TTTQF Chapter 47

A New Way of Doing Business

Jiang Miao and Xiao Shitou sit facing each other, both with serious expressions, clearly engaged in a man-to-man conversation.

The cause of this is that today, when Xiao Shitou finishes school, Jiang Miao takes Pei Che’s carriage to pick him up. Xiao Shitou is initially very happy, a feeling that lasts until he sees the box on the offering table. Jiang Miao, trying to save face, tells Xiao Shitou that the imperial decree states the emperor has granted him a wife.

“Brother, how can your wife be Young Master Pei? He’s a man, right?” Although Xiao Shitou is still young, he is literate and not easily fooled. A wife should clearly be a girl. Although Young Master Pei is good-looking, he is a man. How can he be brother’s wife?

Jiang Miao thinks for a moment and says, “Because it’s an imperial marriage decree. We can’t refuse. Even if the emperor ordered you to marry Dahua, you would have to obey. What does it matter if it’s a man?”

Xiao Shitou is dumbfounded, his face full of rejection. He doesn’t want to marry Dahua. Dahua likes to eat mice and runs around all night without sleeping!

It seems the emperor is truly terrifying!

“Then… will he come to live with us in the future? Can he stay in this room alone?” This is Xiao Shitou’s biggest concern. Their house only has two rooms, and he is afraid Young Master Pei won’t let him sleep with his brother anymore.

“No,” Jiang Miao says, holding back laughter and continuing to tease the child. “What man doesn’t sleep with his wife? When he comes, you’ll have to sleep here alone. I’ll set up a small bed for you. If you need to get up at night, light the lamp yourself. If you’re really scared, let Dahua accompany you.”

Xiao Shitou shows a mournful expression, looks at the imperial decree, then at Jiang Miao, pouting, “Okay, then will my brother still send me to school?”

“Yes, we’ll continue using Young Master Pei’s carriage to take you, alright?”

“Sigh,” Xiao Shitou sighs like an adult, “If only the emperor decreed you to marry the carriage. Then I’d have a carriage to ride in, could sleep with brother at night, and the carriage wouldn’t come inside to sleep.”

Now it’s Jiang Miao’s turn to be dumbfounded. What a silly child!

…

“Brother Jiang, I’ve fixed this cart for you. Give it a try. Is it sturdier than before?” Master Huang pats the cart.

He is always in high spirits these days. Ever since he bought the blueprint for the cart, his business thrives. People who come to order carts often buy a few basins and buckets from him as well. Though a couple of items at a time don’t seem like much, when he tallies up the accounts at the end of the month, he finds he’s making much more money than before.

Jiang Miao pushes the cart around and indeed finds it sturdier. The wheels underneath also seem more flexible. He bends down to take a closer look. The new wheels resemble modern swivel wheels. “Master Huang, did you change the wheels? They turn much more smoothly than before.”

Master Huang beams with pride. “You noticed! The old carts could only go forward and backward. It was inconvenient to turn, so I thought about making the wheels more flexible.”

Jiang Miao does not hold back his praise. A true professional indeed, with great ability to innovate. Master Huang, flattered, thinks Brother Jiang has sharp eyes. Of all the vendors coming and going, he’s the only one to notice the improvement.

Jiang Miao takes out his money pouch to ask the price and pay, but Master Huang stops him. “Don’t. Last time, I got a good deal on the cart. From now on, if you need repairs, I won’t charge a cent. If you need furniture, I’ll only charge for the wood.”

Jiang Miao refuses again and again, but he still can’t get the better of him, so eventually has to thank him.

He pushes one cart back home and takes the other to Daniu’s home. Daniu is fixing the roof on a ladder. When he sees Jiang Miao, he smiles. Busy with his work, he calls into the house, “Granny, Brother Jiang is here.”

When the older woman hears this, she hurries out of the house and warmly greets Jiang Miao. She offers sugar water and fills a dish with melon seeds, clearly treating Jiang Miao as an honored guest.

And rightly so. To the Zhang family, Jiang Miao brings business to Daniu without being harsh. Last time, when Daniu got injured, Jiang Miao not only bought medicine but also brought eggs, brown sugar, and pork to their home, saying it was to help him recover. Where else could they find such a good employer?

“Don’t bother, Aunt Zhang. I’m here to deliver the cart and talk with Daniu about changing the way we do business.”

Daniu, having just washed his hands, is puzzled when he hears this. “Brother Jiang, what do you mean by changing the way?”

“It’s like this. I might be busy for a while and can’t look after the stall. I’m thinking you can come to my place daily to get the prepared fillings, then bring them back to make buns to sell. This way, we share the costs, and when the time comes, we’ll split the profits based on the costs we’ve put in. How does that sound?”

Jiang Miao takes on a big business deal with Pei Che, so he might have to leave any day, and naturally, he wouldn’t be able to take care of the bun stall. However, the bun stall has just gained a good reputation, and the business is booming. Letting it go is something he is reluctant to do.

Daniu thinks for a while before understanding what Jiang Miao is saying. “That’s not right. Your business is good because of the well-prepared filling that keeps customers coming back. How can we split profits based on costs? It would be better if you bought the flour and let me make the buns here. I’ll just take my usual wage.” Daniu knows very well that he is just doing unskilled work that anyone could do. Without the filling, it’s nothing special. How could he have the nerve to ask for a share of the profits?

Jiang Miao notices that Daniu doesn’t hesitate for a second when he says this. Being honest to a fault, he is afraid of taking advantage of others.

“That’s not the point. I don’t know how long I’ll be busy, and I might only be able to prepare the filling for a long period. At that time, I’ll just be a hands-off boss, while you’ll have to knead the dough, make the buns, and push them to the street to sell. Your work will be much more than before. If you still only take the same wage, it would be me who is taking advantage of you. So, either we stop this business for a while, or we do it the way I suggested.”

Daniu is at a loss, but Aunt Zhang speaks up, “Daniu, let’s do it as Brother Jiang suggested. But let’s agree, we’ll only do this while Brother Jiang is busy. Once he’s done, we’ll go back to how it was. What do you say, Brother Jiang?”

“Auntie is still straightforward. Starting tomorrow, come to my place every morning to get the prepared filling. We’ll benefit mutually.” This should count as a kind of franchise, Jiang Miao thinks uncertainly.

Jiang Miao takes Daniu to Manager Wang’s store. He has always bought his flour there. The store never sells damp flour or shortchanges customers. If he buys in bulk, they even deliver to his home. The service is excellent, and he is a regular customer, so Manager Wang often gives him discounts.

After understanding the situation, Manager Wang has one of his assistants show Daniu around. He then says to Jiang Miao, “You’re not being fair, kid. Not to mention you don’t sell those fried buns on our street, but even the steamed buns haven’t been sold for days.”

“I’m busy, alright? Otherwise, why wouldn’t I make money?” Jiang Miao leans casually on the counter. “Recommend some good restaurants for me again. Last time, the osmanthus duck I had wasn’t authentic.”

Manager Wang perks up immediately. “From what you’re saying, you’ve had more authentic ones? Can you make it?”

Last year, after eating lamb Jiang Miao made, it left such an impression that he thought about it for a long time. Later, he and Lao Chen pestered Jiang Miao for several days before getting to eat it again.

“I can make it, but now isn’t the right time for duck. It’s best eaten in the summer and autumn. When the right ducks are available, I’ll make sure you get to try it,” Jiang Miao promises.

“You said it. I’ve rented some land in the countryside and there’s a big pond. I’ll have them raise some ducks there. When they’re ready to be eaten, I’ll have someone bring them back. Then, you have to show off your skills.

As they chat, Daniu finishes buying the flour. Manager Wang has someone bring out a wheelbarrow from the backyard for Daniu to take the flour then send it back later.

Daniu is excited all the way back, feeling again that Jiang Miao is quite capable. Even the shopkeeper of the grain store treats him well, and Daniu benefits from it.

Early the next morning, Jiang Miao gives the prepared filling to Daniu. Then he goes to the morning market to find Old Man Ding who sells tofu pudding, and tells him that he won’t need tofu for a while.

Old Man Ding thinks he has found a new business and congratulates him. Now, he doesn’t just help Jiang Miao with tofu. Others who eat the buns praise the tofu and often ask him to bring some, making him extra money.

Jiang Miao sits at his stall and eats a bowl of plain tofu pudding. Finally, he can’t help but make a suggestion: “Grandpa Ding, your tofu pudding tastes good, but it lacks flavor.”

“Isn’t it because brown sugar is too expensive?” Old Man Ding says helplessly. These days, with Jiang Miao not setting up his stall, he often has leftover tofu pudding since people usually eat it with the buns.

“If sugar is expensive, you could add some soy sauce and scallions or fry some toppings at home to put in it. Wouldn’t that add flavor?” Jiang Miao likes both sweet and savory, but he doesn’t like tasteless food.

This suggestion opens up new possibilities for Old Man Ding.

Although he is skeptical, he tries it at home. Some family members find it unusual, but those who can eat it say it tastes good and have two more bowls.

By the time savory tofu pudding becomes popular on the streets, Jiang Miao has already forgotten his suggestion and has no time to try it

At this moment, he wears brand new, uncomfortable clothes, sitting in Pei Che’s carriage, allowing himself to be scrutinized.

“Hey, have you seen enough?” Jiang Miao can’t help but blush, feeling a bit embarrassed. He doesn’t know why, but no matter how tattered his clothes are, he can wear them without caring what others think. Yet, wearing this outfit today makes him feel utterly uncomfortable.

Pei Che withdraws his gaze and says with a smile, “Ah Miao, this outfit suits you perfectly.”

On his head, he wears a small jade crown, no longer casually tying his hair with a cloth strip as he used to. His delicate features, paired with the blue long robe he is wearing, make him look like a tall, proud bamboo swaying in the wind. At a glance, he appears no different from the well-bred young gentlemen from good families. It’s just a change of clothes, yet his entire demeanor seems completely different.

“What’s so suitable about it? I still feel more comfortable in my old clothes. This outfit is inconvenient for any kind of work.” Jiang Miao, feeling uneasy, begins to find faults with the clothes. He raises his arms and stretches his legs, but finds that the clothes don’t feel tight at all. No matter how he moves, it’s very comfortable. Indeed, tailored clothing is much better than those ready-made clothes sold in stores.

“We don’t need to work today. Just bear with it for now. Let’s go over and take a look. I’ll try to take you away as early as possible,” Pei Che thinks Jiang Miao is really uncomfortable in his clothes. He decides next time to have the embroiderer in the mansion tailor the clothes better, take their time and improve the clothes.

“Where are we going?” Jiang Miao becomes uncomfortable as soon as he puts on his clothes and forgets to ask about the place.

“It’s my few good friends who want to see you,” Pei Che remembers the friends who have been coming to see him in turn in the past few days and can’t help but laugh bitterly. He thought it was only Han Qin who was difficult to get rid of, who knew all were the same.

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