Chapter 271 – Selling Grain
Setting out on her chestnut horse in the early morning, Yan Xiaosi arrived at Daxing Town during the morning market hours.
Even though it wasn’t a fair day, Daxing Town was still bustling in the morning. Vendors selling breakfast food, tea, and vegetables filled the streets with a sea of people.
After riding horseback and facing the wind all the way, Yan Xiaosi felt somewhat parched, so she stopped at a small roadside tea stall for a bowl of hot tea.
After drinking her tea and paying the stall owner one copper coin, she led her chestnut horse to look for a grain merchant.
Passing by one grain business, she stopped her horse.
“Wan Family Grain Merchants.”
Wasn’t this the same grain merchant where she had sold corn last time? There was an alley next to it; she remembered it clearly.
“Young man, have you married your wife yet?”
Surprisingly, the shopkeeper of Wan Family Grain Merchants still remembered Yan Xiaosi, a youth whose facial hair hadn’t even fully grown yet was already eager to take a wife.
Seeing Yan Xiaosi, Shopkeeper Wan teased her playfully.
Hearing the shopkeeper’s jest, Yan Xiaosi simply tied her horse’s reins to the hitching post and walked up the few steps to the shopkeeper.
“I didn’t expect you to remember me.”
Shopkeeper Wan remembered her distinctly.
First, because of her striking appearance with the notable bright red beauty mark at the corner of her eye, and second, because her eagerness to find a wife was truly remarkable.
“Of course I remember you, young man. Look at how brightly you’re dressed today, and riding a horse too. Have you prospered after getting married?”
Yan Xiaosi chuckled and casually replied, “After getting married, I’ve just earned a bit of money, that’s all.”
Seeing the shopkeeper’s warm, elder-like smile and friendly demeanor, she was looking for someone to help her, so she decided on the shopkeeper.
“Shopkeeper, how’s business at your store?”
Shopkeeper Wan sighed, “Just average. In these times of war and chaos, households aren’t wealthy, and few are willing to spend money on grain.”
That made sense. When Yan Xiaosi first arrived in this world, her family had no money. Ms. Zhong and the others would go to the mountains to dig for wild vegetables, at most spending a little money to buy a few pounds of coarse flour. Who could afford to spend money on glossy, oil-sheen rice?
“Shopkeeper, I have a business proposition that could not only earn you some money but also help you connect with a noble from Xijing. Would you be willing to cooperate with me?”
Shopkeeper Wan scrutinized her for a moment, looking skeptical.
“You know a noble from Xijing? What does this Xijing noble look like?”
“A pair of eyes, a pair of ears, a nose, and a mouth, of course.”
Shopkeeper Wan’s face showed a defeated expression, and his look at Yan Xiaosi clearly said: you win.
Yan Xiaosi had played a small joke on him, then leaned close to his ear, speaking in a volume only the two of them could hear: “Shopkeeper, don’t doubt me. I’m telling the truth. The military camp at Tongluo Plain is short on supplies and wants to purchase grain in large quantities.”
This time, Shopkeeper Wan believed her.
He stared intently at Yan Xiaosi, his eyes brightening.
“How much grain do they need at Tongluo Plain? I’ll prepare it right away.”
He had heard that the general stationed at Tongluo Plain was high-ranking and powerful. Completing this deal would not only earn money but also connect him with such a distinguished person—such a good opportunity was hard to find even with a lantern.
Yan Xiaosi waved one finger in front of him.
“Shopkeeper, the small amount of grain in your shop is far from enough.”
“If it’s not enough, I can find a way to get more grain.”
“How much can you get?”
Shopkeeper Wan estimated and said, “At least a few thousand jin of grain.”
Even a few thousand jin of grain wouldn’t even be enough to fill the gaps in the teeth of a large army.
“Shopkeeper, there are fifty thousand troops stationed at Tongluo Plain. A few thousand jin of grain is just a drop in the bucket.”
Shopkeeper Wan’s expression tightened, and he said angrily, “Young man, if I can’t make this deal, why tell me so much? Are you just making fun of me?”
“Please don’t be angry, Shopkeeper.”
Yan Xiaosi tried to calm him down.
“Your few thousand jin of grain plus what my friend has would be enough, but I have one condition.”
“What condition?”
“You need to lend me your shop for one day. Have all your assistants leave today, and for this entire day, your shop will be used by me alone.”
Shopkeeper Wan seemed somewhat uneasy.
“But I have quite a bit of grain in my shop.”
Yan Xiaosi understood his concern; he was worried about being scammed, afraid she would take all the grain.
If she were in his position, she wouldn’t trust a stranger with her shop either.
“Shopkeeper, rest assured, I won’t touch the grain in your shop. If you’re concerned, I can leave some silver with you as security.”
As she spoke, Yan Xiaosi took out half of her savings and handed it to Shopkeeper Wan.
“Shopkeeper, this is a bank note for five hundred taels of silver. Five hundred taels should be enough to buy all the grain in your store, right? I’ll leave it with you, and we can draw up a written agreement. Would that ease your mind?”
Shopkeeper Wan took the bank note, confirmed it was indeed five hundred taels, and looked at Yan Xiaosi with immense surprise.
This youngster is so wealthy.
“Good, let’s draw up an agreement.”
He put away the five hundred taels and led Yan Xiaosi inside to write the agreement.
By noon, as Yan Xiaosi had requested, he sent all the shop assistants home and gave her a key to the store.
Taking the key, Yan Xiaosi immediately felt more at ease.
Once the shopkeeper was gone, she could take the grain from her Portable Space and store it in this shop, claiming it was sent by a friend, and then wait for Long Yu to send someone to collect it.
“Shopkeeper Wan, when will your few thousand jin of grain be ready?”
Shopkeeper Wan replied, “By noon tomorrow. Young Master Yan, when will your grain be ready?”
Having signed the agreement, he now knew her name.
Yan Xiaosi smiled and answered, “My friend will deliver it today. I’m borrowing your shop precisely to store that grain.”
Shopkeeper Wan kindly asked, “Young Master Yan, are you sure you don’t need my help?”
“Really, I don’t. My friend has enough people to handle it.”
Shopkeeper Wan nodded slightly, “Then we’ll meet at the shop tomorrow at noon.”
“Very well.” As Yan Xiaosi escorted him out, she didn’t forget to remind him, “I’ll notify the general stationed at Tongluo Plain to come for the grain before noon tomorrow. At that time, I hope Shopkeeper Wan will tell the general that all the grain is yours. After receiving payment, Shopkeeper Wan can then transfer the money to me.”
Shopkeeper Wan looked puzzled, “Young Master Yan, why do you want me to say that? Don’t you want to establish a connection with the general?”
“This way, Shopkeeper Wan, your contribution appears greater. If you gain the general’s favor because of this contribution, it will be much easier for you to do business in the future. I’m selling grain for my friend, and I don’t need to take credit for this. My friend is a traveling merchant, and this kind of credit isn’t so important to him either.”
Shopkeeper Wan looked grateful.
“Very well then.”
