The shop assistant’s eyes darted around, his long, narrow eyes glinting with a shrewd smile. The Fu Family Rice Shop was big, and often had wealthy clients coming to buy.
If he managed to catch a gullible customer, he could earn quite a bit—most of the extra money went to the steward, but those under him would also get a little taste.
“Indica rice is fifteen wen per dou, japonica rice is twenty wen per dou.”
Fu Tian frowned. He had done his homework before coming. Times were peaceful and the harvests had been good these past years, so grain prices weren’t high.
In Nanmíng Commandery, the usual price was eight wen per dou for indica rice, and twelve wen per dou for japonica rice. Even accounting for fluctuations, the difference was no more than one or two wen.
But the price quoted by the shop assistant was nearly half again as much as what Fu Tian knew.
Fu Tian’s mood instantly soured. He looked at the shop assistant, half-smiling, half not. “With you quoting such sky-high prices, who would dare do business with you?”
The shop assistant put on a fawning smile and said helplessly, “There’s nothing we can do, the Dongjia sets the prices. We underlings just follow orders.”
“The Dongjia sets the prices?” A gloomy shadow passed between Fu Tian’s brows as he looked at him coldly.
The shop assistant thought he was displeased with the Dongjia for raising the prices, and immediately said indignantly, “You might not know this, but our previous Dongjia was Master Wen from the Wen Family in Sifang Town.”
“But I heard something happened to the Wen Family recently, and now Madam Wen is in charge. Tell me, what does a woman know about running a business?!”
“The shop’s a mess now, isn’t it?”
He was happily ranting, not noticing how Fu Tian’s expression was growing uglier by the minute.
“Just recently, she came to the shop with the steward to collect accounts, saying she wanted to check the books.”
“If you ask me, women should just stay in their place. Who knows what she’s messing about for? This shop’s been running for over ten years, how could there be any problems!”
“So this price was set by Madam Wen?” Fu Tian cut off his endless complaints, staring at him expressionlessly.
The shop assistant glanced at his face, eyes rolling, and nodded. “That’s right.”
Hearing this, Fu Tian actually smiled. Chu Xiangtian and the others thought he was about to get angry, but instead, he kept asking, “So, should I buy or not?”
“I heard the Fu Family Rice Shop only sells the best rice, so I brought people all the way here on purpose,” Fu Huo said, raising a hand and showing a number. “I’ll need at least this much.”
The shop assistant’s eyes widened in disbelief. “One hundred shi? Japonica rice?”
Fu Tian nodded, looking arrogant. “But at these prices…”
“Price isn’t a problem…” The shop assistant leaned in mysteriously. “Young Master, may I have a word in private?”
Fu Tian raised his brows slightly and followed him into the back room, away from the others.
The shop assistant rubbed his hands together excitedly and grinned, “A hundred shi of japonica rice—I can give you ten wen per dou.”
“Didn’t you just say the Dongjia set the price and it couldn’t be changed?” Fu Huo asked calmly.
“Our rice shop can’t do it,” the shop assistant said conspiratorially.
“But I know the manager at Zhao Family Rice Shop. If you want, I can get you that price—ten wen per dou. It’s twelve on the market right now. So, what do you think…”
The shop assistant chuckled, his small eyes shining as if Fu Tian were a meat pie falling from the sky.
Fu Tian pretended to be convinced and pondered for a moment.
“Which rice shop I buy from doesn’t matter. But this batch is for a special liquor. The japonica rice must be top quality. Can the Zhao Family Rice Shop guarantee that?”
The shop assistant nodded repeatedly. “No problem, Zhao Family’s rice is just as good as the Fu Family’s.”
Fu Tian shot him a glance and turned with his hands behind his back. “Then take me to have a look.”
“Alright, this way please.” The shop assistant hurried ahead to lead the way.
Fu Tian shot Chu Xiangtian a look, and the group followed behind.
The Zhao Family Rice Shop wasn’t far, just across the street. From a distance, the storefront was no less impressive than the Fu Family’s, and there were people going in and out, making it much busier.
They entered, and the shop assistant, clearly familiar, strode inside and called out loudly, “Manager Zhao, an honored guest is here!”
As his words fell, a chubby middle-aged man waddled over. When he stopped in front of Fu Tian, the fat on his chin still jiggled.
“May I ask your surname, Young Master? Are you here to buy rice?”
Manager Zhao’s squinty eyes spun as he sized up Fu Tian, a calculating smile on his face.
“Just Li,” Fu Tian said, strutting around the shop with his hands behind his back before finally putting on airs. “I’ve already explained my requirements.”
This manager looked much sharper than the shop assistant. Fu Tian braced himself to deal with him, putting on the act of an easy mark.
The shop assistant quickly repeated the requirements, and Manager Zhao, who seemed much steadier, asked offhandedly, “Young Master, are you from the Li Family of Lehe Town that brews liquor?”
Fu Tian’s face changed. He said bluntly, “I’m Li Qingnian from the Li Family of Sifang Town. If Manager Zhao doesn’t want this business, just say so!”
Manager Zhao’s expression shifted. A new face coming in and asking for a hundred shi of japonica rice made him suspicious, so he probed a little.
He didn’t expect this really was a young master from the Li Family.
He quickly put on a smile, “Please don’t take offense, Young Master Li. Business is tough these days. We’ve run into quite a few scams, so I had to be cautious. If I’ve offended you, I apologize.”
Fu Huo had just wanted to give him a warning so he wouldn’t press further. Hearing this, he didn’t pursue the matter and got back to business.
Just as the shop assistant had said, the Zhao Family Rice Shop’s japonica rice was ten wen per dou, half the price of the Fu Family Rice Shop. No wonder the Fu Family’s business was so bad.
Fu Tian suppressed his anger and haggled with Manager Zhao for a while, finally agreeing to bring people to pick up the rice tomorrow morning.
After leaving the Zhao Family Rice Shop, the shop assistant happily saw them off for a bit before turning back. As soon as he returned to the shop, the steward happened to come back as well.
The shop assistant excitedly told him everything, bragging, “Young Master Li said he’ll bring people to check the goods tomorrow morning.”
The steward patted him approvingly on the shoulder. “Well done. You’ll take people to the warehouse to get the rice. Once Zhao Family settles the payment, you’ll get a bigger share of the reward.”
The shop assistant’s face flushed with excitement. He rubbed his hands and went outside to gather people, preparing to move the rice from the warehouse.
***
As soon as the shop assistant left, Fu Tian’s smile collapsed. He cursed angrily under his breath, “Those ungrateful traitors!”
He was so furious that his chest heaved violently. Unable to vent outside, he paced in circles before stomping angrily back to the inn.
Chu Xiangtian strode after him. Seeing Fu Tian’s lips pressed into a thin line and the red at the corners of his eyes, he thought for a moment but said nothing, silently following him back to the inn.
Fu Ji had been waiting at the inn. When they came back, he went up to ask about the situation. Fu Huo was still fuming, barely nodding before stomping upstairs.
Fu Ji was baffled. “What happened? He was fine when he left, but now he’s so angry.”
“It’s nothing, just blowing off steam. I’ll go check on him.” Chu Xiangtian waved for the others not to worry and went upstairs.
He pushed the door open—it wasn’t locked—and entered, closing it behind him before sitting across from Fu Tian.
Fu Tian sat with his head down, fuming in silence.
“There’s no need to get so worked up over people like that.” Chu Xiangtian fumbled in his sleeve but couldn’t find any pine nut candy.
He regretfully withdrew his hand and comforted him, “Once we have all the evidence, how to deal with them is up to you.”
On the way back, Fu Tian’s anger had cooled a bit. He picked up the tea on the table and drank it all in one go, still grumbling, “The Fu Family has never treated them badly.”
Chu Xiangtian rubbed his head. “People die for wealth, birds die for food.”
This world doesn’t reward you for how much you give. People’s hearts are fickle, especially in the face of profit.
Fu Tian’s expression shifted several times before he finally let out a deep sigh.
Chu Xiangtian patted his shoulder comfortingly.
Though he didn’t want to say these things, since the Little Marquis had chosen to shoulder the Fu Family’s burdens, there would only be more matters and people like this in the future.
He had to learn to handle it himself.
“Instead of being angry, think about how to deal with them tomorrow.”
“That shop assistant is very close to Zhao Family Rice Shop. It looks like this isn’t the first time it’s happened.”
“Most likely, Zhao Family offered them some benefits. And even though we didn’t see the steward during the day, he’s probably involved too.”
Moved by his words, Fu Tian gradually calmed down and began to think seriously.
They’d only visited one rice shop. The other was on a different street, but both shops had the same steward. So if he wanted to punish the steward, he’d have to find someone to temporarily take over.
The Fu Family Rice Shop’s reputation had probably been ruined by these parasites, so this time, it had to be a big deal.
It would be best if everyone in Shangming Town heard about it. After rooting out the parasites, he could lower the prices and try to restore the Fu Family Rice Shop’s reputation.
But how to do it was the question.
“If you can’t think of anything, let’s go eat first.”
Chu Xiangtian stood up and grabbed his wrist, leading him out. “You need to fill your stomach before you can think properly.”
Fu Huo’s wrist was still small enough to fit in one of his hands. The slightly callused palm rubbed his thin wrist, making it itch.
Fu Tian felt a little uncomfortable for some reason, quickly pulling his hand back and hurrying downstairs ahead of him.
Chu Xiangtian followed unhurriedly, rubbing his fingers together, savoring the delicate, smooth feel. The corners of his mouth curled imperceptibly.
After being out all afternoon, they returned just in time for dinner. Fu Ji had already reserved a table at the Liquor House.
The others had already gone ahead—only Chu Xiangtian and Fu Tian hadn’t come down yet.
He was pacing in the inn’s lobby, wondering how to comfort the Little Marquis, when he looked up and saw Fu Tian coming down the stairs. His face instantly broke into a smile.
Fu Tian stopped and looked at him apologetically. Though Fu Ji was just the steward, he had cared for Fu Tian since he was young—almost like a half-parent.
He shouldn’t have lost his temper like that. “I was being childish just now.”
Fu Ji waved his hand, the smile deepening the lines at the corners of his eyes. “It’s nothing. The food’s already served next door. Let’s hurry over.”
The three of them went to the private room in the Liquor House. When the others saw them come in looking relaxed, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
Fu Tian was usually even-tempered—this was the first time they’d seen him so angry, and everyone had been a bit anxious.
They finished dinner in a harmonious mood. Afterward, Fu Tian sidled up to Zhou Chuanqing, hoping to get some advice.
Zhou Chuanqing was just about to speak when he caught Chu Xiangtian shooting him a glare sharp as a knife. He paused, then pointed to the clearly displeased Chu Xiangtian. “Lao Da should have a way.”
Fu Tian turned to him in confusion. Chu Xiangtian hooked his lips and crooked his finger. “Want to know?”
Fu Tian nodded obediently and shuffled over, looking up at him. “I do.”
Chu Xiangtian shot Zhou Chuanqing a “good call” look, then lowered his head and said gently to Fu Tian, “Let’s go back to the room and I’ll tell you.”
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