CMWKSD -Chapter 46 The Persuasive Ji Yiqing

Wang Jinnian was a little excited. The excitement caused a slight tickle in his throat, and he quickly covered it with his sleeve and coughed twice.

Having been sickly since childhood, Wang Jinnian had known since he became sensible that he might not live long. Yet, to his surprise, his life had been pulled back from the brink of death.

He had only heard from his father and mother that the one who saved him was a young lady. Wang Jinnian had always wanted to thank her in person, but in his excitement, he had ended up making a scene.

Looking at Ji Yiqing and Jiu Yue, the atmosphere between them was extremely harmonious. Ji Yiqing did not dominate Jiu Yue, treating her not as someone inferior, but with genuine respect.

The couple truly commanded admiration.

Lady Wang gently patted Wang Jinnian’s back: “See, you insisted on thanking your savior in person, and before you could even speak, you ended up coughing.”

Wang Jinnian, still young, blushed: “Mother…”

Lady Wang playfully glared at him: “Alright, alright, I won’t say anything more.”

Shen Mei, at the back, felt restrained. Though she had also worn new clothes and had a hairpin in her hair, upon entering this restaurant, she felt extremely self-conscious. She never imagined that Jiu Yue and Ji Yiqing were so capable that they could impress the wealthiest merchant in Qingshui County.

Indeed, holding onto Jiu Yue’s metaphorical leg was an extremely wise decision.

After all, this private dining room was elegant and cozy. When had Shen Mei ever been to such a high-class restaurant?

Lady Wang noticed the woman following Ji Yiqing and Jiu Yue and, seeing she appeared a few years older than herself, asked: “And this lady is…?”

Jiu Yue, feeling she had no role here, quietly sat on a chair.

Wang Nuannuan glanced at Jiu Yue secretly and found her remarkably carefree.

Jiu Yue was not without manners. She sat upright, spoke little—mostly because she didn’t know what to say. As for her posture, she had been trained rigorously in a military-style upbringing; some manners were ingrained in her bones.

Ji Yiqing placed a cloth bag on the table: “A small gift as a token of respect.” Then he introduced Shen Mei: “This is my second aunt.”

Lady Wang and Master Wang exchanged glances, unsure why Ji Yiqing and Jiu Yue had brought their second aunt or what was in the bag.

Ji Yiqing smiled: “To be honest, Master Wang, I’m here today to discuss business with you.”

Master Wang was surprised, puzzled. Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian were quite famous in Qingshui County. During the Tongsheng examination, one had topped the rankings and the other came second. According to custom, attending the imperial examination would guarantee passing, even if they weren’t in the top ranks.

Yet they had both fallen ill and missed the final provincial exam. Everyone had lamented their misfortune.

Now Ji Yiqing’s facial scar had healed. By April of next year, he would participate in the prefectural exam, and in August, the triennial provincial exam. Passing would make him a Juren, a prestigious achievement.

So hearing that such scholars now wanted to do business was hard for Master Wang to believe.

Ji Yiqing did not elaborate, simply saying: “My second aunt is skilled in cooking. The business I wish to do with you involves this ingredient. Could we have my second aunt prepare two dishes for you to try?”

Though Wang and Lady Wang were curious, having interacted with Jiu Yue before, they knew she was no ordinary person. Perhaps she could bring unexpected surprises.

Master Wang, casual and unpretentious, had the steward take Shen Mei to a small kitchen. After all, in business, who knew if Shen Mei might have secret recipes? It was better that no one else saw.

Ji Yiqing nodded at Shen Mei, who had already been “tempered” by Jiu Yue—after all, she had faced far more terrifying and daunting experiences. Cooking a few dishes for VIPs was nothing.

Once Shen Mei left, Ji Yiqing took several pairs of layered cloth shoes from the cloth bags she had brought.

“Master Wang, please have a look,” Ji Yiqing said, lacking the pretentiousness of a scholar. He had always been adaptable, catching rabbits and wild chickens, gathering herbs to sell. Selling was never beneath him; survival was priority. Why fret about appearances? Better to be free and easy.

Master Wang glanced at the shoes and brightened. The soles were unlike anything they had seen.

Ji Yiqing handed the shoes to Master Wang and Lady Wang: “These shoes are comfortable; they won’t chafe your feet, and the soles remain soft even after prolonged use.”

Master Wang touched the soles and noticed the significant difference from standard single-layer cloth soles. These soles were thick, firmly adhered, and the edges sewn with hemp cord were hidden within, undetectable. Just imagining wearing them made one feel comforted.

“Cloth shoes, brocade shoes, boots—any style can have soles made this way,” Ji Yiqing explained.

Master Wang stroked his beard. The shoes were excellent, but he wondered: such thick soles looked layered—were they really durable? Wouldn’t they fall apart?

“Are these soles really sturdy?”

Ji Yiqing smiled slightly, like a responsible salesman: “Master Wang, you can rest assured. Everyone in my family wears cloth shoes, and even I, who walk long distances regularly, can wear a pair for months without them wearing out.”

Master Wang nodded. The embroidered patterns were secondary; the soles were the real value.

If these soles could be used in his cloth shop, the business potential was immense. Though he was the richest merchant in Qingshui County, in the prefectural or district cities he was merely a wealthy man with shops and connections.

Yet there were plenty of rich people in prefectural and district cities. He needed new products to strengthen and expand his business.

“The cost?”

Ji Yiqing looked inscrutable: “A pair of shoes, one chi three or four in length, costs less than four wen.”

Both Master Wang and Lady Wang were surprised: “So cheap?”

“To be honest, the soles are made from scrap cloth; it only costs time to make them.”

Master Wang grew increasingly delighted. If Ji Yiqing were willing to sell the sole-making formula, he could make his cloth shop unrivaled in Qingshui County, even selling to the prefectural or district cities, or the capital.

Just thinking about it made him excited. Having been older and disheartened due to his son’s illness, he hadn’t felt such zeal in years.

Now, that long-lost passion surged, and he asked eagerly: “How do you sell this sole formula?”