“Mother-in-law, do you think this is a bit too expensive?” Manager Jin said in a gentle tone. “A plate of stir-fried cabbage is only seven or eight coins, and five coins per catty. This is too expensive.”
"Is it expensive?" Jiang Nuan looked at Manager Jin innocently. "I don't think so. You think it's a great deal for vegetables that cost two taels of silver per pound? What, you can't accept five coins per pound for the secret-recipe side dishes?"
"How can these be the same?" Manager Jin raised an eyebrow. "Cabbages are everywhere, and people feed the pigs with what they can't finish. How can they compare to fresh, green vegetables?"
“I didn’t even compare,” Jiang Nuan retorted, “the difference in value is four hundred times.”
"This..." Manager Jin stammered, "How can these be the same?"
"What's the difference?" Jiang Nuan pouted. "They're all things that you eat to fill your stomach."
He waved his hand impatiently, "Alright, I'm busy, I don't have time to chat with you. Take it or leave it."
“Mother-in-law,” Manager Jin looked at Jiang Nuan sincerely, his gaze exceptionally earnest, “to tell you the truth, this price is truly unaffordable. Three coins, three coins is my decision, I’ll buy a thousand catties.”
"Dream on," Jiang Nuan sneered. "Buy it or don't, I don't care. Five coins a pound, not a penny off."
That old fox, trying to play the emotional card now? Too late!
If it weren't for that basket of vegetables, I could just eat whatever I wanted; these days, it's good enough that the price hasn't gone up.
She holds grudges quite a bit!
“Madam Jiang,” Steward Qiushan chimed in, “how about four coins? This is already the limit; any more than that is beyond our control.”
“You’re still whining about a penny,” Jiang Nuan said with disdain, giving the two of them a look. “If you’re a man, just be straightforward. Say whether you’re buying or not, and stop dawdling.”
Is this a matter of a single penny? Manager Jin was so angry he didn't want to say a word.
This side dish is a consumable. Wuweilou's business has been good recently, so they've been conservative and still use two or three catties a day, and they also have to send some to the mansion from time to time.
Over the years, this expense adds up to quite a bit.
That's all money!
"Never mind then," Manager Jin said angrily, turning his head away. "This side dish is indeed delicious. We've always come here even without it."
"Are you sure?" Jiang Nuan narrowed her eyes. "Whatever you want. I've never liked to force anyone."
After a pause, Jiang Nuan said seemingly casually, "I forgot to tell you, I plan to sell this side dish to Juquanlou, or maybe more than Juquanlou."
"What?!" Manager Jin's expression changed drastically. "You want to sell it to Juquanlou?"
Wuweilou's business was just starting to pick up, and if Juquanlou snatched it away, he would be furious!
"We do have that plan," Jiang Nuan explained earnestly. "After all, such delicious food shouldn't be wasted, right?"
“I agree,” Manager Jin said decisively as soon as Jiang Nuan finished speaking. “Five coins a pound, I’ll buy it. However, I have one condition.”
"What are the conditions? Tell me first."
“I can buy it for five coins a pound,” Manager Jin said solemnly and seriously. “But you must guarantee that you can only sell it to Wuweilou and not to any other store.”
Jiang Nuan turned her face away, sighed, and shook her head. "It's not even dark yet, why are you already dreaming? Do you think that's possible?"
How much stuff can Wuweilou possibly take in?
If she only sells to Wuweilou, wouldn't her grand business of collecting cabbages be forced to a halt?
She wouldn't do something so stupid!
"Five coins a pound, no conditions accepted. Buy if you want, otherwise find someone else." Jiang Nuan was particularly firm.
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