in detail the pink-clothed young girl’s strange behavior, emphasizing, “I reacted quickly; she didn’t even touch a corner of my clothes.”
His expression was full of conviction yet carried a hint of grievance.
Shang Wan: “…”
This fox was increasingly fond of putting on an act in front of her.
“Even if she touched you, it’s fine; we’ll just make new clothes.” Shang Wan amusingly pinched his ear, “Everyone has a love for beauty.”
But eyeing the beauty she had raised was another matter altogether.
The next day, Shang Wan deliberately had Lu Chengjing go to the village alone to stroll around for a sting operation.
Lu Chengjing was reluctant, but Shang Wan leaned down and kissed his face and forehead, making his face flush bright red, before he obediently went.
However, Yuzhi did not appear.
The third day, another sting operation, and Yuzhi still did not appear.
The fourth day, Shang Wan entered the city to sell medicinal herbs and saw the Lin Family’s donkey cart.
Driving the cart was Lin Jianshan, with only Yuzhi sitting on the donkey cart.
Neither of them saw Shang Wan.
Shang Wan heard Lin Jianshan say he was taking Yuzhi to buy new clothes, and Yuzhi was overjoyed.
The donkey cart turned the corner and disappeared from sight; Shang Wan withdrew her attention and stopped with her load of medicinal herbs in front of an apothecary’s doorway.
She had deliberately checked the plaque, and there was no Lu Family crest on it.
The medicinal herbs Shang Wan brought were all standard stock for the apothecary, with roughly equal quantities of each; after the shopkeeper checked them, the price he offered was fair.
Shang Wan didn’t go to a second shop and sold them right there.
Less than half a cart of medicinal herbs fetched three taels and seven mace of silver—an exorbitant profit.
“Shopkeeper, do you take fresh herbs here?”
“We do.” The apothecary shopkeeper directed the shop assistant to store the medicinal herbs in the storeroom while saying, “Fresh herbs need processing, so the price is naturally lower than processed medicinal herbs.”
Shang Wan nodded and took the opportunity to learn in detail from the shopkeeper about the market prices for herbs and medicinal herbs.
She had originally thought that if the difference wasn’t too great, she could sell fresh herbs directly, but it turned out the difference was enormous.
However, after processing for some time, the price of medicinal herbs was more than two to five times that of fresh herbs.
The shopkeeper chuckled, “If you have more medicinal herbs in the future, bring them here to sell. My prices may not be the highest, but they’re definitely fair.”
Shang Wan asked curiously, “Shopkeeper, your shop isn’t that big; what do you need so many medicinal herbs for?”
“This isn’t exactly new information.” The shopkeeper said, “The border pass is about to go to war; the Imperial Court has ordered the procurement of medicinal herbs. We’re not too far away, so medicinal herbs have naturally become hot commodities.”
He handed Shang Wan a list, “These are all urgently needed medicinal herbs. If you have any at home, bring them to sell for a good price.”
Shang Wan glanced at it—great, she only recognized two characters.
It seemed she needed to learn to read characters soon.
She thanked the shopkeeper, then drove the ox cart around the city, buying some things the family lacked.
Passing a small restaurant, Shang Wan spotted the Lin Family’s donkey cart.
She leaned over to look inside; through the window, she saw Yuzhi had already changed into a new outfit, still pink.
It seemed this young lady particularly favored pink.
Shang Wan sighed and listened for a while but heard no useful information, then drove the ox cart away.
For ten copper coins, she learned from an information broker about the Lu Family’s recent movements.
Lu Chengyuan was seriously injured and recovering from injury at home; he had not yet gone to the Capital City.
Madam Lu went to Qingchi Temple every few days.
Because of the grain procurement matter, the Lu Family had offended the gentry badly; many businesses in the city were affected, and Master Lu was busy to the point of exhaustion every day.
They had sent several rounds of compensation gifts, but those gentry were still furious and showed no sign of relenting.
In the end, no one knew what method Lu Chengyuan came up with, but he sent a letter to each gentry mansion, and the next day, they all quieted down.
Shang Wan asked curiously, “What letter?”
The information broker glanced around and whispered mysteriously, “It’s said to be related to a big shot in the Capital City, but I don’t know exactly what was written in the letter.”
A big shot?
Could it be that uncle who was an official in the Ministry of Personnel?
Shang Wan pondered to herself and waved for the information broker to leave.
Before leaving, the information broker advertised that he had the most complete information and asked Shang Wan to come to him again next time.
Driving the ox cart home, just arriving at the village entrance, Shang Wan saw Liu Shi supporting a familiar-faced old woman looking around at the village entrance.
Seeing Shang Wan approach, the two blocked the village entrance, as if they didn’t see the ox cart.
Shang Wan glanced at the two, raised her hand and patted the yellow ox’s back, “Go.”
The yellow ox kicked its hooves and directly dragged the cart toward the two.
The two never expected Shang Wan to make the ox crash into them and hurriedly dodged in panic.
Wei Shi angrily cursed, “Little whore! Do you want to kill this old woman?”
“Aren’t you still breathing?” Shang Wan gave her a sidelong glance, her gaze carrying a hidden menace as it fell on her, “For the sake of your old age and frailty, I’ll let that curse slide. If you curse again, consider if your life is tough enough.”
Actually, under normal circumstances, she was quite happy to respect the elderly and love the young.
“You little—mmph!” Wei Shi hadn’t experienced Shang Wan’s ferocity and wanted to curse more, but Liu Shi hurriedly covered her mouth. Though she hated Shang Wan deeply, she couldn’t deny that Shang Wan could really beat both of them.
Shang Wan glanced at Liu Shi a few more times, her thoughts turning, and suddenly asked, “Aunt, is this a relative of your family?”
Shang Wan suddenly speaking to her made Liu Shi feel somewhat flattered.
Before she could react, she nodded, “It’s my mother; we came together with my niece, whose given name is Yuzhi.”
“Oh, that’s a nice name for a niece.” Shang Wan sighed, then asked, “Aunt, are you waiting for someone at the village entrance?”
Liu Shi couldn’t figure out why Shang Wan was asking these things and vaguely said, “Yes, yes, waiting for someone.”
“Aunt, wait slowly; I have things to do at home, so I’ll head back first.”
Shang Wan said this and drove the ox cart away.
Watching the ox cart gradually disappear into the distance, Liu Shi frowned: had this Shang woman changed her nature?
“Why did you cover my mouth? I should’ve cursed her to death just now!” Wei Shi scolded her daughter discontentedly, “She was about to crash the ox cart into us, and you still spoke to her politely?”
Liu Shi listened to her mother’s lecture, not understanding why herself.
She smiled placatingly, “Mother, calm down; I’ll help you sit over there.”
“Sit? What sit?” Wei Shi felt nothing was going her way and vented at Liu Shi.
Liu Shi had grievances but could only listen and placate.
Meanwhile, Shang Wan ran into Liang Liang heading home midway.
After several invitations from Li Xiaoshan, the child had already befriended the village kids and often played all over the village.
With Li Xiaoshan, the leader of the children, watching, he hadn’t been bullied.
“Liang Liang, get on the cart.” Shang Wan stopped the ox cart and called.
Liang Liang smiled shyly, grabbed the wooden shelf, and climbed up to sit beside Shang Wan.
Shang Wan asked warmly, “What did you play today?”
“Lots.” Liang Liang counted on his fingers the games he played today, his voice tinged with joy.
Shang Wan listened patiently.
Liang Liang paused, turned to look at her, pursed his lips, and whispered, “Aunt, I heard something from Er Pang.”
