After a confrontation where both sides suffered losses, with three harboring ulterior motives and four fleeing in panic, Jiang Sheng walked out of You Ran House still feeling a bit stunned. She looked up and asked, "Second Brother, are we calling off the cooperation we just agreed on?"
"It's called off," Zheng Ruqian said firmly. "From the beginning, it was the arrogance of Fengjing folks, and now it's the pride of prestigious families. So commoners like us deserve to be looked down on, don't we?"
If they were doing business, both sides should have stood on equal footing.
Although that was impossible.
If the arrogance of Fengjing people was ingrained, then the pride of prestigious families was passed down through generations.
They came from distinguished families, threw money around like dirt, enjoyed the finest education, stood at the pinnacle of society, and yet looked down on the behavior and conduct of people from the lower classes.
But who would wish to be born into the lower classes?
If you switched the positions of these two groups, lower class people could be educated to become esteemed upper class people, but upper class people might not live as vibrant lives as lower class people.
"People have different ways of living. True refinement should embrace the disparities of this world instead of relying on one’s own pride to disdain those less fortunate," Zheng Ruqian rambled eloquently with a casual tone.
Jiang Sheng nodded earnestly, conviction evident on her little face.
Unknowingly, Second Brother had also begun to exude his own charm.
"However..." Zheng Ruqian's tone changed. "Thatlittle chit from the Jiang family is really awful. She actually forbade You Ran House from doing business with us country bumpkins. She thinks she's so high and mighty with her useless mouth."
Jiang Sheng: "..."
The heartbroken young girl asked weakly, "Second Brother, aren't you afraid they'll retaliate for offending the Jiang family?"
Was he afraid?
He was afraid.
Zheng Ruqian laughed. "Even if I have to face retaliation, I can't just watch our little lass being bullied. We'drather fight to the bitter end than let anyone feel good about this."
Seeing Jiang Sheng's smile freeze, he knew the young girl was worrying again.
Zheng Ruqian quickly resumed his seriousness. "Don't worry. That won't happen. She has an older brother who didn't stand up to help just now during the intense confrontation. Clearly he doesn't agree with her."
"Really?" Holding his hand, Jiang Sheng asked dubiously.
Zheng Ruqian looked utterlyserious. "Of course it's true. But I don't know how she'll pester her brother over this."
After all, even outsiders could see what was going on, so how could the parties involved not sense it?
The siblings walked hand in hand as they waited for Jiang Si's carriage to come take them to Tian Street Corner.
Jiuzhen Store was having its grand opening today.
Initially, Zheng Ruqian's business philosophy was: make more money by pricing items slightly higher without exaggerating too much.
But the novelty of even the most whimsical goods faded too quickly. Once local people grew accustomed to the newest fad, the appeal would disappear.
Aunt Zhang racked her brain coming up with new pastries, barely managing to maintain decent sales at Jiuzhen Store, but there were no bestselling items.
After returning from Hebei Commandery, Zheng Ruqian changed his business approach. He believed low margins and high volumes could increase profits more than raising prices.
During the New Year holiday, he discussed pricing with Aunt Zhang. They agreed not to lower costs to avoid dissatisfying earlier customers.
But free gifts could make up for it.
For example, the buy-one-get-half-free deal on glutinous rice and red date cakes changed to buy-one-get-one-free. With an actual price of 150 wen for one catty, it was a genuine bargain given the market price of 80-90 wen per catty of glutinous rice flour.
Sugar-glazed haw candies originally sold for 30-50 wen were also marked buy-one-get-half or buy-one-get-one.
Even the newly launched stir-fried candied chestnuts sold for only 30 wen per catty.
This immediately clogged the normally crowded Tian Street Corner. Jiang Si could barely inch the carriage forward. "Second Young Master, Miss, you'll have to get out and walk. This carriage just won't budge."
Jiang Sheng expressed understanding and jumped down, deftly winding her slight figure through the frustrated carriages until she successfully arrived at the entrance of Jiuzhen Store.
Miao Zhaoying was busily stir-frying chestnuts under the eave, drawing a long line of Fengjing people craning their necks in anticipation.
Those formerly aloof locals readily surrendered to the outlanders for a taste of the tantalizing aroma.
Some patiently queued for half a shichen. Others sent family servants on their behalf or joined the line again after sampling the irresistible chestnuts.
As Miao Zhaoying finished stir-frying each batch, he first scooped out two catties to filterand pack nimbly for the first person in line.
That man eagerly ripped one open straightaway. Under the crowd's gaze, he peeled and popped it into his mouth, sighing with satisfaction. "I should've bought more."
The rarely-seen candied chestnuts with their soft, sticky sweetness utterly seduced everyone. And they only cost 30 wen per catty! Who could resist?
The second person directly requested ten catties.
Miao Zhaoying laughed and shook his head. "Sir, our yield of chestnuts is limited. It's two catties per person. If you still want more after finishing these, wait until the young master transports back another batch. I promise you'll eat your fill then."
His words were reasonable and tactful with a way out, putting listeners at ease. Even just two catties was satisfactory.
Soon that batch sold out.
Miao Zhaoying poured in more raw chestnuts to vigorously stir again as the obedient Fengjing queue silently awaited their turn.
Jiang Sheng automatically fished out a warm candied chestnut from her sleeve, peeled it open, and popped it into her mouth.
Savoring the soft, sticky sweetness swirling over her tongue, she finally felt content.
Given the chestnuts’ popularity, even offending You Ran House wouldn't stifle business. People would scramble for the chance no matter what.
"Second Brother,” the young girl suddenly recalled, “did you arrange to transport more chestnuts? Don't sell out later."
"Don't worry. After the New Year holiday, the Gao brothers will fetch them directly." Zheng Ruqian ruffled her hair affectionately. "Another two thousand catties of chestnuts in twenty days tops."
Two thousand catties sounded substantial, yet still wouldn’t last long given the demand. That was why Zheng Ruqian set the two-catty purchase limit.
Chestnuts cost three wen per catty wholesale in Hebei Commandery. After transporting such distances to Fengjing then making candied chestnuts selling at just 30 wen per catty, he was after reputation rather than profit.
When Fengjing locals thought of visiting friends or snacking, if Jiuzhen Store popped up first, that symbolized true success.
The stir-fried candied chestnuts were just the start. More exotic delicacies would come, enticing more faithful patrons.
This marked the pivotal shift in Zheng Ruqian’s business strategy and his confidence to break from You Ran House, kicking off his ambitious commercial landscape.
Despite the crowded carriages and throngs, he stood tall amidst it all, gazing out tranquilly as if from a mountain peak.
His brimming self-assurance would have shocked anyone who saw the old, dejected him in Xieyang County.
But in one girl's eyes, there was only laughter and fondness as she uttered "silly boy."
