Flower Pin Courtyard
The sun was at its peak. The workshop at the front was bustling about busily. Batch after batch of cured meat was hung out to dry until it was just right, before being smoked and finally piled up in the warehouse like small mountains.
With just the two Leisure Residences, given the speed at which they replenished their stock every three months with 300 to 500 catties, they really could not consume it all.
Fortunately, everyone in this world was constantly on the move. While Xu Mo busily handled the Sun family’s affairs on the positive side, Zheng Ruqian was also kept busy on the contrary.
Other than delivering dried beans to Shopkeeper Hao in Anyang County, with twenty-five catties per shipment and fifty catties sold, he also brought cured meat to Anyang County. Through giving free samples, he managed to gain the favor of several dried goods shops. Zheng Ruqian reached an agreement with them to stock the cured meat in their shops on consignment, with the profits split 20:80.
The shops took 20%, while Zheng Ruqian took 80%.
Together with the demand from the two Leisure Residences in the prefectural city and county city, it was just enough to match the workshop’s output.
If they wanted to sell to more shops, they would have to expand the workshop and hire more workers, which was simply not cost-effective.
For Zheng Ruqian, a small workshop like this that earned over a hundred taels of silver a year was already sufficient.
Therefore, when Xu Mo said he could return to Xieyang County, Zheng Er was the first to respond enthusiastically. He bared his big teeth as he packed the two carts of dried beans to bring to White Shopkeeper, as well as several boxes of Anyang County specialties for Magistrate Pang.
As he passed by Jiang Sheng, he also made it a point to mess up her neatly combed little braids.
“Stinky Er Ge!” Jiang Sheng had been whispering to San Ge when he suddenly interrupted them. She immediately flared up, placing her fists on her waist and looking just like a teapot. “What are you doing, what are you doing? From now on, Sheng Sheng won’t bother with stinky Er Ge anymore!”
In the past, Zheng Ruqian would have been worried that his sister was angry. Now he was not worried anymore, because he had a killer move—candied haws on skewers.
But before he could take out the sour fruit coated thickly with syrup, Jiang San rushed in.
“Er Gongzi, something bad has happened!”
Everyone in the yard was taken aback.
The reason Sun Yu competed for the position of Prefect of Anshui was to help the Sun family deal with Fang Heng. Although there were also internal conflicts within the Wang family itself, their stance on killing Fang Heng should still be unanimous.
Looking at it this way, even if Sun Yu fell and the Sun family was thrown into chaos, the Wang family would still make a move against Fang Heng and cause trouble.
Xu Mo had even made all sorts of preparations to weather the upcoming storm.
They just did not expect that the one causing trouble this time would actually be Zheng Er.
“Me? What trouble could I cause?” Zheng Ruqian laughed. “I’m not taking any exams, and I didn’t go out alone either. What could possibly happen to me?”
Even for the dried bean deliveries to Anyang County, it was Jiang Si who went.
Or could it be the Pang brothers who went to Yunshui County?
At this thought, Zheng Ruqian finally had a serious attitude. “Who met with trouble? Are they still alive? If alive, hurry and send them to the medical center. If dead, we shall avenge them.”
As he spoke, he clenched his fists tightly. His lonely and desolate back exuded an air of chivalry and heroism.
Jiang Sheng at the side was nearly moved to tears. This was the first time she realized Er Ge could be so righteous. She decided she would no longer blame him for messing up her braids. She even wanted to comfort Er Ge and tell him to get over the sorrow soon.
Seeing the siblings about to shed tears, Jiang San was silent for a moment. “No one is injured or dead. It’s your business that was robbed.”
“Oh, that’s fine if no one is hurt.” Zheng Ruqian patted his chest.
Jiang Sheng also heaved a sigh of relief as she twisted her handkerchief to wipe her nose.
But in the next moment, Zheng Ruqian reacted and jumped two chi into the air at his original spot. He screeched, “What, what? What business of mine was robbed? Which damned turtle stole my business? I won’t let him off, no way!”
Jiang Sheng turned to look at him in shock.
Xu Mo coughed and hinted for Zheng Er to watch his language. Be angry if you must, but don’t curse. Be careful of corrupting your sister.
Fang Heng went forward and covered Jiang Sheng’s little ears directly, not letting her hear.
“@#¥@#¥ damn, @#¥#¥ turtle bastard #¥%@#¥......”
Zheng Ruqian finally finished venting.
Although he did not earn much money these past two years doing business outside, he picked up quite a colorful vocabulary.
Jiang San looked utterly admiring, just short of giving a thumbs up.
“Just who was it, who was it?” Zheng Ruqian screeched.
Before Jiang San could speak, Zhang Qiquan from the front workshop came over, looking deeply grieved. “Master, it’s the cured meat. The recipe was leaked, and now there are many commoners out there selling cured meat.”
The one who stole the recipe probably disdained making such a lowly food item. He directly spread the recipe out.
This way, any commoner in the prefectural city with a bit of cooking skill could make cured meat. The several hundred wen per plate cured meat from Leisure Residence would no longer sell. Naturally, their business with Leisure Residence would also go downhill.
In truth, things like cured meat recipes were not top secret. Over time, bits and pieces were bound to be leaked.
But according to Zhang Qiquan’s estimates, it would at least take three to five years. It was even more impossible for the full recipe to be leaked, and the taste would still differ more or less.
This way, although the workshop’s business would worsen, it could still survive.
Unlike now, with the complete recipe leaked, just a little trial and error could replicate the taste from the workshop.
“I’ve already stopped the workers, but did not let them leave,” Zhang Qiquan’s eyes flashed a hint of ruthlessness. “The recipe must have been leaked by them. I will find out who did it.”
But so what? Cured meat preparation was not a secret. The workshop's business was finished.
Zheng Ruqian stared blankly at his surroundings. He was not a very business-savvy person to begin with. He only started selling things because little Jiang Sheng pulled him along to encourage and accompany him.
Later, as he became bolder and developed more desire, he also tasted the sweetness and slowly reached where he was today.
But he had never suffered losses like this before, let alone dealt with such a huge blow.
Little Jiang Sheng seemed to have come to his front. The little girl's voice fluctuated between near and far. "Er Ge, don't feel down. This workshop did not lose money... I was prepared for you to lose money initially. But you actually didn't lose any. You've done very well..."
Is that so? Has he done very well?
If he did very well, shouldn't he have earned a lot more money, and bought Jiejie a big house and embroidered shoes encrusted with pearls?
He was not good. He was not a good elder brother. He could not pass the exams to become an official. He had no skills or medical knowledge. And he was a little stupid.
If he could not earn money, he was nothing. He was a person anyone could abandon.
Like Niang, who kicked him out.
And the aunties at Yihong Court, who mocked him for not being a girl, for his lack of delicate features, saying he would only starve in future.
Who else was there? Endless ridicule. Come on, bring it on. He was not afraid. He could take it.
"Erdi!"
"Er Ge!"
Someone bellowed by his ear, while someone else sobbed softly. Someone called gently, someone tugged his sleeve.
Oh, it was Eldest Brother, and his three younger brothers, as well as the most well-behaved, smart little sister.
They were by his side, repeatedly calling his drifting soul, calling back his lost fighting spirit.
"Erdi, we're up against more than just the Wang family. There's also a behemoth like the Fang family. One day, we will eventually go to Fengjing. We will face more obstacles and setbacks. Can you really be tripped up by something like the cured meat recipe being leaked?"
That was Eldest Brother Xu Mo's tone of resenting iron not becoming steel.
"Er Ge, the workshop failed, but we can do other things. Next time, we'll be more stringent when choosing people. We won't be soft-hearted and give short contracts anymore. We'll give long contracts, lifelong contracts. We will definitely rise again in Dongshan."
That was Third Brother Fang Heng. He seemed to have it worse, being hunted by both Fang and Wang families.
"Er Ge, if you can't earn money, I'll provide for you. We won't starve to death."
That was Fourth Brother Wen Zhiyun. The once submissive and cowardly little pity had finally become upright and steadfast.
Zheng Ruqian's eyes gradually came into focus, and his hearing returned to normal.
Little Fifth Chang Yan and little sister Jiang Sheng held onto each of his arms from left to right, nestling against his sides. In the still rather cold early spring, they were like two small stoves, warming up his lifeless body which lacked warmth.
"Er Ge, why aren't you talking all of a sudden? Has Er Ge become silly?" Jiang Sheng sobbed softly. "Sheng Sheng doesn't want Er Ge to become silly. As long as Er Ge isn't silly, he can mess up Sheng Sheng's hair however he likes. It'll be fine, everything will be fine."
Chang Yan pursed his lips, looking up repeatedly with eyes full of worry.
Ah, Zheng Er, you're really worthless, worrying your family again.
