Wang Hui tugged at Zhao Jiaqi's sleeve, her eyes sparkling. "You say, if we really make money, can we do whatever we want?"
Zhao Jiaqi's teacup almost spilled as she had to put it down. "Of course. Think about it, once you have money, you can live however you want. To put it bluntly, if you want to find a few handsome male escorts, it's all up to you!"
"Ah, but if you marry my husband later, you can't do that. Once caught, it's a capital offense, being dunked in a pig cage into the river and drowned alive."
Hearing this, Wang Hui's heart also stirred. Seeing her smile, she seemed unafraid of death.
However, this was not Zhao Jiaqi's ultimate intention. She had made it up entirely to let Wang Hui know that with money in hand, one could do whatever they wished.
As expected, Wang Hui, who had never seen much of the world, was captivated by Zhao Jiaqi's words, indulging in fantasies of a future with wealth. Perhaps she imagined being able to take concubines like men, playing however she pleased.
"Madam, I think what you say is very correct. I've decided to follow you. Making money is important. As for men, like you said, with money, men are as common as dirt. Later, I'll be like you and marry a husband for my family, and I'll be the one in charge at home. If possible, I'll even take a husband."
Zhao Jiaqi smiled, not an awkward one. "Indeed. Changing partners every day, buying things without having to look at a man's face. Women should be like this!"
This was a grand vision, perhaps one she couldn't fully realize even in a lifetime. But that wasn't important. What mattered was what she had in her hand.
Zhao Jiaqi's eyes were fixed on the brocade handkerchief in Wang Hui's hand, her gaze so intense it seemed to smoke. She was anxious but couldn't rush her.
Soon, after finishing her fantasy, Wang Hui took out the item and placed it on the table. "This is what my father sells. I'll light some of it, and you'll know how fragrant it is, and not greasy."
Zhao Jiaqi looked at the thing before her, unsure how to move her eyes, whether to look first or touch it.
This thing looked so much like contraband she had seen on television before.
Uncertain, unconfirmed, she dared not speak. This thing was truly mysterious. Moreover, in her memory, an imperial decree had long ago forbidden its cultivation. How could it appear here!
Wang Hui scraped a bit from the paste, lit it, and a fragrance slowly wafted out. Zhao Jiaqi smelled a faint scent but still wasn't sure if it was what she thought.
However, she decisively extinguished it with tea water, her expression a little somber, yet she forced a smile. "This thing is indeed fragrant. I just don't know what it's called or what it's made of. A very mysterious item!"
Wang Hui saw the dampened item and felt a pang of heartache. She didn't voice her complaint, but she was unhappy. That small bit she had lit was worth an ounce of silver.
Seeing her unhappiness, Zhao Jiaqi quickly explained, "I'm doing this for your own good. Your father came to my room this morning. If your father were to get a whim and send my husband back later, and smell a familiar scent in this room, what do you think your father would do!"
What else could he do? Of course, he would beat her. In this household, only she and her mother knew of this thing's existence. They, as outsiders, certainly wouldn't know.
With her explanation, Wang Hui was no longer angry. She hurried to open the window to let the scent in the room dissipate quickly.
When she returned, she poured the paste into the brocade handkerchief, fearing her father would discover it. After everything was done, Wang Hui sat there as if nothing had happened.
"Thank goodness for your sister's reminder, or I would have been in trouble," Wang Hui said, still with lingering fear.
Zhao Jiaqi lowered her eyes, saying, "We are now in the same boat, sister. Of course, I must protect you."
But in her mind, she wondered how to confirm if the item was what she thought it was, and how to keep the item Wang Hui had.
However, she couldn't rush now. First, she needed to inquire about the item to understand it better.
Wang Hui: "My father calls this thing 'Immortal Paste,' made from a beautiful flower. The process, I only saw a few glimpses of, and I roughly know it, but I haven't actually operated it. My father also doesn't allow it, saying that in the future, these things will be passed down to me, and will eventually be in my hands."
However, ever since the concubine outside became pregnant and the midwife said it was a boy, her father had stopped saying such things.
But she couldn't tell the lady in front of her about this matter, for fear that the business would fall through.
While she was unmarried, she would secretly take some from home to sell, earn some money, and then find this lady. Then, she would be free to go wherever she pleased.
If possible, she'd also get more seeds of that flower, grow them herself, and make them herself. Then, wouldn't the money flow into her hands like a river?
Thinking of that wonderful scene, she wasn't so angry about her father having a son anymore.
When Zhao Jiaqi heard the name "Immortal Paste," she was surprised. Upon hearing that it was made from flowers, she surmised that this thing was opium.
She had seen in documentaries that smoking opium gave one a feeling of floating as if in a dream, but it was very addictive. It could be said that once one started, it was difficult to quit.
She had seen this not only in documentaries but also in books she had studied. She had just never seen it in person, and never thought she would encounter it in ancient times.
She suppressed the panic in her heart.
Now, she wondered where these things were sold, for how long, how many victims there were, how this thing was developed, and who provided them with the seeds.
She had no clue about any of these series of matters.
Also, was the mysterious place in the cave involved in the production of these things? Were all the young and strong men in the village involved in this matter?
She had to figure out everything. She couldn't let history repeat itself through her. Perhaps... was this thing imported from another country?
The purpose was to use this thing to destroy the will of their people and ruin the lives they prided themselves on.
If that were the case, what was the point of two years of military service?
No matter how strong a country was, if its people had good health, what was the use? Moreover, they would spend their fortunes to buy this thing for their own pleasure. If their families had no money and no valuables, would they sell their wives and children?
Zhao Jiaqi dared not think about what would happen next, nor did she dare to ponder it further. No wonder they said that even a small amount of this thing was worth so much silver.