Chapter 151 Word of Mouth
The first caravans to enter the city were small caravans. They had little merchandise, so in order to make more money they would often set out early and sell their goods before the big caravans.
"Uncle, are we still staying in Minxiang this year?" A young man with an unshaven beard said, leading a camel towards the city. "Or should we go to the guesthouse in the north of the city?"
"Come to the North City Guesthouse." Sui Liang came over and said, "The North City Guesthouse was newly built last year. It's clean and spacious. There's even a warehouse for storing goods. There's hot water every morning and evening, so you can eat right outside."
The leading man looked at him and asked, "Is this yours?"
Sui Liang nodded, "Uncle, trust me, I will never cheat anyone."
Seeing that the child was still literate, Hong Changgao glanced at him and said, "Lead the way, let's go over and take a look."
"A Shui." Sui Liang turned around and waved, calling A Shui to lead the way.
"Uncle, how did you know about the Chengbei Guesthouse?" Sui Liang asked, "Did you stay there last autumn?"
"No, we met a caravan heading east on the way. The people in the caravan told us to stay at the guesthouse in the north of the city while we were passing through Dunhuang." Hong Chang rubbed his chin and said, "Could it be that they accepted some kind of bribe? What kind of bribe did you give them?"
Sui Liang shook his head, and A Shui followed suit, her braids flying all over the place.
"We haven't given any benefits, so what benefits can we afford to give? Maybe the caravans that have stayed in this inn feel comfortable living here," said Sui Liang.
Halfway through the journey, turn north, walk out of the alley where houses are concentrated, and walk another half mile north to see the guesthouse standing in the wilderness. When the merchants saw it, they all exclaimed, what a spectacular house.
"Uncle, you guys go over there, there are people to take care of the reception." Sui Liang stopped and said, "I still have to go back to the city gate to solicit customers."
The merchant nodded, and Sui Liang ran away with A Shui.
"A caravan is coming."
The children waiting halfway up the road jumped to their feet at the sound of hooves. A dozen or so children carrying baskets ran over, some following the path the camels had taken, snatching up the fresh camel dung along the roadside. Three or five more boys followed the caravan, keeping an eye on the camels' butts and asking, "Uncle, do you want a shave? I'll call someone for you."
"Uncle, do you want to find someone? I'll go and call for you."
Hong Daming pointed at a boy and said, "Go and call the shaver over. I'll give you ten cents when he comes."
"Okay." The boy in the hat responded cheerfully and ran towards the city with the basket.
Sui Yu heard the noise and came out. She stood outside the west kitchen door waiting. As people came closer, she vaguely recognized a few familiar faces.
"Nanshi?" Hong Daming was surprised. "You moved here to open a food stall again? Last year, when I was staying at Lao Tu's place, I asked about you, and he said you didn't run a food business anymore."
"This guesthouse is mine." Sui Yu said with a smile.
Hong Daming laughed, "No wonder the old bald man has a sour face when he mentions you. You're stealing his business."
Sui Yu refused to admit it and said, "We all make money together, it all depends on our ability. There are so many caravans traveling back and forth, do you think others are stealing your business?"
"That's true." Hong Daming jumped off the camel and followed Sui Yu into the guesthouse.
"The rooms in the north row are guest rooms, and the rooms in the south row are warehouses. Booking a guest room will come with a warehouse and a livestock pen. It costs one hundred coins per night, and one room can sleep five people." Sui Yu explained the price.
The doors of the unoccupied guest rooms were all open. The merchant stood outside and took a look. The rooms were plain and bright, without any strange smells. The beds were made, so clean that one would not want to dirty them. Glancing at the door, he noticed a wooden basin leaning against the wall. He then looked into the warehouse, which was larger than the guest rooms and could easily store the goods for five people.
"Okay, let's book five rooms and stay for two nights." Hong Chang said.
Sui Yu brought five locks and told them to remember to lock them when they went out.
Meanwhile, the helper Li Mutou brought two buckets of river water. Sui Yu pointed and said, "The water is hot, you can wash up and take a rest. The western kitchen is outside. If you are hungry, go there to eat."
"First, cook two pots of braised soup noodles and two baskets of buns for us. We will go over after the goods are unloaded." Hong Chang said.
Sui Yu agreed and went to the west kitchen to ask Yin Po to prepare it.
The merchants who had checked in earlier were woken up. They opened the door, greeted each other, and went to the western kitchen to eat together.
Two bowls of braised noodle soup and two baskets of steamed buns cost a total of 540 coins. The other caravan had fewer people and each ordered a bowl of braised noodle soup. Sui Yu charged another 300 coins.
The sound of camel bells came again, and Sui Yu went out to greet them. It was a group of Hu merchants, introduced by Huang Ancheng.
"Shopkeeper Yu, a caravan asked me to come and shave their beards. Could you please ask me where they can stay?" The barber came forward with a wooden box on his shoulder and said.
"It's us, come in." Hong Daming shouted in the guest house.
The barber went in and happened to meet the Hu merchants unloading their goods. He took the opportunity to solicit business: "Gentlemen, do you want a shave? Shopkeeper Yu has hot water here. I can give you a clean shave."
A child was peeking out of the door. Hong Daming saw him and waved him over. "Here's twenty coins. Go to the East Market and find me a man named Lao Wan who sells camels."
Sui Yu happened to hear this when she walked in. She asked, "Want to buy a camel?"
"Yes, I am planning to add five more camels."
"Add more camels and make more money." Sui Yu said. She gave Hu Shang the lock and key and said before leaving, "This courtyard is full. I will not arrange for anyone to move in. Only your three caravans will come in and out."
The barber brought in a basin of hot water and said, "The Yu shopkeeper is keeping a close watch on us. No one outside can enter the guesthouse without your permission."
After saying that, he took out his tools and shaved the bearded merchants.
At noon, Zhao Xiping drove the cows back. He borrowed the cows to plow the fields. This year he planned to plant more golden flowers and wait until autumn to dry them and sell them to merchants.
Not long after, Sui Liang brought A Shui back, had a quick meal, and then the two returned to the city to solicit customers.
"Madam, I'm going to deliver food to Gan Da and Gan Er." Mrs. Yin informed.
Sui Yu nodded.
"Boss Sui, give me a bowl of rice." Lao Wan strode in. "Hurry, I'm starving. Just give me something to eat."
Sui Yu brought him a plate of buns and said, "Eat first. The noodles are cooking in the pot."
"OK."
"You didn't go camel-harnessing this year?" Sui Yu asked.
"Just as I was about to go, my uncle received a letter saying a herd of wild camels had crossed into the Gobi Desert." Lao Wan swallowed his food and said, "Prepare four baskets of steamed buns for me to take with me when I leave."
After the braised noodles were served, Sui Yu found an empty spot to sit down and said, "Are you planning to go into the Gobi Desert? That's really risky."
"As long as we have enough food and water, we can always get out." Lao Wan slurped his noodles and took a moment to ask, "Where are the guesthouses for the merchants who came to visit me?"
"First entrance, counting from west to east, the sixth room. They are shaving."
Before Sui Yu finished speaking, she saw the barber coming out with a wooden box on his shoulder. Hong Daming followed behind him. Seeing her beckon him, he strode over and asked, "What's going on? Oh, it's Lao Wan."
The two of them sat in the dining hall and talked. Sui Yu, sitting outside, heard everything clearly. Hong Daming wanted to buy a castrated male camel, an adult wild camel, to use as a load carrier. However, Lao Wan didn't have a suitable one, so he wanted to sell him a female camel.
"Once a female camel is pregnant, it stays for over a year. Then she has to nurse the baby, so how can she carry any cargo?" Hong Daming pounded the table impatiently and said, "I bought her to carry cargo, not to breed."
"If you don't let it have contact with male camels, it won't give birth." Lao Wan said calmly, "You know, male camels are hard to catch. Where can I get so many male camels? I do have five male camels that are two or three years old. I've castrated them. Do you want them?"
"Forget it, I'll go ask someone else." Hong Daming stood up.
"The situation is similar elsewhere. Camels are becoming increasingly scarce in the desert. We've started raising camels in recent years, but we can't keep up with the increasing number of caravans. Small caravans need to expand, large caravans need to replace their camels, and new caravans are arriving, all of which need camels. How can we possibly have so many?" Lao Wan put down his chopsticks and followed him out, saying, "We're leaving for the Gobi Desert tomorrow. Think about it. I'm not going to buy any today. By the time you return from the Western Regions, I'll have even fewer camels."
"I'll discuss it with my second uncle."
"Okay." Lao Wan wiped his mouth and motioned Sui Yu to fill the buns for him.
"The total is 387 wen, just give me 380 wen." Sui Yu said.
Lao Wan nodded, but didn't pay. When Hong Daming came out again, he asked Sui Yu, "How much was it?"
"Three hundred and eighty wen."
"Put it on our account and pay you tonight," Hong Daming said, adding, "Please excuse me for making this trip. My second uncle wants to ask around. If you can't find a suitable camel in Dunhuang, maybe there's still a chance after you get out of the customs."
Lao Wan didn't force him. He took the basket of buns and left. As for the basket, he would bring it next time he came.
Seeing Lao Wan walking away, Sui Yu called out to Hong Daming and said, "Let me introduce you to a camel dealer. She has three or four hundred camels."
"Three or four hundred camels?" Hong Daming was shocked. "Who is this? Such a huge family business."
"The vendor's surname is Song. The camels are raised in the desert near Yangguan. Do you want to go there tomorrow or this afternoon?" Sui Yu thought to herself that she was not trying to steal a business halfway, she was just picking up a bargain.
Hong Daming came into the house and called his uncle. The merchants living in the same courtyard came out when they heard the voice. Regardless of whether they wanted to buy something or not, they all planned to go and take a look.
Sui Yu asked Uncle Niu to help her look after the guesthouse while she rode a camel to the Song family. Not long after, Song Xian came over with her son and a middle-aged man.
Hong Chang looked at the middle-aged man and said, "Mr. Song, I heard you have three or four hundred camels. Why haven't I heard your name in previous years? Did you just move here?"
"I'm the one in charge." Song Xian stepped forward and said, "I've been raising camels for ten years. It was just a whim at first, but in recent years, the number of camels has increased, so I decided to sell them."
"Shopkeeper Song is the wife of the officer guarding the West City Gate. Her ancestors were once horse traders. She has always kept a low profile, which is why you haven't heard of her name." Sui Yu said, "You can go with her to see her. I have to guard the store here, so I won't accompany you."
The merchants discussed for a while, then led their camels and followed Song Xian away.
Just as they left, another large caravan came towards the north. Lao Tu followed behind and tried to persuade them to stay, but they insisted on going to the guesthouse in the north of the city.
The old bald man was so angry that his face turned black. Sui Liang pulled A Shui and took a detour quietly. He went into the alley and prepared to go to the west gate. He didn't need to guard the east gate. The caravans entering the city had heard the caravans returning from Guanzhong praise the guesthouse in the north of the city.
In the evening, the merchants who went to see the camels came back. Sui Yu looked around carefully and found that they did not buy camels.
While eating, she couldn't help asking, "What's wrong with visiting the camels today?"
"No, we just want to inquire about it. We've never heard of this vendor before, so we don't know if her camels are any good."
"You saw it with your own eyes, and you're still worried about the camel?" Sui Yu wondered.
"Trade camels need to be strong, not just for hard work but also for starvation," Hong Chang said. "Her camel looks nice, but no one has used it, so who knows if it's just a showpiece? Plus, she's a woman, and if something happens to her camel and we come back to find her, she'll be crying. It'll be difficult to deal with."
No wonder wild camels are more popular with merchants. Sui Yu narrowed his eyes and didn't dare to say much, for fear of being too eager and offending others.
In the middle of the night, Song Xian and Huang Ancheng visited the Qianhu Office. Sui Yu told her everything she had heard. She read Lao Wan's mind and said, "Don't worry, get ready. If you can't make this deal, there's another one. You don't have to worry about no one buying it if you have the goods."
Song Xian sighed. Although her camels were raised in the desert, she had to feed them every now and then in order to make them grow meat and bones. In terms of endurance, they were indeed no match for wild camels.
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