He Zhuo gestured for Hong Yu and Xiao Zhenbao to speak.
"Boss, where is this new rice? Let me see it." Hongyu still had some manners.
"Oh dear, who do you think I am? You can't call me 'boss' as a young master. This is the owner's. I'm just a manager. Everyone calls me Zhao Er. You can just call me Zhao Er, young master." This manager was quite a character. These words didn't sound obsequious coming from his mouth. It was clear that Manager Zhao had been a manager for many years and had long been experienced.
"Manager Zhao, is the new rice you mentioned in here?" Hongyu stepped forward to check.
"Young master, there isn't much new rice, so I had someone bring it to you."
"Look at this, it's so shiny, it's definitely top-quality stuff!"
Hongyu had no idea about superior or inferior quality. The two little ones leaned forward to take a look and asked, "How much is this rice?"
Manager Zhao's eyes darted around. Purchasing from wealthy and powerful families was a lucrative business. No one would overstate their profits; they could buy ten coins here and report back as fifty, or even one hundred or two hundred. It was an unspoken rule, known to all the managers.
Whose young master is this? His family's purchasing is probably going to suffer, but that's none of Zhao Er's business. He's just unlucky.
Manager Zhao quickly changed his mind and told the truth: "This new rice is 30 coins per catty. Young master, which household do you live in? Our shop can deliver it to your residence."
Hongyu lowered his head: "30 coins?"
My mother said that one tael of silver is 1200 wen, and 30 wen is one jin. How much can one tael of silver buy?
As Hongyu was thinking this, his sister asked, "At 30 coins a pound, how much can one tael of silver buy?"
Zhao Er didn't need to use an abacus; he knew this perfectly well: "One tael of silver is worth 40 catties."
The two children turned to look at their mother. He Zhuo stepped forward to check; the rice was indeed new rice. New rice from the areas surrounding the capital wouldn't be available until October, but the variety was average.
This new rice was transported from the south, and the price is reasonable.
"Alright, give us two stones. We came by carriage. We'll have your shop assistant carry them to the back of the carriage in a bit. Peace, treasures, and maybe some other things. Shopkeeper, could you introduce them to us?"
Manager Zhao was pleased with the successful transaction: "What would you esteemed guests like to see?"
We have a wide variety of products here. Look at these mung beans; they're perfect for cooling down and relieving summer heat.
These red beans are plump and cooked until soft and tender. Adding honey and chilling them makes a wonderful dessert. Small yellow soybeans are best for soy milk, while large yellow soybeans are perfect for stewing with pig's trotters. All of these are priced the same, 25 coins per pound. These are all top-quality varieties.
Little Treasure wanted to eat as soon as she heard that: "Give me a little bit of everything."
Manager Zhao looked at He Zhuo, who was the one in charge.
He Zhuo patted his daughter's head and said, "Do as my daughter wishes. Give me 20 catties of mung beans and 3 catties of each of the rest."
Hongyu spoke up: "Manager Zhao, you just said these are all top-grade, but there are also medium and low-grade ones?"
Shopkeeper Zhao was overjoyed after making two sales, and answered every question: "Yes, but the medium and low grade rice doesn't taste as good or as sweet as the new rice from Jiangnan that you bought."
Hongyu nodded. "Which kinds?"
Manager Zhao introduced them one by one.
Actually, this shop is located in the city center, so the rice it sells is naturally better than the rice shops located near ordinary people. It claims to be low-grade rice, but in reality, it is what ordinary people call medium-grade rice, which is what ordinary people call upper-middle-grade rice.
After He Zhuo finished his introduction, he asked Dong Hui, "Are there any lilies left in the manor? Let's go back and cook some mung bean and lily soup to cool off in the summer heat."
After shopping, the group headed home, and both children were a little tired on the way back.
They slept the whole way, and it wasn't until they reached the garden that He Zhuo woke them up. After returning to their place, He Zhuo sent the two of them off to take a nap, and then he took a nap with his youngest son.
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