It seems the person of Shopkeeper Song was also mistaken. How was the person opposite him foolish?
He spoke clearly and logically, and even complimented him in the end. If he intended to pocket the silver, he wouldn't have the face to do so!
He broke into a smile, very fond of this young man, who was so direct.
He said with a smile, "Alright, we'll do as you say, but the price will be adjusted slightly. Plain dishes will be two wen per portion, and meat dishes will be eight wen bonus per portion!"
It was less, but still acceptable. Compared to selling recipes, it was a good deal.
Fan Zehao did not respond, but looked at his wife beside him. The moment she nodded, the deal was made.
Shopkeeper Song, with his keen insight, immediately prepared paper and brush to write a new contract. Although he didn't recognize many of the characters, Fan Zehao still chose to trust him.
In the kitchen, Zhao Jiaqi made four dishes, three meat and one vegetarian, explaining them in detail. It took an hour to teach the chef all of them.
In the study, Murong Sheng and Fan Zehao talked with great enthusiasm and found each other to be very congenial. When he learned of Fan Zehao's desire to make a name for himself, Murong Sheng felt gratified but couldn't help but shake his head.
"If you want to rise above others, I fully support you. But if you're illiterate, you can't take the imperial examinations and thus can't enter officialdom. If you don't have the acumen for business, you won't become a wealthy local gentry. So... it's quite difficult!"
Fan Zehao's heart sank upon hearing this. "Are there no other ways besides these two?"
Seeing his genuine desire to accomplish something great, Murong Sheng pursed his lips. "There is one way, and that is to join the army. If you achieve military merit, you can also be granted the title of a military general. However... military merit is mostly earned with one's life. I truly don't recommend it, especially since you are already married!"
After saying this, Murong Sheng regretted it and quickly added a couple of sentences.
The honest Fan Zehao thought joining the army was a good idea.
He was naturally strong, and archery, swordsmanship, and all that would be no problem. However, he couldn't bear to leave his beloved little wife at home.
On the way home, Fan Zehao sat silently on the ox cart. In contrast, Fan Guangping, who was in front, was talking animatedly.
"Did you guys hear? There's another war to the north. They say the Emperor himself is leading the expedition this time. I wonder if it's true!"
Fan Zehao looked up, a flicker of an unknown expression in his eyes. He asked, "Who did you hear that from? Is there a notice from the county office?"
"Once the county office issues a notice, it means they're conscripting soldiers. Then every household will have to contribute a strong man. I certainly don't hope for the yamen to issue such a thing!"
Fan Guangping's words struck Fan Zehao's fervent heart like a heavy hammer. But the moment he turned to see his wife, it was like a basin of ice-cold water, dousing his burning passion.
He lowered his head in silence, sitting on the ox cart and picking at his fingers.
Zhao Jiaqi, on the other hand, had never thought of war. They were currently at the border between the north and the south. The rivers here were well-connected, and they were far from the frontier.
Even if the army was utterly useless, it would still take at least a month or two to reach here.
Even if the enemy came by boat, it would take at least ten days to half a month. By then, they would have already heard the news and left!
Upon returning to the village, they had dinner at Fan Guangping's place, his step-brother's home. Although the two families ate together, they got along better than blood brothers.
Zhang Cuihua's face also had a healthier complexion, and she had gained some weight. Fan He, her husband, was also more talkative than usual and took meticulous care of them. Even when busy at home, he would still regularly make braised meat for them.
In the following days, while building houses, they also reclaimed land. Fan Zehao's home became the only highlight in the village.
Which other family was like his, with work going on at both ends? And Cheng Yongchao was using blue bricks and large tiles, clearly intending to build a good house!
This attracted the attention of those who enjoyed watching the excitement.
Li Sheng's hatred for Fan Zehao was far more intense than Fan Zhang's. "Uncle Fan, your grandson is making a fortune this year. Did he give you any of it? Tell us so we can envy you!"
"Not a damn bit! That unfilial brat! I don't have such a grandson. Don't mention him in front of me again!" Fan Zhang cursed angrily.
Li Sheng knew very well that they had already severed ties. He only said it to annoy old Fan.
He chuckled, "Look at my memory, you two are no longer related. But of course, he's living the good life, and you have nothing to do with it. You've ended up like this, tsk tsk tsk, a wasted life!"
Hearing this, Fan Zhang's chest swelled with anger, and he glared at him. "You little brat, I think your skin is itching for a beating!"
"I didn't say anything wrong. If you hadn't disowned him, all the money they earned would be yours. Would it go to that old man Fan He? Can't you see they have chicken, duck, fish, and meat constantly? You, on the other hand, are eating coarse grain and vegetables at home, and now you even have to sell land to get by."
"Before the family split, didn't Fan Zehao's hunting earnings support your family? Otherwise, with your lazy Fan Fu, could he earn this much money to build a house? Could he afford to send your grandson to a private school?"
It would have been better if he hadn't said anything. As it was, Fan Zhang's chest felt like it would explode with anger. What Li Sheng said was indeed hitting the nail on the head. The house at home was built with the money Fan Zehao gave as filial piety, and Fan Shurong's private school tuition was also paid for by his hunting earnings.
He never expected that after he married a wife, things would deviate from the original course.
Fan Zhang angrily flicked his sleeves, snorted, and walked towards the east end of the village.
Before he even reached the place, he could hear the sounds of lively activity.
Upon entering, he saw that work was in full swing on both sides.
Fan He was overseeing the workers reclaiming wasteland, and Fan Guangping also occasionally shouted instructions. Even Wang Zhaodi was busy boiling water for the workers. This family seemed even more like blood relatives.
Seeing this, Fan Zhang felt a pang of unease. He stepped forward and asked Fan He with a grim face, "Where is my grandson?"
"How would I know? Go ask your grandson!"
Fan He, stubborn and unyielding, threw this sentence and turned his head away, too lazy to bother with him!
After being shut out once, Fan Zhang turned and headed for the thatched cottage.
As soon as he entered, he saw Zhao Jiaqi and Zhang Cuihua, mother and daughter-in-law, washing pig intestines. The smell was unbearable.
He frowned and asked indifferently, "Where is my grandson Zehao?"
The mother and daughter-in-law looked at Fan Zhang simultaneously, both thinking he had lost his mind to come looking for his grandson here.
Zhang Cuihua gave a forced smile and said, "Uncle, you've come to the wrong place. We don't have your grandson here. Your grandson Fan Shurong is flirting with another family's young lady in the back mountains!"
Once again, Fan Zhang was met with a closed door by Zhang Cuihua and Zhao Jiaqi. His face turned contorted with anger. He searched the house in a frenzy, but finding no one, he finally gave up and went to the village chief's house.
After he left, the mother and daughter-in-law exchanged a knowing smile. Zhao Jiaqi asked her mother-in-law, "Mother, you didn't go out today, how do you know Fan Shurong is in the back mountains?"
"Our second simpleton saw it when he went up the mountain. He told me and then went to town to deliver braised meat."
Her mother-in-law paused, then whispered conspiratorially with a smile, "Fan Shurong has quite the nerve. He wanted to hit on the village chief's youngest daughter, but she's not interested at all. He cornered her in the mountains, wanting to... well, Zehao ran into him and sent him down the mountain. I suspect the village chief won't let that boy Fan Shurong off the hook."
The village chief's youngest daughter was beautiful, a renowned village beauty for ten miles around, and educated. Many suitors had proposed to her. How could the village chief marry his precious pearl to a nobody?
If he were a scholar, it might be acceptable, but he was merely a child prodigy and still wanted to eat swan meat like a toad. Wasn't that asking for a beating?