Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 162 Suspicion of the Chamber of Commerce
The secluded residence where Zhou Wenzong invited Tan Huaike that day was Yu Sufeng's property, and it was also the council hall of the Guangli Chamber of Commerce in Andu. Its inner courtyard was quiet and elegant. Members of the Chamber of Commerce would often choose to hold banquets and discussions here when they needed to resolve disputes, discuss industry rules, or make connections. When necessary, Yu Sufeng would also step in to mediate.

Tan Huaike's sudden joining of the Chamber of Commerce drew criticism from several major business owners. They felt resentful and threatened, so they gathered here to protest and even invited Yu Sufeng to oversee the proceedings, while also inquiring about the background of this new member, Mr. Tan.

When Yu Sufeng arrived, the three bosses had already been chatting for quite a while.

He sat down and had another round of tea. He said, “I know you have doubts about Boss Tan and have many ideas about opening up the trade route in the western region. Come, tell me about your grievances today, and I will clear up your doubts.”

Boss Zhou was in the silk business, and he monopolized nearly half of the fabrics transported to the twelve prefectures west of Andu. Ever since he learned that Tan Huai Ke was going to take over the western border business of the Chamber of Commerce, he had been so upset that he couldn't eat or sleep. At this moment, he was the first to stand up and say, "Yu Sufeng, our Guangli Chamber of Commerce has always recruited merchants with deep roots and rich experience. It's one thing for her to sneak in and use her name, but how can we let her take on such an important task?"

Boss Xu chimed in, "Isn't that right? We've inquired about it too. Her birth mother is from a foreign land. In Zhangye County, she was just a widow who relied on her husband's family to acquire a few acres of land and start a three-shop business. Now that she's come to Andu, how did she suddenly become such a renowned boss? Not satisfied with just opening a small shop, she's deliberately trying to steal our spice merchants' business. This is intolerable!"

Yu Sufeng looked at Mr. Zhang, who was sitting diagonally across from her: "Mr. Zhang, aren't you in the jewelry business? As far as I know, Mr. Tan doesn't have any businesses in this area. What brought you here?"

Mr. Zhang smiled gently and said, "Oh, I'm just here to join in the fun. Although Mr. Tan has not been involved in our jewelry business, the winds blowing along the Western Border trade route will inevitably affect those gems and jade to some extent. We merchants who travel to and from the Western Border year after year must always plan ahead."

His words were laced with veiled sarcasm, clearly questioning Yu Sufeng's intention to delegate authority to Tan Huaike.

Seeing that Su Feng seemed unmoved, Boss Zhou continued, "It's not that we're petty, but you value her business acumen and insist on having her join the association, so we have no objections. However, you still need to carefully consider who will lead the Western Border trade route."

Mr. Xu took a sip of tea: "Who would have thought that Si could expand from Hexi to Zhangye and still be so popular? I admire her and admit that she is very shrewd. But Wangchen Incense Shop is really not a big business. Even if she takes over other incense shops and turns them into her own branches, she will still be doing small business. Has she ever taken any large orders for our spices?"

Mr. Zhang, twirling the jewels at his waist, said, "Business in the Western Regions isn't that easy. Back then, my Zhang family spent three batches of mutton-fat jade in the desert to open up the Khotan trade route. Does she have the guts to act as a guarantor for a jeweler? If the goods are robbed by bandits outside the pass, does she expect the Chamber of Commerce to cover those losses for her?"

After Yu Sufeng had some tea and snacks, and waited for them to finish complaining, she wiped her hands and said, "It seems that you gentlemen really know nothing about Boss Tan. No wonder, judging from her qualifications alone, she is indeed not qualified enough, but in terms of methods and courage, she is absolutely capable of being the pioneer of the Western Border trade route, and she is the most suitable candidate."

"What makes you say that?" Boss Zhang asked, squinting.

Do you know where I came from?

The three shook their heads.

Mr. Xu asked, "You arrived much later than the agreed time. Was something important that kept you waiting?"

Yu Sufeng, with a shrewd smile on his round face, said, "Just now, I was in the next courtyard, at the request of the Mohe envoy, introducing him to Boss Tan as the contractor for transporting Mohe spices to Da Xuan..."

Mr. Xu didn't seem to care: "What's the big deal? Mohe is the largest supplier of spices in the Western Regions. My family has a long-standing and stable cooperative relationship with them. She's not the only one."

“She’s not an ordinary supplier,” Yu Sufeng added. “Her Highness Aisha has chosen her as a supplier recognized by the royal family. The rare spices and incense formulas controlled by the Mohe nobles will henceforth be made and sold by her.”

"What?" Upon hearing this, Boss Xu jumped up in shock. "Why should she get it?" Boss Xu knew all too well how difficult it was for the Mohe nobles to agree to deals. The business that the Xu family had been negotiating for so many years had actually fallen into the hands of that young lady? The profits from those rare spices and incense pill recipes were unimaginable, not to mention the face-saving and novelty-seeking nobles of Da Xuan, who were eager to obtain these precious items that were comparable to tributes.

Yu Sufeng chuckled and said, "You ask me why I should give it to her? How would I know? I only saw that His Highness Aisha and she hit it off immediately, and the two chatted happily in Mohe language during the meal, which I could hardly understand. Later, probably because I was still there, they switched back to Daxuan language. In just that short time, this Mohe prince directly called her 'Sister Caizhu,' and the business deal was successfully concluded. Mr. Xu, who can you complain to?"

Mr. Xu felt like the sky was falling and asked anxiously, "Then, how am I supposed to do my business from now on?"

"Just do what you normally do," Yu Sufeng advised him. "Shouldn't you be glad that Boss Tan is a member of our Chamber of Commerce? You said yourself that she probably couldn't handle such a big order on her own. If she becomes the person in charge of the Western Border Trade Route, she will naturally lead everyone to share the profits."

"Hmm, Yu Sufeng is right." Boss Xu calmed down and began to plan his escape route.

Businessmen are driven by profit. With Mr. Xu as a cautionary tale, the other two couldn't help but set aside their original prejudices and re-evaluate Tan Huaike, the new boss who had just joined the association.

Who exactly is she? And how does she possess such abilities?
Boss Zhang tentatively analyzed, "I heard that her birth mother is a woman from the Western Frontier. I suppose Prince Mohe feels a sense of kinship with her, like meeting an old friend in a foreign land, so he trusts her more. Moreover, her uncle has just been recommended and appointed as the Grand Master of Ceremonies, and he has close ties with the envoy. There is probably also an element of consolidating the diplomatic relations between the two countries involved."

Yu Sufeng sighed, "Whatever the reason, it's because they have the ability to attract business, something others can only envy."
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The protests came to nothing, and the three bosses got up to leave. As soon as they stepped outside, they bumped into Tan Huaike and Aisha, who had also left the party, in the courtyard.

Aisha continued to speak to her in the Mohe language: "You can focus on taking over the Western Border business in the Chamber of Commerce. If the Royal Court tries to cause trouble, I have my own ways to deal with it."

Tan Huaike said worriedly, "The princess controls the court and is likely to cause you trouble. Your Highness should be careful."

"It's alright. The opening of this trade route to Da Xuan is beneficial to me. When I return to my country..."

"Your Highness, Mr. Tan, is the meal satisfactory?" Yu Sufeng greeted them loudly, interrupting their conversation.

"Very good." Tan Huaike looked over with a smile. "I haven't yet thanked you for the introduction."

"It was His Highness the Crown Prince who specifically requested to discuss business with you; I was merely relaying a message," Yu Sufeng said modestly.

"The courtyard is nice, but I still prefer Hu Shi." Ays nodded slightly to him without saying a word, then turned to say goodbye to Tan Huai Ke, "Sister Caizhu, I have something to do, so I'll take my leave first."

"...Alright, Your Highness, please take care." Tan Huai Ke sighed helplessly, knowing that he was just trying to save face for him, so there was no need to deliberately call her "Sister Caizhu," it would be too embarrassing.

After seeing Aisha off, Tan Huaike didn't leave in a hurry. Instead, he looked at the other three bosses and said, "It's quite a coincidence today. I happen to have something I'd like to say to you all. Yu Sufeng, could you do me a favor?"

The three bosses who had just finished speaking ill of her: "..."
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Next chapter: They even managed to get the Zhenxi Army to come?