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Chapter 3
Upon seeing that wooden door with the strange glowing nameplate, Liu Zheng breathed a sigh of relief and stepped aside.
“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”
While Li Heng’s face showed no emotion, Zhong Jing stared bewilderedly at the dilapidated doorway.
Was this where an immortal lived???
Where was the door?
Could it be that he was blind? How could he not see the door Liu Zheng mentioned?
Liu Zheng pointed, “Master Zhong, can’t you see the glowing object on the door?”
After speaking, he pushed the door open first and led the way.
Li Heng followed next. Seeing this, Zhong Jing hurriedly followed and crossed the doorway.
However, the next second.
Zhong Jing and the guard stood in the decrepit courtyard, facing the quiet air, suddenly panicking. Where was His Highness?
His Highness had an important status, and this kind of place was easy to set up an ambush. If anything happened—
“Quick, get the people outside to come in. Dig three feet into the ground if necessary to find His Highness!”
Just as he was anxiously searching, a familiar voice sounded from outside the door, “That won’t be necessary.”
Zhong Jing was confused. How did His Highness get outside again?
“It seems the owner of this place only allows two people to enter.” Li Heng said solemnly, standing at the doorway.
“Master Zhong, why don’t you wait outside?” Liu Zheng suggested.
“You’ve already been there once. I haven’t seen an immortal’s shop yet. Shouldn’t I at least be allowed to go in and take a look?”
Zhong Jing said, attempting to squeeze inside.
Liu Zheng quickly blocked him, “I’ve met the shopkeeper before. It’s most appropriate for me to guide His Highness.”
An irrefutable reason.
In the end, Zhong Jing watched with resentful eyes as Liu Zheng walked through the door, pacing anxiously at the entrance.
That was an immortal’s shop, something one might not encounter even in two lifetimes. Being so close yet unable to enter was unbearably frustrating.
Ding-a-ling—
[Customer arriving!]
[Customer arriving!]
The shop management system’s notification accompanied by the wind chime sound rang twice. Shen You struggled to open her eyes.
Too excited yesterday, she had watched dramas until three in the morning. Who was coming in and out so early in the morning? What were they trying to do?
Whoever it was better have good reason.
She rolled out of bed, quickly rinsing her mouth, washing her face, and changing clothes.
She had forgotten to set the shop’s opening time last night, so it defaulted to seven in the morning. She needed to change it to the afternoon!
Li Heng, someone who typically didn’t believe in spirits and gods stood in the courtyard, looking at the tightly closed shop door, his eyes full of shock.
From the outside, this place was just an ordinary abandoned house overgrown with weeds, but inside was different.
The flowers planted in the courtyard bloomed exceptionally well,all varieties he had never seen before.
Liu Zheng stepped forward and knocked on the door several times with no response.
Li Heng told him that they should wait, then despite his noble status, he stood straight at the door without showing any impatience.
As long as they could solve Yunzhou’s predicament, respect was due whether the person was an immortal or not.
The two didn’t wait long. A few minutes later, the sound of unlocking came from inside the door.
As soon as he saw the person behind the door, Liu Zheng formally bowed, “Immortal Shopkeeper.”
Shen You glanced at the two. At the current business level, the shop could only accommodate two customers, and she couldn’t travel to [Great Qi] through the shop.
“Just call me Shopkeeper.”
Liu Zheng solemnly introduced, “This is my master.”
Ordinary people wouldn’t use official silver ingots, nor could they appreciate glassware. This person was clearly a noble from [Great Qi], so how could he be someone else’s servant?
And the other person, judging by his demeanor, appearance, and attire, was even less ordinary.
But Shen You didn’t expose them.
She was here to trade, not interested in her customers’ backgrounds.
After entering the door, Li Heng stared at the paper swallows floating in the air for a long time before finally noticing the transparent threads connecting them.
No wonder Liu Zheng was so excited yesterday. This place was strange inside and out.
“Shopkeeper, we’ve come today for the famine in Yunzhou. If you have a solution here, just name your price. Money is not an issue.”
Liu Zheng had mentioned this shop accepted silver.
Even if this transaction could be completed, it would likely cost more than just money.
Li Heng thought that if the resources at his disposal weren’t enough, he would find another way.
Someone who could open such a shop was no ordinary person, so transactions couldn’t be forced.
Shen You pondered for a moment.
Although she didn’t know the scale of Great Qi, the amount of food needed for a famine was enormous.
“I could help you set up a porridge shop in Yunzhou for immediate relief, but that ultimately treats the symptoms, not the disease.”
Shen You took out her phone to search for information,
“I have grain seeds that produce high yields with minimal environmental requirements, possibly seven or eight times more than what you currently have.
However, these seeds cannot be saved for replanting. Even if saved, the yield will decrease year by year. Do you want them?”
In the prosperous southern Song Dynasty, each mu of rice paddy produced 2-3 shi, with one shi being 59 kilograms.
Modern high-yield grains, regardless of taste, could produce up to a thousand kilograms per mu.
Even with environmental and climate factors reducing yields, several hundred kilograms was still achievable.
[Great Qi]’s production couldn’t possibly exceed that of the Song Dynasty, so claiming seven or eight times more was entirely reasonable.
“Are you telling the truth? Seven or eight times more?”
Even the typically composed Li Heng, with traces of illness on his face, showed an expression of astonishment.
“Guaranteed. It just depends on whether you believe me or not.” Shen You replied.
“What must this prince offer for this transaction?”
Li Heng no longer concealed his identity, wanting the shopkeeper to know how much he could afford.
Shen You’s eyes lit up. This young man understood.
Money, money, money!
“I want the best porcelain from your residence, and Jinsi Nanmu wood.”
Antiques valuable in modern times were treasures only noble families could possess in ancient times.
Those artistic masterpieces in museums were made by craftsmen who staked their lives as guarantees.
“Just that?” Li Heng was shocked.
If what she said about the grain seeds having such high yields was true, then she had to know what that meant for him and Great Qi.
Yet she only wanted a few treasures from his residence?
Could she really be an immortal who had been sent down to accumulate merit?
Shen You, of course, had no idea what he was thinking. She calmly nodded,
“If you confirm the transaction, you need to leave a deposit.”
She wouldn’t do business at a loss.
Li Heng instructed Liu Zheng to take out the box and open it.
“We left in a hurry today. Can two hundred taels of gold and this jade pendant serve as a deposit?”
“The jade pendant is a token. As long as I’m alive, it allows unrestricted passage throughout Great Qi, including border checkpoints.”
“Acceptable.” Shen You appeared unimpressed by such a small matter, but inside she was so excited she wanted to jump up and down.
The token aspect wasn’t important.
This was genuine mutton-fat jade.
Jade of true mutton-fat quality was almost nonexistent in the market.
Even when available, it was a private transaction among connoisseurs. They wouldn’t let you see it without verifying your finances. She had only seen it in museums.
Not counting its antique value, this jade pendant was worth at least two million yuan at auction, plus the gold ingots in the box. It dazzled her eyes.
Wealth truly was captivating!
“Do you still have the medicine from yesterday?” Li Heng asked.
Shen You took out two bottles of essential balm with the labels removed from the drawer.
“When you come for the transaction, I can give you a bottle or two.”
“What would I need to exchange for the formula?” Li Heng’s speech quickened unconsciously.
Shen You shook her head, “Even with the formula, you couldn’t produce the necessary materials.”