The Fortunate Lady and Her Mountain Man

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: This is Awkward

Ji Huan called Widow Xie and Hu Liang over, and the three of them held a small meeting.

In truth, she had already made up her mind, but since the dehydrated vegetable business was a partnership with the Hu Family, hearing their opinions was both necessary and essential.

Widow Xie waved her hand without a second thought. "I’ve always felt our prices were too high. How could we possibly ask for more? Wouldn’t that be unscrupulous!"

Ever since she learned the price Ji Huan and Hu Liang had set, she had been worried the military men would be scared off. Then, all the vegetables in their yard would go unsold and be left to mold.

Hu Liang, however, was considering it from another angle. "It wasn’t easy for us to establish this connection with the army. We could even give them a discount, but there’s no reason to ask for more money. Besides, if we take this extra money, we’ll leave a bad impression. They’ll think we’re dishonest in our business, and they won’t come back to us next time."

One was afraid the goods would be left on their hands, unsold; the other wanted to play the long game.

Their motivations didn’t matter. Since neither Widow Xie nor Hu Liang was tempted, Ji Huan could rest easy.

Earning money with your own two hands, taking only what you’re owed—that was the way to have a clear conscience.

If she accepted this extra payment, Ji Huan was worried, for one, that it would set a bad example for Hu Liang and the others. They might start thinking that making money was this easy and come to expect double the reward for every bit of effort.

Starting off too high, or rather, having expectations that were too high, wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Whether in life or in business, keeping one’s feet on the ground was the right path, even if it was a bit harder or made you look a little foolish.

Second, it was a matter of personal sentiment.

Ji Huan had a natural affinity for soldiers. They fought and bled on the front lines to protect their home and country. She was running a small business; if she couldn’t afford to be generous, that was one thing, but to overcharge them was simply unjustifiable.

Besides, while the price for the dehydrated vegetables wasn’t exorbitant, it was still several times the cost, so they were already making a hefty profit.

"I did a rough calculation. Seventy-five taels should be enough. You can take the rest back."

Ji Huan handed the pouch of money to the tower-like man.

But the tower-like man refused to take it.

"In the past, you couldn’t even buy vegetables in the winter. And I hear this stuff of yours is a new invention. How could seventy-odd taels be enough! To be honest with you, even two hundred taels is nothing. If those old quartermasters were sent out to procure supplies, they’d overcharge by a thousand or eight hundred taels, and that’s on a good day! Although they’ve been dealt with and are behaving themselves now... Doctor Zhen was afraid the silver would get skimmed, and that’s why he sent us instead. You have to take it!"

It involved internal military affairs, so Ji Huan didn’t feel it was her place to ask too many questions, but she understood with just a little thought.

Public kitchens had always been the places with the most "grease" to skim, let alone a military mess hall responsible for feeding hundreds of thousands of men. Those people before must have been padding the accounts, which was why they were dealt with.

It seemed the rumors about Kou Changqing’s strict discipline were true.

"With their case as a precedent, you have all the more reason not to make a mistake, nor should you lead us into making one. The price is the price. If you give a single cent more and we accept it, it could be considered a falsified account. If you’re investigated later, you won’t be able to explain yourself even if you have a mouth to speak with."

Ji Huan’s deadpan seriousness completely baffled the tower-like man. ’How did this suddenly turn into me making a mistake?’

"That... shouldn’t... be the case, right?"

’The General only said we couldn’t take advantage of the common people. Does that mean we can’t give them extra money either?’

But what if the extra money he paid out really was held against him later... His confidence began to waver.

Seeing her chance, Ji Huan quickly stuffed the money pouch into his hand and told him to get the change.

Hu Liang called over to the aunties helping in the main hall, telling them to drag the cart of wicker baskets from outside the courtyard to Ji Huan’s dilapidated shed. They lined each basket with oil paper and began packing the final batch of dehydrated vegetables.

Previously, the Hu Family’s front and back yards had been piled high with fresh vegetables. The dehydrating process itself was done in the old shed, so the air-drying and final packing were also taking place there.

The tower-like man saw this and quickly ordered the soldiers he had brought with him to help.

Ji Huan didn’t have them pack the vegetables. Instead, she put them in charge of moving the already-packed wicker baskets onto the carts.

They had brought over ten horse-drawn carts this time, which was more than they actually needed. However, dehydrated vegetables were extremely fragile and would be crushed beyond recognition if squeezed. Although the square wicker crates offered some support and protection, having more carts meant more space, which served as a double insurance.

Ji Huan assigned the tasks. Once everyone was busy, she called Dacheng over and whispered something in his ear.

Dacheng nodded and darted out of the courtyard. It wasn’t long before he returned, carrying a bucket brimming with small yellow croakers.

"Uncle Yu already cleaned them all."

Sister Wan had told him to buy a good amount of small yellow croakers from the best fishing family in the village. Uncle Yu’s family lived right by the river and specialized in raising fish.

Ji Huan washed the fish several more times, then told Dacheng to start the fire in the stove.

Dacheng glanced at Dabao and shook his head. "I’m afraid he’ll bite me."

’Tending the stove is hardly a glamorous job. I have no idea why Dabao is so obsessed with it.’

Dabao didn’t even spare him a glance, his eyes fixed intently on Ji Huan.

Stifling a laugh, Ji Huan found a moment to pinch Dabao’s cheek. "Alright, Dabao can tend the fire. You can be his assistant."

Dabao wrinkled his little nose slightly, a look of faint disdain on his face.

It was hard to tell if he was disgusted by the fishy smell on her hands or by Dacheng.

Ji Huan, feeling good about herself, was certain she wasn’t the one being scorned.

The unfortunate Dacheng: "..."

Behind the house, the tower-like man stood with his hands on his hips, "supervising" in an imposing manner.

After half a day of conversation, Widow Xie was no longer intimidated. She walked up to him and asked, "Lord, it’s getting late. Why don’t you stay for a simple meal before you leave?

"What’s this ’Lord’ business? Just call me Lu Danian."

Lu Danian wasn’t as difficult to talk to as he had been at first, but eating was out of the question. "We have rules. If we eat your food, we’ll get the paddle when we get back."

Widow Xie thought to herself, ’What kind of ridiculous rule is that? Why would you get beaten just for having a meal?’

"It’s just a simple home-cooked meal..."

"A home-cooked meal is still a no-go. Besides, we’re not hungry. We ate our fill before we came. If you don’t believe me, ask them. Isn’t that right—"

Before the words were even out of his mouth, a fragrant aroma suddenly wafted over from the front yard.

He sniffed, and sniffed again. Suddenly, his stomach let out a thunderous GRUMBLE. The sound was as loud and imposing as his voice.

Then, as if it were contagious, the other soldiers also clutched their stomachs, a chorus of grumbles rising one after another.

Well, this was damn awkward.

To make matters worse, Hu Dacheng chose that exact moment to bring over a basin of freshly fried, batter-coated small yellow croakers, inviting everyone to have a taste and fill their stomachs.

Golden, crispy fried fish... Lu Danian’s eyes were practically glued to the basin, but he forced a stern expression onto his face and heartlessly refused.

Those soldiers weren’t very old, probably in their early twenties. With such delicious food right in front of them, who wouldn’t want to eat? But seeing Lu Danian’s refusal, they swallowed hard and also shook their heads.

Widow Xie tried to persuade them several more times, but no one made a move. Hu Dacheng was out of options, so he carried the basin back.

"What should we do, Sister Wan? They won’t eat. Should I still fry the rest?"

Ji Huan smiled. It seemed they were determined to follow the principle of "not taking a single needle or thread from the people" to the very end.

"Fry them."

’Once they’re fried, we’ll have them take the fish to Zhen Jili. I refuse to believe they’ll just stand by and watch while Zhen Jili eats.’

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