Qiu had no idea that the cartload of ceramics she regarded as mere junk would later stir up quite a storm in Yingchuan City.
As it turned out, while traveling as a merchant near the border, Qiu encountered a foreigner dressed in black robes. The man claimed to be a descendant of a high-ranking official who had fallen from grace, bringing his clan's sacred artifacts to the Central Plains to trade for supplies. The exotic ceramics did catch Qiu's eye, and she had originally planned to pick one or two to bring back for Young Master Lu Chao to admire. But then, she overheard a conversation between nearby merchants.
"These Western ceramics are pricier than ours simply because they're rare. If we had them here, they'd sell out in less than half a month."
"That good?"
"Of course! Resell these in the capital, and they’d fetch this much!" The man gestured with his fingers.
"That expensive?!"
"I may not be well-read, but I’ve heard the saying—scarcity drives value."
"Fair point. But are these genuine?"
"No doubt. That man was once a high-ranking official in the Western Regions. Rumor has it he was dismissed and had to sell off his family’s possessions to start anew elsewhere."
"What a shame. If only we could take these to the Central Plains, we’d make a fortune. We’re lowballing him too much here."
"Don’t even think about it. We don’t have the connections."
Just then, another traveling merchant entered the shop and bought a few vases before leaving.
Listening to this, Qiu felt her blood rush with excitement—she had stumbled upon a golden opportunity.
In a burst of impulsiveness, she stopped the black-robed man. After much gesturing and broken conversation in his halting Chinese, Qiu ended up spending 800 taels to haul back a cart full of vividly colored, exotic ceramics.
But when Boss Lu took a closer look, he realized something was wrong. By the time he and Qiu went back to find the man, he had vanished.
"Western ceramics are only valuable in the Central Plains if they’re from official kilns, marked with a seal at the base. What you bought are from private kilns—they won’t sell well."
Boss Lu hesitated before adding, "You’ve been swindled, young man."
Dejected, Qiu returned to Yingchuan City. The once-proud Qiu now looked utterly defeated, her usual spark gone.
Lu Chao rubbed his nose.
"Don’t overthink it. Consider it the cost of a bottle of ‘Spring Breeze Ten Miles’—we can afford the loss."
After that, Qiu spent the next half-year traveling across the region with Boss Lu.
Now, after much internal struggle, Qiu stiffened her neck, closed her eyes, and blurted out as if throwing caution to the wind:
"Young Master, I have an idea. I’m not sure if it’s feasible, but I’d like your opinion."
Lu Chao motioned for her to continue.
"I went to Yuandong County with Boss Lu. This year, they’ve had little rain—fields are parched, and grain yields have dropped. But their peaches are exceptionally good. The locals only pick a few for themselves, and the rest go unsold, rotting on the ground. With grain prices high, no one’s buying fruit. I thought bringing them to Yingchuan would be profitable, but the roads are long and rough—the peaches would spoil before arrival."
Lu Chao nodded. Transportation in ancient times was difficult, and the cost outweighed the benefits.
"So, what’s your solution?"
"Turn them into preserves! Young Master, look—Bai Xiang Lou sells peach preserves for 120 coins a pound, but in Yuandong, you can get two pounds of peaches for just one coin."
The profit margin was undeniably tempting.
"Do you know how to make peach preserves?"
Qiu shook her head but quickly added,
"I don’t, but the locals do. I tasted some made by a woman there—delicious, and they last up to six months. They’re a bit tart, but with a little sugar, they could rival Bai Xiang Lou’s."
She pulled out a small bag of preserves and nervously handed it to Lu Chao.
He took a bite. It was sour and slightly tough, nothing like modern processed snacks, but its natural sweetness and the distinct peach flavor made it a refreshing treat—perfect for stimulating the appetite.
A snack that could easily become a favorite, especially among women.
"How much can they produce?"
"Tens of thousands of pounds."
Turning that into preserves would yield about a thousand pounds—worth a try.
"You’ll need to organize bulk purchases. I assume you already have someone in mind to oversee production. Handle that yourself, but my only condition is quality—ensure everything is clean and hygienic. You’ll be responsible for the entire process."
"Young Master, we’re… really doing this? You’re sure??"
Qiu’s eyes widened in disbelief.
No discussions with elders or mentors? Just trusting her like this? She didn’t even trust herself!
No, she needed to investigate further. Where did Bai Xiang Lou get their preserves? Peaches seemed abundant this year—she’d seen plenty in the markets. Were they cheaper nearby too?
Overwhelmed, Qiu interrupted Lu Chao.
"Young Master, maybe give me one more day to double-check??"
Seeing her flustered and sweating, Lu Chao waved it off casually.
"Stop overthinking it. Get moving before all the peaches fall. Take this seal—you can withdraw silver from the nearby Baohua Pavilion. Bring Chang and Sheng with you. Tomorrow, I’ll have Qingshan deliver something to the city gates for Advisor Liang in Yuandong. Treat him to a meal and smooth things over—spare no expense."
Qiu nodded glumly, her confidence still shaky.
"Why the long face? Relax. Even if these preserves don’t sell, I’ll finish them myself. Don’t stress over it."
After seeing Qiu off, Shi Liu arrived with a message.
"Young Master, Boss Lu asked me to pass on a word."
Lu Chao looked up, signaling him to continue.
"Someone’s been asking about you lately."
Lu Chao frowned.
Boss Lu had been introduced by Zhou Youcheng to help sell liquor. The man had connections in all walks of life, so getting such information wasn’t hard.
But who would be interested in an eight-year-old who rarely left home?
A face flashed in Lu Chao’s mind, and he scoffed in amusement.
Hah.
"Tell his friends to spread this rumor…"
Shi Liu listened, then paused.
"Young Master knows who it is?"
Lu Chao nodded.
"A rat lurking in the sewers."
Shi Liu grew concerned. His young master was just a child—who would want to harm him?
"Young Master, is there any danger? Should we bring in a couple more men from the estate?"
Lu Chao shook his head.
"No need. I’ll handle it."
