Chapter 3 Title
What are you doing, trying to open a black market! The short and stout fellow also began to feel afraid
Upon hearing this, Manager Zhu's face suddenly blossomed with joy, "That sounds wonderful, but I am afraid of ruining Master Tang's fine calligraphy."
As expected, the reputation was well-deserved; the innkeeper's mere appearance startled the diners into silence. However, Tang Yi remained unfazed, devouring his buns with grease dripping from his mouth, while secretly picking up a small piece of charcoal.
You are talking nonsense! The innkeeper's expression suddenly darkened.
Wang Sancai? Is he the one who painted braised pork with a brush on the thirtieth night?
Scholar Tang hesitated again as he picked up his pen
You are the foolish one; Master Tang is a scholar. Even to ask him to write something, one must pay a fee for his writing, especially for signboards and couplets, which would cost at least 1.8 taels. Are you willing to part with that?
You shameless woman, will you not let go?
Manager Zhu's roll of the eyes; his usually astute wife became muddled upon seeing the silver coins
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked at the short and stout fellow as if he were a rare specimen, saying that being stingy was nothing compared to the level he had reached. Generally, during the New Year, landlords would add some dishes for their servants and long-term workers. However, this individual was unwilling to part with anything. He pondered deeply and actually came up with a brilliant idea: to use a brush to paint the dishes and then show them to everyone, as if they had already eaten.
Scholar Tang was not polite at all; he immediately took up his brush and wrote vigorously, his strokes flowing like dragons and snakes, and in the blink of an eye, he had written the five characters "Qingfeng Steamed Bun Shop." Each character represented two buns, and Scholar Tang always felt he had taken advantage of the Zhu family. He then prepared another piece of paper and wrote the two banners "Thin Skin and Delicious Filling" and "Genuine Goods at Fair Prices," finally emphasizing the phrase "One Wen for One Bun."
Crazy woman, two pieces of silver amount to three taels, if you still won't let it go, then go see the authorities, I am not afraid of you
Two people were pulling at each other, and a diner furrowed his brows and suddenly shouted: "Oh, isn't this Wang Sancai from Changqing Village, the notorious local landlord, known for being stingy and miserly"
Pah
The goods are genuine and the prices are fair. When I first arrived, I clearly saw that it was ten buns for one cent. With three cents, I can buy 26 buns from you, yet you still make a profit. Are you trying to swindle people?
How eloquent you are! The innkeeper laughed so hard that his wrinkles deepened, and shouted loudly: "Master, why aren't you going to get paper and pen!"
Buying buns did not intimidate him in the slightest; he squinted his small eyes and coughed twice
As a bloodshed incident seemed imminent, Tang Yi laughed heartily and said, "Uncle Zhu, he said the sign says, so let's take a good look at what it actually says!"
"Sir, those who sell goods are not afraid of big-bellied men. You can make us happy by buying, but if you don't pay and want to take advantage, you should consider what kind of temper I have!"
Thank him, why
"Uncle Zhu, this '1' cannot be tampered with, so you can rest assured!" Tang Yi said with a smile, clapping his hands.
Take it away
This fellow turned to leave, and the innkeeper was so enraged that her hair stood on end. She stamped her feet and shouted at Manager Zhu: "You cowardly good-for-nothing, why don't you stop him?"
"Alright, Sanzi, do you dare to make fun of me? Do you believe I will chop you up right now!" The innkeeper pretended to wield a knife, which caused another round of laughter.
The short and stout fellow was utterly unconcerned, pushing Manager Zhu aside with a hand and sneering, "I don't care how much you earn; the price on the sign is what you set, and it has nothing to do with me. Step aside quickly"
"Fool, do you still not understand!" The innkeeper glared at her husband fiercely, leaping three feet high, hands on her hips, and exclaimed: "Haha, hetushu.com. I only just realized that buns are so valuable. According to what you said, if I take two thousand six hundred wen, not a single wen less, I will go to the magistrate with you to file a lawsuit!"
"You are right, I am indeed a fierce woman, and today I will chop you into minced meat!" the innkeeper cursed fiercely.
Indeed, a single sentence alerted everyone. Manager Zhu and his wife, along with the diners, all looked up in unison, and instantly, everyone was taken aback. Manager Zhu could not help but voice it out loud.
As soon as he said this, many people immediately joined in the commotion. Manager Zhu hurriedly said, "One wen each, I dare not ask for more money."
Ah? Is it that expensive
I am here to eat buns, not to be mistreated. Do you intend to run a black market?
The innkeeper's wife, not knowing when she had moved behind her husband, lowered her voice and said: "Foolish, with someone helping you write, why are you still pretending to be clueless?"
The short and stout individual only feels as if he is lifting a stone to smash his own foot, who exactly is the scoundrel responsible for this
The man buying buns appeared to be in his fifties, short and stout, with a round face that seemed to be overflowing with flesh, as if it would burst out even without skin. His small eyes were reduced to mere slits, shining brightly and exuding a lively spirit
Qingfeng! The scholar Tang Xiucai pondered for a moment and found it quite easy to say. He then glanced at the couple, Zhu Zhanggui and his wife.
How is that sign calculated? What if we buy buns and the shopkeeper comes after us with a knife? We can't handle that
At this moment, Scholar Tang stood up, walked over a few steps, and smiled, "Sister-in-law Zhu, you are too polite. My son and I have rented your bamboo house, and we are grateful for your care. It is high time we offered a little assistance. In the past, I was unaware of such matters, but if you do not mind, I will write it now."
Master Tang, your buns are free! And the books.
You all take a look, this thousand-character text has definitely been altered with two additional strokes, it looks different from both the old and the new versions
Before he could finish speaking, a thunderous roar of anger erupted from inside the shop
Haha, let go? I still want to take you to see the authorities. Anyway, I am not afraid of losing face, but it seems that Master Wang is concerned about his reputation. Let's see who is tougher!
Zhu, the shopkeeper, hurried over, grabbed his wife's arm, and said in a low voice: "Alright, we should conduct our business amicably; let's not make a scene!"
"What a keen eye!" Tang Yi stared at him like an idiot and coldly said, "Now take another look, hasn't a stroke also been added to the '10' at the back? If you dare to cheat, you must be prepared to accept the consequences. Hurry up and pay up!"
I never expected that being too clever would backfire and lead to my own downfall
Only such exceptional individuals are capable of undertaking the task of changing the signboard
I, am I not allowed to accept my misfortune!" Wang Sancai's face turned red and his neck thickened as he reached into his bosom, rummaging for a long time, finally pulling out a few pieces of broken silver. He selected the smallest piece, as if cutting into flesh, causing his face to tremble in pain.
"Give me money, give me money!" he shouted fiercely, spitting saliva all over the face.
The people around him spoke increasingly harshly, directing their criticism towards the short and stout man. As the saying goes, spittle can drown a person. Wang Sancai's face turned red and pale in succession as he struggled desperately, but the innkeeper showed no signs of relenting.
Yier, what do you think would be a good name?
"Qingfeng is good, let's call it Qingfeng!" Manager Zhu laughed heartily.
Shopkeeper Zhu suppressed his anger and forced a smile, saying: "Esteemed guest, the buns are one wen each. If you want thirty small ones, I can give them to you for twenty-six. How does that sound? Even if it's twenty-five wen, you have only given three wen, leaving a balance of twenty-two wen. I kindly ask you to consider the small business and show understanding towards us..."
Manager Zhu quickly shook his head and said anxiously: "Sir, you must not say that. Who doesn't know that we conduct our business with the utmost integrity, providing genuine products at fair prices..."
Tang Yi thought for a moment and suddenly said with a mischievous smile: "Father, I think we should call it Qingfeng Steamed Buns!"
How did he end up encountering a fierce woman? Wang Sancai's resentment is profound; his principle in life is that if he doesn't find something when he goes out, he considers it a loss. This time, when he arrived at Liuhebao to discuss business, he happened to overhear a conversation where someone was sharing a joke about changing signs to get free meals. While others took it as a mere joke, only Wang, the wealthy man, took it to heart and even decided to put it into practice.
Shopkeeper Zhu tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Aren't you going to come over and thank Master Tang?"
Although cursing, he quietly loosened his grip, and Wang Sancai wished he could bury his head in his pants, turning to run away. The innkeeper, feeling delighted, held the silver, looking left and right, utterly pleased.
Do you still have the audacity to argue? Look at me...
The innkeeper held it in her hand, spat immediately, and shouted, "Are you blind? Is this little bit of silver enough? My buns cost 1,000 wen for ten. Hurry up and pay!"
Tang Yi said with a smile: "Uncle Zhu, the signboard is indeed not good, which allows people to take advantage of it. How about I have my father help you write a new one?"
The innkeeper was startled and quickly said: "I must thank you, truly must thank you"
Open your eyes and take a look at this, such a large bun, ten for one cent? Why should I give it away for free, I could still gain a good reputation. The innkeeper is showing his authority, comparable to a fierce woman.
Zhu, the shopkeeper, had no choice but to run over and stretch out his hand to block the way. He cupped his hands and pleaded, "Esteemed guest, running a small business is not easy. Please do not joke with me; over twenty copper coins is something my wife and I cannot earn in a day!"
He hurried over, staring intently at the sign, and suddenly exclaimed "hetushu.com".
One thousand, ten characters, is one thousand ten characters! What is going on here?
Zhu Laoshi, you are giving away my buns again! If you have money, buy buns; if you don't, get lost. Not a single cent less! The legendary innkeeper rushed over with a steamer, placed it on the stove, and turned around to face the customers buying buns. With hands on hips, he sized up the other party and let out a cold laugh
If it weren't for Lord Tang helping to change the sign, Wang Sancai would have succeeded
Wang Sancai was left with no choice but to take out a piece of broken silver
People are missing these few buns from you, Manager Zhu feels quite ashamed, almost losing the face to meet others
Zhu, the shopkeeper, hurriedly exclaimed: "Sir, you haven't paid yet?"
The innkeeper weighed the broken silver in his hands, and his heart was already blooming with joy, as one could not earn so much money in a single morning. However, he still put on a stubborn face and scolded, "All you know is that being amiable brings wealth, but you are nothing but a morally deficient scoundrel. I will be ruined!"
"Well said!" The innkeeper raised the gleaming kitchen knife high in the air and reached out to grab the fat man's clothing.
Wait a moment
"Who knows, perhaps your long hair is matched by your short experience. I apologize, but I have other matters to attend to, so I cannot accompany you."
At this moment, someone laughed and said: "Manager Zhu, everyone is hungry and wants to buy a couple of buns, but at 10 cash for 1 bun, we can't afford it!"
"Alright! In all these years, I have never seen someone so brazenly take advantage of others without any shame. You truly have opened my eyes." The innkeeper suddenly grabbed a kitchen knife and dashed over in just a few steps, moving with agility that was almost akin to that of a monkey
He gave a contemptuous smile towards Manager Zhu and said, "What, isn't the money for the buns right there?"
Ah, ah! Manager Zhu quickly responded, turning around to bring over the paper, brush, ink, and inkstone. The inner manager cleaned the table thoroughly