"Steward Huang, I'm just wondering what price you can offer for these medicinal herbs?"
Qin Sang asked very bluntly.
In business, one speaks business. The implication was that if the price was too low, she would sell them elsewhere.
Steward Huang did not dare underestimate her. It had been proven once or twice that this woman had no intention of currying favor with his family, so naturally, she wouldn't lower her stance to give him a better deal.
However, Steward Huang wasn't displeased by this. On the contrary, he felt this woman was capable and worth befriending:
"Rest assured, Doctor Qin. Ever since you told me last time you had herbs to sell, I specifically called over a Pharmacy shopkeeper to appraise them. I guarantee the price will be the same as in the county seat. I absolutely will not let you suffer a loss."
Qin Sang laughed heartily:
"I naturally trust you, Steward Huang. Then let's take inventory. This time, I've brought a total of two hundred tubes of mosquito coils. If you don't need this many, we can stick to the agreed amount, and I'll take the rest back."
Steward Huang waved his hand:
"I can take them all, I can take them all. The reason I said one hundred tubes was because I was afraid you couldn't make them in two days. Since you've made them, there's no reason to turn money away."
After speaking, Steward Huang called over the Shop Assistant who had already been waiting in the courtyard to start counting. The shopkeeper stood by and reminded him:
"Steward, I ordered fifty tubes. If there are extras, I'll take twenty more."
Steward Huang nodded, and only then did the shopkeeper feel relieved.
The shopkeeper also felt a bit uncomfortable. This business originally came to him through Qin Sang, yet now he had become the supporting act.
But who could blame him? Steward Huang's family was wealthy and powerful.
However, when he thought about getting half the profit from the mosquito coils Steward Huang sold, he felt balanced again.
Steward Huang had the shopkeeper come over to examine the herbs. Qin Sang then pointed and introduced them one by one. She had sorted each type of herb into categories, cleaned off all the dirt clumps, making it clear at a glance. All that was needed was to weigh them.
The lean shopkeeper inspected the quality and nodded:
"These are all good medicinal herbs. Well then, Doctor Qin, listen to the prices. For Millettia root, it's ten wen per jin. For gastrodia elata, ten wen per liang. For Solomon's seal rhizome, fifty wen per liang..."
As Qin Sang listened, she compared it to the medicinal prices she had inquired about in the Town. Indeed, these were much higher, especially for something like Millettia root, which was double the Town price.
"Good. Let's go with these prices. Shopkeeper, please weigh them."
Qin Sang had Da Zhuang help the shopkeeper weigh the herbs. Meanwhile, she took a bundle from the handcart and went over to Steward Huang.
Steward Huang was sitting at a stone table drinking tea. Qin Sang sat on another stone stool and asked:
"Steward Huang, is Madam Huang not out with you today?"
Steward Huang poured a cup of tea for Qin Sang before replying:
"There are too many refugees outside, it's not safe. I had her stay home to play with the child."
Qin Sang nodded:
"That's true. On the way here, the refugees seem to be gathering more and more. This year's disaster is too severe."
"Take this tea for example. The previous two times I came, the shopkeeper never offered a sip of water. It's only because you're here, Steward Huang, that the shopkeeper is willing to serve tea."
Hearing this half-joking, half-complaining analogy, Steward Huang laughed heartily. The shopkeeper's face beside him darkened slightly:
"Doctor Qin, what are you saying? The Shop Assistant was just busy and forgot.
If Doctor Qin wants tea, it's simple. I'll pour it for you, I'll pour it for you.
Nowadays, I'm relying on your mosquito coils to make a little money. If it weren't for the profit from these coils keeping me afloat, my inn would probably have to close its doors."
Qin Sang smiled and stopped the shopkeeper's attempt to pour her tea. She just wanted to use this joking manner to plant the idea in their minds that she was conducting business with them on equal terms.
Qin Sang wasn't in a hurry to drink. She had just taken a sip; it had a very heavy earthy taste. She simply placed the teacup aside and asked seriously:
"The inn was doing fine. Why would it have to close?"
The shopkeeper said with annoyance:
"It's all because of these refugees. The official roads aren't safe now, many refugees have turned to banditry.
How dare merchants travel around recklessly? There are even fewer long-distance travelers. Without traveling merchants, who would stay at an inn?"
Qin Sang pondered for a moment:
"If there are no traveling merchants, can you and Steward Huang really sell all these mosquito coils you're buying?"
She could understand the medicinal herbs. Anyone could have a headache or fever, they'd always be useful. But mosquito coils...
Steward Huang's smile faded. His gaze swept faintly over the teacup Qin Sang had set aside, then he said slowly:
"Doctor Qin need not worry. These mosquito coils aren't meant to be sold to the poor anyway. Although the drought has affected most people, those officials and wealthy households remain largely unaffected."
Qin Sang understood. The rich have their own ways of playing, their pleasures unimaginable to common folk like them.
Just like in later times, ordinary families would save vegetable-washing water to flush toilets, while a wealthy family's swimming pool held enough water for a common household to use for three years.
And the wealthy usually possess the best resources. It's possible that while commoners lack water, those wealthy families might still have a river flowing through their estates.
Qin Sang decided not to ask further. Asking too much was liable to give her a heart attack.
Fortunately, she had the Mall and wasn't short of water.
"As long as they can be sold, then I won't worry. So, how much do you two want next time?
But I must declare upfront, the next delivery will likely take three or four days. One reason is the herbs need proper drying time, another is the journey from our village isn't safe. Each delivery run carries risk. However, I can guarantee the next delivery can be double the current amount."
How could two handcarts transport three or four hundred tubes of mosquito coils?
The same amount of goods but with reduced risk, and paying less for hired escorts—Qin Sang knew how to calculate this account too.
Steward Huang nodded to indicate it was acceptable:
"Then next time, I'll take three hundred tubes."
The shopkeeper added: "I'll take one hundred tubes."
With the business concluded, Qin Sang took out the bundle in her hand, opened it, and said:
"Steward Huang, with Madam Huang and Brother Lei confined to playing at home, they must be quite bored. This is a little toy I came up with, thinking it might amuse Brother Lei. I hope Steward Huang won't find it unworthy."
As she spoke, the bundle was fully opened, revealing the small wooden blocks inside to the two men.
These Building Blocks were made by her Second Daughter-in-Law's Maiden Home. At the time, she just asked them to make some small wooden blocks and provided drawings. They were delivered overnight last night.
Of course, the set Qin Sang held now was a switcheroo exchanged from the Mall, looking much more refined.
She refused to believe that these ancients wouldn't like Building Blocks, something even children of later eras couldn't resist.
"This is... a toy?"
Steward Huang picked up a triangular wooden block, looking at it left and right, puzzled.
The shopkeeper was the same: "Haven't seen this before. Isn't this just wood? And made from scrap pieces too."
Qin Sang explained with a smile:
"The shopkeeper isn't wrong. These are indeed made from scrap wood and aren't worth much money. But the meaning they contain, I believe, is worth more than gold."
Steward Huang asked curiously:
"Oh? How so?
Could it be there's gold hidden inside this scrap wood?"