Su Mo slightly nodded. That’s how traders work—buying low in one place and selling high in another.
Naturally, this also depends on the local conditions.
For example, hoarding cotton and other goods and selling them in the frigid lands of the north would naturally fetch different prices.
And some fresh items from the north, when brought to various places in Donghuang, would also find buyers willing to pay a high price for the novelty.
Su Mo remembered that once in the Luohua Pavilion within the Ten Miles Peach Blossom Forest, someone, who used either Mountain Flipping Palm or Heaven Flipping Palm, had boasted to him about his tea, claiming it was high-quality tea from the north...
While casually chatting with Liu Mo, the caravan did not stop; it was only that by now, everyone had already got down to walk.
Navigating through streets and alleys, under Liu Mo’s lead, they soon arrived in front of a shop.
The shop was open for business, and the shopkeeper was passionately explaining his goods to several radiant-looking men and women. When he suddenly caught sight of Liu Mo, he was overjoyed.
Hurriedly, he signaled the waiter to take over, and within three strides, he was at the front door:
"Ah, my Old Liu, you have finally come!"
Liu Mo greeted the man with a cupped fist salute and then introduced Su Mo, "This is Manager Cheng, head of several branches of the Five Directions Gathering."
He then introduced Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun to the man: "This is Su Mo, Chief of the Ziyang Escort Agency, and Vice Leader Yang Xiaoyun."
Manager Cheng was not surprised and immediately saluted with a fist: "I’ve seen Chief Su and Vice Leader Yang. Both are indeed young heroes, admired by all. You must have had a tough journey coming here."
"Manager Cheng is too kind."
Su Mo smiled and said, "Since we have taken on the task from the Wanxin Trading Company, hardship is naturally expected. I wonder, Manager Cheng, if you have some free time now, shall we check the goods and tally the quantities?"
"Yes, yes, please follow me."
Manager Cheng, a decisive person, without further ado and after instructing his clerks briefly, led Su Mo and the others away from the shopfront.
After a bit of a detour, they arrived at a courtyard, knocked on the door, and immediately, a dozen people came out.
"Come, come, come, get to work. The goods from the headquarters have finally arrived. Come help unload and count."
At his call, everyone sprang into action.
The clerks from the escort agency, as well as the guards, all came to help.
Su Mo, holding the contract made with the head of Wanxin Trading Company, counted the items together with Manager Cheng.
It took a little over an hour to finish the tally completely.
Manager Cheng heaved a big sigh of relief: "Finally, it’s done. The count is correct. Chief Su is indeed formidable. Even following Heavenly Gate Escort Agency, items would suffer losses, but under Chief Su’s protection, not a single item was missing, which is truly admirable."
Su Mo waved his hand: "Manager Cheng, you flatter me; it was just good luck."
"Haha, Chief Su, you are young and should be soaring high. Why such modesty? Although I don’t have the expertise to travel the Jianghu, I know that relying on luck is never a long-term strategy."
He pulled out two thousand taels’ worth of silver notes from his robe and handed them to Su Mo, sighing deeply:
"This two thousand taels was finally spent. You don’t know, Chief Su, but every branch of the Five Directions Gathering here is severely short of stock. I’ve been longing for your arrival, stars and moon alike. Thus, I withdrew these two thousand taels early from the accounts, wishing I could spend it quickly. Now, my wish has finally been fulfilled. This is the first time in my life I’ve ever felt so happy to spend money."
Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but laugh heartily.
Su Mo solemnly took it, quickly verified the amount, then smiled and said, "The count is correct, thanks Manager Cheng."
He then handed it over to Yang Xiaoyun to keep it securely on her person.
"It is I who should thank Chief Su."
After he said this, he ordered his staff to move the goods inside, while talking to Su Mo:
"Chief Su, you’ve come from far, and I’ve already arranged rooms in the inn for you and your colleagues. It would be good to rest for a few days before leaving. Additionally, tonight, I am hosting a banquet in honor of Chief Su and your colleagues from the escort agency. Please do not decline."
Su Mo glanced at his system.
[Mission: Escort the goods of the Wanxin Trading Company to Five Directions Gathering. (Completed)]
[Reward: Calculating...]
Seeing this, he also breathed a sigh of relief, looked back at the clerks and the guards of the escort agency gathered there, and then laughed heartily:
"Since that’s the case, I can’t be ungracious."
It has been tough traveling and camping out all this way. Now that the goods have been delivered safely, even if not for himself, he had to consider his subordinates’ feelings.
Having a meal was indeed nothing worth debating.
Manager Cheng nodded repeatedly, then led Su Mo and the others to the inn.
Liu Mo naturally followed along with Su Mo and the others.
They were part of the Wanxin Trading Company’s guards, but this journey was conducted under the escort agency. Once Su Mo completed the delivery and returned to Luoxia City, they would then part ways.
That would only happen after reaching Luoxia City.
The journey was silent, and soon, they arrived at the inn.
Manager Cheng’s arrangements were certainly thorough: the escort masters and the guards were all placed in one courtyard to rest, while Su Mo, Yang Xiaoyun, and Liu Mo each got separate top-quality rooms.