At the second watch, requesting pink.
***......****
The family pushed the cart along in silence for a considerable ti.
Wu Lang hadn’t entered the shop, so he was unaware of what had transpired. Noticing the peculiar atmosphere, he quietly asked Lian Manman.
Lian Manman recounted everything in detail.
Wu Lang let out a long "Oh."
"Anyway... sugar doesn’t go bad, and we would have to buy more once we finish it," Lian Shouxin said, his tone different from usual, as if comforting himself.
Lady Zhang didn’t speak, but her expression also seed conflicted.
Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang were honest people, but not foolish. Zhao Wencai’s "enthusiasm" gave them an uncomfortable and awkward feeling.
Successful rchants are known for their warmth towards others, but they know just how much to offer—enough to make one feel at ease rather than the discomfort Zhao Wencai and Zhao Fugui had caused them earlier. They had clearly seen how Zhao Wencai and Zhao Fugui interacted normally with other custors in the store.
A common practice among rchants looking to attract custors is to add a little extra to the scale—giving a bit more of the product, throwing in sothing extra, or charging a few less coins. This slight generosity can make custors happy and more willing to accept it.
Lian Shouxin and Zhao Wencai were of the sa generation, so why would Zhao Wencai give away two pounds of sugar for free? Zhao Wencai certainly understood this principle.
Shrewdness in abundance, integrity in short supply—that was Lian Manman’s impression of Zhao Wencai and his son this ti.
Just as Wu Yuchang had arranged a separate table for Zhao Xiue’s sister-in-law because the Zhao Family was a new connection, thus giving them extra face. Having purchased two extra pounds of sugar this ti, what about the next? The Zhao Family was like this, whittling away at the new kinship and the Lian Family’s favor towards them. Was Zhao Wencai truly being clever? Did he actually believe others couldn’t see through his intentions? Did he still expect them to shop at his establishnt again?
"It seems we should avoid buying from their shop in the future," Lian Manman said seriously, "Even if they’re relatives, we can’t let them lose money and always be at a disadvantage."
"We haven’t really had dealings with the Old Zhao family before... it seems like they are not our kind of people," Lian Shouxin thought for a mont and said.
"Xiue’s sister-in-law, during the banquet..." Lady Zhang whispered to Lian Shouxin what Zhao Xiue’s sister-in-law had done during the banquet.
"I’ve heard from our mother," Lian Shouxin said, "it seems that’s just the way the Old Zhao family is, ’A family will not open its door to those who are not one of their own.’"
"Ah, that child Xiue..." Lady Zhang sighed and didn’t continue.
The Lian Family thus ford a unanimous opinion about the character of the Zhao Family and decided to maintain a distance in the future.
Up ahead was the grain shop; this ti, Xiao Qi and Lian Zhizhi stayed outside to watch the cart while the rest of the family went inside. Lian Shouxin took two bags, one to fill with rice and the other with white flour. They bought twenty pounds of rice, with five pounds as a gift to Old Master Lian, ten pounds to honor Zhang Qingshan, and the remaining five pounds they planned to keep for the New Year’s celebration. They also bought twenty pounds of white flour, ten to honor Zhang Qingshan and ten for themselves.
The reason for buying more flour than rice was that the family had a preference for dishes made with flour over rice.
Lian Manman noticed glutinous rice in the grain store and bought two pounds.
Next, they went to the liquor shop, where Lian Manman, relying on her ability to sweet talk because of her young age, managed to get a small piece of liquor dicine from the Shopkeeper.
The final stop for New Year’s shopping was Butcher Zhang’s at shop, where they bought three pounds of smooth rib at along with two large marrow bones.
"Fourth brother, has your bean sprout crop co in?" Butcher Zhang asked as he took the money. Butcher Zhang’s household was hosting guests for the new year, and he had spoken to Lian Shouxin about purchasing ten pounds of bean sprouts on the day he had slaughtered a pig for the Lian family. The at for Lian Manman’s breakfast shop was always bought from Butcher Zhang. Over ti, Butcher Zhang had given them a discount on the price. Moreover, he knew that Lady Zhang sold bean sprouts, so whenever his own family had events requiring bean sprouts, he would buy from Lian Manman’s family. Not only that, whenever custors ordered at from him for their banquets, he never forgot to ntion that the Lian’s bean sprouts were of high quality, which brought quite a few custors to Lian Manman’s family.
"They should be ready by tomorrow; you wanted ten pounds, right? I’ll have the kids deliver them to you tomorrow," Lian Shouxin replied.
"No need for that, soone from your place has already asked to slaughter a pig tomorrow, I’ll co and pick them up myself," Butcher Zhang said with a smile, "Fourth brother, I’m hosting guests on the fourth day of the new lunar month, make sure you co."
...*****...
By the ti the family returned ho from town, it was already past noon. They ate a simple al and then brought rice and liquor to the Upper Room.
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