Chapter 316

Chapter 317: Business Booms at Wan Yuan Trading House

Master Lin could no longer suppress his smile. Time and again he had heard from his father how much Second Young Madam valued Yuxiang jasmine, and remembering how Prince Jin’s consort had favored it as well, he had begun to guess her intentions. When, a few days ago, he heard that Prince Jin’s family had returned, it confirmed his guess. Noble households are powerful and far-reaching; if he could coax Yuxiang to bloom, Second Young Madam would surely reward him. Facts proved he was right.

Xin An gave him another approving look and told him to tend the few pots carefully; in two days she would send people to take them away. Master Lin did not dare slack off.

As soon as Xin An left, the gardener scolded him for being rash. Master Lin said: “From Grandfather on down, three generations of our family have been gardeners. In the past, Prince Jin’s consort liked this Yuxiang. We spent much effort, and we received not a scrap of credit or reward; if anything was slightly displeasing, we were blamed. Father, do you remember how Steward Yang was punished to kneel one year just for saying two good words for us?”

The gardener could never forget. The manor stewards were overbearing; whenever they came to the estate they demanded tribute and never treated people like us as human. Fortunately, before trouble befell the manor, that particular steward was punished by the Prince.

Master Lin looked toward the hothouse and said: “It is rare to meet masters like Second Young Master and Second Young Madam, and Steward Wang does not press us. This is our chance.” Even if he remained a gardener all his life, he meant to be a different kind of gardener.

The gardener sighed, honest and steady his whole life and uncertain if this new boldness was good or bad, and warned: “Speculating on the master’s mind is a grave taboo. From now on, be cautious in word and deed.” Master Lin nodded, then lifted his smile again and returned to tending the plants.

Xin An was in good spirits. She did not mind others guessing her intentions: [people all wish to rise, and she was no exception, but whether one can rise depends on one’s own ability].

On the way back to the residence, she stopped by Wan Yuan Trading House on Ying Hui Street. Business was still brisk. Their stock was complete, prices fair, and word had long spread that they gave out eggs every so often; many people would come from several streets away on purpose. Even if the prices were similar to other general stores, getting two or three eggs for free was still a fine thing.

A woman came in and said: “Give me three chi of this printed cloth.” She had walked a long way in the bitter cold just to buy cloth to make clothes for her children; sweat beaded faintly on her forehead. A half-grown boy stood at her side, his eyes roaming the shelves.

The clerk measured the length in front of mother and son, added two finger-widths for free, and tore the cloth with a crisp rip. The woman, delighted by the extra, then asked for several lengths of coarse cloth; the clerk likewise added two finger-widths.

Finally, he stacked the pieces together, tucked in a few cloth scraps as a bonus, tied the bundle with a cloth strip, and handed it over, saying: “Ma’am, here is your cloth. Hold it tight.” He added cheerfully: “You bought a lot today, so we can give you four eggs, and a skewer of candied hawthorn for this young man.”

The woman was overjoyed. She had gotten extra cloth, scrap pieces, four eggs, and a skewer with five haws; the little more than an hour she had spent walking was not wasted. She said with a smile: “You at Wan Yuan Trading House truly know how to do business. I will come again next time.”

The clerk asked where she lived and whether it was far, then said: “Every hour we send a cart for our customers. If you still have things to buy, you can leave your basket here and come back at the proper time to ride. We cannot take you right to your door, but it will save you steps. Next time you come, wait on the main street by your home; when you see our mule cart with the Wan Yuan Trading House placard, just raise your hand to hail it.”

Many people lived far away; coming once was not easy, and if they bought too much they could not carry it back. To attract more customers, Fang Da had bought a few secondhand carriage boxes and several mules to pull them, shuttling customers daily; business naturally grew better. With the next Wan Yuan Trading House soon to open, they would have to plan the routes anew; for now, they were still experimenting.

Not far away, several women sat on a long bench waiting for the cart, and the first woman, pleased, agreed to wait as well. Knowing she would not have to carry everything home, she bought a few more New Year items.

Xin An watched from her carriage for a while before getting down. Fang Da was away, and the newly appointed steward hurried out to greet her.

Xin An said: “I heard you received a few mother-of-pearl lacquer jewelry coffers?” The steward replied: “There are ten, each exquisitely made. They have been here half a month, but the price is high; so far we have sold only two.”

It had been a trial purchase to see how they would sell. The wealthy would not come to a general store like this to pick fine goods, and the two sold had been taken only because noble ladies passing by had spotted them on the counter. It was like the cloth they sold: sales were decent, but the materials were ordinary; brocades and silks would find no market here.

“Let me see,” Xin An said. The steward led her inside and brought out a black-lacquer mother-of-pearl jewelry coffer. The plum blossom and butterfly motif was elegant, the inlay smooth, delicate, and lustrous. The shopkeeper lit a lamp and held the coffer near the flame so its sheen showed even more.

Xin An said: “Choose three suitable for young ladies and load them for me.” The shopkeeper moved quickly, and soon three coffers were on the carriage.

Xin An mulled it over: perhaps she ought to open a high-end general store that sold nothing but expensive items, to give the capital’s wealthy a chance to enjoy browsing a general store. [When she had leisure, she would think it through more carefully.]

Before long the carriage reached the marquis’s residence. It was just noon, and Steward Zhang came up smiling to say that the clan relatives were all conversing in Grand Matron’s courtyard; lunch would be set in Chun Rong Hall, and Xin An should go there directly on her return.

As she stepped through the gate, laughter drifted from within. The voices of the three girls were lively and sweet, making one feel younger just to hear them; no wonder Grand Matron was laughing so happily.

The girls were the first to spot Xin An and called out: “Second Sister-in-law is back?” Their faces shone with delight. Tang Quan’er was spirited, Tang Fei’er refined, and Tang Ke’er adorably simple.

Xin An said with a smile: “The moment I come in and see three younger sisters, each beautiful in her own way, all my fatigue disappears and my mood lifts.” The three girls smiled shyly.

The boldest, Tang Quan’er, said: “We were delighted to see Second Sister-in-law return. We came this morning to speak with you, but heard you had gone out on business and felt rather disappointed.” Xin An laughed: “Then that was my fault. Come quickly and see what I brought you.”

When the three exquisite mother-of-pearl jewelry coffers appeared, the girls were again full of surprise and joy. Xin An said: “These are from Lin Prefecture. I thought they were lovely and brought them back for you. Do you like them?” “We do,” they answered.

The three could hardly put them down, wishing they could run back immediately to arrange their hairpins and earrings inside. Madam Zhao beamed and said: “Hurry and thank your Second Sister-in-law. Only she spoils you so and arranges everything so properly for you.” The three girls thanked her with bright smiles.

Xin An laughed and said: “Since I was little I always wanted a younger sister so I could dress her up prettily, but I had only a younger brother and nowhere to use my skills. At last I have the chance.”