Yun Manman drained the tea in her cup in one gulp.
She stood and looked Shopkeeper Chen straight in the eye, her violet eyes carrying a particular significance.
"Shopkeeper Chen, I have all the game you could want, but I like my peace and quiet. I don't like being disturbed, and I don't even want people to know about me."
Shopkeeper Chen's expression grew slightly solemn. He stood and cupped his hands respectfully.
"Rest assured, Young Master Man. The Chen Family conducts business with integrity above all else. I'll personally bring men to collect your goods. No one will dare breathe a word."
Shopkeeper Chen watched Yun Manman's retreating figure, his eyes full of thought and puzzlement.
Why had a young man like this never made a name for himself in the martial world? Could he be an heir secretly groomed by some great family?
Thinking of those violet eyes, Shopkeeper Chen gathered his thoughts and instructed the subordinate behind him.
"Make the arrangements. Have Niu Da and the others come with me to collect the goods up ahead. Remember, not a word of this gets out."
The subordinate looked at him in surprise. "Shopkeeper, I can take them to collect the goods. Why trouble yourself with going in person?"
Shopkeeper Chen waved a hand and turned to look at the general store behind him. "I must go myself this time. That young man strikes me as far from ordinary. I'll see whether I can learn a thing or two."
"Yes!"
The subordinate went to gather the men as ordered, though he was puzzled too.
That young man had the fine bearing of gold and jade. One look told you he was some family's noble young master.
Why exactly did the shopkeeper think so highly of him?
Was it because his goods were unusual?
Yun Manman detected no one following her, and the corners of her lips curled up despite herself. It seemed this Shopkeeper Chen was a man capable of great things.
Yun Manman headed into the alley. Only after sensing no presence nearby did she take all the game out of her space and put it in the alley.
She looked at the game laid out on the ground, still bleeding.
"This wild yak meat should taste pretty good."
With that, Yun Manman put two of the smaller yaks back into her space. With one wild boar and two yaks, her family should have enough meat for quite a few days.
Just as Yun Manman was finding the bloody smell far too strong, the rumble of cartwheels sounded behind her.
Yun Manman turned and saw Shopkeeper Chen hurrying over with a convoy of carts.
"The game is inside. You can have your men collect it, Shopkeeper Chen."
Shopkeeper Chen had not expected Yun Manman to be so quick. Presumably, he lived nearby. He cupped his hands to Yun Man before turning to give orders to the men behind him.
"Niu Da, Chang Er, take some men and count the game. Everyone else, load the carts."
Yun Manman shifted lightly aside to clear the way.
The eight men who entered stopped short, frozen at the sight of the game before them. Niu Da's trembling voice rang out.
"Sh-Shopkeeper Chen, these leopards, these tigers, these bears..."
Shopkeeper Chen had just put on a smile, ready to make some small talk with Yun Manman.
Then he heard his subordinate's cowardly voice, so he gave Yun Manman a polite smile.
Only then did he walk toward the alley entrance, a trace of reproach in his voice.
"What's there to be so flustered about? You're only moving some goods..."
"Cough, cough, cough..."
"Shopkeeper, there's blood all over the ground. Be careful."
The subordinate following him had no time to dwell on his shock and hurriedly steadied his shopkeeper. Looking at the game before him, Shopkeeper Chen drew several deep breaths to calm himself.
In all his years buying game, this was the first time he had seen so many valuable wild animals.
They had even been neatly sorted and laid out by kind.
And those tigers...
He had assumed that the forty-odd animals Young Master Man had mentioned
would mostly be wild boars and pheasants, with only one tiger or the like. After all, these valuable wild beasts were fierce, dangerous, and extremely difficult to encounter.
Looking at the array of game before him, Shopkeeper Chen's lips curved slightly upward.
It was fortunate he had come today.
Not only had it broadened his horizons, but it had also made him even more certain that this Young Master Man possessed extraordinary abilities and was indeed worth befriending.
"I know about this game. Don't make such a fuss. Load it all onto the carts, and make sure you count everything carefully."
With that, Shopkeeper Chen turned to Yun Manman, his gaze appraising this time.
These animals had clearly been freshly killed. Could so many have been hunted in a single night last night?
How many experts would have to enter the mountains to accomplish that?
Suppressing the questions in his heart, Shopkeeper Chen smiled even more sincerely.
"Young Master Man, I've inspected the game. It's in excellent condition and certainly fresh. Shall I name a price and see whether you're satisfied?"
From their brief interaction, he had already gained some understanding of this Young Master Man's temperament. He disliked probing and long-winded talk.
Since he sincerely wished to befriend him as well, it would be better to get straight to the point.
Yun Manman could not help giving Shopkeeper Chen a searching look. As expected of the shopkeeper of a general store like that, he was meticulous and had good analytical skills. She was very pleased with his directness.
Beating around the bush really did waste time, not to mention how irritating it could be. A faint smile appeared on her face too, and she nodded for Shopkeeper Chen to speak plainly.
Seeing Yun Manman's expression, Shopkeeper Chen knew he had made the right move.
He turned to look at the game behind him again, and when he saw the neck of the tiger Niu Da was carrying,
that wound... His gaze lingered briefly. By the time he turned back, his expression had returned to normal.
"The tigers' pelts have a good color and are relatively intact, but tiger meat isn't worth much. People only eat it for the novelty. Three hundred and fifty taels of silver per tiger."
"These grizzly bears and brown bears are indeed rarely seen. Many parts of them are valuable. Four hundred taels each."
"Snow leopard meat is rather tough, but their pelts have beautiful patterns and are very popular with the nobility. One hundred and fifty taels each."
"Wild yak meat is very tough. Thirty taels each, and twenty taels per wild boar. Young Master Man, if you're dissatisfied with these prices, you can name a higher one."
Yun Manman actually had no idea whether these prices were reasonable.
This was her first time selling game in either of her lives, but she believed Shopkeeper Chen would not cheat her. She could tell he was sincere.
Still, she pretended to ponder for a while before saying, "That's acceptable. I only want silver, not banknotes."
Shopkeeper Chen looked at Yun Manman again.
This Young Master Man appeared young, yet his conduct was steady and calm. He was clever without flaunting it, and beneath his apparent courtesy lay distance and indifference.
From the moment he had stepped into the Chen Family's store, everything had been under his control. Only now did Shopkeeper Chen realize he had been following his instructions all along.
"Shopkeeper, all the game has been loaded and counted. Here's the tally. Forty-six animals in total."
Shopkeeper Chen's thoughts were interrupted. He nodded, took the list, and looked at the amount written on it before handing it straight to his subordinate.
"Withdraw the full amount listed here in silver. Be quick."
After speaking, Shopkeeper Chen looked at Yun Manman, his smile sincere but not servile. "Young Master Man, this transaction has gone very smoothly. Next time you have goods, simply let me know."
Yun Manman did not refuse, but nodded instead. She was very satisfied with this transaction too.
This Shopkeeper Chen harbored many guesses about her, yet he had never voiced them or tried to fish for information, nor had he sent anyone to follow her.
"Certainly. As long as the Chen Family General Store keeps its word, all my game will go to the Chen Family."
In any case, now that she had her wolf brothers, she should have no shortage of game in the future.