A Love Reborn: Finding Romance Twice In One Lifetime
Chapter 143: BARTER TRADING

Chapter 143: Chapter 143: BARTER TRADING

With that thought in mind, when they collected their respective meal boxes, Susan gave each coachman a piece of roasted fish.

"There isn’t much, but you can have a taste!" Susan politely addressed each of them as she handed the fish over to them.

Receiving a free fish to test, the coachmen liked Susan more and thanked her profusely before throwing the small piece of fish into their mouths.

Nom. Nom. Nom.

With every bite and chew they made, their eyes were squinted into slits and without a word, Susan could tell that the fish has conquered them.

Which was a good thing.

"Madam, this fish is simply delicious."

"That’s true. Please urge your boss to add it quickly. If our masters eat this tonight, they will be bothering us in the future."

Susan laughed heartily as she listened to the coachmen’s requests.

"Don’t worry. I will inform her when I see her later."

Upon hearing that, the men’s faces eased and encouraged her for a bit longer before taking their leave.

Susan shook her head as she watched the carriages head in opposite directions with a smile on her face.

She could already see how famous the fish would be in the future.

Only if her friend wasn’t lazy and pregnant. Then the dream of having fish constantly would be achieved.

Unfortunately for the customers, tomorrow they will be cooking pork. So, no fish for them.

"All customers have been served. Let’s clean up and be ready to prepare ingredients for tomorrow!" casting away unnecessary thoughts and problems she could never solve, Susan said as she cheered the workers.

It was again another time of the day when they had to work.

It wasn’t easy to earn such a huge amount of salary.

They got to learn that.

At least there was free food and other benefits. So, it wasn’t as tiring as what others might think.

***

Meanwhile, on Calista’s side, she didn’t have a single clue of what was happening at the restaurant at all.

However, this month, she was currently feeling helpless as she looked at the long queue the villagers had made to trade for her fish.

After fishing for a while, several barrels were filled and the fishing baskets had changed positions and still collecting fish.

"I said it yesterday. We can barter trade with what you have. If I like what you have, then we trade. But if I don’t, then find a solution. I can still accept money. Three copper coins per big fish and two for smaller ones." Without glossing over words, Calista found it necessary to let these villagers know in advance.

She didn’t want to find herself turning into a shrew any second just because they didn’t get along because of the price.

When the villagers heard that, nodded in understanding and appreciated the forewarning as well.

Since everyone understood what was happening, the barter trading moment officially started.

With the wide barrels she had the fish put in just a short distance away from her, Calista started trading with the person in front.

The villagers came prepared for the trade, which put her more at ease.

"I have ten duck eggs with me. How many fish can I get?" the woman in front asked as she showed the basket full of eggs.

Calista did a quick mental calculation.

Duck eggs were more expensive than chicken eggs. While a chicken egg can be purchased at two for one copper in villages and more in towns and cities, a dug egg was twice the amount.

So, if she goes with that logic, the ten eggs were ten copper coins, which was a reasonable price in her eyes.

"If it’s the small fish, then five and big ones, three."

The woman’s eyes lit up upon hearing that, and without hesitation, she chose, "I want the small fish."

It was better getting five than three. She can ration the fish properly.

With the choice made, a servant helped take out the fish from the barrel and put it into the extra basket the woman brought with her, while they took the basket of eggs.

With that, the barter trade officially started.

After this lady, more eggs started appearing, which was normal. Lately, nearly every family in the village owned a hen or two. So, eggs were plenty despite some of them being purchased by Calista for the restaurant.

The prices were the same as well, so however they made use of their eggs, it was just the same.

Some of them brought vegetables, fruits and grains such as sorghum. Calista wasn’t especially picky and even if she didn’t like it, she would just cook it in the restaurant and feed the customers.

The queue started getting shorter, and the fish in the barrels were disappearing as well.

Next to Calista, a small heap of items was gathered, and it was all from the villagers.

After a while, the last person was served, and Calista exhaled a turbid breath, seeing that.

There was still fish remaining in the barrel, and the fishing baskets were still in the rivers.

With everyone served, Calista instructed for the baskets to be taken out and another bountiful harvest greeted her.

With the fish that she had; she rewarded the boys who had been hard at work helping her. There were ten of them, with Arnold leading.

So, she rewarded each boy with two big fish and Arnold with four.

The rest was brought back home, alongside the bountiful harvest of the villagers.

Everything had to be carried by a carriage since they were that many.

At the manor, Calista was all smiles as she counted what she had received that day.

Eggs took most of the list, and that was good.

Every day, she ate two to four eggs. And on days when eggs are on the menu, around thirty eggs would be cooked. And if the number keeps on increasing, who knows how many they would need to cook?

At least she was cooking scrambled eggs. If she was boiling them, she would need to charge extra.

Apart from the eggs, she was happy to find a great share of sorghum.

She had a lot of uses for it.