Who is Mrs. Chen? She’s none other than the well-known shrew of Qingfu Town. Feeling proud that her nephew has secured a connection with Young Master Zheng, would she stand for Boss Tian’s nonsense?
She imdiately rolled up her sleeves, put her hands on her hips, and berated Boss Tian: "Pah! Calling a shrew, what are you then, a wild boar? Look at your chubby cheeks, your brain is so greased up you can’t even speak properly, can you? If you think the ham is too expensive, don’t buy it. Pretending to be a noble when you have no money, you’re just a wild boar dressed in fine clothes, a beast on the inside no matter the outer wrap, and a black-haired one at that!"
Boss Tian is quite fat and dark-skinned, at first glance, he does indeed resemble a black wild boar.
Trembling with rage, Boss Tian pointed at Mrs. Chen and said, "Shrew, a true shrew."
Mrs. Chen doesn’t mind being called a shrew, she even thinks it’s good to be a shrew, the fierceness keeps others from bullying her, so she bellowed back with full confidence, "I am a shrew, what about it? So, are you a wild boar or not?"
"Pfft~" County Magistrate Fang couldn’t help but burst into laughter, then imdiately felt very embarrassed and politely bowed to everyone: "Excuse , pardon my rudeness."
County Magistrate Fang is very young, only twenty-five this year. He has been waiting for a position in the Capital since he beca a scholar five years ago. The case in Tianfu County beca too much of a scandal, and for a long ti, the court couldn’t decide on a County Magistrate. Originally, they wanted to transfer a County Magistrate from a neighboring county, but those were all slick characters. The court, fearing another incident like with County Magistrate Zou, simply chose from amongst these young and honest scholars.
He was lucky to be selected, brought his family to take office, and had been serving as County Magistrate for three years, maintaining a lukewarm performance but always heeding the words of County Magistrate Zheng.
Gu Jinli, leaning by the window of the side room, watching the lobby downstairs, can barely contain her laughter listening to Mrs. Chen’s curses. Boss Tian, oh, Boss Tian, why would you pick a quarrel with Mrs. Chen? It’s like you’re asking to be cursed to death.
Boss An couldn’t sit still any longer and had to step in: "Boss Tian, please take a seat first. We’re here to bid for the ham, not to argue with a shrew."
"Pah, nicely said, isn’t it just to buy low and sell high? What’s with the act?" Mrs. Chen is quite clever, having learned a lot from Gu Jinli. Engaging in buying low and selling high is sothing Gu Jinli does often, and now Mrs. Chen has learned it too.
Boss An swore that if this was happening in his residence, that shrew, dressed like a procuress, would not survive until sunset, she would be executed imdiately, but now he had to tolerate it.
Gu Jin’an let Mrs. Chen curse without intervening. Seeing that both Boss An and Boss Tian had fallen silent, he then respectfully addressed the crowd: "Esteed guests, please wait a mont, I’ll go and welco Young Master Zheng."
Boss An, a flexible man, was the first to respond: "Please proceed, Young Master Gu."
Boss Tian cursed Boss An in his heart for being a fox. He had disgraced himself to help him, and now he imdiately switched off and started flattering Gu Jin’an. Undeniably a rchant, only profits matter to him.
Gu Jin’an smiled, accompanied by Feng Lian, and took the side path to the side door of Yanfu Building. Just as they stepped out, they saw two green-carpeted carriages.
Gu Dexing alighted from the first carriage, followed by Zheng Ying.
Seeing Gu Jin’an, Zheng Ying was very pleased: "Brother Gu, congratulations are in order once again for your family’s new source of wealth."
Since managing his family’s business, Zheng Ying knows all too well the difficulties of making money. That noble families like theirs could live a life of luxury, all thanks to the wealth left by their ancestors. Without their ancestors’ legacy, they couldn’t sustain themselves, so he admired the Gu Family for starting from scratch and getting rich on their own rits.
Gu Jin’an said, "It’s just a small fortune, nowhere near Brother Zheng’s family businesses."
He continued apologetically: "I’m truly sorry for making Brother Zheng go out of your way during the holiday season."
Zheng Ying replied, "No trouble at all, it’s actually a good opportunity to visit my clan uncle."
This clan uncle is none other than County Magistrate Zheng.
During the conversation, two more people alighted from another carriage, both of good appearance and extraordinary deanor.
Coincidentally, Gu Jin’an knew both of them.
Gu Jin’an greeted them with a smile and a hand gesture: "Dong Family, Young Master Dou."
The Dong Family owns an excellent manor in Jinling that is often lent out to scholars for cultural events. Therefore, the Dong Family is well respected among scholars and not looked down upon for being rchants.
The Dou family is not from Jinling but from the Capital. Young Master Dou manages the Dou Family’s business in Jiangnan and has lived in Jinling for a few years, getting to know Zheng Ying. His presence at this auction is specifically for the ham.
Young Master Dou was young, just over twenty, and was quite forthright. Upon seeing Gu Jin’an, he imdiately spoke up, "Good Brother An, has the auction started? Stop dawdling, let’s hurry inside and check out the ham. If you want to catch up, we can do that after the auction is over."
Gu Jin’an, knowing Young Master Dou’s temperant, responded with a smile, "It’s about to start; everyone please co inside."
It was getting late, and he also wanted to get the auction over with as soon as possible.
Gu Jin’an led Zheng Ying and the others into the Yanfu Building, glancing at Gu Dexing halfway through.
Gu Dexing nodded at him with a smile, indicating that the trip had been successful and he had made a good impression in front of Zheng Ying.
Gu Jin’an was reassured and, after walking through the winding side paths, entered the main hall of the restaurant.
Upon seeing Ouyang Hu, Zheng Ying hurried over to pay respects, "Junior pays his respects to Master Ouyang. It’s surprising to see you here, sir – it’s truly serendipitous."
Master Ouyang had previously attended a cultured gathering on the Zheng Family’s painted boat. He stayed for just a few days in Jinling before leaving to continue his travels, and unexpectedly ended up in Qingfu Town, even coming to the Yanfu Building.
Ouyang Hu replied with a smile, "The Zheng Family’s youngster has arrived. Take a seat quickly, try the ham. After tasting it, you’ll have to make a bid."
He then motioned to the Dong Family and Young Master Dou, "You two are here for the ham too, right? Hurry over, have a taste and then make a bid."
He acted as if it was his own ham on sale.
The Dong Family and Young Master Dou were montarily stunned, but quickly followed suit like good sports. After sampling a few slices of ham, they remarked, "This delicacy truly deserves its reputation, crafted over three years, the taste is truly unique."
They then asked Gu Jin’an, "Good Brother An, how long can this ham be preserved? Will the taste change over ti? Does eating it have any effects on the body?"
Gu Jin’an replied, "The ham can be preserved for a long ti; several years should not be a problem. Provided that it is well-kept, the taste will not change over ti; and eating it has no adverse effects on the body."
Ouyang Hu added, "Rest assured, I’ve had several plates of it with no issues. The biggest problem is that once you’ve had so, you’ll crave more."
The Ouyang Family holds an exceptionally high status among the scholars of Great Chu. Though not quite as influential as the Lu Family of the forr dynasty, they were still a household whose words could have a profound impact. With Ouyang saying so, the Dong Family and Young Master Dou were thoroughly reassured and decided to bid a high price for the ham.
Gu Jin’an didn’t delay any further. He stepped onto the stage and announced, "The starting bid for a ham is five hundred taels, with each subsequent bid increasing by fifty taels. The highest bidder wins. Honored guests, if you wish to purchase, please place your bids."
Clang! He struck an iron block with an iron hamr, emitting a clear sound, and the auction began.
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