Chapter 244: Almost blackmail

第四十五节：近乎讹诈

Translator: ChibiGeneral Editor: ChibiGeneral

Dawn was breaking in the east, revealing the first rays of light.

黎明时分，东方欲晓，晨曦微露。

The cold air of the night had condensed into dewdrops on the grass and leaves. The temporary market in the Jin clan was currently being dismantled; the tents were packed up, the carpets on the streets stalls were rolled up and the goods were packed in bags.

夜间的寒气凝结成露珠，残留在草叶上。金家寨临时的集市，正在被拆除。帐篷被收起来，地摊的地毯被一一卷起。货物包扎好，重新装上。

After having stayed in the Jin village for many days, the caravan was preparing to set off.

在金家寨停留了多日后，商队准备再次启程。

As for the merchants, no matter how many goods they sold or bought, they would be making profits eventually. Thus, though they were exhausted, they were wearing cheerful smiles on their faces.

对于商人而言，不管货物卖掉了多少，又收购了多少，总归是有赚头。因此，许多人的脸色虽然疲惫，却充满了喜气和笑容。

Xiao Die’s expression, however, was horrible.

小蝶的脸色却奇差无比。

“Missy, I just checked, that Hei Tu has exchanged almost all the goods. And in the goods he exchanged for, I saw three carts filled with Jinzan grass!”

“小姐，我刚刚查看了一下，那黑土几乎把所有的货物都给换了。在其中，我居然还看到了满满三车的金簪草！”

“Jinzan grass?” Shang Xin Ci’s long brows slightly furrowed.

“金簪草？”商心慈闻言，柳眉微微一皱。

Xiao Die was extremely angry, as she pulled Shang Xin Ci by her hand: “Even a layman like me knows how worthless Jinzan grass is, but he has exchanged for so many of them. Missy, this Hei Tu is simply making a trouble!”

小蝶愤愤不已，拽着商心慈的胳膊道：“就算是我这个门外汉，也知道金簪草这种东西根本卖不出去。偏偏他还换了那么多。小姐，这个黑土完全是在胡闹！”

“Xiao Die, calm down first.” Shang Xin Ci patted Xiao Die’s hand, “He should have exchanged for this Jinzan grass yesterday night, I don’t know why he did that but he must have a reason for exchanging other goods. Just think, it is already pretty good that he could accomplish this as a mortal.”

“小蝶你先消消气，稍安勿躁。”商心慈拍拍小蝶的手，“这金簪草应该是他昨晚换的，我不知情。不过他换来的其他货物，却也有一定的道理。你想他一个凡人，能做到这一步，已经不错了。”

“Missy, why are you standing up for him? I am only thinking for you. These goods were originally ours, why would you let others squander it for nothing? Most importantly, he can’t compensate us at all! Lord Zhang Zhu, please persuade Missy…” Xiao Die pouted.

“小姐，你怎么在替他说话呢？我这也是为小姐你好啊。这些货本来就是我们的，何必白白的被外人败光呢？关键是他又赔不起！张柱大人，您也不劝劝小姐……”小蝶嘟着嘴。

Zhang Zhu who was looking on from the side, sighed: “Miss, Xiao Die is right. We lent the goods to him to test him, but now that we can already see the results, why are we still letting him squander them? We believe in your ability Miss, but if we can decrease our losses, why are we not doing so? It will also decrease our struggles when we reach Shang Clan City.”

一旁的张柱叹了口气：“小姐，小蝶说的有道理。先前借给他，是想试探他。现在已经看透了，何必再让他折腾下去？我们都相信小姐你的能力，但是能减少的损失，为什么不尽量减少呢？将来到了商家城，也能少奋斗一些。”

“This…” Shang Xin Ci mumbled. She was young, her eyes started showing signs of hesitation.

“这……”商心慈沉吟不语，到底还是年轻，眼中闪过犹豫之色。

Previously, she had felt the goods exchanged by Fang Yuan was alright. However, this Jinzan grass… it was a great loss to exchange for so much Jinzan grass.

先前她还觉得，这方源换的商货，有些道理。但是这金簪草……

换来这么多金簪草，绝对是最大的败笔。

Jinzan grass was easy to preserve, but it simply couldn’t be sold as the demand for it was almost non-existent. Such a large stockpile would rot sooner or later, and finally, they would have no choice but to cut down the price and dump sell the stock – it was destined to make a loss.

金簪草虽然易于保存，但需求很少，根本就卖不出去。一下子手中囤积这么多，迟早要烂在手里。到最后，不得不降价抛售，可以说是注定亏本。

“Excuse me, are you Lady Zhang Xin Ci?” Just then, a middle-aged gu master who was sweating profusely, anxiously ran towards Shang Xin Ci.

“请问您是张心慈小姐吗？”就在这时，一位满头大汗的中年男蛊师，面带着急之色，一阵小跑到商心慈的身前。

The iron plate on his belt was carved with number ‘two’ showing the rank of this gu master.

看其腰带铁牌，是为二转蛊师。

Shang Xin Ci gave a slight smile: “Yes I am, may I enquire who you are?”

商心慈面露微笑：“正是小女子，请问阁下是？”

The middle-aged man cupped his fists: “I am the personal guard of lord clan leader, here on his command to ask for a favor.”

中年男子一抱拳：“我是族长大人的亲卫，奉族长之令，有一个不情之请。”

“Oh? Please speak.”

“哦？请说。”

“Lady Zhang should have bought a large batch of Jinzan grass yesterday night. The whole story is like this, our clan leader is very passionate for Jinzan grass and so he personally raised some for pleasure. But the young master secretly dug them out and sold them behind the clan leader’s back. Now, clan leader has placed the young master in confinement, and also wishes to buy back the Jinzan grass. I sincerely request you to sell them back to us.”

“阁下在昨晚应当收购了一大批的金簪草。这事情原委是这样子的，我们族长大人酷爱金簪草，因此亲手养了一些观赏。无奈小少主偷偷挖取，背着族长交易。现如今，族长已经将小少主关了禁闭。同时想赎回卖给小姐的金簪草，恳请小姐你能放手。”

This gu master was polite, but that politeness carried his firm attitude.

亲卫蛊师说得客气，但软中带硬，显露出坚决的态度。

“Miss…” Zhang Zhu’s expression turned solemn as he reminded Shang Xin Ci.

“小姐……”张柱脸色凝重，忍不住出声提醒道。

This personal guard represented the clan leader of the Jin clan, this matter could be both big or small, and it could turn serious if it was handled improperly.

亲卫蛊师代表着金家族长，这事情可大可小，处理不好，会很严重。

Shang Xin Ci glanced at Zhang Zhu and nodded her head to indicate she understood: “Actually, I am also someone who loves flowers and I can understand honorable clan leader’s passion. We will hand over the Jinzan grass to your honorable clan with not even a stem missing.”

商心慈看了一眼张柱，点点头表示明白：“贵族长的心情，我十分理解。其实我也是一位爱花之人，金簪草必定全部交给贵族，不留一棵。”

“It makes one happy to see such a reasonable Lady.” The personal guard gu master’s expression relaxed and revealed a slight smile.

“小姐通情达理，实在令人高兴。”亲卫蛊师脸色一缓，露出微笑。

Shang Xin Ci continued: “A subordinate of mine was in charge of this transaction. I will call him over.”

商心慈继续道：“这笔交易，是由我的一位下属负责的。我这就将他唤来。”

Fang Yuan had already been paying attention to the activity here.

方源早就暗中关注着这边的动静。

“Hei Tu, you are in trouble. Missy has called you.” Xiao Die had come to summon him.

“黑土，你有麻烦了，小姐叫你过去呢。”小蝶来唤他。

Fang Yuan soon appeared in front of the personal guard, and cupped his fists: “I am the one who was responsible for the transaction of Jinzan grass. I heard the honorable clan leader wants to buy them back?”

方源赶到亲卫面前，抱拳道：“收购金簪草的买卖是我负责的，听说贵族要重新买回去？”

The personal guard was surprised to see the newcomer was actually a mortal, his face immediately revealed a slight disdain and arrogance.

亲卫蛊师见来的人，居然不是蛊师，而只是个凡人，诧异之后，脸上流露出微微的不屑和倨傲。

He snorted: “That’s right. Mortal, you can relax. Lord clan leader is benevolent and is willing to use three thousand primeval stones to buy back the three carts of Jinzan grass on you.”

他鼻腔一哼：“没错。凡人，开心吧。族长大人宽容仁慈，愿意用三千块元石买回你那三车的金簪草。”

“So much?” Xiao Die was speechless and her gaze revealed her joy.

“这么多？”一旁，小蝶吃了一惊，眼中流露出明显的喜色。

Zhang Zhu frowned before gradually relaxing. Three thousand primeval stones should be the maximum market price for the Jinzan grass, and this showed Jin clan leader’s sincerity.

张柱紧皱的眉头，也渐渐的松缓开来。三千块元石，应该是按照金簪草的市场最高价算得，可见金家族长的诚意。

However, Fang Yuan shook his head: “Jinzan grass is very precious, only three thousand primeval stones to buy them back, this doesn’t seem to be sincere, right?”

但方源却摇摇头：“金簪草名贵非凡，只出三千块元石就要买回去，这是否太显得没有诚意了？”

The personal guard immediately frowned: “What? The price I am giving is much higher than the maximum market price of the Jinzan grass. Mortal, what price did you buy it for?”

亲卫顿时皱起眉头：“什么？按金簪草的市价，最高也就这么多。凡人，你按什么价收购的？”

Fang Yuan rubbed his nose: “Let’s not discuss about the purchase price, we are all businessmen, naturally we will buy low and sell high. Three thousand primeval stones are too less, I am not selling!”

方源摸摸鼻子：“不谈收购价，我们都是做生意的人，自然要低买高卖。三千块元石太少了，不卖！”

“You!” The personal guard clenched his teeth, before eventually showing five fingers, “Alright, then I will rise it by two thousand, five thousand primeval stones!”

“你！”亲卫咬咬牙，伸出手掌五指分开，“好吧，那就再涨两千块元石，五千块元石！”

Xiao Die’s eyes widened in shock, her face started to flush with excitement as she looked at the five stretched fingers of the personal guard.

小蝶吃惊得瞪眼，她看着亲卫伸出的五根手指，脸色很快泛出兴奋的红色。

“Five thousand primeval stones? This is what you said, you can’t go back on it!” She was almost jumping in excitement, she hadn’t thought the situation would develop like this; Fang Yuan had profited huge!

“五千块元石？这可是你说的，不能反悔！”她高兴地几乎要蹦起来，没想到事情如此发展，方源已经赚翻了。

However, Fang Yuan still shook his head.

但方源却仍旧摇头。

The personal guard’s expression turned cold as he threatened: “Mortal, don’t you think you are being greedy? These Jinzan grass were originally our clan’s goods. You privately exchanged for them which is already not permitted. You don’t even have any evidence of transaction, I can even say you secretly stole them!!”

亲卫脸色一寒，威胁道：“凡人，你不觉得你贪心了吗？这些金簪草本来就是我族之物。你们私下交易，已经是不被允许的。没有交易的凭据，我甚至可以说，你们偷偷窃取了金簪草！！”

Zhang Zhu was taken aback by the personal guard’s anger, he looked at Fang Yuan: “Just sell it.”

亲卫的怒气，让张柱不禁心头一跳，他看向方源：“能卖就卖吧。”

Fang Yuan laughed: “You sold them, I bought, this was mutual consent. What more, it was your young master who sold them to me. I can’t do anything if you are determined to say I stole them. Jin clan is so rich and powerful that it can bully the weak and rob our goods. Hmph, the goods are just there, why don’t you go take them. It is just that as far as I know, it is not just me who bought the Jinzan grass. Many others have a share of it, is Jin clan going to snatch all of theirs too?”

方源哈哈一笑：“你卖我买，本就是两厢情愿。更何况，这还是你们的少主卖给我的。如果硬说是偷窃，那我也没有办法。金家强盛，大可以欺凌弱小，直接抢回去。喏，货物就在那里，你大可动手。只是据我所知，收购金簪草的并非我一家。许多人都有份，金族是否都要抢过去？”

Fang Yuan had already expected this situation, thus he only bought a large majority yesterday night. The remaining Jinjan grass were sold to others by that gu master.

方源早料到有此情形，因此昨晚只买了大部分。剩余的金簪草，那蛊师都卖给了其他人。

“You!” The personal guard was furious, but he could only clench his teeth at Fang Yuan’s blatant extortion.

“你！”亲卫大怒，但受方源挤兑，只能咬牙切齿。

He pointed at Fang Yuan: “Your clan bought the most, you little brat, you want to make it hard for me?”

他手指着方源：“就你家收购的最多，臭小子，你是想给我难堪吗？”

“Of course not, I am only trying to make a transaction.” Fang Yuan cupped his hands.

“当然没有这个想法，我只是想做成这笔买卖罢了。”方源拱拱手道。

“Hmph, forget it! I will put two thousand more, seven thousand primeval stones! Mortal, bring all the Jinzan grass you bought.” The personal guard shouted.

“哼，罢了！那就再加两千块元石，七千块！凡人，把你收购的金簪草都提过来。”亲卫低喝道。

“Hei Tu, just sell it. We need to pay attention to amiability while doing business.” Shang Xin Ci couldn’t endure this pressure.

“黑土，不妨就卖了罢。我们做生意的，讲究和气生财。”商心慈也扛不住这份压力了。

“Since Miss has spoken…” Fang Yuan nodded his head before immediately changing the subject, “Then I will take back a step. Eight thousand primeval stones and all the Jinzan grass I have is yours.”

“既然小姐你都这么说了……”方源点点头，紧接着话锋一转，“那我就退让一步。八千块元石，你们可以买回去我手中全部的金簪草。”

The moment these words came out, Shang Xin Ci and the rest all became dazed.

此话一出，商心慈几人都神情一滞。

The personal guard came back to his senses, unable to contain his anger: “What? You bastard!!”

亲卫反应过来，怒不可遏：“什么？你个混蛋！！”

Fang Yuan, however, had a smile on his face: “Business is business, please don’t get angry lord gu master. Actually, I was thinking of selling them for ten thousand primeval stones, if lord gu master can’t decide it, how about letting me discuss with your honorable clan’s clan leader?”

方源脸上泛笑：“在商言商，还请蛊师大人不要生气。其实我原本是想买到一万块元石的，大人若是坐不了主，不如我和贵族的族长面谈？”

“No need!” The personal guard swung his arm as he looked at Fang Yuan with extreme disgust, “You, a mortal, what qualifications do you have to meet lord clan leader? Bring the goods quickly, taking advantage of others when they are down, I will remember you. Hmph!”

“不必了！”亲卫甩手，极其厌恶地看了方源一眼，“你一个凡人，有什么资格面见族长大人？快快滚去提货，你如此趁人之危，本人记下了。哼！”

His words, no doubt, meant he acceded to Fang Yuan’s raised price.

这样说，无疑是答应了方源的提价。

The two finished the transaction in moments.

很快，双方就完成了交易。

Fang Yuan hadn’t even used five hundred primeval stones to buy them, but in just one night, the Jinzan grass changed hands for eight thousand primeval stones!

方源用不到五百块元石的货物，只是经过一晚上，简单的转手，便换来了这八千块元石的收益。

“Miss, there are two trunks filled to the brim with primeval stones!” Xiao Die was beaming with joy. She had witnessed the whole transaction process in fear, but now that she looked at these primeval stones, she felt that it was all worth it. Even her gaze towards Fang Yuan changed.

“小姐，满满两箱的元石！”小蝶眉开眼笑。交易的整个过程中，她都是心惊胆战，现在看到元石，顿觉得一切都值了。

连带着看向方源的目光，也发生了变化。

“Did you already know? That can’t be it, this should just be the case of a blind cat coming across a dead mouse !” She looked at Fang Yuan from top to bottom and remarked.

“你是不是早知道？不对，应该是瞎猫碰到死耗子吧！”她上下打量着方源，评价道。

“Offending the Jin clan for just eight thousand primeval stones is not worth it.” Zhang Zhu had been frowning from the start, he looked at Fang Yuan with some discontent and warned, “Never take such a risk again.”

“这样做，恶了金家，区区八千块元石，却有些不值。”张柱一直紧紧皱起眉头，他有些不满地看向方源，叮嘱道，“今后不要在这么弄险了。”

Fang Yuan only smiled and turned towards Shang Xin Ci: “According to our previous contract, Miss will get half of this eight thousand primeval stones, and I request Miss to safeguard my half of the share too.”

…

方源微微一笑，转身看向商心慈：“按照原先的约定，这八千块元石里有小姐的一半。我的那份元石还请小姐帮我保管。”

……

“Has it been settled?” Jin clan leader stood on a hill, watching the leaving caravan.

“都办妥了？”金家族长站在山坡上，远远望着商队缓缓离去。

An elder was standing to his side and reported: “Yes, clan leader. We have bought back all the Jinzan grass. It is just that Zhang Clan is truly hateful for taking advantage of the situation to extort us.”

一位家老站在他的身边，禀告道：“是，族长。卖出去的金簪草，都买回来了。只是张家趁机讹诈，实在可恨。”

Jin Clan’s clan leader’s brows furrowed: “Oh? Speak.”

金家族长挑起眉头：“哦？说来听听。”

The elder elaborated on the details.

家老便详细说了。

Jin clan’s clan leader smiled: “It is just eight thousand primeval stones, no need to care. That Zhang clan’s Lady, however, is intelligent, she pushed out a mortal servant to sound out the situation and earned herself this money.”

金家族长笑了笑：“区区八千块元石罢了，不必在意。那个张家小姐，却有些智慧，推出一个凡人家奴来顶杠试探，让她赚去了这笔钱财。”

“Lord clan leader, what if this Zhang clan already knows our clan’s secret and thus took advantage to extort us?”

“族长大人，属下担心的是，这张家是不是已经知道我族的秘密，所以才趁机讹诈呢？”

“Hahaha, don’t be overly suspicious. If they knew the importance of the Jinzan grass to my clan, why would they only extort mere eight thousand primeval stones? They would buy them all or even not agree to sell them. But just in case, send some gu masters to watch them till they completely leave Huang Jin mountain’s region. Make sure to watch if there are anyone who tries to secretly go to Huang clan. If there are, kill them on the spot!”

“呵呵呵，不要疑神疑鬼了。他们要是知道金簪草对我族的重要性，何止讹诈区区八千块？要么就全买下来，要么就不会买。不过，为了以防万一，还是派遣蛊师盯住他们，直到他们离开黄金山地界。看看是否有人偷偷潜去黄家寨。若是有，务必当场格杀！”

The clan leader’s killing intent overflowed all around him as he said this.

说到这里，金家族长杀意毕露。

The elder’s mind trembled: “As you command, lord clan leader!”

家老心中一凛：“是，族长大人！”

Fang Yuan glanced back at the Huang Jin mountain, his lips curled up in a smiled.

最后再望一眼身后的黄金山，方源转过头来，嘴角流露出笑意。

Not far away in a carriage, Shang Xin Ci lifted open the curtains and gazed at Fang Yuan’s back. Her beautiful eyes flashed with light, having fallen into deep thought.

不远处，马车中，商心慈掀开窗帘，将视线投注到方源的后背上。美眸中光辉流转，不知道在想些什么。

《蛊真人》中英文对照版 第四十五节：近乎讹诈

《蛊真人》中英文对照版第四十五节：近乎讹诈