It was impossible to weigh them, because they didn’t have scales. Who would buy scales just to occasionally set up a street stall? They tied them directly with grass into bundles, estimated by weight that it would be enough for one family’s meal, bundled it up, then set a price.
“Fine, I’ll take all the mustard greens.”
The purchasing manager from the Zhao family was unhappy. “I asked for them first.”
“But you haven’t paid.”
Hearing this, the Zhao family manager’s gaze swept over the vegetables on the stall. He immediately counted out thirty coins and handed them to the stall owner, waving his hand grandly. “Three coins per bundle. I’ll take everything.”
The vegetable farmer didn’t hesitate and immediately loaded all the mustard greens from his stall into the basket carried by the assistant behind the manager. He had asked first after all, and raised the price by one coin. Naturally it should be sold to him.
He happily dragged over a bamboo basket from the side. “There’s also cabbage here. Five coins per head. Will you gentlemen take it?”
His family’s cabbages were quite large. The two managers looked at each other, immediately said they would take them, then quickly divided them up by grabbing them.
Other vegetable farmers saw this and quietly raised their vegetable prices.
More and more people entered the market. What should have been the afternoon with the fewest people seemed like an early morning market instead, full of people coming to buy vegetables.
Some clever ones tried to probe further. “My vegetable field is in the city. If you urgently need vegetables, I can go pick them now and deliver them.”
Hearing this, the manager immediately nodded. “Sure. Just bring them here. However much you have, I’ll take.”
The vegetable farmer perked up and asked, “Then where should the vegetables be delivered? I don’t want to trouble you to make another trip.”
The manager said, “Deliver them to Zhenxiu Tower.”
Other vegetable farmers had been listening with pricked ears. Hearing this, they also began communicating with the people buying their vegetables. Before long, many vegetable farmers had taken orders.
Never mind whether their families still had enough vegetables—they’d take the orders first. If their own families didn’t have enough, their relatives would. Their fellow villagers would.
They could buy from fellow villagers at a slightly lower price, then markup the price to sell to these managers. They could earn at least one copper coin per bundle by this turnover, right?
After selling their vegetables, the farmers hurriedly shouldered their baskets and returned home. Meanwhile, people from outside the city had also begun entering the city in succession. As soon as they entered the gate, they were greeted and invited to stay at inns, and managers from various shops who had been waiting early wanted to buy the goods they’d brought.
The merchants never expected business in Luoyang to be this easy. They’d just entered the city and buyers came to them automatically?
They inquired about prices and found them surprisingly good—higher than many had expected. So those who couldn’t resist the temptation made sales on the spot.
Mixed in the crowd, Zhao Qing hesitated, then also wanted to sell a batch of goods. Zhao Fan pushed through the crowd and pulled him aside. “Are you stupid? So many people buying goods at the city gate—this shows these things are valuable in Luoyang. We’re in no hurry to sell. Wait a few more days.”
Zhao Qing said, “But there are too many merchants traveling with us this time. We may not know, but don’t we know ourselves? There are large convoys of vehicles outside. Once they come in, prices will probably drop.”
Zhao Fan said, “Don’t rush. Let’s go find Seventh Uncle to ask.”
Zhao Qing said with disdain, “Seventh Uncle is best at pressing down prices. Though we’re from the same clan, I don’t want to sell things to him.”
“Aiya, if we don’t sell, we don’t sell. But we can ask him for information. We’re unfamiliar with Luoyang. This whole journey was under the Zhao Family Army’s protection. Calculate for yourself—if you were transporting goods yourself, wouldn’t the price be just right?”
Zhao Fan said, “So, if Luoyang really needs these goods, the price has to go even higher.”
Zhao Qing hesitated.
Zhao Fan pulled him forcefully outward, saying, “First find lodging, then we’ll talk. Once we’ve figured out the situation, then we’ll sell.”
Zhao Qing had already been hesitating. With this pull, he went along, though he couldn’t help muttering internally, “Fifth Uncle left first. Where should we stay?”
Zhao Fan’s eyes also went dark. He was deep in thought when a servant came squeezing through, exclaiming happily, “It’s Young Master Qing and Young Master Fan…”
He bowed and said, “I’m Xile. The Young Lady sent me to guide the clansmen.”
He said, “The Young Lady received a letter from the clan midway, saying all you gentlemen brought quite a few things. The Young Lady had people clean out several mansions for you gentlemen to use as warehouses. It’s just that those houses are old and in disrepair, not suitable for living in, so…”
Zhao Fan immediately understood. “We know. As long as there’s a place to put our things, that’s fine. As for us, we’ll naturally find an inn to rest.”
Xile smiled. “That’s wonderful then. Please come with me, both young masters.”
Zhao Qing and Zhao Fan took their convoy and left with Xile.
The group headed directly into the inner city. As soon as they entered the inner city, Xile took out a string of keys and opened the main gate of a mansion to let them in.
Inside the gate, the courtyard was desolate. Fallen leaves had been swept away. The several rooms inside all had their doors and windows open—they must have been airing out.
He directly removed a key and handed it to Zhao Fan, smiling. “This mansion is temporarily entrusted to Young Master Fan. The storerooms inside are all open. You gentlemen may use them yourselves and prepare your own keys.”
He added, “The houses are old and in disrepair. Some leak wind and rain. Please be careful, Young Master, and don’t let the goods get damaged. If you need anything else, just have someone go to the Zhao mansion and call for me.”
Zhao Fan glanced at his own manager.
The manager immediately grabbed a handful of copper coins from his bosom and gave them to him, pulling him aside to ask quietly, “Today’s events are much appreciated, little brother. It’s just that our young master is visiting Luoyang for the first time and isn’t very familiar with things, so there are some matters we’d like to ask little brother about.”
Xile stuffed the money into his sleeve and hurried to say, “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. If you have any questions, just ask. Whatever I know, I’ll answer without holding back.”
“Why are there so many people soliciting business at the Luoyang city gate? And so many merchants seeking to purchase goods…”
Xile smiled and explained, “The court has returned, and the Young Lady brought back so many people. When they moved into new homes, they naturally needed to furnish them. Plus with the weather turning cold, they need to prepare new clothes. Whether wealthy or common people, everyone needs to welcome the new year. But transporting goods to Luoyang takes time. When they went to buy things, they discovered Luoyang City’s inventory was limited, so…”
The manager’s eyes lit up. “So Luoyang is short of cloth and silk now?”
“It’s not just cloth and silk that are scarce,” Xile said, counting on his fingers with a smile. “Plates, bowls, chopsticks, lumber and ornaments, even pots, spatulas, basins, and buckets—everything is scarce. Just this past month, the Ministry of Works has made quite a bit of money selling these things.”
The manager grabbed another handful of copper coins and gave them to him, smiling. “Thank you so much, little brother. My young master would also like to visit Sanniang in person, but I wonder if Sanniang has time to see him?”
Before coming, Xile had received instructions from Miss Ting He, so he said calmly, “The Young Lady has been quite busy recently, but when clansmen come to visit, the Young Lady will make time to see them no matter what.”
Actually, if it weren’t for so many clansmen coming this time, bringing so many goods and people that the Zhao mansion wasn’t large enough, she would be very happy to get close to her clansmen.
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