Looking north towards the rivers and mountains

After nightfall, Shao Shuyi arrived at the old locust tree.

As he disembarked, he looked back at the river and saw a dense array of lights and fishing lights, a truly magnificent sight.

Liujiagang, Taicang, and even Pingjiang Road remain the center of wealth in the world, unmatched by anywhere else.

After arriving at the Qingqi Shop, Cao Tong (Shitou), who was on duty, heard the noise, lit an oil lamp, and opened the door.

"The accountant is back quite early," he said softly.

Shao Shuyi wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic or what, so he just nodded vaguely.

"Didn't the accountant make a robe?" Cao Tong asked again.

"Hmm?" Shao Shuyi looked at the clothes he was wearing.

He had two sets of clothes: one was a new outfit that Zheng Fan had bought for him, and the other was patched up, which was the one he was wearing. Actually, he had originally planned to buy another set, but he didn't have the money.

The wages I received in kind have already been spent. I also gave Wang Huadu more than ten strings of cash, so I really don't have much money left.

Thinking of this, Shao Shuyi felt a little annoyed; being a generous and magnanimous "big brother" wasn't so easy.

"Why do you care so much?" He forced a smile and said, "Lead the way."

As he spoke, he pointed to the oil lamp in Cao Tong's hand.

Cao Tong remained silent, leading the way with his head down.

"Stone, is there anything going on at the shop today?" Shao Shuyi suddenly asked when they were halfway there.

Cao Tong was startled and quickly said, "We're not open today anyway, it's nothing. The shopkeeper is on leave, and the clerk is staying at the shop. Around noon, someone from the brokerage came and said that the blue ware from Qingyuan is selling well, and many foreign merchants didn't buy enough, so they asked us to prepare more. Wu the clerk has already gone to the shopkeeper's house to report this."

"Can the shopkeeper make such an important decision?" Shao Shuyi asked curiously.

"Perhaps I should go to the old house in Yantietang tomorrow to ask for instructions," Cao Tong said in a muffled voice.

Shao Shuyi said "oh" and didn't say anything more.

The two quickly arrived outside the tent.

Shao Shuyi thanked him, and in the dim light, he fumbled for the tinderbox and lit the candle.

Seeing that everything was alright, Cao Tong bowed and left.

Shao Shuyi held up a candle and gave it a quick glance. Seeing that the furnishings in the room were as before, he felt relieved.

After placing the candle on the table, he took off his shoes, put his hands behind his head, and sat back on the couch, lost in thought.

This is his habit. Every now and then, he quietly reviews all the previous goals, plans, and their execution.

For now, he has undoubtedly achieved his initial goal of improving his situation. Furthermore, he has made additional progress by finding Cheng Ji of the Crossroads to teach him various skills.

This is absolutely necessary, because no one can guarantee they won't find themselves in a life-or-death situation. Having another skill for killing would greatly improve the safety situation.

In addition, he even found a secret channel for purchasing military equipment on a small scale—perhaps not that secret, because those starving warriors of the Crossroads were willing to sell anything, and he certainly wasn't the only one they sold to.

As for the future...

Forget it, let's get this mess at the shop sorted out first.

He decided to "play dumb" about some things for now, and he could keep up the act for a long time as long as Zheng Song didn't pressure him.

******

"I heard that the accountant has been traveling back and forth and is very tired, so I made 'beggar's porridge' today to replenish his strength." It was another morning when the cook brought over a large bowl of thick millet porridge, her face beaming with joy.

Shao Shuyi glanced around and, seeing that he was the only one in the dining hall, sat down, picked up his bowl, and asked, "Where did this millet come from?"

"Some people grow it in Liujiagang," the cook said. "Few people in Jiangnan eat millet, so we bought some to adjust the flavor. It's only a few bushels; it's not worth going all the way north to buy it."

Shao Shuyi nodded and looked back into the bowl.

This was his second time eating the so-called "beggar's porridge," which he had heard was good for the spleen and stomach and boosted energy. The shopkeeper, Wang Sheng, liked it very much.

He wasn't sure if it really worked, but the millet soup was thick and made with broth, and it also contained shredded meat, scallions, and salt. It tasted pretty good and was indeed good for his health, making it perfect for a teenager like him who was still developing.

"Your accent sounds a lot like the shopkeeper's and the warehouse manager's. Are you from Quzhou?" After finishing a bowl, Shao Shuyi gestured for the cook to get more, and casually asked.

"Yes, they're all from Xiazheng Township." The cook deftly took the bowl, swaying her plump buttocks as she left.

Shao Shuyi seemed to be deep in thought.

After the cook brought out the second bowl of beggar's porridge, he smiled and said, "Xia Zheng Township is truly a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. Is Zhang Huzhi from Xia Zheng as well?"

"No, he's not. He's from Longyou County, and most of his men aren't from Quzhou either; they're mostly locals from Liujiagang," the cook replied.

Shao Shuyi laughed and took the bowl to eat.

This woman was clearly not very bright, otherwise she wouldn't have bothered to cook. Her words even revealed a hierarchy of contempt, showing pride in her status as a native of Zheng, and looking down even on Zhang Neng, a fellow resident of Longyou, a county under Quzhou's jurisdiction, let alone the people of Taicang.

But the accountant Shao she was serving was from Taicang, at least in this generation.

"I've been at the shop for twenty days, and business is very slow. I haven't sold many ceramic pieces. How am I going to make a living?" After slurping down half a bowl of porridge, Shao Shuyi forced a bitter expression and sighed.

Whether out of sheer stupidity or being fooled by Shao Shuyi's acting, the cook actually comforted him, saying, "Don't worry, accountant, this shop won't go bankrupt. In a few days, Master Sun from the brokerage firm will arrive, selling thousands upon thousands of pieces of celadon ware, which will be gone in the blink of an eye. The three or five pieces we sell on ordinary days are nothing to the gentlemen."

Shao Shuyi feigned shock and said, "Master Sun is just a lowly servant, yet he possesses such abilities?"

"Master Sun is quite formidable." The cook, slightly smug that even the literate and educated accountant didn't know Master Sun, explained, "Of the foreign merchants and seafarers who come to Liujiagang, dozens have dealt with him. This one comes this year, that one next year, and some the year after, but no matter when they come, they all only recognize Master Sun. Every June, he and his men stand on the dock, watching the seafarers disembark from afar, and then lead them home. The seafarers are very comfortable there, going directly to Master Sun's house for a short stay, drinking and chatting, and being very close."

Master Sun would recommend which merchant's blue-and-white porcelain was the best, and the foreign merchants would buy from that merchant. If they said they'd buy it for one string of cash, the foreign merchants would never give them two. Even Master Zheng and Manager Wang had to be on good terms with Master Sun.

Master Sun has amassed an untold fortune through this connection. Now, both of his sons have become brokers, but it's said that only one will ultimately be accepted into the Qingqi brokerage firm. It's unclear if anyone has offered to act as matchmaker for this young man…”

Seeing that the cook's thoughts were becoming increasingly rambling and off-topic, Shao Shuyi quickly tried to guide her: "So, Master Sun is quite familiar with Young Master Zheng and Manager Wang? I find Young Master Zheng rather aloof, while Manager Wang is much more approachable. I suppose Master Sun is closer to Manager Wang?"

"That's right!" The cook sat down and said with great interest, "The manager bought a house by Taihu Lake, and Master Sun gave him fifty ingots as a congratulatory gift."

Shao Shuyi remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was somewhat surprised. Fifty ingots—what a generous gesture! What kind of relationship must they have?

"Accountant, you're fifteen this year. Do you have a favorite young lady? If not—" Perhaps because they had been chatting for a long time, the cook had become bolder. After looking Shao Shuyi up and down, she actually wanted to play matchmaker for him.

"It's a bit too early, a bit too early," Shao Shuyi quickly declined, somewhat embarrassed.

"It's getting late!" The cook looked puzzled.

In her view, there are plenty of men and women who have children at fifteen, which is the age when they can get married.

At fifteen, one can no longer be called a teenager, but an adult, responsible for a family. One can become an official, do business, or farm... Why can't one get married? She didn't understand.

"The beggar's porridge is delicious, please have another bowl." Shao Shuyi quickly finished the remaining half bowl of porridge, handed the bowl to the cook, and said with a smile.

The cook hesitated for a moment, then finally responded and carried the bowl to the kitchen.

After eating three large bowls of food, Shao Shuyi went back to his residence to retrieve his "toolbox" and account books, and then walked towards the counter in the front yard.

At this point, he actually regretted it a little.

The cook wasn't very bright, but Wang Sheng and Wu Youcai were shrewd. Although no one else was present, if the cook were to relay his words to Wang Sheng and the others, it wouldn't be a good thing.

To put it simply, you're a bit of a gossip and like to pry into other people's private affairs.

To put it bluntly, you have ulterior motives; you've actually been secretly eyeing your colleague.

But what's done is done, and lamenting is useless. So be it, what can you do about it? Knowing more is good for you, so you don't get caught up in the situation and get yourself killed by someone else.

After sitting down at the counter, Shao Shuyi began his new day's work.