Chapter 16.1

After entering the inn, Cheng Xiao Xiao walked directly toward the old man sitting behind the counter looking at the accounting book, “Hi, Mr. Innkeeper!”

“Eh…” said the old man as he looked up. He looked at the fair beauty standing in front of her and wasn’t irritated that he was interrupted. He smiled at her and asked, “How can I help you, miss?”

“Pardon my interruption, Mr. Innkeeper, I have a favor to ask!” Seeing his frown, she immediately explain herself, “Mr. Innkeeper, it’s nothing troublesome, just want to ask for a little of your time. Can you help me out, please?”

“Oh…..” Looking her polite mannerism, the innkeeper had no heart to turn her down. He nodded slightly and asked, “Okay, what kind of help do you need?”

“Mr. Innkeepeer, can I borrow you for a few minutes to come outside and check out our goods?” Asked Cheng Xiao Xiao with a big smile.

Check out goods?

The innkeeper had exactly expected that. He nodded and came around the counter, “Okay, I will go with you.”

Just when the two of them were about to walk outside, the perplexed server, who just return from the kitchen asked, “Hey, innkeeper, where you going?”

Cheng Xiao Xiao took a look at the thirty-something server and nodded at him lightly.

The server was a bit surprised. He had never seen her around before. The innkeeper spoke, “Server1, you keep an eye out here, I’ll be right back!”

“Okay, Innkeeper!” Replied the server quickly. He watched them leave the lobby before he turned his attention to the diners.

Exiting the inn, the innkeeper saw nothing but a woman with three kids along with a cow-drawn wagon. He couldn’t help but looked at Cheng Xiao Xiao suspiciously.

Cheng Xiao Xiao laughed, “Mr. Innkeeper, please follow me!” As she approached her mother and younger sibling.

The innkeeper was a bit worry that it was going to be something huge, he frowned with hesitation, but followed Cheng Xiao Xiao nonetheless.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Inkeeper!” Said Mrs. Cheng with a bow.

The slightly unhappy innkeeper was a bit surprised, but before he could say anything, the three kids all smiled at him and greeted him politely, “Good afternoon, Mr. Innkeeper!”

The three cute kids brought the smile back onto the innkeeper’s face, she nodded at the two woman, “Okay, what would you like to show me?”

He caught sight of the several cages and the linen bag as he was speaking. A look of surprise crawled up his face when he saw the chickens and rabbits.

He has been in the business for quite a while, he could tell these chickens and rabbits were of high quality. Cheng Xiao Xiao smiled silently and immediately opened up her big bag of rice and also put the cabbages in front of him!

The innkeeper sniffed the rice and patted the rabbits. After all his inspections, he smiled at Mrs. Cheng and Cheng Xiao Xiao, “This lady with her kids are trying to sell all these goods, I presume?”

“Yes, Innkeeper, we couldn’t eat all these ourselves so it would be nice if we can sell some of them for cash. We won’t be able to sell too many of them on the street so we came here to see you can help us out. If you will buy these from us, we will come back to you in the future. Can you please help us out?”

Mrs. Cheng explained their situation mildly. She sounded sincere and not pitiful. The innkeeper had also picked up on her upstanding demeanor and deportment which made him even more fond of her. He nodded, “No problem, we can use all these at our inn. If you guys have more goods of this quality in the future, I will also buy them from you. How does that sound?”

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1.     It’s customary to refer to each other with their job t.i.tle back then (at least that’s how it is in the TV shows J), though it sounds a little odd directly translating into English. J

Chapter 16.2

Announcement:

Happy new year and good news! With the support of patrons on my Patreon page, I was able to hit the $100 goal so, as promised, I will be moving the update schedule from 3x a week to every other day!

With the highest tier going to ch 35, we are officially half way through the volume 1 of the 3-volume series!

Now back to our normal programming!

***

“Thank you, Innkeeper. Our quality won’t disappoint you!” Mrs. Cheng smiled and looked at him appreciatively.

“No problem, no matter how many goods you have, I can make that call!” The innkeeper was a straightforward person. He didn’t want to barter with the mother and daughter that he was already quite fond of. “Madam, I can buy all these from you right now. How about three taels and 30 wen?”

“Sure, no problem!”

Even though they had more items this time, and they didn’t fetch a sky-high price like they did last time, but Mrs. Cheng was more comfortable with what they were offered today. After all, this was the market price these days.

The innkeeper quickly had the server came and moved all the goods inside and paid Mrs. Cheng right away. Mrs. Cheng thanked him again.

The five of them bid the innkeeper farewell and left in their wagon. They needed to purchase items for their own need.

They circled around the streets a few times and made a lot of purchases. In the meantime they have pa.s.sed several of the servants of Ning House. Unfortunately they didn’t know these were the people they were looking for. They were looking for a mother and daughter, and didn’t expect a mother with four kids!

After they have left town in their wagon, a young special guest of the inn had rose and placed his lunch order. He needed to get on his way after lunch. He told the innkeeper to bring him a couple dishes of whatever he’d recommend.

The innkeeper dared not serve the special guest slowly. After placing the order, the kitchen prepared his food and wine as fast as possible and served them to him.

They made him an order of stirred fried chicken, braised rabbit meat, and an order of cabbage.

More or less the freshest food they have just bought. The special guest didn’t think these dishes were too simple. After all, at this day and age, and in a remote village, these were not shabby items.

He picked up his chopsticks and gracefully put a piece into his mouth. He didn’t think much of it after his first bite and kept on eating. After a few bites, there was finally a suspicious look on his handsome face. He looked at the food on top of the table, puzzled and bewildered.

Right about this time, the innkeeper came to deliver the bowl of steamed rice in person. He entered the room and saw the young man staring at the food. He was concerned and asked carefully, “Sir, do you not like these dishes?”

“Ugh….” The young man looked up at him, saw the steaming bowl of rice in his hand, and ordered, “Bring that over!”

“Okay!” Carefully the innkeeper looked at him and delivered the rice.

The young man took the rice from him, took in the aroma of the steamed rice and put a mouthful into his mouth with his chopsticks. He chewed and swallowed, and, as though something had been confirmed, he put down his bowl and chopsticks.

“Innkeeper, where did you get these food? How come the cabbage and the rice was different than those from yesterday?”

Facing the solemn-looking young man, the innkeeper turned slightly page and started to break out in sweat. He did taste the food himself and made sure they were alright before he served them. He didn’t understand why the young man was questioning him about the food.

He wasn’t dare not to answer his question, so immediately he replied, “Sir, I just purchased these vegetables and items from a farm woman. Is there something else that you need?”

“A farm woman?”