Dig three feet into the ground

The auction was quite a success. Thanks to Shopkeeper Shang’s eloquence, the atmosphere remained lively from beginning to end.

It had been many years since Yizhou had produced a new kind of ink; not only Yizhou but the entire Great Yin, and indeed the whole ink-making trade, had reached a bottleneck. No one could create a truly new ink anymore. The skills of the present age were but a mere repetition of the trifling tricks of their predecessors. Therefore, although the scented ink crafted by Gu Fei could not be considered an entirely novel invention, the fact that she had improved the formula was in itself a remarkable feat.

Thus, everyone who came to the Gu family’s shop for the auction did so with curiosity and anticipation.

When Shopkeeper Shang wrote a calligraphic piece with the scented ink and passed it around for all to examine, those with discerning eyes among the great families immediately became animated. Before them, they seemed to see a grand doorway opening—a gateway for their family to ascend to the ranks of the elite.

Gu Fei looked with satisfaction at the great hall below. The scented ink not only fetched an excellent price but even inspired immediate advance orders. Those with far-sighted vision wasted no time in summoning their servants to make arrangements.

Shopkeeper Shang, his voice hoarse from exertion, suppressed the wild joy in his chest as he rapped the wooden gavel with a flushed face, calling out, “The final set of ink cakes—all scented ink, a set of five—”

“One hundred taels!” came a bid from a private room on the second floor before Shopkeeper Shang even finished his words.

Gu Fei knew that was enough. The scented ink auctioned today was only what she had originally made. The batches she and Feng Li had rushed to produce in the last three days had not been put up for sale at all. She tapped the armrest of her wheelchair with her finger and turned to Ku Mama, saying, “Ku Mama, in a while, have Shopkeeper Shang visit each family who attended today and tell them that the Gu shop is accepting advance orders for ink pellets. They need to pay half upfront, and the rest upon delivery. No matter how many they want, take all the orders.”

Ku Mama, a hint of worry in her eyes, glanced at Gu Fei’s wrist and replied, “Yes, Miss.”

In Gu Fei’s almond-shaped eyes, larger and darker than most, a shadowy twilight shimmered—like a black silk ribbon cascading from the heavens, untouched by sun or moon. “And when the auction ends, collect all today’s profits from Shopkeeper Shang at once. Don’t let any of it fall into Gu Zhong’s hands.”

Gu Fei had no intention of letting others reap the benefits of her work. If Gu Zhong had been cooperative, she wouldn’t have minded handing the money to him. But from the start, he had feigned compliance while acting against her at every turn.

Ku Mama nodded, glanced at the hall, and seeing the auction was winding down, bowed to Gu Fei and went about her tasks.

Leaning against the second-floor railing, Gu Fei cast her gaze across the hall, committing to memory each family in attendance. She beckoned a shop assistant and said softly, “Go tell Shopkeeper Shang, in my name, that because of everyone’s support today, there will be another auction tomorrow. The ink pellets and molds to be auctioned will be even finer than today’s.”

The assistants in the shop were all quick-witted. Though they didn’t know Gu Fei’s exact status in the family, they had seen her together with Gu Zhong and treated her with the utmost respect. “Yes, Miss,” they replied.

Extending the auction by a day was a decision Gu Fei had just made. With a stockpile still on hand, she was in no rush. After today, the Gu family’s reputation would spread on its own, and she was sure that tomorrow’s crowd would be even larger.

As for Gu Zhong being tied up, Gu Fei was not concerned in the least. Human relations are ultimately about weighing benefits; people will always choose the path of greatest advantage, especially merchants. Gu Fei knew Gu Zhong well—if this auction brought profits to the Gu family, he would not dare to blame her. Besides, with the recipe for scented ink in her hands, who could do anything to her?

When Shopkeeper Shang brought up the account book, he saw Gu Fei leaning nonchalantly against the railing, her skirt trailing gracefully, her black hair gently shifting—appearing as if today’s grand event was nothing to her. Moved, he became even more respectful. “Miss, here are today’s earnings for your review.”

Gu Fei took the book, flipping through it carelessly—the accounts were crystal clear. She pointed to the final sum without even lifting her eyelids. “Hand over all the silver we earned today,” she said.

Shopkeeper Shang hesitated. “Miss, the family set a rule many years ago: all shop earnings must be kept in cash until the end of the year for distribution. If there’s an urgent need, a note bearing the family seal is required.”

With a snap, Gu Fei closed the account book, her lips curving in a mysterious half-smile as she gazed at Shopkeeper Shang. “What? My uncle has already given me the seal—doesn’t that count as much as a note with the seal?”

Shopkeeper Shang lowered his head, silent.

Gu Fei returned the account book to him with a light laugh. “You truly are the Gu family’s seasoned shopkeeper. My uncle was right about you.”

She went on, “Let me be frank: because there are two days of auctions, and we prepared a lot in advance, we spent a great deal of silver—borrowed by my uncle. Now the time has come to repay those debts, just as he instructed. Shopkeeper Shang, you needn’t feel troubled.”

Gu Fei lied without the slightest sign of discomfort.

Shopkeeper Shang considered for a brief moment. “If that’s the case, I can give you the silver, Miss, but I’ll need you to write a receipt stamped with the family seal. Such a large sum must be accounted for.”

Gu Fei agreed readily. As long as the seal was Gu Zhong’s and not hers, it mattered not.

Shopkeeper Shang took the receipt and immediately exchanged all two thousand eight hundred taels earned today for banknotes, personally delivering them to Gu Fei.

Without even counting, Gu Fei seemed perfectly at ease. “You’ve worked hard today, Shopkeeper Shang. We’ll need you again tomorrow, so please go home and rest early.”

Shopkeeper Shang accepted her kindness. His throat was indeed sore, his voice hoarse. Not pretending otherwise, he thanked her and withdrew, nearly bumping into Ku Mama at the stairs.

Ku Mama, quick and agile, stepped aside before Shopkeeper Shang could react, though her expression was clouded. Gu Fei noticed and felt a twinge of unease.

Sure enough, once Shopkeeper Shang had disappeared, Ku Mama hurried to Gu Fei’s side, bending close to whisper in her ear, “Miss, Gu Zhong has escaped.”

Gu Fei’s expression sharpened, a dangerous glint in her eyes. “When did this happen?”

“I’m not sure,” Ku Mama shook her head. “When I went to check the room just now, he was already gone.”

“Find him!” Gu Fei commanded instantly, handing Ku Mama the banknotes for safekeeping. “Turn the place upside down if you must, but bring him back to me.”

Ku Mama nodded as she tucked the notes into her bosom.

Not yet reassured, Gu Fei added, “Gather some people and keep watch at the end of the street. The moment you see Gu Zhong, bring him back.”

Ku Mama’s mouth tightened, the lines deepening around it. “Are you worried he’ll find help and sabotage your plans, Miss?”

Gu Fei leaned her head against the wheelchair’s back, glancing down at the now-deserted hall that had been bustling just moments before. “Help? If he’s gone looking for allies, I’m not concerned. What worries me is that he might seek out Mo Yan!”