My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 60 Part 2

Ji Taoyu hadn’t expected business to come so quickly. He stepped forward to introduce their wares.  

"Words alone are useless." Ji Taoyu fetched a teacup and brewed some tea with the northern merchant: "Tongzhou’s famous products include Huangshan Maofeng, Qimen black tea, and Lu’an tea. Our local teas are among the finest in all the provinces. The quality of tea cannot be judged by words alone—since Boss Wei understands tea, you must taste it yourself to know its worth."  

The man was already entranced by the tea’s aroma, and seeing Ji Taoyu brew it with practiced skill, he nearly lost himself in delight.  

He lifted the cup to his nose and inhaled gently, his expression calm and focused. Without even taking a sip, the fragrance alone revealed the tea’s quality.  

Tea was not only beloved by southerners—northerners were equally obsessed.  

In these times, there were few refined beverages, and tea’s rich, layered flavors—not just bitter or astringent, but also sweetly lingering—made it especially prized.  

For northerners, perhaps it wasn’t the pursuit of tea’s elegance and subtlety that drew them, but rather its medicinal benefits.  

The northern lands were arid, and the people consumed greasy meats like mutton, often suffering from digestive discomfort. Tea, however, could clear heat, detoxify, refresh the mind, and aid digestion, easing the stomach’s troubles.  

Thus, tea naturally became highly sought after.  

Since tea appealed to young and old alike, some inevitably pursued finer qualities.  

"Excellent tea, truly excellent! Some time ago, a Tongzhou tea passed through several merchant caravans before reaching my hands, and I was fortunate to taste it. But Boss Huo’s tea surpasses even that! This is truly Tongzhou’s finest!"  

The man didn’t waste a drop, tasting every cup Ji Taoyu had brewed—even finishing the pot.  

"Our stock isn’t vast, but the variety is rich. We have upper, middle, and lower grades of market tea, as well as high-quality tea dust."  

With the tasting done, it was time to discuss prices. Ji Taoyu asked, "What kind of tea does Boss Wei want?"  

Huo Shu had already instructed him: the opening price must be at least ten times Tongzhou’s market rate—no less, only more.  

Thinking of tea that cost five taels per catty now being priced at fifty taels minimum, Ji Taoyu still felt uneasy. At first glance, it seemed exorbitantly high.  

But upon reflection, they had traveled north across four entire prefectures, a journey spanning over two months.  

The distance and hardship were one thing—along the way, they had encountered unscrupulous locals, contracted illness, and faced multiple bandit attacks, nearly losing their lives several times.  

Seen in that light, the price was entirely justified.  

So he stated it boldly.  

To his surprise, the northern merchant didn’t curse at the price but remained composed, as if he had expected it.  

"Boss Huo wants horses. Shall we trade with horses as payment?"  

Ji Taoyu glanced at Huo Shu.  

"Agreed."  

Huo Shu accepted.  

Though the northern frontier had many horse-breeding lands, years of war had strained supply. In previous years, horses had been scarce, but with last year’s ceasefire, the ranches had recovered somewhat, easing the market.  

Still, horses were not as cheap as sheep.  

Even in horse-breeding regions, an average horse cost twenty to thirty taels, while finer ones approached fifty.  

But with the tea they had brought, one catty could trade for two average horses.  

Once both sides settled terms, the merchant took Huo Shu to inspect the horses. After selecting them, they would exchange for the tea.  

So Huo Shu left the tea behind, holding off on other sales.  

If any remained after trading for horses, they could sell it later—tea was always in demand. But ideally, none would be left, saving them the trouble.  

As for the cloth they had brought separately, they could sell it freely.  

After seeing off the merchant, their men eagerly asked, "How did it go? Was the deal settled?"  

Ji Taoyu said cheerfully, "Business here is surprisingly easy. We’ve already agreed with that merchant—after selling the cloth in a couple of days, we’ll go to the horse ranch to select our trade."  

"Excellent! With horses, the return journey will be faster and smoother. Once we reach Tongzhou, we can sell them for a fine profit!"  

Huo Shu said, "If business wasn’t good after all this effort, the trip would’ve been wasted."  

Now that they were in Huo Shu’s territory, familiar with the customs, the group could finally relax a little.  

Huo Shu said, "Everyone has worked hard these past days. Rest well tonight—I’ve arranged for a roasted whole lamb."  

Most of the men came from poor backgrounds and had never enjoyed such luxury, even in Tongzhou.  

Smiling, they replied, "Thank you, Brother Huo!"  

"Tomorrow will be another tough day, we’ll sell the cloth at the market. Be ready."  

"Whether we earn meager profits or a windfall depends on tomorrow! If any other merchants come asking tonight, don’t entertain them."  

Huo Shu gave his orders. He had no intention of selling the cloth wholesale to local fabric dealers.  

Fine Jiangnan goods—if sold outright to local merchants, they’d gladly take them.  

But selling bulk at ten times Tongzhou’s price meant a single bolt of silk could fetch dozens of taels.  

A hundred or more bolts would require thousands of taels—no small sum. Such a large transaction would invite hesitation, and hesitation led to haggling.  

As newcomers without smooth-talking negotiators, they might end up shortchanged.  

Ji Taoyu suggested retailing instead—attracting more buyers, setting higher prices, and holding firm on the minimum. Skilled hagglers could get discounts, but those who didn’t bargain would pay more.  

Their stock wasn’t large—just over a hundred bolts. There was no fear of leftovers.  

Even if sales dragged, they could always sell the remainder to fabric dealers at a slightly reduced price.  

This approach was indeed more troublesome than finding a bulk buyer, but to maximize profits with limited goods, they had to put in the extra effort.  

Following Huo Shu’s arrangements, the men ate their fill and rested well, preparing for the next day’s challenge.