nyslfriends Chapter 268: Not A Serious Businessman
Chapter 268: Not A Serious Businessman
These days, the world is in chaos, with natural disasters and man-made calamities everywhere, especially cruel to ordinary people who have no cultivation.
For example, in order to capture Chu Shen and his group, Duke Dengguo has caused disturbances in many places.
Whether it is the passing of troops or local officials colluding with the authorities, the harassment of the people will definitely not be less. During this period, I don't know how many excessive taxes and levies there are, and how many innocent people have been killed for personal gain.
The owner of this Ping'an Inn was extorted by the government officials because he had no power to resist. After arguing a few words, he was beaten by the angry officials. The innkeeper's wife had to step forward and take over.
However, after the officials beat someone here and Duke Dengguo caused panic, the inn, which was already struggling, had even fewer guests.
The current inn's only guest, Chu, has not yet realized this. He only thinks that the inn is not doing well, but he doesn't know that he has become a conspicuous target.
It's just that the inexperienced innkeeper who took over the counter after her husband didn't notice anything unusual about Chu's stay. Which traveling merchant would not ask about the reputation of the shop before staying? Would they not ask if there have been any problems with the shop? How could they dare to stay in an inn that has just had a conflict with the government officials?
Only Chu Shen doesn't understand how cautious and careful real traveling merchants are, so he thinks he has no flaws.
Similarly, the inexperienced innkeeper, the wife of the owner, is relieved that her inn is finally open and happily asks the customers about their well-being.
Fortunately, due to the conflict with the officials, the surrounding businesses and the public have avoided the Ping'an Inn, which also prevented the news of Chu Shen's stay from spreading. I don't know if this can be considered lucky for a novice traveling merchant.
Chu Shen spent a peaceful night in the Ping'an Inn, and the exhaustion from the previous series of conflicts and pursuits was fully relieved after a night of rest.
The next day, when he woke up, he could feel that his whole body was filled with vitality once again.
But the ripples caused by Duke Deng are still stirring, and the city defense of Yongzhou has not relaxed, but rather strengthened. If he wants to leave Yongzhou, the risks will actually increase [Song can continue to play the role of a wandering merchant.
In order to fit into this identity, he decided to bring his "goods" and go to the market to sell them well and do a good job as a wandering merchant.
The young woman shopkeeper did not suspect his actions. In her understanding, it was normal for a wandering merchant to be eager to sell the goods he brought and she even asked if he wanted to bring some biscuits as provisions.
What surprised Chu Shen was that the young woman shopkeeper's craftsmanship was actually quite good. The ordinary biscuits were made soft and chewy, with a suitable level of saltiness, not hard at all. He happily bought a few more.
He obtained provisions suitable for a wandering merchant, and the young woman shopkeeper gained valuable income. It was a cause for celebration.
Arriving at the market in Yongzhou City, he presented his Zhu Jing and paid the taxes, and he smoothly obtained his stall.
After arranging the goods, Chu Shen, who was not a real wandering merchant, put on a facade of "the boss is a bit socially anxious, and the goods are sold as fate allows" and began to slack off, his thoughts flying to his concubines and children in the Langxuan Heavenly Palace.
I wonder when Duke Deng will stop his incompetence and end the search operation, allowing the surrounding areas to return to normal, especially stopping the use of the Earth Pulse Instrument.
Do you know that keeping that thing running all the time is something that people hate? It not only affects the operation of teleportation arrays and other facilities in the surrounding cities, but also greatly affects the cultivation of cultivators!
However, Duke Deng's stubbornness is affecting the livelihoods of ordinary people the most.
There are many vendors in the market, but few consumers, which is the result of the tense situation in the surrounding areas.
Mixed among so many unsuccessful vendors, Chu Shen's slacking attitude went unnoticed, after all, many vendors without business looked just like him, like a bunch of salted fish.
With nothing to say for the day, as the market was about to close, Chu Shen safely passed another empty day. Indifferently tidying up his stall's merchandise, he returned to the Ping'an Inn.
"Guest, are you satisfied with today's harvest?" The young woman shopkeeper greeted him upon his return.
Chu Shen knew that a traveling merchant with poor business should not be overly cheerful. He sighed and put on a melancholic expression, saying, "Business is tough. I worked hard all day today, but only managed to sell two items. It's a loss, a loss!"
The young woman shopkeeper sympathetically said, "Guest, your trip to Yongzhou was indeed unlucky. The government suddenly caused a big commotion, greatly affecting the market. Even the Wudu dare not come out to trade at this time."
Chu Shen followed the topic and complained, "Who says otherwise? I saw that Yongzhou City is not small, with a large population. I thought I would make a lot of money this time, but I didn't expect the situation to be like this. I just hope things will end soon, and once the market recovers and people start flowing again, my business can pick up."
Before the young woman shopkeeper could say anything else, a voice suddenly came from outside the door, "Shopkeeper, I need a room!"
In the surprised expressions of Chu Shen and the young woman shopkeeper, a group of people entered in a dusty and tired manner. There were also sounds of horses and mules outside the door, indicating that the size of the group was not small.
At this time, there was still such a large caravan appearing in Yongzhou City?
Chu Shen immediately sensed that something was off about these people.
But the young woman shopkeeper didn't have such a discerning eye. She only felt joy, thinking that with so many customers arriving, it would be a small fortune.
For her family, which was currently in a difficult situation, this was a timely rain.
~Guests, please come in. There are many rooms available. The upper room costs 100 wen per night, with a deposit of another 100 wen. Meals are not included and will be charged separately.
The leader of the merchant caravan directly took out a standard silver ingot weighing ten taels and threw it on the counter with a loud thud. "Keep it as a deposit. We'll settle any differences later. For now, please serve us some food. We're starving after this long journey."
The young woman innkeeper was pleasantly surprised. "Alright, everyone please wait. I'll register you all and prepare the food immediately."
Originally, the Ping'an Inn had a cook, a waiter, and a helper. Unfortunately, after the innkeeper was beaten by the yamen officers, these people were afraid of getting into trouble and resigned, leaving the entire inn to be managed by the young woman innkeeper.
Previously, there was only Chu Shen, and although business was slow, she wasn't too busy. But now that so many people had arrived, she immediately became busy.
Chu Shen didn't delay her business and glanced at the newcomers from the merchant caravan before returning to her own room, feeling a sense of alertness.
The newcomers from the merchant caravan were also secretly sizing him up.
Someone leaned in and whispered to the leader of the merchant caravan, "Boss, that traveling merchant doesn't seem right."
The leader pretended to drink tea. "He may not be right, but it has nothing to do with us. Let's not complicate things and alert our brothers."
The person nodded and made two hand gestures to the others. The previously quiet merchant caravan suddenly became lively, as if they had finally found a place to rest after a long and arduous journey. Their voices became louder, which was in line with the behavior of many merchant caravans.
What they didn't know was that Chu Shen had moved his ears and heard their conversation.
These people... just like him, they are not legitimate merchants.