Hearing his son’s suggestion, Liu Sanzhuang felt deeply resistant. He hadn’t forgotten how the waiter at the previous restaurant had mocked him. Gently coaxing his son, he said, “An’er, how about we don’t go? I’ll take you to buy some things first, then get you a piece of candy. We can just bring the rest of the greens home and eat them ourselves.”
Liu An knew his father had been hurt by the humiliation. Leaning close to his ear, he whispered, “Father, not everyone in this world looks down on others. Since we’re already here, we can’t just retreat like this. We have to try. Think about it—if we earn money, we can buy meat for the family to nourish their health.”
Liu Sanzhuang understood that if they didn’t at least try, his son wouldn’t give up. Not wanting to disappoint him—and thinking he could endure a little more embarrassment if necessary—he nodded and carried Liu An across the street to Heyun Restaurant.
“Welcome, sir. What would you like to eat? Please come in,” a young server greeted them politely.
Embarrassed, Liu Sanzhuang shook his head. “Sorry, we’re not here to eat. We’re here to sell vegetables.”
The server smiled and asked, “Uncle, what kind of vegetables are you selling?”
Delighted to be asked, Liu Sanzhuang carefully set Liu An down and pulled out a bundle of cat’s claw greens from his basket. Before he could speak, Liu An piped up in his soft childish voice, “Big brother, this is fresh ‘longevity greens’ my father picked in the mountains. It tastes delicious! I guarantee it’ll make your restaurant’s business boom—customers will keep coming back for more!”
The server, who also came from a poor family and could see they weren’t wealthy, decided to help if he could. “I’ll go ask our shopkeeper. I can’t promise he’ll buy them, but please wait a moment.”
“That’s okay. Thank you, big brother,” Liu An said sweetly.
“An’er, this waiter is really kind,” Liu Sanzhuang murmured, still shaken from being chased out earlier and a bit overwhelmed by the warm reception.
“See, Father? People are different,” Liu An said loudly on purpose.
Across the street, the other restaurant’s waiter noticed them and scoffed when he heard Liu An’s words. “A couple of poor country bumpkins trying to sell wild greens to a restaurant—daydreaming!” he muttered disdainfully.
Liu Sanzhuang rubbed his hands nervously at the comment, but though Liu An was small, he didn’t take the insult to heart. Let the petty man enjoy his pride for now, he thought.
Their exchange had once again caught the attention of a young gentleman watching from an upstairs private room. Before the server even reached the back, the young master had already instructed the manager to invite the father and son inside.
“Yes, Young Master. I’ll see to it at once,” the manager responded.
“Manager Qiu, there’s a father and son outside selling wild greens,” the server reported respectfully.
“I see. A’Si, bring them into the kitchen,” Manager Qiu instructed.
A’Si had originally intended to persuade the manager further, hoping their greens would be accepted, but before he could say much, the manager had already agreed to let them in. Perhaps the greens would truly be bought after all. He hurried back to the entrance.
“Uncle, please follow me to the kitchen. The manager would like to see you,” A’Si said with a smile.
“Yes, yes!” Liu Sanzhuang nodded eagerly, clutching Liu An and following carefully.
“Father, don’t be nervous. We’re here to sell goods,” Liu An whispered reassuringly.
Though Liu Sanzhuang nodded, he remained tense and silent as they entered the back kitchen.
“Manager Qiu, this is the father and son selling wild greens,” A’Si announced.
Manager Qiu nodded and looked at Liu Sanzhuang. “Where are you from? What kind of greens are you selling? Let me have a look.”
Liu Sanzhuang quickly set Liu An down and pulled out a bundle. “Hello, Manager. We’re from Liu Village. My name is Liu Sanzhuang, and this is my son, Liu An. These are longevity greens we picked in the mountains.”
Manager Qiu raised an eyebrow. “Why are they called longevity greens? And how do you prepare them? What do they taste like?”
“Uncle Manager,” Liu An answered sweetly, “they’re called longevity greens because eating them brings long life! You can stir-fry them with meat, serve them cold in a salad, or dry them for winter to cook with braised pork. I promise your honored guests will want more after tasting them.”
“Oh? Are they really that good?” Manager Qiu teased, amused by the little boy who barely reached the height of the table. “Would you be willing to spare a bundle so our kitchen can try cooking it?”
“Of course we would! Please use it however you like,” Liu An replied quickly. Liu Sanzhuang nodded and smiled sheepishly beside him.
“A’Si, take a bundle and have the chef prepare one stir-fried with meat and one served cold,” Manager Qiu ordered.
“Have a seat. Here are some pastries. Little Liu An, try some,” Manager Qiu added, knowing the dishes would take time.
Liu Sanzhuang immediately waved his hands in refusal, but Liu An unceremoniously climbed onto a chair, picked up a small piece of pastry, and smiled. “Thank you, Uncle Manager. You’re such a good person.”
Manager Qiu laughed, surprised. It was the first time anyone had praised him so bluntly—and he quite liked hearing it. His fondness for the little boy grew instantly.
Liu An thought smugly to himself: flattery never fails. Holding the pastry, he lifted it toward his father. “Father, have a bite.”
Deeply moved, Liu Sanzhuang shook his head. “Father doesn’t like sweets. You eat it.”
Liu An shook his head firmly. “If Father won’t eat, An’er won’t either.”
Unable to resist his son’s insistence, Liu Sanzhuang finally took a tiny bite of the pastry. “All right, Father’s had some. Now you eat,” he said.
Only then did Liu An slowly begin eating. The pastry melted in his mouth, and he savored it in small, careful bites.
Manager Qiu watched the father and son interact and nodded inwardly. Though they came from a poor family, the child was filial and respectful. He didn’t wolf down the food like many hungry children would, and he spoke clearly and logically. No wonder the young master had taken an interest in them—this little boy was truly likable.
“Manager, the dishes are ready,” A’Si announced, carrying in two plates.
“Leave them to me. I’ll bring them upstairs,” Manager Qiu said. Then, turning to the father and son, he added, “Please wait a moment.”
“No problem, Manager. We can wait as long as needed,” Liu Sanzhuang replied with an honest grin.
Upstairs, in a private room, Manager Qiu placed the dishes before the young master. “Young Master, this is the ‘longevity greens’ the father and son downstairs are selling. Please have a taste.”
The young master, Wang Dongyang, first sampled the cold mixed greens. After a few bites, he commented, “Crisp and refreshing—quite good.” Then he tried the stir-fried version with meat and nodded. “The flavor is distinctive. Manager Qiu, you should taste it as well.”
After sampling both dishes, Manager Qiu’s eyes lit up. “Young Master, the taste is indeed impressive.”
Wang Dongyang nodded. “It is. Let’s make an agreement with them. They can supply our restaurant exclusively from now on.”
Manager Qiu paused briefly before asking, “Then what price should we offer?”
Smiling, Wang Dongyang said, “Manager Qiu, with your understanding of ingredients, what do you think is appropriate?”
After thinking for a moment, Manager Qiu replied, “It’s wild produce from the mountains, so the quantity is likely limited. The flavor is good, but it is still just wild greens. Two copper coins per jin should suffice.”
Wang Dongyang shook his head slightly. “Two is a bit low. Offer them three copper coins per jin. Bring them in.”
Assuming the young master simply liked the taste, Manager Qiu didn’t question further and went to call them. “Brother Liu, our young master would like to see you.”
Nervous, Liu Sanzhuang quickly straightened his clothes and led Liu An into the private room.
Inside, the decor was understated yet luxurious, striking at first glance. Seated in the center was a young man of about eighteen or nineteen, dressed in fine garments whose quality and tailoring clearly reflected wealth and status.
Wang Dongyang looked directly at Liu An with a smile. “Your wild greens are quite good. How much are you planning to sell them for?”
Liu An beamed. “Young Master, you look dignified and extraordinary. I’m sure the price you offer will be fair and just—you wouldn’t take advantage of humble farmers like us.”
Liu Sanzhuang nodded repeatedly. Faced with such an elegant figure, he barely dared to speak; had his son not spoken up, he wouldn’t have known what to say.
Wang Dongyang chuckled inwardly. What a crafty little fox, he thought. But since the greens truly tasted good—and the restaurant could use a new dish—combined with his fondness for the boy, he said, “The flavor is indeed good. I’ll give you three copper coins per jin. If you agree, you must sign a contract with us. Deliver one hundred jin every three days, exclusively to our restaurant. No selling to others. Do you accept it?”
Liu Sanzhuang’s mouth fell open in shock. Liu An knew the offer was generous; clearly the young master was helping them. With a polite nod he said, “Thank you, Young Master. We agree. You may call me An’er. I’m five years old already—a proper little man.” He tugged at his dazed father’s sleeve.
Snapping back to his senses, Liu Sanzhuang rubbed his hands excitedly. “Thank you, Young Master! We agree—we agree!”
Liu An pretended to look calm, though inside he was just as thrilled. This was his first real earning since arriving in this world.
Wang Dongyang laughed and quickly drafted a contract, handing it to Liu Sanzhuang. The latter scratched his head awkwardly—he couldn’t read. Liu An, however, stood on tiptoe, peering at it with keen interest.
“An’er, can you read?” Wang Dongyang asked curiously.
Liu An answered brightly, “No, I can’t. But your handwriting is so beautiful, Young Master—I’d love to hang it on our wall at home.”
Liu Sanzhuang hurried to add, “We’re simple villagers. Being able to fill our stomachs is enough; how would we know how to read? But my son is right—your writing is truly fine.”
Amused, Wang Dongyang asked on a whim, “Would you like to learn?”
Without hesitation, Liu An nodded vigorously. “Yes! Once I earn enough money, I want to study hard, pass the examinations, and let my family live a good life.”
Liu Sanzhuang was stunned—and filled with guilt. He had always known his son was clever, but he hadn’t realized the child dreamed of studying. He blamed himself for not earning enough to send him to school.
Wang Dongyang, too, was taken aback. Watching the warm bond between father and son, he felt a twinge of envy when he thought of his own troubled household. What began as curiosity about a bold child had turned into genuine goodwill. Since they were all struggling in their own ways, he decided to help a little more—consider it forming a good connection.
“Manager Qiu, read the contract aloud so they understand its terms,” he instructed.
“Brother Liu, please come sign here. We’ll also weigh today’s vegetables,” Manager Qiu said.
The contract was read clearly, with explanations about delivery times and quality standards.
“Thank you, Young Master. Thank you, Manager Qiu. I have no objections,” Liu Sanzhuang said gratefully.
“Excuse me, Young Master, Manager Qiu,” Liu An added, “if there are special weather conditions or unavoidable circumstances, we might have to delay the delivery.”
Wang Dongyang smiled. “And what would count as unavoidable circumstances, An’er?”
“Severe weather, like heavy rain, or something like landslides—dangerous things like that,” Liu An explained seriously, gesturing as he spoke.