MFBOWSBTMT Chapter 83

The next day, Miao Lianhua, Lu Xuesong, Qin Yu, and Qiao Ruifeng came to the shop again. Qiao Suiman had just finished preparing the drinks and asked Lu Dongqing to move them outside. Since the prices had returned to normal, Qiao Suiman didn’t make as much as yesterday, thinking they wouldn’t sell as well. Aside from two barrels each of the Roselle Drink and Camellia Drink, he only made one barrel of the others. The persimmons were nearly used up too.

 

Though there were still plenty of customers on the second day, it wasn’t as chaotic as the swarm from yesterday. Qiao Suiman could manage on his own, so he didn’t ask the others for help. After all, he needed to get used to running things himself.

 

As mealtime approached, a few customers from the neighboring noodle shop asked for several bowls of drinks to be delivered. Qiao Suiman carried them over, exchanged greetings with Qin Xiaoyao, and returned to the shop to rest for a bit.

 

Over at Lu Dongqing’s side, a few scholars were discussing book boxes with him. Qiao Suiman vaguely overheard that they had seen some classmates with them, thought they looked nice, and had come to inquire after asking where they were from.

 

Just as Qiao Suiman was telling Qiao Ruifeng to stop by Hedong Village on his way back to ask Tang Xiao about something, a voice sounded at the door.

 

“Qiao-gege!” Tang Guo’er poked his head out from the door and called out with a smile, and Tang Xiao followed behind him.

 

Qiao Suiman stood up suddenly and exclaimed in surprise, “Oh, what brings you here? We were just talking about going to your place to buy fruit.”

 

“We wanted to come yesterday, but something came up at home, so we couldn’t make it to the opening. We figured the persimmons we sent earlier must’ve run out by now, so my father and I brought all we have at home, including crabapples.”

 

Qiao Suiman already told them where the shop was located. Tang Guo’er was smart and guessed that Qiao Suiman wanted to continue buying fruit from them. During this time, he also quietly inquired around the village about who had fruit trees, hoping to find other fruits to supply once the persimmons and crabapples were out of season.

 

Many households in the village had transplanted fruit trees from the mountains, and he had indeed found some leads. However, he hadn’t told anyone else about it, only letting his father handle the negotiations.

 

This was the first big business deal he had ever secured, so he had to make sure it was with someone trustworthy. He couldn’t afford to be careless.

 

Lu Xuesong was near the cart. Hearing this, he picked up the persimmons, looked at them, and said with a smile, “The persimmons in these two baskets are different sizes.”

 

Tang Guo’er immediately replied, “We only have two trees at home, and after picking them all, we only got twenty-four jin. Since you use a lot, I bought another ten or so jin from someone else. Their tree is less than ten years old, so the fruit isn’t as big as ours, but the taste is just as good. I tried it myself before asking my father to buy it.”

 

He spoke quickly and urgently, afraid that Qiao Suiman might not believe him. Qiao Suiman couldn’t help but laugh. They had already delivered fruit to his home twice, and he knew they were honest. So he quickly reassured, “I understand. Will it still be the same price?”

 

Tang Guo’er nodded. Persimmon trees bore fruit with little maintenance, so many households in the village grew them. The extra ten or so jin were bought from a neighbor. A few days ago, he asked for one to try, and it was very sweet. The neighbor’s family was happy to just pick and sell them without having to hawk them at the market, selling them to him for nine wen per jin. He and Tang Xiao could earn an extra ten or so wen as compensation for their efforts.

 

Lu Xuesong was just joking and didn’t mean to cause a misunderstanding. He scratched his head and said, “I didn’t mean it like that.”

 

Tang Guo’er also felt a bit embarrassed. “I speak quickly when I’m nervous, but I’m not really that nervous.”

 

The statement sounded odd, and both of them couldn’t help but laugh.

 

Qiao Suiman thought of something else and asked Tang Guo’er, “Guo’er, do you have any other fruits where you live?”

 

The persimmons and crabapples would only last another month at most. By the third or fourth month, there would be wild fruits on the mountains near Xiahe Village, but since everyone picked them, there wouldn’t be much to go around.

 

Tang Guo’er immediately understood what he meant and nodded eagerly, sharing all the information he had gathered during this time: “There’s a household at the back of our mountain with four sweet orange trees. Several families at the village entrance have peach trees, and there are lots of wild mulberries on the mountain.”

 

Tang Xiao was stunned when he heard this. He didn’t know where he got the information. Could it be that he went from house to house to check other people’s yards?

 

Tang Xiao sighed helplessly. “You rascal.”

 

Ignoring his father, Tang Guo’er continued, “The family at the back of the mountain is easy to talk to. They often sell fruit at the market themselves, but come spring, the men usually go hunting, so only the women can go to sell, which is really hard work. If I buy from them, they will definitely be happy. The families at the village entrance aren’t like that; they’re too calculating. But if you want peaches, I can try asking them.”

 

Hearing this, everyone was a little surprised. The delicate-looking little ge’r actually has such sharp insight.

 

Qiao Suiman’s eyes crinkled with laughter. “No need for peaches, we have those at home. But mulberries and sweet oranges would be good. Though I can’t take too much at once, or they might go bad.”

 

“Mm, I know. It’s not too hot yet, but by the fourth month, they won’t keep well. Just let me know how much you need, and I’ll deliver them every few days after that.”

 

Just as Qiao Suiman was about to reply, several people entered the shop. Tang Xiao quickly moved the cart aside to avoid blocking the way.

 

“Shopkeeper, did you just open yesterday?” one of them asked.

 

Miao Lianhua and the others were sitting inside, and Tang Guo’er, not wanting to disrupt Qiao Suiman’s business, also stepped further in, moving right next to Lu Xuesong. Lu Xuesong froze for a moment before hurriedly lowering his head.

 

“Yes, what would you like to drink?”

 

“Do you have Persimmons of Good Fortune Drink? The people at the next table mentioned something by that name,” a man in a blue robe asked, confirming with the woman beside him.

 

“Yes, it’s Persimmons of Good Fortune. It’s a very special name.” The woman said with a smile.

 

Qiao Suiman smiled. “That’s one of our drinks. Would you like to drink it here or take it with you?”

 

“Take it away,” another woman said. “You have so many varieties here.”

 

She turned to the first woman. “Sister-in-law, let’s get different ones so we can try more flavors.”

 

“Alright.”

 

As they chatted, they asked about the differences between the drinks, and Qiao Suiman answered each question. From their conversation, he gathered that they are a large family who went to Beiyuan Cookhouse for a meal. They heard people at the next table mention that there was a new drink shop nearby with excellent flavors, so they decided to give it a try.

 

Since they didn’t eat out often, they wanted to try everything they fancied, so a few of them came over to buy.

 

In the end, they bought three tubes of Persimmons of Good Fortune and two tubes each of the other drinks, all packed in the cheapest bamboo tubes, the ones Qiao Suiman made earlier, each costing one wen.

 

Qiao Suiman happily filled eleven tubes of drinks, then thought that with so many orders, their family must be huge.

 

Tang Xiao and Tang Guo’er were stunned. They earned one hundred forty-seven wen in one go, which was almost as much as Tang Xiao made from selling his hunted game.

 

Once those customers left, Tang Guo’er was about to speak when two people dressed as servants entered the shop. He immediately closed his mouth, pressing his lips together to suppress his amazement.

 

Lu Xuesong, standing close to him, saw this clearly and burst out laughing. Tang Guo’er shot him a glance, widening his eyes slightly.

 

What are you laughing at!

 

The two who had entered were familiar faces; they were Erfu and Xiaoxi.

 

Lately, things had been too busy, and Qiao Suiman realized it had been a long time since he’d seen them. He hadn’t set up his stall after the twelfth month, and recently he was going door to door. They didn’t stay in the East Market for long either. The last time he saw them was when Steward Fang first visited their stall.

 

“It’s you!” Qin Yu also recognized them immediately.

 

Qiao Suiman smiled. “I haven’t seen you in so long. My shop just opened yesterday. How did you find it?”

 

Erfu grinned. “We heard about it a while ago from the market-runner xiongdi in the estate. They said the drink stall that Magistrate Liu once visited has now opened a shop. A quick inquiry was all it took to find you. We’ve been busy and couldn’t make it for the opening, but yesterday, I mentioned it to the young miss, and she sent us to buy some today.”

 

Xiaoxi also smiled and said, “I heard there’s a new flavor called Persimmon of Good Fortune?”

 

Qiao Suiman nodded, opened the lid of the wooden barrel containing the persimmons, and let them take a look.

 

“The young miss wants this one,” Erfu said.

 

Qiao Suiman took the bamboo tube handed to him by Erfu. It was the one engraved with a pavilion that he sold during last year’s Dragon Boat Festival. Qiao Suiman couldn’t help but smile as he filled it to the brim and closed the lid.

 

Xiaoxi glanced around the shop. He recognized the Lu and Qiao family members, knowing they were all relatives, but the other two were unfamiliar. He lowered his voice and asked Qiao Suiman, “The estate wants to discuss business with you. Is it alright if they hear?”

 

Qiao Suiman knew he was referring to Tang Xiao and Tang Guo’er, and smiled, “It’s okay.”

 

Xiaoxi then resumed his normal tone. “Our young master is getting married on the nineteenth. The master is hosting a three-day banquet, and the young master remembers how much he liked your drinks, so he suggested ordering from you. Would that be possible?”

 

Qiao Suiman was so overjoyed he couldn’t speak, only nodding vigorously.

 

“Alright. Pack one of each drink for me to take back to the estate for the stewards to review.”

 

This time, Qin Yu couldn’t help but stand up, helping Qiao Suiman fill the drinks while asking, “Is it just for the banquet?”

 

Xiaoxi chuckled. “I’m not sure about that. It’ll be up to the madam and the matron to decide.”

 

So there was hope. The banquet was for ordinary folks to share in the celebration, while the real relatives and friends would be entertained at a wine house, and Qiao Suiman suspected it would likely be Laifu Wine House.

 

That matter was still far off. Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu prepared drinks for Xiaoxi and smiled, saying, “Congratulations to Magistrate Liu and Young Master Liu.”

 

Aside from the drinks, the Liu family also struck a deal with Lu Dongqing, commissioning him to make dowry items like vanity cases, baskets, and bamboo trays, as well as a folding screen carved with auspicious motifs. Liu Mei and his betrothed had taken a liking to his craftsmanship and specifically sought him out for the job.

 

For a prominent family like the Liu family, the baskets and such in the dowry were the least noteworthy items. But customs dictated they had to be included, and since they had to buy them anyway, they might as well get them from Lu Dongqing.

 

What was insignificant to the wealthy felt like a gift from heaven to the commoners. Though not free, it was more than enough to delight them.

 

After Erfu and Xiaoxi left, Lu Xuesong finally spoke up: “Xiao Man-ge, a banquet! How much would you even need to make?”

 

Tang Guo’er, on the other hand, gazed at Qiao Suiman with starry-eyed admiration. “Qiao-gege, you’re amazing! Magistrate Liu is the county magistrate, right? You’re using the fruit from our home. Oh heavens, does that mean the magistrate is eating the fruit from my family?!”

 

Their equally silly expressions made the others burst into laughter, lightening the mood.

 

“I expect someone from the Liu family will come by again tomorrow. Let’s wait until they confirm everything.”

 

Qiao Suiman collected himself and continued, “Once they’ve made a decision, I’ll discuss the fruit with you.”

 

“Alright, alright.” Tang Xiao quickly agreed. Ever since his son had said those words, his mind had been stuck on ‘the magistrate is eating our fruit,’ and it took him a while to come back to his senses.

 

With that settled, Tang Xiao and Tang Guo’er moved the baskets of persimmons and crabapples to the shop’s kitchen before hurrying back to the village. Before anything else, they had to get rid of the pests on their trees!

 

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