Mother Song Visits the Shop
The Song family lived in a commoners’ district in the west of the city, in a very small single-courtyard house. With Mother Song, the eldest son’s family of three, and Song Fugui, five people were squeezed in tightly.
As soon as Song Fugui returned, Mother Song, who had been directing her eldest daughter-in-law to do housework, happily came over to greet him.
Mother Song asked eagerly, “How did it go? Did the Shen family’s young lady fall for my son’s talent? Did they say when we can come to propose marriage? How much dowry are they preparing to give?”
Song Fugui shook his head. “It wasn’t that fast. But Mother, look, this is the food I brought back. There are several meat dishes inside. It’s just right for you to nourish your body.”
Mother Song said excitedly, “There’s meat to eat! Then I really get to enjoy good food today thanks to my son! My son is truly capable!”
Not far away, the eldest daughter-in-law’s eyes also lit up.
When Mother Song went to get empty bowls and plate the food he had brought back, Song Fugui said, “When I went there, Miss Shen had already ordered six dishes and one soup. The two of them couldn’t possibly finish it all, it was too wasteful.”
Mother Song nodded repeatedly as she listened, complaining, “Six dishes and one soup for just two people? They really don’t know how to live frugally at all! Once she marries into our family, I’ll have to properly teach her a lesson! Having money doesn’t mean you can waste it like that!”
And when the Shen family’s dowry arrived, she absolutely had to take full control of it herself.
That money would all need to be saved for her second son’s studies, there was no way it could be squandered by that Shen girl!
Song Fugui nodded. “That’s only right. Once she becomes a daughter-in-law, have her properly serve you and let you enjoy a good life.”
Mother Song was even more pleased upon hearing this, feeling that her son was truly filial!
That night, the impoverished Song family, whose pockets were nearly empty, unexpectedly ate a dinner more lavish than New Year’s Eve. All five of them ate until their mouths were slick with oil.
The eldest daughter-in-law and her three-year-old daughter only dared to eat the stir-fried greens, but even that had plenty of oil in it, so they enjoyed it just the same.
The eldest brother of the Song family, while eating, did not forget to urge Song Fugui on: “Little brother, hurry and marry her quickly, then we’ll be able to eat well every day!”
Song Fugui replied, “I will.”
Mother Song said proudly, “The Shen family may be wealthy, but in the end they’re just landlords. They probably want to elevate their status as well. My son is handsome, young, and talented, if the Shen family has any vision at all, they won’t miss out on such a good match. I think good news will come in a few days.”
The eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law both nodded in agreement, chiming in with praise for Song Fugui.
Mother Song took a bite of pork knuckle meat, then another bite of coarse-textured corn bun, and immediately felt some disdain.
She looked around the cramped and dim main room of their house, ambition swelling in her heart.
“Half the grain shops in the city are run by the Shen family. Once that Shen girl marries into our family, not only will we be able to move into a big house and wear new clothes, we’ll eat meat whenever we want, and even have white rice every meal!”
The others couldn’t help swallowing, their eyes filled with anticipation and longing.
After getting the new fabrics, Shen Taohua immediately sent them to the ready-made clothing shop and, after an expedited three-day wait, received the beautiful new dress she had her eye on.
Coincidentally, Shen Master, who had been mentally tormented by the “Three Obediences and Four Virtues” matter and had taken his frustration out on her, sent her to run an errand to the grain shop in the west of the city to retrieve the account books. So Shen Taohua changed into her new dress and happily went out.
When she arrived, however, Mother Song was already making things difficult for the shop assistant inside.
In the grain shop:
Mother Song, with a somewhat sharp and harsh-looking face, was berating the shop assistant nonstop.
“Do you even know my son is about to become the Shen family’s son-in-law! Even if I don’t pay a single copper coin, no one can say anything about it! I’m only asking you to give me a discount, what’s the problem with that?”
The assistant replied patiently, “The price really cannot be lowered further. If you find it too expensive, you can buy coarse rice or other grains instead.”
Mother Song became agitated. “What do you mean by that? Are you saying I can’t afford it? You’re looking down on people! Is this how you treat customers? I’m going to report you in front of my future daughter-in-law and have you fired!”
The assistant grew irritated, and the shopkeeper, who had been calculating accounts, furrowed his brows.
Mother Song had already been causing trouble here for quite a while. Several customers who had been about to enter left because of the commotion. If she kept this up, there would be no business left for the day.
The shopkeeper put down his ledger, preparing to send her away, when his peripheral vision caught sight of Shen Taohua standing at the entrance watching the show.
His eyes lit up. “Miss, you’re here!”
Both the assistant and Mother Song turned at the same time. The assistant looked relieved, while Mother Song sized up Shen Taohua critically.
So this was the Shen girl?
Her looks were decent enough to match their family’s Fugui, but her hips weren’t wide enough, she might not be good at bearing sons.
Heard that the Shen family only had this one daughter. That probably meant the family line wasn’t all that strong to begin with.
Very concerned with continuing the family line, Mother Song was somewhat dissatisfied, but quickly forced a warm smile when she thought of the Shen family’s wealth.
“Shen girl, I’m Fugui’s mother. I didn’t expect to run into you here. Look at me, I didn’t even prepare a greeting gift.”
She made no mention of her attempt to take advantage of the shop. Glancing at the assistant, she scolded him with obvious disdain:
“I have to say, your Shen family’s hiring standards really aren’t very good. The shop assistants are rude to customers, what kind of business treats people like this? Isn’t this just bullying customers because you’re a big shop?”
The assistant rolled his eyes secretly.
Mother Song continued in a tone of lecturing a junior: “You’re still young, it’s easy to be fooled by people who know how to put on an act. You need to keep your eyes open and not let bad employees ruin the shop’s reputation. If necessary, just replace them.”
For example, her eldest son would be quite suitable!
Hardworking, honest, and completely trustworthy, no need to worry about him cheating the family.
Fugui was going to be an official in the future and wouldn’t engage in business anyway. If the eldest son could manage the grain shop, then one brother in officialdom and one in commerce would be perfect for supporting each other!
The more Mother Song thought about it, the more she felt this idea was excellent, even considering bringing it up on the spot and finalizing it right then and there.
Unexpectedly, Shen Taohua suddenly said, “Are you teaching me how to run my business?”
Mother Song froze for a moment. “What did you say?”
Shen Taohua replied bluntly, “I said my shop assistant didn’t even scold or chase away a troublemaking customer, which is already very polite. I think his handling of the situation is perfectly fine. As for what kind of staff the Shen family hires, that’s our own business, you don’t need to worry about it.”
The shop assistant, who had been holding back frustration from dealing with Mother Song, immediately relaxed his brows, feeling immensely relieved.
In contrast, Mother Song’s expression turned ugly.
What kind of way was this girl speaking?
Who was she calling “troublemaking”?
Was there anything wrong with asking for a discount?
Didn’t she understand the principle of “keeping benefits within one’s own family”?
She was practically going to become their Song family’s daughter-in-law, yet she was siding with an outsider, how utterly confused!
Mother Song was on the verge of unleashing her pent-up anger and criticism at Shen Taohua, but remembering that the matter wasn’t settled yet, she forcibly suppressed her dissatisfaction and changed the topic.
“Forget it, forget it. That was my mistake for speaking out of turn. But Shen girl, I didn’t come today to buy rice for myself, it’s for Fugui.
As you know, studying is very taxing on the brain. As his mother, I’m not capable of buying him much meat to nourish him, so I thought at least I could let him eat more polished rice to help replenish his strength. If Fugui’s body is well, he can study better. And when he passes the exams and earns a title, that will be a great blessing. You surely also hope to see the day Fugui succeeds in the imperial examinations, don’t you?”
Shen Taohua nodded. “Then just buy it.”
Mother Song said unhappily, “But the price is too expensive!”
The shop assistant couldn’t help but retort, “You get what you pay for. Our polished rice has always been this price, fair to both buyer and seller. It’s not your first time here, so surely you know that?”
Mother Song ignored him as if she couldn’t understand human speech and continued on her own:
“Grain from the countryside only costs twenty wen, but you sell it for twenty-five wen, that’s five wen more! That’s enough to buy another jin of coarse rice! And you still say fair pricing? You’re clearly just profiteers!”
The shopkeeper, who had been standing nearby, finally grew displeased.
“This price is already the lowest in the entire county. Most commoners in the city choose our grain shop first when buying rice. No one has ever called us profiteers!”
The shop assistant nodded. “Exactly! We’re already very cheap. If you think it’s cheaper in the countryside, then go buy it in the countryside, no one’s stopping you.”
He remembered clearly: this woman used to come to the shop often to buy grain. Now she was suddenly calling everything expensive and labeling them profiteers. In the end, she was just trying to take advantage because her son was currently being considered as a match for their young miss.
Shen Taohua said, “The price is set by my father and cannot be changed, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to account to customers who buy at other shops. If we had to make up the losses, would Madam Song be willing to cover the difference?”
Mother Song’s expression changed instantly. She quickly distanced herself. “Why would I pay? What does this have to do with me? Don’t try to scam me!”
Shen Taohua shrugged. “Then that’s that. The price is fixed. If you can afford it, buy it. If you can’t, then don’t.”
After speaking, she deliberately added, “Listening to your tone just now, you seem to really care about your son. Surely you wouldn’t even be unwilling to buy him a bit of rice, would you? Your maternal love can’t only be worth five wen, can it? If he can’t eat this polished rice, will your Song Fugui fail to pass the xiucai or even the juren exam?”
Mother Song’s expression changed drastically. She said sharply, “Don’t talk nonsense! My son is going to pass the imperial exams and become the top scholar in the future! Don’t jinx him!”
Because of Shen Taohua’s repeated contradictions, Mother Song’s impression of this future daughter-in-law grew worse and worse. In a fit of anger, she even considered turning around and leaving outright.
But just as she was about to do so, she suddenly realized something: if she left like this and Shen Taohua went back to tell her parents, would the Shen family think she couldn’t even afford a bit of rice and was too poor and shabby to marry off their daughter?
Standing there, Mother Song struggled internally for a long time before gritting her teeth and saying, “Who said I can’t afford it! I’ll buy it! Give me five jin… forget it, two jin of polished rice, and another ten jin of coarse rice.”
The shop assistant was more than happy to see her leave and quickly and efficiently weighed the rice and placed it into the basket she had brought.
After repeatedly confirming the weight, Mother Song finally said to Shen Taohua with a forced smile, “After Fugui went back, he told us about you. Our family is quite satisfied with you. When do you have time? I can personally visit the Shen residence so we can settle this marriage as soon as possible.”
Shen Taohua: “??”
Who said I’m settling this with you?
And since when do I need your family to be satisfied with me?
She replied perfunctorily, “Go home and wait for notice.”
Mother Song, however, took this as agreement. Her smile finally became more genuine, and the anger in her heart was suppressed by the thought of the dowry that seemed just within reach. She happily carried the basket of rice and left.
The shopkeeper and assistant both let out a long sigh of relief. The assistant looked at Shen Taohua with admiration, truly the young miss!
Not only did she prevent them from being taken advantage of, she even managed to make a profit!
Although it wasn’t much, seeing that stingy woman end up paying still felt incredibly satisfying.
Shen Taohua reassured the assistant a few words, then asked the shopkeeper about recent business conditions before taking the account book her father needed and leaving the shop.
When she returned home and handed the account book to Master Shen, Liu Mao also happened to arrive and report what he had found out.