The two changed into clean clothes in the carriage, then drove back to town.
Whatever else could be said,
this trip had certainly brought them a rich haul.
After reaching East Street and dropping Zhou Pan'er off, Fu Shaoping drove straight to the Hundred Fragrances Tower.
Fu Shaoping had held his betrothal banquet at the Hundred Fragrances Tower not long ago, so Shopkeeper Tian naturally recognized him and hurried out to greet him:
"Sir, we've just added spicy stir-fried Firecloud Chicken to the menu today. Would you like to try it?"
"All right, prepare a large portion for me. I'll take it away later. Shopkeeper Tian, do you buy Granary Bear beast meat?"
Fu Shaoping lifted the carriage curtain.
At the sight of the enormous Granary Bear carcass, Shopkeeper Tian immediately broke into a grin:
"Of course we do! This is fine stuff."
Shopkeeper Tian hurried over to the carriage and examined it, but the delight in his eyes faded a little:
"Sir, this Granary Bear has lost far too much of its blood essence. I'll have to cut the price considerably. I can only offer two taels of silver per jin."
Once a beast's blood essence had been devoured,
its meat contained only a trace more origin energy than ordinary poultry. Many people found ordinary beast meat unpalatable, which drove its price even lower. Granary Bear meat, however, was delicious, and that was why it could still fetch such a high price.
"All right, Shopkeeper Tian. Have your men weigh it!"
Fu Shaoping did not haggle.
Four workers from the Hundred Fragrances Tower weighed the Granary Bear carcass. It came to a little over nine hundred jin.
With its blood essence devoured, the Granary Bear had also lost a considerable amount of weight.
Money and goods changed hands.
Shopkeeper Tian said with a beaming smile:
"Sir, if you can preserve a Granary Bear's blood essence next time, I can buy it at one Low-Grade Essence Stone per ten jin."
As he spoke,
he handed Fu Shaoping the packed spicy stir-fried Firecloud Chicken.
Fu Shaoping smiled and said:
"We'll talk about it another time."
He was no fool.
He had risked his life to hunt.
The beast's blood essence was precisely what he had been after. Why would he sell it to someone else for a pittance?
After leaving the Hundred Fragrances Tower, Fu Shaoping drove straight to the carriage dealership.
Seeing blood all over the carriage, Shopkeeper Yu's legs went a little weak. His customers were ordinary folk, and he dared not get tangled up in any legal trouble. Still, he let none of that show on his face and approached with a cheerful greeting.
Fu Shaoping jumped down from the carriage and got straight to the point:
"Shopkeeper Yu, sorry for the trouble, but please replace the curtains and fittings on this carriage. I'll buy both the horse and the carriage."
He must have made a fortune.
Shopkeeper Yu sniffed and only then noticed the strong scent of a wild beast in the bloody odor wafting from the carriage. So he had gone hunting. Relieved, the shopkeeper smiled and said:
"You have an excellent eye, sir. This Azure Zhao Horse came from Qingzhou. Traveling a thousand li a day is no trouble for it. I wouldn't dare deceive you: I paid sixteen hundred taels for this horse, and I've kept it for several years since. Still, it's the horse's good fortune to have caught your eye. If you truly want it, sir, you can take it for sixteen hundred and fifty taels. As for the carriage, it's already well used, so consider it my gift to you."
The market price of an Azure Zhao Horse was sixteen hundred and eighty taels.
Shopkeeper Yu had clearly offered a discount because Fu Shaoping belonged to the Martial Suppression Guards.
Fu Shaoping took the banknotes he had just received from the Hundred Fragrances Tower out of his robe and handed them over, adding five ten-tael silver ingots as he said:
"Once you've replaced the interior fittings, deliver the carriage straight to the tofu shop on East Street."
"Certainly, sir. Take care!"
Shopkeeper Yu had been prepared to take a loss.
He had never expected Fu Shaoping to be so straightforward, without using his status in the Martial Suppression Guards to drive the price into the ground.
After leaving the dealership, Fu Shaoping had wanted to visit the People Brokerage to buy two servants: a man to drive the carriage and do heavy work, and a woman to care for his mother and handle the housework. But he had only five taels left, so that would have to wait until next time.
The next day,
Fu Shaoping rose early.
After he and Zhou Pan'er entered the Alchemy Chamber, he was halfway through explaining how to refine Blood Qi Powder when a knock sounded outside:
"Brother-in-law, someone from the Hundred Households Office is here to see you."
A flicker of puzzlement crossed Fu Shaoping's eyes.
At the Hundred Households Office,
apart from Old Zhan, everyone else was merely a nodding acquaintance. Why would anyone come looking for him at home?
Fu Shaoping handed Zhou Pan'er the notebook of alchemy insights he had compiled overnight. "Sister Pan'er, read through this first. I'll be right back."
The courtyard gate opened.
Zhou Xinxiang craned his head for a curious peek.
Fu Shaoping tapped him on the head.
After closing the gate,
he went to the shop out front and immediately spotted Junior Banner Zhuo in a moon-white robe. In civilian clothes, Junior Banner Zhuo looked every inch a handsome, jade-faced gentleman. The older women passing by all stared so hard they could barely keep walking.
Since he was not wearing his official uniform,
this must be a private matter.
After stepping forward and saluting, Fu Shaoping quickly led him to the tearoom in the rear courtyard:
"Sir, this is fresh tea. Please try some."
After they had each drunk half a cup,
Junior Banner Zhuo came straight to the point:
"Guard Fu, Junior Banner Liu told me you can now refine Grade A Blood Qi Powder. Would you have some time in the next few days to refine a few batches for me as well? I can pay you ten percent above the market rate. How does that sound?"
He had actually come to request alchemy.
Fu Shaoping had not expected that.
The Hundred Households Office had its own Alchemy Hall, staffed by genuine alchemists.
By all rights,
Junior Banner Zhuo should not have needed to come to him.
Seeing the puzzlement on Fu Shaoping's face,
Junior Banner Zhuo made no attempt to hide anything and explained:
"Our office has a rule that the alchemists in the Alchemy Hall cannot take private commissions. If the Intelligence Hall catches them, the consequences are severe."
"Their monthly assignments don't require them to produce Grade A Blood Qi Powder, so capable alchemists generally won't waste time on such low-tier spiritual medicine. That's also why our Hall of Myriad Treasures only issues you Grade C Blood Qi Powder. Even junior banners like us can only get Grade B by using our authority."
So that was it.
Fu Shaoping understood.
No wonder both junior banners had come to his door seeking medicine.
At the same time, he felt deeply relieved. Fortunately, he had not agreed to join the Alchemy Hall back then. There were far too many rules and restrictions:
"Sir, how many batches of Blood Qi Powder do you need?"
Fu Shaoping was straightforward about it.
He had been about to demonstrate alchemy to Sister Pan'er himself anyway. If he could sell the resulting Blood Qi Powder for ten percent more and have Junior Banner Zhuo owe him a small favor into the bargain, he was naturally happy to do so.
Seeing that Fu Shaoping was not aloof and arrogant like every one of the office's alchemists, Junior Banner Zhuo felt pleased. With a smile, he said:
"Ten batches will do. My daughter is only a little short of breaking through to the fourth level of the Body Tempering Realm. Ten portions of Grade A Blood Qi Powder should be enough."
As he spoke,
Junior Banner Zhuo took a pouch from his sleeve and handed it to Fu Shaoping.
Fu Shaoping accepted it at once without counting its contents.
As Junior Banner Zhuo was leaving, he added:
"Guard Fu, I hear you've already learned Heavenstone Archery. A fine bow deserves a skilled hand. Shall I have that Hou Yi Bow in the Hall of Myriad Treasures reserved for you?"
Before you continue