Chapter 17: Double Crossing!
When Elder Su said this, the people who intended to buy fruits started to hesitate. They started whispering among themselves while there were people who asked, “Shopkeeper Su, are these fruits really poisonous?”
The crowd curiously gazed at Elder Su, after all the fruits were on a nice bargain. Selling two for three gold taels was already the cheapest it has ever been. Those who wanted to buy in bulk were now somewhat intending to return when they heard Elder Su. The price was a steal but no one dared to try, this was the effect Elder Su wanted to create. Elder Su smiled, “That’s right, they might be poisonous.”
When these words were spoken, Bai Yao smiled and cut in, “Everyone, I can testify that the fruits aren’t poisonous.” When he said this, he bit into a fruit while smiling, “I’ve already eaten some, is everyone still doubtful?”
Having witnessed Bai Yao take bites into the fruit, there were people who started to take out their gold taels to purchase the fruits. Then Elder Su replied, “Young Master, although it looks like there were no effects when you ate it; what if you had an antidote to prevent the effects?”
Bai Yao calmly laughed, “If I had eaten an antidote then when someone gets poisoned while eating the fruits they can find me for the antidote. So Elder Su do you have any more doubts which you want to clarify?”This made Elder Su felt as if he had fallen into their trap making him inwardly curse. When he had tried to correct himself it was already too late, after all the fruits were cheap and there was bound to be someone who would be willing to give it a try.
Elder Su anxiously stood up while Lu Feng was still smiling, “For the first twenty buyers, if you buy ten you’ll get two free.” As if they were affected by the offer, people were in a frenzy to buy them and resell.
Infact there was the local rich tyrant who shouted, “I want two hundred.” The others were shocked followed by people who also shouted, “I too would like two hundred.” Very quickly the fruits on the trees were running out and in less than a quarter of an hour, the entire stock was completely sold out.
Lu Feng was grinning as he looked at a box which was filled with gold taels, “Elder Su, this time we sold eight hundred fruits whilst giving away a hundred and sixty for free. Since you’re a shopkeeper you should know how much these 800 are sold for.”
Elder Su’s complexion started to turn green, he definitely was able to calculate the enormous sum. Since they sold two fruits for three gold taels, and eight hundred were sold. Then it came up to a sum of one thousand two hundred taels of gold, surpa.s.sing the initial challenge of one thousand gold taels.
When he saw that Elder Su was completely speechless, Lu Feng laughed, provoking Elder Su “Looks like I don’t even have to use three days, just a single day is enough. I don’t know whether Elder Su would honor his side of the agreement.” Elder Su snorted, wordlessly turned around and left, while the other shopkeepers followed suit.
Bai Yao and the guards were celebrating together, looking at their merrymaking, Lu Feng smiled, “Lets return home.” Bai Yao and the guards made an En sound as they started to pack up.
As for Lu Feng’s feat of turning a single gold tael into one thousand and two hundred, it spread like wildfire throughout the entire town. It only took a short while before the Bai Family Head had heard of this matter, which made him buzz with excitement as he shouted, “Housekeeper Liu, have they returned yet?!”
Housekeeper Liu shook his head while the Bai Family Head immediately followed up, “Quickly send some people to check if they have returned!”
“En.”
At this moment, there were sounds coming from outside “The Young Masters are back.” The Bai Family Head instantly stormed out with a very expectant look. When he saw the box full of gold taels he said three words, “Great! Great! Great!”
Bai Yao gleefully laughed, “Just look at how happy Father is.” Lu Feng also laughed. “Family Head, will you let me handle the matter with the shops?” The Bai family head heartily exclaimed, “Definitely, I’ll go and call the shopkeepers over.”
The Bai Family Head turned towards Housekeeper Liu and said, “Bring the shopkeepers here now.”
“Ok.”
Housekeeper Liu promptly left while the Bai Family Head smiled towards Lu Feng, “Let’s go inside and sit.”
Lu Feng made an En sound as he followed the Bai Family Head inside the hall to sit. In the hall, the Bai Family Head was curious on how Lu Feng had made the trees bear fruit overnight, Lu Feng then tried to spin a cover up story.
The moment Tian Lang heard of the news he rushed towards the Xia Family compound, Xia Qin had just stepped out of the door when a maid respectfully went towards her and said, “Young Miss, the Young Master of the Tian Family is looking for you.” Looking at the anxious maid, Xia Qin frowned as she asked, “What has gotten into you.”
“The Tian Family’s Young Master said that it was an important matter and you should immediatly see him.”
Xia Qin was puzzled and went into the hall where she saw Tian Lang pacing back and forth. Xia Qin suspiciously asked, “What is so important for you to come find me this early in the morning.” When Tian Lang heard this, he did a 180 turn and said with a serious look, “Did you not hear the news?”
Xia Qin had a confused look on her face, “I just got up, how could I hear about what’s happening?” Tian Lang was forced to quickly explain the things that happened, when Xia Qin had heard this she was horrified, “How is this possible…” Tian Lang angrily replied, “I too, don’t know how this happened, the news was quickly spread through the town. I’ve also bought the fruits from some people but there were no problems with it.”
Xia Qin frowned, “Could this brat really make spirit fruits grow overnight?”
Tian Lang impatiently replied, “No matter what, that isn’t important right now. The pressing issue is that, the Bai Family Head has already arranged for their shopkeepers to have a meeting. I’m guessing they are going to hand him the authority to manage the stores. If this is true then that brat would start selling the green spirit fruits and the Bai family would become richer than ever. If we were to continue to lower the prices like this, it would definitely not affect them.”
When Xia Qin heard this she was furious, while a guard came over and reported, “Young Miss, there is someone looking for you outside.” Xia Qin had already lost her mood and vented her anger at the guard, “Did you not see that I’m talking with the Tian Family’s Young Master?”
That guard awkwardly replied, “The person who wants to see you is a Bai Family shopkeeper.” Xia Qin was skeptical, “A Bai Family shopkeeper?”
“En.”
“Let him in.”
Tian Lang curiously looked at Xia Qin and asked, “Who would it be?” Xia Qin was also not too sure as she asked, “Let’s see.” Then a man appeared outside the hall, who was none other than Elder Su. When Xia Qin saw who this Bai Family shopkeeper was she smiled, “Isn’t this Elder Su?”
Elder Su laughed, “Miss Xia, you should understand why I came.” Xia Qin had already guessed and replied, “Have you accepted my offer to come over to the Xia family?” Elder Su made an En sound whereas Xia Qin sweetly smiled, “I want to change my terms now.”
Elder Su’s face turned red, “Miss Xia, during the time when you invited me I was opposing the Bai Family’s new son-in-law. Now that he has proven his worth, my status within the Bai Family has degraded badly. Therefore, if you decide to burn our bridges it wouldn’t be good.
Xia Qin continued smiling as she said, “Elder Su, you’re misunderstanding. What I meant was for you to continue staying in the Bai Family and I’ll still give you the money every month.”
Elder Su heard this he was slightly confused before asking, “Is there such a good offer?” Xia Qin slowly nodded her head before continuing, “Yes, of course I’m looking for something in return. What I want you is to observe the Bai Family’s actions, especially that brat’s, and give me an intelligence report regularly.”
When Elder Su heard this, he finally understood, what Xia Qin wanted him to conduct espionage within the Bai family. This made him hesitate, as he knew if he continued staying within the Bai family he would definitely lose face. He was about to say so when Tian Lang laughed, “I will also give you money, if you agree.”
Elder Su suddenly stopped hesitating and replied, “I agree.” Tian Liang continued smiling, “Since you are going to return, take a look and see what that brat is doing. Don’t forget to tell us though.” Elder Su replied with a smile, “Understood.” Elder Su then turned around as he left.
Looking at Elder Su’s departing figure, Tian Lang curiously asked, “I don’t really know what Miss Xia’s plan is.” Xia Qin had an evil grin as she said, “You still don’t get it?” Tian Lang only knew Xia Qin wanted Elder Su to spy on the Bai Family but he was not really sure about her motive beyond that. Xia Qin strangely chuckled, “Then listen closely…”
Tian Lang naturally was straining his ears as he tried to hear Xia Qin’s solution.