Chapter 296: An Invitation from the Young Lady of the Cui Family

The new dishes launched by the Yan Family were all created around this, such as the Silver Thread Snowflake Crisp and the White Lotus Honey Date Cake.

Cui Wangshu could also hire people to make these dishes, but because the raw materials were not Ice Crystal Sugar or Snowflake Salt, the customers still didn't buy it, even though the difference in taste was extremely subtle.

In Cui Wangshu's view, there was no difference at all, but unfortunately, everyone only recognized the best.

The Cui family and other families certainly wouldn't just watch the Yan Family make money, so they secretly used their own methods to find the best sugar and salt.

But no matter how good the quality was, it could never catch up to the Yan Family's goods.

This back-and-forth actually cemented the Yan Family's reputation; the prices of dishes in their restaurants rose instead of falling, and the Yan Family earned a lot of silver from this, while also taking the opportunity to suppress the businesses of various scholar-gentry families in the restaurant sector.

They hadn't failed to think about probing the Yan Family's channels, but they only knew that these items came from Beijiang; they knew nothing else.

And they didn't dare to rashly make a move to snatch or inquire about the Yan Family's supply lines; this was a major taboo, and the Yan Family would turn against them.

The various great families had more than just this one business, so it wasn't worth falling out with the Yan Family over it, and thus they let the Yan Family dominate the restaurant business for the time being.

As a child of the scholar-gentry, Cui Wangshu naturally had the qualifications to taste Snowflake Salt and Ice Crystal Sugar, and even she had to admit that the quality of these things was the best she had ever seen.

After searching bitterly for a period of time without results, the Cui family had also given up on searching, but she didn't expect Cui Wangshu to hear news of Ice Crystal Sugar today.

Regardless of whether the servant had seen wrong, Cui Wangshu still had to be rigorous about this matter.

There were quite a few people in the market now, and it was a mixed bag; there would definitely be people from other families, and if this item really was Ice Crystal Sugar, Cui Wangshu naturally didn't want others to get their hands on it.

"Huai Xia! Clear the market!"

The maid Huai Xia hesitated, "Y... Young Lady, clearing the market will cost a lot of money! Why not call the other party's shopkeeper over to talk?"

This market belonged to the Cui family, so driving away customers was an inappropriate move; the merchant caravans would also be driven away, which would not only offend people but also require refunding their rent for the day.

"Compensate double the rent, and pay each customer fifty wen. Just say the market is being renovated today to avoid fires due to the summer heat!"

Cui Wangshu did not change her decision; she had always been decisive in her actions, and it was nothing more than losing some loose silver.

Seeing that the eldest young lady had made her decision, Huai Xia dared not say more.

"Yes!"

Soon, the Cui family's market management staff began to inform everyone one by one. At first, some were unhappy, but the Cui family offered double compensation, and these merchant caravans didn't want to offend the Cui family, so they could only leave.

The commoners strolling through the market were even more delighted; they didn't expect to get copper coins just for coming out for a walk. Where else could one find such a good thing?

When Jiang Jinshi heard the explanation the Cui family guards gave to the merchant caravans ahead, he didn't think much of it and called for everyone to pack up their goods.

"Let's go! Let's go! That's it for today."

Unexpectedly, a Cui family guard stepped forward, "This shopkeeper, stay a moment. Our shopkeeper wants to have a word with you!"

Jiang Jinshi looked around, confirmed that the other party was talking to him, and immediately put on a smiling face: "May I ask, brother, what does your shopkeeper want with me?"

The Cui family guard's tone was stiff, "I don't know, but please wait!"

Although the other party used the word 'please', their attitude was somewhat forceful. After all, with the Cui family in this place, who dared not give them face?

Bai Ting thought their identities had been exposed and someone wanted to cause trouble; clearing the market was just to avoid accidentally hurting others. He immediately walked to the side of the carriage.

Under the wooden boards of the carriage were all weapons, and even Jiang Jinshi's long halberd was among them. If a fight broke out, he could directly cut the ropes, discard the cargo, mount his horse, and launch a charge.

It was very normal to put weapons under the carriage; after all, merchant caravans traveled north and south, and it was inevitable to encounter robbers, so even if the garrison discovered them when entering the city, they wouldn't be overly suspicious. Of course, necessary bribes were still required.

Yan Wu also stood by the carriage, his face serious. Now that he didn't know the other party's intentions, being cautious was always a good thing.

The thirty-plus people Jiang Jinshi brought were all good hands from the army. Although their numbers were a bit small, not one of them was a coward.

The atmosphere immediately became murderous. The people on Jiang Jinshi's side had unfriendly expressions, and Huang Yan was even thinking of striking first; he was just waiting for his big brother's order to rush up and slaughter this person.

As for whether they could get away afterward, that was not in his consideration for the time being.

Sensing the change in the other party's momentum, the Cui family guard felt a bit of heart palpitations. Why were these people like flood dragons and wild beasts?

What he didn't know was that these thirty-plus people had all come down from the battlefield, and each of them had no fewer than ten lives on their hands. Once they truly had the heart to kill, this momentum was naturally not something they could compare to.

Jiang Jinshi was still smiling, and the curve of his mouth was even higher, "If you have something to say, say it. I'm listening!"

The Cui family guard, bearing the unfriendly gazes of a group of people, secretly swallowed his saliva and couldn't say a word.

"This shopkeeper, please don't be angry. The servant doesn't know how to speak and has offended you. I apologize to you first! My young lady invites you!" Huai Xia stepped forward and eased the atmosphere.

Seeing this, the guard breathed a sigh of relief and secretly took two steps back.

"Young lady?" Jiang Jinshi's expression remained unchanged, "What does she want with me?"

Huai Xia looked troubled, "Shopkeeper, don't blame me. My young lady just wants to talk to you about business, but... it's not convenient to talk here!"

Seeing that this person's attitude was good, Jiang Jinshi nodded in agreement, "Lead the way!"

"Big brother!" Bai Ting stepped forward two steps, somewhat worried.

Jiang Jinshi raised his hand: "It's fine, I'll go take a look and come back!"

He was, after all, someone who had fused with the soul of the Overlord; would he bring shame to the Overlord?

Han Xiao said in a low voice: "Everyone get ready. As soon as there is any unusual movement, we will rush up to save big brother."

"Do I need you to tell me?" Huang Yan leaned against the carriage with a sloppy look, but the hand behind his back had already gripped the hilt of his knife.

The restaurant was right by the market, so Jiang Jinshi didn't have to walk a long distance.

Huai Xia led Jiang Jinshi to the door of a private room: "This shopkeeper, our young lady is inside."

Jiang Jinshi pushed open the door and saw that the other party was wearing a veil, so he couldn't see her face clearly.

"What business does this young lady want to talk about with me?"

From the moment he entered the building, Jiang Jinshi knew this matter wasn't targeting him, because there was no ambush at all. It seemed she really wanted to talk to him about business.

Cui Wangshu stood up and bowed slightly, her voice like a green oriole coming out of a valley: "Please forgive me for rashly inviting you here, young master. But it is not easy for a young woman like me to show her face, which is why I resorted to this inferior plan!"

"No matter!" Looking at the table full of desserts and the tea in the cup, Jiang Jinshi had no intention of eating any of it.

Seeing this, Cui Wangshu didn't engage in too much small talk, "The servant reported that you have Ice Crystal Sugar in your hands, young master. I wonder if it's true?"

"Oh! So that's why you came!" Jiang Jinshi suddenly realized and immediately shouted toward the door: "The young lady who just brought me here, please trouble yourself to make another trip and tell my people to bring up a dou of sugar."

Jiang Jinshi turned around and changed his face, "This young lady, whether the goods are good or not must be seen with your own eyes. You take a look at the quality first, and then we can talk."

"That would be excellent!" ===== CHAPTER 297 =====