Chapter Thirty-One: Setting Sail on the Commercial Voyage

Qu Wanqing studied the mysterious box for a long time, but could make neither head nor tail of it. The symbols on the box were strange and intricate, resembling some lost ancient script or perhaps an edgy, non-mainstream logo designed by a rebellious teenager. "Could this thing be merchandise from some cult?" she quipped.

Jiang Yu took the box, examined it carefully, and mused for a moment, "Perhaps we can look into its origins through commercial channels."

"Commercial channels?" Qu Wanqing raised an eyebrow. This was quite different from the palace intrigue or domestic drama script she had anticipated! Still, money talks, and strengthening one's own position is the ultimate truth. To stand firm in this world and avoid the tragic fate of a second marriage, making money was the way to go!

"Right! Let's get down to business!"

Without delay, Qu Wanqing threw herself into the bustling tide of entrepreneurship. Leveraging her modern business acumen and combining it with the local specialties of this world, she designed a series of novel products. From sachets printed with cute cats to herbal incense candles that repelled mosquitoes, each item was brimming with creativity and quickly captured the public's attention.

Jiang Yu silently supported her from the sidelines, handling all sorts of tedious affairs. Their cooperation was seamless—a perfect, ancient-era reenactment of a "bossy CEO falls for me" romance.

With the first batch of goods ready, Qu Wanqing was filled with joy, as if she could already see the glistening silver beckoning to her. She specifically hired the highly reputable Head Escort Zhao to ensure the delivery was foolproof.

However, several days passed, and the shipment failed to reach its destination. "Strange, it should have arrived by now..." Qu Wanqing watched the window, a sense of unease rising in her heart. She keenly sensed that something was wrong; this was no ordinary logistics delay, but rather a carefully orchestrated conspiracy.

Meanwhile, in a teahouse, Shopkeeper Sun was plotting with Head Escort Zhao.

"Remember, you must take the long way around and stall as much as possible, understand?" Shopkeeper Sun smiled insidiously, his eyes flashing with jealousy. He had long found Qu Wanqing an eyesore; who was this outsider to steal his business?

"Don't worry, Shopkeeper Sun, everything is arranged," Head Escort Zhao said, taking the heavy pouch of silver with a greedy grin. Watching Qu Wanqing’s diligent efforts earlier, Zhao felt smug, thinking the young woman was easily fooled. He figured that not only would he secure a large sum from Shopkeeper Sun, but he would also make Qu Wanqing suffer a loss in silence, ensuring no one in the business circle would dare look down on him again.

In the evening, Jiang Yu entered the study, his expression grave.

"Wanqing, I’ve heard some news..." He paused, his tone hesitant, "Head Escort Zhao’s team doesn't seem to have taken the usual route..."

Upon hearing this, Qu Wanqing showed no sign of surprise or anger. Instead, she smiled calmly. "Oh? Is that so? It seems this Head Escort Zhao is quite 'interesting'..." She picked up her teacup, took a light sip, and her eyes grew deep and inscrutable.

Qu Wanqing was no naive fool; she was well-versed in the art of "playing the pig to eat the tiger." With the shipment delayed and the escort not yet returned, she showed no anxiety. Instead, she treated Zhao with excessive care and concern upon his return, as if he were a national hero who had performed a great service.

"Head Escort Zhao, you’ve had a hard journey. Come, come, have a cup of tea to soothe your throat." Qu Wanqing poured the tea with a beaming smile, her attentiveness such that one might have mistaken them for long-lost siblings.

Head Escort Zhao was flattered, thinking Qu Wanqing was nothing special and easy to manipulate. As he drank, he offered vague excuses for the delay—"we ran into bandits," "the weather was poor," "the horse sprained its leg"—the more absurd, the better.

While listening, Qu Wanqing observed his expressions and body language with composure. She noticed that whenever Zhao lied, his eyes would instinctively drift to the left, and his right hand would subconsciously touch his nose. Every subtle movement was captured by her keen eyes.

"Head Escort Zhao, it truly hasn't been easy for you; you've worried so much over my cargo," Qu Wanqing said with a sincere smile, appearing to believe his nonsense completely. Privately, however, she had already sent people to investigate his true path.

As expected, Head Escort Zhao had encountered no bandits or bad weather; he had simply taken a long detour to deliberately stall for time.

With evidence in hand, Qu Wanqing decided to give Shopkeeper Sun and Head Escort Zhao a "surprise."

At a chamber of commerce gathering, the hall was dimly lit and flickering. Everyone sat in a circle with Qu Wanqing standing in the center, a massive business map behind her. She produced the evidence she had prepared. The crowd craned their necks, eyes locked on the papers in her hands; the hall was so silent one could hear the rustle of paper. As she laid out the facts, point by point, cold sweat beaded on Head Escort Zhao's forehead. The droplets hit the floor with faint, rhythmic taps, sounding remarkably clear in the quiet hall.

Zhao’s face turned deathly pale; he had never expected Qu Wanqing to have seen through his scheme so early.

Shopkeeper Sun was also stunned; his conspiracy was exposed, and he had lost all face.

"Head Escort Zhao, do you have anything else to say?" Qu Wanqing looked at him with a playful, mocking expression.

Zhao stammered, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

The merchants present, upon hearing of Zhao’s misdeeds, were first shocked, then began to whisper among themselves. They were amazed by Qu Wanqing’s methods and secretly impressed. One young merchant couldn't help but whisper, "This Qu Wanqing is truly not to be trifled with. It seems we shouldn't provoke her lightly in the future."

The crowd began to condemn Zhao’s unethical behavior, making him a target of public criticism and leaving him in a wretched state.

Qu Wanqing’s move to "kill the chicken to scare the monkeys" successfully intimidated those with ulterior motives. She had proven with action that she was not to be messed with.

"Jiang Yu, tell me, who do you think is next?" Qu Wanqing gazed out the window, a meaningful smile curling the corners of her lips.

Watching her dispose of the conspiracy so cleanly, Jiang Yu’s eyes were filled with admiration, as proud as a father watching his daughter succeed. He tapped her shoulder gently, silently conveying his encouragement.

Feeling the warmth from Jiang Yu, a wave of comfort surged in Qu Wanqing’s heart.

Seeing this, the surrounding merchants sighed, remarking that the two were a match made in heaven, a "model couple" of the ancient business world.

Shopkeeper Sun, seeing his first plan fail, was furious and humiliated, yet helpless. He wore a grim expression, looking as if he had swallowed a fly.

He could not swallow this insult!

"Hmph, don't be so smug, this is just the beginning!" Shopkeeper Sun cursed internally, his mind racing as he began to plot a new scheme.

Soon, rumors that Qu Wanqing’s goods were of poor quality spread through the chamber of commerce. The gossip spread like a virus, and soon, almost everyone knew.

Some said her sachets used inferior spices that caused allergies; others claimed her mosquito-repelling candles didn't work and actually attracted more insects; some even insisted her products were made of hazardous materials that endangered health...

In short, they used every malicious lie possible, wishing to drag Qu Wanqing into the depths of hell.

Faced with these sudden rumors, Qu Wanqing did not panic. Before deciding to publicly inspect the goods, she leaked some information she was certain of, making Shopkeeper Sun and the others nervous first. She then calmly sipped her tea, as if none of it concerned her.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. This Shopkeeper Sun is truly persistent. It seems if I don't show him some real color, he won't quit," she sneered, a glint of cunning flashing in her eyes.

To prove her innocence, Qu Wanqing decided to publicly inspect the cargo, inviting several highly respected, veteran shopkeepers to bear witness.

Once the news broke, it drew widespread attention; everyone wanted to see how this drama would play out.

On the day of the inspection, the chamber was packed. The sounds of breathing and whispers intertwined, making the air feel heavy. When the shop assistant in charge of the goods ran over in a panic, his footsteps were jarring in the quiet hall, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, shattering the tense silence.

Just as the veteran shopkeepers were about to begin, the assistant rushed over, his face pale, stammering, "The... the goods... a portion is missing..."

The hall erupted in an uproar.

Qu Wanqing’s expression shifted slightly. "It seems," she thought to herself, "someone is looking for trouble..." She swept a calm gaze over the crowd, her eyes finally landing on Shopkeeper Sun.

Shopkeeper Sun was looking down, a faint, imperceptible sneer at the corner of his mouth.

"Interesting..." Qu Wanqing whispered, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.