"Market price for a ginseng of around fifty years is about a thousand taels. You said half—how about six hundred?"
"Though my official rank isn't high, my half-year salary barely covers that. But I do have a relocation allowance when I transfer at year's end. Would you accept credit?"
…
Watching Magistrate Xiao—the highest official in the county—haggle with her over the price, Song Jin's mouth twitched. She found it hard to put into words.
"You're the county magistrate, for heaven's sake."
Magistrate Xiao stroked his non-existent beard, also somewhat wistful. "Got five kids at home."
No money left to save.
Of course, compared to ordinary folk, his life was already far better. Most common families spent only ten to twenty taels a year on everything. He was doing quite well.
Magistrate Xiao took it in stride—he was just a bit short on cash. "How about you charge me interest? Consider it a loan. And give me a discount for old times' sake."
Even without a discount, at the current low annual interest rate of twenty percent, he could barely afford to pay it back.
Song Jin fell into deep silence. Looking at the dark circles under Magistrate Xiao's eyes, she couldn't help but sigh. "These days, even being a magistrate isn't easy."
Magistrate Xiao felt the pain. "You said it."
Just as the two of them were about to start venting about their damn jobs, Magistrate Xiao finally remembered there was someone else standing there. He cleared his throat and explained himself.
"When my wife gave birth to our fifth child, she had a difficult labor that damaged her constitution. She's been chronically ill ever since and needs all sorts of rare medicines to sustain her. The cost is considerable."
It wasn't that he was deliberately complaining about his salary being insufficient.
The current dynasty's official salaries weren't much different from the previous one, but the welcome and farewell allowances for officials were considerably higher, ensuring that officials wouldn't be strapped for cash during transfers and could handle unexpected situations.
Officials in this dynasty also rotated positions far more frequently than before, denying local powerholders the chance to entrench themselves.
Of course, this system had both pros and cons—it all depended on the person.
But overall, in the twenty years since the new dynasty was established, everything was flourishing. The common people's lives had improved, painting a picture of a prosperous nation with contented citizens.
Qi Zheng, who had roamed the martial world with his master since childhood, had seen plenty of this. He used to sigh with admiration when he heard people talk about it, but now listening to Magistrate Xiao sing praises, he felt a bit embarrassed.
That's our achievement. Keep it low-key, keep it low-key.
Though his mind was churning with thoughts, Qi Zheng's face remained cold and inscrutable. He nodded.
"Lord Xiao has contributed greatly to the people and the nation. When I return, I will surely report your efforts truthfully to His Majesty, so he knows of your dedication."
"…"
Don't say things like that with that expression on your face. Magistrate Xiao's heart trembled. Was his transfer going to fall through, fall through, or fall through?
Qi Zheng wasn't thinking that deeply. He genuinely believed Magistrate Xiao was doing a good job. The man had handled everything personally during this period. Even accounting for Qi Zheng's presence, the way the people around him took it for granted showed that Magistrate Xiao was like this every day.
Thinking of this, Qi Zheng recalled what his not-so-familiar biological father had told him before he set out. He paused, and under Magistrate Xiao's anxious gaze, said,
"This ginseng—I'll buy it and gift it to Lord Xiao. You've worked hard during this time."
Magistrate Xiao was shocked and quickly waved his hands. "I couldn't possibly! These are all my duties. Please don't spend your money on me, my lord…"
Seeing the meat about to slip right out of her mouth, Song Jin shoved him aside, stuffed the ginseng into Qi Zheng's hands, and flashed her big white teeth.
"I'll give you a friend's price of one thousand. In good years, this could sell for thirteen or fourteen hundred."
Qi Zheng naturally understood. He'd bought one before—it had wiped out his years of savings, forcing him to go out and work odd jobs to make ends meet.
But now, after being acknowledged and taken back, he'd received not only fiefs, shops, and estates, but also twenty years of back-paid salary, plus his mother's dowry.
He was now obscenely wealthy. Pulling out a thousand taels felt like pulling out a hundred coppers. In the span of a breath, the two completed the transaction.
Song Jin: Oh yeah, just fleeced the imperial court. Now it'll be easier to ask questions.
Qi Zheng: Mm, this was the spending money his father gave him before he left. Doesn't matter.
One kept a blank expression, the other grinned cheerfully, but both their eyes were dark and deep. In their brief standoff, each could sense the aura emanating from the other.
A master.
But it had nothing to do with her/him.
In the blink of an eye, their thoughts turned and they looked away, so quickly that Magistrate Xiao hadn't even processed what happened before he'd gotten a free ginseng.
He was shocked and alarmed, then tears welled up in his eyes. Overcome with emotion, he knelt and kowtowed toward the capital.
"Long live His Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years! Your humble servant shall spare no effort in the future, continuing to share Your Majesty's burdens and ensure the people live well…"
Magistrate Xiao's sudden display left Song Jin and Qi Zheng both taking two steps back simultaneously. They looked at each other, sharing the same shock and awkwardness in their eyes.
Song Jin cleared her throat and followed along with a show of sincerity. "His Majesty is truly a great man, a wise ruler. It's our fortune to live under his reign."
She was reckless, not stupid. In this era where imperial power reigned supreme, the emperor was everything. Whatever one said behind his back, one had to show support publicly.
And he truly was a wise ruler. If they'd ended up with a debauched sovereign like those from the previous dynasty who held beauty pageants every year, Song Jin figured she and her mother would have had no choice but to flee into the mountains and live as savages.
Qi Zheng was also unaccustomed to this kind of scene, but it wouldn't be right to say nothing. So, with a blank expression, he followed with a grunt of acknowledgment.
Utterly lacking in sincerity.
Being a prince sure is something.
Indeed, very impressive.
Song Jin pursed her lips, arms crossed as she watched Magistrate Xiao go on endlessly. Suddenly, her eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, and she leaned in close to Qi Zheng, drawing out her words.
"Master Qi, I happen to have a century-old ginseng stashed away."
Magistrate Xiao, who had been kneeling in earnest sincerity, scrambled up awkwardly, clutching his nearly-sprained back.
"You can't, you really can't do this! Song Jin, are you never going to let this go?"
Song Jin pouted: "You're overthinking it. This century-old ginseng is a treasure—something that can save a life in critical moments. I've only had this one for all these years. Our county is small, and it's hard to find buyers. I figured Master Qi is generous and can afford it, and I could also do him a favor."
Magistrate Xiao couldn't help but glare at her. Was this how you casually mentioned a favor? She was truly a constant source of worry.
He quickly interjected: "Master Qi, please don't mind her. She's always been blunt since she was a child. If her words are offensive, please don't take them to heart."
Qi Zheng hummed in response, his fingers at his side twitching slightly: "How much silver?"
"Master Qi is truly magnanimous." Under Magistrate Xiao's look of exasperation, Song Jin grinned and held up one finger.
"A century-old ginseng has value but no market. When it's truly needed, it's worth tens of thousands of taels. At the very least, I've never heard of it going for less than this amount."
Ten thousand taels of silver was an astronomical sum for ordinary people, but for these aristocratic and royal scions, it was merely pocket change. After all, they often threw around thousands for so-called ancient paintings and antiques, let alone a life-saving medicine.
These days, resources were plentiful, and there were many old ginsengs deep in the mountains, but ordinary people couldn't get in. Not to mention the wild beasts and venomous insects, even the cliffs and steep slopes left most people just staring helplessly.
Song Jin felt she was being very fair. Her ginseng was a genuine century-old specimen, well over a hundred years old. If it weren't for trying to build a connection, she truly had no interest in this mere eight or nine thousand taels.
She had no extravagant hobbies and didn't really spend money anyway.
Little did she know, while she was thinking it was simple, Qi Zheng across from her didn't immediately pull out his money. Instead, he visibly struggled, as if making a difficult decision.
After a long moment, he looked at Song Jin with those dark eyes, his lips pressed tight, his expression serious as he held up two fingers in the shape of an eight.
???
"That's impossible. This is a century-old ginseng, not a century-old radish." Song Jin's eyes widened, and she refused without a second thought. "What is eight thousand supposed to be? No way. At the very least, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine."
She wasn't short on money, but she wasn't about to be taken for a fool either.
Qi Zheng said nothing, just lowered his head and gazed at her quietly, making Magistrate Xiao's heart tighten. He wanted to remind Song Jin that the person before her was not someone to be trifled with.
Eight thousand it is—just take the money and be grateful. Stop haggling.
Qi Zheng spoke again: "Eight thousand eight hundred."
Song Jin gritted her teeth: "Nine thousand nine hundred."
Qi Zheng: "Eight thousand eight hundred eighty-eight."
Song Jin: "Nine thousand six hundred sixty-six."
…
The two started off calm, but by the end, it was like a clash of blades—their gazes had completely changed.
Yet, one genuinely wanted to buy, and the other genuinely wanted to sell.
In the end, Qi Zheng haggled the price down to nine thousand two hundred twenty-two. No one listening would ever connect him to being a prince.
What kind of prince haggles over prices?
Song Jin took deep breath after deep breath, finally glaring fiercely at the man who stood half a head taller than her. Even his handsome face no longer looked pleasing to her.
She clenched her teeth, the words squeezing out from between them: "Deal."
Two cheapskates in a row—what rotten luck.
She was unhappy, but Qi Zheng was pleased. When traveling the world, haggling was a necessary skill. He slightly curled his lips and reached into his pocket to pull out the money.
"…I didn't bring any with me." Song Jin pursed her lips, mentally wondering if backing out now would offend anyone.
Magistrate Xiao finally found a chance to speak, grabbing the restless Song Jin and glaring at her: "If you didn't bring it, go back and get it. It's no big deal. Bring the item tomorrow, and we'll do a hand-to-hand exchange. I'll be the witness. Are you both satisfied with that?"
Qi Zheng nodded. He had managed to buy the item today thanks to Magistrate Xiao, so he naturally trusted him.
Song Jin pouted. She now felt Magistrate Xiao had been corrupted by power—he looked completely unreliable.
Magistrate Xiao smiled: "Song Jin, bring it tomorrow, got it?"
"Fine, fine, tomorrow it is." Song Jin waved her hand dismissively, then her eyes turned sly as she bared her teeth in a grin. "But you should at least cover my travel expenses, right? My mule needs feed for the round trip."
Qi Zheng glanced at her, this picture of petty mercantilism, and could imagine how shocked people in the capital would be when they saw her.
He said: "I'll go back with you."
Song Jin immediately grew wary: "What for? I'm telling you, I don't have any extras at home."
Even if she did, it wouldn't be at such a bargain price. Prince or not, as long as he didn't openly admit it, he was just an official from the capital—no big deal to her.
Qi Zheng was fairly certain that she was the one who had been eavesdropping outside the house that day and had gotten a beating from Song Xingzhi. But since it had little to do with him, he simply pretended not to know.
However, he had indeed taken advantage of the young lady today, so he reminded her, "One is enough. It's just that Lord Song, who's traveling with me, has gone to your place. I happen to need to see him, so I'll go along as well."
"Damn fool!" Song Jin's expression shifted, and she muttered a curse under her breath before darting off in a flash.
Qi Zheng and Magistrate Xiao: …
They hadn't heard a thing.