Fantasy: After transmigrating, I effortlessly became a god.

Chapter 39 I'll Raise the Price If You Buy It

After finishing breakfast, Zheng Qian headed to Cao Gang, a small gang of only thirty-odd people who dealt in horses.

They do all kinds of business related to horses, from raising horses to buying and selling them, renting them out, and even making horse-drawn carriages. They're the only ones in Lvchang County that do this.

Zheng Qian's sword, combined with his own weight, weighed over 700 jin (approximately 350 kg). Without two good horses to alternate riding, he could not travel long distances.

The number of pedestrians on the streets gradually increased, almost all of them carrying large and small bags and heading out of the city; very few were engaged in business.

Many people chose to leave Lvchang County with their families, knowing that the Red Turban Army was coming and that the sooner they fled, the safer they would be.

A small number of people did not leave. They were penniless and would likely starve to death if they chose to leave their hometown. They preferred to stay at home and rely on their ancestors for protection.

Cao's gang was located near the East Gate, far from the city center, but it occupied a considerable area. At this time, the entrance was already crowded with people who had come to buy horses.

"Yesterday they were only one tael a bolt of silk, today they're selling for ten taels a bolt of silk. Why don't you just rob them?"

"Exactly, it's so dark."

"It increased tenfold in a single day, and that's for the smallest mare; a mule would charge thirty taels."

"I never imagined that the Cao gang was so ruthless."

At this moment, the person in charge came out from the inner room, holding a riding whip and shouting arrogantly.

"Shut up, all of you. Cao Gang can sell as many horses as he wants. Prices have gone up now. Horses are only for sale, not for rent. Mares are 20 taels each, stallions are 40 taels each, and mules are 60 taels each."

"They're obsessed with money. They're selling mares for twenty taels a day. That's enough to buy twenty mules in the village."

"Forget it, I won't buy it. My whole family is walking."

"Yeah, I'm leaving, I can't afford it."

Upon hearing the price, everyone left. They were all ordinary people who didn't have that much money, so they had no choice but to give up.

The manager looked smug. They still had fifty-two horses, and there were still twenty thousand people in the city who hadn't left. A mare was twenty taels a horse, a stallion was forty taels a horse, and a mule was sixty taels a horse. The boss said they were sure they could sell them all.

There are many wealthy people who also value their lives, and now they only do business with the wealthy.

"I'll buy four mules, but I'll choose them myself."

At that moment, a voice rang out, and Manager Chen saw a handsome young man carrying a heavy sword standing behind the crowd.

He jogged over to greet him, and Chief Escort Chen smiled broadly, "Oh, it's Chief Escort Zheng! Please, please come in."

Zheng Qian nodded. He had always been a celebrity in Lvchang County, and it seemed that everyone knew him, but he didn't know many people.

He knows many rich young men, but he never takes the initiative to associate with them.

Don't get involved in things that are pointless.

At this moment, he just wanted to leave Lvchang County as soon as possible. It was normal for these businessmen to raise prices temporarily to make a profit from the war. In a few days, the price would probably be even higher, and he might not even be able to buy a house even if he had the money.

Stepping into Cao Bang, the smell of horse manure hits you.

The rows of horse pennants are built in a rectangular shape, with different breeds of horses kept on both sides of the road. You can see all the horses by walking around the pennants. The layout is very reasonable.

“Zheng, the镖头 (bodyguard), and Mule are both hot-tempered and prone to fighting when locked up together, so we always lock them up separately in the innermost part.”

Zheng Qian followed Manager Chen inside. The further they went, the stronger the horses became, and the more expensive they were.

On the second floor of Cao Bang, a middle-aged man looked at Zheng Qian's back with a gloomy expression.

"Didn't we tell you to raise the price and not sell the horses? Why is Zheng Qian still here?"

"Chairman, as you instructed, Steward Chen raised the price of the mare to twenty taels, the stallion to forty taels, and the mule to sixty taels. Chief Escort Zheng did not bargain and said he wanted to choose for himself, so Steward Chen brought him in to choose the horse."

The middle-aged man had a large, oily belly, and his silk clothes accentuated his wealth.

"Tell Steward Chen that mules have gone up in price, now one hundred taels apiece. Drive Zheng Qian away and put up a sign at the door: mare fifty taels, stallion seventy taels, mule one hundred taels. The price will go up if anyone buys one, and not a single one can be sold. If anyone makes a fuss, come and let me know."

Zheng Qian took a liking to four mules, which were tall and mighty. He and Zhang Tiezhu would each ride two mules, taking turns, hoping they could catch up with Jiang Siting and the others.

He immediately told Steward Chen, "I want these four horses."

Manager Chen was very happy, leading his horse and following behind Zheng Qian, praising him incessantly.

“Chief Zheng, the horses trained by our Cao Gang are sure to be very obedient; they can carry 900 jin without any problem.”

At this moment, a servant ran over and whispered a few words in Manager Chen's ear, causing Manager Chen's expression to shift between anger and uncertainty.

Zheng Qian, who had broken through to the mid-stage of the Bone Refining Realm, possessed extraordinary hearing. He didn't know if other people in the mid-stage of the Bone Refining Realm had this ability, but he did hear what the servant said.

"The chairman said the asking price is one hundred taels per horse, and if he buys it, he can keep raising the price, but he won't sell a single horse anyway."

Holy crap, Zheng Qian was completely devastated.

In the entire Lvchang County, there is only one person who is respectfully addressed as the chairman, and that person is Zhang Xinghai.

The breakfast stall owner said that Zhang Xinghai escaped last night, so it seems that the news is true. This owner must have some connections, otherwise he wouldn't still be running the breakfast stall.

We were careless; we didn't take any precautions after entering. We've fallen into a wolf's den.

But who would have thought that Cao Gang was an enterprise owned by the Jinmao Chamber of Commerce?

Zheng Qian immediately considered retreating, pretending not to hear the servant's whispers, and urged Steward Chen to hurry up.

"What are you muttering about in the back? Hurry up and come with me to the counter to pay. I'm going out for a stroll with some sons of officials. You know they're very powerful, and the men they bring are all skilled fighters with weapons. We can't afford to offend them, otherwise I wouldn't have bought such an expensive horse. Hurry up and pay me, I'm leaving. They're still waiting for me outside."

We must spread the word that I have connections outside, quite a few of them, all sons of officials. You'd better not be ungrateful.

"That's Chief Escort Zheng."

Manager Chen rubbed his hands together. He was arrogant in front of ordinary people, but he couldn't be arrogant in front of Zheng Qian. After all, a month ago he bet ten taels on Li Weihu to win, bought a ticket to go to the scene to cheer, and was punished by his wife to kneel for a day and a night when he got home.

Li Weihu knew that the head of Weihu Escort Agency could take on five people like him.

Moreover, Chief Escort Zheng also mentioned that there were young masters outside, and everyone in Lüchang County knew about his drinking and merrymaking with them, since Zheng Le Escort Agency had been ruined by Zheng Qian.

But Zhang Xinghai was his boss, and he still couldn't afford to offend him, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and say it.

“Our boss said that the price of mules has gone up, and now they cost one hundred taels each.”

Seeing the embarrassed Manager Chen, Zheng Qian revealed his anger, "How can you do business like this? The horse has already been brought out and you're still raising the price. I'll pay right now, you have to sell it to me."

"Chief Zheng, please don't get angry. We really can't sell. Our Cao Gang has more than 30 brothers, but only 52 horses. We might not even have enough for our own men. I'm sorry."

Manager Chen immediately explained that he dared not say it was Zhang Xinghai's idea, nor did he dare say that the price would be increased if it was purchased; he could only say that it was for his own family to use.

"Hmph, I didn't expect the Cao gang to go back on their word."

Zheng Qian was even angrier. He waved his hand and said, "I don't want it anymore. One hundred taels a bolt. You're treating me like a sucker. This is too much."

As a镖头 (bodyguard/escort) buying a horse, it's normal for me not to haggle, right? If you suddenly raise the price, it's normal for me to get angry, right? If you say you want it for your own use and won't sell it, it's normal for me not to buy it, right?

Everything is normal, so it's normal for me to leave, right?

Zheng Qian, his face full of anger, stormed toward the door.

Clang.

Suddenly, the gate of Cao Gang slammed shut, and a group of people with weapons surrounded Zheng Qian.

A somber voice echoed from the second floor.

"Zheng Qian, since you're here, leave your life behind."