Douluo: A Century-old Legend I Am the Second Uncle Chenxin

Chapter 1706 Sunset Coat
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Sunset City, northwest of the city.

July is scorching hot, with the sun blazing overhead.

Bao Yongzhi, leading several core stewards, stood respectfully outside the imposing mansion gate, their expressions a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

Above the door, the gilded plaque bearing the two characters "Bao Mansion" gleamed with a rich luster in the sunlight.

From deep within the mansion, a rhythmic, low hum and the splashing of water could be faintly heard. The air was filled with the fresh scent of new fabrics and the unique, slightly astringent aroma of plant dyes—a distinctive flavor honed over a century of business by a family of dyers and weavers.

A large, elaborately decorated carriage approached and stopped. The driver quickly got out and set up the footstool.

The car door opened, and the five people got off one by one.

The leader, dressed in a dark blue official robe symbolizing the fourth rank of the Heavenly Dou Empire, with silver swans spreading their wings embroidered on the chest and cuffs, was none other than Li Manqing, the quartermaster in charge of the Sunset Legion's logistics and supplies.

This person has naturally curly hair, black with a deep chestnut brown sheen, hanging down from both sides. His overall temperament is gentle and refined, giving people a peaceful yet undeniable feeling.

The middle-aged man following closely behind possessed an outstanding demeanor: his short, silver-white hair was meticulously combed, his icy blue eyes were deep, his face was handsome, and he wore a seemingly simple yet subtly gold and silver cloud patterned moon-white robe, exuding a noble air.

Behind them was a middle-aged woman with a serious expression, dressed in business attire, and two elderly men, one tall and one strong, with a composed demeanor.

Bao Yongzhi quickly stepped forward, his smile warm yet respectful, and bowed deeply to Li Manqing: "Lord Li, your presence is an honor for the entire Bao family! Please come inside and have a chat!"

He turned his gaze to Zhang Tianhua, asking with just the right timing, "And this distinguished guest is...?"

Li Manqing smiled gently and introduced, "Master Bao, you're too kind. This is Mr. Zhang Tianhua."

"Mr. Zhang is quite interested in your family's textile printing and dyeing techniques, so he came with me to visit, perhaps to discuss some important matters."

Zhang Tianhua nodded slightly in acknowledgment: "I am sorry to have bothered you."

Bao Yongzhi's heart stirred slightly, but he replied with excitement and composure, "It's actually Steward Zhang from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School! You flatter me!"

"We are delighted to have distinguished guests! Please come in, both of you. It's unbearably hot outside, so we have prepared some cool tea in the hall!"

Zhang Tianhua, a senior manager of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, is in charge of first-class procurement affairs. The important figures in their group are said to be the direct son-in-law of the Ning family.

This visit is not without purpose.

Countless guesses flashed through his mind, but he dared not be the slightest bit negligent on the surface.

He stepped aside more cautiously to lead the way, his attitude warm and considerate.

The group passed through the grand gate of the mansion.

The roads inside the mansion are wide and lined with ancient, lush trees, providing a cool and shady environment.

As you go further in, the scent of dyes and plants in the air becomes increasingly strong.

Passing through workshops: in the dyeing workshop, huge dyeing vats could be seen being driven by soul-guided devices, with various colored waters churning endlessly; in the weaving workshop, precise soul-guided looms emitted a regular hum, and countless shuttles moved like lightning under the precise guidance of soul power.

The entire core area of ​​Bao Mansion is filled with orderly bustle and vibrant life.

The main hall of the Bao residence.

The hall is spacious and bright, and the furnishings reveal the heritage of a century-old family.

Rosewood furniture, exquisitely crafted.

A scroll depicting the ancient dyeing and weaving process hangs on the wall.

In the very center stood a heavy, carved mahogany round table, laden with seasonal fruits and delicate refreshments. The guests took their seats in turn.

Li Manqing sat on the left side of the main seat, while Zhang Tianhua sat on the right side.

Bao Yongzhi was seated in the honored position.

The female accountant and bodyguard stood behind Zhang Tianhua.

Everyone sipped their fragrant tea and sampled some snacks; the atmosphere was fairly harmonious.

Li Manqing put down his teacup and smiled formally, saying, "Master Bao, I have come to check on the progress of this year's autumn and winter clothing reserves."

"I've heard that your esteemed institution has mastered the craft of 'Ice Cicada Silk Crepe'? The material is lightweight yet strong, with excellent light transmission, making it perfect for the lining of the summer uniforms for high-ranking officers in the Legion."

Bao Yongzhi's spirits lifted: "Lord Li is well-informed! 'Ice Cicada Silk Crepe' has indeed passed the actual test, and all indicators far exceed those of similar products."

"I have dared to suggest that I have prepared some samples, which you may inspect at any time! Soldiers serve the country and should be equipped with the best possible linings."

Li Manqing nodded approvingly: "I have always trusted the Bao family's skills. This time, I also wanted to see the limits of your family's ability to dye large quantities of color-fixed fabrics. After all..."

He changed the subject slightly, his gaze sweeping across the outside of the mansion, "The needs of a force of the Sunset Legion cannot be undertaken by ordinary workshops; stable craftsmanship and guaranteed delivery time are both indispensable."

Bao Yongzhi immediately straightened his back, full of confidence: "Please rest assured, sir! My Bao family members have superb textile and dyeing skills, as well as organizational and coordination abilities and patience far exceeding those of ordinary people."

"As long as the raw materials are sufficient and the supply of soul energy is stable, we guarantee that the production volume and quality will never falter!"

The Bao family plays a similar role to the Liu family in the Sunset Legion's system, and the family is very powerful.

His family's inherited martial spirit is "Baoyi," a peak sixth-grade martial spirit, which is an auxiliary weapon martial spirit that is extremely suitable for textiles, tailoring, and precision crafts.

Bao family clothing is a unique specialty in the western part of the Central District, and is commonly known as "Sunset Bao Clothing".

At this moment, Zhang Tianhua, who was quietly sipping his tea, put down his celadon teacup. The crisp "ding" sound naturally attracted everyone's attention.

His icy blue eyes looked at Bao Yongzhi: "I heard from Lord Li that the Bao family has been manufacturing military uniforms for many years. Their skills are superb and their reputation is outstanding. Moreover, I have seen the styles and patterns made by them and I am very satisfied."

"Moreover, coincidentally, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is also in urgent need of ordering a large quantity of high-grade standard inner and outer garments recently."

He took out a scroll of gleaming gold and of extraordinary material from his sleeve and laid it flat on the table. “It contains the needs of disciples of all levels, stewards and deacons, and is quite diverse.”

Zhang Tianhua pointed to the numbers on the document and said clearly, "First batch order—one million gold soul coins! Construction period: three months!"

One million gold soul coins!
This astronomical figure struck Bao Yongzhi like a hammer blow, and a tremendous excitement instantly swept through his body!

His eyes burned with fervor, almost unable to look away from the golden book, his voice trembling slightly with astonishment: "One...one million? Three...three months?!"

Zhang Tianhua nodded slightly: "If the quality and schedule of the first batch are perfectly met, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is willing to establish a long-term and close cooperation with the Bao family, and promises a stable purchase of no less than two million gold soul coins per year."

The air in the hall seemed to freeze instantly.

The immense wealth opportunity was almost dizzying, but the three-month deadline and the weight of the goods worth millions of gold soul coins made it difficult for Bao Yongzhi to breathe.

He subconsciously looked at Li Manqing, seeking confirmation.

Li Manqing said calmly, "Mr. Zhang is right. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School does have this need."

“This…such a heavy responsibility…” Bao Yongzhi was sweating, the immense pressure leaving him speechless for a moment.

At this moment, an old but steady voice rang out: "Honorable guest, you have brought such generous gifts to our door. I am truly sorry for being so late!"

(End of this chapter)