Chapter 690: Old Friends

Young Master Dou of the Dou Family frowned slightly. He had no desire to be an official or to please the scholars; he just wanted to make money. He wished he could take the ham to the Capital immediately, fearing that any delay would lead to trouble.

Yet Dong Family’s head whispered to him, "Don’t be foolish. If you can make the acquaintance of Master Ouyang, even your father will hold you in higher regard when you return home, and you will be more likely to take control of the Dou Family."

The Dou Family was a powerful rival of the Dong Family in Jinling. Although Young Master Dou was flamboyant, he was a decent person who knew business and would allow other merchants a way out, never driving them to their doom. Dong Family’s head enjoyed dealing with him and hoped he would take charge of the Dou Family as the head.

After weighing the pros and cons, Young Master Dou finally nodded, "Fine, I’ll stay at County Magistrate Zheng’s for one night."

"Hmph." Ouyang Hu snorted coldly, "The youth of today are all the type to shrewdly play innocent after gaining an advantage."

Young Master Dou pretended not to hear and turned to mock Boss An, "Old man, where do you plan to auction off your ham? There’s Dong Family in Jinling, Dou Family in the Capital, and only in He’an Prefecture does An Family have a foothold. But the people of He’an are poor devils; who would spend thousands of taels of silver for a pig’s leg?"

Boss An was fuming, pointing at him and saying, "Insolent boy, don’t be so smug. We Jianghuai People also have many great families, capable of spending thousands of taels on one or two treasures without batting an eye."

"Heh, isn’t it just a pig’s leg? How did it become a treasure?" Young Master Dou, brimming with youthful vigor, seemed to enjoy irritating Boss An, mocking that Jianghuai People were poor, had no head for business, lacked madmen and significant officials.

It wasn’t just Boss An getting angry; Gu Jinli was about to lose her temper too, for her family was now part of the Jianghuai community.

"That Young Master Dou has quite the venomous tongue. If he’s alive today, it must be because of good deeds in his past life," she thought, or he would have been long beaten to death.

Qin San Lang approached the window, looked down to see Young Master Dou still berating Boss An, and Boss An looking like he was about to faint, supported by Boss Tian. Qin San Lang laughed, "His tongue is indeed quite venomous."

Young Master Dou was showy. As a child, fearing his stepmother might poison him, he went to the largest restaurant in the Capital to announce that if he died, if he remained childless, if he failed to succeed, or if he sired a bastard before marriage, it would be his stepmother’s doing.

While ruffian-like, the strategy was effective; his stepmom would take detours to avoid him, no longer daring to harm him.

At that time, "Dou Ke" was only six years old.

Qin San Lang watched briefly before turning back to his seat.

Young Master Dou glanced at the second floor, then quickly turned back to continue ridiculing Boss An.

Unable to withstand the taunts, Boss An consulted with Gu Jin’an. After making sure there would be another ham auction in January next year, he quickly excused himself and left.

Master Qi bade him to wait, rushing over to cozy up to Good Brother An, "Good Brother An, your ham is a big hit."

He whispered, "Are there still hams left? What are Xiao Yu’s plans? Could you spare some for the Qi Family? Rest assured, we don’t want to auction. With the new year approaching, we want to buy some as gifts. My elder brother would give it to his superiors as New Year’s presents."

Old Master Qi had struggled for many years and finally been promoted, but he hadn’t yet secured his position. If he could gift a ham to superiors, his office would be secured.

Gu Jin’an replied, "Master Qi, as I said during the auction, this year Yanfu Building releases only ten hams, and we cannot spare any for the Qi Family. However, if you’re genuinely interested, we could sell one to your family after the new year, with a starting price of a thousand taels."

Sharp trader!

Master Qi cursed inwardly but still nodded and said, "Alright, I’ll send someone after the new year."

Having some was better than none.

After settling this matter, Master Qi took the return gift from Yanfu Building and left with Boss An and others.

Boss Hu also came to bid farewell, apologetically saying, "I intended to come and support your family. I did not expect the ham to be so sought-after, it’s really quite..."

Gu Jin’an laughed and said, "Uncle Hu, if you want to buy the hams, you can come after the New Year. Yanfu Building will sell ten hams to Futai Building with a starting price of a thousand silver taels."

Boss Hu was shocked; it was truly like a pie falling from the sky, and one stuffed with silver at that: "Good Brother An, my thanks to you. With these ten hams, Futai Building can not only secure our position in the Prefecture but also expand to Linhe Prefecture."

Gu Jin’an laughed: "Uncle Hu, you’re too kind. When Futai Building makes money, it’s the same as Yanfu Building making money."

After all, Futai Building was selling dozens of dishes from Yanfu Building, the more they sold, the more his family earned.

Boss Hu was very grateful. He didn’t stay long, took the return gifts from Yanfu Building, and left.

After sending Boss Hu, County Magistrate Zheng, Ouyang Hu, and others away, Gu Jin’an and his son, along with Brother Cheng, went upstairs and gave the silver note they earned today to Gu Jinli.

"Thirteen thousand and nine hundred taels." When Gu Jin’an announced this, everyone was shocked.

Qin San Lang had seen large money before, but he had never seen anyone earn over ten thousand taels just from ten pig legs. Xiao Yu was really good at making money.

Gu Jinli was counting the silver notes with delight: "This is all my hard-earned money."

Brother Cheng grunted: "Second Sister just stood there and said a few words, how is that hard work? The real hard work was done by the Xiong Family, Ma Family, and Mei Family."

Gu Jinli ignored him and put away the silver notes.

After the initial shock, Gu Dashan started to worry again: "Have any of you seen Brother Wu? It’s almost afternoon; why hasn’t he returned?"

Now just hearing the name Luo Wu made Gu Jinli angry. She said to Gu Dashan, "Dad, let’s not worry about him. Let’s go back and join the feast. Let’s celebrate the Dongzhi festival."

Gu Dashan said, "How can we not worry? Brother Wu..."

If Brother Wu doesn’t come back, how could they talk about his marriage with Sister Xiu? Their eldest daughter was already of such an age. He and Mrs. Cui couldn’t sleep well because of the worry.

Gu Jinli said, "Dad, let’s go back first, give him two more hours. If he doesn’t return by nightfall, Brother Qin will go find him."

Going home first was to give Luo Wu a chance, as well as to see the Luo Family’s attitude.

Gu Jinli just didn’t understand. With Uncle Luo’s good relationship with her father and Ms. Chu getting along with her mother, why had they let the marriage between the two families drag on until now?

Her parents would keep waiting for the Luo Family, not only because they knew Luo Wu well, but also because they trusted Father Luo and Ms. Chu.

Gu Dashan and Mrs. Cui were indecisive. Back in their hometown, on the road fleeing from disaster, the safety of their several siblings had been all thanks to the Luo Family. Hence, Gu Dashan and Mrs. Cui relied heavily on Luo Huiniang’s parents, wishing to become in-laws with the Luo Family.

After the incident with Zhan Er, the couple were even more determined, fearing they might end up with an unknown family like the Zhan Family, which was utterly terrifying. They did not want to ruin their eldest daughter’s life.

Hearing this, Gu Dashan felt somewhat relieved and tidied up with everyone before driving the mule cart home.

Back home, it was already very lively. Several families had gathered to cook, a few elders were sitting in the dining hall by the fire talking, and Gu Qingxi, Jin Niu, and Gui Niu were chasing after each other playing.

"Xiao Yu, you’re back." Luo Huiniang saw Gu Jinli returning and hurried over.

Three years had passed, and Luo Huiniang was already sixteen, a grown young lady. She had grown much taller but still had a round face, looking very cute and charming.

While speaking, she glanced over at the Gu Family’s mule cart, then said with disappointment, "Has my brother not returned yet?"

She was truly anxious. If her big brother didn’t come back this time, he would miss the chance to marry Sister Xiu!