chapter 55

The atmosphere in the room sunk into a creepy and fathomless silence all of a sudden after the utterance of Wu Dahu.

Song Qinghan withdrew his head back staring at the solemn look of Wu Dahu, and saying in a gloomy tone, “What did you say?”

It seemed that Wu Dahu had detected the atmosphere of awkwardness, he then shut his mouth and showed no willingness to speak.

Seeing that Wu Dahu pretended to be shilly-shally, Song Qinghan was kind of wry, and then turned his face against the wall and closed his eyes ready to sleep.

Raising head slightly, Wu Dahu straightened up and walked to the table to blow out the candle after he made sure that Song Qinghan had fallen asleep.

And then he came back to the bed, kept thinking about the matter just happened.

Maybe he misunderstood the intention of Song Qinghan? But if Song Qinghan did not think of something like that, what would he think about?

The next morning, Wu Dahu went to deliver breakfast for Qin Aye and then headed to the town with Song Qinghan with baskets of monk fruits and seasonings.

Obviously, the shopkeeper of Huichun Shop still remembered the couple, and when he noticed the two, he approached with a smile, saying, “Perfect timing, we had sold out all the monk fruits right at the moment.”

Smiling big and looking all around, Song Qinghan came to ask in confusion, saying, “Isn’t Doctor Luo here today?”

The shopkeeper shook his head, explaining, “Doctor Luo is out for offering free medical consultation now. That’s a usual activity for him. Probably several times a month.”

With much homage to this old man, Song Qinghan came to a shock.

It’s quite an extraordinary trait for a doctor or physician to remain his kindness and patience to his patients. No wonder why Doctor Luo gained his reputation today, he was a real hero who would love to help the folks despite what the danger it posted or what the fame and gain it would bring. He was totally a perfect paragon for every doctor.

The shopkeeper was kind of busy right away, he didn’t get time for nattering or something. So they just put down the basket of monk fruits and got the coins and then left the shop.

When they got approach to the shop of Butcher Chen, they found that Butcher Chen was there with a rather sullen face of awkwardness.

There came another man aside Butcher Chen who happened to speak to him before the couple greeted. The man grabbed the arm of Butcher Chen all of a sudden, asking in confusion, “Brother Chen, why did you hide my stuff up? Don’t you notice that our customers are coming over right now?”

After that, the man robbed the bulging sack over under the butcher stall, exposing the stuff inside the sack and then smiling to Wu Dahu and Song Qinghan, “My dearest customers. Are you here for purchasing meat? Look, I sell seasoning here, I would highly recommend for you to try this out if you never ever try it. It’s kind of cheap, just cost you three copper coins for each pack.”

Coughing aloud and clapping on chest, Butcher Chen seemed to try to make some other sound, but then he shouted in a higher voice, “Ha, I think I got a cold today. I got my head dizzy! I’d better go back home now…”

Grabbing the arm of Butcher Chen and pulling back, Wu Dahu came to smile but he remained calmness on his expression, saying, “Butcher Chen, don’t you think that you need to give us a response over this matter?”

Witnessing Butcher Chen was acting like a rat, the man who was yo-hoing previously frowned and then shouted while coming over in a rather quick move, and then yelling to Wu Dahu, “Hey you, what do you think you’re trying to do? If you are here to pick holes, I won’t allow you.”

However, as soon as the man touched Wu Dahu’s arms, he came to know that he wasn’t exactly a rival to challenge the temper of the man in front.

Because Wu Dahu’s arms were just as hard as iron, no matter how the man exerted all his strength, he just failed to get Wu Dahu moved.

With a sudden jerk, he withdrew his hands and then retreated a bit with calmness and shouted again being fierce of mien but faint of heart, “Let go of him, or I will summon the yamen runners!”

Seeing that the expression on Wu Dahu was becoming sullener, Butcher Chen sighed and then waved his hands to that man, dissuading, “Stop yelling. We’re not the ones capable to yell currently.”

The man mumbled with his eyes wide open, “How can that be? Isn’t he the one who starts the fight?”

Hearing that, Wu Dahu sneered and then opened the sack in the basket on his back, and threw it on the ground aside the feet of this man.

The action startled the man. And just at the moment he was about to yell again, he took a pause when he took a clearer discernment on the sack Wu Dahu threw over. Suddenly the man’s face was glutted with awkwardness, he finally came to know the intention of Butcher Chen.

Since the outcome was definitely settled. It would be just in vain for Butcher Chen now to dodge the topic, he then explained, saying, “Oh Brother Dahu. Let me just explain to you. You’ve been not here for so many days and people who was eager to buy seasoning kept coming over. In concerning that this might cause an adverse effect to your future business, I just sell them myself these days and will stop until you come back. In this case, it’s kind of a win-win business. Isn’t it?”

Making a squint, Wu Dahu then answered remaining his equanimity, “What if I say it isn’t?”

At the other side, Song Qinghan was staring at Butcher Chen with rage. How could this butcher be so nasty and say something with no responsibility? Oh, right, coins rule again.

The man saw that Butcher Chen didn’t make a good persuasion at all, he then held his arms tight across on his chest, saying, “How can you be such brutal? Didn’t you hear that Butcher Chen tell you that he will stop selling it once you come back, how are we supposed to trouble you? Moreover, what you sell isn’t a treasure, people show no eagerness on it at all when they are in nature. How can you say that it’s all yours? Did you plant them or you own them?”

Wu Dahu loosened his hand all of a sudden, and squinted at the man in coldness, enunciating every single word as he could, “Of course you can pick them, and everyone has the right to. But what we can’t endure is that we won’t allow anyone sell it in the name of ours and right aside the stall of Butcher Chen.”

Noticing that the whole situation was almost out of control, Butcher Chen rushed over to block Wu Dahu, while explaining with a face of sincerity, “Brother Dahu, it’s indeed our fault in this matter. How about this, we will share part of the coins which we have earned these days to you.”

The man who was right aside pulled over Butcher Chen and then said in weary tone, “Why should we share the coins to them? This is a hard-earned money belonged to us. It’s quite no cinch to get the work done. From picking and digging the materials to make it and carry it here. What did they do in this process? Huh? Why should we share with them as long as he got mad? I am mad too!”

Song Qinghan didn’t even want to waste any time over arguing, he then said, “Dahu, let’s just leave here now. Here are so many meat shops here, and I believe that we surely can find one shopkeeper with sincerity and love to make a long-term cooperation with us.”

Nodding, Wu Dahu carried back the basket, and spoke to Butcher Chen without any expression, saying, “I’m out, and I will quit cooperation between you and me. Best wishes to you.”

Seeing that, Butcher Chen rushed over in front of Wu Dahu when he saw the two left with no eagerness for a further conversation, he then said in anxiety, “Don’t just leave, Brother Dahu. Are you really going to eat your words? Please, if you change the stall, those who are a fan of your seasoning will leave my shop too. At that time, I will lose my customers too. Please, do not feel for me, but sympathize with my family members. I’m the only hope in my family now.”

After that, he fumbled on his cloth and every pocket, and in a few seconds, he grabbed several smashed silvers in hands and stuffed them into Wu Dahu’s hands, saying in sincerity, “These are the coins we earned these days. Take them, I promise you I will never allow this guy to come to my shop and sell the same products.”

The man aside was all anxiety either, he then rushed over to rob the silvers, while complaining, “Wait, what? You jerk! Did you forget how you negotiated with me about the affair? Look at you now, pitiful worm. Don’t you betray me! If you keep being ruthless, I will show you some punishment.”

“Nonsense, it is you who think that the seasoning comes with a good flavor. And you told me that as long as you can get some materials, you can sell with me. And I am enchanted by your words in thinking that it wouldn’t ruin Brother Dahu’s business.” Retorted Butcher Chen.

“Bullshit, why don’t we just go to your home and get your husband, we will ask him about the day we negotiated, and see whether it is you or me started it first.”

“Fine, I will take it. Do you really think that I’m afraid of that? Just go now.”

“…”

It was just like a farce now. Frowning, Wu Dahu stared at the two in front who were pushing and shoving, and then he spoke in a low voice, saying, “I don’t care the personal affairs of both of you at all. Just handle it yourself. We’re out of it. Leave us alone, we’re going to run our business now. Bye!”

Butcher Chen wanted to chased up, but he was dragged by the man and in the meantime, he had to stayed in his shop. So when Wu Dahu and Song Qinghan went far away, he could only stood there helplessly.

“What a short-sighted man! He does know that the materials are everywhere, right? It would just be fine if he sold them one or two times. Once they got more customers, they will surely get unmasked. How foolish they are!” murmured Song Qinghan on the way.

Song Qinghan was quite confident on his seasoning stuff because he knew the most crucial material in his seasoning was the star anise which was dried up in advance.

The reason why Butcher Chen would accept the idea of that man probably was that he got bunch of regular customers in his shop. And those customers probably would not check out the pack. Well, since they cut the price for a better sell, the regular customers would just purchase more for storage.

Looking at the other meat shop not far away, Wu Dahu came to console, saying, “It’s fine. As long as we are able to make it clear to our customers, they will understand us. We’re no longer in cooperation with Butcher Chen, so we will just own our business while they run their own.”

The butchers in their own meat shops greeted Wu Dahu when the two are walking by, “Are you Brother Dahu? Are you here for meat?”

Well, all the butchers knew the fact that Wu Dahu had cooperated with Butcher Chen for a quite promising business, and some of them did complain about Wu Dahu that he didn’t cooperate with them. And this time was quite different, they knew Wu Dahu must have had a quarrel with Butcher, that was why he came with a rather sullen face.

Putting the basket on the ground, Wu Dahu opened the sack, saying in a low voice, “About the cooperation between Butcher Chen and me, I don’t think I need to demonstrate here further. And I know all of you know the fact. But I owe Butcher Chen once, that’s why I just picked him as a partner for business. However, beyond my expectation, he cheated me and cooperated with the other to sell stuffs in the name of us.”

“So this time, I come here for purchasing some meat, and I would love to negotiate with all of you for a business. Anyone who would love to cooperate with me, please stand over here.” continued Wu Dahu.

He gestured a spot right in front of the sack, motioning them to gather there.

The butchers hesitated looking all round, all of them were curious about the others’ reaction.

Some of them were kind of impatient, and jumped out from the crowd and then stood right in the circle, as if they thought the earlier they jumped in the boat, the more profit they would get.

The rest of them still remained their calmness standing there stationary. This group of butchers seemed to be quite ambiguous in their attitude. It seemed that they had to think further and figure how the cooperation would be.

Seeing that the number of people was almost, Wu Dahu divided the packs of seasoning into several piles, and then said slowly, “I hope you can help me sell the seasonings, I will share half a copper coin for each pack to you. I don’t care how you will sell, and I just distribute them to all of you. the more you sell, the more you will gain. And what’s more, if you aren’t able to sell them all, just return them back to me. You won’t bear any risk at all. How about that?”