Chapter 18: The First Shot

Tang Yixiao knocked on Third Grandpa Tang’s door and said to the drowsy old man, “Grandpa, we’d like to rent your ox cart.”

Third Grandpa Tang replied, “Just wait at the village entrance as usual, I’ll be there at the regular time. No need to come find me specially.”

Tang Yixiao said awkwardly, “My family wants to rent your cart for our own use. How much do you think is reasonable?”

“For your own use?” Third Grandpa Tang paused in the middle of a yawn and looked at him curiously. “Why do you need it for yourselves? Is something wrong?”

“We’re heading into town on family business. There are a lot of us, and we have so much stuff. We’d like to hire your cart just for one trip. Don’t worry, you’ll have time for another run after dropping us off, so it won’t affect your earnings. It’s just a matter of price—if it’s too expensive, we’ll ask someone else.”

“It’s not expensive at all. For a private trip, twenty coins,” Third Grandpa Tang said.

The village women were frugal, and unless they had goods to sell in town, they usually walked. Even if he took the cart out, he rarely had ten people for a single trip, so charging a flat rate of twenty coins was a safe profit.

“Fifteen,” Tang Yixiao bargained.

“You little rascal, you really drive a hard bargain,” Third Grandpa Tang said grumpily.

“For fifteen coins, you only need to take us into town. There’s no need to bring us back. If we need a return trip, we’ll pay per person,” Tang Yixiao replied.

Third Grandpa Tang agreed. It was still early; after taking them into town, he could make another round trip. So, he informed Madam Wang, who was also planning to go to town that day, to tell the others to wait a bit longer at the village entrance, as he would first take the Li Peach Blossom family into town before coming back for a second run.

While Third Grandpa Tang was knocking on Madam Wang’s door, Li Peach Blossom and her family were busy moving their things. Madam Wang’s face clouded with displeasure when she heard the news. Still, since the Tang family was willing to spend the money and she couldn’t stop Third Grandpa Tang from earning, she had no choice but to put up with it, though she was curious about what new trick that wretched Peach Blossom was up to.

Yesterday, the Tang family had been coming and going, making quite a stir. She’d even climbed a ladder to peek over the wall but couldn’t figure out what they were up to.

Despite the small scale of their business, they had a surprising amount of things to bring. The jelly noodles were packed in a large wooden bucket; the braised meats had been cut up the night before and were now placed in baskets lined with lotus leaves, with more clean leaves on top. There were also bamboo containers and disposable chopsticks to carry, not to mention the various sauces Qin Huiyin had prepared and stored in the last few large bowls the family had left.

Third Grandpa Tang sniffed the air. “What are you cooking? It smells wonderful.”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” Qin Huiyin replied. “Grandpa, thank you for helping us.”

Third Grandpa Tang was only making conversation; he didn’t expect them to actually tell him. After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, he delivered them to the market entrance.

While Li Peach Blossom and the others were unloading, he didn’t just stand by but helped them carry their things down as well.

When everything was unloaded, Qin Huiyin handed Third Grandpa Tang a bamboo tub of jelly noodles she’d prepared earlier, adding a few slices of braised meat on top.

“Grandpa, we’ve troubled you again. This is just a small token of our appreciation—please don’t refuse,” Qin Huiyin said.

Third Grandpa Tang eagerly accepted it, grinning from ear to ear. “It smells amazing! Well, I won’t stand on ceremony then, hah!”

He immediately picked up a piece and popped it into his mouth, eyes widening in delight. “What is this? So cool and refreshing, and delicious too!”

Li Peach Blossom called out in her loud voice, “This is called jelly noodles—it’s a recipe copied from an ancient book, lost for hundreds of years. My clever daughter managed to recreate it. I can guarantee you that only my daughter can make this in the whole world! Such a big serving, just three coins—honest price, no cheating.”

“Today is our first day of business: buy a serving of jelly noodles and get five slices of braised meat for free. This offer is only for today—tomorrow it’ll be gone. Also, today’s price is the lowest ever, only three coins. Tomorrow it’ll be five,” Qin Huiyin added.

It was early market time, when many town residents who didn’t want to cook would come looking for a quick bite. For example, two steamed buns for one coin, a vegetarian bun for one, a meat bun for two, even a baked cake for two coins. Those uninterested in cooking just bought a bun or two to stave off their hunger.

When people heard that this craft had been lost for hundreds of years and that there was a grand opening discount today, curiosity and the allure of a bargain drew a crowd.

Third Grandpa Tang, eager to return for his second run, left carrying his bamboo tub of jelly noodles. Hearing that a serving cost three coins, and would soon be five, his opinion of Li Peach Blossom and her daughter rose even further. No matter what people said about Li Peach Blossom’s reputation, at least she was generous and straightforward in her dealings.

“Three coins, and not even any meat? Doesn’t seem worth it.”

“Who says there’s no meat? Isn’t this meat right here? Let me tell you, even this meat isn’t ordinary—my ancestor was an imperial chef. Only the palace could enjoy such delicacies!”

Qin Huiyin was speechless.

When it came to tall tales, no one could match her mother! She suddenly realized her mother was born for business. If they ever set up a sales department in the future, it should be put under her mother’s charge—she’d be worth ten salespeople.

The crowd was left dumbfounded by Li Peach Blossom’s boasting. But it had to be her spinning these stories; after all, she was an adult. No one would believe the same claims from Qin Huiyin, who was still too young. And with Li Peach Blossom’s looks and bearing, so out of place in this remote little town, she indeed gave the impression of someone from a prosperous lineage.

“Just because you say it’s good doesn’t mean it is. We haven’t tasted it—how do we know it’s any good? Tell you what, give us a sample. If we like it, we’ll buy.”

“Madam, we spent half a month preparing this. We can’t afford to hand out free samples. But for the first twenty servings, we’ll add five extra slices of meat.”

Tang Lǜwu and Tang Yixiao stood awkwardly by, unable to get a word in. Li Peach Blossom could boast, and Qin Huiyin could play along, while the two of them just looked dumbfounded. Being surrounded by so many people for the first time was a bit overwhelming.

“Little brother, you and Sister Lǜwu take these five servings to your elder brother,” Qin Huiyin said to them. “One for him to try, and the other four for the teacher and his wife.”

Li Peach Blossom frowned. “Daughter, we haven’t sold anything yet, and you’re already giving out free samples? How are we supposed to do business?”

“Mother, there are plenty of students at the private school, and many of them are quite wealthy,” Qin Huiyin said with a wink.

Li Peach Blossom suddenly understood. “All right, let’s do it!”

Not all the students were there because the teacher had recruited them; many were sent by ambitious parents, and those families didn’t lack money.