Chapter 342

As the litchi season was ending, the advent of litchi ice cream ignited the Jiang family's determination to compete against the autumn tigers.

It was just unexpected that people from the Imperial City were also interested.

And it just so happened that it was after most of the brothers had left, leaving Jiang Sheng unable to hide.

"Young miss, give us an idea, should we sell this ice cream or not?" Miao Zhaoying asked urgently, "People are still waiting at the Jiuzhen Store."

Jiang Sheng's face was slightly pale. "Sell, of course sell."

But how to sell, whether to charge money, whether there would be downsides, all deserved discussion.

As a beggar who had wandered for many years, grown up rolling in the mud, seen all kinds of people, and suffered all sizes of losses, she had never dealt with people from the Imperial City.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't nervous, but she was the young miss, she had to remain calm. "Auntie Miao, go back and serve tea first, then tell them transporting the litchi ice cream will take some time. I'll arrange manpower immediately."

The old servant woman seemed to have found a backbone and tottered back to the Jiuzhen Store.

Jiang Sheng took a deep breath and turned to look at Chang Yan, who had a strange expression.

"Fifth brother, I have to go to the Jiuzhen Store," she said softly. "Are you staying home or coming with me?"

This seemed like a question, but it actually contained anticipation.

After all, she was just a young girl. Facing such highly-placed people from the Imperial City, she inevitably felt intimidated.

As the siblings had traveled this far, they had seen all kinds of county magistrates and ministers, but never dealt with anyone from the Imperial City.

If they had met this man on the street, Jiang Sheng would definitely have turned and ran.

But since he had come to the Jiuzhen Store to buy things, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and go in, putting down the ice cream wrapped up tight.

"The young miss is here," Miao Zhaoying said, turning her back and winking. "This is the master here to buy litchi ice cream."

"Greetings, master," Jiang Sheng used the etiquette she had learned from the Jiang family. Meanwhile Chang Yan hastily bowed beside her as if he had just imitated it.

The man in black raised his head, revealing a fair and smooth complexion and an insignificant Adam's apple. "You are the young miss of the Jiuzhen Store?"

"Y-yes," Jiang Sheng swallowed nervously.

Since arriving in Fengjing up until now, most people she had dealt with were ordinary, and even the Jiangs were only a little distinguished, but they were considered warm and easy to get along with.

This was the first time Jiang Sheng felt the oppression of nobles, felt the arrogance in their bones, felt the mighty pressure from on high.

"How was this litchi ice cream made?" The man in black spoke again nonchalantly. "Is there anything harmful in it?"

Though he showed no displeasure or anger, and didn't even raise his voice, he was still wrapped in an overwhelming aura.

Jiang Sheng was smothered and unable to catch her breath. She opened her mouth to speak several times but swallowed the words back for fear of saying something wrong.

But not answering was not an option either.

Just as the man in black was about to raise his eyebrows, Chang Yan stepped forward and grasped his sister's hand again, giving her warmth and strength.

Don't be afraid, your brother is here. You are not alone.

If Eldest Brother was here, he would probably have answered calmly and neither humbly nor arrogantly.

If Second Brother was here, no matter how afraid, he could have handled it smoothly and calmly.

As their little sister, she couldn't be too inferior.

Jiang Sheng pressed her lips together until her breathing finally steadied. "In response, master, it was made from litchi meat and goat's milk flavored with osmanthus. Eating too much may cause diarrhea."

Someone gave a soft snort, then quickly fell silent again.

The man in black nodded. "The price?"

"Forty taels a serving," Jiang Sheng thought some more. "Master, if you want two servings, seventy taels will do."

After all, he was from the Imperial City.

Whether it was to keep this customer source or build goodwill, letting go of some profit would be more beneficial for the Jiuzhen Store.

This time the man in black really laughed, though it was unclear if he was laughing at Jiang Sheng's careful thinking or satisfied with the price of the ice cream. Soon he stood up, threw out seventy taels worth of silver, inspected the ice cream, then left arrogantly.

Jiang Sheng craned her neck to watch until the group disappeared towards the Imperial City before finally breathing a sigh of relief. "I don't know if selling litchi ice cream to the Imperial City is a good or bad thing." Perhaps it was both.

The benefit was expanding the sales channels for litchi and indirectly suppressing the Liao family's litchi business.

The downside was that behind opportunities often followed danger, and everyone in the Imperial City were existences they could not afford to provoke.

"Don't worry," Chang Yan comforted her. "It will be fine."

Jiang Sheng nodded dubiously and didn't leave the Jiuzhen Store until closing time before returning to the second courtyard.

In order not to worry her brothers, the siblings decided not to mention the litchi matter for the time being.

But they had always been candid amongst themselves as siblings, and it was the first time they felt uneasy about concealing something.

Even Wen Zhiyun saying something was enough to startle Jiang Sheng.

"What's wrong, little sister?" The young doctor was bewildered. "Are you too worried about Second Brother? Or did something happen with the business?"

Jiang Sheng mumbled, unable to get the words out.

She was inherently bad at lying. Even Fourth Brother could see something was off, let alone if it was Eldest Brother. It would take just a moment for her to spill everything.

"Fifth Brother, let's just tell the truth," Jiang Sheng struggled painfully. "Before the Imperial College releases students."

Chang Yan unconsciously glanced at the darkening sky with knitted brows.

They were used to using Eldest Brother's return to judge the college's dismissal time.

But in fact, it was already past that time, yet Xu Mo had not appeared.

He was a very punctual brother. He would return home after school ended, and the few times he socialized with friends, he would notify his family ahead of time.

Could he have encountered difficulties at the Imperial College?

Chang Yan's brows wrinkled slightly. He took three big steps to the door and only saw other Imperial College students returning home, but there was no sight of the straight-backed, gentle Xu Mo.

"Let's wait another fifteen minutes," he looked up at the dark sky again. "If Eldest Brother still isn't back, we'll have to go look for him."

Jiang Sheng and Wen Zhiyun paled in shock, and even the matter at the Jiuzhen Store was put aside.

No matter what impact the litchi ice cream might bring, their eldest brother's safety was paramount.

After waiting half a quarter hour, there was still no sign of Xu Mo's clear and handsome figure.

Chang Yan clenched his fist. "Let's go, to the Imperial College."