The Flourishing Era of Female Merchants

An Xinlian's face turned pale and then red, "But..."

"Stop with the 'buts'. What else is there to 'but'? Besides, you're just a woman. Even if you're the daughter of a powerful family, it would be difficult for you to raise 300,000 taels of gold in a short time. How about I give you a suggestion? You write a letter, and I'll have someone send it out. You can ask someone to raise the gold for you and deliver it to my Lingfeng Pass. When I see what I want, I'll release you immediately."

Yan Bing's tone even carried a hint of seduction, and as she thought of An Mi's arrangements, the light in her eyes shone even brighter.

"No, it's safer for me to raise the money myself," An Xinlian said hurriedly. Let someone else raise the money? Who could she ask to raise the money?

Father? She was unsure whether her father would consider her as his daughter.

She wasn't stupid; her father valued profit far more than he loved and cared for her.

What if Father hears that Anmi is dead, but then ignores her life and death?

An Xinlian's brows were tightly furrowed, and she couldn't relax them. She had to go back. She was determined not to stay alone in this bandit's den. She couldn't let herself be slaughtered.

But how can she make decisions now?

"I told you to stay, so you stay! Do you dare disobey my orders? You don't know what's good for you!" Yan Bing suddenly became angry, raising her voice. The sharpness of her voice sent chills down everyone's spine. She then ordered her subordinates in the hall, "Seventh Brother, prepare pen, ink, paper and inkstone for me now, so that Miss An Xinlian can write a proper letter."

"Yes, boss." The seventh brother immediately accepted the order and went down to retrieve the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, which he then threw on the table. "Write quickly. If you dare disobey the boss's orders again, I, the seventh brother, will break your head!"

An Xinlian froze. Under such strong coercion, she had no power to resist at all. She could only walk to the table and pick up the pen under the menacing gaze of these bandits, but she didn't know how to write.

She was torn. How should she write it so that her father would have no choice but to pay her ransom?

An Xinlian pondered deeply, and after what seemed like an eternity, she finally finished writing a letter. She nervously handed it to the woman in red. "Please trouble you, Boss, to send this letter out. Once my father reads this, he will surely raise the 300,000 taels of gold as quickly as possible and send it to you."

"Really?" Yan Bing looked at the contents of the letter and chuckled. "So, you and your father both wanted that woman dead. As expected, like father, like son. With such a cruel daughter as you, you naturally have a heartless father as well."

An Xinlian turned pale at what she was being said, and then she heard Yan Bing's voice ring out again, "Second brother, get me a knife."

Upon hearing the word "knife," An Xinlian's heart skipped a beat. She looked at Yan Bing with a wary expression. The second-in-command quickly handed the knife to Yan Bing. Yan Bing held the hilt and casually played with it in her hand, her gaze occasionally glancing at An Xinlian, making An Xinlian feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles.

"Boss, what... what are you doing?" In the midst of an eerie silence, An Xinlian finally couldn't bear it any longer. Looking at the sharp blade, her heart trembled slightly.

"What are you doing? Hehe, do you want to know?" Yan Bing smiled mysteriously, her eyes suddenly sharpening, and she ordered loudly, "Hold her down for me."

As soon as he finished speaking, the bandits in the hall rushed forward. Before An Xinlian could react, her hands were firmly bound by several strong men.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" An Xinlian struggled desperately to break free from the men's grasp, and she became even more frightened when she saw the knife in Yan Bing's hand.

"Hehe, what's your hurry? I'll let you go in a bit, won't I?" Yan Bing chuckled and approached An Xinlian step by step. She had to admit that she really was an evil woman. At this moment, seeing the fear and unease on An Xinlian's face, she felt extremely pleased.

"Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer! I promised to give you 300,000 taels of gold. I've already written to my father asking him to raise the money as soon as possible! You can't kill me! You can't!" An Xinlian shouted, her voice even a little hoarse from excitement.

But what's the use of her saying no?

Yan Bing had already made up her mind to teach this woman named An Xinlian a lesson. She was having a great time, so why would she give up because of An Xinlian's fear?

Yan Bing walked up to An Xinlian, holding the knife in her hand. She used the knife to lift An Xinlian's chin, and smiled slightly. "Don't get excited. If you get excited and accidentally touch the knife, your beautiful face will be ruined. What a pity that would be."

An Xinlian dared not move. At this moment, she was terrified and dared not even make a sound.

"Heh, still an obedient woman. Since she's obedient, then give me your hand properly." Yan Bing said coldly, her gaze shifting between An Xinlian's left and right hands, occasionally frowning as if she were pondering something.

An Xinlian's unease grew stronger. How could she dare to give him her hand? At this moment, she could only plead desperately, "Please, don't kill me, don't hurt me. I will prepare all 300,000 taels of gold, not a penny less."

An Xinlian is now somewhat regretful. She thought that these bandits were all greedy for money and would not do anything to her as long as they got the money. However, she was wrong.

If this bandit leader really kills her, then what's the point of all her scheming?

Now that An Mi is dead, she only needs to use a few tricks to take everything that originally belonged to An Mi for herself!

Therefore, she cannot lose her life; she must live!

"I beg you, please don't touch me. I'll give you six hundred thousand taels of silver... Yes, six hundred thousand taels of gold. You love silver the most, don't you?" An Xinlian said urgently, staring intently into Yan Bing's eyes, seemingly hoping that she could persuade her.

Upon hearing "six hundred thousand taels of gold," Yan Bing's eyes lit up, and a glimmer of hope also appeared in An Xinlian's heart. "Is it really that good? Six hundred thousand taels of gold?"

"Hehe, you really are very generous. I'm wondering, which family's daughter are you that you can send 600,000 taels of gold to me? Do you have that much money?" Yan Bing's eyes flashed. Thinking of the contents of the letter just now, her contempt for An Xinlian intensified.

“Yes, I have money, that’s exactly what you want,” An Xinlian immediately agreed.

However, Yan Bing's eyes narrowed. Meeting An Xinlian's gaze, she suddenly grabbed An Xinlian's hand and laughed loudly, "Don't worry, if you say six hundred thousand taels of gold, then it's six hundred thousand taels of gold. I'm not stupid enough to give up a benefit that's already in my hands. However, to make your father feel a bit of urgency, I still need to take something from you!"