TLHRP 🍁 Chapter 4: Steward Zhang

Having already discussed the plan the previous evening, early the next morning Father Qin and Qin Feng went to work in the fields, while Qin Luo went to school. Thus, Mother Qin took the eldest sister-in-law, Qin Fu, and Qin Li with her to dig bamboo shoots.

All four carried large bamboo baskets on their backs. There were so many bamboo shoots that their baskets were full in no time. Making trip after trip back and forth, by the end of the day the four of them had dug enough shoots to fill the entire courtyard, which was now piled high with them.

The eldest sister-in-law took time out to make dinner. After the whole family had eaten, they all carried stools over and sat in a circle to wash the bamboo shoots. Once washed, the shoots were soaked overnight, and only fished out and blanched the next day.

In order to pickle a large quantity of sour bamboo shoots, Mother Qin steeled herself and bought ten large vats, which were arranged neatly in the courtyard. The reason such a large undertaking went unnoticed by the other villagers was that there were few households near the Qin home. Tucked against the mountain and sheltered by the slope, it was quiet and perfect for getting work done.

When the ten vats of sour bamboo shoots were finally ready, Qin Li discussed with Mother Qin and the eldest sister-in-law how they should sell them, and what price would be appropriate.

"Let Dalang carry them into town on a shoulder pole to sell. We'll charge five wen per bowl," Mother Qin said, gesturing to indicate the size of a palm-sized bowl.

Qin Li shook his head. "Mother, that's far too cheap. If we only sell them for five wen a bowl, even if big brother carries a whole load, he won't make much money."

"After all, bamboo shoots grow everywhere. We didn't pay for them, we only bought a few vats, and things like the chili peppers are grown in our own fields. We're just earning money for our hard work," Mother Qin said.

"Mother, that's the wrong way to think about it. We worked so hard to pickle these sour bamboo shoots precisely to make money. If big brother can't sell much per trip, all that going back and forth will be too exhausting. Besides, the method and flavor of our sour bamboo shoots are one of a kind in town, they'll definitely sell well. The recipe isn't particularly difficult either; before long, all the restaurants and food shops will figure it out. We need to earn that first sum of money before they do," Qin Li said slowly.

"Then Li ge'er, how do you think we should sell them?" the eldest sister-in-law asked.

"Fifteen wen per bowl."

Both Mother Qin and the eldest sister-in-law exclaimed in surprise. "Fifteen wen a bowl? Will anyone buy them at such a high price?"

Qin Li nodded and said firmly, "Someone will definitely buy them. Mother, Sister-in-law, don't think about this from our perspective. Think of it differently: the things people in town buy, food, clothing, daily necessities, aren't they all more refined than ours? And don't they all cost more? Fifteen copper coins is expensive to us, but even a random dish at a restaurant in town costs no less than twenty copper coins."

Mother Qin and the eldest sister-in-law exchanged glances, and finally the sister-in-law nodded. "Mother, I think Li ge'er is right. People in town are definitely different from us, they're willing to spend money on food. Didn't Second Young Master Feng say when he came back last time that even the servant girls from wealthy families buy eggs for ten wen apiece?"

Mother Qin thought back and remembered this as well. Finally, she nodded and agreed to Qin Li's proposal of selling the sour bamboo shoots for fifteen wen per bowl.

Before dawn the next day, Father Qin and Mother Qin packed a shoulder pole full of sour bamboo shoots, and instructed Qin Dalang to sell them for fifteen copper coins a bowl, with no haggling allowed. Qin Dalang shouldered the load and set off in the dim twilight.

By the time Qin Li woke up, it was already daylight. Learning that his eldest brother had left nearly two shichen ago, he could not deny that he felt anxious.

In the time since Qin Li had transmigrated, he had gained some understanding of the common knowledge and price levels of this dynasty, but this was still his first attempt at something in this world. Though he had given his big brother a few instructions the previous night, he was worried that his brother would be too reserved and wouldn't listen to him.

Fortunately, Qin Feng didn't keep Qin Li fretting for long. By afternoon, he had hurried back home.

The moment he saw his brother's figure entering the door, Qin Li scampered over to him.

Looking at Qin Li's bright eyes, Qin Feng ruffled his hair. "They're all sold out. Big brother has something to tell Mother too. Come along, Li ge'er."

Qin Feng set down his shoulder pole, took out a small jar, and carried it into the house.

Seeing her eldest son return home, Mother Qin asked, "How did it go, Dalang? Did they sell well?"

"Mother, they sold wonderfully!" Qin Feng gulped down a large bowl of water, set the small jar on the table, and said, "Look, Mother, this is the money from selling the sour bamboo shoots this morning. A full five diao of coins!"

Mother Qin was shocked. Five diao! That was five taels of silver! In the Dayan Dynasty, one diao of coins equaled one tael of silver; one diao was 1000 copper coins, meaning 1000 wen = one diao = one tael of silver.

The five taels of silver Qin Feng brought back was more than the Qin family's entire income for over half a year in the past! And now they had earned so much in just one morning.

"Mother, Li ge'er, there's also ten taels of silver here." Qin Feng pulled an ingot of silver from his bosom.

"Dalang, where did you get this?" Mother Qin asked urgently, afraid her eldest son had done something he shouldn't have.

"Mother, let me explain. This morning I carried the load into town to sell, and at first few people bought any. Then I walked to the Zhang Family Restaurant, and remembered what Li ge'er told me last night: if no one shows interest in buying them by the bowl, go to the restaurants. The big restaurants in town will definitely be curious, yes, 'curious', that's what Li ge'er called it." Qin Feng nodded firmly.

Qin Li nodded with a smile. That was exactly what he had told his big brother last night. Though fifteen wen wasn't much to people in town, spending it on a bowl of common bamboo shoots, hardly a novel novelty, wouldn't seem worth it. Plus, the local people had no expectations for sour bamboo shoots; after all, besides being sour and astringent, what other flavor could pickled bamboo shoots possibly have?

If few people asked about or bought the shoots, they should head to the town's restaurants. With all the people coming and going, someone would surely want to try a taste. He could swallow his pride and hawk a bit, offering to sell to the restaurant staff. If someone asked and bought some, that was great; at worst, they would just be chased out by the restaurant people.

He had originally worried that his honest, simple big brother wouldn't be able to bring himself to do it, and had thought that if his brother came back with most of the sour bamboo shoots unsold, he would go along with him the next day. It seemed now that wouldn't be necessary.

"So I carried the load into the Zhang Family Restaurant. I brought a bowl and wanted to let the waiter and the accountant taste the flavor, and by chance I ran into Steward Zhang, who comes to inspect the restaurant once every ten days. When he saw me selling bamboo shoots, he called me over. After tasting it, he asked if we had pickled a large quantity, and what the price would be if we sold them by the vat. I wasn't sure what to say, so I only told him we had a few more vats at home. Then Steward Zhang gave me this silver ingot as a deposit, and said to come back to the restaurant tomorrow once we'd decided."

Qin Feng recounted the whole matter in detail. "I was thinking, tomorrow Li ge'er should go and decide on this. Li ge'er is the one who came up with the sour bamboo shoots, and he set the price too. This business deal should be negotiated by Li ge'er."

"Dalang is right. Tomorrow, Li ge'er will go with you," Mother Qin said.

And so it was decided: early the next morning, Qin Li would go with his eldest brother to the Zhang Family Restaurant in town. Since Jinghe Village was far from the town, Qin Li had to get up very early. The next day, while it was still dark, Qin Li got up, washed, and had breakfast. The eldest sister-in-law had made a flatbread, which the two brothers ate with the leftover soup from the previous day. After breakfast, they set off.

Since arriving in the Dayan Dynasty, this was Qin Li's first time going to town. He was very excited, looking left and right at the scenery along the way, full of enthusiasm the whole journey. But soon enough, Qin Li lost all interest.

There was no other reason: Qin Li simply couldn't walk anymore! In the modern era, travel had been convenient. In this other world, his body had been weak and he had spent a long time recuperating, never having walked such a long distance. His feet quickly grew tired; from being cheerful and excited when they left home, he was now drooping and listless. Qin Feng saw this, his heart aching with pity and regret, and decided they would take an ox cart on the way back.

When they finally reached town, Qin Li's feet were so tired he could barely lift them. Qin Feng, with the shoulder pole in one hand, ruffled Qin Li's hair with the other and said, "You're exhausted, Li ge'er. Big brother will take you to rest your feet first, then we'll go to the Zhang Family Restaurant."

"Mm-hmm!" Qin Li nodded furiously. He needed to rest!

Qin Feng brought Qin Li to a tea stall, set down his shoulder pole and baskets, bought a bowl of tea, then went to the nearby steamed bun stall and bought two meat buns, coaxing Qin Li to eat them.

"Brother, you eat too." Qin Li held out one of the two meat buns to his eldest brother.

"Brother isn't hungry. I just ate flatbread this morning. Besides, I'm used to walking this road, I'm not tired."

At Qin Li's insistence, Qin Feng still took the bun and ate it. Qin Li's eyes curved into crescent moons.

After they had rested at the tea stall, the two went to the Zhang Family Restaurant. Looking at the imposing four-story restaurant before him, with guests streaming in and out, Qin Li hoped the owner wouldn't be too unscrupulous. He was just an ordinary commoner and couldn't afford to stir up trouble; he only hoped the steward would have a conscience and not bully them.

The moment Qin Feng stepped through the door, the waiter spotted him and hurried over to greet him. "Young Master Qin! Our steward is in the back courtyard. He instructed early this morning that if you came, you should be shown straight to the back. Please follow me."

Entering the back courtyard, they saw a fair-faced man in his early forties sitting on a stone stool, looking over and calculating something.

"Steward Zhang, this is my third younger brother, named Qin Li. You can just call him Li ge'er, Steward Zhang," Qin Feng said.

"Hm." Steward Zhang looked at the young boy before him, with his red lips, white teeth, and handsome features, and asked, "Li ge'er, are you the one who can negotiate this sour bamboo shoot business?"

"Yes, Steward Zhang. I can make decisions regarding this sour bamboo shoot business," Qin Li said firmly.

"Oh?" Steward Zhang, who had originally assumed the decision would be made by Qin Feng's parents, looked at the boy before him in surprise. A ge'er who looked no more than twelve or thirteen years old could actually make decisions about business negotiations? He wondered what skills the boy had. He couldn't underestimate him; he would have to feel him out thoroughly.

"I wonder how much more of this sour bamboo shoot your family has, Li ge'er? And what price do you intend to sell it for?"

Qin Li shook his head. "A few days ago, my family pickled ten vats of sour bamboo shoots. But I didn't come today to discuss the selling price with you, Steward."

Steward Zhang raised an eyebrow, already guessing the answer. "Li ge'er, do you mean you want to sell the recipe?"

Qin Li nodded. "That's right. Steward Zhang, you manage such a large restaurant, you've surely seen and tasted countless rare and unusual dishes. I imagine you can taste how most dishes are made, and roughly what seasonings were added, just by trying them. Even if you can't perfectly replicate the original secret recipe right away, you wouldn't be far off. You've tasted this sour bamboo shoot too, Steward. I'm sure you already have a rough idea of how it's made."

"Indeed. Yesterday I tasted this sour bamboo shoot, it was crisp, sour, and delicious, with a spicy, fragrant flavor. Upon careful tasting, I detected chili peppers, garlic cloves, and ginger, I believe. As for that aroma... I'd guess some kind of spice or brine was added?" Steward Zhang said.