101 – Someone Wants to Buy the Honey Peaches
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If they wanted to help Zhang Dashuan Family, Wu Di Family, and Li Zheng Family, they couldn’t help them openly. The advantage of living in the countryside was that the villagers could help each other. The disadvantage was that they knew the economic conditions of others as they knew each other too well. Once the gap between the rich and the poor became too large, it was easy to lead to contradictions.
If other people knew that the sudden rise of the Zhang, Wu, and Li Zheng families was related to the Qin Mian, the village would certainly be restless. To avoid trouble, Qin Mian decided to stay behind the scenes.
Zhang Dashuan couldn’t do any craftmanship work, but he was young and vigorous, and his mind was flexible. Previously, he made a small profit by making bamboo skewers for Eating Savory Restaurant and bought a donkey cart before the busy farming season. Qin Mian thought that he could do “cart service”.
The business of Double Xiang House and Eating Savory Restaurant was getting better and better. Many people came to Running Water Town from Zhaoyang County for a meal every day. Even the merchants, who passed through Zhaoyang County, heard that Double Xiang House and Eating Savory Restaurant were very famous, and would likely take a detour to have a meal there. Not only to satisfy their appetite but could also be an idle conversation topic when they got home.
More people meant more transport. Picking up and dropping off customers, he could earn at least 30 Wen per day. In a month, it could be almost a thousand Wen, which was a tael silver. Plus, there had not been a cart service yet.
Not only limited to this. Many girls and married women in the village could weave ornament knots, embroider insoles, embroider handkerchiefs, and make embroidered pouches, right? Women were inconvenient to go out and usually had to take care of the housework and did not have much time to go to the market. While running the service, Zhang Dashuan could help them sell these small items. And perhaps, people from other places liked the local embroidery style? Every time he sold an item, he earned some money, which was another income.
The Wu Family was a little more difficult to handle. Wu Di himself didn’t know any craftmanship. Qin Mian didn’t want to take Wu Di into his business, so he gave this family an idea to raise earthworm-fed chickens. Currently, people raised chickens as their food and only knew how to feed the chickens with rotten vegetables and leaves. At most, they gave some leftovers of brown rice. The cost of breeding earthworm was low, so it was suitable for a family with an average financial situation as his.
He discovered from the inquiry that Li Zheng’s eldest son was a bamboo craftsman, and his second son was a cotton craftsman. Li Zheng had foresight after his two sons were born. To avoid them competing for family property in the future, Li Zheng arranged for the two sons to learn different skills when he found out that they were not gifted in learning. Unfortunately, these days, life was not easy. Craftsmen were only a little better than ordinary people, but the competition between them was also big. When the two sons grew up, they were still mainly engaged in farming. When it was not farming season, they found some casual jobs to do and earned money enough to buy oil and salt.
Normally, when the villagers wanted to weave baskets or fluff up their old quilts again, they usually asked for these two men. Qin Mian’s idea for Li Zheng’s eldest son was to weave bamboo into various designs, or dye them with different patterns to make them more exquisite and artistic, including large bamboo baskets, bamboo cylindrical baskets, bamboo mats, and reed mats. At the same time, he also gave away some drawings of woven products he had seen in his previous life for free. For more patterns, it relied on the eldest son to fumble about.
Qin Mian gave Li Zheng’s second son a drawing of a cotton gin that could be operated by hand or by foot. Namely, a cottonseed remover. It was also regarded as keeping his old profession. The principle of the ginning machine was not complicated. Qin Mian remembered that when he was very young, his grandfather had an old manual seed remover, and he had seen his grandfather dismantle and clean it. This machine was one and only. It could certainly make a lot of money.
Of course, Qin Mian asked Uncle Fu to inform the three families in private. The three families did not know that one of Qin Mian’s intentions was to distract the villagers’ attention. They only thought Qin Mian and Lei Tie offered it to them because of their good relationship (Zhang Dashuan, Wu Di) and status (Li Zheng). They were both grateful and moved. They would not leak such a good money-making idea even without anyone reminded them. Everyone understood the principle of “the rarer something was, the greater its value”.
After settling the matters, Qin Mian went to Zhao Wenzhong’s home with a basket of peaches.
It was hot in the summer. The villagers usually kept their gate/doors open to cool off. Qin Mian arrived at the courtyard gate, and before he could open his mouth, Zhao Wenzhong’s wife, who was sitting at the door of the central room trimming vegetables, stood up in surprise. She warmly welcomed him as she wiped her hands on her clothes.
“Lei Tie’s wife is here. Such a rare visitor. Come in and have a seat.” She called out to the side room, “Family head, a guest is here.”
Qin Mian handed her the basket and said with a smile, “Sorry for intruding, aunt. This is a little gift. I hope you don’t dislike it.”
“Just come if you want to come, why do you bring something, too? Still regard us as outsiders?” Zhao Wenzhong’s wife put the basket aside and quickly poured him a cup of herbal tea. “Here, have a cup of tea to cool off the heat.”
Zhao Wenzhong sat on the summer sleeping mat, playing with his three-year-old grandson. After putting on shoes, he went out carrying his grandson.
“Uncle Zhao.” Qin Mian’s eyes fell on the child, “Is this your grandson? He looks very strong.”
“This kid is skinny.” Zhao Wenzhong patted the child on the buttocks and handed him to his wife.
“Grandpa, I want to eat the big peach!” The child’s hands clung on the basket. He licked his lips.
“You only know to eat,” Zhao Wenzhong’s wife scolded with a smile. “Grandma washes it first. Lei Tie’s wife, you two talk. Excuse me for a moment.”
“Help yourself, aunt.”
Zhao Wenzhong’s wife picked up her grandson, carried the basket, and went to the kitchen in the courtyard.
“You and Lei Tie are the most popular people in the village now. It’s a great honor to have you sit in my home, so you don’t have to bring anything,” Zhao Wenzhong joked. Long ago, he was very polite to Qin Mian and Lei Tie. Facts had proved that he did the right thing. Later, he truly benefitted from association with the Lei Tie Family.
Qin Mian smilingly said, “Uncle Zhao is joking. I wouldn’t come to you for nothing.”
“Oh? Is there anything else I can help you with?” Zhao Wenzhong guessed in his heart but could come out with anything, “Tell me. As long as it is within my ability, I will not refuse.”
“It’s really within your ability.” Qin Mian said bluntly, “I want to buy your old house.”
Zhao Wenzhong felt strange. Lei Tie Family’s house is not small. They are buying an old house for what? It is definitely not for living in. Is it for business? This small village already has tofu shops, wine shops, and fish farmers. Can there be other business opportunities? After thinking for a moment without an answer, he did not hesitate, “Sure. It is a waste to leave the house empty. I will sell it to you. The pond belongs to us too. If you want it, you can buy it together.”
“I have that intention. How much does it suit you?” Qin Mian knew this meeting would be very smooth. His expression remained unchanged that some people could not see the depth of his profound temperament.
Zhao Wenzhong was very frank, “3 silver taels will be enough.”
Qin Mian was surprised, “That won’t do. Let’s forget the pond. Although the house is old, its wall and tiles also are not too damaged. It’s worth more than this price.”
Zhao Wenzhong intended to have a deep friendship with Qin Mian and Lei Tie. After hearing that, he appreciated Qin Mian’s conduct more. He cheerfully laughed, “Speaking of the roof tiles, you replaced a lot of them with the new ones when you lived there. Selling the house with the pond for 3 silver taels is not a loss at all.”
Seeing that he was not pretending to be generous, Qin Mian no longer refused and happily said, “Then, I’ll take up Uncle Zhao’s favor. Since your grandson likes peaches very much, I’ll send you another basket when I go back later.”
Zhao Wenzhong gladly said, “That would be nice.”
Qin Mian gave him 3 silver taels and got the title deed of the old house.
As soon as he left, Zhao Wenzhong’s wife went back to the central room with her grandson in her arms. After asking what it was about, she also thought it was a good deal. The empty house therein slowly broke down. They could even get another basket of peaches, which meant giving them a lot of honor!
At the gate of Leisurely Farm Residence, a horse carriage came from afar slowly stopped before a coachman and a manservant jumped down from the shaft. The manservant moved a footstool and put it on the ground.
A middle-aged man with a long black beard dressed in a grey robe with slanting lapels came down from the carriage. His bright eyes flashed a spark as they swept across the “Leisurely Farm Residence” on the walls and nodded slightly.
The manservant came forward and knocked at the gate.
“Is anybody there?”
Lei-Qin Zhong opened the gate, “Who are you looking for?”
The manservant took out a small money pouch from his sleeve pocket and put it into his hand. His mouth was very sweet, “Big brother, may I ask if Boss Lei and Boss Qin of Double Xiang House live here?”
Lei-Qin Zhong’s face remained unchanged as he received the small pouch. Steward Fu taught them that they could accept the tip from the people who came visit – not accepting it would be regarded as foolish.
“Yes. Who are you?”
“I’ll have to trouble you to inform them that Manager Wei from Zhaoyang County came to visit.”
“Hold on, I’ll report to Master.” Lei-Qin Zhong closed the gate and ran to the grove.
Lei Tie led the armed servants to train. Lei-Qin Shun and the others stood in the sun, all sweating profusely. Even basking under the sun, they worked hard. Still, training like this for a long time also showed a significant result. Compared to before, everyone had become stronger and sturdier. They stood very upright, just like small poplars.
Lei Tie was dressed in all black, brisk as usual.
Lei-Qin Zhong walked to him and said, “Reporting, Eldest Young Master. There is a manager, who claimed to be from Zhaoyun County, asking to meet. He wants to buy some fruits from Leisurely Farm Residence.”
“Not meeting.” Lei Tie said, “Next, horse stance for an hour.”
“Yes!”
Lei-Qin Zhong quickly ran back to the gate. He opened the gate and said, “Our Master said that our fruits are not for sell.” Then he closed the gate.
“Hey––you!” Before the manservant finished his words, the gate was closed. He could only go back to Manager Wei, “Manager, did you see that?”
Manager Wei frowned. He had heard that the fruits of Leisurely Farm Residence were only for Double Xiang House, but he didn’t expect they didn’t even give him a chance to discuss.
Qin Mian strolled back under the shade of the trees and puzzledly saw several people standing in front of his house. But he asked nothing, went straight to the gate, and knocked. Since Lei Tie did not invite these people in, there must be some reasons. He hadn’t realized that his relationship with Lei Tie had reached a very deep level. Their trust in each other was just like breathing itself – without any doubt.
“Open the gate.”
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