First signs
Wang Pan'er's herbal medicine shop was quite popular among the students, and they became regular customers. However, she never expected to be visited by a troublesome old scholar.
The old scholar, disheveled and unkempt, followed behind the students and ordered a pound of beef.
After Wang Xiaoyao received the money, he stood in front of the stall with the lotus leaf bag containing braised beef, refusing to leave.
He blocked the people coming from behind, and Wang Xiaoyao whispered, "Sir, you're blocking the people behind you. Please move aside."
She spoke politely, but the old scholar suddenly snapped, "You haven't given me my change yet, and you're already trying to kick me out? Is this how you do business?"
Wang Xiaoyao hadn't expected to encounter such a situation. He was stunned by the old scholar's shout: "You only gave me fifty coins!"
"I gave you a string of cash!" The old scholar stretched out his hand with hooked nails and pointed to the box where they kept their money. "This is the string of cash I just gave you. Would I, a mere scholar, wrong an illiterate little girl like you?"
How could Wang Pan'er sit idly by when they dared to bully Wang Xiaoyao? "Let's not even talk about whether we took your money or not. So what if you're a scholar? You only passed the imperial examination at the age of seventy or eighty. Look how capable you are."
Wang Pan'er's precise targeting of his sore spot caused the old scholar to bulge his veins and roar: "You little brat! When I passed the imperial examination, your father was probably still pissing and playing in the mud!"
Mu Chuan feigned surprise: "So even scholars use foul language? No wonder they say that the most vulgar is the most elegant; they just love to gild their own image."
The old scholar's face flushed red and then turned pale as he was mocked, and he was speechless for a moment.
Wang Pan'er then began to look for evidence: "Now let's talk about the issue of giving copper coins. My money box is placed next to the stove, and the money will get heated up if it's left there for a long time."
She picked up the string of copper coins the old scholar was pointing to and held it out to the onlookers: "Everyone, come and touch it, see if it's warm."
"It's really hot to the touch."
"The old scholar has only been here for a few breaths. If these copper coins were really his, they wouldn't be so hot."
Wang Pan'er picked up a few more loose copper coins and gave them to the onlookers: "Touch this one again?"
Everyone touched it and immediately understood.
The old scholar's trick was exposed, and he fled in disgrace.
After this incident, Wang Xiaoyao developed the idea of studying and coaxed Wang Pan'er, saying, "What's so great about studying? He can become a scholar even with his limited knowledge, so I want to learn to read and write too!"
Wang Pan'er chuckled: "Girls can't pass the imperial examinations to become scholars, but studying helps one understand principles. It's a good thing you want to study. Even if you can only read, it will make things much easier."
However, she had never raised a child before. After Wang Xiaoyao shed her timidity, she revealed a talent and brilliance that had never been discovered before. Wang Pan'er couldn't see how far she could grow.
Although she herself got into a top-tier university, she was ultimately a product of exam-oriented education. She couldn't recognize all the traditional Chinese characters, nor was she fluent in classical Chinese. She usually understood written texts by guessing and piecing together information. If she were to teach other students, it might be a mistake to mislead them.
After much thought, he set his sights on Mu Chuan.
Mu Chuan usually speaks in a very literary and refined manner, only revealing his true, more colloquial side when someone really teases him, indicating he is undoubtedly quite knowledgeable. Moreover, after spending so much time together, his character and habits are quite reliable, making him the best candidate, without a doubt.
Upon hearing the meaning behind his words, Mu Chuan began to boast: "I am a student of the Imperial Academy, though I am among the lowest ranks, but I am certainly capable of teaching literacy. Besides, I see that Xiao Yao, at such a young age, dared to raise a knife against his wicked father; given time, he will definitely be extraordinary..."
"What is it?"
Mu Chuan propped his head up and stared at her intently: "So, why is the instructor here?"
This is someone trying to gain an advantage.
Mu Chuan is polite and knows his limits; he is not a greedy person. This piqued her interest, and she wanted to find out more.
Is it about money or feelings?
Mu Chuan shook his head: "These are all external things, there's no need to value them."
"You don't want me to repay you with my body, do you?" Wang Pan'er suddenly leaned close to Mu Chuan. "Of course I'd be willing to do such a good thing."
Mu Chuan stopped Wang Pan'er's head from getting close: "Even Xiao Yao is unwilling to be a subordinate to others, yet you always like to tease me with these things."
Wang Pan'er grabbed Mu Chuan's hand: "Then be honest, what exactly do you want?"
"What I need right now, you can't give me." Mu Chuan twisted his wrist, breaking free. "Or will you grant me a condition?"
Wang Pan'er was more than happy for him to ask for an exorbitant amount, because the more favors they owed each other, the deeper their relationship would become. So she waved her hand and said, "Of course, of course, we've been through thick and thin together."
Mu Chuan received a satisfactory response, smiled and nodded, which was considered an agreement to be Wang Xiaoyao's mentor.
Today is probably an inauspicious day for everything. I had just sent the old scholar away when the sky darkened and then a light drizzle began to fall.
Judging from the situation, it won't stop anytime soon.
With no pedestrians left on the street, everyone dejectedly began packing up their stalls, and Wang Pan'er was no exception.
These days, I've been saving money single-mindedly, pushing myself to the limit without feeling the hardship. But once the idea of taking over the shop officially entered my mind, those days of pushing the cart around, frantically spreading oil paper on the stall to keep it dry in wind and rain, began to feel like an insurmountable burden, making it hard to breathe.
Opening a shop requires finding a suitable location. Renting a shop means giving up her current leisurely life. Whether she opens or not, the cost of rent is a constant concern, creating immense pressure. If the landlord changes their mind and takes back the shop, Wang Pan'er will be at their mercy and have no other recourse.
If she were to buy one, a shop in the market would be extremely difficult to find. There were not many shops available for trading, and each shop cost three to five ingots of gold. Aside from the daily operation of her stall, Wang Pan'er could only scrape together a little over one ingot of gold to buy a shop.
To open a shop, you must save money quickly, sell more goods, and expand your sales volume.
To increase sales, you either need to set up new stalls or distribute your products to places like restaurants.
Currently, they mainly make money from herbal braised dishes, but they have already developed quite a few varieties of braised food. If they add braised noodles with sauce, sweet herbal soups, and some pastries, porridge, or stews, the three of them would be too busy to keep up, and the stock they have prepared now basically doesn't sell out until dark.
Setting up new stalls is difficult, so we have to find distribution channels.
Wang Pan'er planned to start her visit with the largest restaurant.
The rain was still falling intermittently. The three of them made do with a bowl of braised noodles for lunch and decided to go out after the rain stopped.
The gilded signboard of Yu Shi Zhai was particularly dazzling after the rain. The manager, wearing a dark silk robe embroidered with dark cloud patterns, stood at the entrance of the restaurant, welcoming a group of elegantly dressed diners.
He bent down to lift the sedan curtain for the person in the lead, smiling obsequiously. His face was wrinkled like a haphazardly folded quilt, a stark contrast to his disdainful attitude on Dragon Boat Festival.
Before Wang Pan'er even reached the restaurant, the group of people entered the restaurant in a grand procession, respectfully invited by the innkeeper.
They were dressed in luxurious clothes, with their crowns and belts adorned with various gemstones, a sight rarely seen in the small town.
Countless commoners followed the nobles like they were watching monkeys, muttering about their clothes and demeanor, finally getting a glimpse of their grandeur.
The innkeeper greeted the distinguished guests, and the waiter came out, pulled off the rag hanging around his neck, and waved it at the crowd: "Go away, go away, don't disturb our distinguished guests."
The people were still enjoying themselves when they saw the group go upstairs and disappear completely before they dispersed.
Wang Xiaoyao had over thirty silver coins on her. She casually placed the open money bag on the table, and the waiter, with keen insight, brought over the menu: "Sir, what would you like to eat? Our Jade Food Pavilion specializes in..."
He's really grown up; Wang Xiaoyao can actually use this move!
Wang Pan'er almost burst out laughing. She raised an eyebrow at Wang Xiaoyao, who, receiving the signal, revealed a confident smile.
Wang Xiaoyao ordered dishes according to the three people's preferences, and also brought out a pot of fine wine. He then whispered to the waiter, "Who were those people in that huge group just now?"
The waiter was much more enthusiastic this time: "They are all big shots from the Liuyun Chamber of Commerce. You know the Liuyun Chamber of Commerce? It's the largest merchant group in Jinzhong. Our restaurant owner is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce!"
Speaking of this, he was very proud: "This time, the chairman came directly to our Da'an Town for inspection. A large copper mine has just been discovered on the outskirts of our town, and he said he wants to take over the mining and smelting operations!"
With the rise of iron smelting technology, refined iron replaced copper ore as the main raw material for making tools and weapons. However, as an equivalent currency, copper ore still played a significant role in economic trade.
The coins they use now, also known as copper coins, are an essential tool for daily transactions.
Wang Xiaoyao was very interested: "Wouldn't that require a lot of people to work?"
“Absolutely,” the waiter replied confidently. “Once the mine opens, the people of Da’an Town will all be able to enjoy a better life.”
Wang Xiaoyao pondered: "Indeed, with mines, we ordinary people can become miners, earning much more than farming. With a job that guarantees income regardless of drought or flood, we won't have to tighten our belts and count every grain of rice to make ends meet. As they become more prosperous, we small merchants can also benefit, and the government's tax revenue will naturally increase significantly."
"That's exactly right." The waiter straightened up. "Please wait a moment, sir. Your food will be here shortly."
Fortunately, they managed to take Wang Xiaoyao out of Wangjia Village, where she met the virtuous and talented Mu Chuan. To have such a bright mind sold off to anyone in the village for a dowry would be a huge waste. Even if Wang Xiaoyao was naturally intelligent, the constant beatings and monotonous chores would have been enough to wear down a spirited girl, turning her into a mediocre and ordinary person.
Wang Pan'er looked as if she had found a treasure, and nudged Mu Chuan with her elbow: "How about it, can I be considered a top student?"
“We’re from the same village, but he’s much more accomplished than you.”
"You bastard!" Wang Pan'er slapped Mu Chuan's arm. "What's wrong with me? Even if I'm lazy and unambitious, you still have to rely on me to save your life!"
He kept babbling on and on, but his blows weren't too heavy. Mu Chuan rubbed the spot where he was hit and grinned, "Yes, yes, otherwise I would have been left to rot in the wilderness long ago."
"You better watch yourself. You have such a pretty face, don't smile so cheaply."
While the food at Yu Shi Zhai wasn't the absolute best, the dishes were certainly exquisite. The three of them ate and drank their fill, even brewing a pot of tea to aid digestion, before the manager, who had seen off the Liu Yun Merchant Guild, finally arrived.
The innkeeper tailored his approach to each customer. Since Wang Pan'er didn't have any suitable clothes, the most elegant Mu Chuan took over the negotiation position.
The shopkeeper looked Mu Chuan up and down, and asked the reason: "You want to sell your braised food?"
"Yes," Mu Chuan replied, taking the packaged beef slices from Wang Pan'er and handing them to the shopkeeper. "Please give it a try, shopkeeper."
The shopkeeper picked a piece from the middle, put it in his mouth, chewed it carefully, and nodded with satisfaction after swallowing it; "It tastes good, but..."
Wang Pan'er's newly ignited hope was extinguished in less than three seconds.
If kind words are followed by unpleasant comments, the matter is unlikely to succeed.
Mu Chuan patiently waited for the shopkeeper to finish speaking.
“Our Yushizhai is the top restaurant in Da’an Town. We can’t just serve any dish. Although your braised meat tastes good, we don’t know the ingredients and can’t find out the source, so we can’t take the risk.”
"Our spice packets contain medicinal herbs and common seasonings."
The shopkeeper shook his head, maintaining a composed and unhurried demeanor, and said, "It's not cooked in our kitchen. If any step goes wrong, we'll be in serious trouble. Your meat is braised in a special way; if you really want to sell, I might consider buying your recipe."
As soon as she finished speaking, Wang Pan'er frowned.
She wanted to sell fish, but the shopkeeper across the street wanted to buy fish. In this world, the recipe for the medicinal brine was unique, and unless it guaranteed her a lifetime of wealth, there was absolutely no reason for her to sell the recipe.
Mu Chuan thought the same way. After exchanging glances, Mu Chuan raised his hands and clasped them together in front of the shopkeeper, then said, "The spice packet is a secret recipe passed down from our ancestors. We are not destined to work with Yu Shi Zhai. Even if the business doesn't go through, we can still be friendly. This braised beef is for the shopkeeper to enjoy."
The shopkeeper, uninterested, took the lotus leaf package, waved his hand, and turned to go back to the inner room.
The second restaurant also turned its back on customers.
They had no choice but to visit a third company.
The third restaurant was called Bazhen Pavilion. As soon as they entered, they saw a familiar student jumping around in the hall with a rice bowl in his hand, being chased and beaten by his father, who was holding a feather duster. The student would shovel a few mouthfuls of rice whenever he had a spare moment, which made his father red-faced and furious. The others stood outside the father and son's path, trying to break up the fight.
How wonderful!
Upon seeing them, the students, before they could even wipe the grease from their mouths, called out to Mu Chuan, "Young Master Mu, what brings you here!"
With guests arriving, the father could no longer discipline his son. He put down the feather duster, put on a smile, and looked at the three of them: "My son is naughty, yet he has managed to befriend such a charming young gentleman. However, the chef has already finished work, so we cannot order any dishes today."
He glanced at the waiter, who immediately understood and brewed a pot of hot tea.
The third restaurant wasn't as luxurious as the first two, but it had a more lively, down-to-earth atmosphere. It wasn't crowded either; half an hour after sunset, there were no customers left.
Wang Pan'er opened the lotus leaf package and placed it on the table, inviting the student's father to try it: "Shopkeeper, would you like to try some?"
"Hey!" The shopkeeper slapped his thigh. "I often eat your braised beef with medicinal herbs. You've come here today not to ask me for a sales channel, but to find one?"
"Hiss." So straightforward, Wang Pan'er almost didn't react. "The shopkeeper has a keen eye."
"This braised meat is fine for our own consumption, but..." the shopkeeper's tone shifted, "You may have visited other shops as well."
Wang Pan'er hesitated before speaking, then nodded absentmindedly.
“It’s an unwritten rule that if something goes wrong after you eat it, you’ll face legal trouble. I doubt any restaurant would accept your finished product. Even if you were willing to sell the recipe, you wouldn’t be able to get into my shop.” The shopkeeper tapped the table and thought for a while. “Perhaps you could sell spice packets? Not just spice packets for medicinal marinades, but also those for calming drinks and beauty soups. I can take them all.”
That's not a bad method.
Buy a mortar and pestle to grind the herbs into fine powder and mix them evenly. Even if you can identify the types of herbs, it is still difficult to estimate the weight and proportions.
"However, I still need to learn from the three of you about making this brine. My surname is Yao, and from now on, I will consider you a business partner."
Wang Pan'er needed to see if she could increase the business of this restaurant first, so she didn't need to visit other hotels to scout them out. She brought the remaining braised meat to the table and said, "I wouldn't call it seeking advice. Manager Yao is a senior in the industry, managing a restaurant. If you think highly of me, then let's just consider it an exchange."
The braised meat was plentiful. Manager Yao was a friendly man and invited the staff to taste it together. He even specially handed a whole bag to one of the older women, saying, "Studying is hard work. Take this and make sure your family has a good meal to nourish yourselves."
"Is Yan Ge'er's mother also in the shop?" Wang Pan'er looked curiously at the old woman who came to take the lotus leaf package.
The old woman thanked him politely but not humbly. Instead of squeezing in with the other workers to share the meat slices, she dutifully continued to tidy up the tables and chairs that had been knocked over by the father and son's farce, her demeanor mirroring that of Li Qingyan.
"Qingyan is a good child, but he has a hard life. His father was a hunter, and the family was relatively well-off, so they sent him to school. Unfortunately, he was killed by a prey a couple of years ago..." Manager Yao sighed. "Qingyan helped my unfilial son a lot with his studies. That's how my wife and I learned about his family's situation. My wife is kind-hearted and felt sorry for the orphan and the widow, so she brought Sister Tian to work at the restaurant."
Mu Chuan then exclaimed, "He certainly possesses the integrity of a scholar. If he can pass the imperial examinations, he will surely be able to serve the court."
Wang Pan'er nodded in agreement.
After exchanging pleasantries, Wang Pan'er and Manager Yao finalized the details of the transaction. The three of them happily stepped out of the restaurant, their plan successfully completed.
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