Chapter 53: Money Path

Meizhou looked at the young brother before him.

The new guest came over, sipped the wine, and tasted the small dishes.

His brows were slightly furrowed, and he was sighing.

Meizhou thought his own back kitchen hadn't prepared the dishes well.

The business of this shop is indeed not very good right now.

It is truly helpless to have invited criticism.

Meizhou also wanted to avoid misunderstandings.

One knows one's own affairs best.

It is truly that the surrounding gangs demand too much silver.

A few years ago, he was still being drunk here.

The Hall Master of the gang boasted that his daughter had just grown up.

In total desperation, he had no choice but to let his daughter dress as a servant,

living right under his own nose.

The tavern business was also slowly ruined by his own tossing and turning.

In order to protect himself,

and not be targeted by others.

The former members of the Green Bamboo Gang always liked to come here to drink, and they wouldn't pay.

Meizhou persisted for half a year.

He almost used up all his old savings.

Added to that was the appreciation from that Green Bamboo Hall Master.

It also made Meizhou make up his mind.

He ruined his own reputation for three years.

The members of the Green Bamboo Gang saw there was no profit here.

Naturally, they would look for the next shop.

Until recently, Meizhou saw that the limelight had almost completely passed, and the Green Bamboo Gang had almost forgotten him.

Only then did Meizhou prepare to sell this old shop.

He prepared to move to another place to make a living.

Based on the fact that a guest was drinking in the shop,

he was also prepared to properly express his apologies for the poor service, and was just about to greet him.

But he saw that young man take out his own wine bottle.

The fragrance of wine overflowed.

How could Meizhou, who had run a tavern for decades, not know his goods?

Smelling the fragrance, he knew this wine must be a good mellow-scented wine.

Which tavern's new product was it?

He couldn't help his own cravings.

He stepped forward and asked a presumptuous question, only realizing it after he had asked.

Yet he didn't expect that young man to invite him to have a drink.

Resisting the urge to take a sip,

he first called the servant to bring two more good dishes.

The simple small dishes were truly unworthy of this good wine.

Meizhou and this young man exchanged names.

Originally, he was prepared to wait for the dishes to arrive before taking a sip.

But he truly couldn't resist the temptation of the wine fragrance before him.

Meizhou cupped his hands and said, "The wine fragrance is unbearable; allow this old man to appraise it, and please don't laugh at me, young friend."

Cheng Feng couldn't help but chuckle as he watched Shopkeeper Meizhou's behavior.

But fortunately, he wasn't foolish enough to show it on his face.

After all, this is business.

One must have the appearance of doing business.

He pretended not to see it.

He smiled and said, "The old gentleman may do as he pleases; this is your own tavern, after all."

Meizhou also laughed in spite of himself.

He picked up the wine bowl and took a small sip.

He savored it at the table.

The wrinkles on his face even smoothed out a little.

Cheng Feng had also seen many people who loved wine.

But no one had ever had such an attitude toward this wine.

Looking at the old shopkeeper's expression, Cheng Feng's heart stirred: "Dare I ask, Shopkeeper, if this wine were sold in the shop, how much could it sell for?"

Meizhou smiled inwardly; this really is a newly released wine, is he asking me because he's afraid of being swindled by the shopkeeper?

He said unhurriedly, "The taste of this new wine of yours is indeed very good; it is mellow upon entering the mouth, and the aftertaste is long. If I guess correctly, you must have paid one tael of silver for half a catty of wine, right? Rest assured, you didn't lose out; it is worth this price. If the reputation spreads, two taels for half a catty might be a bit shaky, but one and a half taels of silver for half a catty should be no problem. If you have the capability, you can buy more; the longer it is stored, the better the taste will be. I haven't dared to ask yet, which tavern is this new wine from? I will go buy some tomorrow too."

Cheng Feng was left speechless by these words from Shopkeeper Meizhou.

Half a jin of wine for one tael of silver.

Doesn't that mean one jin of wine is two taels of silver?

He had sold two jin and one tael at Hujiajiuguan and thought he had made a profit.

As it turns out, the old Shopkeeper just used the gentle tone of someone savoring wine to say something extremely cruel to Cheng Feng.

So, four jin of wine could be sold for eight taels.

This counts as a loss.

He encountered these old foxes on the very first step of his venture.

None of those shopkeepers are easy to deal with.

Not a single word they say is true.

By comparison, the Shopkeeper Mei before him is actually quite a good person.

Cheng Feng can understand haggling and price-cutting,

but now that he knows the truth, Cheng Feng already has a candidate in mind.

Cheng Feng replied to Shopkeeper Mei's words: "Two jin and one tael."

Shopkeeper Mei was somewhat surprised; is the competition for new shop openings this fierce now?

He blurted out: "Doesn't that shopkeeper lose money just to drum up business?"

Cheng Feng felt as if his heart had been stabbed again.

He explained: "The wine is made at my home; I took it out and sold it for one tael."

Shopkeeper Mei: "If you sell your family's wine like that, you'll have to close down sooner or later."

Stab after stab after stab.

Cheng Feng was almost getting used to it.

Ignoring Shopkeeper Mei's remark, he asked in return: "If I let your tavern sell the wine, what price could you sell it for?"

Shopkeeper Mei stroked his beard and said, "In the past, when our shop was doing well, eight copper coins for half a jin was definitely no problem. If we raised the price, one tael for half a jin would also be possible, but the volume sold would be lower. However, I am preparing to sell this shop, and we can no longer sell such good wine."

There was a sigh in his words, and after finishing, he sipped the wine again.

Cheng Feng wanted to ask for the reason, but felt it wasn't easy to bring up.

It was already quite good to be able to chat so much on the first meeting.

Going any deeper would be intrusive.

While chatting, the dishes were brought to the table.

Shopkeeper Mei was drinking happily and said that since he tasted the new wine, he would treat him to two dishes.

Cheng Feng and Shopkeeper Mei ate and drank.

After they were full, they left.

When they were almost at the alley of his home,

Cheng Feng turned around and said indifferently: "Come out. You've been following me for so long, what is it?"

At this time, it was not yet dark.

Smoke curled from the chimneys of the neighbors.

The waiter who served the dishes walked out from a corner.

The thin, small figure cast a long shadow under the setting sun.

Cheng Feng was curious about this woman disguised as a waiter: "Why are you following me?"

The waiter spoke, the voice crisp, quiet, and gentle: "Is that wine brewed by your family?"

Cheng Feng nodded to confirm, waiting for what was to follow.

Seeing Cheng Feng so guarded, the waiter introduced herself: "My name is Meiniang. My father was preparing to sell the shop so we sisters could move to a different place to live, but other places are not easy to make a living in either. When one is under someone else's roof, one has to bow one's head; relying on others is not reliable. This is the reason I came to find you."

Cheng Feng listened, feeling confused. Only after Meiniang slowly laid it all out did Cheng Feng understand the whole story.

"So, you were looked at twice by that Hall Master Zhu, who said he would come to propose marriage when you grew up. Shopkeeper Mei was afraid you would fall into a wolf's den, so he ruined his own reputation. Now that the trouble has subsided in recent years, he is preparing to sell his shop to change his life?"

Hearing that it involved the Green Bamboo Gang, Cheng Feng was a bit uncertain.

But he didn't rush to decline.

He himself could be considered to have a small background.

Not to the point of being scared just by hearing it.

As for the matter,

Cheng Feng said to Meiniang: "I still need to consider it."

Or perhaps he should go ask his master.

Cheng Feng is thin on his own, but that doesn't mean he can't pull in the Martial Arts Hall!

A single tree is hard to support; Cheng Feng will not try to eat alone without being sure.

Seeing that Cheng Feng did not refuse,

Meiniang felt a glimmer of hope in her heart.

Meiniang and her sister also did not want their elderly father to be forced to leave just because his daughters were beautiful.

These years, Great Zhou has not been peaceful.

Meiniang also hoped her father could enjoy his old age in peace.

Her father is not very old, only in his forties.

It was just the hardships of the past few years

that ruined the reputation of their shop

and caused the old father to become this haggard.

Meiniang felt heartache, but there was nothing she could do.

Looking at the wine Cheng Feng brought today,

Meiniang, having overheard everything,

made a decision in her heart.

Her father was already very exhausted.

From now on, it was time for her to support this family.

Cheng Feng's wine could bring the tavern back from the brink of death.

It could help her father get back on his feet.

It could also serve as a protective umbrella for their family.

Cheng Feng's clothing was all Ordinary cloth.

But Meiniang had worked as a laborer for a great family.

She had washed clothes for the nobles of a great family.

Cheng Feng's shoes,

were the shoes of an Inner Sect Disciple from a place called Tieshan Martial Arts Hall.

Back then, she heard the servants in that household say that the Inner Sect Disciples of the Martial Arts Hall were extremely strong.

Taking on ten people at once was no problem at all.

If that was really the case,

even if she had to pay a little more,

her family would have a backer.

They would not be bullied by those bad people.

Seeing that Cheng Feng was still considering it, Meiniang grew anxious; she had snuck out.

If Cheng Feng didn't agree, would there be another chance next time?

"You must be an Inner Sect Disciple of Tieshan Martial Arts Hall; if it really doesn't work, can't you just go talk to your master?"

Cheng Feng was displeased internally and said: "Why should I go to my master? There's no benefit in it; what would I use to go to my master? Just my mouth?"

Seeing that Cheng Feng did not deny it, Meiniang felt relieved. Thinking Cheng Feng wanted a benefit, she revealed her trump card: "I am beautiful; as long as you agree to save my family, I can marry you."

Cheng Feng laughed mockingly: "With that dirt-covered face of yours?"

Only then did Meiniang realize that Cheng Feng had never seen her true appearance; what was she to do?

Meiniang cried in anxiety.

Watching the woman cry in front of him, Cheng Feng felt annoyed.

She wasn't his woman.

Did she still want him to coax her?

He wasn't a sycophant from his past life.

Sniveling and crying,

troublesome.

But thinking that letting it go on like this was also a hassle,

Cheng Feng said: "It's not like I haven't seen women before; with your current appearance, I really can't see what's so outstanding. How about this: tomorrow at this same time, let's meet again here, how about that?"

Cheng Feng just wanted to send this woman disguised as a servant away for now.

A quick meeting tomorrow would be the end of it.

Did she really think he hadn't seen women? Did she know that three women at home were already pregnant?

Just ask yourself if you're afraid.

Out of respect for Shopkeeper Mei,

Cheng Feng complained inwardly.