Chapter 365: Help Me Find the Goddess of Beijiang

Young Master Li did not notice Bai Wei and bowed to the Fusang People in the hall with a face full of smiles.

"Greetings, Yamada! Greetings, honorable Samurai!"

Yamada Ichiro also raised his head, "Your Fuji Trading Firm usually delivers goods to us once every three months, right? Why have you come early?"

Young Master Li put on a miserable expression.

"Yamada, we have run into trouble this time; there is a place called Bai's Grocery Store that is picking a fight with us!"

Yamada looked surprised, "Oh? Your Fuji Trading Firm is not an Imperial Merchant? Who is so bold as to dare provoke you?"

Young Master Li hurriedly said, "I don't know what kind of background this Bai's Grocery Store has. The owner is a woman, but she has connections with people in the palace behind the scenes. Even Eunuch Song from the Imperial Household Department, who used to favor our Fuji Trading Firm, is now speaking up for this Bai's Grocery Store."

Yamada Ichiro pondered, "In that case, this female owner of Bai's Grocery Store certainly has some connections."

"Yamada, now Eunuch Song won't let us deliver goods to the palace, and we have even been driven out of Yannan City," Young Master Li sighed, then looked up at Yamada Ichiro expectantly, "If we can't come to Yannan City, we won't be able to continue trading with you in the future."

Yamada Ichiro narrowed his eyes and looked at him sharply.

"So you mean... Young Master Li, we are also just staying in Yannan City as guests and still have to rely on General Yuan to be stationed here; I am afraid I cannot help you with much."

Young Master Li gritted his teeth, and seeing that he was not taking the bait, he said.

"Yamada, this time I have collected a batch of young and beautiful girls from human traffickers; they are all very fresh and lively."

"Aren't you always recruiting female workers? You have entrusted me to buy several batches before, so I have brought them to you now."

After speaking, he beckoned toward the door.

Several servants led a dozen or so women in one after another.

Bai Wei was astonished, and several thoughts flashed through her mind.

She had always thought that Fuji Trading Firm only sold groceries; she never expected that they were secretly engaged in human trafficking!

These women were all very young, only about thirteen to fifteen years old. They were all huddled together in terror, and the clothes they wore were very shabby—they were clearly daughters of poor families, but their appearances were all quite decent.

These girls had never seen Fusang People before. Suddenly seeing so many foreigners wearing samurai outfits with Katana hanging from their waists, they were all trembling with fear.

Young Master Li nodded and bowed to Yamada Ichiro again.

"Yamada, these female workers were carefully selected by me. Not only are they beautiful, but they are also nimble-handed, and they are all thirteen or fourteen years old. Isn't this the age you like best? So I specifically gathered a batch to send over to you to work as female laborers."

Yamada Ichiro narrowed his eyes, stood with his hands behind his back, and sized up these women one by one.

He walked up to one woman, reached out to lift her chin, and examined her carefully.

This woman was terrified by him pinching her chin and dared not move; tears were about to flow out.

Yamada Ichiro let go and nodded with satisfaction.

"Not bad, Young Master Li, you have put in the effort. I will buy all these female workers. Tell me the total price, and I will have someone pay you."

Young Master Li finally breathed a long sigh of relief and said with a fawning smile, "Yamada, Fuji Trading Firm has always been able to monopolize the cloth business in Yannan City thanks to your care. These few female workers are all gifts for you; how could I dare to take your money?"

Yamada Ichiro laughed heartily, "How can that be? You people of Daliang Kingdom have an old saying: courtesy demands reciprocity. I cannot accept your gifts for nothing."

The Fusang Ronin sitting on both sides also became excited when they saw so many women sent over, and they kept pointing and gesturing.

That group of women was terrified, all huddled tightly together, at a loss.

"Yamada, what does that matter?" Young Master Li rubbed his hands obsequiously, "It is their good fortune to be noticed by you! However..."

He suddenly changed the subject.

"If you can help us get rid of Bai's Grocery Store, we can continue to do business in the future."

Bai Wei was stunned, and then she sneered in her heart.

It must be said that although this Young Master Li is a piece of trash, when it comes to being shameless, no one can compare to him!

This man surnamed Li is sanctimonious on the surface, a prominent young master of the Fuji Trading Firm, but in private, he is a beast in human clothing, worse than a pig or a dog!

Not only does this person collude with Fusang People, but he is also secretly engaged in the notorious business of human trafficking, buying away the innocent daughters of poor families.

It would be one thing if he were just a human trafficker, but he actually gives all these girls to the Fusang People!

Everyone knows that these Fusang People are ruthless and vicious. They say they are recruiting women as female workers, but who knows what they really want to do?

Facing Young Master Li's request, Yamada Ichiro did not agree immediately but pondered for a moment.

"Young Master Li, since the owner of this Bai's Grocery Store knows the manager of the Imperial Household Department of Daliang Kingdom, I am afraid we do not have such great ability."

"Yamada, stop joking with me," Young Master Li said bluntly, "Don't you have a powerful weapon in your hands? It can fire iron bullets and is indestructible! The female owner of this Bai's Grocery Store doesn't have many bodyguards with her. If you send a few Samurai with this kind of weapon, you can completely assassinate her."

Bai Wei gave a scoff.

This dog thing actually wants to find Fusang People to assassinate her!

Yamada Ichiro was not stupid either; he smiled, drew his Handgun from his waist, and shook it.

"Young Master Li, although we have such a powerful weapon as a gun, why should I help you?"

"This..." Young Master Li paused, then gritted his teeth, "Yamada, as long as you help me get rid of Bai's Grocery Store, I will be your inside man in the future. Our Fuji Trading Firm is an Imperial Merchant and can help you gather information from the Imperial Court. Moreover, the ores, medicinal herbs, and furs from Daliang Kingdom that you want... I can help you get them all."

"Is that so?" Yamada Ichiro laughed, "But these things are not enough to make us resort to force."

As he spoke, he patted Young Master Li on the shoulder.

"How about this: I have heard that in the Beijiang of Daliang Kingdom, there has appeared a woman known as the Goddess. It is said that this woman has great supernatural powers and helped the Northern Frontier Army, who were about to freeze to death, survive the bitter cold, and even brought out endless rice, grain, and clothing... which greatly increased the strength of the Northern Frontier Army."

"You help me find this woman, and I will not only help you get rid of Bai's Grocery Store, but I will also guarantee that your Fuji Trading Firm becomes the number one trading firm in the Yannan Region. I will help you eliminate any rivals."

"Really?" Young Master Li's eyes lit up, but then he frowned, "But... I heard that this Goddess of Beijiang is just a legend circulating among the common people; in reality, there is no such person at all. It's all just hype."