In ancient times, she gave birth to seven daughters and was divorced by her husband's family.

Everything over there is ready and going very smoothly.

Three months later, at Qingzhou Port.

As the first rays of sunlight touched the sea, the massive port awoke from its slumber.

This place is no longer the ordinary dock that only served the inland waterways of Dawu. Since Bailu became the Marquis of Anguo, she petitioned the emperor to open up trade. As a result, it was extensively expanded and became a huge hub connecting the north and south and reaching overseas.

Countless tall ships lay silently anchored in the harbor, their masts like a dense forest pointing straight to the sky. The docks were bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of people and vehicles.

Workers in various uniforms shouted loud work chants as they carried crates of goods out of the warehouse and loaded them onto ships using huge cranes. The crates were all stamped with the emblem of the Bai Family Chamber of Commerce.

On the other side of the port was a specially designated assembly area for Western Region caravans.

Hundreds of camels were led to an open area, where they lay quietly, emitting low, mournful moans. The caravan workers were busy feeding the camels hay and water, preparing them for the long journey ahead.

The air was filled with the faint salty smell of the sea, the odor of livestock, and the mixed aroma of various spices and goods.

In front of a newly built, huge warehouse, Bai Qingze stood on a high place, methodically directing the loading of goods.

He was tanned and much thinner, but his eyes were brighter than ever. For the past three months, he had barely slept a wink. With Zhao Bingyu's token and notes, he had swiftly and decisively seized control of the thirty percent of the trade routes in the Western Regions!

The process was not without its challenges. The original managers of those trade routes were outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, and the local powers also created all sorts of difficulties for them. However, Bai Qingze used his decisive methods and accurate business acumen to win over some and suppress others, quickly stabilizing the situation with Mu Guiying and the others.

Now, the first trade route, completely controlled by the Bai family and leading directly from Qingzhou to the heart of the Western Regions, has finally been officially opened. Today is the day the first large-scale caravan sets off.

"Third Master, the milk tea powder and cosmetics have all been inspected. There are a total of three hundred boxes. Load them all onto the truck." A steward ran up quickly and reported loudly.

"Very good." Bai Qingze nodded. "Tell the brothers to be careful; there can't be any mishaps on the way."

"Yes!" The steward accepted the order and left.

Bai Qingze's gaze fell on the specially marked boxes, and he smiled slightly.

Inside Qingzhou City, at the Seven Fairies Milk Tea Workshop.

Unlike the hustle and bustle of the port.

The newly built workshop is spacious and bright, and hundreds of female workers in uniform are busy on the assembly line. They have all undergone rigorous training.

The air was filled with a rich aroma of milk and tea.

In huge copper pots, fresh milk is slowly simmering until it thickens. Nearby, workers grind carefully selected high-quality tea leaves into a fine powder.

Bai Lu stood on the second floor of the workshop, looking down at everything below through the wooden window.

She completely overhauled the workshop. All processes were broken down into the simplest steps, with each person only needing to repeat the same action. The milk maker only boiled milk, the tea grinder only ground tea, the mixer only mixed, and the packager only packaged.

This assembly line operation greatly improves production efficiency.

"My lord, as you instructed, we have adjusted the formula for this batch of milk tea powder destined for the Western Regions," the workshop's head steward reported respectfully from behind Bai Lu.

"Mmm," Bai Lu responded.

“The climate in the Western Regions is dry and the sun is strong. People there prefer strong flavors and sweetness,” the steward continued. “So we increased the amount of sugar and added some roasted nut pieces to enhance the texture and aroma.”

Bai Lu nodded in agreement.

"Very good. Remember, quality control is the top priority. Every packet of milk tea powder leaving the factory must be guaranteed to have the same taste and quality."

"Yes, I understand."

Bai Lu's gaze then shifted to another corner of the workshop. That was the packaging area.

Beautifully designed paper bags were neatly stacked. Printed with images of seven fairies, the designs blended the elegance of the Great Wu Dynasty with the splendor of the Western Regions, creating a striking visual effect. The female workers were carefully filling the bags with roasted milk tea powder, lining them with special waxed paper, and then sealing them with wax.

This packaging is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also effectively prevents moisture, ensuring that the milk tea powder will not spoil during long-distance transportation.

After leaving the milk tea workshop, Bailu's carriage headed to another business in the south of the city.

Bailu Beauty Shop.

Security here is much tighter than at the bubble tea shop. There are dedicated guards patrolling outside the shop, and everyone entering and leaving must undergo strict checks.

Inside the workshop, it's a completely different world.

This place is more like a sophisticated laboratory. Craftsmen dressed in clean white coats are carefully operating their tools at their respective workbenches.

In one room, artisans are using stone mortars to grind minerals such as pearls and mica into an incredibly fine powder. This powder will be used as a raw material to make foundation.

In another room, various natural plant petals and mineral pigments are extracted and repeatedly mixed and tested for use in lipstick color matching...

Bai Lu entered a core workshop.

The artisans here are making lipsticks. They mix beeswax, vegetable oil, and prepared pigments in precise proportions, then carefully heat, stir, and pour the mixture into molds. After cooling and demolding, lipsticks with rich color and regular shape are born.

"My lord," the steward in charge of the area greeted him, "you see, this is a new color we developed specifically for the Western Regions market."

He opened a brocade box, inside were three lipsticks.

One is an orange-red color, like a desert sunset.

One is a nude pink, which looks gentle and understated.

There is another one, a purplish-red color like an oasis berry, mysterious and noble.

Bai Lu picked up the orange-red lipstick and lightly smeared it on the back of her hand. The texture was smooth, and the color was vibrant.

“Women from the Western Regions have deep-set features and darker skin tones, so these colors suit them very well,” Bai Lu commented.

“Yes, Your Excellency,” the steward said. “We also added a small amount of precious plant essential oils to the lipstick as you instructed. The climate in the Western Regions is dry, and this lipstick will not only add color but also moisturize the lips.”

"What about the packaging?" Bai Lu asked.

The steward immediately presented another box. The box was made of brass in the style of the Western Regions, with exquisite scrolling patterns engraved on it. Opening the box revealed a complete set of beauty products: a foundation, a lipstick, and a small eyebrow powder.

"We call it the Loulan Dream Set," the manager explained. "It's positioned as a high-end product, specifically sold to noblewomen from various Western Regions countries."

Bai Lu nodded in satisfaction.

“Well done. Remember, our products should not only be functional, but also make the owners proud.”

"Yes!"

As we left the workshop, it was nearly dusk.

Bai Lu did not return to the Marquis's residence, but instead had the carriage head directly to the port. When she arrived, the last batch of goods had just been loaded onto the ship.

The massive caravan was ready to depart. Hundreds of camels stood tall and proud, their bells ringing melodiously. The travelers were in high spirits.

Bai Qingze stood at the front of the line, conducting the final checks.

He saw Bailu's carriage and hurried over.

“Everything is ready,” Bai Qingze said.

"You've worked hard, Third Brother." Bai Lu handed a food box out of the car window. "Have something to eat before you go."

Bai Qingze didn't stand on ceremony. He took the food box, opened the lid, and inside were several delicate pastries, still steaming hot. He picked up a piece and ate it with gusto.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the entire harbor in gold.

"Little sister," Bai Qingze said between bites, "wait for me to come back."

Bai Lu looked at him and nodded solemnly.

"I'll be waiting for you, until you return laden with fruit."

With a long, drawn-out horn sound, the massive caravan began to move slowly.

The wheels rolled and the camel bells jingled. This caravan, carrying the hopes of the Bai family, slowly sailed out of Qingzhou Port like a long dragon, heading towards the distant and mysterious Western Regions.

Two months later, in the Western Regions, in the capital of the Persian Kingdom.

This city, built on a desert oasis, is the most prosperous commercial center within a radius of thousands of miles.

The midday sun beat down on the earth, but the city's bazaar remained bustling with activity. People of different skin colors and races mingled among the crowds, haggling over prices in various languages.

In a prominent location, a newly opened shop attracted everyone's attention.

The shop's signboard reads "Bai's Trading Company" in both Dawu and Western Region scripts. The shop's decor is also strikingly different from the surrounding ruggedness, appearing exceptionally refined and elegant.

There was a long queue in front of the shop.

The queue was mostly made up of elegantly dressed ladies and young girls. They all craned their necks, anxiously peering into the store, their faces full of anticipation.

"Is there any more? Is that magical milk tea still available?"

"I've heard of something called 'lipstick,' which makes your lips look like jewels after you apply it! Is that true?"

"Let me in! I'll pay double!"

Bai Qingze stood on the second floor of the shop, looking out the window at the bustling scene below, a gratified smile on his face.

He succeeded.

Seven Fairies Milk Tea became an instant sensation in the capital upon its release. Its sweet and smooth taste was an irresistible temptation for the sweet-toothed people of the Western Regions. The convenience of simply adding hot water to enjoy a delicious drink quickly made it a trendsetter.

The Loulan Dream set completely ignited the aristocratic class.

When those ladies, whose skin had become rough from the wind and sand, used a delicate foundation for the first time to cover up the blemishes on their faces.

When they first used a vibrant lipstick to brighten up their entire makeup look, they went crazy.

This is no longer just a product; it's magic that makes them more beautiful and confident.

Price? For these aristocrats who are never short of money, no amount of money is a problem as long as it can make them more beautiful.

"Third Master." A steward hurried upstairs, his face covered in sweat from excitement. "All three hundred boxes of goods we brought have been sold out! And there are still many people waiting downstairs, saying they're willing to pay a deposit in advance!"

"No deposit required," Bai Qingze said decisively.

He knew very well that scarcity marketing was the key to maintaining the popularity of a product.

"Tell them the next shipment will arrive in a month. If they want it, they can come back then."

"Yes!"

After the steward left, Bai Qingze walked to the sand table in the center of the room. The sand table clearly showed maps of the various countries in the Western Regions, as well as the trade routes he had already taken control of.

He picked up a small flag representing the Bai family's caravan and planted it firmly in the location of the Persian capital.

This is just the beginning.

His gaze swept across the map to those more distant names: Dashi, Dashi, Loulan...

His goal was more than just selling goods. He wanted to drive the Bai family's caravans, like nails, into every corner of the Western Regions. He wanted to establish the Bai family's own intelligence network and influence...

Bai Qingze picked up another small flag and his gaze fell on the next target.

Meanwhile, one of the caravan's men entered the city's largest tavern. Instead of drinking, he quietly slipped a note covered in writing into the leg band of a carrier pigeon.

The carrier pigeons flapped their wings and flew high towards Qingzhou in the east.

The note contained sales data for all the goods, feedback from the Western Region nobles on the new products, and recent political developments in several small countries.

A massive intelligence network connecting Qingzhou and the Western Regions is quietly taking shape!

Over the next few months, Bai Qingze led his elite caravan westward along the newly opened Silk Road.

They traversed scorching deserts, crossed snow-capped mountains, and strode through desolate Gobi. Leveraging the power of Zhao Bingyu's token and the unparalleled allure of the Bai family's goods, they successfully established themselves in one Western Region kingdom after another.

Along the way, they not only sold goods from Qingzhou, but also purchased large quantities of local specialties: high-quality carpets, fragrant spices, and exceptionally fine horses... The caravan grew larger and larger, like a snowball rolling downhill...

On this day, the caravan arrived at the legendary ancient city of Loulan.

Loulan, this pearl embedded in the desert, was even more magnificent than Bai Qingze had imagined. The massive city walls, built of thick stones and mud bricks, had taken on an ancient, earthy yellow hue from the erosion of wind and sand. Inside the city, streets crisscrossed, flanked by uniquely styled domed buildings.

This is the meeting point of Eastern and Western civilizations.

After settling the caravan at the largest post station outside the city, Bai Qingze, accompanied only by a few close followers, changed into civilian clothes and entered the ancient city.

He's not here to discuss business.

The bazaar in Loulan was even larger and more unique than that of the Great Stone Kingdom. Merchants from all directions gathered here, and the stalls were filled with a dazzling array of goods.

Bai Qingze didn't look at the bulk goods; his gaze was drawn to the exotic trinkets.

He remembered his younger sister Bailu's words of advice when he left home. He also thought of his relatives far away in Qingzhou, especially the children.