Chapter 844

Six large carts led the way, followed by a sea of dark figures—at least a hundred Canal Gang brothers—chattering and laughing as they hurried here.

"What are we bringing so many people for?" Luo Zhenjiang said, half laughing, half exasperated, "I'm not going to fight!"

The men chuckled, and the one at the front scratched the back of his head: "When the brothers hear the boss has work, they all follow."

"Alright, alright," Luo Zhenjiang scolded with a laugh, waving his big hand, "Quickly, load this silver onto the carts!"

The Canal Gang men surged forward, lifted the silver boxes and stacked them onto the carts, chatting as they worked:

"Goodness, so much silver!"

"How much could that be!"

With many hands, in less than the time for a cup of tea, the six carts were packed to the brim.

Xiao Ningxun walked up to the shopkeeper: "You've worked hard; in the next few days we'll need to withdraw more silver, please have it ready in advance."

The shopkeeper hurriedly bowed and said, "We dare not, Your Highness, please give orders; I will certainly prepare everything perfectly."

Xiao Ningxun nodded, turned, and walked toward the carriage.

He silently watched the six carts line up, with hundreds of Canal Gang brothers grouped in threes and fives waiting beside them, a slight smile at his lips and a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes.

"Third Brother," Tuan Tuan stared at his face, "You're smiling just like Xiao Feifei again."

"Xiao Feifei?" Luo Zhenjiang looked bewildered, "Who is that?"

"It's the little fox I raise!" Tuan Tuan turned his head, excitedly gesturing, "All white long fur, and the tail is this—big!"

"It even has two little horns on its head, how pretty!" As she spoke, she pouted, tucked her face into Luo Zhenjiang's shoulder, and murmured, "I miss it so much."

Luo Zhenjiang burst into laughter, his rough big hand gently patting her back: "Little girls usually only keep cats or dogs, but you, you actually raised a fox!"

Tuan Tuan lifted her face, earnestly saying, "I also have a kitten! It's called Xue Tuan, all snow‑white! I also have a little golden snake!"

"Alright, alright," Luo Zhenjiang laughed at her earnest little demeanor, raising his hand to gently pinch her cheek, "A fox, a snake, and a cat."

"We, Tuan Tuan, might end up raising every bird and beast in the world inside the Prince's Mansion,"

Tuan Tuan tilted her head, solemnly pondering, "Then we'd need to build an even larger, huge courtyard."

Luo Zhenjiang laughed loudly.

The drivers mounted the carriage poles and tightened the reins.

The leader turned his head toward Luo Zhenjiang and shouted, "Boss, where to?"

Luo Zhenjiang waved his hand, "Let's go to the cloth shop!"

Just as the coachman cracked his whip, Xiao Ningxun raised a hand and called, "Hold on."

The driver tightened the reins; the horse snorted loudly, its hooves digging twice into the bluestone.

Xiao Ningxun smiled, "When you hurry the carts, shout loudly, 'Borrow the light, borrow the light! The silver‑laden cart is heavy, do not disturb, make way, make way!'"

Luo Zhenjiang was startled, "What's this for?"

Xiao Ningxun laughed, "First, the cart carries raw silver, extremely heavy, so don't bump into the townsfolk along the way."

"Second," he paused, "this way the whole Jiangzhou will know that the wealthy merchants from Jingcheng come here to handle bulk goods, and they use only raw silver."

Luo Zhenjiang seemed thoughtful.

A moment later, he lifted his chin toward the drivers, "Heard that? Do as this young master says."

The drivers exchanged glances, their spirits revived.

Hundreds of Canal Gang men beside the carriage roared with vigor, "Borrow the light, borrow the light! The silver‑laden cart is heavy, do not disturb, make way—make way!"

The six carts moved slowly forward, the men holding heads high and chests out, each voice louder than the last, the scene as lively as a dragon‑dance during New Year, three times more festive.

The shouts rippled through Jiangzhou's busiest streets, spreading like boiling water splashed into a hot oil pan.

Pedestrians on the roadside halted, craning their necks to look.

Street‑side tea houses and taverns threw open window after window; patrons leaned out half their bodies, even the storytelling master paused his recital, carrying a teapot to the window to look outside.

"Goodness, is the cart filled with silver? So much!"

"Didn't you hear the shout? Raw silver! All raw silver!"

"Old Heaven Lord, how much silver is this?"

A few half‑grown children chased the convoy, pulled back by their elders then slipping through gaps again, giggling and shouting, "Come see the silver cart!"

Someone counted on their fingers, trying to figure out how much silver the six carts actually held.

The convoy moved at a steady pace through Jiangzhou's busiest avenue, with more and more townsfolk trailing behind.

Crowds surged from all directions, forming a lively tide that followed the six carts toward the cloth shop.

Tuan Tuan clutched Luo Zhenjiang's neck, eyes bright with excitement, "So lively!"

Luo Zhenjiang gently patted her small back, "Good, there are many people, hold on tight."

"Mm‑mm!" Xiao Tuanzi immediately hugged tighter, and Luo Zhenjiang smiled contentedly.

In the main hall of the cloth shop, Xiao Ningyuan was chatting leisurely with Wang Xing Shou about regional customs.

He had been an outside trader for years; every word carried weight, and Wang Xing Shou nodded repeatedly.

Xiao Ze sat nearby, occasionally lifting his teacup for a sip, his expression calm.

Xiao Ningchen showed no interest, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, nearly dozing.

Wu Shuang sat alone on the other side, silent, waiting quietly.

Suddenly, a faint commotion rose from outside the door.

Soon, the sounds of horse hooves, men's shouts, and overlapping voices grew nearer and louder.

Xiao Ze set down his teacup, a slight smile at his lips, "Let's go take a look."

A few stepped out and saw the six carts lined up, blocking the cloth shop's entrance tightly.

All around, Canal Gang men and onlookers filled the area, sealing the street outside completely.

Xiao Ningyuan stepped before Wang Xing Shou, deliberately raising his voice, "Wang Xing Shou! One hundred ten thousand taels of raw silver, you sign, and it's received!"

Wang, the head of the cloth trade, stared at the silver boxes on the carriage, his eyes wide with astonishment.

Xiao Ningyuan lifted his hand and waved it before him: "Wang?"

Wang snapped back to his senses, his face beaming with a smile: "Boss Xiao, I, Wang, have been the head of this cloth firm for over ten years, and I've never seen a merchant as brisk as you!"

"Indeed, a wealthy merchant from Jingcheng! One hundred and ten thousand taels of cash, you say pay and you pay, without even a blink!"

Xiao Ningyuan wore a nonchalant expression: "Is that all? Wang, you're scolding me, aren't you?"

Wang hurriedly clasped his fists and said, "I wouldn't dare!"

Xiao Ningyuan patted his shoulder, "My sincerity is already laid out here; from now on, you must not sell the goods to anyone else."

"Rest assured, the entire warehouse will be reserved for you! Whatever the weaving workshop produces in the next six months, I, Wang, will set aside that amount for you, and not sell a single piece elsewhere!"

Xiao Ningyuan smiled warmly and clasped his hands: "With Wang's words, I am reassured; we have a long road ahead."

Wang repeatedly bowed, as if he could raise this statue of the Wealth God right then.

Wu Shuang stood behind Wang and took in every word without missing a single syllable.

He stared at the six silver wagons, then glanced at Xiao Ningyuan's smiling face, and felt an indescribable sensation rise from his chest.

He had thought his hundred‑thousand‑tael silver note was a monumental gesture, yet he hadn't expected the other party could truly produce one hundred and ten thousand taels of cash in such a short span.

Cash!

He watched the boxes being unloaded one by one, each thudding onto the ground like a slap across his own face.

A wealthy merchant from Jingcheng truly lives up to his reputation.

Wu Shuang clenched his teeth, quietly stepped back two paces, hoping to slip away unnoticed.

"Wang," Xiao Ningyuan's voice rang out again, "Jiangnan Region is a fine place. Its resources are abundant, and its people and land are outstanding."

"Tomorrow I will visit the porcelain house and the tea house; the day after, I will go to the medicine house and the gold house."

"Oh dear, there are so many things to buy; if it's convenient for you, could you help me, Xiao, extend a greeting to these heads of firms?"

"Boss Xiao, you're courteous," Wang bowed repeatedly, "Isn't this just a trivial matter?"

"Boss Xiao, just go ahead! I, Wang, will definitely handle it!"

Wu Shuang felt a stir in his heart and turned to leave.

Xiao Ningxun gave Xiao Er a subtle glance.

Xiao Er nodded faintly, slipped out of the crowd without a trace, and followed.