On the way to You Ran House, Zheng Ruqian had already thought about what to say to Shopkeeper Hao.
When he arrived at the restaurant, he snuck into the private room as usual and sat down across from Shopkeeper Hao with a frown on his face. "Thank goodness, thank goodness."
Shopkeeper Hao glanced up from his abacus ledger and said, "What is it, did some young lady force you to come knocking on her door?"
Only Big Brother Xu Mo gets treated like this. How could someone as plain as him, with no literary talent or romantic flair, get that kind of attention from young ladies?
Zheng Ruqian spat on the ground twice. "Shopkeeper Hao jokes again. What young lady would look twice at me?"
"It's not impossible," said Shopkeeper Hao solemnly as he slid the abacus beads back and forth. "You've got thick brows and big eyes, a tall nose and wide mouth - upright and imposing. Just the type mothers-in-law like."
"What's the use if mothers-in-law like me, if no young ladies do?" Zheng Ruqian was unconvinced.
Compared to spending time with Xu Mo at banquets, or being with Fang Hengwen, Zhi Yun and the rest, everyone knew he was the least impressive of the bunch.
But Shopkeeper Hao narrowed his eyes meaningfully and said, "Who said there aren't any? My daughter is rather fond of you."
"Cough cough cough!" Zheng Ruqian nearly choked on a mouthful of tea.
He suddenly remembered that when he delivered goods to You Ran House last time, he met Shopkeeper Hao's wife and daughter. Her round face was as full as the moon - he couldn't tell her age, only that she was Shopkeeper Hao's only daughter.
At the time, Zheng Ruqian had snarked, "How did Shopkeeper Hao and his wife have such a round dumpling of a daughter when they're not fat themselves?"
Now karma had come for him.
Zheng Ruqian shivered all over and politely declined, "The shopkeeper jests. I am orphaned and penniless, with no prospects of starting a family. I only hope that someday I may return home in glory, and only then consider marriage."
In other words, "Make money first, get a wife later."
Shopkeeper Hao laughed, his eyes narrowing, but said no more.
Zheng Ruqian heaved a sigh of relief. He quickly moved on to the main topic, "The sausages I let you sample last time, Shopkeeper Hao - have you used them all up? I've brought another 10 catties. I hope you like them."
With that, he had Wang Xiaosong put the sausages on the table.
Shopkeeper Hao looked startled. His brow furrowed. "Only 10 catties?"
Ten catties could make 20 dishes at most, but You Ran House served at least 100 customers a day.
"That's right," Zheng Ruqian played dumb. "10 catties should be enough for Shopkeeper Hao for a while, right?"
Shopkeeper Hao glanced at him, then suddenly smirked. "I'll take them as a gift for Xiangxiang. She loves eating sausages."
Zheng Ruqian's hackles rose.
He had come to play the villain, not to become a son-in-law. Shopkeeper Hao had gotten the wrong idea.
But then he realized, a sly old fox like Shopkeeper Hao wouldn't misunderstand. He was clearly using Hao Xiangxiang as a bargaining chip.
If Zheng Ruqian backed down now, he would really lose!
Even if Hao Xiangxiang was twice as wide as him, Zheng the Second clasped his fist and bowed, "Shopkeeper Hao's happiness is most important."
After settling up for the dried broad beans, master and servant swaggered out of You Ran House.
This time in Anshui Prefecture, Zheng Ruqian had hauled a full 500 catties of dried broad beans - 200 catties for You Ran House in the city, 100 catties for Xieyang County, leaving 200 catties stockpiled in Hairpin Courtyard.
Once the remaining 200 catties were sold, the broad beans in Shili Town should be ready for harvest too.
Zheng Ruqian was quite pleased, his mind full of thoughts on pricing the sausages.
Should it be 200 coins per catty, or 300?
Turning 5-coin coppers worth of pork into sausages selling for 200 coins per catty - even Jiang Sheng would have to admit he was a villainous merchant.
An out and out villain.
Two days later...
As expected, someone from You Ran House came calling for Zheng Ruqian, respectfully inviting him to the private room.
Shopkeeper Hao sat in his usual spot, brow furrowed as he asked, "You rascal, stop playing tricks - how much for the sausages?"
"Not for sale," came Zheng Ruqian's prompt reply.
Shopkeeper Hao's expression froze.
But Zheng Ruqian wasn't afraid of him. Rolling up his sleeves, he said, "It's not that I won't sell to You Ran House, it's just that I can't make them in summer. I prepared over 200 catties and they all went bad."
Only then did Shopkeeper Hao's expression ease. "Then where did you get the 10 catties you gave me?"
"From the few dozen catties I made over New Year's. Gave some here and there as gifts - there's basically nothing left now," Zheng Ruqian said honestly.
Though he was telling lies, his thick brows and big eyes were the picture of righteous integrity - it made people instinctively believe him.
"What are we to do?" Shopkeeper Hao's face was etched with worry. "Some of You Ran House's regulars have developed a taste for the sausage rice. They've asked for it the last two visits, and left disappointed. They say if it happens a third time, they'll tear You Ran House down."
Offending the gentry was perilous - if they said tear it down, even if they couldn't manage it, they could still make things very difficult for You Ran House.
Shopkeeper Hao was truly anxious now.
Curious, Zheng Ruqian asked, "How much does a serving of sausage rice go for?"
Shopkeeper Hao didn't answer, but Xiao Erge the waiter couldn't resist piping up, "Two taels of silver a serving!"
Zheng Ruqian's eyes widened in shock. His heart pounded wildly.
One serving used at most half a catty of sausage, yet could sell for two taels of silver!
And he had been debating whether 200 or 300 coins per catty was reasonable for his sausages.
Compared to You Ran House, he was a right saint.
Seeing Shopkeeper Hao grow increasingly agitated, Zheng Ruqian coughed twice and said, "If it comes down to it, I can squeeze out a bit for you."
Shopkeeper Hao whipped his head around to glare, while Xiao Erge the waiter couldn't help but grumble, "Still raising the price while sitting on the ground."
But Zheng Ruqian didn't feel guilty at all. The rarer the commodity, the higher the price.
You Ran House could choose not to buy.
After staring at Zheng Ruqian for a long while, staring until the young man was squirming uncomfortably - only then did Shopkeeper Hao's lips quirk into a smile. "What's your price?"
Zheng Ruqian held up one hand.
"50 coins?" Xiao Erge looked flabbergasted.
Zheng Ruqian shook his head. "500. And only 50 catties. I'll deliver it over."
What a scoundrel. A true villain.
Shopkeeper Hao should have been angry, and he was rather displeased, but thinking of how Zheng Ruqian had changed over the past two years, he couldn't help laughing.
After laughing, he slammed the table decisively. "Deal!"
500 coins per catty, 50 catties - 25 taels of silver.
Payment on delivery, cash on barrelhead.
After Zheng Ruqian left jingling with silver, Xiao Erge asked puzzledly, "Boss, you know he's price gouging, why agree to work with him?"
Shopkeeper Hao stroked his goatee and chuckled. "Firstly, You Ran House really needs the sausages. Secondly, I'm growing rather fond of him as a match for Xiangxiang."
At that moment, as Zheng Ruqian walked out of You Ran House, he suddenly heard a lilting voice call out, "Brother Zheng..."
He looked up to see a wall.
