Bai spread the clinic’s shortage list over the market table. The guild embargo had left them short of roots, clean cloth, and bottle glass. The first two items could be found in the nearby markets, but the glass had to come from a river town beyond the Registry checkpoint.
“We can’t replace the guild shipment with one cart,” he said. “If we hide a single load, the Registry can seize it and call every crate contraband. I’m going to three ordinary markets and writing down each purchase.”
Yan looked at the route sheet. Bai had marked a grower’s lane, the ferry landing, and the return road. “How many days?”
“Four if the tide is kind. Six if it isn’t.”
“That’s slower than one fast courier.”
“And it gives us more than one path. One seller can be delayed without losing the whole shipment.” Bai tapped the first line. “Do you want a crate tomorrow, or a supply network next month?”
Yan glanced toward the clinic, where Qinghe had set aside the remaining bandage cloth. “I want the crate tomorrow.”
“Then help carry the first load while I build the longer route.”
