Chapter 006: Unlimited White Rice, White Flour, Beef, and Lamb!

Under normal circumstances, Sun Dakun would certainly not negotiate the price. Although the elk is quite rare and generally inaccessible to most people, given his status, it is not particularly difficult for him. The capabilities of a single Shanxi merchant are limited, but when combined, the abilities of dozens of Shanxi merchants become immeasurable. Generally speaking, the price of this elk is around 100 taels of silver. Want to sell it for more? No way. However, today is indeed a coincidence; he truly needs such a gift. Generally speaking, the price of this elk is around 100 taels of silver. Want to sell it for more? No way. However, today is indeed a coincidence; he truly needs such a gift

Just right

Sun Dakun silently repeated the name a few times, committed it to memory, and then truly departed

While passing by the mutton stall, Xu Xingxia purchased twenty jin of mutton, spending approximately one tael of silver. At the adjacent beef stall, Xu Xingxia again bought twenty jin of beef, also spending about one tael of silver. Ningxia Town has a large production of horses, cattle, and sheep, with a significant number of cattle and sheep slaughtered and sold daily, resulting in a very ample supply. Therefore, the prices of beef and mutton are not very high, with each jin priced at around fifty wen.

Harmony brings wealth; unity and cooperation are of utmost importance. We all live in Weizhen Fortress, and there is no need for excessive conflict. Do not forget that a sword hangs over each of their heads. This sword is controlled by the Tatars. Now that it is March, the climate in the desert is gradually warming up. The winter supplies stored by the Tatars should have been nearly exhausted. Who knows when they will descend southward to plunder again? The winter supplies stored by the Tatars should have been nearly exhausted. Who knows when they will descend southward to plunder again

Niu Niu finally let go of Xu Xingxia's hand and skipped away. This little girl, besides looking forward to a meal of meat dumplings, also longed for a meal of meat Saozi noodles. Unfortunately, it had been a long, long time since the Xu family had eaten Saozi noodles. Of course, now, all her wishes could be fulfilled.

Xu Xingxia then said to Liu Guangliang and others: "Uncle, Dazhong, Xiaozhong, you have all worked hard. Come over for dinner tonight. We will have a feast! White rice and flour, plenty of beef and lamb! By the way, ask Aunt, Cousin Chunlan, and Cousin Qiulan to come over early; we will make dumplings to eat! Never mind, I will let Niuniu go call them!"

The Ningxia Plain produces rice and wheat, and generally, most fields can yield two to three harvests in two years. Therefore, the prices of white rice and white flour are not considered very expensive. Typically, good quality white rice costs around 300 wen per dou (approximately 18.8 jin). One shi is equivalent to three taels of silver. Of course, slightly inferior quality would be even cheaper. The price of white flour is slightly higher than that of white rice, costing about 400 wen per dou. One shi is also equivalent to three taels of silver. Again, slightly inferior quality would be even cheaper. The price of white flour is slightly higher than that of white rice, costing about 400 wen per dou.

Xu Xingxia bid farewell to the Wang family and his uncle, taking Dachun and Xiaochun along to shop. He needed to buy meat, white rice, and flour, and it was indeed difficult without two helpers. Ningxia has long been referred to as the Jiangnan of the frontier, with an abundance of horses, cattle, and sheep, and crops that can generally be harvested two to three times a year. Therefore, in the entire Northwest region, it is considered relatively rich in resources, and prices are not very high; with five taels of silver, one can purchase a considerable amount of goods.

Xu Xingxia replied loudly: "Xu Xingxia"

Wang was naturally exclaiming in agreement. She had not yet fully grasped what was happening before her. The happiness came so suddenly that she was not mentally prepared for it. Thinking of the shiny silver ingots in the bag, Wang felt as if she were dreaming. She quietly pinched her thigh, confirming that she was not dreaming.

Xu Xingxia also responded with a smile to those who took the initiative to greet him. It is only natural that these individuals previously looked down upon him and the Xu family, and there was no particular malice intended. In any case, he would not take offense. If he were to be overly concerned with such people, Xu Xingxia would have been driven to frustration countless times already. There are simply too many such individuals in the world.

... ...

Having said that, he was about to instruct Niuniu to call someone, but unexpectedly, Niuniu disagreed. She held Xu Xingxia's hand, pouted her lips, and said: "I don't want to call anyone; I want to go with my brother to buy meat. I want to buy a lot, a lot of meat"

Hello, Mr. Wang

Big Chuan, Little Chuan, let's go! We are going shopping!

Sun Dakun called to his attendants to carry away the deer. After walking a few steps, he suddenly turned around and asked Xu Xingxia, "Young man, what is your name?"

At that moment, Wang, trembling, happened to walk over. Xu Xingxia casually handed him the cloth bag and said, "Mother, there are one hundred and thirty taels of silver in here; please take good care of it."

The silver ingots used by the Shanxi merchants are of good quality, far superior to the so-called official silver or the silver of lesser purity. Each ingot bears the mark of various silver houses in Shanxi at its base. These ingots are minted by the Four Seas Money Exchange in Shanxi. This is also a fundamental reason why the Shanxi merchants could travel extensively across the country. Their silver is highly sought after

If time were pushed even further back, an even greater tragedy would have occurred. In the thirty-eighth year of the Wanli era, approximately five hundred Tatar cavalrymen advanced southward. They quietly crossed the frontline fortifications of Zhenshuo Fort, Weizhen Fort, and Pinglu City, penetrating deep into the vicinity of Ningxia City. They successively breached four fortifications: Hongguang Fort, Yaofu Fort, Changxin Fort, and Li Gang Fort, killing nearly one thousand military personnel and civilians, and forcibly abducting five to six hundred women. Even the Prince of Qing's residence within Ningxia City was alarmed by their actions. They quietly crossed the frontline fortifications of Zhenshuo Fort, Weizhen Fort, and Pinglu City, penetrating deep into the vicinity of Ningxia City. They successively breached four fortifications: Hongguang Fort, Yaofu Fort, Changxin Fort, and Li Gang Fort, killing nearly one thousand military personnel and civilians, and forcibly abducting five to six hundred women. Even the Prince of Qing's residence within Ningxia City was alarmed by their actions

Xu Xingxia reached into the cloth bag and took out a silver ingot, saying to Wang: "Mother, I will go buy some meat first. I promised Dongzi and Niuniu that I would treat them to meat tonight, and we will also have dumplings. I am going to buy meat now, as well as white rice and white flour. As for other items, Mother, please take care of that yourself."

After this tragic event, Emperor Wanli was extremely enraged and ordered the arrest and legal prosecution of the then Governor-General of Ningxia and the Provincial Governor of Ningxia. In addition to the Governor-General, dozens of other officials were also dealt with. However, the Emperor's fury could not fundamentally change the situation in Ningxia Town. Even to this day, Ningxia Town remains in a state of passive defense, helplessly awaiting the next move. No one knows when the Tatar cavalry will strike, how many will come, or what their targets will be. Even to this day, Ningxia Town remains in a state of passive defense, helplessly awaiting the next move. No one knows when the Tatar cavalry will strike, how many will come, or what their targets will be.

Although they did not see the bright silver ingots, they knew that Xu Xingxia must have made a substantial fortune from Sun Dakun. Such a large stag would certainly be worth no less than one hundred taels. With one hundred taels of silver in hand, the status of the Xu family would instantly change. In Weizhen Fort, having a net worth of one hundred taels of silver would definitely qualify one as a wealthy household. Of course, compared to the wealthy families in Pinglu City, it would still be insignificant.

Wang reached out and pressed on Niuniu's face, both affectionate and heartbroken, and jokingly scolded, "This girl, all she knows is to eat meat. It's quite pitiful; ever since she was born, she hasn't had much meat. Your brother has money now, so how could he not give you meat? Hurry up! Tonight we will have dumplings, and tomorrow mother will make you Saozi noodles"

Hello, Uncle Zhao

Sun Dakun turned back to the carriage and began counting the silver. After a moment, he brought over a small cloth bag and handed it to Xu Xingxia. Xu Xingxia took the bag, placed it on the ground, and carefully counted its contents. The bag was filled entirely with silver ingots. Each ingot weighed five taels, totaling twenty-six ingots, which amounted to exactly one hundred thirty taels

Weizhen Fortress is a crucial route for the Tatar cavalry heading south and is also one of their primary targets for plunder. In the event of an attack by the Tatar cavalry, if the military households within the city cannot unite and resist to the death, they will undoubtedly face the outcome of the city being massacred by the Tatars. Such instances are not without precedent. Three years ago, Zhenshuo Fortress, located not far from Weizhen Fortress, was breached by the Tatars, resulting in the death of all over five hundred inhabitants inside.

Xu Xingxia quickly calculated. If he were to go out and find a buyer himself, it would not only be troublesome but also time-consuming. At this moment, he just wanted to exchange the sika deer for silver as soon as possible, so he could buy meat for his younger siblings and treat his family to a hearty meal of dumplings with thin skins and generous fillings. The price of one hundred and thirty taels was about the limit. Thus, Xu Xingxia nodded and said readily: "Alright! It's a deal!"

Xu Xingxia nodded and said

Wang was incredulous as she took the cloth bag, trembling slightly as she opened it. To her astonishment, it was indeed filled with shiny silver ingots. She suddenly felt overwhelmed, experiencing a wave of dizziness as if she might faint. Fortunately, her reaction was relatively quick; she hurriedly reached up to rub her temples, striving to calm herself down.

Xu Xingxia did not expect that even before he had entered the fortress gate, someone had already come to buy the elk. This was indeed somewhat unexpected. The elk was originally meant to be sold for money, and Xu Xingxia did not decline. However, he could tell that the other party was genuinely interested in the elk. If he did not take the opportunity to raise the price a little, he would be a fool. He thought for a moment and slowly said: "One hundred taels, that's a bit low, let's go higher." If he did not take the opportunity to raise the price a little, he would be a fool. He thought for a moment and slowly said: "One hundred taels, that's a bit low, let's go higher."

Zhang Bohao

Among various types of meat, the most expensive is pork, with a price of at least 200 wen per jin. In fact, there is no pork sold in Weizhen Fortress. The reason is simple: not many people can afford it. Additionally, there is very cheap horse meat, costing only about 30 wen per jin. However, the taste of horse meat is far inferior to that of beef and lamb, so Xu Xingxia will definitely not buy horse meat today

... ...

As he walked along the way, Xu Xingxia felt many intense gazes upon him. These individuals had previously ignored him. Now, upon seeing Xu Xingxia, they all greeted him in a very friendly manner. To be precise, they greeted him in a very obsequious way. Especially those who had previously spoken ill of Xu Xingxia behind his back, now they were eager to speak well of him to atone for their past mistakes

Which merchant is not adept at reading people's expressions? Sun Dakun glanced at Xu Xingxia and immediately realized that his thoughts had caught the attention of this young man carrying a bow and arrow. For some reason, Sun Dakun subconsciously felt that this young man seemed a bit peculiar. However, he could not pinpoint exactly what was peculiar about him. After some thought, he decided not to be stingy and nodded, saying, "Then it will be one hundred and thirty taels." For some reason, Sun Dakun subconsciously felt that this young man seemed a bit peculiar. However, he could not pinpoint exactly what was peculiar about him. After some thought, he decided not to be stingy and nodded, saying, "Then it will be one hundred and thirty taels."