Chapter 70
“Next chapter waiting? Get it now for 12 coins (that’s 15¢)!”
Liu Zheng actually thought the same way.
Once they returned home, both people put on the down vests immediately. Liu Zheng even sent a set to his grandmother, thinking that elderly people were more susceptible to cold.
Before bedtime arrived, Zhong Jing was working in his study.
Ever since he bought the solar lamp, the study remained brightly lit at night, which was much better than the dim candlelight from before.
Today, however, reading became increasingly uncomfortable as he continued. However the window was still open, allowing damp and cold wind to pour inside.
Less than an hour after putting on the down inner vest, his body began sweating.
When the heat became unbearable, he quickly returned to his bedroom to remove the garment and joyfully stored it in his wardrobe.
Such a thin layer, yet the insulation effect surpassed that of cotton clothing!
This was really a treasure!
Meanwhile, at the Liu residence.
The old lady also became thoroughly heated and sweaty during her meal, only feeling comfortable after removing the garment.
When she first received it, she was reluctant to wear it, finding the clothing strange and peculiar.
Now she genuinely appreciated its value.
“What kind of clothing is this, and where was it purchased?” The old lady asked Liu Zheng with pleasant surprise. “Can we buy more?”
“It’s down clothing.” Liu Zheng replied. “It comes from that Western Region merchant who previously supplied goods to our family shops. This time he wanted us to examine the merchandise first, then continue our collaboration afterward.”
Hearing this, the old lady nodded with a beaming smile. “When the time comes, we should keep several pieces for our own household. Wearing them in another month or two will certainly provide warmth.”
“Don’t worry, the other party mentioned that there would be sufficient stock this time.” Liu Zheng told her.
Liu Zheng’s mother was equally filled with anticipation. Last time, she had received a trial portion of those cosmetics, plus the pastries were delicious.
Several ladies wanting to purchase items had already approached her.
That Western Region merchant was absolutely their family’s benefactor!
Ever since her husband had been sabotaged by others in court, demoted from his official position, and then died from depression, their Zhongxing Earl’s mansion had fallen into decline.
Now their situation had improved somewhat, yet they really didn’t have money. They merely maintained appearances outwardly, while those few shops operated with poor business results.
But thanks to selling Western Region goods last time, they earned more money than they typically made in an entire year.
Hearing that the other party sought collaboration again, this wasn’t just a Western Region merchant, but a God of Wealth!
“However, with continuous turmoil in court recently, our business won’t encounter problems, will it?” The old lady shifted the conversation.
Although she was a woman of the inner quarters, she had once been capable of single-handedly supporting the Liu family, so she wasn’t entirely ignorant of the capital’s circumstances.
Currently, every household proceeded with extreme caution.
And to preserve their lives, many sharpened their wits to send gifts to the Imperial Preceptors. People both feared and sought to curry favor with those Imperial Preceptors.
What’s more the Emperor’s paranoia had grown worse than before.
Liu Zheng spoke only one sentence, which eliminated the old lady’s concerns: “His Highness knows about this matter.”
Besides, Shopkeeper Shen had also said that there were no problems.
“Good, then handle these affairs as you see fit.”
The next day, Liu Zheng had the shop manager deliver trial products to the marquis residence, and their response came quickly.
They said to reserve the goods, as money wasn’t an issue.
Knowing that Western Region cosmetics were limited in quantity, Zhao Wanyi immediately mounted her carriage and personally went to the shop to make selections, fearing that arriving late would allow others to take the best items first.
Looking at these newly arrived Western Region cosmetics, she remembered the shop she had once entered, feeling that these items came from the same place.
She had people investigate the supply channels but learned nothing. She had also visited shops several times but never found that particular establishment again.
“Go to Bluestone Alley near Hongguang Temple.” She instructed outside the carriage.
Shen You was discussing the situation with factory owners, making notes in tables to facilitate future purchasing.
When someone arrived at the shop. It was the Great Qi’s number one wealthy lady.
She had given all her goods to Liu Zheng yesterday, keeping only items for personal use. However, Miss Zhao’s visit today seemed unrelated to purchasing.
“The Western Region goods in Liu family’s shop came from your place?” Zhao Wanyi scrutinized Shen You.
She had come to try her luck today, never expecting to actually gain entry.
Shen You smiled lightly and casually, “More or less.”
Hearing the ambiguous response, Zhao Wanyi frowned. “The shops in the capital’s best locations belong to our Zhao family.”
The meaning was quite obvious.
Shen You shook her head. She would definitely not change business partners. “I have no stock here, and I’ll be leaving for a while.”
Hearing this, Zhao Wanyi became somewhat anxious, completely abandoning her previous disdain. “When will you return? Will there be those limited edition lipsticks afterward?”
“In some time. If I have them, I’ll certainly reserve them for you.”
Zhao Wanyi nodded with satisfaction and spent fifty taels to purchase the wooden-handled makeup brushes that Shen You had just bought.
Before leaving, she looked at Shen You but ultimately said nothing.
She vaguely sensed that this shop’s manager might know His Highness the Crown Prince. Everyone in the capital knew that the Liu family belonged to the Crown Prince’s faction.
Initially, she felt some crisis, but after thinking about it, a merchant woman of unknown origins could not possibly marry into the Crown Prince’s residence, so she dismissed the thought.
Shen You was busy here. Once the customer left, she closed the shop and called Gu Shaoyu.
“My friend will arrive in Jiangcheng in two days. If you have time, let’s have dinner together and discuss business.”
Major business deals couldn’t be explained clearly over the phone and required face-to-face meetings.
Shen You replied, “Alright, send me the location when the time comes.”
Previously, Gu Shaoyu had told her about the factory situation, mentioning that the waters there ran quite deep, and that having acquaintances would make things more proper.
He also mentioned that when goods were transported, quality and size inspections still required personnel.
This problem posed no difficulty for Shen You, as the system could detect items during warehouse storage.
The other two factories she had selected claimed to have several thousand pieces in stock available for bulk sale, but required half the deposit paid in advance.
Shen You had not agreed yet, planning to wait for Gu Shaoyu’s friend’s arrival before making comparisons.
After a busy morning and receiving another batch of deliveries, she finally got her takeout near one o’clock in the afternoon.
It was from a newly opened pork knuckle rice restaurant, with added half-portion of char siu and complimentary seaweed soup.
Before eating, she opened the shop system, unlocked the second world, and simultaneously increased the shop’s customer capacity to five people.
The map looked rather ominous. It was a stretch of yellow earth with a somewhat desolate appearance.
[Respected Shop Owner, you have opened the plane [Lan City]. The shop system will bring you an entirely new experience.]
As the interface prompt disappeared, there was a sudden thunderous crash.
Then a rusty metal advertising sign fell from a high building outside.
Shen You had not taken a single bite of her food when her chopsticks dropped from fright.
Excuse me, what?
This was the entirely new experience?
Not a single person was visible, and yellow sand covered everything.
The original streets and buildings outside the shop had vanished, replaced by a completely different scene.
This was clearly an apocalypse!
“Is this place safe? Don’t tell me I can’t return.”
[You and your shop are absolutely safe. Due to this being the first activation of a new plane, coordinate links haven’t yet been established, and the procurement mall is still updating, so your shop will continue existing in this world for 48 hours.]
This meant things would return to normal after 48 hours.
That was fine then. The food in her refrigerator could last several days.