The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 782 - 781: The Stone Snail

Chapter 782: Chapter 781: The Stone Snail

Zhang Yinbao, not yet satisfied with the mutual business flattery, looked around and spotted Wang Yongping and Jinhoo.

Zhang Yinbao did not know Jinhoo, but he was familiar with Wang Yongping; after all, he was an acquaintance. So he simply ran over and started chatting with Wang Yongping.

Wang Yongping had just finished up with his duties when he saw Zhang Yinbao approaching. He hurriedly greeted him with a reserved manner and also pulled Jinhoo into the conversation.

Jinhoo had seen Zhang coming and, upon his uncle’s introduction, quickly paid his respects with great reverence, "I have seen Boss Zhang!"

Zhang Yinbao was in an exceptionally good mood at that moment and patted Jinhoo on the shoulder, "No need to be so polite. Your aunt and uncle are friends of mine, just call me ’Uncle’!"

Jinhoo, clever as he was, seized the moment and promptly called him Uncle Zhang.

Zhang Yinbao, having gained a grandnephew for nothing, couldn’t just be called ’Uncle’ for free. As a boss, he took off a golden ring from his finger and thrust it into Jinhoo’s hand, "Take this and play with it!"

Jinhoo was startled; this was gold! He dared not accept it and hurriedly waved it off!

But how could there be any taking back of a gift that Zhang Yinbao wished to give? Wouldn’t that be slapping his own face?

After some refusal, both Jinhoo and Wang Yongping were convinced by Zhang Yinbao and obediently accepted the meeting gift.

After a few moments of casual conversation, Zhang learned of the Wang Family’s current situation. The mountain goods were now under the responsibility of the brothers; Wang Yongzhu had let go of her involvement due to accompanying her child to school in the county town, but she had still invested her principal.

With this information in mind, Zhang Yinbao chatted a bit more, noting that Wang Yongping was still honest and straightforward, not uttering any exaggerated statements.

He asked if Wang Yongping had acquired any good items this year, and only then did a hint of joy appear, "It’s all thanks to my sister. It was only after coming here to Yingzi Gully that I realized there were so many fine things to be found. I’ve also inspected them over the past few days, and indeed, they are excellent! Besides helping weigh tea leaves these past few days, my nephew and I have been busy; we did acquire quite a few valuable items."

Zhang Yinbao, whose mountain goods were already an important part of his business ventures, was also interested.

He immediately requested to take a look.

In a nearby dry cave, he saw it was already filled with a variety of mountain goods, animal furs, and other products.

Mushrooms and the like were all dried or roasted for better preservation.

Zhang Yinbao went forward, felt, and looked at them, nodding with satisfaction, "All good stuff!"

Then he turned and said, "I’ll take all these mountain goods. When we descend the mountain tomorrow, I’ll take everything with me! You’ll settle the account with Old Guan in a while."

Wang Yongping was overjoyed, as this would be an easy profit. Just by turning these goods over, he would earn a tidy sum of silver.

Jinhoo was also pleased to hear this and hurriedly joined Wang Yongping in thanking Zhang Yinbao.

Zhang Yinbao waved his hand, content and satisfied, he then strolled off to another place.

This was just a simple favor. Now, with the business relationship he had with Wang Yongzhu, it was all too normal.

Even if Wang Yongping and Jinhoo were inexperienced in the ways of the world, they knew exactly why the big boss was being so generous.

They exchanged glances, a complex feeling stirring within them that they couldn’t quite express.

Evening fell.

The women of Yingzi Gully showed off their expertise.

The hunters took advantage of the last light to catch a few pheasants and rabbits, and they went down to the streams to gather the fattest stone snails of spring.

These stone snails only grow under rocks in mountain streams, and spring is when they are at their fattest and most delicious.

The quantity isn’t large, so only when there’s an esteemed guest at home do the hunters go out to search for stone snails to serve.

They don’t require much in the way of cooking techniques, just stir-frying with the season’s freshest leeks is enough to make them so delicious that one could nearly swallow their tongue.

When dinner was served, a bowl of stone snails was placed in front of Zhang Yinbao, for Wang Yongzhu and Wang Yongping were still in mourning and had also been provided with vegetarian dishes, which showed considerable thoughtfulness.

Zhang Yinbao had acquired mountain goods for many years in Shiqiao Town but had never tasted such snails, each the size of an adult’s thumb. Pinching one and sucking it into his mouth, the delicious juice burst on his tongue, dazzling even Zhang Yinbao, who had dined across the length and breadth of Jiangnan.

The moment the snail meat entered his mouth, it was tender and springy, perfectly complemented by the fresh crispness of the leeks—simply perfect.

Even the usually composed Zhang Yinbao couldn’t control his chopsticks, and in no time, a pile of snail shells had accumulated in front of him.

As he ate, Zhang Yinbao spoke to Loo Xiaoshan, still yearning for more, "These stone snails are delicious. Are they a local specialty? I’ve been in Shiqiao Town for many years and have never tasted such a delicacy! If we were to sell these outside, many gourmets would probably go crazy for them—"

Wang Yongzhu, being in mourning, naturally couldn’t partake, but hearing Zhang Yinbao’s words, he couldn’t help but whet his appetite. It was a pity he couldn’t indulge now, but there would be plenty of opportunities later, and he would make sure to bring his mother Old Granny Zhang and Song Chongjin to try the delicacy.

Over there, Loo Xiaoshan looked troubled, "We can only find these stone snails in the nearby mountain streams, and they are in extremely limited quantity. Only this time of year during spring do we find a few more. Today’s bowl was the result of over a dozen of us searching in the water for a long while to gather just this small amount."

Upon hearing how scarce they were, Zhang Yinbao showed a hint of regret; if their quantity were greater, selling them outside could be a lucrative business.

However, his extensive experience reminded him that the best things in this world are usually scarce.

Just like Yellow Pine Mushrooms, their rarity is what makes them treasured!

He could only sigh twice and then ate two more stone snails to steady his shock.

After dinner, with many hands making light work and as the tea leaves fetched today by the hunters’ wives at Master Qi’s request were few, the tea leaves were almost done just past the hour of Hai. The two tea masters had been busy nonstop except for dining after a bumpy journey, and they too needed to rest.

Wang Yongzhu promptly asked them to rest, as there were still arduous tasks awaiting them tomorrow.

She suggested that the remaining tea leaves be left to her to practice on.

The two tea masters were hesitant at first. While Wang Yongzhu’s tea-frying skills had improved, they certainly couldn’t match their decades of expertise.

If all the leftovers were given to her, there was a risk that the tea quality might be compromised, and that could significantly affect the price.

Zhang Yinbao, now treating Wang Yongzhu as an honored elder, was amenable to most things so long as they didn’t endanger his life or fortune.

It was only a basket of tea leaves; it was a loss they could afford.

With a wave of his hand, he agreed.

Wang Yongzhu, having already made up her mind, simply suggested everyone take a break. She could fry the tea and keep watch overnight, then call others to take over after she finished.

Zhang Yinbao agreed, thinking the arrangement was quite good.

He and his shop assistants had indeed not rested well due to the long and dusty journey.

No one was made of iron, and with the rain they had endured that day, falling sick tomorrow without proper rest would be disastrous.

He thus accepted the offer without demur, thanked Wang Yongzhu, and along with his assistants and Wang Yongping and his nephew Jinhoo, made do for the night in a cave.