Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

That night, Yun Chu called everyone to a meeting.

"Liu Da, you have a friend in Landu. I need your help with something. Could you ask him where we can rent a farmhouse for half a month? If it works out, he'll definitely get a good reward. We'll probably be staying here for half a month, and staying in inns all the time is too expensive and inconvenient," Yun Chu instructed.

Liu readily agreed.

"There's something else I'd like to discuss with you. There's a cartload of goods in the backyard that I brought to sell; it's a bit of a mixed bag. If merchants were to settle here and sell their goods, they'd need to get permits from the government, which is quite inconvenient, but itinerant peddlers don't. I looked into it today, and there are markets to the east, west, and north, and they have a lot of foot traffic. So I've decided to sell my goods there."

"Miss, how much would you like to sell it for?" Xu Li asked.

“They carried it in baskets and sold it like peddlers,” Yun Chu explained.

"Is the boss telling us all this so that we'll buy too?" Liu Da couldn't help but ask.

“But we are bodyguards, not peddlers,” someone objected.

“I know the choice is yours. Whether you do it or not, the escorts will still be paid the same. But if you’re willing to participate, you’ll get 30% of the profits from the goods sold, after deducting costs,” Yun Chu offered a tempting incentive.

"You get 30% of the profit for every one you sell?" someone asked.

"Yes, it's about more work, more pay. You earn money based on your own abilities, and you get what you sell."

The bodyguards, perhaps hearing this method for the first time, huddled together and discussed it in hushed tones.

"It's alright, you can discuss it slowly. Those who are interested can come find me tomorrow, and those who aren't can stay at the inn and look at the things," Yun Chu said.

And so, the next day, four bodyguards arrived. Perhaps it was their first time selling goods, they were all quite excited. They took the goods they thought they could sell and went out happily.

Liu Da said goodbye and went out to find a room.

Yun Chu also took Xu Li and Mo Han out to set up a stall.

After finding a market location and setting up their goods, the three of them stared at each other blankly. Yun Chu laughed and said, "Let's hawk our wares!"

Mo Han silently took a step back and leaned against the wall, while Xu Li stood there stunned.

Yun Chu shook her head, recalling how other uncles used to call out to customers when she was young and traveling around with her mother. She started shouting back then, since no one here knew her anyway, so it didn't matter if she lost face.

Actually, once you start talking, you get used to it. With Yun Chu's encouragement, Xu Li opened his mouth for the first time and shouted more and more enthusiastically. Fortunately, Yun Chu stopped shouting and was happy to relax.

It must have been because they happened to be at a market these past few days, and their goods were fresh and unusual, so soon passersby gathered around out of curiosity. Yun Chu hurriedly stepped forward to introduce their wares. When it got crowded, Mo Han even stepped forward to help collect the money.

As the sun set, the peddlers around the area began to pack up their stalls, and Xu Li was also busy tidying up his goods. Yun Chu looked at the remaining items in the basket and gained a preliminary understanding of the preferences of the people of the Northern Region.

Liu Da was indeed efficient; they checked into the rented farmhouse that night. The courtyard wasn't large, but it was just big enough to park their four horse-drawn carriages, and there were enough rooms for them.

After dinner, the four bodyguards who had gone out that day came to find Yun Chu with their own baskets.

The four men had different expressions: some looked dejected, as if they had experienced a setback; some lowered their heads and remained silent, their brows furrowed in thought; and some had a gleam in their eyes, eager to try.

Yun Chu rummaged through the remaining goods in each person's basket and asked, "Shall we continue tomorrow?"

"Continue!" someone shouted, while the others hesitated and remained silent.

Yun Chu smiled and asked, "Tell me first, what are your thoughts after selling all day?"

Liu Qing, who had just called for the next round, scratched his head and said embarrassedly, "I was lucky today. Most of the items I chose sold out! One of the accessories even sold out, and people asked me if I would come back tomorrow."

"Is there anyone else who wants to speak?" Yun Chu asked.

"I thought it would be easy, but I haven't sold much today. It's too difficult," Liu Fugui said.

"It's alright, I'll take you with me tomorrow." Liu Qing patted Liu Fugui on the shoulder, and Liu Fugui looked at him gratefully.

"There weren't many people at the place I went to today."

"Yes, me too. I've been to so many places, but it's been no use."

Perhaps because someone spoke up first, it became much easier for others to speak up later.

Yun Chu smiled and said, "Everything is difficult at the beginning, especially since you weren't originally in business. Today's situation is simply that the goods were not chosen correctly, the location was not right, and the timing was not right. If you adjust these things, you might have some unexpected surprises. If you want to try again tomorrow, that's fine, but if you don't want to do it anymore, that's also fine. The choice is yours."

The four looked at each other, remaining silent.

"Miss, the inventory is complete." Xu Li handed over the ledger. Ever since Yun Chu started teaching Ping An to read, she had also had Xu Li learn alongside her, and had even taught him bookkeeping. Now it had come in handy; it was better to be prepared.

Yun Chu looked at the item list on the box, counted out copper coins from the money box, and said, "Liu Qing, this is your 30% commission for today, here you go."

"Give it to me today?" Liu Qing asked with a look of surprise.

"Of course, let's finish today's business today," Yun Chu said with a smile, handing over the remaining copper coins to the others. Naturally, some got more, some less, and some got nothing.

"Alright, go and rest. Think it over carefully. If you still want to do it, come find me again tomorrow." Yun Chu began to shoo them away.

It was late at night, and Yun Chu lay in bed thinking. Everything is difficult at the beginning, but today's step seemed to be going well. However, being a peddler was really tiring and slow-paying. Fortunately, this was just to see what the people of the Northern Region liked; the key was to start by supplying goods to merchants. Perhaps twice a year to the Northern Region was achievable. She pondered to herself.

The next day, a different bodyguard came, saying they would take turns watching the goods, and the two of them went out together.

Yun Chu took Mo Han and Xu Li out to set up a stall again, thinking that she would try a different location today to see what the difference would be.

Perhaps because of yesterday's trials, Xu Li appeared very calm and composed today, while Yun Chu was happy to be a hands-off manager.

As noon approached, they planned to pack up and go have lunch.

At this moment, someone stopped the stall. The newcomer was dressed in fine clothes and said, "My master invites our distinguished guest to Muxuan Tower for a chat?"

Mo Han immediately stepped in front of Yun Chu, while Xu Li hurriedly protected her from the side.

"Who is your master?" Yun Chu asked, frowning.

The visitor handed over a waist token. Yun Chu glanced at it and muttered to herself helplessly, "I haven't even come looking for you yet, and you've already come knocking on my door. Is your royal family so idle?"

Yun Chu told Xu Li to pack up the stall and go back to eat, while she and Mo Han followed the people who came to Mu Xuan Lou.