Facing Xie Jinzhu’s calm expression, Boss Bai fully exercised his skills as a merchant, meticulously picking out flaws from every angle.
“First, the ink lacks fragrance.”
“Second, pine soot ink should be adorned with sprinkled gold patterns, so that wherever the brush passes, a faint hint of gold subtly emerges, blending elegance with luxury.”
“Yet these are absent.”
Boss Bai sighed regretfully: “Without these essential elements, though it is pine soot, it struggles to live up to the refined reputation of pine soot ink. It’s not what you imagined.”
As the saying goes, those who criticize the goods are the ones who intend to buy.
Xie Jinzhu knew the fish had already taken the bait and, without rushing, began to haggle back and forth.
After three rounds of discussion, a hint of astonishment flickered in Boss Bai’s eyes.
The Xie Jinzhu before him spoke with clear logic, striking right at the heart of the matter—completely different from the person who had once clamored for credit at Fangyuan Zhai.
In such a short time, could a person change so dramatically?
Xie Jinzhu’s patience was wearing thin: “Boss Bai, this transaction isn’t a one-time buyout.”
“Why rush to close off all avenues in our first business deal?”
Boss Bai seized the key point, half-believing, half-doubting: “So, there will be more in the future?”
“Of course.”
Xie Jinzhu replied unhurriedly: “As long as you can afford the price, I can produce the ink you desire.”
“I was in a hurry when I left today and only brought these two pieces with me. But if you don’t mind the trouble and need them urgently, you can come back with me to fetch the goods. Once you take them back and let them air-dry to remove moisture, they can be boxed.”
Regarding the appearance and quality of the ink, Xie Jinzhu was extremely confident.
She also firmly believed that the other party was genuinely tempted.
However, after all the back-and-forth, Boss Bai still managed to lower the price by two taels.
Boss Bai smiled amiably: “Eight signifies prosperity. In business, one must emphasize good fortune and seek auspicious numbers—it benefits both of us. How about it?”
Xie Jinzhu very much wanted to pick up a brush and write the words “unscrupulous merchant” on Boss Bai’s face, but under the circumstances, she urgently needed money and had no choice but to agree.
Twenty ink sticks, eight taels each.
One hundred and sixty taels of silver didn’t quite meet Xie Jinzhu’s expectations, but it was enough for the immediate emergency.
Xie Jinzhu first accepted the sixteen taels for the two ink sticks, tucked them away, stood up, and said: “How does Boss Bai plan to return to the village with me to fetch the ink?”
Boss Bai, fearing delays might lead to changes, decisively replied: “By carriage, of course.”
“Is the carriage spacious?”
Boss Bai was momentarily taken aback by the question: “Fairly spacious, I suppose?”
“That’ll do.”
Xie Jinzhu nodded and said: “Then let’s meet at the western street corner in half an hour.”
After clarifying, Xie Jinzhu turned and left without hesitation.
Boss Bai looked at the ink stick in his hand, then at the receding figure of Xie Jinzhu, and chuckled wryly: “Three days apart, and one must look with new eyes…”
Who could have imagined it?
That person once ridiculed for shameless and unreasonable behavior was now capable of producing ink of such fine quality.
The art of ink-making is passed down through generations, kept secret and never disclosed. Fine ink is even rarer than gold or silver.
Boss Bai had no idea how Xie Jinzhu had learned the craft of ink-making, nor did he care about such details.
As long as Xie Jinzhu could provide what he desired, she could be a friend rather than a foe.
Boss Bai contentedly handed the ink to his assistant, instructing him to store it carefully while stroking his beard and smiling: “Prepare the carriage. We depart precisely in half an hour.”
Half an hour later, Boss Bai looked at the several people standing alongside Xie Jinzhu, his beard trembling uncontrollably.
“These are…”
“This is my grandmother.”
Xie Jinzhu slung a bamboo basket over one shoulder and pointed at the bewildered Xie Wuni and Xie Xiao Qi. “These are my fifth and seventh sisters.”
The Xie family matriarch and her grandchildren were still trembling in shock.
Old Mrs. Xie had first been frightened out of her wits by the silver thrust into her hands by Xie Jinzhu. She had even forgotten about the unsold cabbages and was now nervously clutching the silver hidden inside her clothes, her expression dazed.
Xie Jinzhu glanced at the stunned Xie Wuni. “What are you still standing there for?”
“Boss Bai kindly offered to give us a ride home. Hurry up and help Grandma onto the carriage.”
Boss Bai let out a surprised “Ah?” “What?”
“Didn’t you say…”
“Thank you so much, Boss Bai!”
Xie Jinzhu swiftly stuffed the now-empty basket into the carriage, grabbed the frame to climb aboard, then turned to reach out and pull Xie Xiao Qi up. “Boss Bai is truly a great man!”
“Not only is he willing to pay for the ink I made, but he’s also willing to give us a ride home!”
The haggling over selling the ink had failed.
They absolutely had to save on the fare for the return trip!
Boss Bai: “…”
Boss Bai fell silent for a moment, could only watch helplessly as the Xie family members crowded into his carriage, then paused before saying with a wry smile, “Alright then.”
“Since it’s on the way anyway.”
Xie Jinzhu pressed the half-crouching Xie Wuni, who didn’t dare let her bottom touch the seat, down to sit, then signaled Xie Xiao Qi to sit and rest quickly. Leaning close to Old Mrs. Xie’s ear, she whispered, “Grandma, this is the Boss Bai I mentioned. That silver was from him… Mmmph?”
Xie Jinzhu lowered her eyes to look at her own covered mouth, her brow twitching violently.
Old Mrs. Xie urgently said, “Don’t shout!”
“You’ve got a bit of money on you and you’re already announcing it to the world. Aren’t you afraid of attracting thieves!”
Xie Jinzhu pried Old Mrs. Xie’s hand from her mouth, somewhat amused.
Old Mrs. Xie looked around anxiously, her gaze finally settling on Boss Bai’s face. She cautiously rubbed the hem of her clothes. “Are you really willing to pay for those black lumps?”
“Was that silver really from you?”
Boss Bai’s face twitched. “Yes.”
Xie Wuni, blunt and straightforward, asked, “Were you tricked by Xie Jinzhu?”
“That worthless ink was something she tinkered with at home herself. It’s not anything good. How could it possibly be worth that much money?”
Ten taels of silver!
Xie Jinzhu had been gone for less than half an hour, and when she returned, she gave Old Mrs. Xie a full ten taels of silver!
Their first reaction was that Xie Jinzhu had gone out to rob someone!
Boss Bai hadn’t expected the Xie family matriarch and her grandchildren to react this way. He said with a wry smile, “Those black lumps are good stuff. I’m following you back to collect the remaining goods.”
“If you make more in the future, I’m still willing to pay for them.”
Xie Wuni covered her mouth, her eyes wide as she gasped repeatedly.
Old Mrs. Xie pressed a hand to her chest, muttering incessantly, “Good heavens… so valuable?”
Xie Jinzhu, squeezed into a corner of the carriage, rubbed her forehead and chuckled. “Yes, very valuable.”
“Now that it’s been exchanged for solid, weighty silver, you can’t say I was just fooling around anymore, right?”
Old Mrs. Xie excitedly grabbed Xie Jinzhu, repeatedly calling her a good grandchild. All the way home, she circled the same questions over a dozen times, just to repeatedly confirm that Boss Bai wouldn’t regret it and that the silver they received truly belonged to them.
However, an even greater shock awaited them at home.
When they arrived at the Xie family’s dilapidated small courtyard, Boss Bai rolled up his sleeves and personally inspected the goods.
After examining all eighteen ink sticks, the one singled out was the one with a long grain running through it.
Boss Bai said regretfully, “This piece is damaged, so I can’t offer eight taels.”
Once the ink had solidified, making any modifications would be extremely difficult.
If left unaltered, the flawed stroke would ruin its appearance, making it impossible to fetch a higher price.
Xie Jinzhu had anticipated this outcome. She raised an eyebrow at Xie Wuni, whose face had turned deathly pale upon realizing something, and said cheerfully, “I’ll count it as six taels for you.”
“Twenty pieces of ink, totaling one hundred and fifty-six taels of silver. Any issues?”
Boss Bai nodded readily and settled the payment on the spot.
After Boss Bai’s carriage departed, Xie Jinzhu weighed the heavy pouch of silver in her hand. As soon as she stepped into the small courtyard, she saw Xie Wuni looking utterly devastated, as if the sky had fallen.
In high spirits, Xie Jinzhu teased with a playful expression, “Fifth Sister?”
Xie Wuni, her face pale, slumped to the ground with a thud and burst into tears of despair. “Why did my hand have to be so clumsy!”
“Pushing you cost us two taels of silver. How can I face the ancestors of the Xie family…”
Xie Jinzhu: “…”
Just two taels, is it really that serious???