Chapter 435 Scholars Who Came Because of Its Reputation
After the business matters were discussed, Mr. Qian took out an invitation from his sleeve.
"Hui'er's mother, who is also my eldest daughter-in-law, is having her birthday banquet the day after tomorrow. Since she is turning forty, she is holding a big banquet. She has long admired Madam Sui's reputation and wanted to pay her a visit in person, but she has no legitimate reason to do so, so she has to give up."
Many women from nearby counties and towns wanted to come to Dahe Village to get close to Lady Sui, but they arrived without any reason, which seemed like flattery and only annoyed people. So those women dared not make any rash moves.
He was one step ahead of the others, becoming a business partner with Lady Sui, and thus had the right to invite her to the Qian family for a drink.
"If Madam Sui has the time, please do me the honor of attending."
Cheng Wanwan accepted the invitation. It was Madam Qian's fortieth birthday, and she would likely be hosting a banquet for many noble ladies. Wasn't this an opportunity delivered to her doorstep?
She smiled and said, "Since Mr. Qian is so kind as to invite me, then I will respectfully accept his invitation."
Old Master Qian beamed: "Thank you for your honor, Madam Sui. I'll have Hui'er come to Dahe Village to pick you up then..."
"No need, I can go by carriage myself." Cheng Wanwan changed the subject. "Let's go to the warehouse to pick up the goods. There are two thousand bottles each of this batch of moisturizing oil and cream. That should be enough for you to keep busy, sir."
Wu Xiaochui also manages the warehouse of the glycerin workshop. After so much time and experience, dealing with merchants from other places and learning from Manager Yan, this fifteen-year-old boy has become very mature. He speaks and acts with impeccable manners. He directs the workers to carefully transport the products out and put them on the Qian family's carriage.
“Madam Sui, I shall take my leave now.”
Old Master Qian cupped his hands in greeting, climbed onto the carriage, and the convoy slowly drove away.
Just after the caravan left, the village head rushed over: "Auntie Dashan, a dozen or so scholars have arrived at the village entrance, saying they've come to admire the lotus blossoms. Are they your guests?"
There is a patrol team guarding the village. Usually, when guests come, Cheng Wanwan will go to the patrol team in advance to let them pass. However, because she did not send anyone to inform them, this group of people was blocked outside the village entrance.
“They should be students from Nanfu Academy,” she said. “Are they wearing blue and white long robes?”
The village head nodded: "Was she invited by Aunt Dashan?"
Cheng Wanwan shook her head: "They must have come because of its reputation. Let them come into the village."
The village head turned and walked towards the village entrance.
"Manager Yan, come here for a moment." Cheng Wanwan called out and said, "These people can come into the village to admire the lotus flowers, but they must pay a head fee of twenty copper coins. Go and tell them."
When these literati admire the lotus flowers, they will start writing poems and painting. Inevitably, the boardwalks and pavilions by the lotus pond will be stained with ink, and some trash will be left to be cleaned up. In addition, some people with clumsy hands will tear off the lotus leaves, and they will probably pick the lotus flowers when they bloom. These are all unavoidable things, so a fee must be charged per person. It is not right to let her people work for free.
"There are also tea, fruit, fruit, and snacks, all of which are chargeable," she continued. "Also, let the cafeteria know so they can prepare in advance, so they won't be caught off guard."
Her guests are free, but these tourists who come to her on their own initiative must be charged.
Manager Yan nodded: "Okay, I'll take care of it right away."
He hurried toward the village entrance and saw four or five horse-drawn carriages already driving into the village.
As soon as Zhao Da and his wife heard that people from the village had come, they immediately came over to fetch the horses and prepare fresh, juicy grass for them. Each horse could eat its fill for twenty copper coins, which wasn't expensive. The scholars paid directly, and in a short while, Zhao Da had collected one hundred copper coins. He happily led the horses to the back of the shop, where a simple stable had been built, making it very convenient to feed the horses.
"Gentlemen, are you here to admire the lotus flowers?" Manager Yan walked over with a smile. "The lotus pond is this way. However, those who have not been invited must pay a fee of twenty wen each before they are allowed to enter the lotus pond."
One of the scholars immediately expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, "The lotus pond is a gift from heaven and earth, which everyone is entitled to appreciate. It is the essence of the country's mountains and rivers, and the land itself. It has never been said that one has to pay money to appreciate it. You villagers are far too greedy."
Shopkeeper Yan's expression softened: "This lotus pond was funded by Madam Sui, and the villagers of Dahe Village dug it out with their own hands. The lotus seeds were transplanted from the deep mountains by many old farmers hired by Madam Sui. If it weren't for the hard work of these people from Dahe Village, you would never have known what lotus leaves and lotus flowers are in your entire lives!"
The village head also spoke up with dissatisfaction: "Every lotus leaf bears the marks of the villagers' hard work and sweat. This is our Dahe Village's lotus pond. It is only because Lady Sui is magnanimous that you have come to admire the lotuses. I, an old man, cannot tolerate you scholars who spout benevolence and morality but only know how to take advantage of us poor folks! Yes, we are greedy and cannot afford to make money off you. Hurry up and leave, we won't see you off!"
“Brother Huang, what you just said was indeed wrong.” One of the scholars rebuked the person who had just spoken, “You should apologize immediately.”
The crowd had come from afar to admire the lotus blossoms, but before they could even see a single leaf, they were driven away. It was incredibly humiliating, so they all looked at the scholar surnamed Huang with condemnation.
The man surnamed Huang twitched the corner of his lips, cupped his hands, and said, "Please forgive my abrupt words just now."
As he spoke, he pulled a small piece of silver from his sleeve, which looked to be a little over two qian (a unit of weight).
Manager Yan weighed the silver coins in his hand for a moment, then put them away and smiled again: "Come, everyone, this way please."
Walk along the main road, then turn onto a side path, go around Cheng Wanwan's yard, and you'll reach the lotus pond behind it. The lake is 200 acres in size, with ducks playing in the water, fish swimming at the bottom, lotus leaves layered upon layered, and a lotus bud standing tall and graceful. What a beautiful lotus pond scene!
These scholars immediately forgot their earlier unpleasantness and their spirits lifted.
A scholar wearing a jade pendant took out a large silver ingot from his pouch and said, "Please bring us some tea and snacks, thank you."
Shopkeeper Yan liked this kind of sensible person, and said with a smile, "This money is more than enough for tea and snacks, and you can even have dinner in the village. Do you need to start preparing now?"
These people had all heard Qian Hui talk about the delicacies of Dahe Village, all of which were related to lotus leaves. They had never seen a lotus before, and naturally had never eaten one, so they all nodded in agreement.
Manager Yan immediately went to make preparations.
The group of scholars also held a poetry gathering at the lotus pond. After appreciating the lotus and reciting poems, Manager Yan took them to the market for a meal.
In the evening, all the workers finished work and went home for dinner, so the Dahe Canteen had almost no business and catered specifically to this group of customers.
The same dishes as last time were served, and the group thoroughly enjoyed their meal, feeling that the trip was definitely worthwhile.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the carriages were already harnessed, and the horses were clean and plump, clearly well taken care of.
"Come visit again when you have time."
The village headman saw the person off with a smile. The carriage gradually drove away, and the sky gradually darkened.
He walked towards Cheng Wanwan's house: "Auntie Dashan, we need to discuss the details of this lotus viewing matter..."
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