The sun gradually rose. The two of them walked forward with their heads down, occasionally chatting. Zhao Wenhao was used to doing farm work, so he didn't feel tired from walking so much. He looked at Zhao Ce next to him, carrying his bookcase and wiping the sweat from his face from time to time, but he didn't complain about being tired. Zhao Wenhao couldn't help but admire him.
With Zhao Wenhao leading the way, an hour later when the sun had completely risen, the two of them entered Xiahe Village. Like Shuiqiao Village, many older women and young wives who hadn't gone to work gathered at the entrance of the village. When they saw two young men with unfamiliar faces walking in, everyone's eyes were drawn to them.
A middle-aged woman asked, "Young men, where are you from, and who are you looking for?" Zhao Wenhao said, "We're from the village ahead, Shuiqiao Village, and we're looking for the family who makes sugar in your village." The woman warmly said, "That's easy to find. Just keep walking along the main road for half a cup of tea. The only blue brick and tile house in the village is their home."
Zhao Wenhao thanked the woman loudly and proudly said to Zhao Ce next to him, "Let's go. I already asked for directions." Zhao Ce also smiled at him and they walked together along the main road. As they walked, they could still hear people behind them whispering, "Oh, that young man next to him is so handsome. He doesn't look like a farmer at all." "Yes, he's tall and handsome. I wonder if he's married or not." "If he's not married. Do you want to marry your daughter to him?" Zhao Wenhao also heard their words and muttered to himself, "I'm the one who talked to them, why do they ask if you're married?" He felt a little aggrieved and looked at Zhao Ce next to him. Zhao Ce raised his eyebrows slightly in response. Zhao Wenhao turned his head and thought to himself. "Okay, he's lost again..."
The two of them continued walking along the main road. Soon, they saw a magnificent blue brick and tile house that looked completely different from the other houses nearby. Zhao Wenhao exclaimed, "This house looks even more impressive than my own!" "The family that makes sugar here can earn so much money," he said, poking Zhao Ce's arm. "When you have the chance, will you also be able to build such a magnificent house?"
Zhao Ce replied, "I'll try my best." With that, they walked up to the front door and knocked. A woman in her thirties opened the door and, upon hearing that they wanted to talk business with the head of the household, brought them inside without hesitation. People like them, who grew their own crops and sold goods to shops in the city, usually didn't need to register as merchants.
After all, there were many farmers carrying loads to the city every day to do small business. The owner of this house was named Su Yunfeng. Upon hearing that Zhao Ce and his companions wanted to buy sugar from his family, he looked at the two young men in front of him. One of them had a good temperament, but he was also wearing rough cloth clothes. Could someone like him really afford to buy raw sugar from him?
Su Yunfeng hesitated and said, "The price of this sugar isn't cheap." Zhao Ce nodded and said, "I'm aware of that. The amount I need for now isn't too large." "If you're really concerned, I can pay a deposit." "However, I have one requirement, and that is that our transaction must remain confidential for now." Su Yunfeng looked at Zhao Ce, who spoke calmly and clearly, with some admiration. He said, "If we sign a contract, a deposit won't be necessary." "After all, trust is built over time." "If you break your word once, we won't have any future business." Su Yunfeng was straightforward and didn't beat around the bush.
Zhao Ce nodded and said, "Of course." Su Yunfeng saw that Zhao Ce didn't hesitate or waver and smiled. He added, "Of course, if you're able to continue buying goods in the future, our family can plant more sugarcane next year." "We'll continue to supply you with goods." Sugarcane only ripened once a year. They wouldn't be able to catch up this year. Although the amount he was supplying now was enough for Zhao Ce, Su Yunfeng saw the young man in front of him and thought he was capable. In the future, he would need more. He needed to be prepared. For Zhao Ce, white sugar was still a new thing. He couldn't produce too much all at once. When he had the strength and accumulated capital next year, he could produce more. "I can start planning to buy a shop in the city. At that time, I can produce some other sugar products to replace white sugar. Then, white sugar can be produced in large quantities."
Zhao Ce thanked Su Yunfeng, who waved his hand and said, "We're both rural people, so there's no need to call me sir. Just call me Uncle Yunfeng." Zhao Ce smiled and called him "Uncle Yunfeng" naturally. After hearing this, Su Yunfeng smiled and said, "You're a good young man." Zhao Wenhao, who was standing next to them, saw the two of them talking and laughing and thought to himself that Zhao Ce was indeed a scholar. He wasn't at all vague when it came to doing business. He had already made a deal with someone so quickly.
Zhao Ce and Su Yunfeng then discussed the price, which was naturally cheaper than the cost of buying from a grocery store in the city. However, Su Yunfeng was a bit hesitant and said, "I can't write." "We'll have to wait for my son to come back from school before he can write the contract for us." Zhao Wenhao finally found a place to interject and quickly raised his hand, saying, "My cousin is a scholar and can write!"
Zhao Ce nodded and said with a smile, "If Uncle Yunfeng doesn't mind, I can be the scribe." Su Yunfeng was a bit surprised and said, "I had a feeling about you." "I didn't expect you to be a scholar." This tall and thin young man was wearing convenient work clothes, but his temperament was indeed different from ordinary people. Su Yunfeng took out the paper and pen his son used, and after confirming with Zhao Ce, he took the pen. The contract was soon written. Su Yunfeng picked up the contract and looked at it. Although he couldn't write, he recognized many characters. After seeing the contract Zhao Ce wrote, he said, "I didn't expect you to have such good handwriting, young man." "Are you going to take the imperial exam next year?"
Zhao Ce, who had a thick skin, did not feel any sense of resignation even though he had already been expelled from school. He calmly said, "It hasn't been confirmed yet." Su Yunfeng saw that he had a good demeanor, and couldn't help but look at him with more admiration. He immediately invited Zhao Ce to the workshop in the backyard to see their raw sugar. Zhao Ce naturally agreed. Zhao Wenhao, who was standing next to them, said directly, "I don't understand anything you're talking about, so I won't go." "My mother said we have a relative in Xiahe Village." "Since we're here, I should go say hello."
Su Yunfeng's wife then showed Zhao Wenhao the way, and he left. Meanwhile, Zhao Ce followed Su Yunfeng to the workshop in the backyard.