Chapter 72: Father Is Really Cunning_1


    Trantor: 549690339


    The incident of the second daughter of the Chen Family jumping into the river didn’t cause much turmoil, and the vigers soon forgot about it.


    Now, what the people of West Vige are most concerned about are the mushrooms from East Vige, as well as the bamboo sheds they’ve built.


    So, the vigers of West Vige came to visit East Vige in small groups, asking questions from time to time.


    But the vigers from East Vige, being cunning now, didn’t want to pay much attention to the people from West Vige. They often brushed them off with a few words, excusing that they were too busy to answer, essentially driving them away.


    But the people from West Vige weren’t easily discouraged, trying various ways to sneak a peek. The more audacious ones even ran to the Jiang Family to learn from them, but ended up being turned away at the door.


    One day, arge mule cart drove into the vige, followed by a few servants riding donkeys.


    After the coachman inquired about the residence of Jiang Sang, he drove the cart straight to his home.


    “Is Jiang Sang home?”


    Zhou Mao jumped down from the mule cart and called out in front of the bamboo fence gate.


    Jiang Sang happened to be at home picking cotton seeds, so he rushed out to answer the door upon hearing the sound.


    “Oh! It’s Steward Zhou, what a rare guest.”


    Jiang Sang saluted Zhou Mao with a clenched fist and invited him and his entourage into the house, offering them seats.


    Chunniang quickly got up to boil some tea in the kitchen.


    Zhou Mao nced around Jiang Sang’s house but didn’tment, simply lifting his robe and sitting down on a broken stool.


    Rolling up his sleeves, he chuckled, “Your golden mushrooms have been sun-dried, right?”


    “Of course.” Jiang Sang also smiled, “Steward Zhou, your timing is perfect.


    We’ve got everything ready.”


    As long as he goes out and calls for them, the vigers are likely to bring the golden mushrooms and snow mushrooms.


    “What about the premium ones? How many did you collect this time?”


    Zhou Mao mainly came for the premium ones this time, which were already selling for fifty taels of silver per tael in the Prefecture City, even more valuable than century-old ginseng.


    This is still due to the fact that not many people know about it. If those aristocratic families knew, their trading firm would be swarmed with servants and the price would surely skyrocket.


    Of course, he wouldn’t let the Jiang family know about these matters.


    “We’ve produced twelve catties of premium ones.” said Jiang Sang.


    Out of these twelve, five catties were from his own home, three each from his elder brother and second brother, and two from his father. The ones nted by his daughter Yingbao weren’t included in this.


    “Only twelve catties?” That was too little.


    Zhou Mao was somewhat disappointed, “Bring them here for me to see.”


    Well, twelve catties it is, at least it’s better than none. s, going back, there’s not even enough for a few distinguished guests to split.


    The head of the trading firm alone would reserve three catties, not to mention other distinguished guests. They were all waiting for him to bring back the premium golden mushrooms.


    Jiang Sang carried two big baskets out of the house and ced them in front of Zhou Mao.


    Zhou Mao picked them up and sniffed at them one by one, fearing that Jiang Sang might have mixed in some fakes.


    Jiang Sang didn’t mind him and simply watched quietly on the side.


    Yingbao also came out of the house, followed closely by the two twins.


    After checking the premium mushrooms, Zhou Mao instructed his clerk to weigh them.


    After finishing weighing the premium golden mushrooms, Zhou Mao asked again, “Don’t you also have premium snow mushrooms? Why didn’t you bring them out?”


    Jiang Sang chuckled, “Actually, the premium snow mushrooms have already been reserved by others.”


    “What?” Zhou Mao was displeased, “I say brother Jiang, this isn’t fair. We agreed that I woulde and pick them up, not even needing you to make the trip, and now you’ve reserved the premium snow mushrooms for others?”


    Jiang Sangughed, “But Steward Zhou never said we couldn’t sell to others. Besides, we didn’t make a formal contract. Of course, we’d sell to whoever offers the highest price.”


    Zhou Mao was so angry, he wanted to curse Jiang Sang but didn’t dare to. He only snorted and asked, “How much did they offer?”


    Jiang Sang didn’t inte the price too much, saying, “They gave five taels of silver for one catty of premium snow mushrooms.”


    “What?” Zhou Mao gritted his teeth, and eventually cursed, “You, you swindler, you dare cheat me!”


    Jiang Sang calmly said, “They did give that much. Steward Zhou, you may think it’s expensive, but others don’t.”


    Zhou Mao, frustrated, spun around on the spot. Finally, he gritted his teeth, “Fine! I’ll also give five taels. Get the Xue’er out quickly and remember they should be premium quality. If there’s even one fake piece, you’ll be in for it!”


    Jiang Sang then went back into the house and fetched two baskets of Xue’er, “There are eight jin in total here. I can only give you half, the other half has to be reserved for the other customer.’


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Mao instantly rushed over, grabbed the two baskets and left, muttering, “Keep dreaming!”


    He then ordered the young assistant to weigh the mushrooms quickly. After they were weighed, he had them carried to the mule cart and told one of his servants to keep an eye on the baskets.


    Yingbao, observing her father’s cunningness, waspletely amazed.


    Ah, she needed to learn more from her father. His skill in deceiving people would be very useful in the future.


    Next, it was time to weigh themon golden mushrooms.


    Jiang Sang had grown five hundred nts, as did both Jiang Dng and Jiang Eng. The elder Jiang had grown two hundred, and so had Jiang Cheng. Even Dani and Erni each had grown one hundred nts.


    In the future, they’re likely going to keep this quantity.


    “The golden mushrooms weigh fifty-two jin eight liang. The Xue’er weigh twenty jin,” the young assistant reported.


    Zhou Mao took out an abacus and began calcting. “In total, that’s three hundred and thirty-seven taels, plus five hundred coins.”


    It was the highest sale in history, and Jiang Sang couldn’t help but smile.


    Zhou Mao knew that the Jiang family didn’t ept silver notes. This time, he had brought along plenty of silver ingots, some of which wererge twenty tael ingots. He had more than enough to pay for this.


    After moving the golden mushrooms and Xue’er onto the cart, Zhou Mao went to inspect Jiang Sang’s bamboo shed and pet the big deer in the yard. Surprised, he asked, “Brother Jiang, are you selling this big deer?”


    “No, this is my daughter’s deer. No amount of money can buy it.”


    Zhou Mao shook his head regretfully and was about to leave when Jiang Sang said, “Please wait, Steward Zhou. There are more golden mushrooms and Xue’er in our vige that haven’t been moved over.”


    Zhou Mao blinked, about toe up with a cunning n, but Jiang Sang quickly said: “They also went to the trade officest time and know the purchase price.”


    Zhou Mao sighed, not entirely giving up, he asked, “Are there any premium ones?”


    “No. Only our family has premium. It’s not easy to care for them; others can’t grow it.” Jiang Sang mercilessly crushed his hopes.


    “Oh.” Zhou Mao felt disappointed, and waved his hand, “Well, then tell them to hurry up and bring them over. Time is money.”


    At this point, Yingbao had already run out to call for thedy next door, Wang Er’s grandmother, and asked Wang Er’s son to notify other families.


    Soon, Jiang Sang’s house was bustling with activity.


    Vigers flocked to bring their own golden mushrooms and Xue’er.


    Yingbao sat on the fence of the deer pen with her two younger brothers, dangling their legs and watching the streams of people.


    Among the group of men, a mother-inw and daughter-inw pair stood


    out.


    The older woman was around fifty years old, the younger one was in her twenties, they looked delicate and attractive, with thin brows and bright eyes. Their fragile appearance showed they were easy to bully.


    This was Chen, the n leader’s second wife, Mrs. Tang and her young daughter-inw, Mrs. Shao.


    Mrs. Tang was holding a small baby boy, about two or three years old, just a bit older than Yingbao’s younger brothers. He had a shaved head with tufts of hair in three ces and thin brow lines, looking a lot like his mother Mrs. Shao.


    Mrs. Shao was carrying arge bamboo basket, filled with around a hundred dried golden mushrooms.


    Mrs. Tang walked over to Yingbao, carrying her grandson, and took several pieces of hard candy out of her pocket to put in Yingbao’s hand, and also gave two each to the twins. She smiled and said “These are made by grandmother, they are very sweet.”


    Yingbao thanked her: “Thank you, Grandma Tang.”


    The two brothers also learned to say: “Thank you, Grandma Tang.”


    Mrs. Tang patted Yingbao on the head, smiled and said, “Next time, Baobao, bring your brothers to Grandma’s house, I will make a lot more delicious food.”


    Yingbao nodded, “Okay.”


    Mrs. Tang’s smile widened. She introduced her grandson to Yingbao: “His name is Chen Bozhong, his nickname is Yaoyao. Yaoyao, say hello to Sister Yingbao.”


    Yaoyao blinked his small, almond-shaped eyes and obediently said, “Sister Yingbao.”


    Yingbao couldn’t help but touch his tufted hair and responded with a smallugh.


    Xiaojie and Dawu became jealous, tugging on their sister’s arm from both sides, not letting her touch any other kids..