Li Dachang's pupils contracted even further. He cupped his hands and stepped forward, saying,
"So it's Captain Zhang. We've been expecting you, we've been expecting you! Have you run out of salt? Just send someone to let me know, and I'll personally deliver it. Why trouble you with such a journey."
A Jiu had to admit, Steward Li was indeed a businessman. His smile was exceptionally humble, making anyone who heard him feel at ease.
"What's going on?" Zhang Liang'ai, holding his horse whip, was not swayed by Steward Li's pleasantries.
A Jiu instinctively noticed Zhao Kun behind her frantically signaling.
A Jiu immediately understood. "Sir Zhang, we came to buy salt, but Steward Li here refuses to sell it to us."
Cai Lihua looked at her daughter and then recognized a familiar face. "Zhao Kun, quickly drag this bullying beast out and give him a good beating."
Zhao Kun rubbed his nose helplessly. It wasn't that he didn't want to beat Li Dachang without restraint, but General Tuoba had given strict orders: they were not to reveal their identities for trivial matters.
However, if it was for the personal safety of Miss A Jiu and her family, he could bend the rules. It would be worth the trouble.
"Is that so?" Zhang Liang'ai stepped forward, his horse whip tapping rhythmically in his palm.
Steward Li was dumbfounded. He clearly remembered that these officials usually loved being flattered. Why wasn't that working today?
"That's not true! This commoner will go and get the salt right away."
Steward Li grabbed the front of his robe and personally opened the salt jar. He scooped out two ladles of salt and spread it on the oiled paper laid out:
"How much do you want?"
Cai Lihua's pupils contracted. She looked at A Jiu. It was that simple? It seemed having connections really helped. Fortunately, Zhao Kun had arrived.
"Two catties. How much per catty?"
As soon as she said this, sweat beaded on Li Dachang's forehead. He looked at Zhang Liang'ai, then at Cai Lihua.
Someone was clearly backing them. With a pained expression, he extended two fingers. "One tael of silver per catty. No... for two catties."
"Silver? I don't think I have any silver." Cai Lihua pulled open the drawstring of her money pouch and peered inside. She had only brought three taels of gold when she left home.
"Ah?" Li Dachang's vision went black. He might as well die. This clearly meant they wanted to take it for free.
This salt was also transported back from Lingnan at great expense, hired by a security company. If he gave it away for free, he would lose all his day's earnings.
"Perhaps I'll take ten catties then." Cai Lihua was also worried. How could she exchange gold for silver? She might as well take eight more catties.
She placed one tael of gold into Li Dachang's trembling hand.
Seeing this, Li Dachang quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead. He was so scared. "Good, good, good! I'll pack the salt right away."
A Jiu watched from the side, bewildered. Mother wants ten catties of salt? What does she plan to do with it? They wouldn't finish it in three years, and it would go bad.
Cai Lihua slung the heavy bag of salt over her shoulder and said with a grin, "Thank you, officer."
"You're welcome." Zhang Liang'ai waved his hand. "Let's go, continue our patrol. If we encounter any suspicious individuals, they might be spies sent by the enemy. We cannot slacken for a moment."
Seven or eight people followed him out.
Zhao Kun looked back at A Jiu and opened his mouth as if to say something, but then changed his mind and said, "Miss Jiu, take care."
A Jiu bowed and saw them off. Only then did she notice Li Dachang staring blankly.
"You know people from the Patrol Division?"
A Jiu ignored him, offering a faint smile, and followed her mother out.
Their next stop was to buy rice from Steward Bai.
Steward Bai was naturally grateful, but the look of distress on his face was evident.
"Steward Bai, is there something difficult?" A Jiu stepped forward to ask.
"Miss Jiu," Steward Bai cupped his hands and bowed repeatedly. "I'm no longer in the rice business. I heard the fighting has reached Qiming Mountain. I... I plan to leave the city tomorrow."
"What?"
A Jiu knew about the fighting, but Cai Lihua didn't. Agitated, she stepped forward.
"Say that again, where has the fighting reached?"
Steward Bai was also anxious. He looked at Cai Lihua, then at A Jiu. "It has reached the Qiming Mountain area and will soon reach Nanming City. The King sent a detachment of troops and then left. I also heard that spies have infiltrated the city."
"Spies?" A Jiu remembered what Zhang Liang'ai had said at the salt shop.
"Yes. Spies. I also heard that poisoned meat has appeared in Nanming City." Steward Bai's face was dark, his eyes filled with fear.