Chapter 248: It’s Easier with Acquaintances

Chapter 248: It's Easier with Acquaintances

Song Xian returned with the household servants after fetching water and collecting firewood. She coughed twice, and Sui Yu immediately stopped talking. Sui Yu looked at the servants sitting around her, and they immediately understood.

"We won’t spill the beans," Xiao Chunhong said in a hushed tone.

Previously outside the pass, Sui Yu had let something slip when distributing profits among the servants, and Song Xian's servants had found out. After that, Song Xian specially instructed them not to let her family's servants know how much profit Sui Yu's servants were getting.

"Jade Merchant, I brought you a leg of lamb," said a merchant walking in front, holding up a leg of lamb. "It's getting hot, and the meat will spoil by tomorrow if not eaten today. Our Grand Marshal noticed you didn't buy any lamb before leaving Chang'an, so he sent me to bring you this leg of lamb."

Sui Yu stood up to receive it and handed the leg of lamb to Gan Er. "I'll go thank the Grand Marshal."

"This way," said the merchant.

Song Xian dropped a handful of wild vegetables and quickly followed.

"Jade Merchant, Lady Song, please sit here," said the male head of the Yan family. "We're cooking the lamb. Stay for a bowl of lamb soup before you leave."

"Accepting a leg of lamb and then staying for soup is a bit much," Sui Yu said with a smile, sitting down. "Uncle Yan, have you ever been to Taiyuan County?"

"No, our camels are fewer, and we carry less cargo. The goods we transport into Guanzhong are sold out in Chang'an, so there's no need to go elsewhere," replied the male head of the Yan family, picking up some walnuts, cracking the shells, and handing them to Sui Yu and Song Xian. "A peddler said these walnuts were brought from Handan County. I don't know if it's true, but please try them. By the way, I heard you’re heading to Handan next?"

"Yes," Sui Yu nodded, peeling the walnuts as she thought. "Thanks to the Grand Marshal, we sold out of goods within ten days of arriving in Chang'an, leaving us extra time to go elsewhere. Taiyuan County is known for its mulberry and hemp, and the prices for mulberry wine, silk, hemp cloth, and raw silk are good. I plan to buy a batch and take it to Handan County to sell."

The male head of the Yan family sat up straighter and asked, "What are the prices for hemp cloth and silk?"

"Coarse cloth costs 120 coins per bolt, unbleached silk costs 430 coins per bolt, and dyed silk costs 480 coins per bolt," Sui Yu replied truthfully after receiving the lamb leg. "Mulberry wine is 200 coins per jar, and it might be cheaper if you buy it now."

The male head of the Yan family nodded slowly; this was more economical than buying cloth in Chang'an, making it worth the trip.

"Lady Song, since we're old acquaintances, how about letting us rent more camels next year and bring them into Guanzhong? We can carry more goods and make more money. In less than five years, we could buy all the camels we're renting," said the second male head of the Yan family with a smile.

Song Xian glanced into the meat pot and said, "Is that even my decision to make? I didn't accept your lamb leg."

"Yes, it is your decision. When the lamb is cooked, I'll personally send over a bowl. Jade Merchant accepted the raw leg, and you'll get the cooked lamb. We value you more," the second male head of the Yan family said loudly.

"Hey, you’re offending me," Sui Yu said, tapping her ear playfully. "Speak quietly, don't let me hear."

Everyone around them laughed, and Yan Er waved his hand dismissively. "I'm not afraid of offending you. I'm afraid of offending Lady Song."

Song Xian's face turned slightly red. Though she did business on a large scale and interacted with merchants, their relationship wasn’t particularly close. Tonight, she intentionally tried to mimic Sui Yu's banter with the merchants to build rapport, but she was still somewhat reserved and couldn't quite keep up with the conversation.

"I’ll consider it," Song Xian said with a smile. "When we return to Chang'an, I’ll inquire at the camel rental shop to see how they do business."

"We know about that. The camel rental shop in Chang'an only serves locals and doesn't rent to outsiders," said the escort standing nearby.

The second male head of the Yan family looked at Song Xian, his smile fading as he spoke earnestly, "We run a legitimate business. You understand the profit in trading between Guanzhong and beyond. We have caravans, and we know the routes well. We wouldn't risk losing our business over hiding your camels."

Song Xian nodded. "I understand, which is why I didn't outright refuse. If you return by next autumn, I’ll give you my answer then, okay?"

"What I mean is, if you agree, we'll buy more goods while we're beyond the pass. If you don't agree to let us bring the camels into Guanzhong, we can't sell the extra goods cheaply in Dunhuang," the second male head of the Yan family said urgently.

"The lamb pot is boiling. Let's eat first and talk later," Sui Yu interrupted. "Cut a bowl of lamb for Lady Song so she can think with a full stomach."

"Good idea," said the male head of the Yan family. "Bring the knife and slice some cooked lamb."

Sui Yu felt Song Xian gently pulling at her sleeve but pretended not to notice. She couldn't help share the risk, so she wouldn't help make the decision.

Two bowls of lamb soup were passed over, and Sui Yu took one. The soup was still too hot to drink, so she held it in her hands and turned to speak with the male head of the Yan family. "How far have you traveled beyond the pass?"

"The people of Ferghana and the Great Yuezhi are very wealthy, both farming and raising livestock. They lack for nothing, be it food or clothing, and they want everything we bring to them," said the leader of the Yan family, slicing a piece of mutton and putting it in his mouth. "The climate there is good, with grasslands and forests, making their cattle and horses strong and healthy. Even the people are tall."

"Have you seen a white flower there, snow-white and as fluffy as wool or reed flowers? It's more like a fruit than a flower. The stems grow as high as your knees, blooming with white or pink flowers. After the flowers fall, they produce a dark green fruit that, when it opens, reveals snow-white fluff inside," Sui Yu described carefully.

The leader of the Yan family shook his head but immediately understood. Leaning forward, he asked, "Can this fluff be used in the core of padded jackets and cushions? It can insulate, right?"

Sui Yu nodded.

"That's a valuable thing," said the leader of the Yan family, intrigued. He asked the escort who was sharpening his knife, "Brothers, you've traveled many places. Have you ever come across this thing that Merchant Sui mentioned?"

"Never seen it. If we had, we would have brought it back and maybe even traded it for a government post," an escort joked. "Merchant Sui, where did you hear about this thing growing beyond the borderlands?"

"I saw it described on a bamboo slip when I was young. I didn't understand its significance back then and forgot about it. I've been trying to find related records ever since but haven't found any," Sui Yu said, sipping the sheep soup.

"You should ask around and see if any other caravans have encountered it," said the leader of the Yan family, taking another bite of mutton. "To the west of Ferghana and Kangju lies a very high and long mountain. Beyond that mountain is the Parthian Empire. Few caravans go there, but not none. If we encounter any, I'll ask on your behalf."

"Thank you."

"It's nothing," said the leader of the Yan family, turning to Song Xian. "Master Song, the mutton isn't hot anymore. You can eat it."

Song Xian snapped back to attention and, after hesitating, said, "Alright, from now on, we'll also do the camel rental business inside the Guanzhong region."

The leader of the Yan family smiled. "On behalf of everyone, I thank you, Master Song."

Song Xian didn't reply but instead raised her bowl and drank a large mouthful of soup.

After finishing a bowl of mutton soup and a roasted flatbread, Sui Yu and Song Xian returned to their respective caravans.

Lying in the tent, Sui Yu said, "At first, we can focus on doing business with large caravans or only rent camels to those who have been trading for more than five years."

"That's what I've been thinking too," Song Xian nodded. "From now on, when we're out on the road, I'll be the one everyone wants to court."

Sui Yu chuckled. "In the future, I'll rely on you, Master Song. I hope you won't mind."

"No problem, no problem," Song Xian said, covering her mouth and laughing.

The night passed, and it was still early dawn when the two caravans continued their journey.

Seven days later, they arrived in Taiyuan. Ahead on the official road, several fast horses appeared, about one or two li ahead. Behind them were three carriages, escorted by soldiers in armor. Their high status was clear from their appearance.

The two caravans hurriedly made way, careful not to step on the crops in the fields. Sui Yu instructed the servants to drive the camels back, retreating to a side road to let the procession pass.

After the three carriages had passed, the caravan on the side road returned to the main road. With too many camels and too narrow a side road, some camels still stepped into the crop fields, trampling the soybean seedlings.

Sui Yu had the servants head over to lift the trampled soybean plants. They saved those they could and placed copper coins under the broken ones as compensation.

This delay caused them to arrive late again, and it was already midnight when they reached the village where they had stayed two years before. It was too late to enter the village and disturb the residents, so they camped outside for the night.

In the morning, they were awakened by the crowing of a rooster. Sui Yu suddenly remembered that when she left two years ago, she had promised a child that she would bring him something.

"Xiao Chunhong, two years ago, when we went to collect silkworms, did you go with me?" Sui Yu asked, "What did I promise that child?"

Xiao Chunhong thought for a moment and said, "My lady, you said that when you returned, you would bring him a wolf fur hat. If you hunted a wild wolf, you would also give him a wolf fur coat and some dried wolf meat."

There was no wolf fur hat, but Sui Yu had a wolf fur mattress, made from two wolf skins sewn together. Before entering the village, she dismantled the wolf fur mattress, planning to give a wolf skin to the child's mother to make a coat and hat for him.

It was still early, and there were no children picking mulberry leaves under the mulberry trees. Sui Yu had Gan Da and Gan Er lead the team to find a place to rent, while she and Song Xian, with two servants, followed the path from memory to find the family.

"Which family are you relatives of?" asked the woman sweeping silkworm droppings in the yard. "You don't look familiar. Did you come to the wrong village?"

"We’re part of a merchant caravan," Sui Yu spoke up.

"Oh, I remember now. I would have remembered if you had mentioned you were from the caravan. I’ve never seen a woman running a business like this before." The woman shook the winnowing basket and said, "You’ve arrived a bit late. A caravan came half a month ago and bought all the raw silk in the village."

"What did they pay?" Sui Yu asked.

"Still the price from previous years," the woman said vaguely. "You should ask in the neighboring villages."

Sui Yu agreed and turned to ask Xiao Chunhong, "What was the family name of that child's father again?"

"It should be Qi," Xiao Chunhong replied.

When they reached Qi Sheng's house, a child herded chickens out of the yard. Seeing the four unfamiliar faces outside the door, he asked, "Who are you looking for?"

"We are looking for you. Are your parents home?" Sui Yu asked with a smile, "I came to your house two years ago to get ten silkworms and four mulberry tree saplings. Do you remember me? It was you, right?"

"Yes, it was me. Did the silkworms and mulberry trees survive?"

"They did. My children loved them. They asked me to bring you a wolf skin for a coat." Sui Yu walked in and saw the child's parents coming out. She said with a smile, "Mr. and Mrs. Qi, it’s good to see you again."

After catching up, Sui Yu firmly handed over the wolf skin. Qi Sheng and his wife insisted on having her stay for a meal and called their son to herd the chickens back into the yard.

"You’ve arrived a bit late this year. A caravan from the east bought all the silk woven in the nearby villages. You should check the other villages," Qi Sheng said.

"What did they pay?" Sui Yu asked.

"Undyed silk is 400 coins a bolt, and dyed silk is 450 coins a bolt. It's a bit cheaper than what you paid two years ago," Qi Sheng said, glancing at the wolf skin. "My father-in-law lives in the mountains. He might still have some silk left. Would you like me to take you there?"

Sui Yu nodded in agreement, "I’ll trouble you again."

"Sure thing. I was planning to visit my in-laws anyway. By the way, do you want to buy mulberry wine and hemp cloth? The village still has some mulberry wine left," Qi Sheng asked.

"Yes, we’ll take some."