Volume One, Chapter Five: Aspiring to Be a Shrewd Merchant Who Makes a Fortune Daily
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However, Su Yi’an reconsidered: better safe than sorry.
The original owner’s memories were a haze; she wasn’t sure who her allies were, so it was best to maintain the image of a simple-minded person.
With this in mind, Su Yi’an adopted an obedient, innocent demeanor.
“Hmm! I’ll listen to Father~”
“Good child.” Su Huairen exhaled deeply, relieved. “I’ll have Steward Wu bring in some new servants right away. From now on, you’ll be well taken care of.”
“Thank you, Father~”
“Don’t worry, I’ll hire the best doctors in the capital to heal your face.”
“Mm! Father is so kind~”
When the doctor arrived and saw Su Yi’an’s deeply scarred face, he looked at her with immense sympathy and sighed three times.
Once the most beautiful woman in the capital, it was truly a pity...
Upon hearing that the scars would remain, Su Huairen felt as if the sky had fallen.
In the past, though she had been a little dull, she was gentle, beautiful, and obedient — an ideal wife. It was no surprise that the Prince of Chu had not broken the engagement despite her condition.
But now, with her face ruined, how could she possibly marry the Prince of Chu?
Let alone hope to marry the proud and unruly Northern Town King!
If his daughter couldn’t marry into the royal family, his political career would be doomed. What future could the Grand Secretary’s household possibly have?
At this moment, Su Yi’an had no time to care about her father’s ashen face and furrowed brows; his worries were none of her concern.
Having avenged the original owner, she was free to leave.
But before she left, she needed to arrange care for the adorable little tiger.
Su Yi’an left the manor and found a tailor’s shop called Zhen’s Clothworks.
Seeing the elderly shopkeeper behind the counter, with many wrinkles and a long beard — a man who looked experienced and skilled — she entered and began to describe, gesturing as she spoke,
“A boy about three or four years old, roughly this tall, arms this thick, legs this thick.
Make him a set of cotton-padded jacket and pants, using the finest fabric and best cotton.”
Master Zhen listened attentively and kindly suggested,
“Children at three or four are still growing fast. Let’s make the jacket and pants a bit larger so he can wear them next year too.”
Su Yi’an smiled gently, “No need. Clothes that are too big won’t keep him warm. We’ll make new ones next year. I’ll pay triple the usual price for expedited work. I need them by tomorrow.”
Master Zhen nodded sincerely.
“That won’t cost that much. Twenty wen for rush service will do. Come by tomorrow afternoon to collect them, they’ll definitely be ready.”
This shopkeeper was honest and straightforward, earning Su Yi’an’s admiration. She slapped a silver note on the table.
When Master Zhen saw the large silver note worth a thousand taels, he was momentarily stunned, his face full of disbelief.
“Miss, are you really buying my small shop?”
Su Yi’an replied without hesitation, “That’s right, I want to buy your shop. You’ll stay on as the manager. From now on, we split the profits fifty-fifty, and I’ll cover any losses. How about that?”
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“Mi-miss, you’re a living saint! You’re not joking with me, are you?” Master Zhen’s eyes widened, deepening the wrinkles on his forehead.
Su Yi’an teased with a smile, “With your face full of furrows, you’re hardly someone to joke with. I only tease young, handsome gentlemen~”
With the little tiger’s clothing problem solved, Su Yi’an went to the Huichuntang pharmacy she had visited the previous night and wrote out a list of prescriptions for common childhood illnesses.
“Prepare these medicines in small doses and package them accordingly.”
The pharmacy owner squinted at the prescriptions.
“Except for the century-old rhinoceros horn, I can have the rest ready in three days.”
“When will the rhinoceros horn be available?”
The owner smiled helplessly.
“Miss, a century-old rhino is practically a spirit by now. That legendary rhinoceros horn is priceless and nearly impossible to find in the market.
I dare say no pharmacy in the capital has it.
I only have ten-year-old antelope horn, which isn’t much less effective. If you want, I can sell it to you at a discount.”
Su Yi’an scoffed.
“A century-old rhinoceros horn powder mixed with water can cure children’s night terrors and high fevers.
Ten-year-old antelope horn only treats ordinary colds and fevers, and takes one or two days to work. The difference is huge.”
“Oh, Miss knows her stuff~” The owner laughed sheepishly, secretly gaining respect for the woman before him.
“If you really want the century-old rhinoceros horn, you’ll have to try your luck at the Ghost Market.”
“Where is the Ghost Market?”
Since she needed the best medicine for the little tiger, she had to be sure before leaving the capital to roam the Jianghu.
The pharmacy owner gave clear directions:
“The Ghost Market is in an abandoned village about twenty miles west outside the city.
It opens at midnight and closes at around 1 or 2 a.m. Buyers and sellers all wear masks, and transactions happen without questions about the origin or destination of goods.
Last year, I found a twenty-year-old rhinoceros horn there, a superb antipyretic, which I sold at a high price a few days ago... hehe, hehe~”
The owner chuckled awkwardly, realizing he’d said too much.
Su Yi’an was also prudent and didn’t pry further.
“Thank you, I’ll collect the medicines in three days.”
That night, Su Yi’an went to the Ghost Market.
At first glance, everything was for sale—food, toys, daily necessities—the hawkers’ cries never ceased.
Walking through the market, she suddenly spotted a century-old rhinoceros horn mixed among a pile of water buffalo horns at a stall selling buffalo horn combs.
Her heart leaped.
Heavens, I just stumbled upon such a rare find!
She pointed at the rhinoceros horn and asked,
“How much for this?”
“Ten thousand taels.”
“Ten thousand taels?” Su Yi’an feigned surprise. “A water buffalo horn costs ten thousand taels? Why don’t you just rob a bank?”
The stall owner sneered.
“What kind of eyes do you have? This is a century-old rhinoceros horn, broken off the head of a rhino spirit. It’s extremely precious!
If you don’t want it, there are plenty who do. People come looking for it every day.”
So the owner knew its value—her excitement was in vain...
“There are many seekers but few who can afford it. Ten thousand is the price, how about eight thousand?”
At that moment, Su Yi’an only had silver notes worth eight thousand taels.
“No sale!”
Thinking of the little tiger’s adorable face, she believed spending ten thousand was not a waste.
She then took out a jade pendant she had acquired and said,
“Five thousand taels plus this jade pendant, how about that?”
“Deal!”
Seeing the owner agree so readily, Su Yi’an knew she had lost a bit.
“Could you throw in a comb?”
“Pick any you like.”
Su Yi’an chose a buffalo horn comb.
A little something is better than nothing.
After wandering the Ghost Market a while, on her way back, she was shocked to see the jade pendant she had just sold on the same buffalo horn comb stall, now priced at twenty thousand taels.
A burly man wearing a straw hat and a mask was bargaining with the stall owner.
Su Yi’an smiled wryly.
Looks like I really got ripped off.
Middlemen make money so easily.
Ah well.
Reborn into this life, I’m never again going to be a secret agent risking my life. I want to be a big-time merchant rolling in gold daily~
Riding fast back to the capital, she arrived just as the city gates opened and the morning vendors set up their stalls.
Su Yi’an ordered a basket of steamed buns, sat down to eat, and her mind was filled with memories of eating buns with the little tiger at dawn yesterday.
The little guy—how was he doing now...
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a small figure.
Looking up, it was the little tiger himself.
His cheeks flushed red, tears the size of beans streaming down, his mouth contorted as he croaked hoarsely,
“Why did you only come now? I let all the bells go off and waited for you all night on this street, wuwuwu...”
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