There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 148 Auction Details

The old woman said, "Yes, these past few days, I've been worried that the young lady would ask for many fruit baskets as usual, so I've been weaving some every day."

I'm afraid that if Miss Li sends someone to collect it, and I don't have it, it will delay Miss Li."

Li Shuchen was touched by what she heard, but also felt a little guilty, blaming herself for not telling the old lady beforehand.

So he explained

"Grandma, we've run out of fruits and vegetables lately, so we're using less of them. We'll be using more in a few days."

Old lady: "Oh, Miss Li, please come with me."

Li Shuchen: "Grandma, let me help you into the carriage; it'll be faster that way."

Grandma: "A horse-drawn carriage? Good, good!"

Li Shuchen helped the old woman into the carriage, and under her directions, they arrived at a narrow alley.

So small that even a horse-drawn carriage couldn't fit.

The old woman smiled helplessly: "Please excuse my poor appearance, young lady. Let's go inside."

Li Shuchen: "Okay, Grandma, let me help you."

Grandma: Hey

The two slowly walked to a door and stopped.

The old woman took out a key wrapped in layers of cloth and unlocked the small, copper-smelling lock.

Pushing open the door, one's eyes are met with a yard full of baskets of all sizes, numbering over two hundred.

The old woman said shyly, "I was afraid the young lady wouldn't have enough baskets, so I saved up so many day after day."

Li Shuchen's eyes welled up with tears: "Grandma, let's rest for a few days before weaving again."

The old lady nodded in agreement: "Alright, Miss Li, please take as many baskets as you need."

Li Shuchen: Okay

He then stepped forward and took fifty small baskets and seventy large baskets, placing them on the carriage.

The courtyard suddenly felt much more spacious.

The old woman came out of the house carrying two cups of hot water, and said somewhat awkwardly, "I don't have anything good to offer you, young lady. Please have some warm water."

Li Shuchen accepted the hot water with both hands and quickly said, "Grandma, there's no need to make a fuss about me. I feel perfectly at home here, just like at my own. A sip of warm water is enough for me."

The old lady then smiled and said, "That's good, that's good. I have a granddaughter, about your age, just as sensible and well-behaved. I look at you just like I look at my own granddaughter."

Li Shuchen gulped down a mouthful of warm water and asked, "Does your granddaughter live with you?"

The old woman said, "We lived together, but she went to work at a restaurant."

"oh oh"

After Li Shuchen finished answering, he took out his money bag and began counting the money.

He secretly placed the loose silver at the bottom of the money bag, which was then covered with copper coins.

Li Shuchen handed the money bag to the old lady.

Grandma, can you count them?

The old woman said, "I won't count anymore. I know Miss Li won't shortchange me."

Li Shuchen breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, they hadn't counted it; she had also placed a ten-tael silver note under the loose silver.

Hopefully, after seeing this, the grandmother and granddaughter will exchange the banknotes for silver to supplement the family income.

Li Shuchen: "Grandma, I'm leaving."

Old woman: "Oh, let me see Miss Li off."

Li Shuchen waved his hand: "Grandma, you don't need to see me off. Just stay home and rest."

The old woman insisted on leaving, saying, "I'd better see the young lady off."

Li Shuchen couldn't refuse, so he had to help the old lady to the alley entrance.

The old lady got into the carriage herself before returning home.

Happiness Inn Three Treasures Hall

Li Shuchen lay on the chaise lounge, racking his brains over the menu.

What should I do?

Instead of four cold dishes, why not make a cold pork knuckle salad?

Shrimp and broccoli salad, cold enoki mushroom salad, braised platter

Okay, these four cold dishes will do.

For hot dishes, there are

Fried lotus root slices, sweet and sour pork ribs, spicy diced chicken, tomato beef brisket, and maybe some spicy blood curd and roast duck would be nice too.

There was also a serving of sweet purple rice.

Let's make corn and pork rib soup.

Okay, it's settled then.

I rolled over, grabbed some paper and pen, and began to write.

Li Shuchen finished drafting the menu and headed to find Gu Ziying.

I wanted her to take another look and see if there was anything inappropriate.

He bumped into Gu Ziying as soon as he got down to the second floor.

Li Shuchen: "Ziying, I was just about to come find you."

Gu Ziying: "I also need to talk to you."

The two accompanied each other to the Three Treasures Hall.

Gu Ziying sat down and said, "Shu Chen, you go first."

Li Shuchen: "You came to see me, so you speak first."

Gu Ziying: "Then I'll say it: since the golden pomelos will be auctioned on the day of the banquet, shouldn't the golden pomelo trees be covered up beforehand?"

Li Shuchen thought for a moment and replied, "Cover it up. Covering it up creates a sense of mystery, making people want to think and guess, thus arousing their curiosity."

Gu Ziying: "So, Shu Chen, do you think it's better to pick the golden pomelos ahead of time, or to let the buyers pick them after the auction?"

Li Shuchen: "It's definitely more fun to let buyers pick them, but the golden pomelo trees are so tall, buyers can't reach them anyway."

"How about we let the buyer choose which one they want to pick, and then we send someone to use their martial arts skills to pick it?"

Gu Ziying asked, "Whose lightness skill is so good?"

Li Shuchen: "Eighth and Ninth Brothers, both of them are excellent at light-footed skills, and they're both beautiful and dashing."

Gu Ziying: "Okay, then I'll first cover the entire golden pomelo tree with red cloth, and then Lao Ba and Lao Jiu will use their lightness skills to lift the red cloth."

After the customers have chosen their pomelos, let the eighth and ninth brothers use their light-footed skills to climb the tree and pick them. What do you think?

Li Shuchen nodded: "Okay, that's fine."

Gu Ziying: "Besides that, there's also the issue of fresh fruit pricing."

Li Shuchen: "Pricing of fresh fruit? I wonder what price Changning plans to sell it to the noble families. We'll decide after she decides."

Gu Ziying smiled and said, "Changning will be here soon. I met her on the way; she's going to Huashang Pavilion to pick out clothes."

Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen glanced at himself and said, "I also need to pick out some autumn clothes."

Gu Ziying: "It's time to buy it. The weather is getting cooler, and you'll easily catch a cold if you keep wearing these summer clothes."

Li Shuchen: "Okay, when we get the girls' clothes, I'll pick out a couple more."

Princess Changning pushed open the door and entered, saying loudly, "What should I choose? Let me see."

Li Shuchen replied, "Choosing autumn clothes."

Princess Changning sat down and said, "I just picked out a few autumn outfits at the Flower Garment Pavilion today. The color combinations are bold and beautiful, and the styles are novel and harmonious."

Although the household would also find people to do it.

But I love the clothes from the Flower Robe Pavilion the most; I wonder which talented person designed them.”

Li Shuchen: "The clothes from Huachangge are indeed very nice. The designers really understand women's selling points. Their menswear is also well done."

Let's get back to the main topic. How do you plan to price the fresh fruit at Sanguozhuang in Changning?

Princess Changning smiled and said, "Soft peaches are four hundred coins a pound, and hard peaches are three hundred coins a pound."

Jujubes cost 200 cash per catty, persimmons 350 cash per catty, apples 100 cash per catty, and pomelos 100 taels of silver each.

If the goods are sold on the day of the banquet, then add one hundred coins to each item.

Li Shuchen gasped when he heard the price of the golden pomelo; Changning really dared to set such a high price!

Gu Ziying: "If the golden pomelos are not all auctioned off, they can indeed be sold at this price."

Li Shuchen was stunned upon hearing this and asked, "I don't know much about the rarity of the Golden Pomelo. How do you plan to set the auction price for the Golden Pomelo?"

Princess Changning: "'One tael of gold for one tael of pomelo,' hence the name Golden Pomelo. A Golden Pomelo weighs about eight jin (approximately 4 catties)."

If it is to be auctioned, the initial price will be fifty taels of silver each, then sixty taels, seventy taels, and so on, gradually increasing.