Hearing this, several people all turned to look at the dazed old man. Tang Youyou nudged Yi Ran beside her, signaling her to take the old man back.
However, at this very moment, the girl lightly pinched a silver needle in her hand and stabbed it straight at Tang Youyou.
When the silver needle was no more than two meters away from her, the old man picked up the iron basin beside him and threw it in Tang Youyou's direction.
The silver needle was hit by the iron basin and deviated from its original course. At this critical moment, the silver needle finally landed in the corner on the other side.
Seeing this, Tang Youyou was neither angry nor annoyed. Instead, there was a strong smile on her face. "It seems that this princess doesn't appreciate a good offer and insists on getting punished?"
Hearing this, the girl immediately changed her expression. She drew out a long, slender whip from her waist. When the whip lashed at Tang Youyou, she nimbly dodged it.
Seeing that Tang Youyou dodged so easily, the girl lashed out several more times, but Tang Youyou still dodged them effortlessly.
As the girl waved the whip in her hand, she cursed, "I'd like to see how you, a lowly shopkeeper, dare to make me take the hard way."
The fight between the two women became out of control. One attacked while the other dodged. The once - peaceful shop turned into a battlefield.
No matter how the people around tried to persuade them, the fight between the two refused to stop. It was not until Yue Fusheng grabbed the girl's whip that the two finally calmed down for a while.
One was cold and aloof, while the other was furious.
At the same time, a voice came from outside. It was an old voice, similar to the one who had placed an order with Tang Youyou that day.
Tang Youyou looked up and saw that it was the leader of the Western Regions' envoys.
"Senior, you've finally come. Everything here is almost ready." Tang Youyou was quite polite when facing this person.
The leader nodded and then looked at the sulking girl on one side.
"Jiao'er, you're already this old. Do you still have to be so willful?"
Unexpectedly, the leader actually asked the spoiled girl to apologize.
Jiao'er reluctantly looked at Tang Youyou, her eyes full of tears, as if she was about to burst into tears at any moment.
Before Tang Youyou could say anything, the girl said, "Sorry, it was my rudeness, Princess."
After saying that, she couldn't help but glare at Tang Youyou fiercely. Obviously, a feud had been formed between the two.
However, the leader didn't seem to care at all. Instead, he apologized to Tang Youyou again, put down a bag of money, and then left without saying anything more.
Tang Youyou looked at the two bags of gold on the table and then at the seven or eight people present. She threw a gold ingot into each person's hand.
"This is your reward for the past half - year. Work hard for me. If you have any problems, just tell me. But if anyone deliberately causes trouble here, don't blame me for being merciless."
Tang Youyou immediately set the rules. On the other side, Kang Fuhai and the other two watched as she gave each of them three gold ingots.
"Sir, this is too much. It's my duty to do these things. I shouldn't take so much."
Even Kang Fuhai, who was extremely greedy for money, blushed. He said, "Yes, sir, you don't have to do this. We servants are born to serve you. There's no need for you to waste this on us."
Hearing this, Tang Youyou's face turned cold.
In this era, the thing she had the most difficulty understanding was the thoughts of these people.
The equality of all people in her era was an impossible concept here. Everyone was well - aware of their own status, always bowing and scraping, being extremely respectful.
Even the most despicable person, if he was a member of the royal family or a noble, was an existence that couldn't be offended.
This was the humility deep in their bones.
"You are all human beings. You are not only commoners but also the backbone of the Great Ming. The royal family and nobles are just a small boat floating on the river."
"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. So, there's no such thing as humility. It's only right for you to get what you deserve!"
Every word of hers was like a hammer, breaking the barrier that covered each person one blow after another.
Everyone looked at Tang Youyou in surprise, and some even shed tears.
In their eyes, merchants were at the bottom of the social hierarchy. But now, in Tang Youyou's place, they finally understood what true equality was.
Those who originally wanted to say more chose to remain silent at this moment.
"Thank you, sir." An old man among them bowed slightly and thanked Tang Youyou.
But Tang Youyou had held back for a long time and only simply said, "You don't have to thank me. I'm just doing what I should do."
After saying that, Tang Youyou returned to the courtyard behind the main hall. No one noticed that there was actually a blush on Tang Youyou's face.
However, the good times didn't last long. Just one week after the envoys left, they returned again. This time, these envoys came specifically for Tang Youyou.
It was still the polite - speaking leader who opened his mouth. He said respectfully,
"Sir, the things you gave us are truly top - grade. But can you make compressed fireworks like this?"
Hearing this, Tang Youyou paused slightly.
Fireworks? Compressed ones? Wasn't this just another kind of bomb?
"What do you need this for?" Tang Youyou asked doubtfully.
The person in front of her was not in a hurry. He slowly said, "I just want to buy some new things to take back. After all, rare things are precious. I think your craftsmanship is quite good, so I wonder if you can make them."
It shouldn't be too difficult for her to study and make such things slowly, but these were people from the Western Regions.
Recently, people from the Western Regions had repeatedly invaded the border areas of the Great Ming. She had to be more careful in such matters.
"I'm afraid I can't make this. Please find someone else, senior. I'm not capable of everything."
Seeing that Tang Youyou flatly refused, this person wasn't in a hurry. Instead, he bowed again and then left.
Although these people behaved very respectfully, the doubts they brought to her were even greater.
When something seems abnormal, there must be something wrong.
Tang Youyou immediately turned to look at the people behind her. "From now on, you must be more careful when you meet these people from the Western Regions. I always feel that they must have other tricks up their sleeves."
That night, when the entire Chang'an Street was asleep and extremely quiet, a group of black - clothed men leaped into the air and landed at Tang Youyou's residence.
Here, many people lived in different rooms, while Tang Youyou had a room to herself.
The two black - clothed men quickly found Tang Youyou's room. They lit the knockout incense in their hands, poked a hole in the window paper, and let the smoke into Tang Youyou's sleeping bed.
Naturally, Tang Youyou, who was in a deep sleep, didn't notice.