Chapter 49

Chapter 049: Big Business, Re-establishing the Contract

Early in the morning, two carriages suddenly entered the Ling family's village at the dirt roads that intersected several neighboring hamlets. After inquiring about Ling Jingxuan's residence, the carriages headed straight to the foot of the Yuehua Mountain. Along the way, many villagers working in the fields saw them, but no one dared to approach and ask. Almost everyone was guessing who these two carriages were here to find.

"Huh!" The carriages stopped at Ling Jingxuan's doorstep, and shopkeeper Zhang, of Xinyuan Restaurant, got off from the back of one of the carriages. He signaled one of the drivers to watch the carriages. Accompanied by his two assistants, he knocked on Ling Jingxuan's tightly closed wooden door.

"Who is it?" Xiao Baozi's crisp voice echoed, and then, with a creak, the door was opened. Xiao Baozi stood behind the door, tilting his head in suspicion, sizing them up for a moment.

Before Zhang could say anything, Xiao Baozi quickly turned around and darted back.

"Daddy! Daddy, the big uncle came! The one from the restaurant yesterday! Daddy..."

"Ugh..." With a wry smile, shopkeeper Zhang's expression shifted, his amusement overshadowed by bemusement as he dumbly watched the little figure run away.

Not long after, Ling Jingxuan came out of the house, followed by Ling Jingpeng and the two little buns who had just come over.

"I made shopkeeper Zhang laugh, please come in!"

The shopkeeper who was stunned finally came back to his senses. He smiled a little embarrassedly, then cupped his fists and said, "Mr. Ling, please."

"Hehe... let's not be polite. Please, this way."

How can the host go ahead of the guests? He still wants to do his business.

"Haha...then I'm not going to be polite. To be honest, Mr. Ling, I'm here to talk to you about the jam. Yesterday...”  

Shopkeeper Zhang, who entered the yard, was only halfway through his speech when his attention was attracted by the barrels of fish placed in the yard. Seeing the fat and big carp inside, shopkeeper Zhang couldn’t help but wonder. “Hey, it's the season to catch such big carps. Mr. Ling, this is also yours?"

There are indeed fishing activities in the area, as fishermen rely on them for their livelihood. However, despite the abundance of fish, year-round fishing and limited feeding opportunities make it rare to find large fish during this season. That was the main reason why the price was so high.

"Well, the medicine-raised fish I raise in a nearby stream doesn't produce much. It's only enough to make a living."

Ling Jingxuan obviously didn't want to say more. He just fooled around with a few words. He didn't think shopkeeper Zhang would be as easy to deceive as those people in the market. It would be bad if he was asked to take him to the place where the fish were raised. Before the fish pond was built, he didn't plan to catch too many fish.

"Medicine-raised fish? Can you raise it yourself?"

Sensitively grasping the point, shopkeeper Zhang couldn't help exclaiming. For thousands of years, this is something that no one has ever done.

"Hehe... I just got lucky and figured out a recipe for raising fish with herbs."

He knew this would happen, but Ling Jingxuan was helpless. If he said that he caught the fish casually, with the shrewdness of shopkeeper Zhang, it would be even more difficult to fool him. Now is not the season to produce such fish in large quantities. Further, it is early in the morning, so why are there so many fish waiting for him? Where did he catch it?

"Then can you ration it every day?"

Seeing that he still had something to hide, shopkeeper Zhang resolutely gave up on the topic. Instead, he pointed out that he was interested in these fish. Ling Jingxuan pretended to be contemplative before replying, "Currently there are up to 30 fish per day, not necessarily carp or silver carp. Grass carp is available if the shopkeeper wants it. He can only send a carriage to pick it up since I can’t deliver it to the town every day.”

Xinyuan Restaurant was open all over the Qing Dynasty. The power behind it must be extraordinary. It is a good thing to cooperate with them for a long time. Now because he doesn’t have his own fish pond, he can’t sell a lot of fish. In the future, if he already has it, can make more money with it.

"Okay, let's go in and talk slowly."

With one last look at the lively fish in the bucket, shopkeeper Zhang took the initiative to step forward. Ling Jingxuan quietly gave Ling Jingpeng a look, signaling him to take the two little buns to the backyard before following. The most important task for children is to study and play. He didn't want them to get involved in business matters too early.

"Master Ling, then I'll just say it straight," Zhang said, sitting down in the main hall without much fuss and getting straight to the point. "To be frank, after you left yesterday, I introduced the chilled dish you created. The response exceeded my expectations. After the peak at noon, I personally went to the town and the shopkeeper there also expressed great interest. I sent an express letter to the prefectural government, explaining in detail how to make the chilled dish and the matter of purchasing fruit jam. Today, I received a letter from the prefectural government. We have decided to simultaneously introduce this chilled dish in all the branches across the entire prefecture. So, I wanted to ask, can you supply us with a thousand jars within the next ten days? After that, can you guarantee a minimum of five thousand jars per month?"

This data is extremely large and scary, and it's just their conservative estimate, which is why he came in person. Honestly, he didn't expect the chief manager of the state capital to attach so much importance to this matter.

"Well, it's possible, but we may need to change the pricing method." Anticipating this result, Ling Jingxuan pondered for a moment and said in a firm tone.

"What pricing method?"

Seeing the opportunity, the chief manager's interest soared, and just then, Ling Jingpeng came in. Ling Jingxuan gestured to him to stay calm and asked him to fetch a jar of fruit jam from the cellar.

Ling Jingpeng nodded and went out. The chief manager was puzzled, but when Ling Jingpeng returned with a jar of fruit jam wrapped in white cloth, Ling Jingxuan received it, uncovered the cloth, and handed it to the chief manager. "Yesterday, we agreed on one tael of silver per jar. Originally, I thought you wouldn't need much, at most a few hundred jars per month. But now, your quantity has increased tenfold, and it might increase even more in the future. If we keep using these small jars, the supply will run out soon. As you can see, I am just a village farmer with two kids, and I can't run around to buy more jars. So, I thought about using larger jars. We can calculate the price per catty (unit of weight) instead, and I will take a loss by selling it to you for one tael of silver per catty."

Even though it's a no-profit deal, he could still act as if it hurt, which he did convincingly.

"That sounds good, but each jar shouldn't exceed one hundred catties. We'll be selling it to various prestigious families, and it's not easy to distribute large quantities. If the jars break during transportation, it will be difficult to explain."

The manager's request was reasonable. Ling Jingxuan agreed, knowing that he could count on Zhao Dalong's family to help in the future. If things got too busy, he could hire some laborers or maybe even buy some slaves, depending on the situation. To earn enough money to buy the land for farming, he had to go all out.

"Alright, you can rest assured. I plan to put fifty catties in each jar, which should be enough for your distribution needs.”

He still doesn’t know if the wine can be sold for money. If he wants to earn enough money to buy land and build a house within three months, he can only rely on jam. Although the amount given by shopkeeper Zhang is already amazing, he feels that it is not enough , After what happened yesterday, he decided to develop in the shortest possible time, and make those who look down on them regret to death.

“Shopkeeper Zhang, have you ever thought about selling jam?"

"For sale? You mean?"

A person who can become a shopkeeper must have a lively mind. The doubts in shopkeeper Zhang's eyes only hovered for a second before gradually revealing their light. Ling Jingxuan met his eyes and nodded affirmatively. "Well, for sale. There is not much technical content of the chilled dish in fact. Senior foodies know how to do it at a glance. However, as far as I know, the daughters and wives of rich families generally cannot show their faces outside casually, right? If you let the family pack it back, the ice will probably melt. If they buy a ready-made jam and make it themselves, wouldn’t this problem be solved?”

No matter in which era, is there any better money than women's money?

"Indeed, that’s true. But if you want to sell it to a big family, the big jar is not suitable. You still have to use a small jar, and it has to be more beautiful. Didn't you say that there are not so many?"

"Well..." Like a thief, Ling Jingxuan smiled naughtily.

Shopkeeper Zhang looked at him suspiciously. A flash of inspiration came to his mind. The shopkeeper couldn't help pointing at him while laughing. "You boy, you really know how to do business." It wasn't until this moment that he realized that he had planned it long ago and was just waiting for him to jump into it.

"Hey? The shopkeeper's words are serious. I'm also here to make a living."

Ling Jingxuan clasped his hands modestly, suppressed his smile, and continued, "Because you want a large quantity. I suggest using a big jar. It's not just playing tricks. Don't worry. I still sell small jars of jam for a tael of silver. Here you go, as for how much you want to sell for a can, it has nothing to do with me. I will not disclose the reserve price to others and of course, I will not sell it to others, all of which can be written into the new contract."

"It's natural. But the quantity will be large this time, are you sure you can supply it?" Looking around, it's not that he doesn't trust him, but that this family is so big. He also heard some rumors about him before coming here. Although he is now alone with two children, occasionally his parents and brothers, come to help, but the amount they want is really too big. It should be difficult to maintain this amount with just a few of them, right?

"Don't worry, shopkeeper Zhang. Since I dare to make this proposal, I can guarantee the quantity. However, I still say that the fruits for making jam are seasonal. No matter how large the quantity you want, I can only supply it until the end of September. You might not be able to serve it.”

He had already thought about it and brought Zhao Dalong's family to work together. Of course, it's not cooperation but employment. In the future, he will be too busy. He can also hire some long-term workers. In order to earn enough money to buy land and open up wasteland, he had to go all out.

"Alas, you've already said that! What else do I have to worry about?"

The shopkeeper was also straightforward. He turned his head to let the guy next to him go to the car to get the pen, ink, paper, inkstone, and silver. No matter how the contract changes, he will take back the 100 cans today anyway.

"Let's talk about the fish again. The most you can sell outside is ten cents a catty. If I offer the same price, just give me all your fish."

Taking advantage of this period of time, the shopkeeper opened up again. Ling Jingxuan shook his head helplessly, "All right, it's the same agreement. Every morning at about this time, you send someone to pull it yourself. For the time being, I can only supply you with thirty. I plan to dig a two-acre fish pond in my backyard. I will try to raise it by myself in the fish pond. If you are interested, we can talk about it when it survives."

Ling Jingxuan was afraid that the matter of the fish pond cannot be delayed any longer. As to the matter of the jam alone, it can be seen that Xinyuan Restaurant is definitely rich and powerful. He was crazy not to take their money.

“Let's not write an agreement for the fish supply. I'll only be able to supply you with thirty fish per day for now. I'm planning to dig a two-acre fish pond in my backyard to try raising fish myself. If you're interested, we can discuss it once the fish survive."

Ling Jingxuan was afraid that the matter of the fish pond could not be delayed any longer. The matter of the jam alone, it can be seen that Xinyuan Restaurant is rich and powerful, and he was a fool to not take their money.

"That works. I trust you. Let's not write an agreement for the fish supply. We'll discuss and draft a new agreement when your fish farming takes off."

While talking, the man carrying the bag had already returned. The shopkeeper took the bag and took out the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone inside. He pushed the rest in front of Ling Jingxuan, "I thought it would be inconvenient for you to use banknotes in the village. I have exchanged it for you with one hundred taels of broken silver, you should check the amount first."

"Thank you, shopkeeper Zhang." After taking the burden, Ling Jingxuan didn't really count each of them, so he threw it to Ling Jingpeng who was standing behind him.