Chapter 31 Advertising Fees
"Ten coins! Including the ones from the last few times, I've already calculated it all, so you have to give me fifty coins in total!"
After saying that, Zhang stretched out her hand to Aunt Wang and said, "Give us the money, ha! If you don't settle the bill, then don't even think about us selling you offal anymore. Anyway, it's just cooking those things together, anyone can do that, I can earn that money myself!"
Fan Xiaoxiao smiled upon hearing this and stepped forward, saying, "Oh? Then I'll trouble you, Madam, to settle our advertising fees as well!"
Zhang had never heard of this so-called advertising fee before. She frowned and scolded, "What advertising fee! Stop spouting nonsense here! I've never heard of such a thing!"
Zhang's voice was very loud; she practically shouted it out, attracting many passersby to stop and watch. Fan Xiaoxiao spread her hands and sighed, "Ah, Madam, that's not how it works. Before I started this business, who knew that offal could be used to make food?"
I've helped you build up this reputation, which might force me to stop doing this business, but this smear campaign was also created by the Fan family. Isn't that the cost of widespread advertising?
These words drew nods of agreement from passersby, many murmuring their approval. Zhang's face twisted in shock; she hadn't expected this girl to be so sharp-tongued. She sneered, "Stop talking nonsense! This sewer is my property! Why do you need to spread the word?"
Fan Xiaoxiao shook her head and smiled, "Madam, you are mistaken. If pork weren't used to make food, who would buy it? It's because someone makes food that pork has value. What I'm doing is giving offal value, isn't it? If I hadn't made braised offal first, there wouldn't be a case of Madam asking for ten coins per piece of offal today!"
"Yes, yes, what this young lady said makes sense. If it weren't for how delicious her braised offal was, who would know that offal could be used to make food!"
More and more passersby agreed, mainly because Zhang the butcher had a history of bullying small vendors by using his daughter's status as a concubine in the Huang family. Seeing someone finally manage to make that wicked woman Zhang suffer, they were overjoyed!
Seeing his wife get the short end of the stick, Butcher Zhang quickly stood up and glared angrily at Fan Xiaoxiao and the others, saying, "Enough talk! Give us the money! If you don't give us the money, we'll go to the Huang family and have a go at them!"
Fan Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow, showing no fear whatsoever, and said, "Oh? So Boss Zhang wants the town mayor to make the decision?" With that, Fan Xiaoxiao's gaze swept across the crowd and she saw Hou San walking towards them not far away. She quickly waved and called out, "Third Master Hou!"
Zhang the butcher was startled. He hadn't expected that Hou San would be on duty today. Although he usually acted arrogantly, he knew that his daughter was not favored by the Huang family. Moreover, Hou San's identity was somewhat special, and he disliked them very much. If Hou San found out that they had caused trouble again, he would definitely talk about them in front of the Huang family!
But it was too late to stop them now. Hou San had already seen Fan Xiaoxiao's gesture to him and walked over with a stern face.
"Oh, isn't this Miss Fan? Why are you closing up shop so early today?"
Fan Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "Thanks to the care of Third Master Hou and Second Master Zhu, my stall has been able to do some business in peace. By the way, I haven't asked about the braised pork I sent to Second Master Zhu and you a few days ago. Did you enjoy it?"
When this matter was mentioned, a cold glint flashed in Hou San's eyes. If it weren't for the old man from the Wang family bringing him food that day, he wouldn't have known that Zhu Er had actually embezzled the tribute he was given. Now it was just a bowl of food, but who knows how many benefits that guy had embezzled from him on a daily basis!
"Third Master Hou?"
Seeing that Hou San didn't reply, Fan Xiaoxiao asked again with a smile. Hou San then came to his senses, and said with a forced smile, "It's delicious. By the way, what are you doing here today, Miss Fan?"
"Oh! It's like this, this Mr. Zhang said we took advantage of him. He's planning to make us pay him back, or else he won't let us continue setting up our stall. Now he says he's going to see Mayor Huang."
Upon hearing this, Hou San narrowed his long, narrow eyes, glanced at Zhang the butcher who was sweating profusely, and said with an ambiguous "Oh? Is that so?"
(End of this chapter)
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