CHAPTER 271: CHAPTER 262: A SUDDEN CHANGE OF SIDES?

Yu Xiaolian intended to select someone eloquent from the Sun Family, preferably someone who could independently go around the nearby states to sell hotpot seasoning. After asking around, she found that everyone favored Manjin and Manyin from Sun Erlin’s family.

Sun Manjin and Sun Manyin are a pair of twins, eighteen years old this year, and they could be said to be the most educated in the household of Fourth Master Sun, having attended eight years of private school from the ages of five to thirteen. At thirteen, the brothers took the examinations together, but neither managed to become a scholar. From then on, they didn’t spend money on private school anymore and self-studied at home.

Their self-study was without books, so they had to copy or borrow from others, and sometimes they couldn’t borrow any. Over time, they lost interest in studying, stopped reading, and started selling homemade wine as they peddled the streets. Later, besides selling wine, they also sold sugar sculptures and other small novelties, gathering some experience as street vendors.

Yu Xiaolian found Sun Manjin and Sun Manyin and asked if they were interested in going out as salesmen.

"Salesmen? What’s a salesman?" Sun Manjin asked.

Yu Xiaolian replied, "It’s about selling the hotpot seasoning to restaurants and inns in various states.

If you do well as salesmen, you can earn more in a month than others earn in a year. For every block of seasoning sold, you’ll receive a commission.

Hmm... A commission means dividends. For instance, if we set the price of a block of seasoning at 500 wen, each block you sell will earn you 5 wen. If you sell 500 blocks at once, you can earn two and a half tael, which is much better than earning 30 wen a day."

"So, this job is a good one!" Sun Manyin’s eyes sparkled.

If they succeeded as salesmen, they would earn much more than others, quickly saving enough for building a house and marrying."

"But if we take this seasoning to the restaurants to sell, won’t we be chased out?" Sun Manjin worried that he would be kicked out before he even had a chance to make a pitch.

Yu Xiaolian smiled, "Don’t worry. I’ll train you in the coming days. I’ll teach you what to say upon entering, including how to discuss long-term cooperation.

The only thing is, being a salesman means that in the beginning, you’ll spend a long time on the road and have little rest.

Once we have established steady customers, it should get better. By then, our workshop will expand, and there could be branches in other places, meaning your wages will increase steadily."

Sun Manjin and Sun Manyin exchanged glances, saying they needed to go home and discuss with their parents.

Sun Erlin has four children, with Manjin and Manyin having two older sisters who married years ago. These sisters went with their in-laws during the famine escape, and their current status is unknown, whether alive or dead.

With only Manjin and Manyin left with Sun Erlin, and since these times are uncertain, Sun Erlin might not be comfortable having both sons venture out, which Yu Xiaolian could understand.

Yu Xiaolian nodded, "Brothers, talk to Uncle Erlin properly. Don’t rush; our workshop is still small, production is limited, and for now, there’s no need to sell too far away."

Moreover, Yu Xiaolian believed that once the Meishan Building got the hotpot seasoning well-known, she wouldn’t have trouble selling the stock on hand.

When Yu Xiaolian left Taohua Village, she heard from the Sun family that Sun Manyu’s marriage was set, just waiting for spring farming to complete before she would marry out.

As for Sun Manyu’s affairs, Yu Xiaolian wasn’t interested, so she didn’t inquire about the details.

Jin Dongsheng opened the grain store just before Fu Qionglin entered Luocheng.

The people, aware that a high-ranking official would be visiting, anticipated that today’s grain prices would be cheaper, so they lined up early outside the grain store.

Jin Dongsheng didn’t know that even before Fu Qionglin arrived in Luocheng, Fu was already clear about Jin Dongsheng’s actions.

Thus, when Fu Qionglin’s official sedan stopped in front of his grain store, Jin Dongsheng approached wanting to talk and build a rapport, Fu Qionglin brushed him aside and walked with a stern face towards the queuing crowd.

Fu Qionglin asked the people about the grain prices in Luocheng recently, and they looked at each other, afraid to speak.

Jin Dongsheng, seeing this, showed a smug expression.

Even before Fu Qionglin entered the city, Jin Dongsheng had already warned the people in line that anyone who dared speak carelessly in front of Master Fu would bring disaster to their entire family, telling them to think carefully before opening their mouths.

Fu Qionglin asked several people in succession, but no one dared tell him the truth, leaving Fu Qionglin very disappointed.

Jin Dongsheng thought Fu Qionglin should let it slide since he couldn’t get any information, they were all on the same side anyway.

Jin Dongsheng spoke up, "Master Fu, County Magistrate Ma and I have prepared a welcoming banquet for you. Shall we move to Meishan Building?

Meishan Building recently launched a spicy hotpot that I tried a few days ago, and it’s truly delicious, we can..."

Fu Qionglin raised a hand to interrupt Jin Dongsheng, "Jin Cangchang, I am here in Yu State on the Emperor’s command, to thoroughly investigate local officials’ corruption. I’m not here to eat."

Jin Dongsheng didn’t expect Fu Qionglin to be so blunt. He felt displeased but didn’t show it, still smiling ingratiatingly.

Fu Qionglin glanced at his attendant, who immediately went to get the account books from the grain store and began to examine them.

Seeing Fu Qionglin having someone check the accounts, Jin Dongsheng’s face changed, hastily saying, "Master Fu, may we speak privately?"

Fu Qionglin gave Jin Dongsheng a cold look, slowly said, "Fine."

Jin Dongsheng felt relieved when Fu Qionglin agreed.

With County Magistrate Ma, they led Fu Qionglin to the back yard of the grain store, where Jin Dongsheng tried to ingratiate himself with Fu Qionglin.

Jin Dongsheng spoke bluntly, stating that they all supported Prince Jin, they were on the same side, just going through the motions. Checking accounts was unnecessary and a complete waste of time.

Fu Qionglin, with his hands behind his back, coldly said, "Jin Cangchang, be careful with your words."

Jin Dongsheng exclaimed, "Master Fu, rest assured, there are no outsiders here. County Magistrate Ma is one of us too..."

Fu Qionglin sneered coldly, "Jin Cangchang, I am no one’s man. I am loyal only to the Emperor."

Jin Dongsheng was left puzzled.

What was Fu Qionglin really up to?

Your daughter is about to marry Prince Jin as a princess consort, yet you claim not to support him?

Are you not supporting Prince Jin but the Crown Prince instead?

Though the Fu Family and the Huainan Prince Mansion had not been on the best terms, now they were about to ally by marriage, which meant there was a private consensus. That’s what his brother had told him in the letter, so why was Fu Qionglin acting like this?

Jin Dongsheng suddenly recalled something about Fu Zhihan’s eldest daughter, Fu Zhiyan, who married into the Crown Prince Mansion two years ago as a concubine.

The Fu Family had placed their bets on both the Crown Prince and Prince Jin.

However, his brother had clearly told him that the Fu Family stood with them now, so could it be that with Prince Jin’s severe injury recently and the Crown Prince’s merits in quelling the unrest, the Fu Family, seeing things weren’t looking favorable, switched sides at the last minute?

The more Jin Dongsheng thought about it, the more confused he became.