"Isn't that so?" The woman became even more proud, her entire face crinkling into a smile that pushed up her cheekbones, "Actually, I've only been here for half a month myself. My neighbors, they're all green with envy when they hear that I'm now working in the kitchen at Lianshun Escort Agency!"
Is it really that exaggerated? Hua Xiaomai inwardly curled her lips.
In all the literary texts and dramas from ancient times to the present, hasn't the name of every escort agency been striking and thunderous to the ear? Names like "Mighty Vigor," "Soaring Dragon," "Tiger's Roar"… all so imposing at first listen. But the one in front of her? Why did it have to be named "Lianshun"? The name was suffused with an air of complacency and mediocrity, not grand or classy in the slightest!
"Don't just stand there, come in with me and let's see if the boss is around," the woman grabbed Hua Xiaomai and started to stride towards the door, chattering non-stop, "And don't keep calling me 'big sister.' My name is Zuo Jinxiang. Just call me Sister-in-law Zuo like everyone here does."
Pulled by Zuo Jinxiang, Hua Xiaomai involuntarily entered the main gate of the Lianshun Escort Agency.
The courtyard was spacious, with several tall trees planted around. On the left-hand side, there were a few big carts for carrying goods. Several neatly dressed men were stretching their limbs in the yard, occasionally gathering in small groups to chat. When they saw Zuo Jinxiang return, they all shouted greetings to her in their loud voices.
"Yo, Sister-in-law Zuo is back! What delicious food are you going to treat us to for lunch today?" As they spoke, they looked over at Hua Xiaomai beside her, "Who is this girl? Eh, Sister-in-law Zuo, don't tell me you think there's too much yang in our Escort Agency, so you brought a woman back to balance it out?"
"Talk nonsense about your own mother!" Zuo Jinxiang spat at the men, "This little sister is here to deliver some fine vegetables to our agency, so keep your mouths clean! Is the boss in? I need to see him about something!"
Turning her head, she lowered her voice to Hua Xiaomai, "That's the downside of escort agencies, always full of men coming and going, dealing with all kinds of people. Every last one of them has no filter on their mouths. They're just like dogs that can't spit out ivory, but really, they're not bad people, no ill intentions."
Hua Xiaomai shook her head to show that she didn't mind when a man stepped forward from the crowd, threw out the words "The boss seems to be inside having a talk, I'll go call him for you," and dashed into the hall like a streak of smoke.
In no time, a burly man walked out from the front hall. With a beard about a foot long and hair tinged with grey, he looked to be in his fifties. Yet he moved with a vivacious spirit and seemed even more energetic than the younger men.
"Sister-in-law Zuo, you were looking for me?" He stood on the stone steps in front of the hall, his demeanor friendly and his smile amiable, appearing more like an ordinary businessman than anything else.
"That's the boss of Lianshun Escort Agency, Ke Zhenwu," Zuo Jinxiang whispered to Hua Xiaomai. She signaled for her to wait where she was and went up to speak to the man in a low voice.
"Dried bamboo shoot strips?" Ke Zhenwu stroked his long beard, as if savoring a memory, "That's indeed rare in Fuzhe County! I remember—it must have been five or six years ago—I was on an escort mission to Jinyue Prefecture, and had a meal at a local restaurant, where I ordered a dish called 'Chicken Golden Bamboo Shoots.' Here in our county, this dish is usually made with fresh bamboo shoots, but that restaurant used dried bamboo shoot strips, and the taste was truly good!"
As he spoke, he turned his head back and called out to the hall loudly, "Yuhuai, do you remember? Back then, you were still my Escort Master."
Meng Yuhuai? Upon hearing this, Hua Xiaomai's brows slightly arched. Hadn't he said he was going to Pingshan Prefecture to work as an escort? Why was he still in Fuzhe County?
Before she could look up, a steady tread of footsteps neared, and then a slightly surprised low call came, "Hua Xiaomai? What are you doing here?"
As soon as Meng Yuhuai stepped out of the hall, he spotted the light green figure in the courtyard.
The bamboo basket on her back was tall and large, accentuating her slender, unattractive frame making her look even more diminutive. It seemed she had walked a long distance; a slight sweat beaded on her forehead, causing her hair to be a bit disheveled, and her complexion, though rosier than usual, stood stark against the burly man surrounding her. Standing amid a crowd of towering men, she held her posture upright yet seemed like a defenseless chick about to be captured.
Hua Xiaomai lifted her eyelids and glanced at him lightly, "Big brother Meng Family, I'm selling dried bamboo shoots."
"Eh, Yuhuai, you know her?" Ke Zhenwu laughed heartily, "What, could she be your sweetheart? What a coincidence that would be!"
Meng Yuhuai's face turned cold as he said solemnly, "Uncle Ke, you mustn't talk nonsense! She's a relative of a fellow villager of mine, and I've only met her a couple of times."
"Hahaha, you kid, it's just a joke, why so serious?" Ke Zhenwu's laughter caused his beard to shake as he waved at Hua Xiaomai, "Come here, girl. Sister-in-law Zuo told me your dried bamboo shoots are really good. How much are you planning to sell them for per pound? If the price is right, Lianshun Escort Agency will take them all!"
As instructed, Hua Xiaomai walked over and quickly did some calculations in her mind. She looked up at him with a smile, "These dried bamboo shoots were made by me, and I was originally planning to sell them to the restaurants in the county for thirty-five copper coins per pound. Sister-in-law Zuo helped me today, so I'll give you a discount—thirty copper coins per pound, that's it."
Ke Zhenwu's eyes bulged as if in disbelief, "My girl, that price is way too high! Don't think that just because I run an escort agency I don't know the market price. These fresh winter bamboo shoots are only sold for seven or eight copper coins per pound in the market. Even if you've made them into dried bamboo shoots, accounting for a little wastage, labor, and some seasonings, it shouldn't be thirty copper coins per pound! Girl, I really do want to buy your bamboo shoots. How about this, twenty copper coins per pound, and I'll take them all. How does that sound?"
Twenty copper coins? That means there's nothing to talk about! Hua Xiaomai bit her lip, shook her head, and turned to leave.
It was getting late; she didn't want to waste any more time here and still needed to inquire at the restaurants!
"Hey, girl, what are you..." Ke Zhenwu seemed a bit stunned, and Meng Yuhuai's brows immediately furrowed. After a moment of contemplation, he strode forward, briefly tugged at Hua Xiaomai's arm, but then quickly retracted his hand.
"What are you doing?" he asked in a low voice, "In business, it's all about bargaining. How can you expect to sell if you don't lower the price by even a cent?"
He was very tall, and standing so close that Hua Xiaomai had to strain her neck to look at him. She stayed silent for a moment before lowering her eyes, "…Here, I have about thirty pounds of dried bamboo shoots, made from more than fifty pounds of fresh bamboo shoots, which I carried myself from the bamboo grove outside the village. My sister and brother-in-law stayed awake all night to help me, and Sister Guan, who is so frail, busied herself with it for a whole day too. All that aside, the key point is, I did not sky-high price my bamboo shoots; they are worth the money."
Meng Yuhuai was taken aback, "But even so, for your first deal, you should offer a small discount. If the people from the escort agency like them, they are naturally going to buy from you again, and that's what you call repeat customers, right?"
"No," Hua Xiaomai uttered distinctly, yet softly.
"Tsk!" Meng Yuhuai's frown deepened, "Why are you so stubborn! A ready business deal is right in front of you, and yet you refuse to go through with it. You're not familiar with Fuzhe County, going out now without any direction, isn't that just a waste of time?"
Hua Xiaomai took a deep breath, speaking word by word, "Big brother Meng Family, I know you mean well, but as I said, my dried bamboo shoots are worth the money. Actually, it's fine. I was originally planning to sell to the pubs and eateries. Today looks like rain is coming, and I need to hurry and look around a bit more... Thank you."
After speaking, she moved to leave again.
"You..." Meng Yuhuai suddenly felt a bit of a headache and after a brief moment of contemplation, he clenched his teeth and said, "Wait, stop right there!"
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I'm about to be pushed off the newcomer list (might have been pushed off already %>_<%)... Urgently seeking favorites and recommendation tickets, passing youths, please support me!!