He was certainly in pain just a moment ago, but now that he’s got a small gain, he’s incredibly happy.
Ji Xinhe slightly raised the corners of her lips, took a sip of tea to conceal her smirk.
In fact, shopkeeper Wu hadn’t lost anything. Ji Xinhe’s promise would undoubtedly reassure him, who would be her exclusive business partner for all the future pickle varieties. Despite losing a lot of profit due to the fixed pricing, he still ended up profiting.
Let’s not even mention the profit of selling a dish of pickles for nearly half a silver.
Most importantly, GuiLin residence being the sole distributor of these unique pickles in the whole town is a selling point. It can attract many more customers.
Ji Xinhe simply took advantage of the fact that shopkeeper Wu wanted this selling point, which emboldened her to raise the price. Seeing that 35 taels per catty was a suitable price, she decided to stop there.
Seeing shopkeeper Wu so cheerful, he quickly said: "You probably haven’t had lunch yet? I invite you to dine here as a small token of our gratitude. Is that okay?"
Xiao Bei’s eyes lit up, and he looked eagerly at Ji Xinhe.
Ji Xinhe patted Xiao Bei on the head and smiled: "Given the generous invitation of the shopkeeper, Wu, we can’t refuse. Okay then."
"Good, that’s great!"
Wu Zhanggui quickly ordered the dishes. He then took a seat and said to Xin He: "Miss, with a mind like yours, why are you still managing a market stall? I feel inferior. Why don’t you work with me at the GuiLin Residence?"
Shopkeeper Wu has been doing business for many years, yet he keeps stumbling when dealing with this shrewd girl, who always secures the maximum gain. He is not blind and can see that this girl is extraordinary. If she could be put to use within the GuiLin Residence, that would be great.
Ji Xinhe chuckled: "Shopkeeper Wu, your eagerness to cherish talents is admirable, but I have no such intentions. My pickle business can slowly build its reputation. After saving some capital, I plan to open a shop to conduct this business."
Shopkeeper Wu’s eyes brightened, and he inquired: "Young miss, you plan to open a shop too? It seems that you have a lot of new products lined up?"
Because having a shop for just four varieties of pickles would be a waste.
Ji Xinhe lifted her lips and said, "Of course, if you cooperate with me, Shopkeeper Wu, you will certainly have no issue!"
Shopkeeper Wu felt a surge of reassurance wash over him. Regardless of having relinquished such a large portion of the profits, and having suffered some losses dealing with her, he felt that choosing to deal business with her was the right choice.
While they were talking, a deft servant came and served the dishes — four dishes and a soup, a modest feast, and also brought out a jar of female red.
Ji Xinhe looked at the preparations on the table. It seemed that Shopkeeper Wu was indeed sincere and then she laughed and said: "Thank you for your hospitality, Shopkeeper Wu."
Shopkeeper Wu waved his hand with a smile: "It’s nothing."
Ji Xinhe poured a glass of wine for both herself and Marquis Mu, took a sip, and nodded: "This female red is quite good."
Marquis Mu said: "This is the grape wine that was buried two years ago. The taste is indeed better than the newly brewed one."
Shopkeeper Wu laughed: "Lord Husband is indeed well-informed. The guests at our GuiLin Residence are either wealthy or noble. We naturally choose the best for them. We have both female Red that was buried two years ago, and Maotai that was buried for ten years!"
Ji Xinhe, as if struck by a sudden thought, asked: "So that means, Shopkeeper Wu, you have all kinds of wines here?"
Shopkeeper Wu immediately said: "Of course! Although GuiLin Residence isn’t the top bar in Lian’an Town, it’s ranked among the top five. We ensure that our esteemed customers are served the most exquisite wines!"
Ji Xinhe then asked: "I wonder if the GuiLin Residence has grape wine?"
Shopkeeper Wu squinted his eyes as if thinking about it, and then frowned saying: "This... I’ve heard of it."
Ji Xinhe raised her eyebrow: "Shopkeeper Wu, you’ve heard of it?"
"Only the foreign people tribute this wine. Probably only the palace has it, right? Or the elite people of the capital city. In a small town like this, it’s not likely that these rare items are present." Wu Zhanggui sounded somewhat suspicious: "How do you know about it?"
Due to his long career in the wine industry, Wu Zhanggui knew a little bit about it. However, he was surprised to learn that Xin He, a simple village girl, knew about it.
"Foreign tributes? What region?" Ji Xinhe was taken aback as she didn’t expect that it existed.
"Western Regions." Marquis Mu who had been quietly drinking his wine suddenly added.
"The Western Regions give tributes? How many jars do they send?" Ji Xinhe quickly asked.
If it was many, then her item may not be so rare.
Marquis Mu shook his head: "Not many. During the annual tribute, at most ten jars are given. The Emperor rewards his external ministers with at most three jars and keeps seven jars for the palace’s use. For common people, it is even less."
He had indeed received a few jars, and the taste was indeed quite good, yet it was rare.
Shopkeeper Wu’s eyes widened in surprise: "How do you know?! "
Did this kind of information get leaked to everyone in the village? Did he live all these years in vain?!
Shopkeeper Wu felt considerably affected by this revelation.
Ji Xinhe couldn’t help but laugh: "Is that so?"
Looking at her smile, Marquis Mu knew what she was thinking. He whispered in her ear: "The grape wine you brewed in your backyard, is it ready yet?"
Ji Xinhe widened her eyes in surprise: "How did you know?"
Everyone in her village thought that she was just randomly storing things in those big jars in her courtyard. No one knew what exactly was in those jars, let alone that they were making grape wine.
Marquis Mu subtly raised an eyebrow: "If you can make it, why can’t I know?"
Just by the smell, he could tell what it was.
This girl, she really had many skills.
And many secrets.
Ji Xinhe snorted lightly: "I won’t tell you!"
She then turned toward Shopkeeper Wu and said, with a beaming smile: "Given its rarity among the common people, if the GuiLin Residence possessed it, can you imagine its prestige?"
Shopkeeper Wu was so surprised that his eyes were about to pop out. He exclaimed: "If the GuiLin Residence has it, it can easily take over Wanxing Tower as the top bar in Lian’an Town! Are you...?"
There was a faint hope in Shopkeeper Wu’s voice, but he did not dare to believe it completely. He was anxiously staring at Ji Xinhe.
Ji Xinhe rested her chin on her palm and said: "Yes, I have it."
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