Chapter 964
Just tell the story as usual
That wasn't just simple envy.
It felt more like a door had been pushed open, revealing many things behind it that I had never even considered before.
In the afternoon, when the group returned to the outer freight yard, Shenghe's people had indeed arrived.
Not only did Steward Lu arrive, but he was also accompanied by two experienced craftsmen specializing in examining skin, bones, and medicinal herbs, as well as an accountant. In addition, several groups of people from the trade who had been observing the market yesterday also came, but they couldn't push their way to the front and could only stand at a distance to watch.
There are also people on the border affairs side.
Zhou Li did not come in person, but sent two border affairs inspectors to stand by, obviously to keep an eye on how the goods were opened, inspected, and transported.
This situation was even better than Zheng Yi had anticipated.
The bigger the scale of the operation, the less likely this batch of goods will be easily crushed as a small, scattered shipment.
The seals were removed one by one.
The entire skin is opened first.
When the first complete wolf pelt was unfurled, several people around immediately brightened up. The master craftsman Shenghe touched it, examined the back hair, the needle holes, the cut lines, and the remaining bloodstains, and nodded on the spot.
"The knife work is fairly steady, and the tanning is clean. Is it from the north?"
“Blackbacked wolves, hunted in the deep snow slopes of the North,” Zheng Yi said.
The experienced craftsman didn't ask any more questions and continued looking at the second and third pictures.
Following that are ice horn sheepskin, tundra bear shoulder bone, tendons, horn scraps, cold bones, and herbs.
Upon seeing the piece of cold bone with dark patterns, even Deacon Lu took half a step forward and took a look at it himself.
"How does your tribe usually use this?"
Flame Hound snorted from behind: "Who would be willing to waste it?"
Zheng Yi answered more confidently: "In the past, I mostly kept it at the bottom of my chest, or gave it to people like Bone Granny who knew a little about cold medicine and bone artifacts to try slowly. Now that I know that people in the city also recognize it, I don't plan to waste it myself."
Deacon Lu didn't speak, but simply nodded to the old master.
The experienced craftsman took out a pinch of extremely fine test powder and sprinkled it on. The pink color didn't turn black; it only turned a light gray. He then took a deep breath.
"It has a light death aura but a pure cold nature, so it can indeed be used for both medicine and artifact purposes."
This sentence essentially sets the price for this piece of cold bone.
The expressions of the groups of onlookers immediately changed.
These are no longer just "northern goods," but some items that can truly be selected by major banks.
For the next hour or so, the people from Shenghe checked and recorded each item one by one.
Wu Chen and Yan Ao were initially worried that these people from the south might deliberately find fault, but the more they looked, the more they realized that although the other party had high standards, they were truly skilled. They could point out good leather, minor flaws, where herbs had been over-dried, where tendons had minor injuries, and where the wear was uneven.
After all the checks were completed, Deacon Lu finally closed the booklet and looked at Zheng Yi.
"This batch of goods is better than I expected."
Upon hearing this, He Liangxian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Zheng Yi asked, "So, how did Shenghe offer its price?"
Deacon Lu did not immediately state the numbers, but said only, "We can either buy the whole batch or break up the road and buy it separately. There are two methods."
Tell me about it.
“If we buy the whole batch, Shenghe can take it all at once, but the price will be stable and won’t reach the highest point.” Deacon Lu paused. “If we split the purchase and buy the leather, bones, medicine and daily necessities separately, theoretically we can raise the price by 20% to 30%, but you will have to put in a lot of effort and bear the risks.”
Upon hearing this, Wu Chen's heart stirred slightly.
This is how buying and selling works in big cities.
It's not just about "give a price and see if you buy or not," but even the way you sell is different.
Zheng Yi hardly hesitated.
"Demolish the road."
Deacon Lu looked at him: "Are you sure? This is the first time we've entered Beining. This kind of demolition might not be easy."
“Precisely because it’s the first trip, we need to understand the prices of all kinds of goods,” Zheng Yi said. “For leather, we’ll take the highest-priced route; for medicine, we’ll take the more stable route; and for bones and minerals, we’ll see who knows their value best. We’ll also pick out the cloth, cotton, seasonings, and utensils that we need to change daily. That way, when the people who came with me go back, they’ll really know what’s worth in the city.”
Deacon Lu stared at him for a few moments, then suddenly revealed a very faint smile.
"You don't seem to be here to sell goods; you seem to be here to learn the rules for the northern lands."
"I want them both."
“Alright.” Steward Lu raised his hand and handed the booklet to the accountant. “Then let’s get the leather and top-grade tendons first. As for the medicine and cold bones, I’ll guide the medicine and bones for you. As for the frozen ore and a few miscellaneous goods, if you’d like, you can try again at Wanping Wharf to see if there are any better ones.”
Upon hearing this, He Liang immediately perked up.
This is precisely where he can exert his strength.
For the rest of the afternoon, Zheng Yi practically turned "trading" into a live teaching session.
On the fur side, Shenghe's prices were steady but not hesitant. Whole wolf pelts were divided into three grades, ice horn sheepskins were in a separate grade, and tundra bear shoulder bones were listed separately. Each time the accountant quoted a price, Zheng Yi didn't rush to agree, but first made sure Wu Chen and Yan Ao understood before asking why.
"This one is only missing a small piece of the edge compared to that one, so how come there's such a big difference?"
The master craftsman said coldly, "Because this small piece is ruined right in the middle of the spine. The tailoring of cloaks and outer garments is all about the integrity of the fabric. If this part is flawed, the whole piece loses its value."
"This bundle of tendons is clearly quite long, so why is it 20% shorter?"
"Can't you see that old wound in the middle? It's fine for stretching a bow, but not for hanging weights. Once the purpose changes, the price naturally drops."
Wu Chen and Yan Ao listened very attentively.
Later, even Chi Ya stopped just watching the spectacle and started to memorize the places the old masters pointed out. He used to think that whether a piece of skin was good or not was just a matter of whether the fur was smooth and how much blood was on it. Now he realized that the cuts, needle marks, the location of the cuts, and the thickness of the skin all counted towards the price.
The bone side is even finer.
Several packets of cold herbs were spread out on the long table. The old herbalist smelled and pinched each one, explaining the drying method, their heat and cold properties, and the contraindications for medicinal use. The old woman wasn't there, but Zheng Yi found that what she had taught him before matched what the old herbalist said, which reassured him.
This means that if people in the north want to specifically select a few types of cold herbs and cold bones that sell well, they will have a clearer direction in the future.
As for exchanging goods, it opened the eyes of the tribesmen who came with them.
How much thick cloth to replace, how much fine cotton to replace, and how to match needles, thread, iron pots, spices, soap pods, leather wax, knives, copper buttons, medicine jars, children's undergarments, and sewing supplies commonly used by women—Zheng Yi didn't just make the decisions himself. Instead, he had Wu Chen, Yan Ao, and several department leaders look at the options together and make the selections.
"This batch of fine cotton is more expensive, but it's the most suitable for children and patients."
"We must take these two large pots, one for the tribe's common use and the other to guard the entrance."
"Get a few more of these small knives; you'll need them for skinning and cutting cloth later."
"You don't need to pick all the expensive spices. Just prepare plenty of commonly used ones like pepper, ginger slices, and herb seeds. Take a small amount of sauce first and try making it later."
"Add some more durable thread and copper needles, instead of always using bone spurs to sew it up."
The more Wu Chen listened, the more he felt a previously blurry path slowly taking shape in his mind.
In the past, when they hunted, they only knew to hunt as many as they could and skin as many as they could.
Now, for the first time, I'm starting to think about what to keep, what to save, what to handle carefully, what not to waste, and what I can exchange for something more crucial once I get to the south.
This is true "trade." It's not about carrying a lot of goods to exchange for another lot of goods; it's about changing the direction in which the entire tribe conducts itself.
By dusk, the first round of transactions was finally basically finalized.
Shenghe took the most valuable batch of hides and tendons, the medicine and bone shop bought some cold bones and cold herbs, and Wanping Wharf, under He Liang's management, also bought a batch of frozen ore and miscellaneous scraps at a high price. In exchange, they received not only cloth, cookware, needles and thread, spices and daily necessities, but also some silver and long-term road transport vouchers.
Wu Chen was somewhat taken aback when he received the invoice.
"This thing...represents money?"
Zheng Yi said, "It represents the account you acknowledge with the corresponding bank. It's much safer than carrying a bunch of cash on the road."
Chi Ya felt a chill run down his spine: "People from the South really can come up with anything."
Yan'ao was more concerned about something else: "After all this trouble, did we earn much more than we did in Qing Shi Town?"
Zheng Yi smiled and said, "It's not just a lot, it's a huge difference."
Although Yan'ao had expected this, his eyes still lit up immediately upon hearing it.
"Then next time..."
“Next time, we need to establish more detailed rules for when we get back,” Zheng Yi interrupted him. “Otherwise, the more money we make, the faster things will fall apart.”
This time, Yan'ao didn't refute, but just nodded vigorously.
That evening, Zheng Yi didn't let everyone immediately return to the warehouse to eat dry rations. Instead, he simply booked a not-too-large courtyard hall in the city and let the people from the various tribes who had come along have a proper meal together.
This meal wasn't extravagant, but it was enough to make everyone truly remember Beining City.
On the table were steaming stewed meat, flatbread, savory pickles, bone broth with ginger and spices, and soft rice cakes specially steamed for children and the elderly. The hunters who had come with them were initially quite reserved, but after being coaxed by the heat and the aroma of the food, they gradually relaxed.
Halfway through his meal, Chi Ya suddenly looked up, his eyes sparkling as he gazed at Zheng Yi.
"I really feel like we've entered another world today."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Everyone knows he speaks in a rustic way, but no one laughs at him.
Because these words actually resonated with each of them.
Wu Chen put down his bowl, looked at the lights in the room and the things on the table that he had only vaguely imagined before, and said in a low voice: "When we go back, we have to let everyone in the tribe know that the skin and bones of the North are not just for us to wear, stew, and exhaust ourselves. They can really be exchanged for another way of life."
Yan Ao snorted, but his voice was no longer as harsh as usual.
"Anyone from the Firemane Tribe who ever skins someone alive again, I'll be the first to beat them up."
Everyone laughed.
Before evening even arrived, Shenghe sent word that Steward Lu requested Zheng Yi to visit again early the next morning, saying that the head manager wanted to see him in person.
When He Liang heard this news, his expression clearly changed.
"The fact that Deacon Lu was able to introduce you to the head manager means that your batch of goods is highly regarded within Shenghe." He lowered his voice, as if he were talking about some incredible secret. "The head manager of Shenghe is surnamed Meng. He has been a major distributor in Beining City for over twenty years and rarely sees strangers."
Zheng Yi nodded, not showing much excitement, and only asked, "What are the characteristics of Manager Meng?"
He Liang thought for a moment and said carefully, "He has a keen eye and doesn't talk much, but he doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to serious matters. You'd better go over your explanation of 'the several tribes in the north are united as one' again; he'll definitely ask about it."
Zheng Yi wrote these words down.
That night, two oil lamps were lit in the rented courtyard hall. Zheng Yi went through everything that needed to be discussed the next day. Wu Chen sat beside him listening, occasionally interjecting, while Chi Ya lay on the table, half asleep.
"Do you think you can persuade that head manager?" Wu Chen asked.
“Not necessarily,” Zheng Yi said, “but at least we need to make him feel that continuing to talk with us is not a loss.”
After a moment of silence, Wu Chen suddenly said something that surprised Zheng Yi.
"I'll go with you tomorrow."
Zheng Yi glanced at him.
Previously, when meeting Deacon Lu, visiting the cloth market, and discussing transactions, Wu Chen followed along the whole time but rarely spoke up, acting more like an "observer." Now that he says "let's go together," he clearly means more than just following along.
"What do you want to say?" Zheng Yi asked.
Wu Chen thought for a moment and slowly said, "If the head manager asks about the Northern Lands, and you speak alone, he might think you're setting him up. If I speak, at least he'll know that there really are people in the Northern Lands putting effort into this area."
Zheng Yi did not agree immediately, but looked at Wu Chen carefully for a moment before finally nodding.
"Okay. But remember, don't rush to speak. Wait until I tell you when to speak."
Wu Chen nodded.
Chiya groggily looked up and asked, "Me too?"
"Go to sleep."
"Oh."
Chiya turned over and fell asleep again.
The next morning, before dawn, Zheng Yi took Wu Chen out the door.
The city of Beining in the early morning is different from that during the day. There are far fewer people on the streets, with only early-rising shop assistants taking down door panels and sweeping the steps. A few carts carrying vegetable baskets creak and groan as they pass by the alleyway, and the air is filled with the warm aroma of firewood and hot porridge.
Wu Chen walked down the street, much more composed than yesterday. Although he was still wearing his northern fur robe, at least he no longer looked around aimlessly, and his steps were steady.
The main gate of Shenghe was not fully open; only a side door remained open.
The servant at the door had clearly been instructed; seeing them arrive, he led them inside without announcing their arrival. Passing through yesterday's side hall and then through a passageway draped with thick cotton curtains, they finally arrived at an inner room not facing the street.
This inner hall is much larger than the side hall, yet it does not feel empty.
Several calligraphy and paintings hung on the four walls, and two large porcelain vases stood in the corner. The tables and chairs were made of dark hardwood and polished to a shine. By the window was a long table with tea sets and a stack of account books on it, next to which was a grand chair that was wider than the other chairs.
A man in his fifties was sitting in that chair, holding a bowl of tea and slowly blowing on the foam.
He was dressed even more plainly than Deacon Lu, in a dark gray cotton robe with neat cuffs and a tightly closed collar, showing no signs of wealth or status. But when those eyes swept over Zheng Yi, Wu Chen felt as if he had been lightly brushed by something.
He Liang was right—he had a keen eye.
"You're Zheng Yi?"
The sound was not loud, but it was steady.
"Yes." Zheng Yi bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Manager Meng."
Manager Meng didn't get up, but simply gestured for them to sit. Deacon Lu stood to the side and nodded slightly to Zheng Yi, meaning, "Just speak as usual."
After the two sat down, a servant came up to pour tea.
Manager Meng didn't rush to speak. He first took a sip of tea and then glanced at Wu Chen.
Who is this?
“Wu Chen,” Zheng Yi said. “Many of these goods come from the Black Anvil Tribe in the North.”
Manager Meng hummed in agreement, his gaze lingering on Wu Chen's face for a moment before he turned to Zheng Yi without asking further questions. (End of Chapter)