Danwu managed to persuade Yan Zijin to let her off the ship earlier than planned. Once ashore, she pondered what business she could start and recalled that she could sell waste materials, which Cao Tou had previously sold at eighteen coins per pound. Danwu thought she could refine these materials, and some could be sold to pharmacies, yielding a higher profit.
To gather enough waste, Danwu approached Wei Yan at the Wei Guild, sharing her calculated profits. Since Danwu was willing to put in the effort, and Wei Yan could make extra money too, she agreed to help Danwu, leading her to the person in charge of waste production. Danwu acquired two hundred pounds of waste material.
Stills from Episode 5 of “The Story of Pearl Girl”
Danwu didn’t plan to keep the profits for herself. She shared the waste with fellow servants who worked in the ship’s lower deck, and they happily helped her process the materials.
Finally, the day arrived for her to go ashore. Danwu struggled to pull a cart filled with goods, while Xiaoxiaomi saw her off at the dock, advising her to keep trying with different buyers if one didn’t work out.
It was Danwu’s first time doing business, and with little experience, she faced several rejections. The pharmacy owners were skeptical, seeing her as a stranger and non-resident, fearing there’d be no recourse if her goods weren’t up to standard.
After the He Pu Pearl Market burned down, Cui Shijiu realized he couldn’t deliver pearls to the court. He secretly instructed his men to retrieve the pearls at any cost. Meanwhile, Yan Zijin’s ship neared Guangzhou. Wanting to establish good business ties, he went ashore to meet the local guild leader, bringing several rare gemstones as a gift. The guild leader accepted the gems, promising to help sell Yan Zijin’s jewelry in exchange for a commission.
Eventually, Danwu found a buyer who gave her a banknote and directed her to a nearby silver shop to collect the money. However, upon presenting the note, she was told the stamp was fake. Shocked and desperate, Danwu rushed back to confront the buyer and found herself in a pharmacy where she ran into Cao Tou. Using her failed deal as an excuse, Cao Tou quickly tied her up and brought her before Yan Zijin. Yan Zijin was surprised, but as soon as Cao Tou mentioned the exact weight of 210 pounds, Danwu realized he was in cahoots with the buyer.
Danwu was tied to the deck and received twenty lashes as punishment. Yan Zijin intended to send her back as a servant, but Danwu pleaded for another chance to recover the lost goods. Yan Zijin, reminded of his own struggles, agreed.
Stills from Episode 5 of “The Story of Pearl Girl”
In the dead of night, Danwu sneaked into Cao Tou’s quarters and pressed a dagger to his throat, demanding the whereabouts of the crook. To save his life, Cao Tou revealed the details. Danwu went to the crook’s place and successfully retrieved the money.
After handing over the required portion, Danwu kept her rightful share. However, Yan Zijin remained displeased, ready to punish her again. Confused, Danwu asked why, as she had retrieved the money. Yan Zijin reminded her that selling waste was technically Cao Tou’s business, and cutting into his profits naturally brought trouble. Danwu questioned why Yan Zijin continued to protect Cao Tou despite his shady behavior. Yan Zijin openly explained that Cao Tou was reliable and efficient in carrying out his orders, making him valuable. Danwu resolved to prove herself as valuable to Yan
