Chapter 111: What Is the Temperature Difference?

Facing An Qing's refusal, Gu Xixi was not overly surprised.

Could it be because of restrictions from the Merchant Association's rules?

An Qing spread his hands, sighed, and said, "That's just how it is."

It seems you already know about this in advance, so I don't need to elaborate; please forgive my inability to help.

However… An Qing smiled and made a gesturing invitation, "A beautiful lady has come from afar; to let you leave empty-handed is truly hard on my heart, piercing to the core."

I know a Hu people's tavern where the roasted lamb is very authentic; please give me a chance to make amends!

Gu Xixi thought, This boss An uses idioms not quite standard, but…

She readily agreed, "Sure, then I won't stand on ceremony."

Hu people's tavern.

Staples include freshly baked buns, large bone-in roasted lamb chunks, and lamb and radish soup.

The side dish is actually sand onions, accompanied by sweet wine and a small dish of jam.

Gu Xixi picked up the jam, looked at it, and exclaimed in delight, "Is this fig jam?"

An Qing was somewhat surprised, "Miss Gu, do you recognize figs?"

Gu Xixi casually made something up, "Oh, I've seen them before at someone else's place."

Figs and sand onions, these two ingredients, are extremely unsuitable for storage and transport when fresh.

In ancient times, only by making them into pickles or jam could they be brought to such a distant place.

The wine cups on the table were originally lacquer cups in Western Regions style, as big as a wooden bowl a child uses to learn to eat.

An Qing picked up the cup, had a look, and specifically asked the attendant to replace it with a small wine cup customary for the Great Ye people.

He personally filled a cup of wine and handed it to Gu Xixi, "This is sweet wine, brewed from fruit, oats, and yeast; where we come from, it's what the girls love to drink."

Gu Xixi sipped her lips; if she were at home, she would really want to taste this wine.

But for now, attending to business is important.

Gu Xixi smiled and declined, "I appreciate the gesture, but I still have the responsibility to buy saplings; if the matter isn't settled, starting to drink at noon wouldn't be proper."

An Qing nodded thoughtfully, "You Great Ye people conduct affairs in such a strict, orderly manner—very impressive!"

Gu Xixi silently stuffed her mouth with a large piece of lamb.

She still couldn't help but mutter inwardly: I told you, idioms aren't used like that! ~

Seeing Gu Xixi not drinking, An Qing had the attendant put away the wineware, storing it for his future visit.

The roasted lamb is indeed delicious; Gu Xixi's motives for sitting here aren't pure, but she takes her meal seriously.

An Qing is also a good dining companion, from introducing the dishes and the lamb's origin, all the way to his Western Regions experiences, then turning to the Western Regions Merchant Association in Yunling County, local social graces, and interesting anecdotes.

Gu Xixi gained quite a bit of information she hadn't known before.

Hmm, hmm, so your nurseries are all built outside the western city, huh.

In Yunling County, the day-night temperature difference is large; further west there should still be three seasons of snowmelt water for irrigation, so growing Pinpo fruit is certainly no problem.

An Qing caught a key word from that, "You said the day-night temperature difference is large?"

"Is that related to growing Pinpo fruit trees?"

Gu Xixi picked up a sand onion, chewed it slowly, "Huh, you guys don't know?"

"Otherwise, why do you only locate your nurseries around Yunling County and never expand eastward?"

"And you never sell your Pinpo fruit seedlings to Jiangnan merchants, no matter how rich and noble they are."

An Qing slowly set down his bun, astonished, "Who told you that? It's as vivid as if I'd seen it myself!"

Gu Xixi gave him a sideways glance, "Do I need to hear it from someone? Logically, one can figure it out."

An Qing took a deep breath, furrowed his brows in thought, "Ah, I see."

"Before, they indeed tried establishing nurseries in Shu and Lingnan; although those places have abundant water and grass and tall trees, they simply couldn't grow Pinpo fruit."

"It's hard to bear fruit; even if some fruit ripens, it's not tasteless, not sweet nor crisp."

"Everyone says the Pinpo fruit tree is blessed by the Western god and cannot do without the nourishment of water from the snow mountains."

Gu Xixi said, "Lingnan aside, if you're talking about Shu, it's not that it can't be grown."

"But rather, you haven't found the right place."

An Qing's eyes lit up, "What place?"

"Didn't I tell you? The temperature difference." Gu Xixi took a spoonful of fig jam; the long-missing flavor made her pleasantly narrow her eyes.

An Qing tried to please, "You like this? I'll buy a jar for you to take home!"

"I understand temperature difference as just cold and hot; specifically, how…"

Gu Xixi, however, shifted the topic again, "This year, in your lower-lying Pinpo fruit orchards, haven't many Pinpo fruits developed cracks?"

"Actually, if the cause could be found early, the cracking could be completely avoided."

These Western Regions people, besides selling saplings, also have seasonal fresh fruit as an important source of income.

An Qing stared fixedly at Gu Xixi; compared to his previous shock, this time he seemed to be beholding a deity.

"Miss Gu, how do you know everything!"

Gu Xixi put down her chopsticks, "I'm full, thank you for the hospitality; today I'm tired and want to go rest." An Qing became anxious, "Then my questions: the temperature difference! Why do my Pinpo fruits crack? How to prevent it?"

Gu Xixi showed a troubled expression, "But I can't obtain the saplings; if I return empty-handed, I don't know how to account for it."

She shook her head and sighed, "Please forgive me; I really have no energy to worry about anything else."

"Wait!" An Qing rose to block Gu Xixi.

"Miss Gu, you yourself can actually persuade the Seedling Merchants Association!"

"Oh?" Gu Xixi showed a bit of interest.

An Qing said, "Tomorrow morning, I'll summon all the bosses to the merchant association."

As long as Miss Gu is willing to clear up our doubts, I will certainly mediate from the side and make sure they agree to sell you the Pingbo fruit tree saplings.

Gu Xixi asked, "Two hundred?"

"Two hundred!" An Qing Yu said firmly, "As long as the Seedling Merchants Association can reach a deal, the quantity is no problem."

Things developed as Gu Xixi had thought, so she naturally had no reason to refuse.

"Good."

However, let's not meet at the association; let's meet at the west city nursery—I also want to broaden my horizons while I'm there.

An Qing Yu happily reached an agreement with Gu Xixi.

His professional instinct told him that if he could learn a few moves from this young lady, he would surely benefit greatly, with blessings extending to his descendants.

Gu Xixi chose to meet the Seedling Merchants Association people at the west city nursery, of course she also had her own calculations.

For now, she cannot pin all her hopes on An Qing Yu alone.

In the long run, establishing a solid relationship with the Seedling Merchants Association is a case of preparing for the unexpected.

Anyway, Gu Xixi's relevant professional theory and practical skills are inexhaustible.

She decided to give these ancient people a proper lesson tomorrow.

We must subdue them all in one fell swoop!

West of the city, the endless nursery is a spectacular sight.

However, the spring breeze has not yet reached Xi Bei; the nursery is still some time away from official operation, and at this moment, besides a few bosses, there is not a single person in sight.