In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

"Young Master Chen, do you perhaps think of my Zheng family as easy targets?"

Zheng Qiuyan rolled her eyes at Chen Dao and said, "As far as I know, the price of Blood Feather Chicken and Crimson Blood Chicken in Taiping County is 20 taels of silver and 100 taels of silver respectively. How come the price has increased so much here in my Zheng family?"

Chen Dao, exposed, was not embarrassed and responded, "Selling in Taiping County eliminates the need for long-distance transportation, so it will naturally be cheaper."

I believe you!

Zheng Qiuyan rolled her eyes. Although transportation was dangerous these days, it shouldn't be this dangerous. A 20-tael blood-feathered chicken would cost 60 taels more when transported to the county town, and a red-blooded chicken would cost 50 taels more. Even if there were bandits everywhere on the road from Taiping County to the county town, the transportation cost shouldn't be this high.

"You don't need to handle the shipping."

Zheng Qiuyan said, "The Zheng Family Trading Company will arrange for people to pick up the goods from Chen Family Village. Young Master Chen only needs to hand over the chickens to the people from the Zheng Family Trading Company."

"Well."

After a moment's thought, Chen Dao said, "In that case, the Blood Feather Chicken will cost 60 taels each, and the Crimson Blood Chicken will cost 130 taels each."

"..."

Zheng Qiuyan opened her round little mouth, feeling that this person was extremely shameless.

They were just saying the price was high because transportation was difficult, but now that they don't need to transport it anymore, the price hasn't dropped much...

Zheng Qiuyan gritted her teeth and glared at Chen Dao with her beautiful eyes: "Young Master Chen, please give me a fair price!"

Seeing that Zheng Qiuyan was showing signs of anger, Chen Dao lost his desire to ask for an exorbitant price. After thinking for a moment, he said, "50 taels for Blood Feather Chicken and 120 taels for Crimson Blood Chicken. That's the lowest I can offer!"

"Is it really impossible to go any lower?"

"cannot!"

"make a deal."

Zheng Qiuyan eventually accepted the price. She knew that it was impossible for Chen Dao to give her 20 taels and 100 taels, since Chen Dao's trading partners in Taiping County were people like Li Hu and Zhang He who were closely involved with him, while the Zheng family... had a far from being familiar with Chen Dao, so it was impossible for him to give them the same internal price.

After setting the price, the two discussed the specific quantities. After some discussion, they came up with a precise figure: Chen Dao would provide the Zheng family with 200 Blood Feather Chickens and 50 Red Blood Chickens each month.

This person is really difficult to deal with!

Zheng Qiuyan, whose throat was dry from talking, picked up her tea and took a sip. For the Zheng family, the more blood-feathered chickens and red-blooded chickens the better. However, Chen Dao insisted on having 100 blood-feathered chickens and 20 red-blooded chickens. Zheng Qiuyan had to use a lot of persuasion to get Chen Dao to increase the number to 200 and 50 respectively.

"correct."

Chen Dao seemed to remember something and suddenly asked, "Does Zheng's Trading Company sell medicinal herbs such as cedar seeds, snow lotus, pine resin leaves, and blood pine wood?"

"Of course there is."

Zheng Qiuyan looked at Chen Dao in surprise. These medicinal herbs were only used by mid-level martial artists. Could it be that Chen Dao had a mid-level martial artist in his family?

"What are the prices of these medicinal herbs?" Chen Dao's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked.

"The four medicinal herbs that Young Master Chen mentioned are all main ingredients used by mid-level martial artists. As for their price..."

Zheng Qiuyan drew out the last syllable, wanting to see Chen Dao's expression, but to his disappointment, Chen Dao's expression did not change.

So Zheng Qiuyan stopped being coy and said directly: "Cedar seeds are 100 taels each, snow lotus is 150 taels each, pine resin leaves are 100 taels each, and blood pine wood is 100 taels each."

hiss!

Chen Daoqing couldn't help but gasp. He knew that the medicinal herbs used by mid-level martial artists were expensive, but he didn't know they could be this expensive.

It's important to understand that while these herbs are the main ingredients, it doesn't mean that a mid-level martial artist only needs these herbs; they also need to add various auxiliary herbs.

Taking cedar seeds as an example, one cedar seed requires at least 50 taels of silver worth of auxiliary medicine to brew a medicinal soup needed by a mid-level martial artist...

In other words, a mid-level martial artist would have to spend at least 150 taels of silver to drink one dose of medicine.

What an astonishing number!

One tael of silver is enough for a family of three to live comfortably for a month; 150 taels of silver can make a family of three live comfortably for more than ten years!

"Could you make it cheaper?"

Chen Dao asked with a pained expression. Although Chen Dao had plenty of food and drink, he didn't have much money on hand. After all, he still had to give money to the villagers of Chenjia Village and Xiaohe Village, and support the children in the village to go to school.

"cannot!"

For some reason, seeing the pained look on Chen Dao's face, Zheng Qiuyan felt a faint sense of vengeful pleasure. "Serves you right for not lowering the price earlier. Now you know how painful it is, huh?"

"All right!"

Chen Dao twitched the corner of his mouth, discussed the transaction method of the medicinal materials with Zheng Qiuyan, and then decided not to stay at the Zheng family for long. Instead, he bid farewell and left the prefectural governor's mansion with Chen Cheng.

Watching Chen Dao's disappearing figure, Zheng Qing put down his teacup and said thoughtfully, "This young man is not simple!"

As the prefect of a prefecture, Zheng Qing had seen countless people and met many talented young men. Most of them were trembling with fear and looked reserved when they faced him.

In contrast, Chen Dao was neither humble nor arrogant, and even dared to bargain in front of him. This person was either ignorant and fearless, or he had a lot of confidence in his heart.

Based on Chen Daofang's performance just now, Zheng Qing believes the latter is more likely.

"Father, can you tell what level he's at?"

Zheng Qiuyan asked curiously, and Qingying behind her also turned her gaze to Zheng Qing, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"can not tell!"

Zheng Qing shook his head and said, "However, his cultivation level should not be lower than the seventh rank."

hiss!

Zheng Qiuyan was secretly alarmed. The young man looked quite young, even younger than her, yet he possessed the strength of a seventh-rank cultivator…

This person's talent is terrifying!

But after thinking about it again, Zheng Qiuyan felt relieved.

It's not surprising that Chen Dao, with his Blood Feather Chicken and Crimson Blood Chicken, could quickly advance to the seventh rank of martial artist.

"Besides him, the man following behind him is no ordinary person either!"

Zheng Qing continued, "If I'm not mistaken, that man should also be a seventh-rank martial artist! Furthermore..."

Zheng Qing paused for a moment, then asked, "Did you notice that small, cat-like animal on Chen Dao's shoulder?"

Zheng Qiuyan nodded. She had noticed the adorable little creature that looked like a cat and a bear, which had been hanging on Chen Dao's shoulder, as soon as he entered the room. If the timing hadn't been inappropriate, she would have asked Chen Dao to let her play with the little creature.

Zheng Qing said in a deep voice, "That cat is very likely a demonic beast."

Zheng Qing had considered using force to seize the Blood Feather Chicken and Crimson Blood Chicken, but the moment Chen Dao entered the room, he completely extinguished that thought.

He had a feeling that even if he used force, he would definitely not be able to keep Chen Dao and the other person here!