Chapter 2383: Chapter 2358: The Proposal
Before leaving, Director Xiao went to check on the cattle and said to Imperial Doctor Lu and Manbao, "The cattle are entrusted to you. We will come back in two days."
Manbao and Imperial Doctor Lu nodded in agreement.
After seeing off Director Xiao and his party, Imperial Doctor Lu turned to look at Manbao.
Manbao looked at him with confusion, "What’s the matter?"
Imperial Doctor Lu said calmly, "Do you know how much a chicken egg procured by the steward costs?"
Manbao thought for a moment and guessed, "Three wen?"
It would be twice as expensive as the most expensive eggs in Luojiang County. That price seems reasonable, right?
Imperial Doctor Lu replied, "No, it started at five wen per egg, and now it’s risen to six wen. I heard that eggs in the capital are hard to come by."
Manbao’s eyes widened, and her spirits lifted, "Such a profit?"
She tried to recall the accounts she had recently reviewed, which included profit from egg sales. It was originally agreed that half of the chickens raised by villagers belonged to them, including both chicken meat and eggs.
But she only remembered the total amount from selling chicken and eggs, not how many eggs and chickens were sold.
Imperial Doctor Lu glanced at her, scoffed, and said, "Don’t even think about it, if you were selling, it definitely wouldn’t be at this price. Didn’t you see the steward sweating nervously? Forget five wen, he couldn’t even sell it for four wen."
Manbao: ... Just focused on recommending their agricultural and sideline products, didn’t notice this.
Nonetheless, Manbao wrote a letter for Jiu Lan to send to the post, asking someone to send it home.
Even if it’s not at such a high price, selling them is still good; profit is profit.
The imperial estate was not far from the city, and it was guarded by the imperial guard. Today, Yin Huo personally came to deliver her, so she was quite respected. Although the estate manager wanted to stop the letter, the imperial guards still sent it to the Zhou Family.
The letter was delivered directly into Bai Shan’s hands.
He was puzzled as he opened it, "Why send a letter back after just a day and a half?"
Bai Erlang chuckled, "Did she miss you?"
Bai Shan glanced at him and said, "When are you planning to return to Chongwen Pavilion for your studies?"
He continued, "I’m preparing for the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Personnel exams, Liu Huan is preparing for the Ming Classic exam, that’s why we’re not going. Why aren’t you going?"
Bai Erlang replied, "Yin Huo hasn’t gone either, has he?"
"He is unwell."
Bai Erlang scoffed, "That’s not true. It’s clearly because none of you are going, he finds it dull and didn’t go."
He added, "I don’t want to go either. Yi Ziyang has taken office, Feng Zongping also took leave, among the people in Chongwen Pavilion, the only one I get along with is Zhao Liulang, but I don’t enjoy many of the things he plays with, it’s quite uninteresting to go."
Bai Shan was only trying to counter him, not sincerely urging him to study. Seeing him nag endlessly but no longer clinging to Manbao and him, he relaxed and read the letter.
As he opened it, he realized it wasn’t addressed to him.
So he checked the envelope, finding no recipient but Manbao’s signature, he couldn’t help but laugh.
Having opened and looked at the letter, he unfolded it to read, then folded it back up and said, "Let’s go find Brother Zhou Wu."
Zhou Wulang was not home; he was at the restaurant.
Bai Shan and Bai Erlang strolled over, arriving during the restaurant’s busiest time, crowds waiting to eat, Zhou Liulang and the hired chef leading the kitchen crew cooking, while waiters busily served dishes.
The students San Tou and Si Tou returned from school, quickly changed from their scholarly attire into casual clothes, and joined in serving guests and dishes.
Bai Shan also saw Daji’s second son, Bai Shuping, deftly carrying trays through the crowd, placing them accurately on a table, politely announcing, "One bowl of steamed pork, one roasted fish, please check if it’s correct."
Zhou Wulang was at the counter settling bills, calculating with an abacus. He wasn’t as fast as Zhou Lijun but was still on par with regular accountants.
Bai Shan and Bai Erlang hesitated for a moment before leaning against the counter.
Zhou Wulang calculated at a slower pace, not looking up, asking, "Please wait a moment, which table are you from?"
As he looked up and saw Bai Shan and Bai Erlang, his eyes brightened, "Why are you here? Come, come, help me settle some orders quickly, more people will be leaving to pay soon."
Bai Shan noticed the menu sheets on the table, listing dish names and prices, with table numbers clearly marked, making it easy to calculate even if unfamiliar with the restaurant’s dishes.
While taking over, Bai Shan said, "Brother Zhou Wu, Manbao has sent you a letter."
Then handed the letter over.
Zhou Wulang couldn’t write much, but recognized many characters, relying on reading abilities more than writing for a long time.
He read each word gladly, "Eggs at the imperial estate are this expensive?"
Bai Shan said, "...Fifth Brother, you missed Manbao’s point. Manbao mentioned price inflation by the estate manager, hence Director Xiao wants to see you."
Zhou Wulang calmed down a bit, "Oh, I see. Outside eggs are typically two wen each, the expensive ones, three wen tops. Why would Manbao write that they are this expensive?"
Someone came to settle their bill, Bai Shan found their table’s menu and handed it to Bai Erlang for calculation, continuing the conversation with Zhou Wulang behind the counter, "Are there many eggs at the estate?"
Zhou Wulang thought for a moment and replied, "Check with Lichong, but probably a lot; the beginning of last year, we added many small chickens. Sold a batch of roosters and hens that don’t lay eggs before the new year, but I remember many egg-laying hens were kept."
Bai Shan said, "Then pay Director Xiao a visit, not just eggs but also meat, chicken and pork, vegetables can be discussed too."
He smiled, "Since we’re discussing it, discuss extensively, prepare samples of everything to send over, letting them see the products helps negotiations."
Zhou Wulang asked, "What about the prices?"
Bai Shan asked him, "Fifth Brother, what do you think?"
Zhou Wulang replied, "Offer lower than market prices, especially since eggs sell well; usually they’re two wen each, the large ones sell for three wen, that’s unavoidable, but other items can be offered cheaper."
Bai Shan nodded, "Fifth Brother is more experienced in procurement, you are probably more familiar, so make your own decision."
Zhou Wulang was puzzled, "Aren’t Manbao and the others at the imperial estate? I heard there’s plenty of land, very fertile, the moat water even flows from there; why would they lack vegetables and meat and eggs?"
Bai Shan answered, "It’s the emperor’s estate, this time the Imperial Hospital is purchasing separately; though residents there may want to eat estate-grown vegetables, they must first pass through purchasing managers to do so. This way accounting makes sense; otherwise, internally disordered accounts would be problematic at quarterly reconciliation."
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