Famine and Chaos: Weaving Cloth in Exile to Escape the War

Gao Xiuqin returned to the Yang family with Jing Zhichun's message. She looked at Yang Xiaoniu and said, "Master, Madam Shen said to exchange her half for silver."

Yang Xiaoniu nodded: "Understood."

He straightened up, looked at the frozen bear carcass, and began to make plans in his mind.

If we were to sell them separately as usual, with the skin, gallbladder, and meat separated, it would be a safer option, but the total price would definitely not be as high as selling them whole.

Those restaurants and wealthy families in the city sometimes like to serve whole wild animals, for the sake of novelty and grandeur, so that they can show off when serving guests.

"Erniu," he turned his head and said, "go to Wang Laowu's house and borrow his big cart. Tell him you'll give him an extra five coins for the cart fare."

"it is good."

The borrowed cart was larger and sturdier than the Yang family's, and it took the two brothers a lot of effort to get the frozen, heavy bear carcass onto it.

Yang Xiaoniu covered the bear carcass with a straw mat and secured it with several ropes.

At this moment, Gao Xiuqin handed over a cloth bundle containing several mixed flour cakes and a bamboo tube of hot water: "Have something to eat on the way. Come back soon."

"Why."

Yang Xiaoniu took the bundle, and together with Yang Erniu, they jumped onto the cart shaft and began heading towards the city.

The mule cart creaked and groaned as it rolled along the frozen mountain road, heading towards Qingshi County, thirty miles away.

"Brother, how much do you think Manager Sun will give us for this whole bear?" Yang Erniu asked, rubbing his frozen hands.

Yang Xiaoniu pondered, "In previous years, the price a restaurant paid for a whole wild boar or roe deer was 10-20% higher than selling them separately. Bears are rare, and whole bears are even rarer. I reckon... if Manager Sun knows his stuff, he should be able to sell it for 120 taels."

"One hundred and twenty taels!" Yang Erniu gasped. "If we give half to Madam Shen, that's sixty taels... My God, sixty taels of silver is enough for us to live on for ten years."

As the two brothers talked, the sun gradually rose higher, and the scenery on both sides of the road changed from barren mountains to fields, and then to scattered houses.

Around noon, the dusty city walls of Qingshi County finally came into view.

The county town was not large, but the city walls were high and soldiers guarded the city gates.

Yang Xiaoniu was a familiar face; the soldiers guarding the gate recognized him. They quickly checked the goods on the cart and let him pass.

After entering the city, the streets became lively.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, there are many more pedestrians on the streets than usual, and the shops on both sides have hung red lanterns and displayed New Year's goods.

The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, haggling over prices, and children playing mingled together, creating a festive atmosphere.

Yang Xiaoniu drove the mule cart, familiar with the route, through the main street and into the West Market.

The West Market was mostly filled with restaurants, inns, and warehouses.

The city's largest restaurant, "Ke Xiang Lai," is located in the most prominent position.

The three-story wooden building, with its flying eaves and bracket sets, and two large red lanterns hanging at the entrance, looked very impressive.

He didn't go through the front door, but instead went around to the back alley.

The restaurant's back door was spacious, making it easy for vehicles to enter and exit. Deliverymen and garbage collectors usually passed through here.

It was the preparation time before lunch, and the back door was open, allowing one to see the busy figures of the staff inside.

The manager of the back gate of Kexianglai was surnamed Zhao. He was a lean middle-aged man who was directing two employees to move vegetable baskets.

Seeing Yang Xiaoniu's mule cart stop, he squinted at the huge silhouette covered with a straw mat on the cart and came forward: "Hey, Hunter Yang, what big catch have you got this time?"

"Manager Zhao." Yang Xiaoniu jumped out of the car, clasped his hands in greeting, "A whole bear, perfectly frozen."

"A whole bear?" Manager Zhao's eyes lit up. He lifted a corner of the straw mat to take a look. "Wow, it's quite big! Wait here, I'll go call Manager Sun."

Before long, Manager Sun came out, waving his ever-present folding fan.

He was in his fifties, with a round, slightly plump face, wearing a dark blue silk cotton robe and a black satin vest, looking wealthy and respectable.

But his small eyes were always squinting, revealing a businessman's shrewdness.

"Hunter Yang, what a rare guest!" Manager Sun said with a smile, his gaze already fixed on the cart. "I heard you brought a whole bear?"

"Yes, Manager Sun, please take a look." Yang Xiaoniu lifted the straw mat completely.

The frozen bear carcass was displayed intact before my eyes.

Although the black fur was cut to a pulp.

But this is a bear.

A fully grown bear—who wouldn't find that amazing?

Shopkeeper Sun circled the cart twice, fanned the bear's fur with his fan, and touched its frozen, hard paws. He nodded, "Hmm, it's fresh, frozen just right. What, want to sell the whole thing?"

"I'll sell them whole," Yang Xiaoniu said. "Manager Sun is a regular customer, so please give me a fair price."

Manager Sun stroked his chin, his small eyes darting around as he quickly began to make plans in his mind.

The whole bear...

That's quite rare.

With the Chinese New Year just around the corner, wealthy families in the county will inevitably hold banquets to entertain guests. If they can display a whole bear, that would be a matter of great prestige.

Bear bile is a valuable medicinal material, bear paws are a delicacy, and although bear meat is a bit coarse, it can be made into cured meat or smoked meat and still fetch a good price.

But...

Manager Sun glanced at Yang Xiaoniu and held up five fingers: "Fifty taels, I'll take the whole thing."

Yang Xiaoniu frowned: "Manager Sun, this price... is far too low. In previous years, a complete bear pelt alone could sell for thirty or forty taels. Bear gallbladders were twenty-five taels, four bear paws were at least twenty taels, and the meat and other ingredients would add up to at least one hundred and fifty taels or more. Your fifty taels, isn't that a bit too much of a bargaining tactic..."

"Hey, you can't say that," Manager Sun said slowly, fanning himself. "Selling it whole saves you trouble, doesn't it? No need to cut it up, no need to sell it in smaller quantities, I'll pay in full at once."

Besides, the bear skin has holes everywhere, so its quality is poor. And since the bear meat was frozen, who knows if the inside is any good?

What if there's bruising or an unpleasant odor? Wouldn't I be at a loss? Fifty taels is already a discount considering our years of friendship.

Yang Erniu listened from the side, his face turning red with anger. He felt that Manager Sun was talking nonsense. Even if the meat was not fresh and the fur was ruined, it shouldn't be worth only fifty taels.

He was about to say he wouldn't sell it anymore when Yang Xiaoniu stopped him with a look.

"Manager Sun," Yang Xiaoniu said in a deep voice, "this cut is a minor injury; it can be repaired with a scaffold and won't cause any problems. Besides, the bear died yesterday, so the meat is quite fresh and definitely has no off-putting smell. How about one hundred taels?"

"One hundred taels?" Manager Sun scoffed. "Hunter Yang, you've got quite the nerve. Fifty-five taels at most, not a penny more."

"If you don't sell, take it away. Look around this Qingshi County, who else can afford to eat a whole bear?"

That's the truth.

In Qingshi County, "Kexianglai" is the largest restaurant, and only Manager Sun has the financial resources and ambition to collect whole wild animals.

I simply couldn't eat at other small restaurants or butcher shops.

Yang Xiaoniu's face darkened.

He knew Manager Sun would try to lower the price, but he didn't expect him to do it so drastically.

Fifty-five taels...

If they really sold it at that price, they would lose a fortune.

It's better to keep it for ourselves.

This bear weighs 500 jin (250 catties).

That's enough to eat for more than half a year.

However, they were all short of money.

Thinking of this, Yang Xiaoniu still wanted to try.

"Manager Sun, let's discuss this again..."

"No discussion." Manager Sun waved his hand, turned around and was about to leave. "Fifty-five taels. If you want to sell, unload the goods now. If not, don't block my back door."

The atmosphere was tense when suddenly the sound of horses' hooves came from the other end of the alley.

A blue cloth carriage slowly approached, pulled by two horses with glossy coats and synchronized gaits—clearly fine horses.

The carriage was simple but exquisitely crafted, with thick blue velvet curtains embroidered with subtle patterns at the edges.

The carriage stopped not far from the back door. The curtain was lifted, and a young man in brocade robes leaned out.