Chapter 33 Two Hundred Taels of Silver (2)

Jiu Jin was worried about Cai Wei being alone, and wanted to follow him, but Cai Wei thought that they were not related, and if the shopkeeper Shen and the county magistrate asked about their relationship, they might be misunderstood and looked down upon, so she let him stay.

  The waiter led Cai Wei to the private room on the second floor, where they saw the county magistrate and the shopkeeper Shen of Zuixianju drinking and chatting.

  The county magistrate was nearly 40 years old, dressed in plain clothes, with a thin face, and had the demeanor of a scholar. He spoke in a gentle and friendly manner, and did not act like an official.

  "Little girl, did you make these dishes?"

  Caiwei bowed and said, "Yes." Then she greeted him and said, "Caiwei greets the county magistrate and shopkeeper Shen!"

  "Well, not bad."

  The county magistrate saw that Caiwei was well-mannered and generous, without the inferiority and embarrassment of seeing dignitaries, nor the shyness and timidity of girls seeing strangers, and he couldn't help but praise this little girl a little more.

  "I didn't expect that you are so young, but you have such a delicate mind."

  Caiwei said modestly, "It's just a little trick, please make the magistrate laugh."

  Shopkeeper Shen pointed to the empty plate with chopsticks and said with a smile, "Your little trick is very suitable for the taste of the county magistrate. Look, this plate of crystal jelly has been eaten up, and this so-called phoenix egg has been eaten up to the bottom of the plate!"

  Caiwei looked and saw that the round rosewood table was filled with delicacies from land and sea, shark fin and fried tripe, but no one touched the chopsticks, and some dishes were not even touched. Only her plate of crystal jelly was completely empty, with only a few small pieces of residue left; the plate of phoenix eggs was also mostly eaten, with only some shredded meat left on the plate, and no eggs at all.

  Caiwei was very happy that her dishes were so popular, and she took the opportunity to talk about business: "I am honored to be loved by you, and it seems that I have come to the right place this time."

  Shopkeeper Shen stroked his beard and smiled, "Little girl, don't beat around the bush, just tell me the truth. How much do you plan to sell these two dishes for me?"

  Caiwei blinked and asked, "How much do you think a plate of crystal jelly can be sold at Zuixianju?"

  The shopkeeper pondered for a moment, stretched out a hand and said, "Fifty coins are enough!"

  Caiwei smiled and said, "Shopkeeper Shen, do you know the cost of this crystal jelly?"

  Shopkeeper Shen asked curiously, "I would like to hear the details."

  Caiwei imitated the shopkeeper and stretched out a hand, saying slowly, "Five coins--"

  and then added, "Make twenty plates!"

  "What?"

  Shopkeeper Shen was shocked, his mouth opened so wide that he could fit an egg in it, and even the county magistrate looked incredible.

  Five coins were used to make twenty plates, and each plate sold for fifty coins. Isn't this a huge profit?

  "Yes, that's five coins."

  Caiwei smiled and continued, "The cost of this dish of phoenix eggs is a little higher, and the net cost of one dish is thirty coins, but the taste of the dish is excellent, and it is unique in the Great Jin State, so selling it at eighty coins a dish is more than enough. The shopkeeper knows how much profit these two dishes can bring to Zuixianju, so I hope the price of these two dishes will not be less than this number."

  Two slender jade fingers gently shook in the air.

  "Twenty taels?"

  Shopkeeper Shen was overjoyed and slapped the table generously: "Okay, deal! Waiter, go to the counter and get twenty taels of silver."

  "Yes--" The waiter bowed and turned to walk out.

  "Wait!"

  Caiwei called the waiter, opened her eyes and looked at the shopkeeper, and said with a smile: "Are you kidding me, shopkeeper? These two dishes are unique in Dajin State. In addition to bringing considerable income to Zuixianju, they can also make Zuixianju famous. Do you think that a mere twenty taels can buy such a big benefit? Or do you think that my daughter is a country girl who can be easily fooled?"

  "Haha, what a sharp-tongued little girl."

  The county magistrate laughed: "Brother Shen, it seems that the little girl's asking price is not twenty taels, but two hundred taels!"