The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 206 Business

Chapter 206: Chapter 206 Business

The previously mentioned advantages didn’t move Zhang Yinbao at all—those were bonuses he could take or leave. There was no need to risk offending the middlemen just for those trivial benefits.

Especially after the Wang Family Young Lady had said so much, could she really deliver? He was doubtful.

But this last point nearly made him lose his composure and stand up: "Is that really true?"

Yellow Pine Mushrooms were extremely rare! In all of Shiqiao Town, only about ten fresh pounds could be gathered in a year, amounting to a mere two or three pounds when dried.

In the Capital City, in the south, these items were in very high demand, fetching prices up to several hundred taels per pound, and they were often impossible to find at any price.

More importantly, these mushrooms were a prestigious gift item. It was said that a very honored Noble Patron in the Capital City was particularly fond of them. At their birthday banquet this year, the dish had featured, and only the closest of associates had the chance to taste it.

It was heard that the household that offered the Yellow Pine Mushrooms effortlessly gained the qualifications to compete to become an Imperial Merchant.

Imperial Merchant—this was the ultimate dream of every merchant!

Yet Wang Yongzhu had claimed she could provide more than three pounds a year! Whether fresh or dried, this was a significant amount of valuable resources ripe for investment!

No wonder Zhang Yinbao couldn’t maintain his composure.

He took a deep breath, his eyes locked on Wang Yongzhu without blinking: "Young Lady, are your words true?"

Wang Yongzhu stood up calmly and nodded: "Naturally! This year alone, about two pounds of Yellow Pine Mushrooms went through my hands, all sold to Shopkeeper Wu in town. You can inquire about this; there’s no need for me to lie. Moreover, the Yellow Pine Mushrooms have two seasons a year, and although spring has just passed, autumn has yet to come. I reckon it wouldn’t be difficult to find another two pounds."

With the System in place, what was there to fear?

If it really came down to it, she could cultivate them herself!

Zhang Yinbao paced excitedly around the room several times before he managed to somewhat calm himself.

Shopkeeper Wu, that Fatty Wu—he knew him too. No wonder Fatty Wu had returned to the Capital City so happily ahead of time this year!

The Yellow Pine Mushrooms for the Noble Patron’s birthday, the opportunity to become an Imperial Merchant, and the link with Fatty Wu all clicked together in his mind.

Everything made sense.

Suppressing his excitement, Zhang Yinbao, a decisive man, nodded after a moment’s thought: "How do you want to proceed with this business, young woman?"

True to being a businessman, he immediately shifted to a more formal address.

Wang Yongzhu smiled and pulled Zhang Yinbao aside to discuss the details.

Once they had come to an agreement, they drafted two copies of a partnership deed, stipulating that, starting now, Wang Yongzhu would be responsible for purchasing mountain goods. Of the goods she acquired, a predetermined amount would be supplied to Zhang Yinbao each year. For purchasing these mountain goods, Zhang Yinbao would pay an advance of one hundred taels of silver as a deposit. Once a sufficient batch was ready, Zhang Yinbao’s side would inspect it for quality. Upon approval, the remaining balance would be paid, and the Tianfeng Escort Agency would transport it to the location specified by Zhang Yinbao.

The deed also laid out the various agreements both parties had to abide by and the penalties in the event of a breach.

Specially, it listed that Wang Yongzhu needed to supply three pounds of Yellow Pine Mushrooms each year or an equivalent quantity of equally precious ingredients or medicinal materials at the end.

Only after both parties had no objections did they sign and affix their seals.

Steward Lu also served as a witness, signing and sealing the document.

With this, the business deal was considered concluded.

Both Wang Yongzhu and Zhang Yinbao were immensely satisfied.

Wang Yongping stood by, utterly astounded—was this how business was conducted? His gaze toward Wang Yongzhu was filled with reverence as he suddenly realized just how formidable his little sister was, beyond what he could have ever imagined.

Zhang Yinbao, having sealed the deal, cheerfully took out a silver note of one hundred taels and placed it on the tray, pushing it towards Wang Yongzhu, "The gesture of thanks is one thing, and the earnest money is another! If the young lady can get me three jin of Yellow Pine Mushrooms by the end of the year, I’ll give you an especially large red envelope!"

For an ambitious merchant, what does a bit of silver matter if it could lead to becoming an Imperial Merchant?

The most important thing is to have someone wholeheartedly help you with your work.

Wang Yongzhu didn’t stand on ceremony, as she took the tray, "Rest assured, Brother Zhang!"

Steward Lu was simply flabbergasted beside them. He had seen much of the world, but this girl, who was a mere village maiden yesterday, whose family fields were secretly sold, leaving their livelihood in question,

had today forged a connection with the great mountain goods merchant Zhang Yinbao, nailed down a deal, and received both a gesture of thanks and earnest money, the sum total of which amounted to what an ordinary family might earn in nearly ten years.

He had come to regard the Wang Family members’ importance with even greater significance, and his tone became even more amiable as he spoke to them.

After seeing the three of them back to the Escort Agency, he had gifts sent over. Though they didn’t come close to the generosity of Zhang Yinbao, they included ten taels of silver, which was not at all trivial, and most importantly, he gave Wang Yongzhu a dagger for self-defense, its cold light flashing sharply, clearly a fine blade.

This item was regulated, difficult for ordinary people to obtain; rural blacksmiths would only make things like pots, kitchen knives, sickles, and hoes.

The dagger in Wang Yongzhu’s hand was Steward Lu’s treasured possession. At one time, while he was on escort duty, he had incidentally saved someone, and that person later gave him this, clearly not a common object.

He had treasured it, as the dagger was too small and delicate to suit him, so he had kept it to this day.

He had not planned to take it out, but Zhang Yinbao had given fifty taels as a gesture of thanks, and their Escort Agency couldn’t afford to match that. The ten taels they could offer seemed paltry by comparison, so with gritted teeth, he had decided to present this, somewhat to save face.

Sure enough, Wang Yongzhu was overjoyed with it.

It alleviated some of the discomfort in Steward Lu’s heart.

Having accepted the gifts, Steward Lu took his leave, since he had to escort a shipment to its destination that very night and couldn’t delay any longer. He only advised the three to stay at the Escort Agency for a couple more days, until an escort team was heading back and they could return with them.

Then, he hurriedly departed.

The remaining three sat in the room.

Wang Yongping’s gaze never left the tray of Silver Ingots; he carefully touched them and swallowed his saliva, "Little sister, is all this really ours?"

Wang Yongzhu nodded, "Of course, this is our gesture of thanks!"

Wang Yongping, moved, said, "It’s like a dream! Little sister, pinch me to see if I’m still asleep?"

Song Chongjin, with arms crossed, gave him a kick, "Awake yet?"

Wang Yongping winced, rubbing his leg, yet reluctant to put down the silver. He bit it gently and then held it in his palm, smiling foolishly.

As he smiled, tears began to fall.

"Father and elder brother can be saved! Our family can continue to live on..." As he said this, he hugged the silver and wept.

For Wang Yongping, in almost twenty years of life, his greatest worries had been how to please his betrothed who hadn’t yet entered their household, and how to avoid his parents’ beatings when returning home.

But in just these past two months, his entire world had collapsed, one blow after another striking them. If not for his younger sister, without her, he surely wouldn’t have been able to hold up their family.

The Wang Family would have truly been faced with utter ruin.

Now, clutching this tangible silver, he truly felt that their family was still there! They could keep going!