Master Qi knew that today was the delivery day for Gu’s Workshop to the Lei Family’s Trading Team, and he had arrived in the county the day before. This morning, he got up early and hastened to Da Feng Village. However, he was wary of the Lei Family’s Trading Team and didn’t dare to enter the village before Elder Lei Wu, waiting outside the village for more than two hours. He entered the village in the afternoon and saw that the Lei Family’s Trading Team was still checking the goods, so he waited again outside the courtyard wall. What he ended up waiting for was the news that the Lei Family’s Trading Team wanted to continue purchasing spices. Master Qi was frustrated. Inside the workshop courtyard, Gu Jinli handed the contract in his hands to Gu Jin’an, who read the content aloud for Third Grandpa and the others to hear. Having listened, Third Grandpa nodded: "It’s similar to the last contract, no problem, let’s sign." Ah Ji brought out the seal paste, and like last time, Elder Lei Wu, Ah Ji, all the owners of Gu’s Workshop, and Gu Jinli signed their names and pressed their fingerprints on two copies of the contract. The Jiang Family was still the guarantor, with Jiang Jiao also pressing his fingerprint. The goods inspector Old Mai and Wen Dong also needed to press their fingerprints. "Take it, one copy each," Elder Lei Wu, after keeping his own contract, handed the other one to Gu Jinli, then turned to Ah Ji: "Ah Ji, pay the money." Ah Ji took out six silver notes of one hundred taels each and handed them to Third Grandpa: "This is the thirty percent deposit for three thousand catties of spices." It wasn’t the first time Third Grandpa was handling such a large amount of money, but he couldn’t help his hand shaking. Master Qi had been impatient for a long time. Seeing Third Grandpa accept the deposit, he could no longer wait and personally stepped forward to knock on the door of Gu’s Workshop. He Sanlai and Old Zhu had been keeping an eye on him already. Seeing him approaching the courtyard gate, they immediately stopped him: "Who are you? State your name, and I will announce you." Somewhat irritated, Master Qi said to He Sanlai: "I am the Second Young Master from the Qi Family of Prefecture City, I visited last time, haven’t you seen me before?" Pretending not to recognize me! He Sanlai chuckled: "It’s exactly because I’ve seen you before and know about your connections with the Zou and Lu Families, that I don’t let you in, to avoid any mischief on your part." Master Qi was choked with irritation, cursing Zou Yuzhen in his heart, but he couldn’t give up this opportunity and had to raise his voice towards the courtyard: "Elder Gu, Gu Family’s daughter, it’s me, Qi Family’s Second Young Master from Prefecture City. We’ve talked before, about discussing the spice business today. I have come, on the 26th of April as agreed." Elder Lei Wu glanced toward the courtyard gate and said: "It’s that Qi fellow from last time, he hasn’t given up yet, huh." Master Qi heard this and quickly said: "Indeed, it is I, Master Wu is correct, Qi is very optimistic about the spices and has come with sincerity to do business with Gu’s Workshop." Elder Lei Wu laughed when he heard this: "A scholar like you, starting to do business too." Master Qi replied with justified indignation: "Scholars need to eat too; one can’t live on air and water alone." "Haha, that’s quite interesting," Elder Lei Wu laughed heartily. Knowing that Master Qi had helped save Gu Daya and her family, and aware that Master Qi was the type to bully the weak and fear the strong, with Lei Family’s Trading Team present, Master Qi would not dare harm the Gu Family and would even have to assist the Gu Family. He then said to Third Grandpa and the others: "This is your Gu’s Workshop’s business, whether you want to do it or not, it’s up to you guys." Master Qi’s eyes lit up when he heard this, and he hurriedly bowed to Elder Lei Wu: "The younger generation thanks Master Wu." Gu Jinli looked at Master Qi, then said to He Sanlai: "Let Master Qi come in." Upon hearing this, Master Qi quickly called out to his servants: "Mo Song, Si Xiong, hurry up, bring the gifts from the carriage." Mo Song is one of Master Qi’s personal servants, while Si Xiong is a Protector of the Qi Family, specifically assigned to protect Master Qi. There is also San Xiong, another Protector, who is currently guarding the carriage. "Second Young Master, you’ve come." Mo Song responded, and together with Si Xiong, moved all the items they brought into the workshop. Master Qi brought quite a few things, each of which hit the spot for the Gu Family. "These three medicine grinders were bought in Prefecture City, knowing that your workshop needed them, I had them brought over." "This box contains a complete set of the Four Books and Five Classics, with annotations and explanations by my elder brother. Knowing that Good Brother An is studying, I’ve specially brought them for him." Mrs. Chen, who had fainted from excitement, had already woken up, and upon hearing this, felt sore again. Her own Brother Wang and Brother Xing were also studying, so why gift only one set? And specifically named it for Good Brother An. "This box contains pearl powder from Prefecture Qingshan Clinic; this jar is honey, sweeter than caramel, and also nourishing. Drinking a cup of honey water every day is extremely beneficial for the body. My mother drinks it every day." Master Qi recounted the items he brought one by one, mentioning the pearl powder, which he’d learned Gu Jinli purchased when leaving Prefecture City. Knowing Gu Jinli had been reluctant to spend much at that time, he had specifically bought it as a gift. When Master Qi finished, he bowed to Elder Lei Wu: "Elder Lei, I hope you will not blame me. Last time I was deceived by Zou Yuzhen. I have since cut off all relations with the Zou family and will focus solely on doing business with Gu’s Workshop." He also wished to form a good relationship with the Lei Family’s Trading Team. To put it bluntly, Master Qi chose to come today largely because of Elder Lei Wu and Ah Ji. They were one of Great Chu’s top three merchants and the legitimate son of the Capital Duke Mansion, respectively. Winning their favor would certainly benefit the Qi Family. Master Qi was very adept at social interaction. After saying this, he immediately took out a square small box and handed it to Kunzi, who was by Elder Lei Wu’s side: "I am aware of my past mistakes and hope that Master Wu will set aside previous grievances and accept my apology." Kunzi, having often seen this sort of monetary apology, took the box, opened it, and upon seeing a stack of silver notes inside, held up a finger to Elder Lei Wu. Lo and behold, it was ten thousand tales. Elder Lei Wu smiled and raised an eyebrow: "Master Qi is indeed sincere, so I will accept your gesture." "I am grateful to Master Wu," Master Qi was relieved, the Qi Family’s future was secured, he no longer had to worry about his house flooding while sleeping or being ambushed by robbers while riding in a carriage. Seeing that Elder Lei Wu accepted Master Qi’s compensatory gift, Gu Jinli knew that the previous spat was put to rest. She straightforwardly asked Master Qi: "How much merchandise would Master Qi like to take?" Collaborating with the Qi Family was not a bad idea, and she had two other reasons for choosing to work with them. First: Zou Yuzhen wanted to ingratiate himself with the Qi Family, be on good terms with them. She could use the Qi Family to counter the Zou family and keep the Li Family down, ensuring they never have a chance to turn things around. Second: Though the Lei Family’s Trading Team is prestigious, its influence is mostly in the Northwest. Beyond Central State, fewer people are aware of the team. She needed to find a strong backer in Jianghuai for Gu’s Workshop, and currently, the Qi Family seemed quite suitable. Master Qi was overjoyed and hurriedly said: "Gu’s Workshop can provide as much as it sees fit to Master Qi." Gu Jinli said: "Our workshop will supply you with a thousand jin of spices every month. As the workshop expands and has more goods, we’ll increase the supply to the Qi Family." She looked towards Elder Lei and smiled, "However, if Grandpa Lei also desires more goods, our workshop will prioritize your needs first." That’s how pragmatic she was. "Ha ha~ You girl, Grandpa Lei appreciates your regard." Elder Lei was very pleased. Gu Family’s daughter had a clear vision and knew priorities, putting the interests of the Lei Family’s Trading Team first, and he was very satisfied.