Opening an antique shop and getting rich through all the worlds

Chapter 121

“I’ve already sent the orders I can’t complete to other shops.” Liu Erniang said.

“As for what you mentioned, if it were simply joining the merchant guild, I’d naturally welcome it. But asking me to hand over my workshop—I cannot agree to that.”

The wealthy merchant’s smile faded somewhat. Join the merchant guild? How could such a small workshop qualify?

Being allowed to work under the merchant guild as a manager was already generous enough.

“You’d better think this through carefully.” The wealthy merchant spoke meaningfully.

As long as the merchant guild took action, they could cut off her workshop’s supply channels for silk thread.

“Taking on so many orders without sufficient materials—if you can’t deliver, the trouble will be considerable. You’ll have to pay quite a bit in compensation.” The wealthy merchant said in a tone that suggested he was looking out for her.

Liu Erniang bit her lip, momentarily unsure how to respond.

If the other party delayed things by just a few days, it would be enough to cause serious problems for their workshop.

What should she do? Must all this hard work from recent days be handed over?

But the workshop didn’t belong to her alone—Miss Shen had a share too.

Just as anxiety gripped her heart, sounds suddenly arose from outside the door.

Liu Zheng entered with several people dressed in ordinary clothes but carrying an extraordinarily different aura.

Behind them, others carried brocade boxes—clearly not civilian items.

The wealthy merchant surnamed Jin recognized the visitors and immediately stood up. These were palace servants with official ranks—merchants like them naturally had to show deference.

“Young Master Liu, Eunuch Jiang, what brings you two here?” The merchant who had been so imposing moments ago now smiled as warmly as a spring breeze.

“The palace wants to purchase a batch of slippers from Liu’s workshop.” Eunuch Jiang glanced at him, then focused on Liu Erniang.

“Is there somewhere we can speak privately?”

Palace matters naturally couldn’t be discussed in front of outsiders.

The wealthy merchant very tactfully said he had business to attend to and took his leave. As he turned away, his expression was quite unpleasant.

If he had taken over this workshop before the palace people came, this opportunity would have been his! Working for the palace was such an honor—he might even have had a chance to compete for the position of imperial merchant.

But it just had to happen at this exact moment!

Liu Erniang looked at the palace visitors with bewilderment, somewhat nervous, not knowing the proper etiquette for greeting nobles, afraid she might offend them.

Following what Sister-in-law Chen had taught her before, she performed a wan fu bow, though not very skillfully.

“Manager Liu, no need for such formality.”

Since the slippers had been presented to the palace by the Liu family, and Liu Zheng had brought them here, Eunuch Jiang’s attitude toward Liu Erniang was considerably warmer.

“These are materials for palace tribute. See how many pairs of slippers you can make from them.”

The materials had narrow widths, perfect for making shoes—clearly the finest quality.

“I should be able to make fifteen or sixteen pairs.” Liu Erniang answered honestly.

The woman beside Eunuch Jiang nodded approvingly—an honest person.

“Good. You must be very careful with palace items.” Eunuch Jiang instructed. “Even any leftover materials cannot be allowed to leak out, otherwise…”

“This commoner woman understands.” Liu Erniang responded excitedly.

Palace purchases all had standards, and she knew this money would allow those responsible for procurement to profit too.

With today’s order, her workshop’s reputation in the capital would surely soar!

After the palace people and Liu Zheng left, the Liu family’s steward still had matters to discuss with Liu Erniang.

“Manager Liu, it’s like this—our master’s side also has a merchant guild. It’s not as powerful as those few in the capital, but we’d like to ask if you’re willing to join?”

“It would be in name only—not asking me to hand over the workshop?” Liu Erniang asked cautiously.

“Correct.”

Hearing the definitive answer, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and agreed.

After leaving the workshop, Liu Zheng walked beside Eunuch Jiang and Aunt Meng, saying quietly,

“The shop has specially set aside snow cream for you two, plus some newly arrived goods. Would you like to take a look?”

At the mention of snow cream and Western Region goods, both their faces lit up with smiles.

“Then we’ll trouble the young master.” Eunuch Jiang said cheerfully.

Buying snow cream wasn’t easy! Every time goods arrived, the best would be sent to the palace first.

The remaining quantities were fought over outside. These palace workers were usually busy, and by the time they came out, everything was sold out.

“Those Western Region goods you stock are truly wonderful! Everyone in the palace loves them. When we’re on night duty outside the halls, wearing those cotton socks keeps us so much warmer.”

As Eunuch Jiang spoke, he and the court lady Aunt Meng clearly quickened their pace.

Before long, the group arrived at ‘There’s a Shop.’

Seeing the displayed cosmetics and skincare products, everyone was delighted.

“This eyebrow pencil is really good to use—colors easily and looks natural. And this rouge—the palace ladies said we must buy this color.”

Aunt Meng hugged a bag of goods, settling the bill with satisfaction. Eunuch Jiang held the egg powder, his face creased with smiles, and discreetly shared some palace news with Liu Zheng.

After personally seeing off the two satisfied buyers, Liu Zheng returned to his mansion to find that the rocking chair he’d ordered days ago had arrived.

Ever since seeing it in Shopkeeper Shen’s store, he’d been curious about how this type of chair would feel to sit in.

Finally, he could try it.

Wearing cotton slippers, he reclined in it with fine tea and pastries at his side, incense burning—on such a cold day, it was incredibly comfortable. He didn’t want to get up!

This was the life he’d wanted to live!

Liu Zheng tasted the fried chicken and steamed cake made by his mansion’s cook. The flavors were acceptable, though they couldn’t compare to Shopkeeper Shen’s—good enough for opening a shop.

After experiencing the rocking chair’s comfort, he got up and instructed his attendants to send the other chairs to the family elders.

Rocking chairs were expensive outside now, and all the great families were buying them. By getting in early, he’d been able to obtain them so quickly.

He’d used yellow rosewood—he hadn’t splurged on the finest wood. It was better for the Liu family to keep a low profile now.

Unlike the Zhao Marquis’s mansion, which could afford to have theirs custom-made from agarwood.

At this time, in the Great Qi imperial palace.

In the sleeping quarters, having just returned from court, the old emperor couldn’t wait to have someone bring out the slippers he’d received a few days ago and put them on.

When he’d first received the slippers presented by the Liu family, he’d also thought these things looked inadequate.

It was the first time he’d seen someone present such items. If not for Liu Zheng’s genuine treasure-offering expression, and the fact that the Liu family had been behaving recently, he would have suspected they were deliberately causing trouble.

With Duke Zheng nearby mentioning that this type of shoe was indeed popular among the people, he’d tried them out experimentally, paired with Western Region cotton socks as Liu Zheng had suggested.

Unexpectedly, these things were actually quite good.

They were nice to wear in the sleeping quarters, especially now that his health wasn’t very good—wearing these shoes was somewhat more comfortable.

“The Liu family was thoughtful.” The old emperor said coolly, holding a hand warmer.

“Recently, how have things been with the National Preceptor?”

He looked up at the person below.

Due to his increasingly decaying and deteriorating body, the old emperor’s back was slightly hunched, and the wrinkles on his face seemed more pronounced than they’d been a month ago. Yet those cloudy eyes still held sharp light and authority.

Just one look was enough to send a chill through his trusted subordinate.

“Nothing unusual.” The subordinate replied respectfully. “Many people have sought to see the National Preceptor, but he’s received none of them. The National Preceptor often stays alone in his study with no activity.”

It was as if no one was there, yet no one had been seen entering or leaving.

“We also haven’t seen him contact the Western Region merchants at any time.”