From cannon fodder villain to superpowered queen

Holding three hundred taels of silver notes, Bi Yao was ambitious and ready to make a big splash.

She wanted to expand production, recruit more embroiderers, and make the "Yaoguang Embroidery Workshop" brand resound throughout the entire Daqi Dynasty!

However, the ideal is full, and the reality is very skinny.

When Bi Yao excitedly went to find her previous fabric supplier, Old Li, she was told that due to the poor silk harvest this year, the production of fabric had plummeted, and Old Li's own shop was almost out of stock, so how could he have any surplus to supply her?

Bi Yao felt like she'd been struck by lightning. It was like a team of five had just assembled and were about to play a game when the server crashed!

"Old Li, do you think you can think of a solution? My business is on the rise, and if the supply is cut off, it's all over!" Bi Yao tried to appeal to his emotions.

Old Li took a puff of his pipe and shook his head helplessly: "Girl, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that even a clever housewife can't cook without rice! This year's silk is rarer than the Emperor's New Clothes!"

Undeterred, Bi Yao went to a neighboring town to look for new sources of goods.

However, the fabric market in the neighboring town is basically monopolized by a few large local merchants, who have long had long-term cooperation agreements with the local silk-producing areas and have no worries about the supply of goods.

Bi Yao visited several business owners, hoping to purchase some goods from them.

As a result, when these business owners heard that she was from out of town and learned that she wanted to take away their market share, they all adopted a "who do you think you are?" attitude.

"Young lady, you want to buy goods from us? Don't you even know your own capabilities!" A burly boss glanced at Bi Yao with disdain. "Our goods are only supplied to our long-term, cooperative customers. You? Go cool off somewhere else!"

Another shop owner went even further, raising the price threefold and saying in a strange tone, "If you can afford this price, I'll sell it to you, how about it?"

Bi Yao was furious; they were practically treating her like a sucker and ripping her off!

She suppressed her anger and said with a forced smile, "Boss, your price is probably higher than the stars in the sky, isn't it? I couldn't afford it even if I sold everything I own!"

After a series of setbacks, Bi Yao began to feel anxious.

If this supply problem can't be solved, her "Yaoguang Embroidery Workshop" will really be finished!

Just when she was at her wit's end, she suddenly heard people whispering on the street corner: "...I heard about the black market..."

Bi Yao suddenly raised her head, her eyes flashing...

Bi Yao is not one to give up easily, and the local businessmen are indifferent to her?

Hmph, I'm not serving you anymore!

She recalled a rumor she had overheard in the teahouse—an underground black market.

Although that place is a mixed bag and extremely risky, it is said that there is nothing you can't buy there, only things you can't imagine.

With nowhere else to turn, Bi Yao decided to take a gamble, for fortune favors the bold!

After finding out the entrance to the black market, Bi Yao took a deep breath and went inside.

Goodness, this place is like a completely different world from the bustling streets outside!

In the dim light, all sorts of strange figures moved about, and an indescribable smell filled the air.

Bi Yao felt like she had accidentally entered a dungeon, where a hidden quest could be triggered at any moment.

The way the people here looked at her was like a hungry wolf seeing a lamb, as if they wanted to devour her alive.

Bi Yao's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly hid the silver notes on her body even more carefully.

She subtly observed her surroundings, trying to make herself appear unapproachable.

"Young lady, is this your first time here? Do you need me to show you the way?" A slick-haired man approached with an unsettling smile on his face.

Bi Yao saw through his little trick at a glance, sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm: "No need, thank you."

"Don't be so polite. There are many ways to get things done in the black market. Without someone you know to guide you, you can easily get taken advantage of." The man persisted, trying to grab Bi Yao's sleeve.

Bi Yao deftly dodged, her tone turning cold: "I said I don't need it, can't you understand human language?"

Seeing that she was not someone to be trifled with, the man walked away dejectedly.

Bi Yao continued walking forward when she suddenly heard a quarrel.

Curious, she went over to take a look and found that two vendors were spitting at each other over territory.

"This land is mine! Don't even think about taking it!" a burly man roared.

"First come, first served! Don't you know the rules?" Another skinny man retorted.

The two argued more and more fiercely, and it looked like they were about to come to blows.

People gathered around to watch, but no one stepped forward to stop the fight. Instead, they were all excitedly waiting to see what would happen.

Watching this farce unfold, Bi Yao suddenly had a bold idea...

She approached a kind-looking elderly man and asked in a low voice, "Sir, I'd like to inquire where I can find the finest silk?"

The old man looked her up and down, then smiled meaningfully: "Young lady, you've come to the right person..."

The old man squinted and said mysteriously, "Little girl, you have a good eye! If you want to find good silk, come with me!" He led Bi Yao through a maze of turns to a secluded corner.

There were several ordinary-looking bolts of cloth piled up there, covered in dust, as if no one had touched them for a long time.

"That's it?" Bi Yao was a little doubtful. This was so different from the fabric Old Li had.

Even if you stage an accident, nobody will hire you!

The old man chuckled, "Young lady, don't underestimate these fabrics. This is genuine Yun brocade. The seller is only selling it at a low price because he urgently needs money." He picked up a piece of fabric, gently unfolded it, and instantly, it shimmered with light, so beautiful it practically blinded Bi Yao's titanium alloy eyes!

Bi Yao thought to herself, "Holy crap!" This plot twist is even more exciting than watching a murder mystery game!

She casually touched the fabric, feeling its delicate texture, and was overjoyed.

If you took this outside, you could definitely sell it for a good price!

"How much?" Bi Yao tried hard to suppress her excitement and pretended to be indifferent.

The seller held up five fingers: "Fifty taels per bolt."

Bi Yao was secretly delighted; this price was practically a steal!

But she remained outwardly calm and began to bargain with the seller: "Boss, your fabric is nice, but it's been sitting for so long, so it has some flaws. Could you give me a discount?"

After a heated debate, Bi Yao finally won all the Yun Brocade at a price of thirty taels per bolt, and was overjoyed.

She felt like she had found a god-tier item in a game, and her combat power instantly skyrocketed!

With this batch of Nanjing brocade, Bi Yao's "Yaoguang Embroidery Workshop" was revived, and orders poured in like snowflakes.

At the market in the neighboring town, the embroidery products of "Yaoguang Embroidery Workshop" became hot commodities, leaving the shop owners who had previously looked down on Bi Yao dumbfounded.

"Where did this little girl get such good supplies?" The burly boss gritted his teeth.

"I heard she went to the black market..." another boss said with a look of horror, as if the black market were some kind of terrifying dungeon.

Bi Yao's business is booming, but she knows in her heart that this is only the first step in a long journey.

Without the Chamber of Commerce's approval, she could be kicked out at any time.

Just then, a mysterious figure appeared at the entrance of her shop...

"Long time no see, Miss Bi." Xiao Wuhen looked at her with a half-smile.