When the official seals of the Chang'an Maritime Trade Office were slapped onto the Sogdian merchant warehouse, Abbas's pink beard brushed against the abacus-bead-shaped sealing clay. The beads bounced on the tip of his nose to spell out the word "Miserable."
"My caravan..." he groaned.
Pei Hongxiu shook the abacus-patterned seal with a light laugh. "Master Abbas, these abacus seals are dyed with Qingniu Colors. If you try to pry them open—" The beads on the seal jumped and rearranged into the word "Color." "—your hands will be covered in Blue Crystal Powder, and it won't wash off!"
Chapter 204