Chapter 66: Return to the Village

The clerk sent to the grain shop didn’t return quickly. Sang Luo waited in Dongfu Restaurant for nearly an hour, growing increasingly anxious, fearing any unforeseen circumstances that might prevent her from purchasing the grain.

Seeing the time, Manager Xu, worried about Sang Luo's anxiety, made a special trip to check on her.

The clerk returned at this moment, informing Manager Xu, "The nine shi of grain have been delivered to the back door of our restaurant."

Manager Xu hurriedly invited Sang Luo to come with him.

On the way, the clerk explained that the grain shop was now limiting purchases: "If it weren’t for us, Manager Tong wouldn’t have allowed the sale of nine shi. Individuals are restricted to buying no more than five dou, and the shop is limiting its daily sales. When I arrived, Manager Tong had to write a special order for us, allowing direct pick-up from the warehouse. There was already a crowd there, with many food shops having heard the news and rushing to buy grain. That's why it took so long."

Sang Luo realized her fortune today and repeatedly thanked Manager Xu: “I’m truly indebted to Manager Xu today. Without your help, it would have been very difficult for me to gather nine shi of grain by myself, and I might not have been able to buy it at this price later on.”

She would have had to ask Qin Fangniang and others to help queue, which would have delayed their businesses.

Manager Xu waved it off: “It was just a small effort.”

He sighed: “Who knows how high the grain prices will go. This year has been tough for most people.”

Although the restaurant might not be greatly affected, for most people, life from this autumn until next year’s harvest is likely to be a struggle.

“Exactly.”

They had reached the back door of the restaurant by now. The grain shop’s workers were unloading the grain. Seeing the rightful owner, they quickly greeted Manager Xu, who chatted amiably with them, casually inquiring about the situation.

Due to Manager Xu's courteousness, the grain shop worker confided in a low voice, “We have the stock, as our boss has collected it from various provinces, but it’s uncertain how much will be released for sale.”

Waiting for a better price.

Grain merchants are known for this; Manager Xu couldn’t say much, just thanked the worker. After unloading, Sang Luo checked the goods and paid. Manager Xu discreetly tipped the delivery men for their hard work before sending them off politely.

Although discreet, Sang Luo noticed everything but remained silent.

People like Manager Xu have their way of dealing with worldly matters. A few coins as a tip might seem insignificant, but if she insisted on contributing, it would have seemed awkward. Accepting this favor was the best choice.

With the grain purchased, Manager Xu, checking the time, invited Sang Luo to have lunch at the restaurant, saying, “After lunch, I’ll arrange for our workers to help deliver the grain to your home.”

Sang Luo declined the offer, saying, “I appreciate your kindness, Manager Xu, but I shouldn't refuse. Several aunts from my village are setting up stalls around the county, and I've promised to meet them at the east market entrance. I need to inform them first, and we will return together later, so I won’t have lunch here. However, I do apologize for the trouble it will cause your staff, who have to accompany me today.”

“No problem at all,” Manager Xu replied, accepting her refusal graciously. “I will arrange for the workers to load the grain on the cart, and it will be ready to go when you return. If you're going to the east market, please convey my message to your village aunt there. Ask her to deliver thirty blocks of regular tofu and twenty blocks of divine tofu tomorrow. The price will be the standard market rate, to be delivered to the back kitchen first thing in the morning and then settled with the accountant. I will discuss future orders with her tomorrow; today I won't make the trip to the east market.”

Sang Luo cheerfully agreed, and before leaving, she handed Manager Xu a signed and sealed IOU: “I owe a great debt of gratitude to you today, Manager Xu. I won’t repeat my thanks. This is the IOU for the six taels of silver I borrowed from the Eastern Fortune Restaurant. Please hand it over to the accountant for record-keeping, and I will retrieve it once I have repaid the loan.”

Manager Xu was momentarily surprised, then remembered the writing materials still set out in the private room.

He nodded with a smile, accepting the IOU, and watched Sang Luo depart.

Back inside, he handed the IOU to the accountant, instructing, “Make sure this is recorded properly. Once the loan is repaid, return the IOU to Miss Sang.”

The accountant exclaimed in realization, patting his forehead: “I was being too suspicious.”

He had hesitated when Manager Xu initially instructed him to give the money to Sang Luo, questioning if they were afraid of not being able to recover the large sum of six taels of silver.

At that time, Manager Xu reassured him with a smile, insisting he lend the money without worry, and said any loss would be his personal responsibility.

Now, with Sang Luo gone, Manager Xu reflected, “Miss Sang is quite meticulous. Aside from our business dealings with the vegetarian tripe and tofu, just the recipes she shared with our restaurant today are enough value; even if she doesn’t repay the loan, our restaurant still benefits.”

The accountant had initially drafted the contract and handed over the silver before returning to the front hall. Only now did he realize the significance of the tofu recipes Sang Luo had given.

……

Upon arriving at the east market, Sang Luo easily located Qin Fangniang’s tofu stall. Observing the tofu carrying pole, with only about eleven or twelve blocks left, she inquired, “How’s business today?”

Qin Fangniang shook her head: “Worse than yesterday. By this time yesterday, I had nearly sold out. It seems the county has been affected too.”

Of course, it’s affected. For the lower-income families in the county, three or four thousand coins might not be crippling, but it’s certainly enough to hurt. With such expenses, naturally, they would need to tighten their belts on food and clothing.

Sang Luo added, “The price of grain has risen again. Just yesterday afternoon, the county’s grain price had already reached eighty-two wen per dou, and they're limiting sales – each person can buy a maximum of five dou. The grain shops close as soon as they sell their daily quota, so this price of eighty-two wen is just the beginning. The news should spread throughout the county today and tomorrow, and the grain prices are likely to rise further.”

She earnestly advised, “Aunt, perhaps you should go home and consult with Grandfather and Grandmother. If you do earn some silver, keep some for emergencies. While the grain prices haven’t soared too high yet, consider whether it might be wise to stock up on some grain.”

Qin Fangniang appeared bewildered: “Do we really need to stockpile grain? We should be able to get by until next autumn’s harvest.”

Sang Luo shook her head: “I don’t know, but having grain at hand always feels more secure to me.”

Both fell silent, mirroring the unusual stillness that enveloped the east market that day.

The east market, predominantly frequented by villagers coming to the city to sell goods, bore a much more somber atmosphere compared to the main streets of the county town.

Sang Luo urged Qin Fangniang to continue with her work, then walked around the east market herself. During her stroll, she noticed that the usual grain sellers at the east market were nowhere to be seen.

Indeed, at this time of the year, apart from grain merchants, who else has surplus grain to sell?

By noon, Qin Fangniang still had a few tofu blocks unsold. Sang Luo bought two steamed buns, and the two women each ate one as their lunch.

While eating, Sang Luo shared with Qin Fangniang how she borrowed money from Manager Xu of Dongfu Inn to buy grain, and about the tofu order she secured from Dongfu Inn.

This good news undoubtedly bolstered Qin Fangniang's spirits, given the noticeable slump in her morning sales.

However, she quickly realized something: “Since it was a deal you secured, why is the order placed with me? I’m benefiting from your work without contributing.”

It was an order for several dozens of tofu every day.

Even if the Godly Tofu couldn’t be sold after mid-September, just thirty pieces of tofu a day could earn her an extra dozen or so wen.

Sang Luo laughed: “It’s not about you taking advantage of this for nothing. In the future, when I regularly deliver vegetarian tripe to Dongfu Inn, I'll ask you to take it there for me. The daily orders from Dongfu Inn can also be picked up by you.”

Qin Fangniang replied, “That's no big deal. You don't need to specifically direct business to me for this.”

Sang Luo explained: “It's not just for a day or two. In the future, I might collaborate with other places too. With various foods to prepare daily, I won’t have time to run back and forth, so I’ll need your help. Please take care of Manager Xu’s tofu orders without worry.”

Hearing this, Qin Fangniang nodded: “Alright then, if you need anything to be brought to or from the county, just let me know. I’ll ensure your items are delivered well, even if I’m not carrying my own goods.”

Sang Luo couldn’t help but smile at these words.

Towards the end of noon, Feng Liuniang and Gan Shi arrived one after another at Dongshi, where the four of them met up.

Sang Luo shared with them about the rise in grain prices and how she borrowed money from Dongfu Inn to buy grains. She also passed on her suggestion to Qin Fangniang about stockpiling grain while prices were still relatively low to Gan Shi and Feng Liuniang.

Gan Shi said, “I noticed it today while carrying my load selling goods. By mid-morning, long queues had formed at several grain shops in the county, and it was only when I asked that I learned of the hike in grain prices.”

Whether to buy grain or not, Gan Shi would need to discuss it with her family.

Just like the first half of the year, they could manage by being frugal until autumn, but even someone as decisive as Gan Shi found it difficult to make a call on purchasing grain at high prices to store until the following autumn.

If the grain prices were to drop by then, the money spent would be wasted.

On their way to Dongfu Inn, they passed by a grain shop that had already closed for the day, despite it being only late noon and other nearby shops still being open.

At the back door of Dongfu Inn, the young boy Sang Luo met in the morning was still busily washing dishes. Spotting Sang Luo from a distance, his eyes lit up and he called out, “Mrs. Sang, you’re here! Our manager instructed us, my brother and I, to help deliver your grain later.”

“That’s great, have you all had lunch?”

The boy nodded, “Yes, we’ve eaten.”

Sang Luo smiled, “Alright then, please call your brother. I'll let Manager Xu know, and we can set off.”

Qin Fangniang stopped Sang Luo, “Mrs. Sang, my cart can manage the nine stones of grain if we load it higher. There’s no need to bother others, right?”

Everyone can carry their own loads, and with one more person to help push from behind, it should be manageable.

Sang Luo patted Qin Fangniang's hand, saying, “Auntie, our cart is small and we have lots of stuff. It would be too strenuous to pull it ourselves. Let’s accept Manager Xu’s help. Since we have business dealings, it’s good to establish a relationship. If we need anything in the future, we'll know where to turn.”

Qin Fangniang was momentarily startled, then realized Sang Luo was doing business with Dongfu Inn for the first time and had even borrowed six taels of silver. It made more sense for them to help deliver the goods, establishing a connection for future needs.

Qin Fangniang guessed correctly. Although Manager Xu probably hadn't thought of it that way, Sang Luo felt obliged to give the inn a peace of mind as she had borrowed a significant sum.

Qin Fangniang nodded, “You’re right. My cart is indeed too small. If we were to transport nine stones of grain, the journey back would be challenging. I’ll help with a few bags, so the young men from Dongfu Inn won’t be too overburdened.”

Sang Luo agreed, “Okay, I’ll help push your cart later. When the two young men come out, please talk to them too.”

After deciding, Sang Luo went to the kitchen to thank Manager Xu and say goodbye. She also ran into Chef Yu, who was very warm and friendly towards her.

By late afternoon, two carts were parked by the mountain path outside Shili Village. Feng Liuniang watched the carts while Gan Shi went to call her husband and the Lu brothers for help. Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang carried a bag of grain, leading the way for the brothers carrying the grain to Sang Luo’s home up the mountain.

The young boy found carrying the grain up the mountain path challenging and wondered aloud to Sang Luo, “Mrs. Sang, doesn’t your village have a road accessible to carts?”

His brother glared at him from behind.

Sang Luo smiled, “We do have a village path, but my house is a bit isolated up the mountain. We still need to walk some distance. The main thing is that this route is less conspicuous and more convenient.”

As a single woman living with two children up the mountain, drawing attention by parading through the village with a large amount of grain might not pose an immediate problem, but if times became tough, hungry villagers might turn desperate, and her family could be the first to suffer.

One should never underestimate the terrifying lengths people can go to when faced with life or death.

The boy seemed to understand somewhat but didn’t ask further.

After navigating left and right on the mountain path and crossing several hills, they finally saw a new small courtyard halfway up the mountain. Two children were guarding the house and ran towards them with joy upon spotting their arrival.

Then, the children addressed Sang Luo as "sister-in-law."

Sister-in-law?

The two brothers exchanged glances. Sang Luo's hair wasn't done up in a married woman's style – was she already married?

Observing the children eyeing them with curiosity and caution, the brothers didn't comment. They simply asked Sang Luo where to place the grain and carried it into the courtyard as instructed. Then they left to bring in another load.

On the return trip, they encountered two men and a teenage boy carrying bags of grain. The brothers noted Sang Luo’s familiar attitude with them.

With the additional help, the rest of the grain was quickly transported. The men named Shi Erlang and the Lu brothers soon left. The brothers from the inn, having quenched their thirst with water offered by Shen An and Shen Ning, bid farewell to Sang Luo.

“It's getting late and you have a long way back. I won't keep you. Thank you for your hard work today,” Sang Luo said as she escorted them out, handing over sixteen wen she had prepared earlier, eight for each: “This is a small token of my appreciation. Please also convey my thanks to Manager Xu when you return.”

After several refusals, the elder brother eventually accepted the money and urged Sang Luo not to see them off, then departed.

When reporting back to Manager Xu, they showed him the reward. He nodded, “It was hard work, so keep it for yourselves.”

Internally, he mused about Sang Luo’s background, speculating she must be from a wealthy family up north – a rural household wouldn’t have so many recipes, nor the means to generously reward helpers in these circumstances.

His esteem for Sang Luo grew.