"Talk! We can talk!"
Old Master Lin was a businessman, a true businessman.
His ancestors had been in commerce for three generations. Not only had he not developed a pampered disposition, but he was also particularly adept at business matters.
"Xi Yun Pavilion can give you a promise," Song Qingchao said, tucking the token away. "I know your caravan wants to head northwest. Xi Yun Pavilion can help you."
"What are the conditions?"
Song Qingchao glanced at him. Indeed, he was an old fox, still haggling at this point.
"First, I want the medicines on this list. This is the prerequisite for our transaction. Second..." Song Qingchao deliberately drew out the end of her sentence, then pointed at the eight people kneeling on the ground with her fan. "I want these eight people."
Old Master Lin couldn't help but frown. "What do you want them for?"
"Of course, for use. Leaving them with you is a dead end. I don't want to waste such talent."
As Old Master Lin was about to speak, Song Qingchao cut him off. "Don't tell me they can't even beat women and are all useless. It's just that I'm too strong."
After speaking, she winked at the people on the ground. "You don't need to be so self-conscious."
Old Master Lin instinctively wanted to retort, but he suddenly remembered Song Qingchao's identity and swallowed the words in his throat.
Xi Yun Pavilion had existed since he took over the Lin family.
It didn't have many shops, but in the business circles, it was an existence like a deity.
Its value wasn't in how much money it could make, but in its extensive network.
No matter what the goods or channels were, as long as Xi Yun Pavilion was willing, it could achieve it.
Most importantly, it could even predict trends.
What goods were popular, what were niche, it knew everything.
Xi Yun Pavilion was like the behind-the-scenes manipulator of the market. Which businessman wouldn't want to cooperate with Xi Yun Pavilion?
And Xi Yun Pavilion's supplier selection mechanism was extremely strict, only selecting one each year.
Since taking over the Lin family, he had participated in Xi Yun Pavilion's selection every year, but each time he had narrowly missed out.
He had also been planning the caravan to the northwest, but it was either lacking in permits or there was a language barrier, and no guide.
So now that Xi Yun Pavilion had extended an olive branch, he had to seize it!
Old Master Lin immediately corrected his attitude. He secretly glanced at Song Qingchao, who was still teasing her eight subordinates, and had already made up his mind. He then covered his mouth and coughed twice.
"I can give you the medicines on this list, but..."
"There are no buts. Bai You'an won't come. I'll have him come back after the prescription is successfully formulated. You don't need to worry about that."
The worry in Old Master Lin's heart instantly dissipated.
Although he really wanted to do business with Xi Yun Pavilion, he would not agree if it meant sacrificing his daughter.
Money was an external object; he wasn't that insane.
"Alright, I'll have someone sort out these medicinal herbs and send them to... the Xiang residence."
He hesitated slightly when he said "Xiang residence," but ultimately he said it.
Song Qingchao responded softly, then stood up and walked in front of the eight hidden guards. "And these people?"
Old Master Lin first grunted, then began to complain. "Keeping these people is useless. If Miss Song likes them, you can have them."
Song Qingchao was delighted upon hearing this and extended her hand. "The deeds of sale."
Old Master Lin's hands, resting on his lap, began to clench his clothes.
Under Song Qingchao's gaze, he finally let the attendant waiting outside come in and instructed everything in front of Song Qingchao.
The attendant looked surprised and confirmed with Old Master Lin several times.
"Master, these eight people you?"
Old Master Lin, angered, slapped him directly.
"Do as I say! Are you the master or am I?"
The attendant who was slapped hurried to bow and walked out, stealing glances at Song Qingchao as he walked. He wondered what kind of person could make Old Master Lin bleed so much, and he was truly impressed.
Song Qingchao, standing by, directly reached out and patted the person kneeling at the very front. "Alright, get up."
That person looked up at Old Master Lin, then at Song Qingchao, and finally chose to lower his head.
Old Master Lin, fuming, was about to curse. "Miss Song saved your lives. From now on, you will follow Miss Song!"
After he finished speaking, several people responded, "Yes."
So Song Qingchao repeated, "Get up."
This time, without hesitation, they stood up, their bodies straight.
Song Qingchao walked from one end to the other, looking at each person, and finally stopped in front of the person whose shoulder she had patted earlier. "You're the leader, aren't you?"
"Replying to my mistress, I am."
"You're quite obedient. What's your name?" Song Qingchao tilted her head slightly.
This man had a proper face and bright eyes.
It was a shame for such a striking person to be a hidden guard.
"Zhou Zhengxi," the man replied.
"Your name is quite auspicious," Song Qingchao nodded, a smile curving her lips. This trip was truly worthwhile.
"Now, you take your brothers to get your deeds of sale from the attendant who just left. After you've driven the horse-drawn cart carrying the herbs back to the Xiang residence, you'll be free."
"Mistress?" Zhou Zhengxi was confused.
"Go first. I still have matters to discuss with Old Master Lin."
Although Zhou Zhengxi was puzzled, he still led his remaining brothers out.
From the moment this woman entered, she had captured the attention of their eight brothers.
On the surface, she looked delicate and weak, but observing her, one could tell her aura was so steady, and her build was not like that of noble young ladies confined to boudoirs.
When they finally clashed, they could feel even more how terrifying this woman was.
A mere fan could break their formation.
Her strength was truly not to be underestimated, and he felt that this woman hadn't used her full strength against them.
And now, she had gotten their deeds of sale for them and told them to retrieve them themselves. Was she testing their sincerity?
"Big brother, can we really leave?"
Zhou Zhengxi glared at his younger brother. "Leave? Where do you think you're going? Do you really think that if we hand over these deeds of sale, we'll be free?"
He hit his brother in frustration. "Hurry up and follow me. I need to make some more judgments."
Song Qingchao was oblivious to what these eight were thinking.
Her thoughts were quite simple. If she didn't save them, they would die, so she saved them.
It would be even better if they could follow her.
She leisurely sat back down in her chair, and Old Master Lin, who had been silent, finally spoke again.
"Now that both are as you wish, what about the third?"
"I'm not greedy," Song Qingchao drank some tea. "We'll split the profits 50-50, and I'll have the final say. If I say I want to transport something, you have no right to refuse."
"What does that mean?"
Song Qingchao smiled, her lips curving. "It means that even if I'm transporting illegal goods, you cannot refuse."