Mo Sang – CH 308

Chapter 308. Ten Thousand Flowers

The innkeeper and the head waiter brought in the new dishes, standing on either side of Madam Meng, watching intently.

Madam Meng first examined the dishes, then smelled them carefully before picking up her chopsticks.

Li Sangrou had already picked up her chopsticks, patiently waiting for Madam Meng to finish looking at and smelling them, watching her take her first bite before following suit.

Aunt Wu first brewed tea, placing a cup in front of both Madam Meng and Li Sangrou, and then poured herself a cup. Without picking up her chopsticks, she simply watched Madam Meng taste the dishes.

“How is it?” Madam Meng asked, looking at Li Sangrou after carefully tasting the food.

“Is it pond carp?” Li Sangrou asked casually.

“I think so too,” Madam Meng replied with a frown, then turned to Dangtou and said, “This fish was not cleaned properly; it still has a muddy smell. This dish is all about being clean and fresh. With that muddy smell, it is neither clean nor fresh.”

“Yes, I was a bit hasty. This fish needs to be kept in clean water for a few more days,” Dangtou quickly explained, bowing slightly.

Dangtou took the plate and left. Madam Meng picked up her tea to rinse her mouth, while Li Sangrou sipped her tea, waiting for the second dish.

After trying five seasonal dishes, Madam Meng found fault with each one, more or less. Li Sangrou ate a bite or two of each, watching Madam Meng scrutinize them.

After testing the last new dish, Madam Meng smiled at Li Sangrou and said, “These are all new dishes, still a bit lacking in finesse. My cook has a few specialties that he makes exceptionally well. Why do we not eat here today and try his cooking?”

Li Sangrou smiled and agreed.

The cook, whose face had been gloomy from Madam Meng’s criticism, immediately brightened up upon hearing her words. After asking a few questions about the ingredients, he went to the kitchen.

The three of them ate, then opened the window. Aunt Wu moved a red clay stove and leisurely brewed tea. Li Sangrou and Madam Meng sat and chatted.

“Last year, when you came to Yangzhou, you seemed to be planning to stay for a while, but you left after only a couple of days. And now you are back. Is everything alright?” Madam Meng looked Li Sangrou up and down.

“My affairs are always like this. They come and go as they please. Nothing’s wrong; it has always been like this,” Li Sangrou said, propping her feet up on the windowsill.

“Hmm.” Madam Meng looked at Li Sangrou, paused for a moment, and then hummed in agreement. “You entrusted these houses in Yangzhou to me, and I will sell them as you wish.

From last year until now, this canal has become more and more bustling. Many people come to Yangzhou to buy houses and land. I’ve been putting those houses on the market little by little. When prices are high, I put more on; when prices come down, I put fewer on. So far, I’ve sold over five hundred houses, and I’ve given you coins for them all, totaling just under one hundred ten thousand taels. Since you are here, take them; I have nowhere to put them.”

“How many houses are left?” Li Sangrou asked.

“Huh! You do not know how many houses you own?” Madam Meng exclaimed loudly.

Li Sangrou spread her hands. She really did not know.

“There are still many. Yangzhou has nearly one hundred thousand households. You yourself said you bought half of Yangzhou. Tell me, how many houses are left?” Madam Meng glanced sideways at Li Sangrou.

Li Sangrou uttered an “uh.”

“That’s quite a lot.”

“Poor people’s houses are dilapidated and in bad locations. Back in the old days, nobody wanted them. Those who could sell their houses were all from good families. These houses you have are all in good locations; the smallest is over half a mu, the largest is twenty or thirty mu.” Madam Meng snorted in dissatisfaction.

“Sell them all.” Li Sangrou waved her hand, then waved it again. “This one hundred and ten thousand taels of silver, do not give it to me. Build me a tower outside the moat, and plant magnolias along the moat, and fill it up completely.”

Madam Meng glanced sideways at Li Sangrou.

Li Sangrou sighed, “Ten thousand lives, ten thousand flowers. If there is an afterlife, I hope they can all live in a world of blooming flowers.”

Madam Meng sighed, “I understand. You need to inform the Jiangcao Division about building a tower and planting flowers along the moat.”

“Mm,” Li Sangrou responded softly.

After a long silence, Madam Meng broke it, looking at Li Sangrou and asking, “That blind man, did he go to Jianle City to find you?”

“Yes, he was worried about money, but he should not be now,” Li Sangrou smiled.

“The Ye family really went all out this time, starting from Yangzhou, along the Grand Canal, all the way to Jianle City. It is truly remarkable,” Madam Meng said, clicking her tongue.

“Oh, I thought they’d covered the whole country,” Li Sangrou laughed.

“You really dare to imagine, just laying it along this Grand Canal, how many people would that require?

This is not something you can do easily. You can build a warehouse in a place, put a few people in, and that’s it. This is the first time you’ve stocked a store, and in this way! It is like people pushing goods, delivering them door-to-door, going door-to-door, and exhausting all their persuasion to get the goods out there. How much effort does that take!” Madam Meng said, glancing at Li Sangrou. “And you call yourself a merchant!”

“I never do this kind of business,” Li Sangrou said, picking up her cup and sipping her tea.

“That’s true, you are dealing with incredibly lucrative businesses. Oh! By the way!” Madam Meng exclaimed, slapping her hand on the tea table. “Are you looking for someone who can build ships?”

“Yes!” Li Sangrou nodded quickly. She’d been searching for almost a year and had not found anyone she liked. She was getting really frustrated.

“Our family also has a shipyard, but we only build small boats for fishing and cargo transport, only for river travel, never for the sea.

When I was still a young woman, one year, my father wanted to build a larger, more comfortable boat for short trips to the open sea. He went to Hangzhou to find a shipyard, visiting seven or eight, but he was not satisfied with any of them. Finally, he found the Yu Family Shipyard. My father talked with the owner for two days and then placed a deposit, ordering a seagoing vessel from them.

After the boat was completed, my father was very happy with it, and I was extremely happy too. The boat was large, sturdy, and much faster than ordinary boats.

In my later years, my father became frail and did not like staying at home, so he spent most of his time on this boat.”

Madam Meng paused, then sighed, “My father passed away on that boat, so I burned it and let him take it with him.”

Li Sangrou glanced at the dazed and lost Madam Meng, waiting for her to continue.

“After the war broke out, Southern Liang requisitioned all the shipyards, large and small, along the river and coast around Hangzhou. The Yu family’s shipyard, along with their eldest son, Eldest Master Yu, who managed it, was taken away to build ships. For some reason, he offended the inspecting official, received a beating, and died that very night.

The Yu family head was stubborn, quick-tempered, and easily angered. Coupled with his advanced age, he also fell ill and died, leaving behind his eldest daughter-in-law with two children, a younger brother, and a younger sister.

This daughter-in-law of the Yu family head was a child bride. In managing the shipyard and in shipbuilding, this daughter-in-law was more capable than her son.

Before the New Year, Yu Dong’s daughter-in-law, Sister-in-law Yu, came to me wanting to borrow money to reopen the shipyard. I thought you were looking for a skilled shipbuilder, so I kept her here. Would you like to meet her?”

“How do you know this Sister-in-law Yu can build ships?” Li Sangrou asked.

“I met Sister-in-law Yu when I went with my father to order a ship from the Yu family’s shipyard. She was only about ten years old then, quietly following Yu Dong. At the time, I thought she was just a maid.

She came before the New Year and told me about my father’s ship order, about the difficulties he faced, how it was built, and how she and her eldest son made a prototype and then figured out how to build it.

As far as I can tell, she’s telling the truth.” Madam Meng smiled.

“She was about ten years old then, so now, she’s in her thirties? What’s her maiden name?” Li Sangrou asked.

“She’s thirty-three. She does not even know her own surname. She was picked up by the Yu family. They raised her as their daughter, then as their daughter-in-law—she’s Sister-in-law Yu,” Madam Meng said with a smile, spreading her hands.

“Yes, have her come to me tomorrow,” Li Sangrou nodded.

………………………………

Outside of Yangzhou city.

Ye Anping, riding his horse with Zou Fuping and a dozen or so attendants, searched along the way until he found the small courtyard where Grand Master Wu and his people lived. He smiled and said, “This is it.”

Ye Anping dismounted, and Zou Fuping had already jumped off nimbly. He took the reins from Ye Anping and handed them to one of the attendants, then followed Ye Anping to knock on the door.

“Who is it?” a voice asked from inside, opening the door.

Li Qi’an opened the door. Seeing it was Ye Anping, he hurriedly smiled and said, “It’s Master Ye! Master Ye, please come in!”

Li Qi’an stepped aside to let Ye Anping in, calling out loudly, “Sir! Master Ye has arrived!”

From the row of houses in front, Grand Master Wu and Master Qiao hurried out one after the other to greet him.

“Grand Master Wu, Master Qiao,” Ye Anping quickly bowed in greeting.

“Master Ye, how are you? It has been a while! Please come in, Master Ye, and have a seat.” Grand Master Wu and Master Qiao, one on each side, warmly welcomed Ye Anping.

“Grand Master Wu, Master Qiao, and all the young masters, did you spend the New Year in Yangzhou?” Ye Anping asked with a smile as he sat down on a bamboo chair.

“Yes, it is nothing special about the New Year,” Grand Master Wu replied with a smile.

Master Qiao, unaccustomed to small talk and an impatient man, had not finished his first few words when he nervously forced a smile and said, “I’ve noticed ‘Miracle Pills’ and ‘One-Patch Remedy’ everywhere in Yangzhou. Those two medicines have such wonderful names, truly wonderful!”

After saying the first sentence, Master Qiao realized it was inappropriate and wanted to change the subject, but did not know how, so he simply praised the names of the two medicines.

“The name ‘Miracle Pills’ was chosen by this child, and I think it is good too!” Ye Anping smiled, pointing to Zou Fuping standing behind him.

“Well done! Well done!” Master Qiao said with a smile, quickly adding more praise.

“Will these two medicines still sell?” Grand Master Wu asked with a worried but seemingly unconcerned smile.

“Such good medicine, how could it not sell?” Ye Anping smiled, reaching out to take a small bundle from Zou Fuping, placing it on the table, and pushing it forward.

“This is the initial payment and the account book.

The Ye family’s business practice is always payment-on-delivery, including for finished medicines. Once the first batch is distributed, the money will follow.

I’ve had the accountant deduct the costs of printing notices in the Gossip Evening Post and offering free medicine in ten installments.

We have limited manpower, so the first batch can only be distributed along the canal. The money collected is not much. After deductions, what’s left for you, sir, is only seventeen thousand four hundred and thirty taels. I’ve had it exchanged for banknotes, all red-headed gold-stamped notes that are convertible to coins on demand.”

After this trip, payments will be made every six months. I will come back in the seventh month to settle the accounts with you, sir,” Ye Anping said with a smile, patting his bundle.

“Seventeen thousand!” Master Qiao exclaimed in surprise.

“Thank you for your trouble, Master Ye,” Grand Master Wu said calmly, bowing slightly in thanks.

“You flatter me; the Ye family has also benefited greatly,” Ye Anping smiled.

He held these honest and straightforward teachers in high esteem.

“Would you like to pick out a few more medicines? There are a few more that are no less effective than the Miracle Pill!” Master Qiao asked excitedly.

Grand Master Wu coughed forcefully.

“Master Qiao, please do not rush. Let’s take it one step at a time. First, make the Miracle Pill and the One-Patch Remedy, then we will move on to the next step,” Ye Anping replied with a smile, bowing slightly to Master Qiao.

“This is not about the money; it is for healing and saving lives,” Master Qiao said, his face slightly flushed after Grand Master Wu’s cough and glare, coupled with Ye Anping’s smile.

“There are many things to attend to outside, so I will not bother you any longer.

If you two gentlemen have any questions about this ledger, just go to the pharmacy in Yangzhou city and find Manager Chen of the Ye family’s pharmacy. Manager Chen manages all the prepared medicines along the Grand Canal; he knows the accounts better than I do. If you have any questions, just ask him.” Ye Anping stood up, bowed, and bid farewell to Grand Master Wu and Master Qiao.

“Thank you for your trouble, Master Ye.” Grand Master Wu quickly stood up as well.

“I will see Master Ye out.” Master Qiao abruptly stood up, a broad smile on his face, and saw Ye Anping out.

Master Qiao and Grand Master Wu, one after the other, escorted Ye Anping to the courtyard gate. After watching him mount his horse and the dozen or so people ride away, the two turned around, closed the gate, and hurried to check the silver notes and account books in their bundle.

“Just from stocking the goods, we’ve already made seventeen thousand taels of silver!” Master Qiao exclaimed, looking at the silver notes in Grand Master Wu’s hand with immense satisfaction.

“Yes, this silver is enough for our mountain expenses for a year,” Grand Master Wu said, his face beaming.

They lived extremely frugally; these seventeen thousand taels of silver were enough for their mountain expenses for almost two years.

“Master Ye will be coming again in the seventh month; we need to share some of this silver with him.

That childless thing the Boss mentioned has been shut down for over half a year. And Qiming’s waterwheel—it has stopped too, no money. Qiwen urgently needs money too. You need at least half!” Master Qiao’s eyes were fixed on the silver in Grand Master Wu’s hand.

“Let me calculate,” Grand Master Wu frowned, silently calculating for a moment, then pointed out ten thousand tael silver notes and carefully handed them to Master Qiao. “Tighten your belt on the mountain; that will be enough. Here, take these. Calculate how much to use, and keep good records.

I am setting off back to the mountains tomorrow, making a detour through Jianle City to see if Junior Sister Wang needs money. She has the Boss there, so she probably does not.”

“And another thing!” Master Qiao took the silver notes, beaming. “You need to find someone to manage the miscellaneous affairs here in Yangzhou. Starting tonight, I will focus on my work. Or, I can go back to the mountains with you; it is more convenient there than here.”

“You stay here. There are still matters to attend to with Madam Meng. I will go back and discuss it with Senior Sister Zhao. We need to find someone knowledgeable in administrative matters to come over. I will be leaving first thing tomorrow morning. For the time being, you still need to keep a close eye on things here,” Grand Master Wu said, carefully folding and putting away the silver notes, then tucking them away close to his body.

“Alright, you’d better hurry. I have a ton of work to do; I really do not have time to meddle in other people’s business.” Master Qiao agreed, even more carefully putting away the silver notes than Grand Master Wu, then locking them inside the house.