Chapter 223: Both Sides Are Satisfied

Lin Manzhi hurried over to Su Li, pulled her to sit again on the soft mat, turned her head, smiled and said, "Su Shamaness, it's just perfect that you came this time."

She looked at Su Li and deliberately continued, "The amount of medicinal plants I'm selling this time is huge. I originally wanted to contact you, but thinking that you're now in the Mountain Classic Beast Temple, and the Great Witch is also there, if I contact you again I fear the Great Witch will be displeased with you for overstepping, so I sent someone to find the Great Witch."

Power is something that no one can refuse; the Holy Maiden Fruit medicinal plant caused a stir among the Beastfolk as soon as it appeared, and even attracted the attention of regional lords.

For such a precious medicinal plant, she went to the Wushen Temple for cooperation, but she didn't approach the Great Witch; instead she sought Su Li, whose status is a bit lower, which might make the Great Witch somewhat uneasy.

This can also be recorded in the thin‑skin history books; everyone wants to leave their name on it, right?

Lin Manzhi thought it through clearly: for future medicinal plants, she can only work with the highest decision‑maker who can make choices, to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Upon meeting, she explained to Su Li, who smiled and said, "I understand. The team you sent, after meeting the Great Witch, also came to find me specifically. After the Great Witch learned it was on the Kuangsha City side, she instructed me to handle this matter."

Su Li thought that, given Lin Manzhi's current status, she shouldn't have needed to explain to her, but she was surprised that the other party said it again on purpose.

She felt relieved, the sense of closeness grew, and she took Lin Manzhi's hand, saying, "I also have to thank you for the gift you sent. Although Holy Maiden Fruit is useless to us females, its sweet‑sour taste is especially to our liking. I gave some to the friendly Shamanesses, and they all liked it."

Lin Manzhi returned the smile.

Great, having built a good friendship, they can now discuss the deal.

However, she didn't rush to talk business; she turned and had the female attendant waiting nearby bring the watermelons and Holy Maiden Fruit from the Planting Base.

Su Li looked at the fruits placed before her and, shocked again, said, "W‑what is this?"

Lin Manzhi picked up a slice of watermelon and handed it over: "This is called watermelon. There isn't much, so I won't use it for the trade."

Su Li took the small piece of watermelon, and before eating, smelled its characteristic cool sweet fragrance; it was red and seedless, crisp to bite, and burst with fresh sweet juice.

"So sweet! So delicious." Su Li's eyes glittered as she even ate the rind, "No fear of ridicule; this is the best fruit I've ever tasted. When will you grow more? The Wushen Temple will definitely want it; price won't be an issue."

Hearing Su Li say that, Lin Manzhi felt a pang of desire, but watermelon grows slowly; planting it now would only bear fruit three months later.

Three months later, even the desert nights of Kuangsha City would drop to one or two degrees. All regions had entered the late cold season; it was said the far north would reach minus forty‑to‑fifty degrees. Would cooling watermelon still be popular?

She cleared her throat, looked at Su Li who couldn't stop eating watermelon, and said beside her, "Watermelon is also a medicinal plant. If this planting experiment succeeds, I'll look for partners, and the Wushen Temple will be the first I think of."

Su Li cupped the watermelon with both hands, gnawing, too busy to speak, and nodded vigorously.

After Su Li finished a bowl of watermelon, Lin Manzhi handed her a handkerchief, gave a gentle smile, and said, "Su Shamaness, you know the Holy Maiden Fruit I'm trading this time. I want food and various daily supplies in exchange; what price can one Holy Maiden Fruit fetch?"

Su Li paused while wiping her hands, a flash of sharp light flashing in her eyes.

Compared with the Great Witch, it's better to sell to Lin Manzhi.

She smiled at Lin Manzhi and said, "I won't hide it from you; the Great Witch means that if this batch of medicinal plants is like lettuce—sold only to the Wushen Temple—the price can be lowered by another ten percent."

Want to monopolize it like lettuce?

Lin Manzhi shook her head: "This Holy Maiden Fruit is promoted by the Kuangsha City Lord. Our industries related to medicinal plants are already spread out; we can't agree to supply the Wushen Temple exclusively."

She looked at Su Li and said, "Su Shamaness, let's stick to buying and selling this time; the Holy Maiden Fruit is priced at 600 Beast Coins each."

"I knew you wouldn't supply the medicinal plants exclusively to the Wushen Temple," Su Li said. "Hmm… then I'll give you the highest price the Great Witch offered: six hundred Beast Coins per Holy Maiden Fruit, three hundred of them for one small cotton‑meat Exotic Beast."

Lin Manzhi asked dazedly, "Small cotton‑meat Exotic Beast?"

Su Li set down the handkerchief and said, "Small cotton‑meat Exotic Beast is a type of meat raised in the Beast Realm. The Beast Continent has special breeding methods for game. Our Wushen Temple's fresh meat is always purchased from the Beast Lord Griffin. This small cotton‑meat Exotic Beast has tender flesh; its market price is 680 Beast Coins per jin, and a whole animal yields 400 jin of fresh meat."

The game bred on the Beast Continent is extremely popular worldwide; among them, the small cotton‑meat Exotic Beast meat is especially favored by female children and elders. Su Li's offered price of 450 Beast Coins per jin is quite good.

They could purchase some, but Kuangsha City needs large quantities of food and even more affordable game.

Lin Manzhi didn't hide from Su Li what she currently lacked: "I need ten thousand small cotton‑meat Exotic Beasts, and I also want to trade for some cheaper food and some fabrics."

"I can bring ten million Holy Maiden Fruits to trade this time," Lin Manzhi said with a bright smile. "After sealing the deal with Su Shamaness, I'll also send an extra hundred watermelons."

Su Li: "!!"

How could I possibly refuse! It's that sweet watermelon we just ate. I originally came with the Great Witch's mission; after completing the deal, the watermelons can be mine.

The Holy Maiden Fruit, when taken back, can be refined into a solitary medicinal liquid for sale—a rare elixir that even major territories cannot obtain—fetching a huge profit and ensuring the Great Witch remembers that she negotiated this trade.

Weighing all those benefits in her mind, Su Li had no reason to refuse.

She immediately disclosed her bottom line to Lin Manzhi: fifty Holy Maiden Fruits per one Exhausted Exotic Beast, three hundred Holy Maiden Fruits per one small cotton‑meat Exotic Beast, a bundle of fine cotton fabric for two Holy Maiden Fruits…

Both parties were very satisfied with the deal; Kuangsha City received one hundred thousand Exhausted Exotic Beasts weighing 3,500 jin, ten thousand small cotton‑meat Exotic Beasts, a hundred carloads of various fabrics, and ten carloads of mineral salt.

Next, the Wushen Temple will bring Beastfolk from Beast City to deliver the goods, scheduled for thirty days later; if fewer than a thousand game are lost en route, the loss can be compensated with Beast Coins, otherwise the other side must resend enough game.

Lin Manzhi will deliver half of the Holy Maiden Fruit now; the remaining half will be paid after receiving the goods, settling the balance.

"Having cooperated with Su Shamaness so many times, I naturally trust you. Tomorrow I'll have people prepare and count the Holy Maiden Fruit, and you can take it back to the Mountain Classic Beast Temple first," Lin Manzhi said after signing the contract.

Su Li cheerfully tucked away the thin‑skin paper contract and couldn't help reminding, "Lord Lin, don't forget one more thing."

Lin Manzhi looked puzzled and asked, "Hmm? What matter?"

Su Li seized the moment, thinking of what she wanted, and whispered, "…one hundred watermelons?"

"Oh…" Lin Manzhi's smile remained unchanged, then she said, "Su Shamaness, rest assured, I'll see to it."

She sent someone to escort Su Li to the resting area, and just as she was about to leave, a tall figure walked in from outside.