Chapter 80: The Prefecture [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
The afternoon sun was very strong, and the late summer heat was also annoying.
The sun hangs high in the sky, its heat making people feel drowsy and lethargic, unwilling to move.
Shen Tang, like a wilted vegetable leaf, leaned listlessly with her eyes half-closed, gradually becoming sleepy.
But soon, business came knocking.
Knock knock knock!
The man tapped the wooden stool lightly with his finger and called out impatiently, "Hey, wine seller, wake up! How much is your wine?"
Shen Tang's drowsiness vanished, and she hooked her finger up the brim of her straw hat, revealing a beautiful and delicate face. The newcomer glanced at her face, his impatience vanishing, replaced by a fixed gaze fixed on her, his voice involuntarily becoming somewhat greasy.
"Young lady, how much is this wine?"
Shen Tang said languidly, “A jar of wine weighing two catties costs four hundred and fifty coins, and a jar of other wine weighing two catties costs three hundred coins. No bargaining.”
Seeing her smug face, the man wasn't displeased that Shen Tang was too lazy to get up and greet him. But upon hearing the price she quoted for the wine, he immediately raised his eyes in anger: "Ha! You're just a street vendor, who knows how much water you've diluted in your wine? You're asking for four hundred and fifty coins, and you call that wine? You're a peasant, you've probably never even seen grapes before!"
Shen Tang didn't stand on ceremony: "Buy it if you want, leave if you don't."
The visitor seemed surprised by Shen Tang's reaction.
Based on his past experience, merchants would automatically grovel before him, either showering him with flattery or offering him a discount; none of them would immediately chase him away. Feeling humiliated, he angrily retorted, "Do you know who I am?"
Shen Tang took a serious look at it.
He honestly shook his head: "I don't know him."
When the man heard that Shen Tang was new, he felt a little better.
He said, "I am a servant of the prefectural government."
The steward in charge of purchasing for the household was his uncle.
Shen Tang nodded to indicate that she understood.
This person is still waiting for Shen Tang's "filial piety".
Even if it's not free, it should at least be buy-one-get-one-free. Building good relationships is essential for doing business peacefully in this area. But this clueless guy didn't offer any thanks at all, and even looked at him questioningly, "Why are you still standing there?" If you can't afford it, don't block other people's stalls and delay their business.
He couldn't save face, but he didn't dare to make a scene.
After all, the prefectural government was not far away, and their prefect had a bad temper and didn't like his subordinates causing him trouble. He usually bullied ordinary merchants by taking advantage of the prefectural government, and he wouldn't mind if they took advantage of him, but if things got out of hand, they would all be caned and sold off.
Amused, Shen Tang urged, "Sir, are you still going to buy?"
Seeing that he couldn't gain any advantage, the man reluctantly paid.
Upon opening one of the jars, a rich aroma of wine wafted out.
This man served at the prefectural government office, and occasionally when the household hosted banquets, leftovers would be sent to the kitchen. He could even enjoy a few sips of fine wine and a few bites of delicious food, so he had a certain level of connoisseurship. If every jar was of this quality, he would actually profit, and could claim ten taels of silver when he went to report the expenses.
How much wine do you have left?
Shen Tang said, "As many as you want."
"Such arrogance! How much stock could a small winery like yours possibly have?" He disdainfully put the cork back on, his actions betraying his true intentions. He swept all the wine off the bench in one go, making sure that every jar was a fine wine with a rich aroma before he was able to pay. When it came time to settle the bill, he wanted to take even the smallest advantage. "You can wait here for news. If the master is satisfied, we'll take the rest."
Shen Tang asked, "Is your master a prefect?"
The man snorted proudly, "Who else could it be? Little girl, if your wine is taken with a liking, you'll be set for life."
Shen Tang lowered her eyes, smiled faintly, and remained silent.
Whether she's successful or not is unknown, but—
Just as she was about to complain, a particularly unusual gaze fell upon her. Shen Tang subconsciously looked in that direction and happened to see a window that had closed by chance. Shen Tang frowned, dismissing her thoughts, and refilled the empty wine jar to continue setting up her stall.
at the same time--
Gu Chi stood by the window, watching his roommate remove the fork stick that was propping up the window, and said meaningfully, "They actually found out."
"You've regressed, Gu Wangchao. Is this all you've got in terms of the way of the scholar?" The man who took off his forked pole had an ordinary face, the kind you'd easily lose in a crowd, and even his voice was commonplace. If there was anything special about him, it was his demeanor.
"Qi Yuanliang, why don't you just show your true colors? This is a private room, not broad daylight. Why do you keep hiding like you're something you can't be seen in public?" Upon hearing "the way of the scholar," Gu Chi's face turned slightly pale, but then he relaxed.
He also has leverage over Qi Shan, so he's not afraid.
Yes, pray for good fortune.
The man activated his literary mind, raised his hand to brush his face, revealing a face familiar to Shen Tang, and his voice changed as well.
"You get used to it; better safe than sorry."
Having received a rather unfriendly letter from Gu Chi, he pretended to meet this "friend." Though called a "friend," he actually had no connection with Gu Chi and didn't know his intentions. Fearing complications arising from the tax evasion, he hesitated several times before deciding to go alone.
I just didn't expect—
Young Master Shen would be selling wine at a counter not far downstairs.
He couldn't help but sigh when he talked about this.
How deep is Mr. Shen's obsession with setting up a street stall?
If he hadn't known it was a coincidence, he would have suspected that this guy had followed him here. Coincidentally, he had a lot to say, and his talkativeness made him stand out among the crowd and be discovered by Gu Chi.
I never expected this.
Even more unexpectedly, Young Master Shen made rapid progress and was able to discover Gu Chi's attempt to spy on him. If Qi Shan hadn't grabbed the pole quickly, he would have been exposed.
"Since you're being so cautious, what brings you to Xiaocheng?"
Qi Shan replied, "Asking you that question is also quite appropriate."
The two looked at each other in silence—they had to admit that they were both harboring ulterior motives, and neither was more innocent than the other.
They only knew each other by name.
But their "names"—
It's roughly a pound or eight ounces.
In the current situation, neither side wants to confront the other. If a win-win situation can be achieved, it would be best to avoid each other and achieve their respective goals. If not, it's best not to fight to the point of mutual destruction, allowing others to reap the benefits.
Gu Chi was the first to break the silence.
"To be fair, one question per person?"
Qi Shan said, "Alright."
There are two sides to the story.
While the area around them was engulfed in smoke and fire, things weren't peaceful in the prefectural government either.
The prefect was a surprisingly young middle-aged man. He looked to be in his early thirties. He had no connections and was a member of the Ten Crows tribe. At his age, he had managed to climb to such a high position. Everyone who saw him would say he was amazing!
That's definitely someone else's child.
At this moment, this "other people's child" was respectfully entertaining a distinguished guest—though the guest's attire was worse than that of a county servant. He wore a patched coarse linen robe, his brow furrowed with the weariness of a long journey, his temples gray, his face weathered, and he was accompanied by a boy of about six years old.
The boy was born with exquisite features and an innocent, carefree expression.
He sat obediently beside the distinguished guest, taking small, focused bites of the soft, delicate pastry filling, as if it were a delicacy, completely oblivious to the adults' pretense and politeness.
The prefect's eyes twitched slightly as he watched.
She is innocent and naive, but she is also truly ruthless.
The prefect felt a chill run down his spine when he thought of the county magistrate's gatekeeper trying to push the distinguished guest down the stone steps, only to have his leg broken by a spear thrust at him by the boy, who then warned him with a similar innocent and carefree expression.
Sihu: gatekeeper.
(End of this chapter)
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