Chapter 250 – Shop

Chapter 250 - Shop

"Are you also going to teach us how to make tofu?" Chen Ma, Qin Fangniang, and the round-bellied Zhou Ge were all astounded by this sudden stroke of good fortune.

"I will teach you. I'll figure out a way to get you a mule too, so it won't be too tiring for you all," Sangluo said. Otherwise, with making all sorts of noodles and tofu, she was afraid that the Chens would exhaust themselves.

"But there's one thing. It might differ from our initial plan of cooperation." She explained the situation with the Zheng family. "So it would be safer to open the shop under my name."

Chen Ma didn't care about that. Her only concern was whether the Zheng family would pose a threat to Sangluo. After being reassured, she thought about it and realized that they had the imperial edict at home. She felt relieved and then asked where they should start the shop.

"Straight away in the East Market. Once it's established, we'll open another branch in the West Market. We won't just sell tofu, but also vegetables, eggs, and meat produced in the manor."

Chen Ma's eyes lit up when she heard this. "Then my family can supply you with mountain chickens, rabbits, and vegetables from the fields."

Recalling how the Shen family had been buying shops and building houses these past few months, she asked, "Do you have enough money? If not, we can lend you some. We have a few taels. The mule will be for our use as well, so you don't need to pay for it. Just help us find a way to buy it, and we'll cover the cost."

Sangluo smiled. "You can buy the mule yourself, but it may take some time to find one. As for the shop, I have enough money. You've forgotten that I still have nearly twenty jars of honey at home."

With over three hundred catties, any financial strain would only be temporary.

Qin Fangniang perked up at the news. "The shop in the city is also ready to open?"

Sang Luo was the first to cultivate purple clover for beekeeping. Her family and the others started later, and didn't plant as much. However, they had managed to store three jars of honey at home. When they were learning to keep bees, they had promised that the honey would only be sold at Sang Luo's shop. They were all waiting for her shop in the city to open.

Sang Luo nodded with a smile. "Yes, it should. Honey can't be stored at home for too long. It might open on the same day or slightly later than the shop in the Eastern Market. It'll take some time to order shelves and renovate."

Old Lady Chen took over the conversation. "Then don't spend money on shelves for the vegetable and tofu shop. Just draw a design and ask Uncle You Tian to make them. If you want the other shop to be more upscale, order them in the city."

Sang Luo thanked her with a smile and agreed to let the Chen family come to her house that evening to sign a partnership agreement before leaving.

When Shen Lie returned home in the evening, he heard that the family was preparing to open a shop, primarily selling tofu and vegetables. His brow furrowed. "Shouldn't we wait and see how the Zheng family reacts before making any decisions?"

Given Zheng Shi's current situation, she wouldn't do anything out of the ordinary. She wouldn't dare to act openly, but one couldn't rule out the possibility of someone foolish from her family resorting to underhanded tactics. If Zheng Shi tried anything sneaky, Xingxing Village wasn't easy to bully. To be honest, during those years in the mountains, even the children had been trained like little wolves. With so many people in the village, even if swords weren't practical, Sang Luo and Shen Ning were skilled with long sticks. However, with Sang Luo being heavily pregnant, Shen Lie found it hard to relax.

Seeing Shen Lie's reaction, Sang Luo guessed his concerns and shared Fan Feiniang's words with him.

Upon hearing that Fan Feiniang had arranged for a midwife to examine Sang Luo and left her with some dietary supplements, Shen Lie was quite pleased. He was surprised when he learned about Fan Feiniang's response to the Zheng family issue. "Did she send someone over?"

"No, but Feiniang is always straightforward in her words and actions. She wouldn't make such a confident promise without assurance."

"May I have a look at Madam Zeng's reply?"

"There's no reason not to." Sang Luo turned around and handed the letter to Shen Lie. After reading it several times, a hint of contemplation flickered in his eyes.

"What is it?"

"Nothing. Open it. But if you need to leave the manor, it's best to go with me. If I'm at school, you can ask Dashan and Wenqing to accompany you. That would put my mind at ease."

Sang Luo naturally agreed.

While Shen Ning was still preparing dinner, Shen An was sharpening bamboo slips. Shen Lie, however, told Sang Luo that he wanted to check on the progress of the sheep pen construction.

The hundred mu of land granted by the Emperor had recently been used for building a sheep pen, which Sang Luo intended to expand her livestock farming. By not grouping the sheep together, she aimed to prevent any potential disease outbreak from spreading uncontrollably.

However, before the sheep pen, a thatched cottage had already been constructed on the hill. It was meant to house the hired workers. With over two hundred and seventy mu of land, the Zhao brothers, Da and Si, couldn't possibly manage everything alone. Hence, Sang Luo hired five more people, two of whom were neighbors, while the other three lived fifteen miles away. When they sought work, they inquired if there could be a place for them to build a small cottage so they could also supervise the livestock in the mountains.

The workers built the cottage themselves, and Sang Luo only provided a small plot of land. She was more than willing, and thus, a thatched cottage emerged on her newly granted mountainous land.

Shen Lie made a trip up the mountain and returned after more than a quarter of an hour, but his doubts remained unresolved.

By the cottage on the hillside, once Shen Lie was out of earshot, the three laborers exchanged glances. One of them whispered to the others, "Do you think he knows something?"

"Not knowing for certain, but suspecting." If they already knew, there would be no need to test their reaction. "Rest assured, we're merely farmers."

Even if one were to verify the records at the accounting office, not a single penny would be found amiss.

After dinner, the entire Chen family arrived to sign the deed. From the Shen family, Shen Jin and his two brothers were also present. Shen An had previously lived with Shen Jin, so he was familiar with their eldest brother's new residence. It was spacious and impressive, but most strikingly, it was exceptionally clean. The polished walls were one thing, but the bathroom and toilet were remarkable – Shen Jin had never seen anything like them. A simple rinse with water would leave them spotless, without any hint of unpleasant odor.

When it was first built, the three brothers were both amazed and envious. Sang Luo had said that when it was their turn to build a new residence, she would provide the blueprint, and Shen Jin could simply follow it. For now, the new house was still novel. If they wished, they could live in the eastern wing with Shen An.

Shen Jin did not immediately take the opportunity to move in, but they truly cherished the prospect of a tidy home where they could cook and dine within their own walls. Whenever the need for a bath arose, the three brothers would make their way here. In the eastern wing, Sang Luo had added an extra bed; occasionally, Shen Jin and his two siblings would join her and Shen An in the eastern quarters for their stay.

Thus, tonight is particularly bustling.

Particularly since they knew that their sister-in-law was going to open a shop in the East Market, the three Jin brothers were quite pleased. However, tonight was the Chen family's turn to take center stage. The trio merely watched the spectacle without interfering or causing trouble. It was Shen Jin who, observing his sister-in-law meticulously laying out the terms of cooperation and profit sharing, decided to join in as he saw Shen Ning drafting a contract on the sandtable based on the agreements discussed. He felt that he could truly learn something from this.

The several elder members of the Chen family were not particularly proficient in such matters; each clause had to be mentally parsed and scrutinized several times before they could fully grasp it. If Madam Chen were to put it simply, the formula belonged to Sangluo, as did the shop. In fact, Sangluo had already prepared the deed herself; all that was required of them was to be informed, append their signatures, and press their seals—nothing more, for she was entirely trustworthy.

Zhou Ge, Chen Ershan, and Chen Xiaoya, on the other hand, had previously learned quite a bit from Shopkeeper Xu's teachings while living in the mountains. As Sangluo enumerated the points, their responses were quicker than the rest of the family. Chen Xiaoya, who spent her days with Shen Ning and Xu Wenying, was particularly sharp.

Finally, it was Chen Dashan's turn to sign and press his thumbprint. The formal procedure left him momentarily bewildered. Could he admit that he couldn't read all the words on the contract?

Not that he couldn't read them all; it was more like he recognized only a few...

For the first time, Chen Dashan realized that his future might not unfold as he had imagined. It seemed he needed to at least learn to recognize common characters. No, actually, since leaving the mountain, taking on official duties, gaining more land, and then receiving the imperial edict for Daxing Village, Chen Dashan felt they were already on an upward trajectory step by step.

When Shen Lie escorted the Chen family out, he privately mentioned to Chen Dashan the matter of learning to read. Chen Dashan preemptively surrendered, "I understand. I'll have Xiaoya teach me when we get back."

Shen Lie was relieved that Chen Dashan didn't say he'd leave it to his children to learn. He chuckled before turning serious and briefing Chen Dashan about the Zheng family's situation. Since Chen Dashan spent most of his time in the village and the two families were neighbors, Shen Lie asked him to keep a closer eye on them.

Chen Dashan had already heard from his grandmother about the Zheng family's affairs during dinner. He reassured Shen Lie, "Don't worry. I'll inform the other families in the village to be more vigilant."

...

The Chen family was busy building their courtyard walls to meet the deadline and for convenience later. The courtyard was divided into two sections: a smaller one for tofu production and a larger one for noodle manufacturing. For now, only the smaller courtyard was urgently enclosed. Of course, they could initially operate the tofu production inside the kitchen with the doors closed.

Sang Luo was also occupied. She leased a shop, hired staff, ordered signboards and shelves, and commissioned custom small pottery jars. In addition, she constructed a large oven in the backyard of the Shen residence.

On the 20th day of June, the main street and the eastern market of Xizhou City simultaneously echoed with the lively sounds of firecrackers. Curious citizens flocked to the source and discovered the opening of a new shop.

What captivated the people of Xizhou more than the wares in the shop were the individuals standing within, the sight of its signboard, and an elusive aroma that seemed to perpetually drift towards their noses, tickling their senses.

On Main Street, the sign reads "Daxing Village Specialties," while on the East Market, it announces "Daxing Village Fresh Produce." Notably, both signs feature a prominent "Sang" character prominently displayed at their far right ends.

Daxing Village, this year, if one were to speak of the most outstanding and unparalleled entity within the entirety of Quanshi Prefecture, it would undoubtedly be none other than Daxing Village itself. And should one broaden their gaze to encompass the entire Great Qi realm, then it is none other than the Mulberry Maiden of Daxing Village who garners such distinction.

Illiterate ones watch the people, literate ones read the signboard. Before the firecrackers had fully subsided, those gathered around knew that San Niangzi from Daxing Village had opened her shop.

When the firecrackers had ceased, Sang Luo emerged to deliver a speech, leaving no one in doubt about what products the two shops dealt in.

The Dahong Village Specialty Shop primarily featured unique products originating from Dahong Village, such as its current highlights: honey, bread, cakes, dried rabbit, and more. On the other hand, the Dahong Village Fresh Produce section dealt with the village's agricultural harvest, offering vegetables, eggs, tofu, and preserved bean curd. Needless to say, bread and cakes were not available daily; they were only sold in limited quantities on the fifth and tenth of each month.

The onlooking villagers were confused, only familiar with honey, vegetables, and eggs. They had no idea what bread, cakes, dried rabbit, tofu, or preserved bean curd were.

Moreover, wasn't honey something that came from the wild? How much could she possibly have for sale?

The scene became bustling, with people discussing these unfamiliar items with great interest. When Sangluo announced the opening, those who were somewhat well-off or more adventurous ventured inside the shop to broaden their horizons. The less fortunate, however, stood outside the store, peering in from a distance.

Sangluo, being pregnant, was surrounded by a few attendants. Everyone was mindful of her condition. The entrance to the shop was spacious, so Sangluo moved to the side, and nobody dared to push their way towards her.

Upon entering, although the selection wasn't extensive, it was truly awe-inspiring at first sight.

For instance, there were three rows of display cabinets filled with exquisite bamboo plates carrying items they couldn't recognize. The female attendant informed them that these were called bread and cakes. Not only were they visually appealing, but their unique aroma could make one's mouth water uncontrollably.

None of them had ever seen anything like this before, not even in pastry shops prior to the chaos in the world.

Then there were the terracotta jars brimming with what was called "dry-eat rabbit." Meat, rabbit meat, to be precise - a mere glance was enough to make one's mouth water, and its scent was so captivating that one wouldn't be able to resist its allure.

Not to mention, an entire wall was dedicated to jars of honey, each with a specially crafted bottle bearing the labels "Daxing Village Honey" and "Purple Cloud Clover Honey."

No, surely honey didn't come in such varieties, did it? Each with its own distinct origin?

Though the selection wasn't vast, every item was novel or scarce to them. Moreover, next to each item, there was a small bamboo sign indicating its name and price, adding a touch of novelty.

Shen Ning, who since the age of nine had accompanied her elder sister to sell divine tofu at the market, understood the importance of product sampling. She had prepared tiny portions for tasting, along with miniature bamboo skewers. Together with Xu Wenying, Xiaoya, and Qiao'er, each stood at a strategic spot. Whenever a customer approached, they would greet them with a smile and offer a sample of bread or cake.

The outcome was remarkable...

Xin Niang, Dong Ge's younger sister and the shop's official saleswoman, nearly found herself overwhelmed while handling the cash transactions.

Despite the exorbitant prices, due to the costly flour and craftsmanship, each small piece was sold for forty or fifty coins, but they were simply not enough to meet the demand.

Fanny Fan had brought people to support the business while trying not to draw too much attention. Thus, she deliberately arrived half an hour late. However, when she stepped into the Daxing Village Specialty Store, all that was left were empty bamboo trays, apart from some honey and a bit of dried rabbit meat.

She looked bewildered. "What were those? They're already sold out?"

Sang Luo had anticipated her arrival. After checking on the eastern market stall and ensuring that today's helper, Gan Shi, and the shop assistant, Big Niu, could handle the crowd, she returned to the main street store to wait. At that moment, she was resting in the courtyard at the back of the shop. Hearing Fanny Fan's voice, she entered the store with a smile. "I knew you would come."

In her hand, she held a delicate bamboo food basket. "Don't say I didn't think of you; I saved these especially for you."

Madam Fan lifted the lid, and upon seeing six unfamiliar pastries she had never laid eyes on before, she was taken aback. The alluring aroma that wafted out erased all thoughts of etiquette from her mind. She rapidly scanned the selection, picked one up, and tasted it—her eyes widened in delight!

"No wonder they sold out so quickly. Ah Luo, why don't you come home with me?"

She was desperate to take Ah Luo back with her, oh dear!

...

While Sang Luo's new shop was bustling with activity on one side, on the other side, a servant from the Zheng family, who had gone out shopping, first headed to the East Market. Naturally, she joined in the excitement of the newly opened store. However, once she saw what was being sold, the thrill turned into dismay. Upon inquiring about the prices, the servant's mood plummeted. Abandoning her plans to explore the East Market, she stumbled back home with her basket, her left foot tripping over her right.