Chapter 15: Reputation

By the time Yingbin Lou became lively, Zhao Mengcheng had already finished selling his tofu and returned home.

Wang Ming had been grumbling the whole way back. “Brother, Shopkeeper Wang invited you to stay for the poetry gathering¹. That was such a great opportunity. Why didn’t you agree?”

Zhao Mengcheng smiled and asked in return, “I’ve only studied for a few years and know a few characters. I have no official rank, no talent, and no family status or reputation. Rashly attending a poetry gathering would be nothing more than inviting humiliation.”

His only intention was to sell tofu; there was no need to wade into those murky waters and make a fool of himself.

“If that’s not talent, then what is? You can write such beautiful characters. They aren’t even as good as you,” Wang Ming said loudly.

Zhao Mengcheng shook his head. “It’s not like that. I’ve only learned the basics.”

Wang Ming sighed. “Brother, you’re just too modest.”

He even added, “If Uncle Zhao and Auntie Zhao had passed away a few years later and you could have focused on your studies, you might have even become the Top Scholar by now.”

Zhao Mengcheng burst out laughing. He didn’t think he could surpass those who had spent ten years studying hard in the cold². The only reason Wang Ming and Shopkeeper Wang thought his calligraphy was good was because they hadn’t seen much of the world.

Now that he was certain the tofu would sell, Zhao Mengcheng wasn’t going to mistreat himself. Taking advantage of the early finish, he bought everything the kitchen was lacking.

Now, the handcart was piled high with the various bags and parcels Zhao Mengcheng had purchased.

The three Zhao siblings were waiting under the large willow tree as usual. After waiting for a long time, they had grown bored and started counting ants to pass the time.

“Zhao Chun, what are you all doing here?” Zhao Xiaohua suddenly appeared.

Zhao Chun glanced at her, then turned his head away, ignoring her.

Zhao Xiaohua walked over and crouched beside him. Seeing him poking at the ants, she asked, “Are you hungry? Here, I specially saved this egg for you. Eat it.”

After going back last night, Zhao Xiaohua had thought about it all night. She decided to replace Zhao Xin as the Empress and become the most noble woman in the Great Zhou.

Aside from Zhao Xin, Zhao Chun was skilled in warfare and Zhao Mao was skilled in governance. Zhao Xiaohua felt she might have a use for the two brothers in the future, so she wanted to keep them both on her side.

“Since when were you so kind?” Zhao Chun wasn’t stupid.

Zhao Xiaohua said aggrievedly, “We’re cousins. Of course I care about you. Did my younger cousin say bad things about me at home? I don’t know what I did wrong, but Zhao Xin always hates me so much.”

“Of course it’s because you’re annoying,” Zhao Chun snorted and stood up. Although he was two years younger than Zhao Xiaohua, he was tall, and he looked down on his nominal cousin from his greater height.

“My dad said our families have severed ties. Don’t talk to me anymore.”

Zhao Chun didn’t want her egg either. He crouched back down next to Zhao Xin and ignored her.

Zhao Xiaohua hadn’t expected Zhao Chun to be so ungrateful. Her face turned pale and then flushed with anger as she stared intently at Zhao Xin.

This scene fell into Zhao Mao’s eyes, and the young boy furrowed his brows.

Just as he was about to warn his older brother and younger sister, the familiar sound of wheels came from the intersection.

“Dad’s back!” Zhao Chun dashed out once again.

Zhao Mengcheng caught him with practiced ease. “Didn’t I tell you to wait at home? Don’t stand out here in the sun.”

“I wanted to see Dad sooner,” Zhao Chun insisted.

Zhao Mengcheng felt helpless. The late May sun was already scorching, making the three children’s cheeks flush red. Yet, no matter what he said, they wouldn’t listen and would wait at the village entrance every time.

“Open your mouth.”

Zhao Chun subconsciously opened his mouth. A sweet taste immediately spread through his mouth and down into his heart.

“It’s candy!” Zhao Chun cried out in surprise.

When he went to the general store to buy sugar earlier, Zhao Mengcheng had specifically bought extra malt candy to coax the children. Seeing the result now, it was working well; the boy’s eyes curved into crescents from the sweetness.

Zhao Mengcheng gave each of them a piece. “Let’s go. Time to go home.”

The three children crowded around Zhao Mengcheng as they left. From beginning to end, Zhao Mengcheng didn’t spare a single glance for Zhao Xiaohua nearby.

Zhao Xiaohua gripped the egg tightly, her eyes filled with resentment and disdain. She was furious that the Zhao family dared to ignore her. Once she achieved success in the future, she would definitely deal with them harshly.

She looked down on the Zhao siblings for being bought off by a piece of cheap malt candy. That kind of candy, where a few Wen could buy a large piece, was something she didn’t even like to eat.

“Xiaohua, your second uncle must have made money selling tofu. He’s even willing to buy candy for the kids,” a woman asked.

Zhao Xiaohua curled her lip, still maintaining her honest and pitiful appearance. “I don’t know if he made money. I went to see my second uncle yesterday, but he said our families have severed ties and told me not to call him uncle anymore.”

Hearing this, the woman said as expected, “He’s truly heartless. He doesn’t want his older brother or his niece anymore.”

However, what the villagers cared about most was whether Zhao Mengcheng had actually made any money.

“He definitely made money, and quite a bit too,” Auntie Wang said decisively.

Uncle Wang, however, was a bit worried. “I don’t know if the restaurant really wants it. If they order tofu and then change their minds, it’ll go bad in a day.”

Auntie Wang rolled her eyes. “If you can think of it, do you think he hasn’t? Mengcheng knows what he’s doing.”

“I’m just worried for him,” Uncle Wang sighed. They had made two hundred catties of tofu in one go today. If it didn’t sell, not only would their hard work be for nothing, but the cost of materials was also significant.

“I think you’re worrying over nothing,” Auntie Wang shook her head.

As the couple was talking, they heard a sound. They went out to look and saw that Zhao Mengcheng and the others had indeed returned.

Seeing them return so early, Uncle Wang became even more worried. “Why are you back so soon? Did the tofu sell?”

“It’s all sold,” Zhao Mengcheng said with a smile.

Wang Ming couldn’t hold back. “Dad, you have no idea how popular our tofu was. We delivered a hundred pieces to the restaurant first, and the rest sold like crazy before we even finished setting up the stall. It was all gone in no time.”

Now Uncle Wang stopped saying they had made too much. He slapped his thigh and said, “If I’d known, we should have made more. Let’s hurry and soak more beans for tomorrow.”

Zhao Mengcheng quickly stopped him. “Uncle, there’s no rush. Let’s take it slow.”

“How can we not be in a hurry when there’s money to be made? Hurry up,” Uncle Wang laughed.

“Uncle, I can handle things here. You didn’t get much rest last night, so go back and lie down for a bit. We’ll continue working tonight,” Zhao Mengcheng urged.

Even as he was leaving, Uncle Wang was still reminding him, “Soak more beans. Wang Ming has plenty of energy.”

Zhao Mengcheng couldn’t stop them even if he wanted to. The Wang father and son were eager to work themselves like donkeys, making Zhao Mengcheng, the actual owner, seem like he lacked ambition.

After finally seeing off the enthusiastic Wang family, Zhao Mengcheng finally had a moment to rest. However, just as he lay down, a shout came from the back door.

“Mengcheng, come out quickly! A gentleman from town is looking for you,” it was Auntie Wang’s voice.

Zhao Mengcheng quickly threw on some clothes and went out. To his surprise, it was Shopkeeper Wang himself.

“Shopkeeper, why are you here?” Zhao Mengcheng asked. “Is there something wrong with the tofu we delivered?”

Shopkeeper Wang was all smiles. “No problem at all! The taste is fantastic. You have no idea how those Juren³ and scholars were full of praise. They all said the tofu tastes better than the finest delicacies.”

Zhao Mengcheng’s heart settled.

Shopkeeper Wang pulled him aside and talked incessantly. “Brother Zhao, your method really worked. Yesterday, I sent out invitations to all the scholars in town. As soon as they heard about an elegant event like a poetry gathering, they all showed up.”

“Once they arrived and saw the calligraphy you wrote, they all started praising it. I took the opportunity to say that the food mentioned in the poem was available in the restaurant. Sure enough, they all wanted to try it.”

“Once they tasted it, they were hooked. They even picked up their brushes to write poems about the tofu. There are already over a dozen poems hanging in the restaurant now.”

Zhao Mengcheng understood immediately. Scholars were naturally competitive. With his poem serving as the modest opening to draw out their best work⁴, they had taken the bait.

“Then congratulations, Shopkeeper. After this, Yingbin Lou will surely be crowded with customers.”

Shopkeeper Wang smiled and patted his shoulder, adding, “Thanks to you. I came today because I want to order another two hundred pieces of tofu. Starting today, I want you to deliver three hundred pieces every day.”

“Isn’t that a bit much?” Zhao Mengcheng was also startled by the quantity.

Shopkeeper Wang replied, “Not at all. Today is just the beginning. Once word of the poetry gathering spreads, all the scholars in Changhe Town will come. When that happens, never mind three hundred pieces, we could sell three thousand.”

Tofu was cheap to buy and not expensive to sell, but scholars generally came from well-to-do families, and they wouldn’t just eat tofu for a meal.

In just this half day, Shopkeeper Wang had already made back the cost of the gifts he had sent out yesterday.

He also had a private plan to sell the tofu outside of Changhe Town and into Fengzhou Prefecture, but it was too early to mention that, so he kept it to himself.

Since Shopkeeper Wang wanted it, Zhao Mengcheng naturally wouldn’t refuse.

“Then it’s a deal. I’ll be waiting for your tofu.” Shopkeeper Wang left as hurriedly as he had arrived, clearly intending to make a big move.

Shopkeeper Wang was gone, but he left behind a crowd of curious faces.

“Mengcheng, even the boss from town came to your house to buy tofu. Your business has really grown.”

“They said something about a poetry gathering. Even the Juren masters love eating tofu.”

“Is tofu really that good? Save a piece for me tomorrow morning; I want to buy some and try it too.”

Previously, when Zhao Mengcheng started selling tofu, the villagers knew he could make money, but they thought it would only be hard-earned money from working from dawn to dusk. It seemed far inferior to his previous job as an accountant in town, which had been much more respectable.

But Boss Wang’s visit completely changed their perspective.

Boss Wang had arrived in a horse-drawn carriage⁵. That was a carriage, after all, something only the wealthy could afford to keep.

They had originally thought Zhao Mengcheng was just dabbling in a small business, but who would have thought he was about to strike it rich overnight? The villagers felt a mix of envy and jealousy.

Sensing the various emotions around him, Zhao Mengcheng merely smiled. “It’s just a small business. The tofu tastes good, so I’ll set some aside at home tomorrow morning. If you neighbors want to try some, come by and buy it. I’ll charge the cost price of two wen.”

This way, it was a bit cheaper than what it sold for in town.

Having secured a good deal, the villagers finally stopped crowding around the Zhao Family’s gate.

Before dawn the next morning, Wang Ming had barely stepped through the door when the Zhao Family home became lively.

Zhao Mengcheng came out to look and was startled. Good grief, the villagers hadn’t slept all night, instead crowding his home to “help.”

Translator’s Notes