Those who live on a mountain live off the mountain; those who live near the water live off the water. Zhenyang was precisely such a place, where water transport was more developed than land routes. This was evident from the massive flow of people coming and going at the small docks—they were well accustomed to traveling by boat.
Hua Zhi first visited several passenger docks before heading to the cargo dock.
The cargo dock had an overwhelmingly unpleasant smell, a mix of various odors, with the stench of fish being the strongest. It took Hua Zhi a while to adjust before she could step forward, heading purposefully toward the area with the strongest smell.
She didn’t get too close, observing from a moderate distance.
At that moment, five boats were unloading by the shore. Shouts, reprimands, banter, and flattery filled the air—a small world that encapsulated the myriad facets of human life.
After a while, Hua Zhi approached one of the boats. Buckets of fish were being unloaded directly onto carts and hauled away. The workers and managers were all beaming, their voices cheerful and hearty.
Hua Zhi walked over to a freshly unloaded large bucket and looked at the bucket full of green groupers.
“Looking to buy, miss? We don’t sell in small quantities here,” a man in short work clothes approached. His face was tanned and ruddy, suggesting he was often out on the water.
Guessing his role, Hua Zhi replied crisply, “Just checking the goods. They look quite fresh.”
“Of course, these fish were caught early this morning and delivered here without delay. Stale fish wouldn’t sell here.” The man’s Mandarin was not very standard, barely understandable. He seemed aware of this limitation and spoke slowly.
Hua Zhi nodded slightly. In this region, many made a living in this trade, and quality was paramount to selling well. Seeing the fish still moving in the bucket, she had a thought: based on the timing, the journey must have taken about four hours. For the fish to still be alive after so long…
“Is that seawater inside?”
“Yes, it’s seawater.” It was common knowledge that seawater was needed to keep saltwater fish alive. The man inwardly scoffed at the seemingly obvious question from this elegant young lady but maintained a respectful demeanor.
Hua Zhi’s concerns were put to rest. She decided she would also use seawater for her northbound shipments. If that meant smaller quantities, so be it—she could always make an extra trip. She needed to prepare for contingencies as well. Yan Xi’s ice-making business had great potential here. She could arrange for some ice to be placed on the boats during transport, so even if some fish died along the way, the losses wouldn’t be too severe.
Turning these thoughts over in her mind, Hua Zhi began to probe further, “May I ask your name?”
“My surname is Chen, Chen Er. I’m a minor supervisor at An Tai Fishing Firm.” Chen Er was sharp-eyed and could tell Hua Zhi was either wealthy or noble. She didn’t seem like trouble and might even bring business. If he could secure a deal with her, he’d likely earn a handsome bonus this month. The thought made him even more enthusiastic.
Bao Xia stepped forward and said softly, “Miss, perhaps we could talk somewhere else.”
The smell was indeed unpleasant. Hua Zhi glanced at Chen Er, who understood immediately and bowed, “Please wait a moment. I’ll make some arrangements.”
Chen Er quickly called over a worker to oversee the goods, gave a few instructions, and then hurried back. He led the group out of the dock, careful not to draw attention from competitors. Instead of taking them to a conspicuous teahouse, he went all out and brought them to a proper tea house, securing a private room. This was the kind of treatment reserved for important clients. Chen Er felt a pang of regret at the expense but also a thrill of satisfaction.After ordering some tea and snacks, Chen Er swallowed hard, his heart aching at the expense.
Hua Zhi found his demeanor quite amusing and rather likable. In business dealings, she most dreaded encountering stingy individuals.
"How far is An Tai Fishing Firm from here? And what is its scale?"
Chen Er straightened up and answered with utmost caution, "It takes four hours by boat from our fishing firm to reach here. With favorable wind and current, it can be done in three and a half hours. The land route would take considerably longer. Our firm ranks medium to large in scale."
After a pause, Chen Er added, "Although we're medium-sized, we can handle most ordinary transactions. Our goods are absolutely fresh—we would never dare engage in unscrupulous practices."
Quite honest, Hua Zhi thought to herself, inwardly pleased that her judgment of character hadn't deteriorated. She had observed for a long while, not focusing on business volume but on the staff's mental state and subtle details. Those coming to collect goods merely glanced at them before hauling them away, indicating great trust in the firm—unlike neighboring establishments where customers meticulously inspected goods for quality. The contrast spoke volumes: in business, trust was the hardest currency to earn.
She signaled Bao Xia to hand over the drawings. Chen Er wiped his hands on his clothes before carefully accepting them. After reviewing the documents, he looked up. "We have all these at our fishing firm."
"What about rarer varieties?"
Sensing a potential deal, Chen Er responded even more prudently, "That depends on what standard the customer considers 'rare.' Generally, whatever other firms can procure, we can obtain as well. Sometimes we even come across items rarely seen in the market, though those are usually reserved for long-term clients and may be difficult to acquire."
Hua Zhi nodded slightly and inquired about several other matters. Having gained sufficient understanding, she stated, "I need to consider this for two days. If we decide to proceed with your firm, I'll come find you at the docks at this same time the day after tomorrow and accompany you to the fishing firm."
Chen Er naturally understood that business deals weren't settled so quickly. Far from disappointed, he felt encouraged by her words and promptly nodded. "I shall await good news."
Hua Zhi smiled, rose to leave, and Bao Xia quickly followed after placing a red envelope on the table.
Only after seeing them out did Chen Er return to pick up the red envelope. Opening it, he discovered several pieces of broken silver totaling four or five taels. His heart leapt with joy—regardless of whether the deal materialized, he hadn't lost out today.
After packing the untouched pastries, Chen Er went to settle the bill only to learn it had already been paid. Clutching the silver tighter, his heart beat faster. Such a generous patron—if they could secure the deal, wouldn't his benefits be substantial? Mentally reviewing his words and actions throughout the day, he concluded that even given another chance he couldn't have performed better. Thus he composed himself. Two days—how he wished they would pass in the blink of an eye.
Before boarding the carriage, Hua Zhi signaled Xu Ying to approach. "Did you remember everything Chen Er said?"
Xu Ying started. "Yes, I remembered everything."
"Remain here. Make contact with other firms to investigate the situation."
"Yes."
As Xu Ying took his leave, he was called back after just a few steps.
Hua Zhi glanced at the Sixth Prince, who was looking around restlessly. "Little Six, did Berlin mention that he and his brothers have an assignment to investigate the prices of all commodities in the capital?"
"Yes, Berlin told me."
"Then during our stay here, you shall determine the prices in this small town." Hua Zhi gazed at the bustling docks. "Start by negotiating supply sources. Xu Ying, stay close."
"Yes.""This is not the capital. We only have a handful of people available here, so you must prioritize your own safety above all else."
The Sixth Prince felt a warmth in his heart and responded with utmost meekness.
"Go ahead."
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