Bai Xiao Sheng was not a person but an industry.
In one's time in the living, there are thousands of poses and attitudes, there are imperial courts and families, and also the commoners in the pugilist world. In the thirty-six trades and seventy-two industries, there were also people who belonged to the three religions and nine schools of thoughts. It does not sound serious or noble but there were many opportunities and roles in them. There were times when these people from the three religions and nine schools of thoughts would maintain and preserve the sporadic relationship between the Imperial court and the pugilist world.
And Bai Xiao Sheng was one of those industries.
As the name suggested, Bai Xiao Sheng was similar to detective agencies and in the hundred over years of legacy, this industry did not appear much and ordinary people would have never heard of it before. As for who or whom, no one knew. But not knowing did not mean that it was of no existence. The Feng Xian Pawnshop in the Ding City was currently Ming Qi's Bai Xiao Sheng.
That red-clad female's eyes started to be in awed and it was Mo Qing and those behind that felt somewhat weird. Even though they were in the army, they also roamed the pugilist world but did not know about what Bai Xiao Sheng was.
It was naturally so, no matter if it was Feng Xian Pawnshop or Bai Xiao Sheng, ordinary people would not know that the people who came here were all prepared.
"Xiǎojiě is…" The red-clad female asked.
"I am here to make a deal."
Hearing that, the red-clad female's expression slightly changed following which she spoke to Shen Miao under the little shop assistant's astonished eyes, "This Xiǎojiě's stuff must be expensive, as such, please follow me to discuss at the back."
Mo Qing and the rest wanted to follow but were held back by the red-clad female, "These few are not required."
"Xiǎojiě…" Jing Zhe was somewhat worried if Shen Miao would encounter any accident if she were to enter alone.
"You all remain back." Shen Miao said, "I will return upon the completion of the deal."
After Shen Miao and the red-clad female left, Mo Qing and the rest were left at the outer hall. One of the guards that Shen Qiu gave to Shen Miao said, "Brother Mo, what is Xiǎojiě doing here for?" Since they had killed people before, they had an intuition for danger. That red-clad female's expression and conversation between Shen Miao made these people feel that the matter was not simple at all.
"I too do not know." Mo Qing shook his head with a wry smile and looked towards the corridor that led inside, "Xiǎojiě has a sense of propriety."
The red-clad female brought Shen Miao through the corridor. This corridor was very long and at the end of it, there was a square pagoda that was six-floor high. There was a veil at the highest floor which made one unable to see what was inside but the renovations were done extremely beautifully. Even the wood that was used to make the pillars was Wan Xiang wood which was valued at thousands of gold.
Outsiders spread rumours that the owner of Feng Xian Pawnshop was extremely wealthy, else it would not have been maintained for so many years outside expectations. It bought the most expensive large piece of land in Ding City but income does not cover expenditure, and that was something not anyone could bear.
But Shen Miao knew that the reason why Feng Xian Pawnshop was so rich and powerful was that the money they earned was not simply due to pawning of things, but was one that did not require capital and naturally it was totally profitable.
The red-clad female welcomed her into the lowest level of the pagoda and let her sit in a room on the lowest floor. It was a tea room that was filled with mahogany wooden tables and chairs that had lifelike carvings of landscapes. One was able to see the high artistic craftsmanship with one glance, it was really worth a lot of money.
"I am called Hong Ling," The female smiled. With her smile, it seems that drops of water could almost flow out from her eyes like flirtatious expressions were engraved into her bones. She asked, "How to address this Xiǎojiě?"
"My surname is Shen." Shen Miao said.
When Shen Miao was sizing up the other person, Hong Ling was also sizing Shen Miao up. She was secretly surprised as she thought which rich young lady came to look for trouble in Feng Xian Pawnshop, but who knew that she would hear 'Bai Xiao Sheng' from that person's lips. Those who knew these words were an expert so she brought her inside. But Hong Ling had done business in Feng Xian Pawnshop for so many years and it was her first time to meet such a young client which made her feel unsure as to how much the other person knew. Most likely, this was the first deal and she wondered if she needed to elaborate.
"So it is Shen Xiǎojiě." Hong Ling smiled, "Not sure if Shen Xiǎojiě is in our Feng Xian Pawnshop to buy or to sell?"
Shen Miao said, "To buy and to also sell."
Buying and selling at the same time. Hong Ling could not help but be surprised for a moment. When the few green-clad girls that were serving in the surrounding saw Hong Ling forgetting herself, they all quietly took a glance at Shen Miao.
Putting away her shocked heart, Hong Ling continued to smile, "Then one does not know the deal that Shen Xiǎojiě wants to do is worth how much?"
Shen Miao shook her head.
Hong Ling did not really understand her intention, "Shen Xiǎojiě…"
Shen Miao's voice was very calm, "Just now I have already said to the one in front of the store. The deal I am making is too big, he cannot see and you are also unable to see. If this is to be discussed, get your Zhǔzi to come over."
Hong Ling's voice was somewhat unsmooth. For so many years she was socially active but because those who came here for business knew about what industry Bai Xiao Sheng was, they would be courteous to her, thus this was the first time she had such a rude call. She initially wanted to flare up but when she raised her head and looked at Shen Miao's eyes, she was momentarily surprised.
The young female's age opposite her was not big and had a pair of clear eyes but when they saw someone, there was a bursting sense of coolness and calm, also an inexplicable majesty to them. Hong Ling felt that the look that the other person was giving her really had no trace of fear, as it was simply someone looking down from the top.
Hong Ling's heart quivered and in an instant, the anger that was displayed disappeared. After doing so much business with others, she was able to see one clearly. This young lady's air… Was a little shocking. She did not know what went on that made her feel somewhat anxious.
"Shen Xiǎojiě, I am the supervisor here so all the dealings made are naturally done by me." Despite feeling that Shen Miao's identity was not normal, Hong Ling was not afraid and the smile on her face was much more beautiful. "No matter how much money it is, it is not as though I have never seen before."
"It has nothing to do with money." Shen Miao slightly smiled, "I had said before, you cannot make the decision for this deal." She looked around, "I came with sincerity but you all did not have any. Bai Xiao Sheng is no more than this."
Hong Ling had never encountered such a rude person like this and immediately her facial expression became a third colder before saying, "I instead feel that Shen Xiǎojiě is not sincere in doing business. Since Shen Xiǎojiě cannot trust me then I have no choice."
Shen Miao stared at her. After a long while, she said, "Like this, I will first sell one news to you."
Hong Ling paused and saw the calmness from the opposite young female's expression before she spoke a sentence, "In the beginning, Jiang Nan's Yu Province's Chen family's jiěmèi were missing and current whereabouts are unknown. How about selling this news to you? If this news is valued, please let me meet the manager and then discuss the news to buy."
Hong Ling was startled and looked at her in shock. After a moment, she corrected her expression and said, "May Shen Xiǎojiě wait for a moment, Hong Ling will withdraw first."
Hong Ling hurriedly left and the remaining green-clad girls in the tea room looked at her with curiosity, apparently, they did not know why Hong Ling suddenly left after listening to her words.
Shen Miao looked at the light tea in her hands. The tea was premium Junshan Yinzhen and it has a very rich flavour when it enters the mouth. The light touch of incense in the tea room that accompanied made one unable to help but feel relaxed and happy, it was obvious that the owner knew how to enjoy.
(HidAnas: 君山银针 Junshan Yinzhen, literal translation 'Silver Needles of the Gentleman Mountain'; a Yellow tea from Junshan Island of the Hunan Province in China. It is one of the ten Chinese Famous Teas. When soaked into the boiling water, Junshan Yinzhen produces bright apricot liqueur and refreshing tea scent)
The Bai Xiao Sheng industry dealt with pugilist world's news and was focused on the buying and selling of news. There were people who wanted to buy news, there were people who wanted to sell the news. When the seller and buyer of news are linked, this business deal was considered successful. The Bai Xiao Shen industry was like the fire beacon transfer point in a battlefield and linked the buying and selling side together.
And this news that Shen Miao was selling was a sensational case in Ming Qi that year. Jiang Nan's Yu Province's Chen family had two younger sisters that were stunning beauties. With this kind of appearance, if they were to enter the Palace, they would be able to gain the position of a consort. Even though the beauties in the world are all painted skins and were white bones with rosy cheeks, the true beauties were like the most exquisite jade that an additional glance was profane.
The Chen family was a big household and has a big family business and having two daughters like this was not a good thing. When daughters' appearance are too magnificent and there was no protection of the same level, it would only bring disaster to the family. It was fortunate that not only the Chen family was the richest in Jiang Nan, they also had a status in the pugilist world. The Chen family had a good network, had many friends and Old Master Chen did a favour to a sect so the Chen family also had backing.
Who knew that even with such, when the Chen family's sisters were sixteen, during the Lantern Festival, they disappeared under their eyes. The Chen family had been unsuccessfully searching for a long time and three years has passed since the Chen sisters went missing. The Chen family still spent a lot of energy and money to find these two daughters even though they knew the odds were not in their favour, but they never gave up. They even went to look for Bai Xiao Sheng and spent heavily in gold to buy news.
But there was no news in all this time.
Now someone suddenly wanted to sell news on this three-year-old business, how could Hong Ling not be surprised? Chen family's remuneration was very high that even if Bai Xiao Sheng were to only do this one business, even if it was only a fraction, they would be able to gain quite an amount of money.
Business people would talk accordingly to money. Shen Miao did not believe she would not be able to find the master behind the scenes.
Inside the pagoda of Feng Xian Pawnshop, it was called Xian Lin Jian. The first floor was a place for business but from the second to the sixth floor, it was for the enjoyment of the Family Master.
At this moment in the tearoom on the sixth floor, there sat three people in front of the table.
"Yu Shu, how do you arrive here so quickly?" Gao Yang frowned as he looked at the person opposite him, "Did not even greet at all."
Opposite him sat a seventeen or eighteen youth and this youth was especially adorable, which was different from Xie Jing Xing generally shining handsomeness. Gao Yang's gentle temperament was like the water but this youth was like a student next door, there was an inexplicable sense of affinity. He wore a lake-green long robe and when he smiled, it was rather lively and joyous. He said, "Heard that there are changes in the Ding Capital City plans and know that you two would definitely need someone who possesses remarkable abilities like me to help out, so I specifically returned to lend a hand."
"Hehe." What answered him was Gao Yang's cold laughter.
"But Xie Sān biǎogē!" The youth who was called Yu Shu suddenly turned to him and said, "Yi Cui Lou's Shao Yao Gūniáng recently treated me cold and indifferent and I felt terrified. Sān biǎogē have always been liked by gūniángs, why not teach me a move or two?"
This youth looked amiable and harmless but was a veteran in playing games.
Xie Jing Xing did not even look at him, "Looking at appearance."
"Ah. Could it be that Sān biǎogē thinks that a person like me with such looks is not handsome?" The youth's face was red in anger, "Thinking of that year, I was… Considered a flower and sought after by tens of thousands of people. Is Sān biǎogē saying such stuff due to jealousy?"
Gao Yang could no longer stand it and knocked Yu Shu's head, "Ji Yu Shu, you can return for saying these words."
"Ke." Yu Shu immediately sat up straight and spoke seriously, "Sān biǎogē, let's talk about the plan for this trip."
He had yet to complete his words when one saw a red-clad female coming from downstairs. She had a charming appearance but did not enter and stood across the gauze and called out, "Zhǔrén."
"Hong Ling ah." Yu Shu guided patiently, "Told you many times that even though you are good looking, when I am talking to my brothers, it is better not to come up. Even though I dote on you, one must have a sense of propriety." His young and tender looks were like of one who did not know about the world but his words were like those of an old fox. It was fortunate that Hong Ling was his subordinate as if it was an ordinary female who heard it, her face would be red with embarrassment.
"Zhǔrén, it is… It is a big business. The customer insists on seeing you." Hong Ling said.
"Hei." Yu Shu waved his hands, "Which family's youngster is so arrogant? My Feng Xian Pawnshop has no lack of money, who cares about losing that business of his? No deal then no deal, let him leave. There is not even a door to see this Lord!"
"But Zhǔrén, that deal is not normal…"
"Already said no deal. Feng Xian Pawnshop does not serve those people." Yu Shu's hand reached out to eat the snacks in front.
Hong Ling was somewhat troubled but was also helpless. Just as she was about to withdraw, she heard the purple-clad boy that she did not know what he was thinking about speak, "What is the deal?"
Hong Ling was startled and looked at Yu Shu. She knew that these two people in front had close relations with Family Master but at the end this matter was very confidential, so if it was spoken like that, one was afraid… Yu Shu looked at her hesitant eyes and slapped his tights, "You were asked to speak then you should speak. These two are our own people and also the managers of Feng Sian Pawnshop. Their words are my words. If I am not here in the future, they are the managers."
His voice hardly landed when Gao Yang laughed.
Seeing as such, Hong Ling calmed down before speaking with a smile, "Here to sell news. The news is related to the case of Jiang Nan's Yu Province's Chen family's jiěmèi three years ago."
The voice just finished when Gao Yang was the first one to shout in surprise, "The Chen family's case, to have news even after three years. This deal is a little big."
"Exactly." Xie Jing Xing also spoke, "The Chen family has extensive forces in Jiang Nan. By taking this deal, regardless of silver, there would be additional benefits."
"Speaking this and that, means that it has to be done." Yu Shu grabbed his head and said, "Since you all have said as such, then I will go and take a look at which youngster it is who dares to bother this Lord? This Lord's appearance is very expensive."
Hong Ling could not help but laugh, "It is not a youngster but a gūniáng."
"Gūniáng?" Yu Shu's expression changed and suddenly said in all smiles, "Looks refined?"
"Very refined. With one look, one can tell that she is highly cultured and steeped in propriety."
Yu Shu stood up immediately and patted his robes before cupping his hands and smiled, "Two Gēges, this Dìdì will take leave first." Finishing, he turned around and rushed over to Hong Ling before saying, "Where? Quickly walk. Hong Ling, why did not say this earlier…"
After both of them left, then Gao Yang sighed and had an expression of hating iron for not becoming steel (aka disappointment of someone failing to meet one's expectation) before speaking to Xie Jing Xing, "I thought that since there would not be any use for him in Ding City, you can let him return."
"It is also suitable as a target." Xie Jing Xing lightly said.
*****
Shen Miao sat in the tea room and looked down at the tea leaves that were rising and falling in her cup.
There were sounds of footsteps from the door, followed by the lifting of the curtains. Hong Ling walked in and respectfully bent over slightly before guiding the person behind.
Shen Miao looked up.
The oncoming person was a seventeen or eighteen youth with a look of rare innocence. He wore a lake-green coloured long robe with embroidered deer-like patterns. People said that the clothes one wears would tell the character of the person, and this youth character was most likely cheerful which was fitting of his age, but Shen Miao pondered a while at the person in front. To manage the Feng Xian Pawnshop properly and also hold the lifeline of the Bai Xiao Sheng industry, it really was best not to underestimate him. This youth was definitely not as simple and virtuous as he appeared on the surface.
"This one is Ji Yu Shu." He sat opposite Shen Miao and greeted Shen Miao with cupped hands.
"Manager Ji"
"Not know what is Xiǎojiě's age?" He threw an irrelevant question out first.
Shen Miao was slightly surprised for a moment before replying, "Fourteen."
"Oh. It is at a splendid age." He rubbed his hands and there was a touch of enthusiasm in his eyes, "Not knowing if there is already a marriage partner in mind? Are there any Jiěmèi in the family?" Sounding like how young ladies were teased in plays.
Hong Ling lips pulled back as she turned her head over, seeming unwilling to see her Family Master's rogue-like behaviours.
Shen Miao chuckled, "It seems that Manager Ji is not here to make deals." Finishing, she stood up to leave.
"Hey!" Ji Yu Shu jumped in shock, "Shen Xiǎojiě must not be anxious, let us talk about business now.
Only then Shen Miao stopped.
Ji Yu Shu muttered, "Looked like a gentle character, how can it be so fierce…" With a glance he saw Shen Miao's bright eyes, he sat up straight and said, "Shen Xiǎojiě wants to sell news of the Jiang Nan's Chen family. Do bear with me for saying something, three years ago Xiǎojiě was only eleven, how would one know about the matter."
"As long as it is not fake, the seller and buyer of the news would after all meet. Be it real or fake news, it would be decided by the other side so what is Manager Ji worried about?"
When these words were out, Hong Ling and Ji Yu Shu had a stunned expression and at the same time, their eyes looked at Shen Miao and were filled with deeper meaning. Hearing from Shen Miao's tone, it was as if she was very familiar with the various aspects of the process, but Hong Ling and Ji Yu Shu were very sure that Shen Miao had never been here before and was an unfamiliar customer.
"Ke. Be that as it may… But how does Shen Xiǎojiě knew the business of Feng Xian Pawnshop?" Ji Yu Shu asked again.
"Accidentally heard upon and decided to give it a try." Shen Miao replied in ten words but it was watertight, making Ji Yu Shu's feigned smile stiffen.
Ji Yu Shu's eyes turned and suddenly he changed the topic, "Then how much is Shen Xiǎojiě willing to sell this piece of news for?"
The people who buy news will pay the money and a part of it would go to the person who sold the news and the other part would go to Bai Xiao Sheng. And this amount of money had to be negotiated before.
"After that, I still want to buy news. If Manager Ji is able to sell the news I want to buy then I will not accept a single tael from Jiang Nan's Yu Province's Chen family's money and even give you some."
Ji Yu Shu sucked in a cold lump of air.
To be honest, Feng Xian Pawnshop has been open for so many years and many matters were handled by Hong Ling since Ji Yu Shu was one who gets others to work but does nothing himself. This was a business with total profit but was also a simple business which focussed on the network in the three religions and nine schools of thoughts. There was very little brain work involved. Who knew that with the conversation with Shen Miao, one felt that there were many curves and corners in her words which made him somewhat overwhelmed. Just like this, it was something that Ji Yu Shu was unable to comprehend.
But he still remembered that he was a businessman so he questions, "What news does Shen Xiǎojiě want to buy? At the look of things, it would not be small. If it cannot be found, one would be afraid that the money would be put on hold for many years and I do not think it is a good option."
"If Manager Ji is willing, it would not require years as it is possible at the moment." Shen Miao said.
"What does this got to do with my willingness?" Ji Yu Shu stared with wide eyes, "I am not the selling side."
"The news I want to buy is that the Prince Yu Residence is seeking to rebel but this news is not bought for myself but for the Imperial family of Ming Qi. Does Manager Ji understand?"
Ji Yu Shu first jumped in shock by the words she said and almost turned over as he looked at Shen Miao like she was insane. Hong Ling also stared wide-eyed, watching Shen Miao calmly say those treacherous words and felt a little faint.
The tea room became quiet for a long time until the incense burned to half before Ji Yu Shu said, "Hong Ling, bring them out."
Hong Ling quickly brought the few girls out and before she left she gave Shen Miao a look and the latter picked up the cup with eyes as calm as water.
"Shen Xiǎojiě." Ji Yu Shu said, "You are not buying news but creating news."
No one would be telling the news directly and plainly to a middleman. Shen Miao's deal was to do it for outsiders, one could say directly going to Bai Xiao Sheng. She wanted to borrow Bai Xiao Sheng, this industry, to spread some rumours and let these rumours 'randomly' spread to the Imperial family.
Bai Xiao Sheng has many contacts in the three religions and nine schools of thoughts and they were like slippery autumn loaches. At that time, just make a prick in the crowd, it would be done cleanly as no one would be able to find the source.
With regards to the releasing of the rumours, Shen Miao was fearless towards a normal family, even if it was an official's family. But to implicate the Imperial family, the Shen family cannot take the risk so this was her plan.
"Whether it is selling, buying or creating news, wealth is at risk." Shen Miao smiled gently, "Manager Ji does not dare to take this business up?"
Ji Yu Shu scratched his head and spoke like a troubled youth, "I am naturally very tempted with Shen Xiǎojiě's terms but Feng Xian Pawnshop is not for decorations and is not used as a tool for chess. One will be unworthy to face the ancestors if Feng Xian Pawnshop lands in trouble due to this one's greed." He clasped his hands together, "Currently, the Bai Xiao Sheng industry is like feathers of a phoenix and horns of a unicorn (aka extremely rare), because of one's ancestors, I cannot take the risks. Apologies to Shen Xiǎojiě." He stood up and gave Shen Miao a greeting, "This pawnshop will not take up Shen Xiǎojiě's deal of creating news but if one's decision of selling the news is not changed, I will order people to record it down. Once the news from the Chen family of Jiang Nan arrives, this one would get someone to inform Xiǎojiě. As for when and where, Xiǎojiě can come to the pawnshop ten days later."
After finishing the sentence, Ji Yu Shu smiled at her full of apology and turned around to leave. Just when his steps were almost out of the tea room, Shen Miao's voice rang from behind, "Manager Ji, since the bargaining chip for the deal is not enough, will this proceed with the addition of Formidable Great General Residence's Shen family?
Ji Yu Shu was surprised for a moment before turning around.
The purple-clad young female looked down to the tea in front of her as if she could see flowers inside. Her voice was calm and waveless but there was a trace of heavy tension which made the entire tea room feel suffocating.
"If you agree to do this business, the Formidable Great General Residence in Ding City will then become your Bai Xiao Sheng's network."
*****
Upstairs, Gao Yang and Xie Jing Xing were still drinking tea when they suddenly heard a tensed voice, "Gēge, it is not good!" They looked up and saw Ji Yu Shu running in recklessly.
He lifted the beaded curtain with one hand and sat in front of the table before grabbing the quilt that he left behind, and poured a full cup of tea to fill his stomach before catching his breath and speaking, "Scared me to death!"
"What's with you?" Gao Yang joked, "Just now did you not go down in a hurry to look at the beauty? Why? The beauty was not beautiful?"
"Very beautiful, very beautiful."
"Then that is strange." Gao Yang touched his chin and thought, "Could it be that the beauty is fierce and you have provoked the other person?"
Such a frivolous person like Ji Yu Shu, one would shout and beat at him. It was much better with shy young females but those slightly older would be unhappy with his merriment.
"More than very fierce!" Ji Yu Shu had some lingering fear in his heart, "Simply a monster! Ke. I have been doing Bai Xiao Sheng's work for so many years but this is the first time meeting such a deal like this."
"Is not it the Jiang Nan's Chen's family matter? Could it be that she is robbing in the daylight and wants lots of money?" Gao Yang asked.
"More than daylight robbery! It is like a bottomless pit!"
"What exactly is it?" Xie Jing Xing glanced at him, "If you do not speak properly, I will throw you out from here."
"Ke. This customer does not want money for the sale of Jiang Nan's Chen family's news but said to use the money to buy news. Do you know what news she wants to buy? She wants to buy news for the Imperial family, the news is that Prince Yu of the First Rank Residence is conspiring to rebel! Damn it!" Ji Yu Shu could not help but cursed, "This is letting us, Feng Xian Pawnshop, build the rafts and want us to create news for her!"
When Gao Yang and Xie Jing Xing heard that, their expression gradually turned serious. Ji Yu Shu was playful and did not know the seriousness of this, but both of them knew the danger in Ji Yu Shu's words.
The techniques that this customer used were really brutal.
Ji Yu Shu was still shouting irreconcilably, "On what basis?! On what basis does my good Feng Xian Pawnshop have to be a raft for others? In the future, if trouble arises, she will flee and the one suffering will be my pawnshop. Think I am stupid?"
"Since it is like that, you can just not agree with it." Gao Yang said.
"Hei hei." Ji Yu Shu suddenly changed and laughed twice before saying, "Good thing I bargained and forced her to talk and offer a bigger price. You guess what is it?"
"What?" Xie Jing Xing lazily asked.
"It is the Formidable Great General Shen's family in Ding City. When this business is successful, the Shen family will be one of Bai Xiao Sheng's networks. I just came back and have already helped you a great deal, quick thank me!" Ji Yu Shu laughed wildly.
Shen family?
Xie Jing Xing stared at him and slowly opened his mouth, "Who was that person?"
"A little Gūniáng that looks quite good and bears the Shen surname, most likely is a member of the Shen family." Ji Yu Shu scratched his head, "It is just that she is very fierce and turned a blind eye at my magnificence."