Chapter 35: I Refuse to Bear This Grudge

Chapter 35: I Refuse to Bear This Grudge

In the 1970s, Shen Qing couldn't rely on her parents or family background; she could only depend on her own efforts.

Fortunately, it was an era abound with opportunities. Shen Qing was convinced that she would reclaim the life that had been stolen from her, through her own diligence and striving, becoming a self-made wealthy individual.

Sitting beside Shen Qing, Sister Jie noticed the young woman's enthusiastic spirit, her eyes filled with anticipation and longing for a prosperous future. This excitement was contagious.

"Sister Jie commented, "I just have this feeling that we're going to strike it rich this time."

Milo, sitting nearby, felt like commenting that "money doesn't come easily." However, seeing everyone's enthusiasm, he didn't have the heart to dampen their spirits.

At midnight, we finally arrived at our destination – the city of Loei.

This is northeastern Thailand, renowned for its rice paddies.

This time, Shen Qing's primary objective in coming to Thailand was rice, so she had delved into the study of Thai rice and the Mi family. Coupled with her experience from her previous life, she had a decent understanding of the country.

Under Milo and his wife's arrangements, Shen Qing and the others had their meals, freshened up, and went to sleep. The next morning, after breakfast, they were taken by Milo to the Rice Market.

"Milo explained to Shen Qing, surrounded by rice traders and sellers, "This year, the rice market is highly sought after, so I think it might be challenging to negotiate lower prices."

Milo had always believed that Shen Qing was being overly optimistic, but since she was willing to pay, he begrudgingly brought the young lady along to see the reality of the market firsthand.

Once she realizes how difficult it is to procure rice and how unrealistic her ideas are, she'll likely retreat, allowing Milo to continue doing rice business with Shen Qing.

Businessmen were generally shrewd, and Milo was no exception.

Shen Qing, guided by Milo, inquired at several establishments. Not only did they refuse to lower prices, but they waved away the discussion about rice, mentioning that due to an early typhoon in Hong Kong, both Song Jinji and Xin Mei had increased their orders.

Shen Qing was familiar with Song Jinji, which belonged to He Wenzhi's family and dealt primarily in rice trade.

Xin Mei, on the other hand, was a company established in Hong Kong in 1955, specializing in agricultural trade. It had only recently started expanding its business to Thailand.

As Shen Qing was processing this information, the Thai trader began speaking rapidly again. Looking at Milo, he promptly translated the Thai into Mandarin, "He says that apart from the rice purchased by Song Jinji and Xin Mei from the northeastern region, a significant portion is still held by a local dealer named Detchai."

"Detchai?"

Shen Qing froze. This late-stage Detchai was one of Thailand's largest businessmen and also Gu Shaoqian's archrival.

After Gu Shaoqian married Su Qilan, Detchai became ruthless in the original plot, the only one who nearly eliminated Su Qilan.

"Milo, the Thai guy said their stock is scarce, and they don't sell in small quantities."

Milo's words pulled Shen Qing back from her thoughts about the original storyline. She looked at the waving Thai man and said to Milo, "Didn't you tell him I want to buy hundreds of tons?"

What? You want to buy hundreds of tons?

The Thai merchants in the market sized up Shen Qing and then glanced at Milo, who had brought her there. They thought Milo was becoming less reliable in business.

Bringing an infant to buy rice, was he joking?

He shook his head more vigorously, as if swatting away a fly, and said, "No, no, we don't have any loose stock, let alone hundreds of tons of rice."

"No stock!"

"No stock!"

Throughout the market, everyone echoed the same phrase: no goods even for money.

Sister Jie fretted, "How can we conduct business without any stock? It's a wasted trip."

Milo sighed, "Indeed, the rice trade is tough this year. I only managed to secure a batch thanks to my previous connections."

Turning to Shen Qing, Milo said, "Young Boss, should I still sell you the rice at my offered price? Supplies are scarce this year. If you don't agree soon, I might have to sell to another buyer."

"I'll think about it," Shen Qing replied thoughtfully, casting a glance at Milo. Seeing that he seemed unconcerned, she suggested, "Brother Milo, have you signed a contract with the locals for your order? If not, I believe it would be wise to formalize one..."

"No need for a contract," Milo answered cheerfully. "My wife is from here. The rice I ordered is from her village, where everyone is related. It's very reliable."

Seeing that Milo was unpersuadable, Shen Qing decided to remain silent.

After spending the whole day exploring the market and encountering countless 'no stock' responses, Shen Qing remained spirited and undeterred.

She even bought a few coconuts for everyone to drink, saying, "Coconuts are sweet and refreshing."

Milo observed how Shen Qing's fair complexion had turned rosy from the sun, and beads of sweat adorned her forehead. But when she smiled, the heat and irritation seemed to dissipate.

She chuckled. "Alright then, no need to panic even if there's no supply. Indeed, she's a young heiress from a wealthy family."

Sister Jie couldn't tolerate the hot, humid weather in Thailand. Frustrated, she grabbed the coconut Shen Qing had purchased and took a sip. The sweet, fragrant juice instantly filled her mouth, its cool, refreshing taste sliding down her throat, dispelling her irritation. She felt utterly at ease.

"Such delicious coconut water," Sister Jie said with a smile. "You really know how to pick them."

"All the coconuts here are good," Shen Qing replied with a grin.

Nowadays, plastic straws were scarce. Locals either opened the coconut and drank from a bowl or used a hollowed-out cabbage leaf as a makeshift straw.

Shen Qing found the cabbage straw a bit awkward to use, as it would easily snap when bitten, and it also carried the scent of cabbage.

But given the current circumstances, she had no room for complaints or choices.

The coconut was genuinely sweet and refreshing, providing much-needed comfort in the sweltering heat.

While Shen Qing, Sister Jie, and Milo sat under the coconut tree sipping their drinks, Brother Biao and the others stood dutifully nearby. Even as they enjoyed their coconuts, their eyes remained vigilant, scanning their surroundings.

Observing Brother Biao's imposing presence, Milo thought that the bodyguard for the ill-fated young lady was indeed intimidating.

"Milo, do you know Detective Dechai?" Shen Qing asked suddenly.

"Aren't you familiar? Dechai is the biggest rice merchant around here. Anyone involved in the rice trade in Thailand knows him," Milo replied, diverting his gaze from Brother Biao to notice Shen Qing's curious stare as she inquired about who Dechai was.

Milo suddenly lowered his voice. "Dekchai used to be like me, a small-time broker in Letyo Province. But a couple of years back, he vanished for a while. When he returned, he was a different man... ruthless."

Milo shuddered at the recollection, " somehow, Detchai managed to gather a gang of delinquents and started seizing territories. If anyone dared to defy him, he and his crew would show up at their doorstep, ready to fight. Before long, neither in Loei Province nor the entire northeastern region did anyone dare to cross paths with him."

"It was Qin Shili who eventually intervened to negotiate with Detchai. Thanks to his favor, Detchai became more restrained, or else there wouldn't have been any room for us brokers to conduct business," Milo sighed.

Shen Qing was familiar with Qin Shili, Su Qilan's cousin, who also happened to be the Chief of the Hong Kong Consulate General in Thailand. Under his protection, the Chinese community in Thailand could conduct their businesses peacefully. He was a legendary figure respected even in later times!

However, in the future, Qin Shili was most known for his godlike, dashing appearance that infuriated both gods and men.

When discussing handsome men from the past, Qin Shili would always stand out due to his youthful black-and-white photos, earning him a legion of devoted fans, mostly women!

It was truly unexpected that Shen Qing, a netizen from the future who had ogled Qin Shili's handsome black and white photos while gossiping, would now have the chance to live in the same era as him.

"Milo suddenly asked you what Dechai is up to?" Milo inquired Shen Qing. "You don't plan on doing business with Dechai, do you?"

Shen Qing smiled but didn't speak.

Milo felt uneasy. "I don't dare to look for Detchai, especially not with you, Shen Qing, who wants to lower the rice prices." He imagined Shen Qing being cut down by Detchai right after negotiating, and it sent shivers down his spine!

"Don't be afraid. I didn't say I want you to introduce me to Detchai for rice business," Shen Qing reassured him.

"I have no connections anyway," Milo said, trembling in fear. "Miss, please don't go to Detchai. You're so beautiful, he might get tempted and then keep you here as his lady. That wouldn't be good."

"Relax, I won't ask you to introduce me to him," Shen Qing replied, smiling as she finished her coconut juice. Brother Biao took the empty leaf cup from her hand to dispose of it. She thanked him with a warm smile, appreciating his professionalism as a bodyguard. She promised herself to give him a raise once they made money.

"What should we do if we can't buy any rice?" Sister Jie asked, worried after finishing her own coconut juice. "What if our rice business fails?"

"If we can't get our hands on rice, we'll switch to another venture," Shen Qing suggested. "Selling durians could work too."

"Is Durian an option? Durians are delicious too," Sister Jie inquired.

"Durians won't do. They're best when fresh. By the time they arrive in Hong Kong, their skin would be dry," Shen Qing explained. "And transporting durians requires a lot of ice to keep them fresh."

Ice was a scarce commodity in the 70s; it might even cost more than the durians themselves to preserve them.

"That's true then," Sister Jie nodded. "So let's stick to selling durians."

Listening to the two discussing the matter seriously, Milo grew anxious. "Miss, are you not interested in rice anymore?"

"I am," Shen Qing replied with a smile. "But since we couldn't buy rice, we need a backup plan. Otherwise, it'd be a huge loss if we came all the way to Thailand and didn't make any deals."

"I agree," Sister Jie nodded.

Milo cursed inwardly. Indeed, one shouldn't do business with women. They had short-sightedness and were always looking for better options. The heiress was changing her mind on a whim.

Seeing Milo's expression shift, Sister Jie hurriedly said with a smile, "I was just joking."

Sister Jie looked at Shen Qing with unwavering certainty. "I'm sure Shen Qing already has an idea in mind. She's more miraculous than the deities up above."

Milo responded skeptically, "Really? I doubt it."

"Actually, I have a somewhat unripe notion regarding Big Rice..." Shen Qing's words were cut short by a series of agonizing howls in the distance.

In the next moment, a man wearing a white mask sprinted barefoot, nearly crashing into Sister Jie who was seated beneath the coconut tree.

"That scared the wits out of me," she exclaimed.

Sister Jie slapped away the man in the white mask, and with a thud, he tumbled at Shen Qing's feet.

Startled by the sudden appearance of the white mask, Shen Qing instinctively threw the coconut she was holding.

"Mom, save me!" The man in the white mask cried out in agony as the coconut struck him. Shen Qing, hearing Chinese, was momentarily taken aback.

"Stop, fraud! Stop, don't run!" A few local Thais, wielding wooden sticks, chased out from the village.

"Mom, save me!" The man in the mask scrambled to his feet, wailing, and dashed away swiftly.

"What's going on?" Sister Jie peered curiously. "What did that masked guy do to get chased by the locals?"

"Milo just heard from a villager that he's a wandering feng shui master who recently arrived. The village chief asked him to determine a marriage date for his daughter. Apparently, there's something wrong with his head; he insisted on saying that the chief's daughter won't survive the year," Milo shared excitedly, having just obtained the latest gossip. "Now, the whole village wants to take him down."

Shen Qing: "............"

It wasn't that she lacked empathy, but he truly deserved it for being beaten up like that!

"Is he out of his mind, daring to speak such ominous words?" Sister Jie expressed disbelief. "He turned a happy occasion into a funeral. If I were there, I'd have beaten him up too!"

By the time they finished talking, the masked man was already far away.

The villagers who failed to catch him grumbled and spat in the direction he fled. Seeing that they couldn't catch up, they gave up the chase but climbed trees in frustration to pluck coconuts to drink!

Shen Qing watched them nimbly scale the coconut trees with agility surpassing that of monkeys, leaving her momentarily stunned.

One of the locals also froze when he saw Shen Qing. As Thailand was hot all year round, the locals tended to have darker skin due to sun exposure. Their skin was rougher as well.

Spotting an incredibly fair and radiant beauty standing under the coconut tree, seemingly unaffected by the sun, he was momentarily captivated and couldn't snap out of it.

Sister Jie instantly interposed herself in front of Shen Qing, while Brother Biao and the others fixated their gaze on the locals. Sensing that Shen Qing was not someone to be trifled with, they promptly grabbed their coconuts and left.

Yet, as he departed, he couldn't help but repeatedly glance back at Shen Qing.

"Sigh, it's chaotic here too." Sister Jie let out a sigh and exhorted Shen Qing to stick close to them at all times, not to wander off on her own.

Shen Qing, too, refrained from wandering carelessly. In Thailand, she always dressed plainly, opting for long sleeves and pants even in the sweltering heat. However, the looks cast upon her by those local youths moments ago made her feel that donning men's attire might have been a wiser choice.

And darken my face? Add a fake mustache? Disguising myself as a man would certainly be safer than this.

Thus, Shen Qing asked Milo to take her to the nearby market to buy men's clothing. Milo assumed that Shen Qing was purchasing local specialties for her friends and family back home. He found this heiress down-to-earth, unlike the high-society girls from Hong Kong who only wore the most expensive clothes. This heiress had an understanding of village life, including its markets.

However, when he saw Shen Qing selecting men's clothing, specifically ugly outfits that only local elders would wear, he couldn't help but cover his eyes. "Miss, who would wear these green pants? Why don't I take you to Chiang Mai to buy branded items?"

Shen Qing was aware that men generally had a aversion to green, and she hadn't expected to find elderly gentlemen in Thailand wearing green pants in the 1960s.

Thai clothing, influenced by the Dai ethnic style, tended to have more vibrant and colorful patterns.

In Shen Qing's hands was a green garment called 'Longji,' a local attire that could be worn as a skirt by wrapping it around the waist. Due to the hot and humid climate, both men and women in the region wore skirts; men tied them at the abdomen, while women fastened them on the side of their waists.

Curious, Shen Qing took a few glances before hanging it back. After selecting a few smaller-sized, common male trousers to put in her bag, she considered getting a baseball cap.

Unfortunately, intercountry trade wasn't yet prosperous at this time, and the market mostly offered Dai ethnic clothing. There were no baseball caps to be found.

Settling for a locally popular straw hat, Shen Qing also purchased a bottle of ink. "Is she buying rice or window-shopping?" Milo complained to Sister Jie. "Doing business with such a high-maintenance lady must be exhausting, right?"

"Not at all," replied Sister Jie. "Since we're here, might as well buy some things to bring back. Aren't you getting anything for your wife?"

A woman's talent for shopping had always been inherent.

Sister Jie also bought a Dai-style dress for herself. With her striking looks and curvaceous figure, she looked particularly stunning in it.

When Shen Qing gave her a thumbs-up and complimented her beauty, Sister Jie blushed slightly.

Eventually, Milo also bought a skirt for his wife, who was overjoyed upon receiving it. Despite her dark complexion, her bright white teeth shone radiantly when she laughed in delight.

"Don't lose heart, the rice business isn't easy this year," Milo's wife consoled Shen Qing. "I know some small-scale rice farmers. If you're interested in purchasing, I can take you to see them tomorrow..."

"My dear, what are you babbling about?" Milo interrupted his wife. "Those people are tough to deal with; business isn't easy."

With that, he turned to look at Shen Qing and said, "Madam Boss, the individual farmers don't have much rice, and it's not from Li Yi Prefecture. Their fragrant rice doesn't have much recognition."

Milo had his own motives, as he was the one who collected their goods last, concealed among the fragrant rice from Liyi Prefecture, where it went unnoticed.

In reality, it's all Thai fragrant rice with no difference. But those smallholders live in remote areas without road access, so nobody bothers to buy from them.

It was only Milo who, each year after the rice harvest, would ride an elephant to collect his due, earning his hard-earned wages.

However, he wanted to earn this hard-earned money himself while also making a profit from Shen Qing. Thus, he had never taken her along to see it.

Yet, Milo couldn't help but feel that Shen Qing's dark and pristine eyes seemed to know everything, leaving him somewhat guilty. He could only resort to laughter as a disguise.

The calculative nature of merchants is well understood by all; no one engages in anything without a prospect of profit.

"Milo, don't worry. No matter how much rice I acquire, I'll give you this percentage as commission." Shen Qing wrote a figure on a piece of paper and slid it across the table to Milo.

Milo's heart skipped a beat upon seeing it.

"This... This... The price..." Stuttering, Milo looked at the figure Shen Qing had written on the paper and asked, "How did you know this number?"

"Your annual profit is exactly this amount, isn't it?" Shen Qing said with a smile.

"How did you know?" Milo was astonished. "How do you even know my annual profit?"

Staring at Shen Qing in disbelief, Milo then glanced at the figure she had written on the paper.

After all his hard work trading rice throughout the year, deducting tariffs, transportation fees, and various miscellaneous expenses, he had earned nothing more than that sum as pure profit.

It was his secret, for no one would honestly reveal how much they earned annually.

When asked, Milo would often sigh and shake his head, claiming that business was tough, and he was barely making a profit selling rice. Yet, in front of Shen Qing, his true situation had been exposed.

"I calculated it," Shen Qing said.

"I don't believe you," Milo replied. "I don't believe you can tell fortunes. How did you really find out?"

"She's the famous fortune teller on Temple Street, the one who's all the rage in the Hong Kong Daily," Sister Jie said with pride. "She's even more accurate than Lin Liping. Otherwise, why would we have gone all the way to Tin Shui Wai in Yuen Long to buy rice from you?"

"All of that was predicted by her," she added, pulling out a stack of newspapers from her luggage and handing them to Milo. "Look, these are all the newspapers I've collected, filled with stories about the Temple Street fortune teller. You don't have to believe me; just read them."

"You even have newspapers?" Shen Qing was surprised.

"I had to collect them since you're so impressive," Sister Jie smiled. "I wanted to show them to others who might doubt you."

Throughout Shen Qing's journey as a fortune teller, skepticism had always accompanied her.

As a devoted fan, how could Sister Jie allow any doubts about the fortune teller? Besides, she felt that by collecting these newspapers, she was also gathering some of Shen Qing's mysterious luck, hoping it would improve her own fortune.

That was why she carried them around with her.

Milo looked through Sister Jie's collection, his disbelief turning into astonishment. 'Damn, is this for real? I'm actually doing business with a fortune teller? And she can even predict someone's death? Wow, that's incredible.'

Milo's wife came over to look too, but she only spoke Chinese and couldn't read, so she didn't understand much.

Shen Qing sipped her Tom Yum Soup slowly, a popular Thai dish made with lemongrass and lime leaves, its tangy-sweet flavor perfect for quenching thirst and stimulating appetite on a hot day.

Milo finished reading through the stack of newspapers Sister Jie had gathered, while Shen Qing had also completed her bowl of Tom Yum soup.

Seeing this, Milo personally took Shen Qing's bowl and served her another helping of the soup, then asked with a smile, "Diviner, is the price you quoted me true?"

Could this Diviner really calculate how much he earned in a year? It was truly astonishing.

With such a skill, what challenge could there be in the world that Shen Qing couldn't overcome?

Milo was quite superstitious himself, the type who would consult the almanac before going out for business. After learning that Shen Qing could divine fortunes, his feelings were a mix of astonishment and fear.

He was afraid of offending this divine Diviner, Shen Qing.

"Milo said, 'If the price you've given me is genuine, I'll work with you.'"

Curiosity sparked within Shen Qing. "You don't doubt me?"

Ever since she started her fortune-telling stall, she faced skepticism every day.

This was the first time she encountered someone who, upon knowing her abilities, didn't doubt but immediately believed in her. Such trust surprised Shen Qing.

"Milo, the newspapers claimed you influenced Lin Liping. How could that be false?" Milo wasn't skeptical; rather, during these past few days with Shen Qing, he had an eerie feeling that she could see through him.

Initially, he suspected she might have secretly investigated him, but now that he knew she was a divine soothsayer, Milo found it all too plausible.

A brilliant divine soothsayer could calculate anything!

"Divine Soothsayer, you've calculated my annual profits and offered me such generous returns. I have no reason not to join forces with you," Milo genuinely couldn't think of a reason to decline. With a connection to a divine soothsayer, there might be even greater opportunities for financial gain in the future.

Shen Qing glanced at Milo thoughtfully, meeting his sincere and radiant smile.

Milo's wife was even peeling shrimps for Shen Qing, and the couple's demeanor toward each other was more amicable than ever before.

"The price I'm offering is genuine," Shen Qing assured. "But I need your integrity in return."

"I am utterly trustworthy," Milo beamed with delight. "Divine Calculator is generous. I'll take you to see the goods from those retail sellers tomorrow."

Milo carefully pocketed the small note, forestalling Shen Qing's inquiry by voluntarily sharing information about the individual suppliers. "Leiyi Prefecture's rice is renowned primarily due to the abundance of fragrant rice processing mills there, which has bolstered its reputation. Furthermore, a significant portion of the rice from Thailand's northeastern region, including that of Leiyi, originates from a place called Tongkula Longhai," Milo explained, revealing the lesser-known source behind the fame.

As Shen Qing savored the dinner prepared by Milo's wife, she listened to Milo describing the situation with retail investors.

"The smallholders reside in the vicinity of the Tonggularong Sea, tucked away in a remote area inaccessible by roads, which is why few are aware of their existence." Milo held nothing back in his explanation, "I typically visit these smallholders during the rice harvest season to procure their crops for resale. The flavor of their rice is indistinguishable from the fragrant rice of Loei Province, thus it has gone unnoticed all this time."

"So, Brother Mi was actually giving me a higher estimate at the beginning, right?" Shen Qing smiled and said, "Five yuan for first class, one yuan for second class, sixty cents for third class..."

As Shen Qing repeated Milo's original offer, Milo felt a slight flush of embarrassment.

He took advantage of Shen Qing's young age and Sister Jie's lack of understanding in business affairs, thus underquoting the price to earn more from Shen Qing.

Who would have thought that the young Shen Qing, despite her tender age, was a business genius with an uncanny ability to calculate outcomes?

Milo truly never could have anticipated that Shen Qing would, at the outset, use a modest commission to not only convince him to willingly bring Shen Qing to Thailand, but also to enthusiastically guide Shen Qing through the wholesale markets of Loei Province.

Certainly, taking Shen Qing along to the wholesale market was also an opportunity to let her understand that the rice supply in the northeast was largely in the hands of Hong Kong tycoons and local big shots like Detchai.

Milo intended to discourage Shen Qing by offering her high-priced goods, hoping she would retreat from doing business with him.

It turned out that Shen Qing was also anxious upon learning that the item wasn't available in the market. She leisurely toyed with him like he was her pet dog the entire day before finally exposing his charade at night, laying both of their cards on the table.

Just whose esteemed daughter is this? How could she possess such a talent for business? Such cleverness? Such skill in divination?

Heavens, how much favor had fate shown her!

Milo no longer dared to underestimate Shen Qing.

Under her questioning, he honestly revealed his usual purchasing prices: "Actually, I usually buy from individual sellers at prices lower than the market rate."

"One-grade rice is 1.5 yuan, second-grade is 0.6 yuan, and third-grade is 0.2 yuan," Milo whispered.

"Damn it!" Sister Jie slammed down her bowl and pointed an accusing finger at Milo's nose. "What do you take us for? You think we're fools? How dare you rip us off like this!"

"Don't curse so much," Milo said, feeling embarrassed. "That's just how business works. Whenever there's an opportunity, one aims to make a profit..."

Shen Qing stared at Milo with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Milo's voice wavered as he continued, "Yes, I was dishonest in front of the Divine Calculator, treating her as an easy target. But the Divine Calculator is too clever—she not only didn't fall for it but exposed my tricks within just a few days."

Thinking about how he had been gloating over finding a wealthy heiress to exploit, Milo felt like crying.

Fortunately, he had only sought to make money and hadn't done anything truly unethical.

Otherwise, who knew how the Divine Calculator would deal with him!

"Divine Strategist, I was wrong. From now on, I'll be truthful and honest with you." Milo resolved to turn over a new leaf. "I promise to cooperate sincerely with you, no tricks involved. Let's do business with integrity."

"Sure." Shen Qing nodded with a bright smile. "Then I'll trouble you to show me the goods from those small-time sellers tomorrow."

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