Although she had money, she wasn't willing to be ripped off. If she were to just buy without negotiating, wouldn't her wallet be emptied by these money-sucking merchants?
So, she glared at the man, making him tremble for a second, and said coldly, "Sir, I can buy the cow straight away, but you need to lower your price. If you don't decrease it, I don't mind leaving without anything. Besides, I have seen a good donkey in one of the few stalls from here. It's quite cheap and affordable."
It wasn't cows, only that could be used. Donkeys were also there and very cheap since their meat couldn't be eaten, or at least that's what they thought. After all, she had seen a lot of people, and very strange animals she never thought in her life could be eaten.
The man was taken back from hearing Tapiwa's non-negotiable demand. With a glance now that she was serious, he could sense that she wasn't someone that he could mess around with.
He also wasn't an ordinary person. Although he was stuck in a small town selling like this, he worked for a big family and had seen a lot of people. And the ability to judge people was one of the qualities that a merchant should have, especially in big families.
So, when she approached, he saw money and was willing to do anything to get it but now that she changed, even the surrounding aura screamed danger, he could tell that if he persisted in the old way, he would truly anger her.
Women were known to hold grudges very well and unless they returned the favor, the issue won't end. Who knows which kind of people she was acquainted with?
Touching his beard to hide his embarrassment and fear, the man finally conceded and said to Tapiwa, "I can only lower it to seventeen coins. Lower than that, I am afraid that I would rather keep it than sell it."
This was the best he could do. And if he were to lower the price, all the profit would be gone and there was no way he was going to please someone for the sake of connections while making a hole out of his pocket.
Tapiwa nodded her head in acknowledgment after hearing the new price.
"I will buy it."
Since they had come to an agreement, Tapiwa and the merchant closed the deal and soon left with their cow.
Tambudzai, having experience with cows, was leading the cow with a rope, making those people seeing them look at them with strange expressions.
"Don't they have a man in the house?"
"Why are women trying to ride over men's heads like this?"
"Oh! Isn't that Madam Tapiwa from that wasteland? Where did she suddenly get money to buy a cow?"
"Why would she even need it? Her land is a waste, she can't even farm there. What's the point of wasting money like this?"
Tapiwa ignored these hateful remarks and made her way toward the workshop where she had once bought her furniture.
The workshop was owned by a nice uncle who used to live in Zengeza village, the nearby village that was thirty minutes away from her estate.
The man was very friendly and honest. The last time she passed by his workshop, she saw several wooden carts being sold there. And she was hoping to get herself one.
Although metal carts were coming into play, they were much more expensive than buying a horse carriage and since the wooden carriage would still do the work, why should she splurge money and waste it on a metal one just because it will last for a long time?
Tambudzai was unique, especially with her stature. So, seeing her leading the cow, even those who wanted to find trouble were scared and just watched her go her way.
Besides, she was wearing a cold and serious expression on her face and the face alone was enough to keep any troublemakers away.
After walking for some time, the two women arrived at the workshop, which was devoid of customers. When she entered, the only people that she saw were the staff that wore coarse clothing used as uniforms.
'It seems that business is very bad everywhere!' she exclaimed as she saw how empty the place was.
when she entered, the staff automatically saw her, and soon there were movements.
Tapiwa's attention was on the right corner of the workshop, where several carts of different sizes were stationed.
"Ohh, it's you Madam Sims!" a hoarse voice sounded from the other side, making Tapiwa who had found her target turn her head to look at the person with the familiar voice.
Upon confirming the person, a smile spread on her face as she began to walk towards the familiar uncle, and in a happy tone, she said to him, "It's been a while, uncle. How is life treating you lately?"
Seeing her smile happily than before, the man was relieved and happy at the same time.
"As you can see, it's not easy!" he sighed sadly as he stopped a short distance away from Tapiwa.
Tapiwa also stopped a distance away. After all, being in proximity with someone else's husband won't be good for her reputation.
"It will be fine. As long as we don't give up. Besides, aren't I here?" she joked as she spread her arms.
The man laughed heartily upon hearing that.
"That's indeed true. You are here and this is all that matters," he said as his gaze turned towards Tambudzai, who stood with the cow harmoniously.
Seeing his attention elsewhere, Tapiwa decided to hit the iron whilst it was still hot and stated her reason for coming, "Uncle Nathan, I want to buy an ox-cart from you. Are those available at the moment?"
Since some people tend to buy and leave the items behind to pick up another day, Tapiwa wasn't sure whether what she wanted was available to be taken home or not.
Uncle Nathan looked surprisingly at Tapiwa. When he heard that she was at the workshop, he simply thought that she had come to buy some furniture since it's been a while.
Never had he expected for her to come for an ox-cart. If he didn't know her, he would have asked her where the men in the house were, but knowing how she was a single-woman household, he would be rude to ask that.
Besides, she was a customer and as long as one takes out the money, there was no need to ask any unnecessary questions that would only make everyone feel awkward and uncomfortable.
Seeing his thoughts going astray, he quickly chided himself and answered her, "They are all available for sale. Which one do you want to buy?"