“Pleased to meet you, Mister Chan.” Mingwei bowed. Father was already sitting on a chair in a meeting room.

Father nodded. “Mister Chan is one of the five big suppliers and importers of raw materials in Northstar City and therefore, the region.”

Mister Chan was an old-looking man, a little haggard, but with sharp-looking eyes. He had two bodyguards in the room, both cultivators of 4-stars. The merchant himself was about 4-stars too. He sat on the central chair in the meeting room. “Certainly. I was told your son’s an alchemist?”

“Yes, Mister Chan. He’s trying to secure more unique raw materials, and so he’d be willing to trade them for his production. Son, time to show your pills.”

Mingwei nodded and displayed a few 4-star Gator Core refined pills and 4-star Greenduck Liver refined pills. “This is what I’ve made recently, Mister Chan.” Mingwei said with a bow.

Mister Chan picked them up and looked at them. A servant brought a large metal item over, and Mister Chan placed it on them. There was a reading of some kind once it was placed on it, but Mingwei wasn’t sure what. It’s clearly an item used to help appraise pills, though, since the man would place all the pills on it.

“I think we can come to an arrangement. Let me take this and test the market for their interest. I will let you know if there is.”

“Thank you, mister Chan.” Mingwei bowed.

“I recall your father said you wanted to be paid in materials?”

“Yes.”

“That’s fine. I will have a man send a statement of your sales every 2 months, and a list of materials which you can claim as an offset against your sales. Redmaw’s not far.”

Mingwei bowed. “Thank you again.”

Father smiled, and Mister Chan turned and looked at father. “So, how goes the grain trade these days?”

“Supplies are stable in the southern region.” Father smiled. “But the northern region trades are getting difficult. Bad weather has hampered output, and also made travelling by wagons difficult.”

Mister Chan looked thoughtful.

“I’ve been arranging for alternative suppliers from the south. There should be some decent money to be made should the flood get worse. At least, the sects will be buying.”

Mingwei had never seen father in a business discussion and Mister Chan asked. “Have you come in contact with the far north region merchants?”

“I have, but their staple food is not our regular rice.” Father nodded. “Mountain-rice is harder to procure, and the quantities are low.” Mingwei was lost.

“Occasionally, some mountain-rice variants can produce Qi-gathering effects.” Mister Chan said. “It’ll be hard to get the producers to sell you the regular ones when it’s hard to tell which batch of rice can help cultivation. Do you have a good batch?”

“I have on hand three tons of regular mountain rice. We’re shipping them to Tiger Lake City in two weeks. You’re interested to get some?”

“Not really, but I know a brewer’s who would want mountain rice. He’s trying to make mountain rice wine. He couldn’t get his regular supply thanks to the northern disruptions.”

Father nodded. “I can spare half a ton. I should have another ton of rice supply come in a week.” Father paused, “Ah, Mingwei, can you leave us?”

Mingwei nodded. Father, and mother were left in the room with Mister Chan.

“Confusing, right?” Mingwei was startled when Mingjian appeared outside. “Dad’s business deals can be strange.”

“He’s a rice trader, right?”