“Miss Song, you’ve only sold us the bear meat and bones. Logically speaking, a black bear also has valuable organs and fur. If you still have them, would you be willing to sell those to me as well?”
Song Xiaoyu thought about it for a few moments before nodding.
“Of course.”
Manager Zhou immediately went to the accounting room and personally brought back another one hundred taels of silver.
Originally, Song Xiaoyu had planned to sell the bear gallbladder to a medicine shop and find a wealthy merchant interested in purchasing the bear pelt. Since Manager Zhou was willing to buy everything and was offering such fair prices, it was far more convenient to sell it all at once.
Manager Zhou smiled broadly.
“Then I must thank Miss Song for helping me solve a major problem.”
Seeing her curious expression, he continued honestly,
“To tell you the truth, black bear pelts are extremely valuable. Our owner’s elderly mother has been searching everywhere for high-quality fur to make a winter robe. I intend to present this pelt to her as a gift.”
He laughed heartily.
“Miss Song, you’ve truly helped me out.”
By nature, Song Xiaoyu had always been fond of money.
Looking at the shining silver ingots stacked before her, she could barely tear her eyes away.
Smiling brightly, she stuffed the silver into the purse Zhou Rong had sewn for her.
“The future is long, Manager Zhou. My family will frequently bring wild game into the city to sell.”
She looked directly at him.
“I admire straightforward people, and I’d be very happy to cooperate with someone like you long-term.”
Manager Zhou immediately became interested.
“What sort of cooperation do you have in mind?”
“I’d like us to sign an agreement.”
Song Xiaoyu spoke calmly.
“In the future, any game my family catches will be offered to Fulai Restaurant first. Only if your restaurant doesn’t need it will I sell elsewhere.”
She paused before continuing.
“Especially rare game such as black bears, sika deer, and wild boars. Fulai Restaurant will always receive priority.”
Manager Zhou listened attentively.
Song Beichen and the others also looked at her curiously, wondering what she was planning.
“However,” Song Xiaoyu added, “I have one condition.”
Manager Zhou smiled.
“Please, go ahead.”
“No matter what kind of game my family brings, Fulai Restaurant must pay ten percent more than the prices offered by other restaurants.”
The reason she dared to make such a request was because she had already gathered information while walking through town.
Fulai Restaurant’s backer was the eldest young master of the Shen family, the wealthiest family in the entire county.
To a business with such powerful support, an additional ten percent was insignificant.
Just as she expected, Manager Zhou agreed without hesitation.
“No problem.”
He immediately called for a clerk to draft two copies of the contract.
After the document was completed, Song Xiaoyu pressed her thumbprint onto it, making the agreement official.
…
With their business concluded, the family left Fulai Restaurant.
Outside, they overheard passersby discussing the county’s market day.
The conversation immediately stirred memories in Song Xiaoyu’s heart.
Back in her previous life, she had experienced similar rural markets.
When she was four or five years old, she lived with her grandparents in the countryside for a time.
Whenever market day approached, her grandparents would begin preparing the night before.
Early the next morning, her grandfather would carry baskets filled with eggs from their chickens, ducks, and geese, then take her to town on a motorcycle.
The market was always lively and bustling.
Whenever they made money selling their goods, her grandfather would give her a few yuan as pocket money.
She would happily spend it on spicy strips for fifty cents or candies costing only a penny or two.
Childhood happiness had been wonderfully simple.
Later, after returning to the city to attend school, she never had another chance to experience such a market.
Ancient market days were remarkably similar.
Long before dawn, farmers would carry baskets filled with produce and homemade goods into town, hoping to secure the best selling spots.
The tradition of market fairs had endured through countless generations.
After asking around, Song Wen learned that the market district contained grain shops, general stores, blacksmith shops, and nearly everything else they needed.
It was the perfect opportunity to purchase all the household necessities they lacked.
As for Song Xiaoyu, she was already considering something else.
If they would be coming to town frequently in the future, owning a vehicle would be far more convenient.
…
With four hundred taels of silver hidden inside her clothing, Zhou Rong felt nervous no matter how hard she tried to remain calm.
Their family had never possessed so much money before.
In the past, every coin earned had been handed over to her mother-in-law and added to the family’s communal funds.
Even carrying a few copper coins herself had once been a luxury.
Song Wen walked ahead carrying Song Beichen on his back.
Song Xiaoyu and Song Wu walked on either side of Zhou Rong like two loyal bodyguards.
The marketplace was located on East Street, some distance from West Street.
Along the way, Zhou Rong worried that her daughter might be hungry and bought her a packet of mung bean cakes wrapped in yellow paper.
The pastries melted in Song Xiaoyu’s mouth, filling it with the rich fragrance of mung beans.
Song Wen and Song Wu secretly wanted a taste as well.
However, neither was willing to compete with their little sister.
Everyone in the family treasured Song Xiaoyu.
When she offered to share the cakes, both brothers immediately shook their heads.
“Pastries are for girls.”
Song Wu puffed out his chest.
“A real man eats large chunks of meat and drinks big bowls of wine! If I start eating sweet snacks and preserved fruits, people will laugh at me!”
Those were his exact words.
Song Xiaoyu couldn’t help smiling.
She knew perfectly well why her brothers refused.
It wasn’t because they disliked the pastries.
They had simply lived in poverty for too many years and wanted to save every good thing for their beloved little sister.
Someday, when their family became truly wealthy, she would make sure her two foolish but lovable brothers enjoyed better lives and saw more of the world.
…
When they arrived on East Street, Song Xiaoyu handed the wheelchair blueprint to Song Wu.
“Brother, take Father to find a carpenter and have this made according to the design.”
After carrying Song Beichen all morning, Song Wen was exhausted.
So Song Wu took over carrying their father.
The family agreed to meet again later after finishing their respective errands.
Before leaving, Zhou Rong handed Song Wu a purse containing five taels of silver.
“Listen carefully, brat.”
She pointed a finger at him.
“You are absolutely not allowed to waste this money.
“When you reach the carpenter’s shop, bargain hard.
“And guard this silver with your life. If you lose it, just wait until we get home and see what happens!”
Song Wu immediately nodded.
“I understand, Mother!”
…
The first store at the entrance of East Street was a blacksmith shop.
A large wooden sign hung above the entrance.
Zhao’s Blacksmith Shop.
As soon as they approached, a young apprentice came forward to greet them.
“Madam, are you looking for an iron pot? Or perhaps kitchen knives and spatulas?”
He enthusiastically pointed toward several brand-new iron pots hanging on the wall.
Zhou Rong had never purchased an iron pot in town before.
The moment she heard the price, she nearly gasped.
Three hundred copper coins.
The pots all looked nearly identical to her eyes, making the choice even harder.
Although iron pots lasted for many years, three hundred copper coins was still a tremendous amount of money.
That sum could buy several catties of pork.
Even eating at a small restaurant wouldn’t cost one hundred copper coins.
The apprentice quickly noticed her hesitation.
Patting his chest confidently, he said,
“Madam, this must be your first visit here.
“Our blacksmith shop has the finest spatulas and kitchen knives in the entire county.”
He grinned proudly.
“And if anything purchased here breaks within three years, you can bring it back to Master Chen for repairs.”
Song Xiaoyu immediately understood.
In modern terms, it was a three-year warranty and maintenance service.
Ancient merchants certainly understood business.
Their thinking was surprisingly advanced.
“Young Brother,” she said, “recommend an iron pot suitable for a family of five. We also need a spatula and kitchen knife.”
She pointed at the display.
“Bring us the highest-quality items you have.”
Being direct saves time for everyone.
Cookware was something a family used daily.
This wasn’t an area where they should cut corners.
After all, they were now carrying three hundred taels of silver.
Having money truly gave people confidence.
Although Zhou Rong still felt a little heartache whenever silver was spent, she fully supported her daughter’s decision.
“That’s right.”
She nodded firmly.
“Listen to my daughter. Show us your best goods. If she likes them, we’ll buy them.”
The apprentice was just about to hand over an iron pot for inspection when a hand suddenly shot out from the side.
The pot was snatched away.
A domineering voice followed.
“I’ll take this pot.”
The newcomer tossed his sleeves arrogantly.
“Wrap it up for me.”
Then he looked at the apprentice with open disdain.
“As a shop assistant, you should learn how to judge people properly.”
His gaze swept over Song Xiaoyu and Zhou Rong.
“For poor wretches dressed like beggars, people who probably can’t scrape together more than a handful of copper coins, you should tell them to get lost as soon as they walk through the door.”