"This subordinate is Yang Xiao, the appointed Pavilion Master of this Yuanling Branch. I beg the young master's forgiveness for their inappropriate response. After all, not all of us here are well-versed in the capital's practices." the Pavilion Master repeated.
"Hahaha... How can there be a need for forgiveness?" Yang Chunqiu laughed to eliminate the awkwardness and situation he was put in by Yang Xiao's unannounced arrival. At the same time, it made him recalculate his next course of action.
It is as obvious as the afternoon sun that Yang Xiao is not an easy individual for Yang Chunqiu to handle. To make it simpler, his timely arrival and few sentences were well-calculated. Perhaps even Yang Guiren and Yang Guiyuan's misconduct was within his calculation.
Or maybe it was Yang Xiao's arrangement all along.
"Pavilion Master. We..." Yang Guiren seemed like he had something to say. Still, before he did, the Pavilion Master had already gestured at him to stay quiet. The smarter Yang Guiyuan was much more composed and kept his words on hold.
"The two of you should return to the shopfront and lead the workers. Just leave the matter of attending to the young master and answering all his queries on me." said Yang Xiao.
Yang Guiyuan and Yang Guiren quietly nodded and retreated from the guest room.
Only Yang Chunqiu, Yang Xuan, and Yang Xiao are left in the room.
"Young master," Yang Xiao's smile was like a thousand-year-old fox staring at Yang Chunqiu, bearing no malicious intent but full of questionable designs on his lord. As the wise say, [The toughest adversary is always the one who smiles.]
"I'm sure you're curious about the matter that made Yang Guiren behave inappropriately. It was nothing much, just a deal between Yuanling's Farming Association and our Treasured Pavilion." Yang Xiao then took the initiative to continue.
"Yang Guiren's interruption could be because he was concerned about this matter. After all, that fellow's wife and In-Laws were involved in the Farming Association. He obviously wished that nothing could go wrong in this business discussion."
"Still, I would like to assure you, young master." Yang Xiao explained the matter in detail as the person in charge of it entirely. "Regardless of the relationship between our staff and the associations, all trading and agreements with the pavilion were handled fairly."
"We will not show favor to either party regardless of bribe or position hold." Yang Xiao ended his explanation with a smile. As for how much information Yang Chunqiu could process, that will depend on how well the young master was groomed back in the capital.
After all, this place wasn't the capital, and there were no inspectors from the Yang Family Disciplinary Hall to monitor every move and decision he made.
If Yang Chunqiu was still the one back then... He could have been overwhelmed by Yang Xiao's words and trusted everything blindly. Since it was a well-known fact that Yang Chunqiu wasn't a talent in handling businesses.
But the one before Yang Xiao was a different Yang Chunqiu. One that originated from a different realm, with twenty years of experience and more exposure to the world, compared to a frog under the well like Yang Xiao.
While Yang Chunqiu might still be inexperienced now, he believes his improvement will be lightning-fast as long he has the time and information.
"Heh... What a good way the word [Fairly] was used. Does that mean there are plenty of other Farming Associations, except for the one related to vice pavilion manager Yang Guiren?" Yang Chunqiu asked.
If his calculation wasn't wrong, there shouldn't be just one or two Farming Associations for a city of this size. Obviously, it was just a guest because he's yet to explore and visit this Yuanling City and see what it offers.
Still, he knew from Yang Xuan that Yuanling City had never had a famine or drought before. This fact alone is enough to tell Yang Chunqiu that the city could be blessed with a good harvest all this while.
That hypothesis alone is enough for him to deduce that there shouldn't be just one Farming Association for a city of this size with such a bountiful harvest.
"Young master is sharp indeed." Yang Xiao chuckled. He might be caught, but it is far from making him admit defeat.
"Our Yuanling City indeed has more than one Farming Association. In fact, we had five in total." he continued. "But unfortunately, only one approaches us with the intention to do business with us." Yang Xiao added.
"Ah... So what kind of crops are they dealing with for them to consider doing business with our Spring Autumn Treasures Pavilion?" Yang Chunqiu responded.
"Answering the young master's question, the crop we're dealing with is the Tributary-Quality Pearl Rice." Yang Xiao's smile got wider as soon as he answered.
"What? Tributary-Quality Pearl Rice? Wasn't that produce's supply monopolized by those from or in cooperation with the Burning Spirit Sect? How can the Farming Association have their hand on such a precious Wine-Making ingredient?" Yang Xuan couldn't help but join the conversation.
But he quickly noticed how improper his behavior was and immediately covered his mouth and stepped back behind Yang Chunqiu.
Meanwhile, Yang Chunqiu hardly gave any reaction to their words. Instead, he was in deep thought after hearing the words like "Pearl Rice," "Burning Spirit Sect," and "Tributary-Quality."
Because they're closely related to the business Yang Chunqiu has been running for over twenty years. Of course, that was from the world he came from.
(Once again... These things came back to my life... Even after transmigrating into a different world, they still follow me closely...)
Yang Chunqiu shook his head lightly and secretly chuckled, unaware that Yang Xiao and Yang Xuan had already been puzzled by his expression.
"Young master?" Yang Xiao called him.
"What are we going to do with these product?" Yang Chunqiu asked Yang Xiao.
"Our pavilion will likely buy as much as we can handle in our storage, and then, we'll make a plan from there. Either invest in a plantation elsewhere or hire a brewery; that'll depend on our situation later on." Yang Xiao answered.
"In that case, buy everything. I have plans on them." Yang Chunqiu interrupted as soon as Yang Xiao ended his sentence.