“Tw... twenty wen per jin!” The countryman spoke a bit embarrassedly. In his eyes, twenty wen per jin was already an astronomical price—this amount could practically buy a whole dou of grain.

“No problem, bring the money!” Mr. Clark didn’t bargain at all and immediately instructed the housemaid behind him. After all, at this time in previous years, the price of lotus root was much higher than this. Twenty wen per jin for fresh vegetables was already very cheap.

The servants of the Pei household immediately took out two hundred wen and handed it to the stall. Seeing the two hundred copper coins placed before them, the two countrymen behind the stall, as well as the woman who did the cooking, all showed looks of surprise. They probably hadn’t expected to sell so much so easily. But in the end, the countryman suddenly gave a bitter smile and said, “Sir, I can’t sell it to you!”

Chapter 7: Hidden Worries Beneath a Bright Future

Mr. Clark had finally come across such a new kind of vegetable, and even more rare, it was so delicious. So he was ready to buy ten jin at once. After all, the Pei household was large and prosperous, with many ladies and young masters—buying too little simply wouldn’t be enough. As for money, that was never a concern. Would the grand Prime Minister’s residence ever lack money? What he never expected was that the other party would actually say they couldn’t sell to him.

“Why can’t you sell to me? Are you not planning to do business?” Mr. Clark said, his expression turning a bit unpleasant.

“You misunderstand, sir. It’s because we didn’t grow many bean sprouts this time—altogether, there are only a little over ten jin. And our master said that the main purpose of coming to the city this time is to make bean sprouts famous, so we can only supply a limited amount. Each person can buy at most one jin per time!” The countryman selling vegetables explained apologetically. He was William Foster Sr., and with him were his brother-in-law David Bolton and his wife, who did the cooking. As for the cooking method, it was naturally taught to her by Henry Thompson.

Mr. Clark was taken aback by William Foster Sr.’s words, but then immediately understood the master’s intentions. Clearly, the master had big ambitions. By limiting the supply, more people could taste the delicious bean sprouts, and the next time they sold them, there would surely be even more buyers. It seemed the master really knew how to do business.

Although Pei Ji held a high position and great power, he was very strict with the household servants, never allowing them to use the Pei family’s name to bully the common people. But one jin was really too little. Mr. Clark thought for a moment, then suddenly had an idea and pointed to the two servants behind him: “There are three of us here. If each of us buys one jin, that should be allowed, right?”

Although William Foster Sr. was a farmer, he had some sense. He knew that although Mr. Clark was dressed as a servant, when he came forward to ask the price, the people around didn’t dare approach. It was obvious that his master must be a very famous person in the city, so he didn’t dare offend him too much. Hearing the suggestion, he nodded and weighed out three jin of bean sprouts for them, finally receiving sixty wen.

After Mr. Clark finished buying, those who had tasted the sample earlier surged forward, each buying a jin, and the ten-plus jin of bean sprouts were quickly sold out. When the bean sprouts were gone, those who hadn’t managed to buy any still surrounded William Foster Sr. and his group, not letting them leave. This made the three both happy and helpless. They loudly promised to come back in three days to sell more bean sprouts, and that there would definitely be enough to satisfy everyone. Just then, the market constable arrived, finally allowing William Foster Sr. and his group to get away.

On the way back, William Foster Sr. and David Bolton pushed the wheelbarrow, walking and excitedly discussing the day. His wife was even more excited, sitting on the cart and holding a bag in her arms, counting the copper coins inside one by one. Although it wasn’t the first time she’d seen so many coins, it was the first time she’d earned so much so easily. When Henry Thompson had borrowed some beans from her family before, she’d been a bit reluctant, though she hadn’t dared say so. She never expected that those beans, worth barely a few wen, would turn into over three hundred wen in a single transaction. If this business could continue, how much could they earn?

When good things happen, spirits are high. William Foster Sr. and his group walked with a spring in their step, and what usually took an hour only took them a little over half an hour to return. At this time, Henry Thompson and several other tenant farmers were waiting in William Foster Sr.’s courtyard. When William Foster Sr.’s wife put the bag of coins on the table and the sound of copper coins clinking rang out, a look of relief appeared on Henry Thompson’s face as well. After coming to the Tang Dynasty, he had finally solved the problem of putting food on the table.

“Master, you should have seen how people were buying today! At first, no one paid us any attention, but as soon as my wife finished stir-frying the bean sprouts, people immediately crowded around, all scrambling to buy. When we sold out, they still wouldn’t let us leave, and it was only when the constable came that we could get away!” William Foster Sr. excitedly recounted the day’s experience selling bean sprouts to Henry Thompson. In all his years, it was the first time he’d ever been surrounded and welcomed by so many people. Beside him, David Bolton was telling the other tenant farmers the details of their experience, causing them all to gasp in amazement, clearly unused to such excitement.