The highest quality dates, hawthorns and chestnuts from Henan Prefecture fattened up the locals into chubby white skinned people. After much hardship to transport them to Fengjing, they were labeled as rotten stuff.
Zheng Ruqian was stunned for a moment.
Only when Jiang Sheng tugged at his wrist, and looked at him with worried eyes, did he come to his senses.
He already knew the arrogance of Fengjing people from the experience of renting a house. He felt it once more when selling cured meat. He had thought that after reaching a deal they could have an equal conversation, but the other party simply looked down on them.
If it were the 10-year-old Zheng Ruqian, he would have begged humbly, smiled obsequiously to get close, and tried every means to sell to the Yu'ran Inn.
But the 13-year-old Zheng Ruqian first felt furious, then grabbed his sister's hand and resolutely left.
The head steward of Yu'ran Inn was slightly startled, while the younger waiter had some regret, "Those dates were exceptionally big and round..."
But what does Fengjing not have?
Zheng Xin's dates are good, Yanchuan's dates are also not bad. As for haws and chestnuts, Fengjing has plenty, only outsiders would take these odds and ends as treasures.
From behind came a distinct scoff from the head steward, as if ridiculing their overestimation of their abilities.
Zheng Ruqian clenched his fists and walked straight in, then straight out.
Gao Dawan was waiting at the door with a carriage full of goods. Seeing them come out, his eyes lit up and he was about to step forward, but Jiang Sheng just shook her head.
All the words were stuck in his throat.
Zheng Ruqian got on the carriage shaft as usual, "Let's go, back home."
Gao Dawan was in front, the siblings were behind.
Feeling the carriage moving smoothly forward, Jiang Sheng finally couldn't help but tug at her elder brother's sleeve, and carefully comforted, "Elder brother don't feel down, it's the Fengjing people who can't appreciate quality goods. If we send these to Anshui Prefecture, shopkeeper He would be so happy."
Zheng Ruqian smiled, and gently stroked his sister's hair, "Don't worry, I'm not upset."
He suddenly realized something - Yu'ran Inn could be a business lead for him, but it could not be his only business lead.
Thinking carefully, from Xieyang County to Anshui Prefecture, then Fengjing, almost all the goods Zheng Ruqian transported were given to Yu'ran Inn, as he was used to supplying them.
He only left some dried bamboo shoots and dried green beans at a dried goods store in Yunshui County, because the profit margin was low so he ignored it.
Thanking the head steward for the blow, Zheng Ruqian started considering partnerships with other shops, and even thinking about whether he should open his own dried goods store.
Soon the carriage stopped at the door. The siblings walked into the yard hand in hand. Big brother was still in school. Only Wen Zhiyun and Chang Yan came out to greet them, followed by Auntie Zhang with a plate of pastries in her hands.
"You're back?" Chang Yan's eyes lit up, "Auntie just made jujube cakes, you've come at just the right time. Do you want to try some?"
After speaking, he very naturally took the plate and offered it to the elder brother and sister.
Auntie Zhang smiled and watched, not feeling anything wrong.
But Wen Zhiyun tilted his head, feeling something was off, just not being able to pinpoint what.
Jiang Sheng had already wiped her hands clean and stuffed a pastry into her mouth.
Zheng Ruqian was still staring blankly at the jujube paste crumbs on the plate, "This is..."
"These are pastries from Danyang Prefecture. One of the older sisters in the Hairpin Courtyard Workshop has family from Danyang Prefecture. She once told me to use glutinous rice flour and finely ground jujube paste, then steam them. Just happened that the jujubes you brought yesterday were big and fresh, so I gave it a try." Zhang Xianglian pursed her lips and smiled lightly.
There were many types of flour on the market.
Coarse grains were the cheapest, and most commoners ate them the most.
Refined flour was expensive, no one dared to buy without some savings. It was only after renting a house in Xieyang County that the Jiang siblings ate their first refined noodle meal.
Glutinous rice flour was even more expensive, because it could be made into fortified city walls, selling for over 100 wen per jin at its highest price.
The pastries Jiang Sheng just gulfed down in two bites were only fist sized, but the cost already exceeded 30 wen.
In Anshui Prefecture, only the big family clans could afford such things. Even the landlords only dared to have a taste during New Year's and holidays.
But this was Fengjing.
The rich and prestigious Fengjing, the powerful Fengjing, where prodigal sons were everywhere, where 10 taels of silver was a pot of tea, that Fengjing.
Pastries worth a couple dozen wen were nothing!
Zheng Ruqian's eyes lit up. He pinched a pastry and put it in his mouth, tasting the unique chewiness of glutinous rice, and the jujube paste aroma between his lips and teeth. He couldn't help but smile.
Suddenly next to him came Jiang Sheng's angry and exasperated voice, "Elder brother, you didn't wash your hands. Auntie told us to love cleanliness. Eating without washing hands will let the boogeyman pull out worms."
Zheng Ruqian, "..."
He didn't know when Wen Zhiyun brought over a basin of water, and Chang Yan took out a towel.
Second elder brother could only wash clean in the water, before the hopping mad little moth turned back into a quiet beautiful butterfly.
The siblings ate the glutinous rice jujube cakes with great relish. How fragrant and sweet it was.
Even the already full Wen Zhiyun couldn't help but swallow.
Auntie Zhang loved such scenes. Seeing the plate empty, she hurriedly turned around, "There's more, still more. It's still in the pot. Eat to your heart's content."
After eating their fill, Zheng Ruqian rubbed his sticky fingertips and solemnly asked, "I heard Jiang Sheng mention before that Auntie wanted to open a shop?"
Zhang Xianglian was stunned for a good while before nodding, "Yes, but it requires too much money."
The money she earned these years all came from the workshop. She didn't need to work like the laborers, only responsible for inspecting the finished products. Her other time was used to cook for the children.
Jiang Sheng had mentioned giving her a raise, but Zhang Xianglian felt the work she did at the workshop was too easy. She ate the food she cooked for the children too, so it was unreasonable to ask for a raise. Thus she declined.
Like this, earning 30-40 wen a day, a year was only 10 taels. Saving up half a lifetime was barely enough to rent a storefront in Fengjing for a year.
What about the labor, materials, costs? Where would the money come from?
Gradually, Zhang Xianglian hid this thought deep in her heart, taking it as motivation in life.
"Auntie, it'll be a bit difficult for you to open your own store." Zheng Ruqian sincerely advised, "If you want to do business here, it's more suitable to set up a street stall."
But Fengjing had strict regulations. Other than festivals of universal joy, street stalls would inevitably be driven away by the yamen runners of the Municipal Government. Frequent offenses could even lead to imprisonment.
Zhang Xianglian understood too. She regretfully laughed.
"But I'm planning to open a shop. If Auntie is interested, you can partner with me." Zheng Ruqian suddenly pivoted, "I'll put up the capital, Auntie provides the labor. We can also occupy a spot in Fengjing."
Zhang Xianglian was stunned. Jiang Sheng was surprised. Wen Zhiyun had a complicated expression. Chang Yan was shocked and elated.
When did second elder brother, who was even afraid of selling mushrooms alone and needed his sister to accompany him, become so bold as to want to open his own store, and even occupy a spot in Fengjing?
