Chapter 225: To Be Drowned in the Pond

Chapter 225: To Be Drowned in the Pond

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong, because of Chen's, nearly faced the wrath of his wife, a momentary lapse that Xianjin naturally knew nothing about.

Xianjin and Heng Wuniang had been busy for ten consecutive days, inspecting goods, paying, and acquiring materials.

Sauce elbow Qi Qiqi, along with the fifteen new recruits from Jixi Workshop, emptied the warehouse to store the temporarily unused rice straw and paper glue.

Xianjin took Heng Wuniang to Zhen's dock on Longchuan Creek, truly "paying respects" and "greeting."

Heng Wuniang lifted her skirt slightly and nimbly stepped over a rotting log on the ground, emitting a fishy and muddy smell.

Seeing the mud stain Heng Wuniang's yellow satin embroidered shoes, Xianjin frowned, "...The dock is a mix of all sorts; now that the river is being dredged, there's mud and rot everywhere. Listen, why don't you get in the carriage first?"

Heng Wuniang pulled out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, bent down carefully, and wiped her shoes clean. She then looked up, revealing her beautiful almond eyes, "...If others can come here, so can I. If I see myself as a little girl, seeking favors, concessions, and justifying weakness... then others will look down on me even more."

Since she decided to compete, she could no longer use her "girl" status to show weakness.

Heng Wuniang spoke calmly, with a scholarly air.

Her almond eyes were truly beautiful.

Xianjin smiled, reached out to support Heng Wuniang's arm, and patiently waited for the young lady to clean her shoes.

Those who work at the docks often have dragons on their left and tigers on their right, with a leopard tattoo on their forehead, just in case you didn't know they were part of the underworld.

On the dock, a group of such men sprawled out, either climbing high to hoist sails or rolling up their pants to repair boats in the river. Seeing two pretty ladies arrive, they all stopped their work and stared intently.

Heng Wuniang swallowed hard, feeling weak in the knees, and instinctively leaned closer to Xianjin—she rarely dealt with such blatant gazes, usually interacting only with scholars who maintained a facade of righteousness.

Xianjin called out loudly, "Please bring out your Third Young Master."

A reckless man grinned and laughed, "Which family's girl are you? There must be at least eighty women who've sought our Third Young Master—rare to see two coming together..."

Before he finished, a whip whistled through the air, soaked in the icy water of Longchuan Creek, striking the man's back heavily.

"Get lost! Show some respect! This is Manager He from the city!"

Zhen San Shao, with a fierce demeanor, tucked the leather whip into his waistband and turned to Xianjin with a friendly face, "Manager He, what brings you here?"

His father had said that the Zhen family secured the navigation rights along Longchuan Creek thanks to Prefectural Magistrate Xiong supporting Chen's and his punch in the face of the Bai family!

Otherwise, how could a playboy like him take charge of the dock instead of his second brother?

All thanks to Manager He!

All thanks to his beautifully crafted paper!

Life!

Opportunities matter!

Zhen San Shao was pleased with himself, though he didn't want to manage things, seeing the boatmen who used to bow to his second brother now obeying his orders... felt great!

Better than drinking!

Better than gambling!

Better than spending money lavishly!

Men, the best aphrodisiac is power!

Zhen San Shao always remembered his roots and bowed politely to Xianjin, glancing at the elegant lady behind her, smiling familiarly, "Manager He is bringing her sister to visit the dock?"

Zhen San Shao looked even more like a playboy than Chen Fu, with a playboy appearance and a pair of smiling eyes, making one believe he had at least eighty women.

Heng Wuniang stood strong behind Xianjin, silently repeating: All stinky men are paper tigers, all stinky men are paper tigers!

Xianjin smiled and bowed, "This is Heng Kee's eldest daughter... she has business to discuss with you."

Zhen San Shao was flattered, "Should I call my father out?"

Xianjin shook her head, "One person should handle one task. We've always done business with you, so no need to trouble the old man."

Zhen San Shao saw this as recognition from Xianjin, rubbed his hands excitedly, and led Xianjin and Heng Wuniang onto a small boat with gilded oars, serving pastries and tea.

Xianjin quickly explained their purpose, "...Firstly, Chen's recently acquired a lot of green sandalwood bark and straw, which might occupy some tributaries of Longchuan Creek for drying. If possible, please ask the fleet to paddle lightly and not drag the bark and grass into the water."

These were minor matters.

Zhen San Shao agreed readily.

"Secondly, once this batch of paper is made, it will likely be transported by water to Yingtian Prefecture. If possible, we'd like Chen's and Heng Kee to sign an agreement with the Zhen family, where we exclusively use your fleet for transportation, and your fleet only transports our paper. Is this condition acceptable?"

One must plan ahead. Making the paper is easy, but how to transport it to Yingtian Prefecture?

Tens of thousands of sheets of paper would certainly go by water.

Securing the transportation channel was another small step forward.

This request...

Zhen San Shao pondered, head lowered.

Heng Wuniang remained composed, but her hands twisted nervously under her sleeves.

Zhen San Shao remained silent for a long time.

Xianjin spoke, looking as if she was enjoying the show. "It's either us or the Bai family. It all depends on who Young Master Zhen wants to cooperate with."

At the mention of the Bai family, Zhen San Shao's face twisted into a frown.

How had he risen to prominence? How had the Zhen family obtained the navigation rights for Longchuan Creek!?

Others might think it was due to the Zhen family's long-term efforts and his own remarkable abilities.

But he knew the truth.

It was all thanks to being a hired thug!

You ask who they beat up?

None other than that damned Bai family!?

If the choice was between Chen's and the Bai family, there would be no doubt—the answer would be Chen's;

If the choice was between Heng Kee and the Bai family, there would be no doubt—the answer would be Heng Kee;

If the choice was between a dog and the Bai family, there would be no doubt—the answer would be the dog.

Zhen San Shao raised his head and calmly gave his answer, "Where is the contract? I'll sign it."

...

After settling the shipping channel issue, Xianjin and Heng Wuniang truly finished their business trip. Xianjin escorted Heng Wuniang to her doorstep, glanced at her mud-stained embroidered shoes, and then whispered something to Su'er.

By nightfall, Heng Wuniang received a large wooden box. Opening it, she found a pair of green silk embroidered shoes with golden patterns, each adorned with a jade stone the size of a thumbnail, looking both beautiful and elegant.

Underneath the shoes was a note— "These jade stones are just like your almond eyes."

Heng Wuniang pressed the note to her chest and softly sighed, "Mmm—"

Wearing the new shoes, she went out onto the streets of Yingtian Prefecture for the first time.

The educational government office was right next to the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall.

Xianjin and Heng Wuniang were led into the main hall by a minor official. Xianjin handed over a plain sachet, but the official waved it away, saying, "...Too much, too much. Our educational commissioner isn't like that!"

It didn't seem like false modesty.

Xianjin smiled and tucked the sachet back into her sleeve. "We're from a small place and don't know proper etiquette. Please don't hold it against us."

As soon as Xianjin finished speaking, a mocking voice came from the hall, "Since you admit you don't know proper etiquette, don't come here to embarrass yourselves. Do you think associating with Heng Kee will solve everything? As they say, lions and tigers walk alone, while jackals travel in packs..."

Xianjin frowned.

In a narrow encounter, the idiot prevails.

Because only idiots love to squeeze through tight spaces.

This idiot clearly hasn't seen 'The Lion King.' Simba's close relatives still hunt together!

Lions are social animals!

Xianjin turned her head and saw the Bai family father and son sitting relaxedly on the left side.

And the one speaking was the young master of the Bai family.

Xianjin remained silent.

Bai Dalang glanced at his father, seeing no objection, and continued with a smile, "You, He Xianjin, coming here to disgrace yourself is because you have no parents, a cursed star of misfortune—"

Bai Dalang turned to lecture, "Heng Wuniang, you have parents and siblings, yet you come out to disgrace yourself... Tsk, tsk, tsk, if it were fifty years ago and the rules were stricter, a girl like you would have been drowned in a pond. Did you know that?"