CRACKLE... POP...
Firecrackers scatter a thousand calamities; from now on, all will be well.
THUMP! THUMP!
The sound of drums rose steadily in accompaniment.
"Congratulations! Congratulations!"
"Hall Master Yann, congratulations on the opening of Wancai Cloth Shop. I'm sure you'll be raking in piles of gold daily from now on."
"..."
In front of the Martial Arts Hall, merchants and wealthy patrons offered auspicious words, presented congratulatory gifts, and came to pay their respects.
Wancai Cloth Shop opened right next door to the Martial Arts Hall. With the striking of gongs and beating of drums, it was a boisterous scene, the crowd blocking the road completely.
"The joy is mutual, the joy is mutual."
Yann Jingfu's eyes narrowed into thin lines as he smiled, cupping his hands repeatedly at the guests.
"Young Master Zhu has booked the entire Hongfu Restaurant. Please, have a seat inside for now. We will all head to the tavern for a meal later."
"Hongfu Restaurant?" The guest looked surprised.
"The one with the head chef from the Capital City? Young Master Zhu is truly generous. No wonder he's able to run such a successful business."
"You're too kind, too kind," Yann Jingfu said with a laugh.
"This way, please."
"Brother Lan."
He stopped what he was doing and hurried over to greet the newcomer.
"Your presence is gift enough. Why did you bring something?"
"HAHA..." Lan Qisheng laughed, handing over his gift with a sigh.
"Back then, your Yann's Boxing Hall and my Sword Hall were the struggling brothers of Martial Arts Dojo Street. It's only been a few months, and you've already completely transformed. All I can do is look on with envy and jealousy."
The two had been friends for decades and had no need for such pleasantries. The jealousy was real, but so were the congratulations.
SIGH!
Yann Jingfu shook his head.
"The Martial Arts Hall's business is still half-dead as ever. I've just benefited from Young Master Zhu's fortune and gained some other income."
"A good fortune to benefit from, a good fortune indeed!" Lan Qisheng's eyes lit up as he looked at the newly opened cloth shop next door.
"To attract cloth merchants from all corners right after opening... Given time, I'm afraid Wancai will become the leading cloth shop in all of Yue City."
"Red cloth, blue silk... I hear not even the Capital City has such fine fabrics."
"Oh, right!"
He lowered his voice.
"Save me three feet of red cloth. I have a happy occasion to celebrate next month."
It was true that Wancai Cloth Shop officially opened today, but small batches had already been shipped out in the preceding days, and its reputation was well established.
Right now, Wancai's cloth was in extremely high demand in Yue City. Without a reservation, one would have to wait a long time to buy any.
This was especially true for individual customers.
The shop primarily supplied cloth merchants and garment shops in various regions; it usually didn't bother with small sales of two or three feet.
"Is it for Yun'er's wedding?" Yann Jingfu asked.
"I've already set some cloth aside for you. Just take it with you when you leave. Don't be a stranger; all of today's guests will receive some."
"My thanks," Lan Qisheng said with a cupped-hand bow.
"Where is Young Master Zhu?"
"At the tavern," Yann Jingfu said, pulling him inside.
"Go on in and have a seat. We'll wait for a few more old friends, and then I'll introduce you all to Young Master Zhu together."
...
「Hongfu Restaurant.」
Yann Xiuxin knocked on the door and, after receiving a response, pushed it open and entered.
"Young Master."
"Someone from Baixiu Workshop is here to see you."
"Baixiu Workshop?" Zhu Ju looked up and frowned.
"One of the Seven Workshops of Flower Street?"
"Yes," Yann Xiuxin sighed.
"I told them you were entertaining guests today and that it wasn't a convenient time to meet, but they insisted they *are* guests."
"Alright, that's enough!" Before she could finish, she was shoved aside as three swaggering men swayed into the room.
Although the leader was dressed in fine clothes, he gave off the impression of a monkey in a hat. He cupped his hands and said with a smile,
"I've long heard of Young Master Zhu's great name. Seeing you today, you're as remarkable as they say. This humble one is Zhao Er, a steward from Baixiu Workshop."
"Steward Zhao." Zhu Ju lifted his teacup and took a sip.
"Are you here to buy cloth for the young ladies of your workshop? This is just a cloth shop. If you need clothes tailored, you should go to a garment shop."
"HAHA..." Zhao Er roared with laughter. He pulled over a stool for himself, sat down, and raised an eyebrow.
"Young Master Zhu, you jest. I am here today to discuss a business deal with you—a big one."
"Oh?" A look of confusion crossed Zhu Ju's face.
"What kind of business could we possibly have?"
Baixiu Workshop was a brothel, a business of the flesh trade. Even if they were looking for customers, they wouldn't find them at a cloth shop staffed mostly by female workers.
"Of course, we can!"
Zhao Er leaned forward, his voice low.
"I hear Young Master Zhu's cloth shop is hiring female workers. I took a look, and the wages you're offering are quite generous."
"Yes," Zhu Ju said, understanding dawning on him.
"And Steward Zhao can find suitable female workers for my cloth shop?"
"Not just suitable—cheap," Zhao Er grinned.
"Young Master Zhu, you must know a thing or two about us. Every month, I have dozens of women on my hands waiting to be... dealt with."
"The workshop doesn't take just any woman. Some aren't presentable enough to serve men, but it's not hard for them to do some dyeing and weaving."
He spoke slowly.
"Bring them back to the cloth shop, and as long as you don't let them escape, won't they be yours to command, Young Master Zhu?"
"Where others do one person's work, they can do three. Where you pay others three cents, they only need enough to not starve."
"Heh..." Zhu Ju chuckled at his words.
"I understand."
"Steward Zhao wants to engage in human trafficking with me."
"More or less," Zhao Er nodded.
"Speaking of which, we've dealt with each other before. We're old friends. It's a shame we didn't get to chat more back then."
"Hm?" Zhu Ju's hand paused as he recalled something.
"The missing female workers?"
"That's right," Zhao Er laughed.
"Young Master Zhu was willing to spend thirty taels of silver to buy those two women back from me. It's clear you're a man who cherishes beautiful women."
'Thirty taels?'
'I clearly spent fifty taels of silver back then!'
"The cloth shop needs female workers, but not just any woman will do," Zhu Ju said slowly after a moment of thought.
"They must come from a clean background and be skilled in weaving. If Steward Zhao can introduce such people to work here, I can pay a referral fee of five maces of silver for each one who completes a full month of work."
"Five maces of silver?" Before Zhao Er could speak, one of the men behind him stepped forward, slammed his hand on the table, and roared:
"Are you trying to shoo away a beggar?"
"Let me tell you straight—you're doing this deal whether you like it or not. You really think you're somebody?"
"SIGH!" Zhao Er waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't be rude to Young Master Zhu. We're here to talk business properly, not like some common street thugs."
"Yes!"
The one who had slammed the table acknowledged the order and respectfully retreated behind Zhao Er.
The two of them were putting on a show, one playing good cop, the other bad cop. It seemed polite, but it was a clear threat, and a look of impatience appeared on Zhu Ju's face.
"Young Master Zhu."
Zhao Er tapped the table and got straight to the point.
"Let's be frank. From now on, I will be in charge of Wancai Cloth Shop's female workers, and Baixiu Workshop will take sixty percent of the shop's profits."
"This sixty percent isn't for me; it's for Baixiu Workshop and the master behind it. Just say the word, and I'll send the people over immediately. We can even use our channels to sell Wancai Cloth Shop's fabrics to various State Mansions. This is a win-win situation."
"Heh..." Zhu Ju stood up.
"Today is the official opening of Wancai Cloth Shop. It's not a convenient time to entertain outsiders. Please, show yourselves out."
"Xiuxin."
"Here."
"See them out."
"Yes."
Yann Xiuxin complied. With a flick of her wrist, several iron rings hidden in her sleeve were revealed with a CLANG.
The Yann Family's Iron Wire Fist could be both hard and soft, referring not only to its Strength but also to its combat applications.
Worn on the arm, these iron rings, combined with the power-generating techniques of the Fist Technique, could deliver blows that no ordinary person could withstand.
Yann Xiuxin was indeed a woman, but she had trained in martial arts since childhood. With her agile figure, dealing with two or three opponents was no trouble at all.
"You..."
Zhao Er shot to his feet, slamming his hand on the table, his face dark.
"Fine!"
"Just fine!"
"Young Master Zhu, we'll see about this! I'd like to see just how long your Wancai Cloth Shop can stay glamorous!"
"Let's go!"
With a wave of his hand, he stormed out with his men.
It wasn't that he feared Yann Xiuxin, but that Yann Jingfu was approaching with several other martial arts hall masters.
These martial arts hall masters were all powerfully built and possessed real skills, far beyond what his hired thugs could handle.
"Young Master Zhu!"
Yann Jingfu glanced at Zhao Er as he brushed past, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He quickly suppressed his stray thoughts and hurried over.
"Let me make the introductions. This is Master Lan Qisheng of the Iron Saber Hall."
"A pleasure, Master Lan."
"Young Master Zhu, you're too kind."
"This is Brother Shen Ying of the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall. Brother Shen's Six Harmonies Spear is a specialty of Yue City, and he is one of the few masters on Martial Arts Dojo Street who has achieved Body Tempering."
"Hall Master Yann is too kind. I, Shen Ying, greet Young Master Zhu."
"A pleasure, Master Shen."
...
Zhu Ju nodded to the various martial arts hall masters. Once they were all seated, he began:
"I've invited you all here today for two reasons. First, to discuss a matter of business, and second, to ask for a few medicinal formulas to strengthen Qi and Blood."
*
*
*
「Late at night.」
A group of Black-Clothed Men, using the cover of dark clouds obscuring the crescent moon, appeared silently near Wancai Cloth Shop.
"Steward."
One of them asked in a low voice:
"How far should the brothers go?"
"Smash anything you see. You can kill a few people, but don't set any fires." Zhao Er pulled down his mask, his voice cold.
"The master has his eye on this cloth shop. We'll let the one surnamed Zhu hold onto it for now, but sooner or later, it will be ours."
"Yes," the large man acknowledged.
"Do we move?"
"Move out!" Zhao Er waved his hand.
"Go!"
A group of men holding long sabers and clubs charged out of the darkness. The one in the lead sent a flying kick at the main door.
BAM!
The door crashed heavily to the ground.
In the next instant.
The menacing group suddenly froze, as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over their heads.
RUSTLE...
Dozens of burly, imposing men were gathered in the cloth shop's main hall. They all stood up at once, their faces cold as they stared at the intruders. An invisible killing intent silently filled the air.
GULP...
Zhao Er's throat bobbed. He took a careful step back.
"A misunderstanding. This is all a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding?" A voice devoid of emotion came from the back. Accompanied by several martial arts hall masters, Zhu Ju walked slowly out of the darkness.
"Coming to the cloth shop at this hour, dressed like this... I'm afraid it's no misunderstanding."
"Gentlemen."
He cupped his hands toward the men beside him.
"I'll have to trouble you."
"It's our duty." Shen Ying, the master of the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall, stepped forward, pointing his long spear at Zhao Er.
"You dare provoke our business? You're courting death!"
'Your business?'
Zhao Er froze.
"I am young and an outsider, so it is difficult for me to support such a large enterprise alone," Zhu Ju stated faintly.
"Therefore, I have given a portion of the shares to several Martial Arts Halls to run this business together. They are all now owners of this cloth shop."
"Young Master Zhu, no need to waste words on them!" Lan Qisheng, with his fiery temper, raised his saber and charged straight out.
"Get on the ground!"
"Run!" Zhao Er's eyes constricted as he shrieked.
"Run for your lives!"
There were dozens of burly men inside and more than ten masters outside. The men he had brought today were completely outmatched.
BAM!
BAM! BAM!
As masters of Martial Arts Halls, most of them possessed the Cultivation of the Blood Coagulation Realm. Coupled with their years of martial training, they were simply no match for a group of thugs.
After charging into the crowd, they immediately began to wreak havoc.