Fresh vegetables are extremely rare in winter, especially in some small towns where there are neither high-ranking officials nor wealthy families.
After giving away vegetables free of charge to major charcoal buyers in several surrounding towns when he first started selling vegetables, Zhiwang realized that the Ye family had limited manpower for farming and could not easily grow thousands of kilograms of vegetables, so he simply narrowed down his business scope.
The bean sprouts can be harvested every seven days and are sold in several surrounding towns.
However, the quantity and variety of other dishes are not fixed, so they are only sold in the small town at the foot of the mountain.
Besides bean sprouts, there are also cucumbers, garlic sprouts, scallions, leeks, and so on from time to time.
It's a bit pricey, but for the town's merchants, buying a few pounds every now and then to try something new is just right.
Sweet potatoes and corn were the two best-selling items, and as soon as they arrived at the market, they were snapped up by eager shopkeepers.
That day, as soon as Zhiwang arrived at the market carrying his baskets, several familiar servants immediately gathered around him:
"Do you have any sweet potatoes? My wife has bad teeth and really wants to eat sweet potatoes; she looks forward to them every day."
"Corn is fine too. Cook it in the same pot with the pork ribs, it'll be really sweet."
"Go away, go away. You can tell from the baskets that there are no sweet potatoes or corn. If you don't want to buy them, then don't block other people's way."
"Hey, how can you talk like that? I never said I wouldn't buy any other groceries."
Seeing that the people in line were rolling up their sleeves and pushing each other, Zhiwang quickly stopped them and called out:
"Today there are no sweet potatoes or corn, only four baskets of potatoes, two baskets of sweet potato vines, and a few side dishes."
The vegetables were planted casually by the villagers behind the kang (heated brick bed) after they heard Ye Wenxue dig a cellar to grow vegetables. They originally intended to cultivate them and hand them over to the village so that the brothers could taste them together.
But yesterday, something happened in the village. The people who successfully grew the vegetables promptly asked Zhiwang to sell them, and used all the money they got to buy brown rice.
Compared to money that's hard to hold onto and side dishes that's hard to save, brown rice, if eaten sparingly, can at least last for a few meals.
The servants in line were disgruntled. The first few hesitated for a moment, feeling that they couldn't waste so much time queuing.
Even after learning that there were no dishes the men in her family wanted, she stayed where she was.
The two boys who were about to mediate breathed a sigh of relief and quickly helped pack potatoes and sell sweet potato vines, adding a small amount of vegetables to those who bought a lot.
In less than half an hour, all the vegetables that had been carried down the mountain that day were sold out.
The people from the other town arrived late, slapping their thighs in regret, and repeatedly pulled at Zhiwang: "Next time you have to leave me a few pounds, anything is fine!"
Zhiwang replied with a smile, "No problem, no problem."
You can pay a deposit in advance.
After dealing with several demanding servants, Zhiwang wiped away his cold sweat and called over a few children:
"Let's go to Brother Wen's house for dinner."
The five children counted out the silver they had earned, obediently handed it to Zhiwang, and followed behind carrying their empty baskets.
"Brother Wang, should we keep the matter of the bandit camp a secret from Brother Wen?"
Zhiwang turned around and saw that the one who spoke was the best-looking among the children, but he was a boy.
The eldest child wasn't given a name, so he's usually just called Chenchen.
Zhiwang carefully gathered the half-basket of potatoes and a large handful of sweet potato vines that he had specially hidden, and solemnly began to speak:
"No need to hide it, just say it. Brother Wen is smarter than me, he can manage his people."
Unlike him, there were at least four or five people who usually went down the mountain with him and Zhiwu to pick vegetables and sell them.
Now things are really messed up. The stronghold is in chaos, and those few people can't be mobilized at all. They're just hiding in the stronghold with the others, and I don't know what they're up to.
Chenchen sensed the self-deprecation in Zhiwang's words and cautiously offered a few words of comfort.
Zhiwang shook his head and didn't continue speaking. He then led the five children to knock on the door of Zhiwen's rented courtyard.
After Zhixing went to the prefectural city, Zhiwen took over the charcoal sales business in several surrounding towns.
With the foundation laid by Zhixing, Zhiwen's business of buying charcoal at low prices and selling it at regular prices continued to operate normally, and even subtly expanded in scale.
Zhiwen was more down-to-earth than Zhiwang. He didn't insist on squeezing every penny of profit, only earning the money he deserved, which to some extent stabilized the coal prices in the surrounding towns.
After all, Zhiwen had a lot of charcoal, and the quality was good.
If he doesn't raise prices, how can other merchants dare to raise prices arbitrarily? Wouldn't that be asking for trouble?
After a period of experience, Zhiwen could see that the charcoal business probably wouldn't last long.
When Zhiwang arrived with his men, Zhiwen was discussing what business to start next spring, and now was the perfect time to begin.
"Brother Wen, I've brought some people over to freeload a meal."
Zhiwen heard Zhiwang's voice from afar and couldn't help but chuckle.
The term "mooching a meal" was something they learned from Old Master Ye, and Zhiwang's ability to apply what he learned is still as impressive as ever.
Zhiwen personally went to pick up Zhiwang and his group. Now that the charcoal business was doing well, he no longer needed to do everything himself.
In the short time that Zhiwen had been gone, Zhiwang and his five children had just arrived at the gate of the courtyard.
As usual, Zhiwang smiled as soon as he saw Zhiwen: "Brother Wen, something's happened at the mountain stronghold."
Zhiwen's smile froze.
The counterfeit goods have run into trouble, and you're still laughing?
Zhiwang, who was being interrogated by Zhiwen by the ear, recounted the events of the previous day. The five children who had come with him sat by the fire pit, not daring to make a sound.
After listening, Zhiwen's eyes flickered slightly, and he instantly understood what Elder Nian meant.
He didn't say much, but ordered food to be served, and then called over several orphans who worked for him. The group gathered together to eat.
During the meal, Zhiwen glanced at Zhiwang and the others:
"Don't go back to the mountain village yet. Stay in town for a few days. I've hired a teacher, so you can learn to read and write with him."
Zhiwang, shoveling rice into his mouth, asked curiously:
"Brother Wen, there are still scholars in town at this hour? How did you manage to get one?"
You should know that ordinary scholars consider themselves superior and look down on merchants, thinking that merchants are full of money and unwilling to do anything with them, let alone go to a merchant's home to teach them to read.
Zhiwen slowly began, “He doesn’t want money. He needs three dou of coarse rice, two cuts of meat, and five baskets of charcoal every month.”
Zhiwang understood. This schoolteacher was probably so poor that he couldn't even afford to eat. If he didn't swallow his pride, he might not survive the winter.
He hesitated briefly, then quickly agreed.
The disturbances at Zuoyou Mountain Village are endless, and Boss Ye won't be able to harvest another batch of vegetables for another three days.
Rather than going back to the mountain stronghold where there is constant unrest, it is better to stay down the mountain. With Zhiwen around, no one can cause trouble.
The dozen or so orphans picked up by the bald man, the older ones followed Zhiwen to start a business, while the younger ones followed Zhiwang to try everything.
After lunch, apart from those who went to the surrounding towns, all the orphans who had been taken in sat obediently in the warm house, quietly waiting for the schoolteacher to arrive.
Chenchen didn't fight with the others and sat in the windiest and coldest spot by the door.
He was lost in thought, pondering the old man's words, when he suddenly caught sight of the schoolteacher walking towards him at a leisurely pace.
Chenchen looked the teacher up and down a few times, her pupils contracting slightly, and subconsciously wanted to tell Zhiwang her innermost guess.
The schoolteacher happened to step into the room, calmly glanced at the few extra children, and politely tapped the table:
"Today we will continue learning the Three Character Classic."
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