Chapter 295: Cui Family

Huang Yan, seeing this, also started shouting with Jiang Jinshi, "If you're passing by, don't miss it—here's the best goods in Beijiang!"

The claim wasn't exaggeration; Li Xinyue indeed used only the finest merchandise while preparing, and if something wasn't available even within the Xinyue Trade Association in Beijiang, no one else could produce it.

Soon it attracted a passerby who asked, "How much for this jade?"

"Sir, twenty liang per piece, no cheating old or young!" Huang Yan replied, following the price Jiang Jinshi had shouted.

The buyer snorted coldly, "How dare you charge twenty liang for raw material?"

Jiang Jinshi was not flustered at all, "Sir, it's a transaction—naturally I set the price and you counter. If you find it pricey, feel free to name a price!"

The buyer weighed the raw stone in hand and tentatively asked, "Five liang?"

"Deal!" Jiang Jinshiyi said without hesitation, turning to Huang Yan, "Quickly pack it for the customer!"

The buyer's expression froze—damned, the price was too high!

Perhaps due to saving face, with many onlookers around, the buyer had no choice but to pay and purchase the raw stone.

If he didn't buy, Jiang Jinshi could do nothing, but the buyer clung to his pride and suffered; Jiang Jinshi therefore rightfully accepted the five liang of silver.

As for the stone's purchase cost, Jiang Jinshi didn't know, and Li Xinyue didn't disclose it; after all, they didn't expect him to profit.

Immediately after, Jiang Jinshi continued hawking, thoroughly enjoying the thrill of being a street vendor.

Although not selling for free, the price was indeed low, and a crowd rushed to snatch the goods.

As for Glazed Glass and Mirror items, Jiang Jinshi didn't display them; their prices are beyond common folk's means, so he would only show them to suitable buyers.

Instead, Jiang Jinshi poured out a bushel of Ice Crystal Sugar and set it aside for onlookers; without explanation, everyone overlooked this most valuable item.

"This fox fur looks good, what price?" a young servant asked Jiang Jinshi.

Jiang Jinshi glanced—it was pure white fox fur, spotless and impeccably intact, collected by Su Lei's clan when exchanging for salt, and its preservation was meticulous, making it a premium piece.

"One hundred liang, non‑negotiable!"

In Beijiang it certainly wouldn't fetch that price, but in places like Yangzhou such white foxes are absent, so rarity makes it valuable; the price is entirely reasonable.

He expected the price would make the buyer balk, but the servant muttered that it was cheap, and after saying so, handed over silver to pay.

Jiang Jinshi took the silver and couldn't help exclaiming that there are still many wealthy patrons in the south; at this price they still consider it cheap, they didn't haggle, and bought it without blinking an eye.

The servant carefully took the fur, and when turning his head he inadvertently spotted the Ice Crystal Sugar, paused briefly, then hurried toward the tavern beside the market.

In a private room on the third floor of the tavern, a woman wore a rain‑washed sky‑blue ruqun, overlaid with a moon‑white gauze robe.

Her black hair was loosely tied with a single white jade pear‑blossom hairpin, the remaining strands falling to her waist, giving her an aura of scholarly elegance.

From outside the private room, the servant respectfully said, "Miss, the item you wanted has been purchased, costing only one hundred liang of silver!"

"So cheap?" Cui Wangshu lifted her eyes; as the Cui Family's miss, she usually uses only the finest, so the price naturally wouldn't be low.

"Perhaps… that merchant doesn't recognize value!" the servant hesitated.

Cui Wangshu looked through the window slit at the market, taking in many stalls.

Earlier she had seen the fox fur from afar, but as the Cui Family's miss, how could she squeeze in like others to buy it? She summoned the servant to go.

"Bring it in for me to see!"

As soon as the words fell, the maid behind naturally stepped out to take the fur; the servant bowed, not daring to look directly into the room, yet hesitated and didn't leave.

Cui Wangshu looked at the fur placed on the table and, with a single glance, knew she hadn't mistaken it—it truly was a premium item.

Having a skilled embroideress work on it would raise the fur's price severalfold; the deal would be profitable.

The maid, seeing the servant hadn't left, asked in a deep voice, "Anything else?"

The servant bent even lower, "I… I have an urgent matter to report to the miss!"

The maid frowned, about to scold, but Cui Wangshu softly said, "Speak!"

When the miss spoke, the maid naturally dared not intervene, only curious since the miss usually shuns trouble, and today she was listening to someone speak—a first.

Perhaps the miss had spent a small amount on this premium item today, putting her in a better mood!

The servant felt uneasy; now he wasn't sure if he had misidentified it. If he wasted the miss's time, his job might not last long.

But if he truly helped the miss, wouldn't that launch him skyward?

Anyone working for the Cui Family knows that, though the miss has a cool demeanor, her rewards and punishments are clear.

Thinking this, the servant gritted his teeth and said, "I… just now at this shop's spot, I saw Ice Crystal Sugar!"

Cui Wangshu, who hadn't given the servant a proper look before, turned with a solemn face, "Are you sure it's Ice Crystal Sugar?"

"Certain!" Since the words were out, the servant wouldn't change them, only hoping he hadn't erred.

Cui Wangshu didn't lose composure, even though she understood the huge business potential of Ice Crystal Sugar.

"As a tavern servant, how could you recognize this item?"

Cui Wangshu's tone was calm, yet the maid sensed the underlying doubt.

"Earlier the miss bought a small amount of Ice Crystal Sugar from the Yan Family and gave it to the tavern's chef for desserts; I saw it while assisting in the back kitchen." The servant didn't dare conceal it, but cold sweat ran down his face, suddenly regretting his rashness.

If he misremembered, or that thing wasn't Ice Crystal Sugar at all, he would surely be punished.

"Go down! If it truly is that item, I'll record a merit for you!" Cui Wangshu turned her head, her gaze again fixed on the Beijiang caravan.

"Yes!"

The servant clasped his hands and hurried away.

The maid stepped forward and said, "Miss, shall I send someone to take a look?"

Cui Wangshu gave no reply, instead carefully analyzing the caravan in her mind.

The Yan Family suddenly obtained high‑quality Snowflake Salt and Ice Crystal Sugar last year; leveraging these two items, they captured a sizable market in taverns.

But don't underestimate this profit segment; Scholar‑Gentry taverns span Jiangnan, Luoyang, Yangzhou, and Jingcheng, and the supply of these items remains scarce, catering only to the elite.

Thus the price wouldn't be cheap; the aristocracy, Scholar‑Gentry, or even the palace aren't short of silver—they seek distinction, demanding the finest in all aspects of life.

Cui Wangshu didn't know how much profit the Yan Family made from this, but the loss they inflicted was evident.

Now these upper‑class people, even Cui Wangshu herself, enjoy patronizing the Yan Family's taverns.