Seeing the villagers cheer, a stone in Cui Hongyu's heart finally landed.
Chen Xiaobei stood by the river, quietly watching a stream of bubbles rise to the surface before returning to calm.
He knew that after a string of bubbles, Chen Ermao had bid farewell to this world for good. Everything about Chen Ermao was utterly finished.
Chen Xiaobei felt little pity; given Chen Ermao's actions, these were his just deserts.
He only felt a touch of melancholy. If it weren't for a chance encounter that brought him to this world, what about the Chen Xiaobei of Hetou Village? Yes, he too would have left this world long ago. And what about Chen Qiao'er?
It was likely that Chen Qiao'er would have been sold to the Zhao family by Chen Ermao and Monkey long ago, and then Chen Qiao'er would have been sacrificed.
It was precisely because of his arrival that everything had changed. For Chen Qiao'er, this was not without its luck.
But in this world, how many people were like Chen Qiao'er?
Thinking this, Chen Xiaobei let out another long sigh. He was not a saint; he couldn't manage so much. To be able to manage this one Hetou Village was already a miracle.
Just then, Chen Dayong stepped forward and gently nudged him. "Brother Xiaobei, can we go back now?"
Chen Xiaobei snapped back to reality and looked at the river, which had already returned to its calm state.
He nodded gently. "Let's go. Everyone go back, and do what you need to do."
Chen Dayong turned and waved to the crowd behind him. Only then did the villagers disperse in twos and threes.
At this moment, Chen Xiaowen walked up.
"Brother Xiaobei, there's something I need to tell you. These past few days, we've delivered most of the cabbage to the city. Old Wu can only sell about a hundred stalks a day now. He says he can't deliver too many. What should we do?"
Chen Xiaobei listened and nodded slightly. This was only natural.
After all, in this era, only so many people could afford to buy vegetables. Even if it was one or two copper coins a stalk, for ordinary people, it wasn't a small amount. He was supplying cabbage so generously, but the consumers were limited.
Chen Xiaobei frowned. "Have you asked Miss Xiaoyue in Xiaozhen Town?"
Chen Xiaowen nodded. "Yes, I asked. He said fifty stalks a day would be enough!"
Chen Xiaobei calculated inwardly. One hundred and fifty stalks a day, fifteen hundred in ten days, and it would take a hundred days to sell fifteen thousand stalks. But his tens or hundreds of mu of land produced tens of thousands of stalks.
What to do?
Just as he was at a loss, he heard a commotion ahead. Looking up, he saw a group of soldiers noisily taking military supplies out of the stone house on the four mu of land.
Seeing this, Chen Xiaobei smiled. Right, these tens of thousands of cabbages. If they could be sold to the court as military supplies and transported to the border, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?
But then he thought, he didn't know Tian Wenhao. This matter would still require Liu Rumei.
Chen Xiaobei strode over to Liu Rumei and explained his idea. Liu Rumei couldn't help but laugh.
"You're something else. You can even come up with this idea. However, I can't guarantee whether it will work or not. I have to go and ask Tian Wenhao."
At this time, Tian Wenhao was sitting in a room, leisurely drinking tea.
Seeing Liu Rumei arrive, Tian Wenhao quickly got up to welcome her.
"Ah, Miss Liu, please forgive my lack of reception. Please forgive my lack of reception."
Liu Rumei curtsied slightly. "Lord Tian is too kind. Rumei has come to discuss something with you."
Tian Wenhao chuckled. "Miss, you are too kind. There's nothing to discuss. Whatever you need, just tell me, and I will do my best."
Liu Rumei gently shook her head. "Lord Tian, this is not a personal matter, but one concerning military supplies."
"My husband, Chen Xiaobei, has grown tens of thousands of cabbages in the village and originally intended to sell them elsewhere. But I think if the soldiers at the border can eat cabbage in winter, it's much better than eating dried meat with their meals."
Hearing this, Tian Wenhao's eyes lit up. "Good, I never expected that Hetou Village would have so many cabbages. I was just wondering where to get some vegetables for the soldiers."
Hearing this, Liu Rumei was secretly delighted. Wasn't this exactly what they wanted?
"Oh, since Lord Tian is interested, regarding this matter. What do you think..."
Tian Wenhao smiled and nodded. "Miss Liu, just name your price, and I'll take it all."
Liu Rumei quickly waved her hands. "No, no, Lord Tian, you can't say that. We should follow the market price. I can't set the price. How about this, I'll bring Chen Xiaobei over, and you two can discuss it!"
Tian Wenhao chuckled again. "Miss Liu, there's nothing to discuss. As I said just now, just tell me how much silver you need."
Seeing that Liu Rumei was insistent on Chen Xiaobei coming, Tian Wenhao was helpless and sighed.
"Alright, then. No need for Brother Xiaobei to come over again. I'll go with you."
At this time, Chen Xiaobei had returned to his home, waiting for Liu Rumei's reply. Seeing that Liu Rumei had brought Tian Wenhao with her, Chen Xiaobei was secretly delighted. This must mean something.
Indeed, Liu Rumei briefly introduced the situation to the two and said with a smile to Tian Wenhao, "Lord Tian, you two discuss the specifics."
Chen Xiaobei quickly invited Tian Wenhao into the house and had someone bring tea. Sudan Novel Network.
Tian Wenhao repeated the same words to Liu Rumei. "Brother Xiaobei, just tell me a price. I'll buy all the cabbage."
Chen Xiaobei smiled and cupped his fists. "Lord Tian is straightforward. When doing business, we always follow the market price."
"My cabbage sells for two copper coins a stalk in Qingniu County. What do you think of this price, Lord Tian?"
Chen Xiaobei had already set a high price, as according to Old Wu, during the peak harvest season, it was only one copper coin a stalk.
But clearly, Tian Wenhao was a little surprised by this price.
Chen Xiaobei's quotation was lower than he had expected. He thought that since Liu Rumei had paved the way, Chen Xiaobei would at least ask for a high price, or make a sky-high offer.
Actually, if one calculated it at two copper coins a stalk, even if Chen Xiaobei had tens of thousands of cabbages, it wouldn't cost much silver.
Thinking of this, Tian Wenhao felt a little guilty.
But raising the price would definitely make Chen Xiaobei feel that he was being favored, which would be very awkward. With a turn of his eyes, Tian Wenhao had an idea.
"Brother Xiaobei, it's no problem for me to buy the cabbage, but there's one thing. You have to send someone to deliver it to Jizhou. But please rest assured, the remuneration will be paid in full."
"Let's calculate it as two hundred stalks per cart. For transportation to Jizhou, I will give you ten taels of silver per cart as remuneration. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei understood. The shipping fee of ten taels was several times more expensive than the cabbage itself. Two hundred stalks of cabbage per cart. In other words, it was less than one tael of silver.