"Miss Caiwei, how many water jade beads does your Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce have in total?"
A wealthy gentleman's butler asked.
"I'm afraid only Mr. Jin knows how many jade beads the Chamber of Commerce has in total, but in Baling County, there is only one this time!"
Yuan Caiwei said: "So don't miss the opportunity. Once you miss it, no matter how much money you have in the future, you may not be able to see the water jade beads."
Tang Xiaobei must have brought more than one water jade bead, but things are rare and valuable. The fewer water jade beads there are, the higher the value.
If you take out a basket at once, it will be worthless. On the contrary, you will get more things in exchange for just one piece.
"Miss Caiwei, where did your water jade come from?" Another housekeeper asked.
"Do you think I, a shopkeeper, would know this?"
Yuan Caiwei asked with a smile, and then said: "But our Mr. Jin said that the water jade beads of the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce are the best in the world. Whether they are given as gifts or passed down to family members, they are always good products!"
Dakang’s official-oriented thinking was very serious.
In the minds of many well-off people, no matter how rich a businessman is, his status is still low.
Scholars look down on businessmen and craftsmen.
Jin Feng was the only one in Dakang who founded a chamber of commerce himself and spent all day in the blacksmith shop.
In the eyes of other scholars, being an official is the most promising career.
When you become an official, you will not only not be short of money, but you will also be able to nurture your children and grandchildren.
Almost all the wealthy families in Dakang have ancestors who have served as officials.
Therefore, the enthusiasm of the wealthy families for Shui Yuzhu completely exceeded Tang Xiaobei and Yuan Caiwei's expectations.
Throughout the day, there was an endless stream of wealthy people coming to Yuan Caiwei for quotations.
After a day of competition, the jade bead was finally bought by a wealthy family named Feng for the price of eighteen shipments of grain.
One glass bead can be exchanged for eighteen shipments of grain. If Jin Feng knew this, he would probably be very happy.
When Tang Xiaobei thought that Jin Feng was happy, the corners of his mouth turned up.
"Madam, people from the Feng family are here. They say they are in urgent need of water jade beads. Come and discuss whether you can give them the water jade beads first?"
Yuan Caiwei went to Tang Xiaobei and asked for instructions: "They are willing to use the house deed as a mortgage."
According to the agreement, the Jinchuan Chamber of Commerce will give them water jade beads only after the Feng family prepares food.
"It seems that the Feng family can't sit still any longer." Tang Xiaobei sneered.
She has read the Feng family's information.
More than eighty years ago, a Zhongshu Ling appeared in the Feng family and rose rapidly.
Relying on the power of this ancestor, it took only a few decades to annex tens of thousands of acres of local land.
Later, Zhongshu Ling died, and his former disciples remembered Zhongshu Ling's support and helped the Feng family to some extent.
However, as time passed, Zhongshu Ling's former disciples gradually died of old age, and their descendants gradually cut off contact with the Feng family.
The Feng family has never produced a top-notch scholar in these years, not to mention another Zhongshu Ling, not even a county magistrate.
Without officials as backers, they would not be able to maintain their huge family fortune.
Over the years, countless people have been thinking about the Feng family.
The Feng family is also aware of the crisis. They have been sending people to the capital for these years, trying to spend money to buy the family leader a reputation.
However, those high-ranking officials in the capital were paid based on people. The head of the Feng family had been busy in the capital for more than half a year, but there had been no progress.
Recently, there was an opportunity. The Ministry of Personnel had a few vacant positions. However, the official in charge of this matter prided himself on being an elegant person and did not like such frivolous things as silver. He only liked all kinds of treasures.
When the head of the Feng family learned that this official had participated in the auction and failed to find the water jade beads he wanted, he sent a message back and asked the family to search for it in Jiangnan.
Only two days after the letter was delivered, news about Shui Yuzhu came out from Yuan Caiwei.
The Feng family is not short of food or money, but they are short of an opportunity.
Now that the opportunity has come, I will naturally not let it go.
Therefore, they bid the highest and are the most urgent.
"Madam, this is the list of property deeds they sent."
Yuan Caiwei took out a piece of paper and unfolded it: "The Feng family said that as long as we give the water jade beads to the Feng family, they will immediately send the house deed as a mortgage."
There are several properties listed on the paper, as well as two shops in good locations.
"Are you worried now? It's too late!"
Tang Xiaobei glanced at the list, but did not answer it: "Tell the Feng family that I only want food and am not interested in their house. When will the food be delivered to the ship and when will the water and jade beads be given to him?"
There was also a grain merchant behind the Feng family, and when Tang Xiaobei negotiated with him before, he often made shady remarks.
"Yes!" Yuan Caiwei bowed and exited.
The Feng family was very angry after receiving Yuan Caiwei's reply, but they had no choice but to raise food as soon as possible.
Fortunately, the Feng family was already in the grain business, so it only took two days to scrape together enough grain and send it to the ship.
Tang Xiaobei sent someone to count the amount and randomly checked to confirm that there was no problem with the food before giving the water jade beads to the Feng family.
The Feng family immediately sent someone to send Shui Yuzhu to the capital.
"Caiwei, ask someone to prepare some incense and candles for worship, and come with me to the outside of the city."
Tang Xiaobei looked at the fleet leaving the dock and whispered.
Having raised so much food in Baling County, Tang Xiaobei was satisfied and it was time to go to the next place.
But before leaving, Tang Xiaobei had one more thing to do.
Three miles outside the city of Baling County, there is a small valley, which is a mass grave.
When wealthy families in the city accidentally beat their slaves to death, they would send them here and bury them in a shallow pit.
"The girl from Linglong Pavilion is buried here."
A short farmer pointed to a small mound in the corner and said.
The servants also didn't like the place of mass graves. They would usually drag the killed slaves outside the city and spend a few copper coins to find nearby farmers to help bury them.
In addition to farming, this farmer specializes in this.
"Are you sure?" Yuan Caiwei asked.
"Of course it's confirmed. Two girls died in Linglong Pavilion this year. The last one was Chun Shang." The farmer said, "This girl was probably strangled to death. There are still fingerprints on her neck. Am I right?"
"Okay, let's go."
When Yuan Caiwei saw that what the farmer said was the same as the investigation, she threw him a few copper coins and sent him away.
"Leave the paper money and you can go."
Tang Xiaobei took the basket of incense and candles and waved his hand.
Yuan Caiwei left with the people from the Chamber of Commerce, but Alan stayed.
Tang Xiaobei took out the incense candle from the basket, lit it with a fire stick, and placed it on the mound.
The mound is very small, not even half a meter high. I'm afraid it will be flattened by rain in less than three years.
It is also possible that someone will dig up this place soon and bury another poor person in it.
Ever since he learned that this girl was strangled to death by Zhou Wenyuan, Tang Xiaobei felt a little uncomfortable.
Maybe it was because she had also stayed in a brothel, or maybe she used this girl to threaten Zhou Wenyuan.
Therefore, Tang Xiaobei decided to pay homage to this girl before leaving Baling County.
He didn't say anything, just squatting in front of the mound, silently waiting until the incense burned out before getting up.
"Miss Qing'er, please wait a little longer. Sooner or later, I will help you take revenge."