144: Chapter 144 Business

Jiang Xun held White Fox Jiu, pulling her entire body into his embrace.

Their breathing and heartbeats were pressed close together.

With such fragrance and softness in his arms, Jiang Xun appeared somewhat cautious, his hands only daring to rest on her back.

He remained motionless.

Even his breathing slowed down, filled with nervous tension.

Yet, all these little details were things Jiang Xun intentionally performed for the fox to see.

He had to take advantage of this time before his cover was blown to do his best to lower the hatred White Fox Jiu held for him.

He would farm as much favorability as he could!

The next morning, Jiang Xun opened his eyes.

He reached out to the side, but it was empty.

White Fox Jiu was not there; it seemed she had already risen.

Jiang Xun let out a sigh of relief.

He got up and sat on the bed.

His movements were more agile than yesterday; it no longer felt like he was trembling and about to fall apart at any moment.

He lowered his head to look at his hands; his nails had color, and his skin was no longer that sickly pale.

His body seemed much better than yesterday.

A stream of energy was nourishing his body, warm and lingering, like a warm current in winter.

Jiang Xun closed his eyes and circulated his Cultivation Technique.

He was still unable to absorb even a shred of Spiritual Qi from the outside.

The Spiritual Qi drifted in, circled his Meridians, then leaked out, disappearing completely.

But where did this strange power inside his body come from?

Jiang Xun followed the flow of that power, tracing it back bit by bit.

It gathered from his limbs and bones, traveled up along his Meridians, passed his chest, passed his throat, and finally stopped deep in his Sea of Consciousness.

It was flowing down from his Divine Soul.

Those red mist strands that had pierced his Divine Soul were beginning to take effect.

The silver-white light filaments were being worn down and devoured bit by bit by the red mist, then transformed into the purest energy, flowing down from his Divine Soul and through his Meridians to his entire body.

These silver-white streams of light that bound his Divine Soul were powerful and pure in quality.

Although he could not absorb Spiritual Qi from the outside, using this stuff to replenish himself was actually even more effective.

Jiang Xun felt happy inside.

Moreover, it was extremely covert, so there was no need to worry about residual Spiritual Qi.

As long as there was enough time, these silver-white light filaments would no longer be a threat.

They were like ropes being slowly gnawed through, and sooner or later, they would all snap.

The only thing he couldn't understand was, where did this stuff come from?

If that fox spirit wanted to trap him, there were more direct ways; there was no need to use such a slow, drawn-out method.

Jiang Xun thought for a long time but couldn't come up with an answer.

"Creak—"

The door opened.

White Fox Jiu entered carrying a basin of clear water.

On the edge of the basin lay a white handkerchief, folded neatly into a square.

"Husband, you're awake," White Fox Jiu said.

Jiang Xun nodded, his tone carrying a hint of reproach, "Wife, why didn't you call me when you woke up?"

White Fox Jiu placed the basin on the table and walked to his side.

"I wanted to let Husband sleep a little longer."

As she spoke, she reached out and touched his forehead.

Her fingers were icy cold, pressing against his skin like a piece of cold, smooth jade.

"Are you still feverish?"

"No longer feverish."

"That's good."

"It seems it won't be long before you recover, Husband," White Fox Jiu said happily. When she prepared to withdraw her hand, she was grabbed by Jiang Xun.

He held her hand, "I am much better, but why are your hands so cold, Wife?"

Jiang Xun's tone was filled with concern and affection.

White Fox Jiu pulled her hand back indifferently, "It's nothing, perhaps it's just colder in the morning."

She folded her hands together, as if she didn't want Jiang Xun to discover anything.

But the more she did this, the more Jiang Xun knew he couldn't pretend not to notice.

Sometimes, what a woman needs is an attitude.

"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have to be like this," Jiang Xun said with some self-reproach.

"It is all because I have dragged you down."

Jiang Xun humbled himself; sometimes, gaining sympathy was much more useful than warm concern.

"Husband, you shouldn't think like that."

"You have only just begun to recover..." White Fox Jiu said in a low voice, "I just want to do my best."

Jiang Xun looked at her, "But how can I bear to watch you toil early in the morning? From now on, let's hire someone to do these chores."

He spoke sincerely.

"Mm." White Fox Jiu lowered her head, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks, "I will have Tao Fu hire someone later."

"Husband, let me help you dress."

Jiang Xun waved his hand, "I can do it myself."

White Fox Jiu shook her head stubbornly, "I am your wife; this is what I should do."

As she spoke, she had already reached out to take the robe hanging on the rack. Her movements were natural, like a real wife.

Seeing this, Jiang Xun couldn't refuse again.

"Then I will trouble you, Wife."

"We are husband and wife; why say such things?"

White Fox Jiu shook out the robe, went behind him, and slipped the sleeves over his arms.

Her movements were very gentle.

Jiang Xun did not lift a finger the entire time.

White Fox Jiu's hands rustled as she worked on him, adjusting the collar, straightening the cuffs, and smoothing out the wrinkles on his back.

Finally, she stood in front of him, lowered her head, and earnestly tied his belt.

Her fingers were very nimble; the belt was folded, passed through, and tightened in her hands in one smooth motion.

After tying it, she even smoothed the wrinkles on the belt with her palm, took a step back, and looked him up and down.

"All done."

Jiang Xun looked down at himself.

The robe was a gradient grey, the fabric ordinary, but it was washed very clean.

A cloth belt of the same color was tied around his waist, fastened in a neat, proper knot.

He smoothed his cuffs himself and said to White Fox Jiu, "Thank you, Wife."

White Fox Jiu gave him a playful glare, "You are saying such things again."

Jiang Xun smiled and said nothing.

He walked to the basin, bent down, scooped up a handful of clear water, and washed his face.

White Fox Jiu stood behind him, watching his back, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.

The two went downstairs together to have breakfast.

It was still sweet porridge, just like last night.

The porridge was boiled very thick, the rice grains had already dissolved, melting in the mouth. Jiang Xun drank two bowls, and his stomach felt warm.

White Fox Jiu watched him eat the whole time, but she didn't eat much herself.

Occasionally, she would pick up a spoon, take a sip, put it down, and continue watching him.

After finishing the porridge, White Fox Jiu got up and went to the back kitchen.

When she returned, she was holding a bowl of thick, black medicinal soup.

"This is today's medicine," she said.

Jiang Xun looked at the bowl of pitch-black medicinal soup.

The bowl was coarse pottery, with a layer of fine bubbles floating on the surface of the medicine, and the smell was bitter, bitter enough to make the root of his tongue numb.

But compared to yesterday, he had less resistance in his heart.

Because this medicine was truly effective.

After drinking a bowl yesterday, he could get out of bed and walk today. If he drank it for a few more days, he might be able to recover seven or eight tenths.

Jiang Xun picked up the bowl of medicine and drank it obediently.

The bitter, warm current flowed down his throat into his stomach, and then in his stomach, it transformed into a warm energy that surged into his limbs and bones.

White Fox Jiu watched from the side, her eyes gradually curving.

This medicine was indeed useful.

The medicinal herbs used to brew this bowl of medicine were all extremely rare treasures.

Each one was worth over ten thousand Spirit Stones.

Moreover, some of the Spirit Medicine was even over a thousand years old.

Any one of these herbs, if taken out, would be something priceless and rare.

But Jiang Xun had already been drinking this precious medicinal soup for more than half a month.

Only in this way could Jiang Xun's severe injuries be healed.

White Fox Jiu did not care about the waste.

What she cared about was when he would get better.

After Jiang Xun finished drinking, he put the bowl down.

There was still a layer of medicinal dregs at the bottom of the bowl, pitch-black like mud.

White Fox Jiu took the bowl and set it on the table, not in a hurry to clean it up.

Jiang Xun felt his spirits lift significantly.

His head was no longer dizzy, his legs were no longer weak, and even the stuffy feeling of oppression in his chest had eased quite a bit.

But there was still some distance to go before a full recovery.

In the time that followed, Jiang Xun began to wander around the tavern.

This tavern, called Shili Xiang, was divided into two floors.

The lower floor was the front hall and the counter, with seven or eight tables set up; the chairs were long benches, and the tabletops were blackened by wine stains.

The upper floor was for guest rooms, and the one he stayed in was on the right side of the staircase.

The backyard connected to the kitchen and the storeroom, as well as an inner room where White Fox Jiu calculated accounts.

The main business was selling wine.

The customers who came to buy wine were mostly laborers and poor commoners.

They would come to have a drink whenever they were free.

Buying a liang of wine only cost two wen, making it one of the few places for many people to find entertainment and leisure.

Occasionally, someone would spend an extra wen to buy a small dish of fennel beans or peanuts, sitting in the corner to chew slowly and savor it.

Perhaps because White Fox Jiu had shown her face yesterday, business was exceptionally hot again today.

It was only early morning.

Customers coming to buy wine lined up from the counter all the way to the door.

Some people bought a liang or two of wine, couldn't find a seat, so they stood at the door, holding their bowls, drinking while chatting with the people around them.

Jiang Xun walked through the crowd to behind the counter.

Tao Fu was busy sweating profusely, moving jars of wine out one by one, not even having time to look up.

Jiang Xun didn't disturb him, just stood there, watching these ordinary faces.

There were men with stubble-covered faces, old men with hunched backs, and young lads with coal dust on their faces.

Their clothes were patched, their hands were full of calluses, and they showed yellow teeth when they laughed.

White Fox Jiu was in the back room calculating accounts.

Several account books were spread out on the table, and she was skillfully operating an abacus with one hand while writing on paper with the other.

It fit her persona as a merchant's daughter very well.

Come to think of it, White Fox Jiu was indeed familiar with these things.

In the past, the entire output of Black Sand City had to pass through her hands; now, a small tavern couldn't stump her.

Jiang Xun pulled up a chair and sat next to her, watching her quietly.

Sunlight shone in from the window, landing on her.

She lowered her head, her lips pursed slightly, her brows occasionally frowning, occasionally relaxing.

She looked just like an ordinary, slightly pretty young wife calculating accounts.

Jiang Xun watched for a long time.

White Fox Jiu suddenly looked up and met his gaze.

"What are you looking at?" she asked, a smile on her lips.

"Looking at my wife."

White Fox Jiu blushed and lowered her head again.

"What is there to look at?"

"Everything is good to look at."

The roots of White Fox Jiu's ears turned red, and her finger slipped on the abacus, making a "clack" sound.

She bit her lip and did not look up.

Jiang Xun didn't speak again either.

He just sat there, watching the sunlight move slowly from the window, moving from her shoulders to her hair tips, and from her hair tips to the ledger in front of her.

The air was filled with the smell of ink and the fragrance of wine drifting in from outside.

It was very quiet.

Very ordinary.

Near noon, Ximen Shu arrived.

Today he had changed into a light cyan long gown with a dark green silk sash tied around his waist.

A young servant followed behind him, holding an exquisite wooden box.

As soon as Tao Fu saw it was him, he immediately went up to greet him.

"Young Master Ximen, you have arrived."

"Is Shopkeeper Bai here?" Ximen Shu asked in a low voice.

"Yes, she is in the back room calculating accounts," Tao Fu said.

"Please inform her."

"Very well." Tao Fu trotted into the back room. Not long after, he trotted out again.

"Young Master, the shopkeeper invites you in."

Ximen Shu straightened his collar and stepped toward the back room. The servant followed behind, step by step.

In the back room, White Fox Jiu had already put away the account books.

She sat in the main seat, with a pot of freshly brewed tea in front of her.

Jiang Xun sat in the chair next to her, holding a cup of tea and drinking it slowly.

"Shopkeeper Bai." Ximen Shu entered the room and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Please sit, Young Master Ximen." White Fox Jiu raised her hand and pointed to the chair opposite her.

Ximen Shu sat down, and the servant stood behind him, placing the wooden box on the table and opening it.

Inside the box was a stack of documents.

"Shopkeeper Bai, I went back and carefully calculated it." Ximen Shu took out the documents and spread them on the table, "The alcohol consumed daily by Hecai Pavilion is about thirty jin.

On holidays, it doubles or more. I would like to sign a long-term supply contract with your shop for one thousand jin per month."

White Fox Jiu picked up her teacup and took a sip.

"One thousand jin? I'm afraid my small shop cannot supply that."

"That is why I came today, to discuss it with Shopkeeper Bai," Ximen Shu smiled, "The supply volume can be increased slowly; let's set a goal first.

Our Hecai Pavilion can also lend money to Shopkeeper Bai to expand production."

He pointed to the documents on the table.

"This is the drafted contract, Shopkeeper Bai, please take a look. If there are no issues, we will sign today."

White Fox Jiu picked up the stack of documents and flipped through them page by page.

Jiang Xun also leaned over to take a look.

The contract was written in great detail.

Supply quantity, supply time, quality standards, price, settlement method...

Every item was written clearly.

The last item was about breach of contract liability.

If the supply could not be delivered on time, a penalty of five percent of the total contract amount would be paid for each month of delay.

Jiang Xun's heart stirred.

Five percent.

One thousand jin of alcohol, calculated at market price, would make the total contract amount at least several hundred taels of silver.

One delay would be equivalent to the annual income of an ordinary commoner in the city.

White Fox Jiu put down the documents and looked at Ximen Shu.

"Young Master Ximen, isn't this penalty for breach of contract too high?"

"Rest assured, Shopkeeper Bai." Ximen Shu smiled, "Since I took the initiative to cooperate with you, naturally I will not make things difficult for you.

The penalty is just a formality; if there are any real difficulties, we can discuss them."

He paused.

"And as long as Shopkeeper Bai can supply steadily, there is no need to worry about anything else."

White Fox Jiu thought for a moment, then picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and signed her name on the contract, "Bai Jiu."

A smile appeared in her heart.

Ximen Shu's eyes stalled for a moment, and he followed with a smile.

Jiang Xun sat on the side, feeling that there was something fishy about it, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

The wine in this Shili Xiang was all roughly brewed; apart from having some fragrance, it couldn't be considered anything special.

Moreover, he really didn't believe that White Fox Jiu would have the spare time to do business with Mortals.

It was just as if it were specially performed for him to see.

Ximen Shu put away the contract, "The contract is effective from today, so I will come to collect the wine next month."

White Fox Jiu smiled and nodded, "Good, I will have the goods ready by then."