Chapter 107: The Wandering Foodie
The reputation of the braised pork shop spread, and its delivery service attracted many customers. Even merchants from other places heard about it, and the first to follow suit was the owner of the oil shop. He went to Sui Yu's shop and ordered ten bowls of soup noodles and twenty braised eggs, asking for them to be delivered to him the next day.
After finishing a bowl of soup noodles, he did not leave. He sat and waited for nearly an hour to hear the preferences and demands of the customers in the shop in person.
As the number of customers gradually decreased, Sui Yu had some free time. She untied her apron and walked out, smiling and saying, "Shopkeeper Long, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Shopkeeper Long blushed. He bowed and apologized, saying, "Please forgive me, Boss Sui. I'm here for something. You set up your stall right in front of mine, and you know my business. It's not bad, but it's not booming either. My shop might not make as much in a day as your stall does."
"That's where you misunderstood. It's not that profitable." Sui Yu waved his hand.
Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Long stopped talking about making money and continued, "There are over ten oil mills in the city, all selling lamp oil and sesame oil. If the price is even a penny higher, the customers will leave, making business difficult. I also want to make more money, and I've thought of many ways, but lowering the price won't attract more customers. To be honest, seeing you doing door-to-door delivery this time, I was also tempted. After thinking about it for several days, I decided to give it a try."
Sui Yu understood that he wanted to emulate her. They knew each other and had a thin relationship. Manager Long came to her house specifically to give her some advice to avoid the two families becoming enemies.
Sui Yu briefly considered taking over the delivery business. She'd arrange for someone to pick up the goods and then deliver them. After all, she had the experience and a complete process. But she quickly suppressed the thought. This was a feudal dynasty, not a civilized society with a sound rule of law. She had limited status and no backing. If the delivery business expanded, the profits would be immeasurable. She had the idea but no means to back it up, and all her efforts would only serve to benefit others. If she got in the way of a wealthy businessman or powerful figure, her current stable situation would be jeopardized, and it might even endanger Zhao Xiping.
"Sure, why not?" Sui Yu was a little distracted, but she still had a smile on her face. She said frankly, "Although this idea was mine, I can't stop others from imitating it, and I certainly won't ask for money. You're willing to tell me and place a large order, so what do I have to say? There's nothing wrong with it. Just go for it."
Shopkeeper Long bowed again and said, "Uncle is shameless and took advantage of you. I'll have someone send you a can of lamp oil. It's winter and cloudy, and the lamp oil is wasted in the house."
Sui Yu accepted it with pleasure.
"If there is anything I don't understand, Boss Sui, please correct me." Shopkeeper Long laughed out loud. Sui Yu was smart, decisive, opinionated, straightforward and approachable. He did not hold himself in high esteem because of his seniority. He humbled himself to ask her for advice, telling her what he had been thinking over the past few days and asking her if she had any loopholes.
Lamp oil and sesame oil are easy to store, but unlike meals, which are in high demand, the delivery business is difficult. Shopkeeper Long thought about cooperating with Shopkeeper Ali's grocery store. He hired a few guys to carry loads on their shoulders and walk around the streets shouting, taking orders and delivering things to people's homes. This way, he could sell more of his lamp oil and sesame oil, and also make money from delivery.
Sui Yu tutted his words after hearing this. It's true we shouldn't underestimate the ancients. How could they be so knowledgeable when their hair was long? Their brains were really quick.
"I don't have any criticisms. Uncle Long is very thoughtful." Sui Yu said with a smile, "If you succeed, you might be able to take orders from me in the future."
Shopkeeper Long sighed and said implicitly, "I don't have the ability to dominate the market, but I'm content to make a little more money. Don't be greedy. Also, the food needs to be served hot. If it's served far away, it will be cold. If there's too much soup, three out of ten bowls will be spilled. The profit won't even cover the losses."
Sui Yu nodded, this was indeed a technical difficulty.
After Shopkeeper Long left, Sui Yu returned to the house and sat down, staring at the flickering flames in a daze.
Zhao Xiaomi passed by several times and winked at Sui Liang: What happened to your sister?
Sui Liang didn't know either. He looked outside and saw that it was about to snow again. Why hadn't his brother-in-law come back from collecting firewood yet?
After washing the dishes, Zhao Xiaomi walked over to sit down opposite Sui Yu. She asked in a low voice, "Third sister-in-law, what's wrong with you?"
Sui Yu came back to his senses and said in confusion: "It's okay."
"What are you thinking about? You're just staring blankly."
Sui Yu smiled but said nothing. She was just worrying about nothing. She was too greedy. She wanted to make more money after making a small fortune, and she was not satisfied with her current situation. Her identity and Zhao Xiping's official position reminded her not to act recklessly. Unless Zhao Xiping could protect her after his promotion, she could only make money by hard work and running a small business.
Tong Huaer walked out carrying the slop. Sui Yu saw her out of the corner of his eye and turned to look over.
"What can I do?" Tong Huaer asked.
Sui Yu shook her head. She was thinking about what happened when she left the brothel and about herself today. She realized that she had made some progress after all.
"Sui Yu, there's something you don't seem to know. You've opened a shop and made money, so you might already be a businessman." Tong Huaer put down the swill bucket and walked in. She sat by the fire, warming herself, and said with lowered eyes, "I heard your cousin talk about merchants when I was with him. He was in charge of dealing with merchants in the government at the time, and I've heard a little bit about it. Merchants can't own land and have to pay money. I don't know the exact amount, but if you don't pay, the government can confiscate your property and send you to guard the border. But this is the decree of Yu County. I'm not sure about the situation in Dunhuang, so you'd better ask someone."
Sui Yu frowned. She really didn't know anything about this, and she had no memory of this. Sui Hu never discussed official business in front of his children.
Zhao Xiaomi glanced back and forth a few times, then asked doubtfully, "Did I hear wrongly or misunderstand? Sister-in-law, you and Aunt Tong...did you know each other before you came to Dunhuang?"
"Yes, she was my cousin's wife before. We were exiled to Dunhuang because of her." Sui Yu admitted.
Tong Huaer stared at her blankly, then suddenly smiled sadly and said, "I still remember what you said. It seems you are also resentful and no longer agree with what you said before... We have indeed been implicated."
Sui Yu said nothing and made no explanation. She still insisted that the implicating and exiling of innocent people was a legal issue of the feudal dynasty, but she would not say it out loud again.
"Don't tell anyone about this. There's no need to talk about it." Sui Yu instructed Zhao Xiaomi, "My past with Tong Huaer is all in the past. There's no point in talking about it except to give others more gossip."
Zhao Xiaomi nodded and looked at Tong Huaer. It was hard to tell that this woman with a haggard look and a tired face was once the wife of an official who ordered servants around.
The sound of camel hooves was heard outside the door. It was Zhao Xiping who came to deliver firewood. Sui Yu stood up and walked out. When the camel saw her, it bared its teeth and snorted.
Zhao Xiping came in carrying a bundle of firewood. Sui Yu asked him about the tax and rent paid by merchants. He had never heard of it before, and was even less aware of the decree that merchants were not allowed to own land.
The next day, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping went to Nanshui Street to deliver food to the oil shop. When Shopkeeper Long saw her, he was surprised and asked, "Why are you two running errands now? You've left, and you're not going to run the shop anymore?"
"I have something to ask Shopkeeper Long." Sui Yu handed the lunch box to the waiter and said, "Uncle Long, are you free now?"
Shopkeeper Long led her and Zhao Xiping to the backyard and asked, "Tell me, what's going on?"
"I want to ask about businessmen. If I rent a house and sell food, does that make me a businessman?" Sui Yu asked.
"I thought you knew..." Shopkeeper Long was a little amused. He told her one by one about the court's restrictions and decrees on merchants.
It was half an hour after Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping left the oil shop. The couple hurried back to Minxiang and explained the matters in the shop to Zhao Xiaomi and Tong Huaer for discussion. If the business was too busy, they would close the shop and not entertain any customers, and only complete the delivery orders.
"Third brother and sister-in-law, where are you going? What happened?" Zhao Xiaomi was worried.
"It's nothing, just take care of the things in the shop." Zhao Xiping pulled Sui Yu out.
While it was still early, Zhao Xiping took Sui Yu to the government office to see the official. He explained Sui Yu's business plan and the official made a registration, informing them that they would have to pay a tax of 90 coins as the year drew to a close. Just as Manager Long had said, 2,000 coins constituted one coin, and each coin was taxed 90 coins. In other words, if their non-farming income reached 2,000 coins in a year, they would have to pay 90 coins.
After registration, they went to the agricultural officials. Merchants were not allowed to own land. During the reign of Emperor Wu, not only merchants were not allowed to own land, but also the relatives of merchants were not eligible to own land. Fortunately, after two dynasties, the government decrees were revised. In addition, Zhao Xiping and Sui Liang's land was not affected by the special land policy because they were located in the frontier.
After leaving the government office, it was already dusk. Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping hurried to Minxiang. As they walked, Sui Yu said, "Business is such a lowly profession. I'd only heard about it before, but now I know what it's like. Merchants can't even own land. How strange! Aren't they all civilians under the jurisdiction of the imperial court?"
Zhao Xiping didn't comment. This was beyond his comprehension, and he didn't know what to say. But thinking about how he'd been exhausted plowing the fields in the fall, with no one to help him, and now that he had lost twenty acres, he felt relieved and wanted to kick out the other twenty acres as well.
When they walked into the shop, there were only two customers still eating soup noodles. Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping washed their hands. She took a plate of buns from the steamer and sat down to eat. They had eaten lunch early and walked a lot in the afternoon, so they were already hungry.
Tong Huaer scooped two bowls of noodle soup and brought them over, saying, "Is everything settled?"
"It's solved." Sui Yu nodded. She took a sip of her noodle soup and looked up and said, "Thank you so much for this. Otherwise, if someone reported me, I would be finished."
Tong Huaer smiled and turned away.
After the diners left, Zhao Xiaomi went to collect the dishes. She took the opportunity to ask, "What happened?"
"Businessmen are required to pay taxes at the end of the year, and merchants who evade taxes will be exiled to the border." Sui Yu said briefly.
"How much?" Tong Huaer asked.
"Ninety coins for every two thousand coins. I'll see how the business gets going in the next two months. I think I'll have enough for two thousand coins." Sui Yu took another sip of soup and said with a pang of pain, "Ninety coins is enough for me to buy eighteen kilograms of pork."
"That's a lot," Zhao Xiaomi muttered. "Too greedy."
Zhao Xiping raised his palm and said with a fierce face: "You want to be beaten. If you keep talking nonsense, I will send you back."
After saying that, he glanced at Sui Yu and was given a cold stare the next moment.
"During Emperor Wu's reign, taxes were still heavy. A merchant had to pay 120 coins. Even their carriages, horses, and property had to be paid in coins. If someone concealed their wealth and was reported, all their property would be confiscated, and they would be exiled to the border." Tong Huaer, now in the mood for conversation, commented, "Restrictions on merchants are much looser now."
Zhao Xiaomi looked at her in amazement, then felt a pity. If they hadn't been exiled, what a majestic ladies they would have been, and what kind of lives they would have led? She couldn't imagine it, but she definitely wouldn't open a food store selling noodles.
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