Chapter 175 Fighting with Pigs for Food
The new merchants walked to the door and heard Sui Liang's words. They looked at him from afar and saw that the group of people looked very powerful and difficult to deal with, so they gave up the idea of going up to talk to them.
"Shopkeeper Yu, prepare 20 kilograms of fried rice, 20 kilograms of fried noodles, 300 pancakes, and 50 kilograms of dried vegetables for us. We will come to pick them up tomorrow morning."
Sui Yu responded and asked, "Do you need more food and fodder for your camels? I'll send someone to help you call them. Do you need a camel for transportation? You can rent or buy it. I can introduce you to a reliable dealer."
"Rent a camel?" the eagle-eyed man asked. "We've only been out of the border for six years, and there have been quite a few changes inside."
"It's only rented out to caravans leaving the border. The rent is 500 coins for half a year. If one dies, compensation will be based on the price of the dead camel," Sui Yu explained. She then asked, "Do you want to buy a camel?"
The man waved his hand and said that since they were short of camels, they could just go to the desert to catch them.
"Brother, how many places have you traveled to in the past six years?" another merchant chimed in.
"I can't count them all. I didn't come back until I was almost at the beach."
"The beach? Which direction?" someone else asked.
"Nan, you don't need to ask. You can't go, and if you go you'll die."
Now the others were silent, and what he said was true.
Sui Yu brought a basket of steamed dumplings. She inquired, "You've traveled so far, have you ever seen something that blooms white flowers in summer? The flowers are soft, like reed catkins, and they probably keep out the cold. I've seen them on bamboo slips before."
The merchants exchanged glances, and one of them, a man as sturdy as a black bear, said in a gruff voice, "I seem to remember him, but I can't remember where I've seen him."
Sui Yu said "Oh", put down the steamed dumplings and stopped asking.
"Everyone, enjoy your meal. Do you want to eat mutton tonight? I'll send someone to buy some sheep."
"One more sheep will do. Also, prepare some dry food for us as the brother just mentioned. Please prepare it according to your estimate." The eagle-eyed man said.
Sui Yu responded that the caravan heading east did not need to prepare food and fodder. The further east they went, the more abundant grass and water there would be on the road, so she would not solicit business from Zhao Xiaomi.
"Sister, the kid is crying." Sui Liang waved, "Go comfort him, I'll take care of him here."
The merchants who were eating looked at Sui Yu and Sui Liang. Although this desolate and poor place had good soil and water, it was quite nourishing.
After noon, Zhao Xiping came back. After meeting with Captain Hu, he was assigned a lot of work and was often so busy that he came back after mealtime.
Sui Yu handed the child who refused to sleep to him. She went to arrange for someone to buy sheep and then went to pass the message to Zhao Xiaomi.
"Sister-in-law, another caravan is coming." A Shui shouted from a distance.
Two teams of Hu merchants came one after another. The Hu merchants entered the border a little later every year, and they mostly moved together. When a Hu merchant entered the city, there would be other Hu merchants staying there for the next few days.
"Shopkeeper Yu, nice to see you again. You've gained a lot of weight." Hu Shang, who was riding on a camel, teased.
Sui Yu smiled and said, "More beautiful than before, right?"
"Oh, yes." Hu Shang stroked his beard and smiled.
"I had a cub last year, and he's grown fat." Sui Yu led the group to the guesthouse in the north and asked, "How long will you stay this time?"
"Rest for two nights and leave the day after tomorrow."
"You two caravans live in the same courtyard?"
"Okay, you'll have quite a few more people coming over in the next few days, so let's squeeze in so you don't have too much space." Seeing the men digging foundations on the other side of the river, the merchant asked, "Are you planning on building a house again? It seems business was good last year."
"It's profitable, but it also makes people jealous. Look, others are trying to steal our business." Sui Yu opened the door and said, "Come and take care of our business more often, otherwise I'll leave and steal your business."
Hu Shang didn't take her words seriously and asked, "Which big Buddha statue is lying behind that guesthouse?"
"Captain Hu."
Hu Shang curled his lips and said disdainfully, "He is quite a domineering person."
"Where is your child? Bring him out so we can see who he looks like?" another Hu merchant asked.
"It looks like me, but it's asleep now, so I won't hold it in my arms for you to see." Sui Yu was afraid that the merchants would give her another gift, so she gave them the copper lock and key and said, "You can unload the goods first. I'll go to the kitchen and have someone prepare food for you."
Gan Da, Gan Er, Zhang Shun and Li Wu came to help. After unloading the cargo from the camels, they led the tired camels to the river to drink water and brush their fur.
The Hu merchants packed up and came out to eat. Seeing that the camels had been taken care of, they gave some copper coins to the servants.
After Zhao Xiping had his fill, he took the baby out for a walk, coaxed him to sleep, and put him on the bed.
"A Shui, come in and look after the kid. Wait until your sister-in-law comes back before you go out and play." Zhao Xiping called out, "Tell your sister-in-law that I'm going to the city for duty."
"Okay." Ah Shui ran back and saw the big black dog lying on the haystack. She called out, "Big Black, come here."
Dahei wagged his tail and ignored her. He stared at the guest house where people were coming and going with his sharp eyes, his ears perked up, listening to the movements from all directions.
As the sun was setting, Huang Lian and his father were transporting food and fodder on camels. The merchants who were about to leave the country the next day would buy from them.
"Look at the camels. You can buy or rent them." Huang Lian was soliciting merchants. He said, "You can take your pick. They are all young and strong camels with good teeth and big frames."
"Where's Xiaomi?" Sui Yu came over and asked.
Huang Lianzheng smiled with both joy and shyness, saying, "Xiaomi is also pregnant."
"Oh, what a great news! It happens to be a happy event. If I rent a camel, can you give me a lower price?" asked a merchant.
Huang Lian was about to refuse, but Sui Yu spoke up and said, "I'm going to be your aunt. I'm happy. You rent a camel today, and I'll stew two chickens for you tonight and give you a plate of pancakes."
The merchant looked at Huang Lianzheng and said with a smile, "Learn from your sister-in-law. Look how good she is at business. She only gives away worthless things."
Sui Yu laughed twice and said, "You are too generous. You don't even look down on meat and cakes."
After some flattery and teasing, the merchant was delighted and ordered five camels, saying, "I will rent these five camels and stew five chickens for me. Two are not enough."
Sui Yu didn't refuse, "Five is five, I'll have someone catch the chickens right away."
After saying that, she winked at Huang Lianzheng. Huang Lianzheng asked his father to stay here and he rode a camel back to the city to find his aunt. While the government office was still open, Song Xian and the merchant went to the government office to sign the "Camel Hire Contract".
As the sky grew dark, the first merchants who entered the guesthouse began to enjoy themselves again. The firelight illuminated the earthen walls, the sounds of pianos and drums rang out, and the Hu girl sang a soft and melodious tune, accompanied by the shouts of people urging people to drink, which spread all over the place.
After the mutton was cooked, Sui Yu asked someone to prepare a stove, and she took people to deliver the pot and cauldron to the merchants.
There was a knock on the wooden door, and the merchant pouring oil on the torch asked, "Who is it?"
"I'm the innkeeper. The mutton is ready. The pottery cauldron and stove are outside. Open the door and carry it in."
The man went to open the door and said, "Move in."
Gan Da, Gan Er, Zhang Shun and Li Wu turned back and carried the clay pot and the stove in. The firelight illuminated the blanket on the ground. They were so frightened when they stepped on it that they didn't dare to look up and stared at their feet, for fear that they would fall and ruin the blanket.
Sui Yu stood at the door and watched. She smelled the mellow aroma of wine. If she guessed correctly, these merchants were drinking wine.
"Bring three more pancakes." said the merchant.
Sui Yu came back to his senses and replied, "I'll have someone bring it over right away."
As soon as she left, Gan Da, Gan Er, Zhang Shun and Li Wu ran out quickly, fearing that they would be hacked to death by the group if they were a step too late.
Xiao Chunhong brought Liu Yaer and her daughter to deliver pancakes. After putting down the pancakes, the three of them hurried away.
The guesthouse was bustling with activity most of the night. Across the river, the slaves digging the foundation only climbed out of the pit when it was completely dark. Their dark shadows were like mice hiding in the soil, moving slowly in the moonlight like lonely ghosts.
While crossing the river, someone was so attracted by the aroma of meat pancakes in the wind that he slipped and fell into the river.
Gan Da and Gan Er came out carrying pig food. When they heard the noise, they came over to see. Seeing that it was them, they both said nothing. Only by comparing themselves did they realize how lucky they were. It is harder to meet a good master than to be born into a good family.
The pig feed was poured into the trough, Gan Da and Gan Er rinsed the bucket with water, and then they said goodbye to Li Mutou and left.
A group of slaves who had not walked far came back quietly. As they approached, the dogs started barking. Some of them fled, while others were unwilling to give up. They kicked open the door of the pen and rushed in, competing with the pigs for food in the trough. They ate mutton fat soup, bran radish, shepherd's purse, mutton bones, and chicken bones. Before the dogs came, the people in the pen escaped.
Li Mutou saw the human figure and guessed who it was. He called back the big black dog that was about to chase them and let them escape.
The pigs in the pigsty grunted, and now that no one was snatching their food, they became quiet again.
Gan Da and Gan Er ran over to see, and Uncle Lao Niu and Zhao Xiping also came out.
Under the moonlight, the figure in the distance ran slower and slower.
"What's going on?" a merchant asked after opening the door.
"The pigs are fighting over food," said Uncle Niu. "I'll talk to the owner tomorrow and tell him it's time to separate the big pigs."
Zhao Xiping came into the house and told Sui Yu about this. Sui Yu stopped teasing the child and said, "If you weren't really hungry, you wouldn't come and compete with the pigs for food. If there's any leftover soup or rice, have Grandma Yin cook a bucket of it and put it next to the wooden stakes that cross the bridge."
"I asked Gan Da and Gan Er to take ten private slaves to take turns patrolling. We can't let them get close to the guesthouse and livestock pen." Zhao Xiping said.
Sui Yu agreed. Although they were pitiful, he couldn't let these people affect his business.
The next day, three caravans left the customs, and three more caravans of Hu merchants moved in.
Sui Yu settled the new guest and was about to go practice archery when Song Xian came over. She came to deliver the commission from yesterday's camel rental.
Sui Yu accepted it. She had actually spent money on the five chickens stewed last night and the three pancakes that came with it.
"Lian Zheng, you still need to teach him a lot." Sui Yu said.
Song Xian waved her hand. "I won't bother with that. I'll see if he can adapt. If he can help me sell the camels, I'll pay him the commission. If he doesn't have that ability, he won't make any money."
"Is it also fifty coins per head?" Sui Yu asked.
Song Xian curled her lips and raised her eyebrows. "My money was blown by the northwest wind? How is that possible? Ten cents a head."
"That's not bad. Others have no way to make this money." Sui Yu nodded.
Song Xian glanced across the river and felt annoyed. Too lazy to mention it, she said to Sui Yu, "You're busy, so I'm going back. If you have any business, please refer me to some business."
"OK."
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