pjbooks Chapter 39 The Owner of Huichuntang
Chapter 39 The Owner of Huichuntang
When Song Jiaojiao turned around, she saw Manager Liu walking quickly towards her.
"Manager Liu?" Song Jiaojiao called out to Manager Liu, puzzled.
While panting, Manager Liu said, "Phew... Madam Song... Our boss invites you."
Song Jiaojiao thought about the man she had seen at the pharmacy, and wondered why he would seek her out when she had no connection with him.
"I wonder what business your master has with me?"
"Madam Song, you'll see when you come with me. It's a good thing," Manager Liu said with a smile.
"Since you say so, Manager Liu, I'll go with you." Following Manager Liu to Huichuntang, they entered the backyard and saw a man sitting with his back to the pavilion, holding a steaming teacup in his hand.
"Master, Madam Song is here," Manager Liu said, stepping forward. The man then turned around, smiling at Song Jiaojiao.
"Madam Song, please sit down. I apologize for inviting you here so rudely." Song Jiaojiao nodded and sat down. On the small table in the pavilion in front of her was a plate of pastries, a pot of tea, and persimmon cakes that Song Jiaojiao had brought for Manager Liu.
"I wonder why the master has invited me here?"
"My surname is Liu, and my given name is Wenxue. You can call me Young Master Liu, Madam Song. This is mainly to thank you for the medicinal herbs you provided before, especially the He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum), which was truly a timely help," Liu Wenxue said slowly, toying with his cup.
"Mr. Liu, you're joking. I'm just short of money to sell medicine. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement." Song Jiaojiao couldn't understand Liu Wenxue's purpose, so she could only politely decline.
"That's true, and the help was genuine. Last time, the white fungus made me a fortune. I wonder if Madam Song has any more white fungus at home?" Liu Wenxue paused, put down his cup, and carefully examined the woman in front of him.
"Silver ear fungus is rare and hard to come by. If I see it again, I'll naturally think of Liu Dongjia first." Song Jiaojiao thought that the silver ear fungus in her space was almost ripe, and maybe she would come back someday.
"As long as Madam Song comes, she will definitely give you a reasonable price. I heard from Manager Liu that Madam Song made these persimmon cakes herself?" Liu Xuewen finally asked, revealing the purpose of his visit.
"I just make this to add some flavor when I'm bored at home. Is Mr. Liu interested in this?" Hearing Liu Xuewen reveal his purpose actually relieved her.
"I am a little curious. Manager Liu said it's made from hemp fruit from the mountain? I don't know which hemp-mouthed fruit could be made so delicious."
Song Jiaojiao was taken aback. Did I tell Manager Liu what it was made of? No, I don't think so. There are too many things to remember.
"Master Liu is quite clever, he was able to guess that this was made by Ma Guo. Master Liu, just say what you have to say."
Liu Xuewen hadn't expected Song Jiaojiao to be so clever, able to guess that he was bluffing her. "Since Madam Song is so straightforward, I won't beat around the bush either. Actually, I own more than just Huichuntang; I also have a pastry shop. The Liu Family Pastry Shop in town is my family's. I think these persimmon cakes are just as good as pastries, and I'm thinking of buying some from Song Jiaojiao. I wonder if Madam Song would be willing to part with them?"
"So that's how it is. Mr. Liu looks so young, yet he's so capable. I don't have many persimmons at home, mainly because the season is over. I wonder how much Mr. Liu is planning to offer?" Song Jiaojiao thought that although there weren't many this year, she could go to the mountains to transplant more trees, and then there would be more next year.
"Twenty coins a pound, I wonder how much Madam Song has at home?" Liu Xuewen gave a number and looked at Song Jiaojiao, waiting for her answer.
"Twenty coins? Mr. Liu is indeed a businessman. You probably don't know how complicated this process is. If you're not careful, you won't succeed. I can't accept this price."
"So, Madam Song, what price do you think would be suitable?" Liu Xuewen asked, holding up his teacup to conceal his true feelings.
"It will cost at least forty coins."
"How about this, we each compromise, thirty coins, and I'll take everything from your house." Liu Xuewen put down his cup and announced his final price.
Song Jiaojiao thought it was about what he expected, so she agreed, "Okay, I only have 200 jin at home, I'll have my son bring it over the day after tomorrow."
"Can't it be tomorrow?" Liu Xuewen was hoping to get it on the shelves as soon as possible.
"Something came up at home tomorrow, so there's really nothing I can do. I'll just have to ask Mr. Liu to wait another day," Song Jiaojiao said, spreading her hands with a helpless expression.
Liu Xuewen laughed when he saw Song Jiaojiao's expression. "Heh, alright, alright, after all, delicious things take time to prepare."
Song Jiaojiao was thinking about buying a means of transportation later. After thinking it over, she decided to buy a horse-drawn carriage. Since her family didn't own any land, buying a horse was better than buying an ox, and at least she could have a carriage to hide in.
"Master Liu, do you know where in town I can buy a horse-drawn carriage? How much does one cost?"
Liu Xuewen was surprised to see the woman in front of him wanting to buy a horse. "As far as I know," he said, "there are no carriages for sale in town. The nearest one would be in the county, and even then, it depends on luck. However..."
Looking at Song Jiaojiao, Liu Xuewen felt that she would give him a big surprise later, and thought about moving a carriage from his house to do her a favor.
"However, I do have an extra carriage at home that I can sell you."
When Song Jiaojiao heard that they couldn't find them in town and were even hard to come by in the county, she thought she might as well buy an oxcart first. Unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better, and Liu Xuewen was actually willing to sell her one.
"Then I thank you, Young Master Liu. May I ask how much you would like to charge?"
"Considering our many collaborations, I'll give you one hundred and fifty taels," Liu Xuewen said casually. In fact, the carriages alone would cost fifty taels, not to mention that his horses were retired from the army, so how could he have bought them without connections?
Unaware of Liu Xuewen's thoughts, Song Jiaojiao only felt that a carriage was indeed not something an ordinary person could afford; it was more expensive than repairing a house. Considering that she only had one chance and had no other choice, Song Jiaojiao could only reluctantly agree, "Okay, I'll buy it."
Liu Xuewen looked at Song Jiaojiao, who was in obvious pain, speechless. "Alright, I'll have my servant bring the carriage over right away. By the way, do you know how to drive a carriage?"
Song Jiaojiao was taken aback. "Oh right, I don't know how to drive a carriage!"
How could I forget that this isn't the last world where you could just drive as long as you had a driver's license?
Liu Xuewen stared at the stunned Song Jiaojiao, utterly speechless. He'd thought she'd be the one driving the carriage, given how decisively she'd spoken.
"How about you bring someone who knows how to drive next time?"
Song Jiaojiao didn't want to wait until next time, who knew if there would be another chance? Oh right, she could buy a servant who knew how to drive the carriage.
"I wonder if there are any human traffickers in town? I'd like to buy a servant," Song Jiaojiao quickly asked.
Liu Xuewen: ...
"There are human traffickers, but it's hard to say whether they know how to drive. How about this, I'll have Manager Liu take you there, so you won't get ripped off. Choosing the right people is an art."
"Really? Thank you so much, Young Master Liu. Let's set off now, or it'll get too late." Song Jiaojiao said with delight. She had some experience in choosing people, but she was definitely not as good as Manager Liu.