Ning brought Yan to the south orchard after breakfast. Tao Fen and two neighboring growers waited beside a line of young medicinal plants. They had agreed to meet there because none wanted the Registry guards to see a basket at the clinic gate.
Tao’s sister held the stall license in one hand and a copy of Bai’s purchase terms in the other. “The order says trade with White Orchard can cost us our permits. If we bring a cart to your gate, the guards will know our names.”
“We don’t want you to risk your stall,” Yan said. “I can ride beside the first cart, but that might draw more attention.”
Tao shook her head. “Your face is already on the court notice. If you ride with us, the checkpoint will stop the cart before it sees the market.”
Yan considered it. He had thought an escort would make the growers safer. Tao had explained how it might do the opposite.
Bai laid out a map of the nearby villages. He suggested using a neutral market as a buying table, paying in advance, and collecting the bundles after dark. Ning proposed opening three such tables at once so no single route carried the entire supply.
