Chapter 105: Blood Profit

Regarding the topic of good and bad people, Chen Wuji merely said a couple of sentences to Yuan Jinshi and then said no more.

What he said was only what he said. How this world actually is still requires Yuan Jinshi to see it with his own eyes.

Reason cannot be forcibly instilled.

After entering the city, Chen Wuji brought Yuan Jinshi straight to See Mountain, remaining silent all the way.

The price offered by Xiao Yuji was much more fair than Shopkeeper She's, so this naturally became Chen Wuji's first choice.

"Yu Hu, show the guest the tea!"

Seeing Chen Wuji and Yuan Jinshi enter, Xiao Yuji asked nothing and first ordered Yu Hu to serve tea.

She had changed into a light blue dress today, looking several degrees more radiant.

"We won't drink the tea; please, Shopkeeper Xiao, first have a look at this. If you take it, we can talk further." Chen Wuji gestured for Yuan Jinshi to put the burlap sack on his shoulder onto the ground and open the mouth so Xiao Yuji could have a look.

"A live bear?" Xiao Yuji glanced at it and asked in surprise.

That question was a bit redundant, but Chen Wuji still nodded.

Xiao Yuji felt a bit embarrassed, saying, "Our shop has never taken in live game; skinning and eating such a small bear would be a shame."

"Thanks, then we'll go check elsewhere." Seeing this, Chen Wuji saw no reason to delay and prepared to rise.

He needed to set aside some time today to go to the blacksmith's to check the pot's progress and settle how to sell it; time was not very generous.

Seeing this, Xiao Yuji hurriedly stopped Chen Wuji, saying, "Elder Brother Chen, why the rush? Hear me out first. Although our shop has no precedent for buying live goods, I am willing to help you sell them on your behalf."

"I will contact the customers; whatever they pay, I will give you the same amount, taking nothing for myself."

"No need for all that trouble; I know someone who buys them!" Chen Wuji said.

"You know someone? Then I'll take it—how about eighteen taels?" Xiao Yuji immediately changed her tone.

That price almost made Chen Wuji unable to keep from showing a shocked expression.

Selling bear cubs was not the first time for him.

The one he had caught earlier that Chen Bushi took a liking to fetched only eight hundred wen.

This woman actually dared to open with eighteen taels right off the bat.

Is it that she doesn't understand, or that Chen Bushi doesn't?

Although the previously caught one was much smaller than this, the price shouldn't differ this much.

"Shopkeeper Xiao, are you sure you're not joking with me?" Chen Wuji asked.

Xiao Yuji shook her head. "Elder Brother Chen, this price really isn't low. In East Market, even a top-quality mule is only about ten taels; I think this item is relatively rare and quite precious, so I offered this price."

She misunderstood Chen Wuji's meaning.

Chen Wuji wasn't complaining it was too low—he thought it was too high.

It's simply outrageous how high it is.

"Deal!" Chen Wuji agreed without hesitation.

The two completed the transaction smoothly, both feeling happy.

As they were about to leave, Chen Wuji couldn't resist reminding, "Shopkeeper Xiao, once bought it's final; there shouldn't be any regret, right?"

"As long as you don't back out, I certainly won't. If a merchant reneges, the shop couldn't stay open. Elder Brother Chen, rest assured—bring any good stuff you have in the future, and I'll give you a satisfactory price." Xiao Yuji said with a smile.

Chen Wuji nodded and also felt reassured.

He believed Chen Bushi wouldn't give him a random quote.

That old Daoist priest might have taken a little advantage, but certainly not to an outrageous extent.

So there is only one possibility.

Xiao Yuji simply doesn't know the market price for these live game animals.

After Chen Wuji left, Xiao Yuji immediately sent someone to fetch Han Chunshen, the proprietor of Han Mountain Goods.

"Shopkeeper Han, you're the old hand in mountain goods in Yunan City; I've gotten a rare item today—please take a look!" Xiao Yuji said, showing off a bit, to Han Chunshen.

Han Chunshen is over fifty, and he is quite portly.

He glanced at the bear cub in the sack, his expression enlightened: "It's actually a small brown bear; it looks quite nice indeed, truly a rare find. Moreover, it's a female—very good!"

"Shopkeeper Han, want it? Give a price!" Xiao Yuji said with a laugh.

"If it were anyone else, I could only offer half a tael, at most two taels for this bear cub; but since it's you, Shopkeeper Xiao, asking, I'll give three taels—I'll take it for three taels!" Han Chunshen said.

"How much?!" Xiao Yuji couldn't hold back.

"Shopkeeper Han, did you quote the wrong price? This is a live bear cub; a single bear pelt could be worth twenty to thirty taels—how can the live price be so low?"

Han Chunshen laughed and shook his head. "That's true, but bear cubs are easier to obtain than bear pelts. Especially this time of year, cubs that have just grown a bit leave their mother's embrace to familiarize themselves with their territory; experienced hunters with a bit of luck can bring back several in a single trip into the mountains."

"Moreover, raising them is difficult; few can actually rear them to adulthood. Among my customers, only one is seriously breeding them, and if he picks one, it could indeed fetch a decent price."

"But such customers are rare; most of the time I sell these cubs just as a token gift for wealthy families—what do you think I could earn, a few copper coins? Three taels is actually quite a lot."

Xiao Yuji felt numb.

Bought for eighteen taels, sold for three taels—a blood loss of fifteen taels.

No wonder Chen Wuji asked that particular question when leaving—he must have known all along!

I'd guess that in Chen Wuji's mind by now, she's already become a sucker.

Xiao Yuji clenched her teeth in anger; that fellow only looked honest on the surface, but deep down he was also a bad guy, conducting business with no integrity, bullying people!

"Miss Xiao, will you sell it?" Han Chunshen asked.

"I won't sell it; I'll raise this little fellow myself. When it grows up, I'll have it bite to death a bad thing, bullying people—too much bullying!" Xiao Yuji said through gritted teeth.

Seeing Xiao Yuji like that, Han Chunshen could hardly fail to guess what had happened.

He chuckled, saying, "Miss Xiao, in business people naturally don't actively offer low prices; having lost this time, just lose it, learn a lesson—surely the loss can't be that great?"

"Not much, just fifteen taels." Xiao Yuji said, grinding her teeth.

Han Chunshen blinked, saying, "That person must have left with the wind at his feet when he walked away."

Xiao Yuji only felt her face burning hot.

"Xiao niece, don't be overly sad; eating a pitfall brings wisdom, it's not a bad thing." Han Chunshen soothed, "I'll go first; later I still need to make a trip to Xishan Village, so I won't stay longer."

Xiao Yuji suddenly recalled that Chen Wuji was from Xishan Village, and then asked: "Shopkeeper Han, what are you going to Xishan Village for?"

"Xishan Village has a young hunter surnamed Chen who often has some good stuff; I'll go take a look." Han Chunshen said.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuji became even angrier, gritting her back teeth as she said: "Uncle, you'd better not go; this little brat is the one he just sent over. That bastard is injured, quite serious, his skull is broken, so recently he probably won't have any good stuff either."