Chapter 107: The Itinerant Diners

Chapter 107: The Itinerant Diners

The reputation of the stew shop spread far and wide, with its delivery service attracting many customers. Other merchants also heard about it, and the first to imitate was the oil shop owner. He specially came to Sui Yu's shop and ordered ten bowls of noodle soup and twenty marinated eggs, requesting that they be delivered to his shop the next day.

After finishing a bowl of noodle soup, he did not leave but waited for nearly an hour, listening to the preferences and requests of the customers who came in.

As the number of customers dwindled, Sui Yu had some free time. She took off her apron and walked out, smiling and saying, "Manager Long, is there something you need?"

Manager Long felt a bit embarrassed and apologized, bowing slightly. "Sui Boss, please don't misunderstand. I do have something to discuss. When you were selling from your stall in front of my shop, you know how my business was—neither terrible nor booming. Even with a shop, my daily earnings might not match yours."

"That's where you're mistaken; it's not as profitable as you think," Sui Yu waved her hand dismissively.

Hearing this, Manager Long did not press further on the profitability issue. He continued, "There are over ten oil shops in the city, all selling lamp oil and sesame oil. If the price goes up by even a single coin, customers will go elsewhere. Business is tough. I've tried various methods to attract more customers besides lowering prices. To be honest, seeing your delivery service has piqued my interest. After thinking about it for several days, I decided to give it a try."

Sui Yu understood that he wanted to emulate her approach. They knew each other somewhat, so Manager Long came to inform her to avoid any potential conflicts.

For a moment, Sui Yu considered monopolizing the delivery business by having people pick up orders and deliver them herself. She had the knowledge and a complete process for such operations. However, she quickly dismissed the idea. This was a feudal society, not a modern one with legal protections. Her identity was vulnerable, and without strong backing, expanding the delivery business would bring significant risks. If she blocked the path of powerful merchants or officials, her current stable life could become precarious, potentially endangering Zhao Xiping.

"Sure, why not?" Sui Yu seemed distracted but still smiled. She said honestly, "Though I came up with the idea, I can't stop others from following suit. I certainly won't ask for money. You came to tell me and placed a large order; what else could I say? Go ahead and do it."

Manager Long bowed again. "I'm taking advantage of your kindness. I'll send you a jar of lamp oil. Winter days are dark, and the house gets dim."

Sui Yu accepted it gladly.

"If I have any questions, Sui Boss, please correct me." Manager Long laughed heartily. Sui Yu was smart, decisive, and straightforward—a person worth befriending. Despite his seniority, he humbled himself to seek her advice, sharing his recent thoughts and asking if there were any flaws.

Lamp oil and sesame oil were easy to store, but unlike food, their demand was lower. Manager Long considered partnering with Manager Ali's grocery shop. He planned to hire a few helpers to walk around the streets, shouting and taking orders, delivering goods directly to customers' doors. This way, he could sell more oil and earn delivery fees.

After hearing this, Sui Yu nodded appreciatively. Indeed, one should never underestimate the ingenuity of the ancients.

"I have no corrections to offer; you've thought it through well," Sui Yu smiled. "If you succeed, perhaps you could handle some of our orders too."

Manager Long sighed. "Without the ability to dominate the market, earning a little extra is enough. We shouldn't be greedy. Besides, food needs to be delivered hot. If it cools down during long deliveries, the soups and broths would spill, and we'd lose more than we gain."

Sui Yu nodded; that was indeed a technical challenge.

After Manager Long left, Sui Yu sat down and stared at the flickering flame.

Zhao Xiaomi passed by several times, signaling to Sui Liang: What's wrong with your sister?

Sui Liang didn't know either. He looked outside; it was about to snow again. Why hadn't his brother-in-law returned from chopping wood yet?

After washing the dishes, Zhao Xiaomi sat across from Sui Yu and asked softly, "Third Sister-in-Law, what's wrong?"

Sui Yu snapped back to reality, puzzled. "Nothing."

"What are you thinking about? You seem distracted."

Sui Yu smiled but didn't respond. She realized she was being overly ambitious, wanting more than she currently had. Her identity and Zhao Xiping's position reminded her not to overstep. Unless Zhao Xiping rose to a higher rank and could protect her, she could only make a living through small businesses.

Tong Huaer walked out with a bucket of kitchen waste. Sui Yu glanced at her.

"Is there anything you need me to do?" Tong Huaer asked.

Sui Yu shook her head, recalling the events when they left the brothel and reflecting on her progress today.

"Sui Yu, there's something you might not know. By opening a shop and doing business, you might already be considered a merchant," Tong Huaer put down the bucket and sat near the fire, looking down. "When I was with your cousin, he mentioned that merchants cannot own land and must pay a special tax. I'm not sure how much, but failing to pay means the government can seize your property and exile you to the border. That's the policy in Yu County; I'm not sure about Dunhuang. You should find out more."

Sui Yu's expression turned serious. She was unaware of these regulations and had no memory of Sui Hu discussing official matters with his children.

Zhao Xiaomi looked back and forth, confused. "Did I hear or understand something wrong? Sister-in-Law, you and Aunt Tong... Did you know each other before coming to Dunhuang?"

"Yes, she used to be my cousin's wife. We were exiled together," Sui Yu admitted.

Tong Huaer stared at her, then gave a bitter smile. "I remember your words. It seems you resent us now and no longer agree with what you said before... We were indeed implicated."

Sui Yu remained silent, not explaining. She still believed that innocent people being exiled was a problem of feudal law, but she wouldn't say it aloud.

"Don't mention this to anyone. There's no need to talk about it," Sui Yu instructed Zhao Xiaomi. "My past with Tong Huaer is irrelevant now. Talking about it only gives others more gossip."

Zhao Xiaomi nodded, looking at Tong Huaer, a woman who once commanded servants and now appeared weary and aged beyond her years.

Outside, the sound of camel hooves approached. It was Zhao Xiping returning with firewood. Sui Yu went out to greet him, and the camel snorted upon seeing her.

Zhao Xiping carried the bundle of firewood inside. Sui Yu asked him about taxes for merchants, but he had never heard of such regulations.

The next day, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping went to South Water Street to deliver food to the oil shop. Seeing them, Manager Long was surprised. "Why are you two running errands? Don't you have a shop to manage?"

"We have something to ask Manager Long," Sui Yu handed the food box to a helper. "Manager Long, do you have a moment?"

Manager Long led them to the backyard. "What is it?"

"I want to ask about merchants. By renting a place to sell food, am I considered a merchant?" Sui Yu asked.

"I thought you knew..." Manager Long chuckled, explaining the government's restrictions and policies regarding merchants.

After half an hour, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping left the oil shop and hurried back to the alley. They instructed Zhao Xiaomi and Tong Huaer to manage the shop, closing it if it got too busy and focusing on completing delivery orders.

"Third Brother and Third Sister, where are you going? Is something wrong?" Zhao Xiaomi worriedly asked.

"Nothing to worry about. Just take care of the shop," Zhao Xiping pulled Sui Yu away.

Taking advantage of the daylight, Zhao Xiping brought Sui Yu to the local government office to report her business activities. They registered and were informed that she needed to pay a special tax by the end of the year. As Manager Long explained, every two thousand coins earned required a tax of ninety coins. Thus, if annual non-agricultural income reached two thousand coins, ninety coins had to be paid.

After registering, they visited the agricultural officer. Merchants were not allowed to own land. During Emperor Wu's reign, not only could merchants not own land, but neither could their relatives. Fortunately, after two dynasties, the policies had changed, especially in the border regions, allowing Zhao Xiping and Sui Liang to keep their land.

By the time they left the government office, it was dusk. Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping hurried back to the alley. On the way, Sui Yu said, "Business is indeed considered lowly. I only heard about it before, but experiencing it firsthand makes me realize its implications. Merchants cannot own land; it's strange, aren't we all under the same government?"

Zhao Xiping did not comment. This exceeded his understanding. However, thinking about the hard labor of plowing fields, he felt relieved to have less land to manage.

Walking into the shop, only two customers were still eating noodle soup. Sui Yu and Xiping washed their hands. She took a plate of buns from the steamer and sat down to eat. They had eaten lunch early, and after walking around in the afternoon, both were quite hungry.

Tong Huaer scooped two bowls of noodle soup and brought them over, saying, "Everything settled?"

"Settled." Sui Yu nodded. She took a sip of the soup and looked up, saying, "I have to thank you for this. If someone had reported me, I would have been in big trouble."

Tong Huaer smiled and turned away.

The customers finished their meal and left. Zhao Xiaomi went to collect the bowls and chopsticks, taking the opportunity to ask, "What was it all about?"

"A business matter. At the end of the year, we need to pay the commercial tax. Merchants who evade taxes will be exiled to the border," Sui Yu briefly explained.

"How much do you have to pay?" Tong Huaer asked.

"For every two thousand coins, ninety coins must be paid. Let's see how the next two months go. If business is good, we might reach two thousand coins," Sui Yu said, taking another sip of soup. She winced, adding, "Ninety coins could buy me eighteen pounds of pork."

"That's a lot," Zhao Xiaomi muttered. "Too greedy."

Xiping raised his hand, his face stern, "Watch your mouth. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll send you back."

He glanced at Sui Yu, only to receive a roll of her eyes.

"During Emperor Wu's reign, the taxes were even heavier. One had to pay one hundred twenty coins. Merchants' carriages and properties also needed to be taxed. If they concealed their assets and were reported, all their property would be confiscated, and they'd be exiled to the border," Tong Huaer chimed in, commenting, "Nowadays, the regulations on merchants are much more relaxed."

Zhao Xiaomi looked at her in amazement, then felt a pang of regret. If they hadn't been exiled, they would have been formidable ladies, living lives she couldn't even imagine. But certainly not running a noodle shop.