Chapter 47

Mu Wanqing set off in a grand procession with a crowd in tow; this time she'd brought both her eldest and second brothers.
Along the way, everyone chatted and speculated, commenting on all sorts of things.
On the whole, they thought the plan fanciful and feared Mu Wanqing might drop the ball this time.
Everyone knew dealing with carriages was difficult, only a few spots were released at a time, and you had to scramble for them.
But no one dared voice those doubts to Mu Wanqing's face.
Someone couldn't help asking, "Third Miss, where are we going?"
"You'll know when we get there."
The party followed Mu Wanqing, running along until they came to a carriage house.
The clerk at the carriage house, seeing the sudden rush of people, grew nervous, could they be here to pick a fight? "Gentlemen, what can I do for you?"
Master Fang stepped forward a few paces, clasped his hands politely and said, "We'd like to purchase some carriages. Could the shopkeeper come out, please?"
The clerk looked apologetic. "Sirs, I'm sorry, we are not receiving customers these past two days."
Mu Ziang couldn't help getting anxious. "You keep your doors open but aren't doing business, what's that supposed to mean?"
The clerk kept bowing; Mu Ziang insisted on seeing the shopkeeper, who finally came out, repeatedly apologizing.
The situation froze for a moment; everyone turned in unison to look at the carriage at the back.
That was awkward.
Mu Wanqing had sworn up and down she'd secure the carriages, but now it clearly seemed impossible.
Master Fang knit his brow slightly; young people, lacking experience, would pay the price for their mistakes.
But what could they do? They were all in the same boat; they had to find some way to bluff their way through.
"Ahem, well... perhaps we should check another carriage house," someone suggested.
To their surprise, the clerk replied, "We're the only carriage house for a hundred li around."
Members of the Mu clan were disappointed and growing impatient. "Clan head, should we turn back? Our people are counting on us."
The carriage-house staff glanced instinctively toward the carriage, who was the clan head sitting inside who hadn't shown his face?
A slender hand slid through the gap in the carriage curtain, palm holding a small white jade seal.
"Eldest brother, show this seal to the shopkeeper."
The shopkeeper was surprised by the youthfulness of the voice. Aren't clan heads usually elderly?
But the moment he saw the white jade seal, all other thoughts vanished. He bowed respectfully. "I didn't know we had such distinguished visitors, pardon my poor welcome. Please come inside and have a cup of fine tea."
Mu Wanqing said coolly, "No tea, thank you. I have business to attend to. Let's transfer the carriages."
Her tone was lofty, carrying the air of someone used to being in charge.
The shopkeeper was taken aback, tongue-tied. "May I ask for the pickup password?" he managed.
"Yu Mu Furong Qiu Yi Qing." This was the prearranged password; it contained Mu Wanqing's surname.
The shopkeeper bowed even lower, his smile broadening. "Our little shop has been awaiting your arrival. The carriages arrived yesterday and are all in the back yard."
Everyone's eyes widened. What was going on?
Master Fang was even more dumbfounded. So he was the one who'd been lacking insight?
What made him think Third Miss Mu would fail? He'd fallen into the old mistake of underestimating a woman.
That was Third Miss Mu, a prodigy who became clan head at thirteen. She couldn't be judged by ordinary standards.
Mu Wanqing tapped the carriage wall lightly. "Master Fang, please lead your people to inspect the goods."
"Yes." Master Fang snapped alert, waved his hand grandly, and led members of the two clans inside.
When they reached the back yard, a row of neat blue-cloth carriages came into view, a spectacle that left them awestruck.
Nearby, the horses were stabled one by one, quietly nibbling their feed.
The carriages looked plain, half-new, half-worn, but inside they held unexpected refinements.
Half an hour later they emerged one by one, harnessing the carriages and practically dancing with excitement.
Master Fang brought up the rear. "Mu... clan head, there are sixty-six carriages in total, five more than expected."
"No matter. I ordered sixty-six."
Had she miscalculated? Not at all. Master Fang was slow on the uptake; if you added the Mu family's main house and third house, it came to exactly sixty-six carriages.
Such meticulous planning, such formidable capacity for action, such inscrutable methods, all of it was intimidating.
The shopkeeper came forward with the inventory. "Here you are: sixty-six carriages. Each comes with a small red clay stove and two earthenware jars, a set of oilcloth rain gear, a carriage cushion, a thick bedding set, and five hand warmers."
"Excellent, thank you for your trouble." Mu Wanqing was pleased. Guo Er was capable, quite competent.
Back then, she had placed the order with Guo Er; he accepted immediately.
In return, Mu Wanqing had given him a folk remedy for diarrhea and a regimen to regulate the stomach.
Guo Er had spent years traveling, meals at irregular times; his stomach was weak and prone to diarrhea if he wasn't careful, and he had a taste for rich food.
The shopkeeper directed his men to bring out a few sacks. "This is the duck down you requested."
"These are two roots of fifty-year-old ginseng."
He accounted for each item in turn, decidedly humble in manner.
A flicker of pleasure crossed Mu Wanqing's eyes. Excellent, they had duck-down quilts.
As for the old ginseng, it could be life-saving in a pinch.
"Thank you. Let's settle the bill."
The shopkeeper had already prepared the bill but still said it aloud himself. "Sixty-six carriages and their contents: 6,600 taels. With these sacks and the old ginseng, it's a total of 7,500 taels."
Mu Wanqing waved her hand. "Eldest brother, pay up."
She also handed the shopkeeper a one-hundred-tael tip for his trouble.
"Please thank your master for me and the trouble he took. Until we meet again."
The shopkeeper's attentiveness increased. "Yes, yes, of course."
"Let's go home." At Mu Wanqing's command, the group departed in grand procession.
Only after the carriage vanished from sight did the proprietor of the coach-house straighten up.
A clerk asked with great curiosity, “Boss, who on earth was that person? Why didn’t they even show their face?”
The proprietor was past the age for curiosity; he knew all too well that the more you know, the more danger you invite.
“Why pry? The master's orders were carried out without a hitch. Everyone deserves credit, tonight we'll feast.”
The clerks cheered loudly.
On the way home, everyone was beside themselves with excitement.
Even the head of the Fang household looked at Mu Wanqing differently; after this incident, she had won countless hearts.
The Fang clan members kept calling her “Third Miss,” more affectionately than they did their own daughter.
They wished Mu Wanqing were their own Third Miss.
“Third Miss, where did you get this?”
“A friend helped me get them,” Mu Wanqing said, casting him a cool glance. “By the way, the carriage’s accompanying items aren’t complimentary. If you don’t want them…”
Before she finished, the head of the Fang household rushed in, “I’ll take them! How much?”
Those accompanying items weren’t particularly precious, but they were very practical.
The key was that collecting so many at once wasn’t easy.
“Six hundred and sixty taels.”
Charging ten taels apiece, really not expensive, but the head of the Fang family was embarrassed. “I don’t have that much money…”
Mu Wanqing snorted, “You’re so poor. Fine, same as always: two percent interest.”
“All right.” The Fang head put on a strained smile and ingratiatingly asked, “Where did you get so much silver? Could you take me with you?”
Mu Wanqing asked coolly, “Take you? What’s in it for me?”
They were only short-term partners.
“Er?” The Fang head felt a headache, she was too shrewd; appeals to sentiment wouldn’t work. “I’ll do whatever you say from now on.”
“What kind of benefit is that?” Mu Wanqing shook her head slightly. It’s fine to be sharp, but too sharp makes it hard to win trust. “Think harder, come up with something that will move me.”
The Fang head was at a loss, move her? Too difficult. “What do you lack?”
Mu Wanqing toyed casually with her teacup, eyes lowered. “Right now I have money and resources; even the officials answer to me. I lack nothing.”
That made it even harder; the Fang head racked her brains and came up with nothing.
At the inn’s entrance, countless people craned their necks, eagerly waiting.
A few members of the Mu clan gathered around Second Master Mu, chattering, “You really managed to procure carriages? Not just one, but sixty-one! That’s no small feat.”
“I believe in my daughter’s ability,” Second Master Mu said, thoroughly a proud father. If his daughter said the sun rose in the west, he’d believe it!
Mu Shiwu’s eyes darted about. “Tell me, where were you for that month away? What did you do?”
Everyone perked up at this topic; Mu Wanqing’s whole bearing had changed since her return, there was the noble air of someone who’d risen in station.
Second Master Mu casually replied, “Just eating, drinking, and enjoying ourselves.”
Mu Shiwu fell silent. “Do you yourself believe that?”
“No.” Second Master Mu was an honest sort.
Onlookers: …what a good-natured Second Master Mu.
Mu Shiwu was speechless, how could such an honest man father a cunning daughter like Mu Wanqing? “Then why say that?”
Second Master Mu wasn’t putting his heart into it. “Qing’er said you needed an explanation, so she made one up on the spot.”
He wasn’t afraid of offending anyone anymore, well, he had a daughter backing him up!
His Qing’er had said: don’t be afraid, don’t bother with anyone’s face, do whatever pleases you. She’ll handle everything.
At the thought, he couldn’t help smiling happily.
Mu Shiwu wanted to glean some useful information. “Don’t listen to her. As a father you should teach your child to be honest.”
“Qing’er is smarter than me; you heard correctly.”
Mu Shiwu sighed, “Second Brother, haven’t we been like brothers for decades? How could you keep this from me? Tell me a few honest words, I won’t tell anyone.”
Second Master Mu looked at him oddly. “Huh? We only meet once a year at the New Year ancestor rites and don’t even speak. What brotherly bond?”
He really wasn’t close with the clan, only seeing them once a year and hardly interacting; everyone kept their distance.
An honest man’s bluntness was infuriating; Mu Shiwu felt humiliated, but what could he do? The present Second Master Mu was not someone he could afford to offend.
“I considered you a brother and you treated me like a stranger. I’m devastated. No, you’re going to have to console me.”
Second Master Mu looked concerned. “Devastated? If you’re ill, get it treated early.”
He truly cared, but paired with his earlier words it was especially funny.
Mu Shiwu burst out laughing. What kind of people were these? Were they truly stupid or only pretending?
“Hahaha.” The eavesdroppers were in stitches, why were they so hilarious?
A rapid pounding of footsteps sounded as a figure rushed out of the room and straight up to Second Master Mu, seizing his hand. “Second Uncle! Second Uncle! You must help me, please, please help!”
It was Mu Jinyao; her face was anxious and she looked utterly helpless.
Second Master Mu asked worriedly, “What’s wrong? What happened?”