#53 - Chapter 53: Money
Mei Zhou watched the young man before him,
A new customer, who sampled the wine and tasted the side dishes.
His brow was slightly furrowed, and he even sighed.
Mei Zhou thought the kitchen hadn't prepared the dishes well enough.
The shop's business wasn't doing well these days.
It was unavoidable that it would attract criticism.
Mei Zhou wanted to avoid any misunderstandings.
He knew his own situation.
The surrounding gangs were demanding too much money.
Years ago, a gang leader, while drinking here,
Had praised Mei Zhou's daughter, saying she was blossoming into a beauty.
Left with no choice, Mei Zhou had to disguise his daughter as a shop assistant,
Keeping her under his watchful eye.
He had slowly ruined the tavern's business himself.
To protect himself,
And not be targeted by others,
The Green Bamboo Gang members used to like to drink here, without paying.
Mei Zhou persisted for half a year.
He almost used up all his savings.
Plus, the Green Bamboo Gang leader's admiration,
Made Mei Zhou determined.
He ruined his reputation for three years.
The Green Bamboo Gang members, seeing that there was no profit here,
Would naturally look for the next place.
Until recently, Mei Zhou saw that the situation had almost completely passed, and the Green Bamboo Gang had almost forgotten him.
Only then did Mei Zhou prepare to sell this old shop.
He planned to move to another place to live.
Based on the principle of serving customers well when they drink in his shop,
He prepared to apologize, just as he was about to say something,
He saw the young man take out his own wine bottle.
The wine's fragrance wafted through the air.
How could Mei Zhou, who had run a tavern for decades, not recognize good stuff?
Smelling the aroma, he knew this wine should be a mellow type of good wine.
Which tavern's new product was this?
Unable to resist his own cravings,
He stepped forward and took the liberty to ask, only realizing his impoliteness after asking.
Unexpectedly, the young man invited him to have a taste.
Resisting the urge to take a sip,
He first asked the shop assistant to bring two good dishes.
Simple side dishes were really not worthy of this good wine.
Mei Zhou and the young man exchanged names.
Originally, he was going to wait for the dishes to come before taking a sip.
But he really couldn't resist the temptation of the wine aroma in front of him.
Mei Zhou cupped his hands and said, "The aroma of the wine is irresistible. Please forgive this old man for tasting it."
Cheng Feng couldn't help but smile at Mei Zhou's behavior.
But fortunately, he wasn't foolish enough to show it on his face.
When doing business,
You have to look like you're doing business.
Pretending not to see,
He smiled and said, "Old sir, please feel free. This is your tavern after all."
Mei Zhou also smiled.
He picked up the wine bowl and took a small sip.
Savoring it on the table.
The wrinkles on his face even relaxed a little.
Cheng Feng had also seen many wine lovers.
But no one could have this kind of attitude towards this wine.
Looking at the old shopkeeper's expression, Cheng Feng's heart stirred: "May I ask, shopkeeper, if this wine were sold in your shop, how much could it sell for?"
Mei Zhou smiled in his heart. This was really a newly released wine. Was he asking himself because he was afraid of being tricked by the shopkeeper?
He slowly said, "The taste of your new wine is indeed very good. It's mellow on the palate and has a long aftertaste. If I'm not mistaken, you should have paid one tael of silver for half a jin of this wine, right? Don't worry, you didn't get ripped off. It's worth the price. If the reputation is built up, half a jin for two taels might be a bit difficult, but half a jin for one and a half taels of silver shouldn't be a problem. If you have the strength, you can buy more. The longer it's stored, the better the taste will be. May I ask, which tavern's new wine is this? I'll go buy some back tomorrow too."
Cheng Feng was confused by Mei Zhou's words.
Half a jin of wine for one tael of silver?
Wouldn't that be two taels of silver for one jin of wine?
He thought he had made a profit selling two jin and one tael of wine to Hu's Tavern.
But now, the old shopkeeper used a gentle tone of wine tasting to say extremely cruel words to Cheng Feng.
So, four jin of wine could be sold for eight taels.
This was considered a loss.
He encountered these old foxes in the first step of starting his business.
None of those shopkeepers were easy to deal with.
They didn't tell a single truth.
In comparison, the Mei shopkeeper in front of him was quite nice.
Cheng Feng could understand bargaining and lowering prices,
But knowing the truth, Cheng Feng already had a choice.
Cheng Feng replied to Mei Zhou, "Two jin and one tael."
Mei Zhou was a little surprised. Were new stores opening so competitively these days?
He blurted out, "Isn't that shop making a loss to attract customers?"
Cheng Feng felt like his heart had been stabbed again.
He explained, "It's wine made by my family. I took it out to sell for one tael."
Mei Zhou: "If you sell your family's wine like this, you'll have to close down sooner or later."
One knife after another.
Cheng Feng was almost used to it.
Ignoring Mei Zhou's words, he asked, "If I let your tavern sell the wine, what price could you sell it for?"
Mei Zhou stroked his beard and said, "In the past, when our shop was doing well, half a jin for eight copper coins was definitely no problem. If we raised the price a bit, half a jin for one tael would also be possible, but the quantity sold would be less. But I'm preparing to transfer this shop, so we can't sell such good wine anymore."
His words were filled with regret. After speaking, he took another sip of wine.
Cheng Feng wanted to ask about the reason, but he felt that it wasn't appropriate to ask.
It was already very good to have chatted so much during their first meeting.
It would be too abrupt to go any deeper.
During their conversation, the dishes were served.
Mei Zhou was happy with the wine and said he would give two dishes as a gift for trying the new wine.
Cheng Feng and Mei Zhou ate and drank.
After being full of wine and food, he left.
When he was almost to his own alley,
Cheng Feng turned around and said calmly, "Come out. You've been following me for so long. What's the matter?"
At this time, it wasn't dark yet.
Smoke curled from the chimneys of the neighboring streets.
The shop assistant who served the dishes walked out from the corner.
The slender figure cast a long shadow in the sunset.
Cheng Feng was curious about this woman disguised as a shop assistant: "Why are you following me?"
The shop assistant opened her mouth, her voice clear and gentle: "Is that wine brewed by your family?"
Cheng Feng nodded in agreement, waiting for the next sentence.
The shop assistant, seeing Cheng Feng so wary, introduced herself: "My name is Mei Niang. My father is preparing to transfer the shop to a new location for us sisters to live, but other places are not so easy to live in. When you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head. You can't rely on others, which is why I've come to find you."
Cheng Feng was confused. Under Mei Niang's slow explanation, Cheng Feng finally understood the whole story.
"So, you were looked at twice by that Hall Master Zhu, who said he would come to propose marriage when you grew up. Mei Zhou was afraid you would enter a wolf's den, so he ruined his reputation. Recently, the storm has subsided, so he's preparing to transfer his shop to prepare for a new life?"
Hearing that it involved the Green Bamboo Gang, Cheng Feng was a little unsure.
But he didn't rush to refuse.
He could be considered to have a little background.
He wouldn't be afraid just by hearing it.
Regarding the matter,
Cheng Feng said to Mei Niang, "I need to consider it."
Or he would have to ask his master.
Cheng Feng was weak, but that didn't mean he couldn't pull in the martial arts gym!
A single tree is hard to support. Cheng Feng wouldn't eat alone without being sure.
Seeing that Cheng Feng didn't refuse,
Mei Niang had some hope in her heart.
Mei Niang and her sisters didn't want their elderly father to be forced to leave just because his daughters were beautiful.
The Great Zhou has been turbulent in recent years.
Mei Niang also hoped that her father could enjoy his old age.
Her father was not old, only in his forties.
It was only the experience of the past few years that forced him to ruin his shop's reputation.
That made the old father haggard.
Mei Niang felt sorry, but there was nothing she could do.
Today, watching the wine Cheng Feng brought,
Mei Niang, who had overheard everything,
Had made a decision in her heart.
Her father was already very tired.
Then it was her turn to support the family.
Cheng Feng's wine could bring the tavern back to life.
It could revitalize her father.
It could also be used as a protective umbrella for her family.
Cheng Feng's clothes were ordinary cloth.
But Mei Niang had worked as a handyman in a large family.
She had washed clothes for the nobles of the big family.
Cheng Feng's shoes,
Were the shoes of an inner disciple of the Iron Mountain Martial Arts Gym.
At that time, listening to the servants at home, the inner disciples of the martial arts gym were extremely strong.
One person could beat ten without any problem.
If that was really the case,
If she was willing to put in some effort,
Her family would have a backer.
They wouldn't be bullied by those bad people.
Seeing that Cheng Feng still had to consider it, Mei Niang was anxious. She had sneaked out.
If Cheng Feng didn't agree, would there be another chance?
"You should be an inner disciple of the Iron Mountain Martial Arts Gym. If it really doesn't work, just tell your master and that's it."
Cheng Feng didn't like it in his heart and said: "Why should I find a master? There are no benefits. What am I going to find a master with? Just with a mouth?"
Mei Niang looked at Cheng Feng and didn't deny it. Her heart was at ease. Thinking that Cheng Feng wanted benefits, she said her bottom line: "I'm beautiful. As long as you agree to save my family, I can marry you."
Cheng Feng chuckled: "Just based on your dusty appearance?"
Only then did Mei Niang realize that Cheng Feng hadn't seen her true face. What should she do?
Mei Niang started crying.
Watching the woman cry in front of him, Cheng Feng felt annoyed.
She wasn't his woman.
Did she still want him to coax her?
He wasn't a simp from his previous life.
Crying and crying.
Trouble.
But thinking that it would be troublesome to continue like this,
Cheng Feng said: "It's not that I haven't seen a woman. I really can't see anything outstanding in your appearance. How about this, same time tomorrow, still here, how about you and I meet again?"
Cheng Feng only wanted to send this shop assistant-dressed woman away now.
A hurried meeting tomorrow would be the end of it.
Did she really think he hadn't seen a woman? Do you know that three women at home are pregnant?
Just asking if you're afraid or not.
For the sake of Mei Zhou,
Cheng Feng complained in his heart.
