Mo Sang – CH 214

Chapter 214. Cooperation Based on Shared Interests

Lady Meng stood ramrod straight, looking directly at Li Sangrou, and gestured to Concubine Wu not to panic.

“I’ve come to do some business with you, Madam,” Li Sangrou said with a smile, her hands clasped in a respectful gesture. “I am all alone, empty-handed.”

As she spoke, Li Sangrou released her hands, slightly raising her arms and turning around for Lady Meng to see.

“Who are you?” Lady Meng’s gaze was cold.

“I came from the north bank of the river,” Li Sangrou said respectfully, her hands at her sides.

Lady Meng narrowed her eyes and asked again, “Who are you?”

“A nobody, sent by our boss to do some business with you, Madam,” Li Sangrou said with a slight bow.

“What business could I possibly do with you people from the north? Are you here to persuade me to surrender?” Lady Meng scrutinized Li Sangrou.

“If Madam lowers her stance, this business will be impossible,” Li Sangrou said with a humble smile. “In Jiangbei, from Wuwei Prefecture to Jianle City, silk is ridiculously expensive. Even the newly released Spring Water silk in Hangzhou is unavailable, no matter how much money you have.”

Li Sangrou glanced at Lady Meng’s grey-blue silk dress.

“Miss, you’ve come to the wrong person. Please leave,” Lady Meng said calmly.

“The silk business is definitely more profitable than the wool business. Besides, does Madam not want to make some money from the people of Jiangbei?” Li Sangrou asked with a charming smile.

Lady Meng scrutinized Li Sangrou again.

“I did not come to see Madam by chance,” Li Sangrou said, spreading her hands. “Our boss does not do small business.”

“Is this a threat?” Lady Meng asked slowly.

“No, I am here empty-handed in Madam’s house, in Jiangzhou City. What could I possibly use to threaten Madam?

I just feel that when speaking to someone as knowledgeable and courageous as Madam, one should be frank.” Li Sangrou smiled.

“Who are you?” Lady Meng asked again, a hint of mockery in her eyes.

“My surname is Li, and my given name is Sangrou.” Li Sangrou paused for a moment, then smiled.

“Ah!” Concubine Wu, who had calmed down, cried out in alarm.

Lady Meng stared intently at Li Sangrou, gesturing to Concubine Wu not to panic.

“Madam has asked three times, and my silence is not because I want to hide anything from you, but rather,” Li Sangrou gestured to the pale-faced Concubine Wu, “I do not know what rumors are circulating outside, and it seems these rumors are not good.”

“Does the boss not know his reputation?” Lady Meng’s voice was slightly stiff.

“Does Madam know what her reputation is outside?” Li Sangrou asked with a smile.

“General Sang visited my humble abode late at night—” Lady Meng stopped mid-sentence, glancing at Li Sangrou.

‘You see, this was the rumor: first, my surname was not Sang; second, I was a merchant,’ Li Sangrou said, spreading her hands.

Lady Meng gave a mocking smile.

“Madam surely knows that I first settled in Jiangdu City, starting my business in the red-light district near the south city wall. Later, I took over the Ye Xiang Guild, and with some capital, I built some boats. Originally, I planned to do canal transport, but unexpectedly, things changed drastically.”

“I have several brothers, one of whom is surnamed Mao, nicknamed Jin Mao. In the year the Southern Liang attacked the Northern Qi, Jin Mao and his sister’s family of six died at the hands of the Marquis of Yongping and his son. On New Year’s Eve, I went to the Marquis of Yongping’s residence and killed the Marquis and his son. Then I was conscripted into the army.”

Li Sangrou smiled.

“Unexpectedly, on the night I killed the Marquis of Yongping and his son, the Southern Liang launched a surprise attack on the Northern Qi. King Rui’s Shizi vouched for me, and the Emperor granted me the privilege of redeeming myself through military merit.

The Battle of Hefei was my battle for redemption. After that battle, I returned to Jianle City and resumed my business.

I am a merchant.”

“How come I’ve heard you’ve been seen in Ezhou and Xiangyang?” Lady Meng’s tone softened slightly.

“In the past two years, I’ve consolidated the major rice and grain merchants in Northern Qi, changed their rules, expanded the Shunfeng routes throughout Jingzhou and Xiangfan, and even bought half of Yangzhou.” Li Sangrou smiled.

“Does the boss intend to amass all the gold and silver in the world?” Lady Meng stared at Li Sangrou.

“Shunfeng was not profitable to begin with, and now… sigh,” Li Sangrou sighed. “Originally, my plan was to first establish the postal routes, not to make money from them, but to leverage them to do other businesses and make big profits. I never expected that before I even started making money, the war broke out.

With this war, Shunfeng’s expenses more than doubled in the past two years, and if the fighting continues, those expenses will only increase.

In the past two years, I’ve traveled from Ezhou to Nanyang and from Jiangling to Mizhou, inspecting every post station and every route, trying every possible way to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. The year before last, I was hoping to at least break even; last year, I was hoping to minimize losses; and this year… Sigh.

As for the rice and grain shops, I changed the rules, as you’ve probably heard. They are not making money there either.

Yangzhou is ravaged; it is hard to find even a single intact house in the city. This entire business has failed.

If I were not so desperate, a lazy person like me would never have racked my brain to get involved in silk. Right now, it is the fastest and most profitable business.

No matter what, I have to find a way to survive until this war is over. As long as I can hold on until this war is over, then, not to mention the rice and grain businesses, Shunfeng and Yangzhou will be prosperous, their wealth reaching all three rivers,” Li Sangrou said, sighing.

“If you say that, Boss, I almost believe you.” Lady Meng glanced at Li Sangrou.

“I heard that Shunyuan Trading Company was originally a major silk merchant transporting north. At that time, there was much more silk going north than wool going south.

After the war started, Shunyuan stopped doing the silk business because there was no one capable of taking over in Jiangbei.

Now, I can.” Li Sangrou smiled.

“General Sang,” Lady Meng said, only uttering the two words.

“Madam is the owner of Shunyuan Trading Company, but if you were just the owner of Shunyuan Trading Company, I would not be here with you.

I am a merchant, but if I were just an ordinary merchant, Madam certainly would not be doing business with me, would she?” Li Sangrou spread her hands, smiling.

Lady Meng looked at Li Sangrou, remaining silent.

“I do not lack money,” after a long while, Lady Meng said calmly.

“Madam, you’ve never lacked money since birth, have you?” Li Sangrou sighed. “I lack money; I always have. The more I lack, the more I lack. Now, Shunfeng needs to subsidize the reconstruction of half of Yangzhou’s mansions.

I found an excellent designer of houses and gardens in Yangzhou. He has a great eye, but he spends too much money. I originally planned to replace him because he’s just too expensive, but after seeing the houses and gardens he designs, I really cannot bear to part with them. Alas!”

“Good things are always expensive,” Lady Meng slowly added.

“Although we have different social standings, business is business.

How about we try it? Madam, send the silk across the river. Once it reaches the shore, hand it over to me. As for damage, the responsibility will be split 50-50, with the river level as the dividing line.” Li Sangrou smiled.

Lady Meng remained silent.

“Madam and Concubine Wu, please discuss it some more. It is getting late, so I will not disturb you any longer.

If Madam has made up her mind, have someone go to the Sun Family Old Inn at the back of Taiping Street and look for Lady Meng,” Li Sangrou said, taking a step back and turning to leave.

Seeing Li Sangrou turn away from the curtain, Concubine Wu hurriedly looked at Lady Meng.

Lady Meng waved her hand, listened intently to the faint sound of the door opening and closing, then hurriedly rose and rushed out of the main room, just in time to see Li Sangrou stepping over the low parapet, using the water vat against the wall as a springboard.

“She’s gone?” Concubine Wu followed closely behind, her voice trembling slightly.

“Yes, let’s go in.” Lady Meng pushed Concubine Wu inside and closed the door.

“Is it really that person?” Concubine Wu asked, still shaken.

“Probably.”

“What should we do? Should we take her or not?” Concubine Wu’s voice rose again.

The legendary woman was ruthless and cold-blooded, a killer who killed without blinking an eye.

“First, we might not even be able to catch her,” Lady Meng said in a low voice. “Second, even if we do catch her and kill her, what’s the benefit?”

Concubine Wu fell silent, took a few slow breaths, stood up, took the teapot from the warm bed, poured two cups of tea, and handed one to Lady Meng.

“Is she really here to do business?” After drinking half a cup of tea, Concubine Wu calmed down a bit and asked Lady Meng.

“I am afraid so,” Lady Meng said, lowering her eyes to sip her tea.

“Then?” Concubine Wu frowned worriedly.

“Let me think about it carefully,” Lady Meng said slowly, looking at Concubine Wu.

……………………

Li Sangrou left the garrison commander’s residence, wrapped herself in the gray-black fine cloth, and went straight to Taiping Street behind the residence. She entered the Sun Family Old Inn and asked for a superior room.

Once inside, Li Sangrou bolted the door, opened the back window, and leaped out. She walked along the wall to the corner of the room, turned past the stables, entered the kitchen, and exited the inn through the side door at the back of the kitchen. She quietly went up to the lookout tower diagonally opposite.

The guards on duty in the lookout tower were fast asleep. Li Sangrou crouched in a dark corner, looking down at the Sun Family Old Inn.

At dawn, the old guard yawned and got up. Li Sangrou quietly descended the lookout tower and returned to the inn through the back side door. She went to sleep.

In the afternoon, Li Sangrou got up and had just washed her face when a busybody woman entered with an old woman, knocking on the door and calling out, “Lady Meng, someone’s looking for you.”

Li Sangrou opened the door, and the old woman curtsied and said, “Our mistress invites Lady Meng to the teahouse across the street for tea and a chat.”

Li Sangrou hummed in agreement, came out, closed the door, and gestured to the old woman. “Let’s go.”

Sure enough, it was the teahouse across the street. Leaving the inn, she crossed the bustling street and entered the teahouse. Upstairs on the second floor, in a private room facing the street, Lady Meng, dressed casually, was sitting by the window drinking tea.

Li Sangrou smiled and cupped her hands in greeting.

“Please sit,” Lady Meng gestured to the opposite side.

Li Sangrou sat down, peeked at the various snacks on the table, and smiled at Lady Meng. “I just got up and have not eaten yet. Have them bring a bowl of stir-fried crab noodles.”

“A bowl of stir-fried crab noodles and a few side dishes,” Lady Meng instructed the old woman standing respectfully at the door. The old woman agreed and went out to give the orders.

“Does the Boss trust me that much? Are you not afraid I will send you a bowl of poisoned crab noodles?” Lady Meng asked, looking at Li Sangrou.

“What good would killing me do you?” Li Sangrou poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip.

“It’s already afternoon. You just got up? Was the Boss not at the inn last night?” Lady Meng asked, after a moment of silence.

“Yes, I kept watch on the watchtower over there all night and only went back to sleep at dawn.” Li Sangrou pointed to the watchtower next to her.

“The Boss is quite honest.” Lady Meng’s words were ambiguous, whether sarcastic or complimentary.

“She’s not always this honest; it depends on the person.

Madam is a clever woman, extremely clever. Talking to her is easy and simple; you can just speak your mind.” Li Sangrou smiled at Lady Meng.

“Indeed, talking to a fool, after much deliberation and consideration, misunderstandings are still inevitable.” Lady Meng looked at Li Sangrou, then changed the subject. “I thought you were going to say you trusted my character.”

“I am from the North, you are from the South, talking about character now?” Li Sangrou chuckled.

Lady Meng smiled and raised her glass to Li Sangrou.

“When did the Boss arrive in Jiangzhou City?” Lady Meng asked casually.

“I cannot answer that. Someone as clever as you, Madam, knows when I arrived. A little investigation and a little thought will reveal how I got here,” Li Sangrou said frankly with a smile.

“Hmm, that’s true,” Lady Meng turned to look at Li Sangrou. “The Boss is truly meticulous.”

“After all, I am the Boss over there, and you are the wife of the garrison commander here. Our cooperation is simply based on mutual benefit.

Besides, who knows how long this business will last, sigh?” Li Sangrou sighed.

“Does the Northern Qi Army intend to attack Jiangzhou?” Lady Meng asked, looking at Li Sangrou.

“First, I do not know. Second, you and I should adhere to our business ethics, refraining from prying or inquiring. I will do this, and so will you, Madam,” Li Sangrou said earnestly.

Lady Meng looked at Li Sangrou without speaking.

The maid’s voice came from outside: the stir-fried crab noodles had been served.

Li Sangrou watched the maid set the table, picked up her chopsticks, and smiled at Lady Meng. “I will eat the noodles first; I am starving.”

Lady Meng sipped her tea, watching Li Sangrou quickly but gracefully finish a bowl of noodles and several side dishes.

“I’ve already sent people to purchase silk. The so-called Hangzhou silk does not all come from Hangzhou. I do not think I need to elaborate. We will buy a few shipments from this area first; we need to test it out with the Boss.”

Lady Meng said directly, watching Li Sangrou finish her meal.

“Alright.” Li Sangrou was straightforward. “The best silk fetches the best price and yields the most profit. This line of work is not easy, so naturally, the higher the profit, the better. Madam understands this better than I do.

The purchasing is entirely up to Madam,” Li Sangrou said, untying her outermost fine cloth belt, rolling it up, and placing it on the table. “This is two hundred thousand silver notes, a small deposit.”

“Hmm.” Lady Meng gestured to the old woman at the door.

The old woman came over, carefully rolled up the belt, and tucked it into her bosom.

“The boss will be staying in this city for a few days. Once the silk is collected, the boss will cross the river with them,” Lady Meng looked at Li Sangrou and said.

“Alright,” Li Sangrou agreed extremely readily.

“The boss is truly skilled and daring.” Lady Meng glanced at Li Sangrou and praised her.

“Fortune favors the bold.” Li Sangrou smiled at Lady Meng.

Lady Meng did not answer but stood up and slightly curtsied, saying, “Just in the next couple of days. Once the goods are ready, I will have someone come find you across the street.”

“Shall I come talk to you tonight?” Li Sangrou stood up as well, asking with a smile, “The nights are so boring.”

Lady Meng paused, turned her head to look at Li Sangrou, and after a moment, said calmly, “Come if you want.”