From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 606: Chapter 608: Encounter on the Road

When guests came to visit, Jin Qianqian naturally made sure to entertain them well.

Coincidentally, these ladies also loved the food at Tianfu Restaurant. After a brief discussion, they decided to simply go out to eat.

They would be leaving Lu City soon, so they really ought to walk around a few more times. They might never return to this place in their lifetime, so it was good to make more pleasant memories.

The group didn’t arrange for a carriage. Instead, they walked along the bustling streets, accompanied by their servants and attendants.

The culture in this border city was much more open than in Shangjing. When people saw so many noble ladies walking down the street, they would just carefully step aside to avoid bumping into them, though some would stop and stare at the unusual sight.

"To be honest, I’ll be sad to leave," Jin Qianqian said, taking in the streetscape. "Life here is simple, without so much scheming. It’s a shame we aren’t masters of our own fate."

She only dared to whisper these complaints to Lichun, who was beside her. The other ladies were already captivated by the roadside shops, discussing what other unique things they should buy to take back home.

"I like it here, too. The people are so genuine," Lichun said. As an orphan, she longed for a family of her own. If this border city remained so peaceful, she would be happy to stay and help Madam manage her businesses.

"You can forget about that," Jin Qianqian said with a smile. "If you were to stay here, the Master would lose a capable assistant."

Lichun’s face immediately flushed red. "Madam..."

Jin Qianqian said, "...Getting shy already? Ming Feng is due back from his trip soon. You’re not going to be too shy to see him, are you?"

Lichun quickly glanced around. Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she gave a bashful little shuffle of her feet. "Madam, please stop teasing me..."

Jin Qianqian stopped teasing her, a touch of melancholy in her voice instead. "Time really flies..."

"Mrs. Gu."

A familiar voice rang out on the street. Jin Qianqian looked toward the source of the sound.

"What a coincidence, Prince Bai. What brings you out on the streets today?"

She glanced at the attendants following behind him, each holding several gift boxes.

"It’s not often I get to visit Lu City, so I’m taking some small gifts back for the children at home."

Jin Qianqian then remembered that in recent years, the Bai Deng Family had welcomed a son and a daughter. She had even sent a gift at the time.

"It looks like you’ve had a fruitful trip. A doting father indeed, Prince Bai," Jin Qianqian said with a faint smile. "It seems your date of return to the Capital has been set as well."

"Thanks to you, Madam, the handover went very smoothly. However, there are urgent matters in the Capital, so I must depart first.

"I imagine you and your family will be leaving soon as well, Mrs. Gu?"

Bai Jinglie knew that taking full control of the sea trade wasn’t something he could accomplish overnight.

In the eyes of most shipwrights and sailors, the only master they truly recognized was still the woman standing before him, Mrs. Gu.

Moreover, he had witnessed for himself just how formidable this woman was in the past few days.

The various rules and regulations she had laid out were airtight, with no loopholes. She had even taken all the crew’s long-term concerns into account.

Even if he wanted to make some changes, he couldn’t find a single flaw.

Besides, if he were to undermine such generous terms, it would only breed discontent among the men, which would be extremely detrimental to his takeover.

Now he understood why she hadn’t made any special arrangements for the workers. It was because she was already confident in their loyalty.

It was no wonder these men were so loyal to her. They didn’t have a single complaint, even when their contracts were being transferred to a new master.

"That’s not really for a woman of the inner household like myself to decide. Besides the fact that the official transfer orders haven’t arrived, a long journey for such a large family involves countless considerations. It’s not nearly as simple as your situation, Prince Bai."

Bai Jinglie was speechless. ’I really want to curse someone right now. Simple situation? Anyone who wants this kind of "simplicity" can have it!’

Over the years, with no path of retreat, he had become nothing more than a blade in the Holy Emperor’s hand, stripped of most of his freedom.

Even Ancient Wen Heng, a man who came from nothing, was living a hundred times better than him.

"Well, our families are on our way to a meal up ahead, so we won’t disturb you any further, Prince Bai." Jin Qianqian felt that a simple greeting was more than enough. She couldn’t very well stand here on a major street making small talk with several officials’ wives in tow.

Even if Bai Jinglie had more questions, he knew better than to ask them now. His approaching her had been an impulse.

He stepped aside with his men. "I won’t disturb you any longer, Mrs. Gu."

There was a time when he had been the one in the dominant position.

Now, in just a few short years, he was a step below her, and perhaps in the future this gap would only grow wider.

The thought of the messy situation waiting for him in the Capital only made Bai Jinglie more morose.

＆

"So, will Prince Bai be managing the sea trade from now on?" Mrs. He asked quietly, approaching Jin Qianqian only after he was a good distance away.

They had discussed this matter at length in recent days, all feeling it was unfair to Jin Qianqian and her husband.

This was an enterprise they had built from scratch, and now that they were leaving, it was being handed over to someone else.

It was thanks to Jin Qianqian that their families had stable, profitable shares in the sea trade.

Now that the management was changing, they were anxious, wondering if the successor would be as fair and transparent as Jin Qianqian had been.

The thought of the substantial annual dividends made them even more worried. So when they heard Mrs. He bring it up, the others all pricked up their ears.

Jin Qianqian said, "The handover is complete. Prince Bai has likely settled most of the affairs over the past few days. Didn’t he just say he’s leaving?"

"If he’s leaving, then what will happen to this huge operation?" Lady Wu’s voice was edged with urgency. After all, this was now her family’s largest source of income.

Jin Qianqian replied, "It won’t have much of an impact. If they follow the management regulations I established, the operation can run without a primary manager overseeing it for a good six months to a year without falling into chaos."

’But what about after that?’ The same worry crossed the minds of all the ladies.

"Everything was going so well. Why did you give away such a huge piece of the pie?" It wasn’t often they had the chance to ask, so Mrs. He seized the moment.

Jin Qianqian knew they had all been speculating for days. "It’s because we’re about to leave Lu City, and who knows where we’ll be sent next.

"It will be too far away to manage conveniently.

"I don’t want to be responsible for the various problems that could arise from that.

"After all, the sea trade affects the livelihoods of thousands of families. If anything were to go wrong, that’s a burden I, as a simple woman, couldn’t possibly bear.

"The sea trade is running smoothly now, so it’s better to find someone capable to oversee it on-site."

Lady Wu didn’t buy her explanation. ’She’s pushing away hundreds of thousands of silver a year. I don’t believe for a second that Mrs. Gu is as nonchalant as she sounds.’

"Somehow, I heard a rumor... that you’re giving the entire sea trade to those higher up."

The implication was clear: Ancient Wen Heng and his family were using a fortune in real silver to curry favor with their superiors.

Jin Qianqian smiled faintly. "There’s really nothing to that. Who would just give away such a massive asset for nothing?"