The key to haggling is convincing the seller you desperately want to buy but are short on funds, making them believe you’re offering your absolute limit.
In his past life as a poor student, Jin Feng had honed his bargaining skills, and his expression was perfectly convincing.
Seeing Jin Feng genuinely seem to back off, the madam grew anxious. “Mr. Jin, two hundred taels is far too little. How about borrowing from friends? I’ll take a loss, just three thousand taels!”
She still remembered Qing Mulian.
“Madam Zhou, you know I’m from Jinchuan. This is my first time in the county. I don’t know anyone to borrow from,” Jin Feng said, shaking his head in distress.
“If Mr. Jin really can’t manage, then so be it. Xiaobei’s my dearest girl, so she’ll stay with me,” the madam said with a helpless sigh, as their prices were too far apart. “I won’t disturb you further, sir.”
“I’ll be in Guangyuan for two more days. If you change your mind, Madam Zhou, come find me,” Jin Feng said, not pressing her, and escorted her out.
“Sir, she asked for five thousand taels, and you countered with two hundred. That’s ruthless!” Tie Chui said, giving a thumbs-up as the madam closed the door.
“You can’t offer a high price now, or she’ll feel she sold too cheap and cause trouble,” Jin Feng said. “Besides, two hundred taels isn’t small. You could buy several house slaves with that.”
“Sir, can house slaves compare to Miss Xiaobei?”
“Miss Xiaobei can’t carry or lift anything. She really can’t compare to a house slave.”
“Sir, aren’t you afraid Factory Manager Tang will fight you for saying that?”
“The current Tang Xiaobei is no longer Chunfeng House’s cash cow. Staying here, hardly anyone would dare choose her. The madam’s reluctance to sell is just her high expectations from before,” Jin Feng said. “We’ll wait two days. Once she realises keeping Xiaobei brings no profit, she’ll come to us.”
“Let’s hope so,” Tie Chui sighed, sitting by the window.
As Jin Feng predicted, that evening, despite the madam’s efforts to promote her, no one chose Tang Xiaobei. By closing time, the madam’s face was dark with frustration, and it remained so the next morning.
The flower queen contest had one final day, and Chunfeng House’s caravan set off amid the madam’s scolding. Jin Feng noticed Tang Xiaobei’s maid was also called away, her courtyard locked, with a burly man guarding the gate.
“Sir, is the madam guarding against us smuggling Miss Xiaobei out?” Tie Chui said angrily.
“Let her guard. How’s Miss Xiaobei?”
The more cautious the madam was, the more at ease Jin Feng felt. His only concern was her harming Tang Xiaobei.
“She came out of her room once and seemed fine,” Tie Chui replied.
“Good. With the madam gone, take a break,” Jin Feng said, picking up a thread-bound book to read with relish.
Books were the ladder of human progress. Though his host was a scholar, he’d had limited access to books. In the county, Jin Feng had bought many, now eagerly catching up on Dakang’s knowledge.
The flower queen contest, with fewer contestants remaining, progressed quickly. By mid-afternoon, Chunfeng House’s caravan returned.
“Sir, the contest results are out,” Tie Chui said, rushing in with gossip. “Green Willow won again this year. Chunfeng House is in a sorry state. Xiaobei was a contender for the title, but now they didn’t even make the top three, just one sixth-place finish.”
“No wonder the madam looked so grim,” Jin Feng said with a smile.
The madam was indeed shaken. That evening, she neither visited Jin Feng nor checked on Tang Xiaobei. The next day was the same.
On the third morning, when Jin Feng proposed settling his bill to return to Jinchuan, the madam finally couldn’t sit still. Tang Xiaobei’s night demon reputation had spread for three days, and despite the madam’s efforts, no guest would accept her. A girl everyone avoided, no matter how beautiful, was useless to Chunfeng House.
As Jin Feng settled the bill, the madam didn’t mention waiving it. Only after he paid did she approach, forcing a smile. “Leaving so soon, Mr. Jin? Why not stay a few more days?”
“I’ve got business in Jinchuan and can’t delay,” Jin Feng said, glancing longingly at Tang Xiaobei’s courtyard. “Madam Zhou, before I go, may I see Miss Xiaobei again?”
“I’ve thought it over these days. Xiaobei and I are like mother and daughter, and it’s rare for her to meet a good man like you. I can’t bear to break up a pair,” the madam sighed. “You’ve got two hundred taels, right? Buy her some clothes and shoes, and take her away.”
“Well…” Jin Feng scratched his head guiltily. “Sorry, Madam Zhou. Two days ago, I could’ve managed two hundred taels, but after settling the bill, I can only scrape together a hundred and eighty…”
*Cough, cough!* Tie Chui nearly burst out laughing, covering it with a cough.
The madam’s mouth twitched sharply. “Fine, a hundred and eighty taels it is. I love Xiaobei too much to haggle.”
“Thank you, Madam Zhou!” Jin Feng, fearing she’d change her mind, shouted to Tie Chui, “Go to the inn, get the money from my wife, and have Runniang buy Xiaobei some clothes to bring here.”
“Yes!” Tie Chui replied, dashing out of Chunfeng House.
“Please wait a moment, Mr. Jin. I’ll fetch Xiaobei’s contract,” the madam said with a curtsy, then left.
Fearing delays might cause issues, Tie Chui sprinted to the inn, got sixty taels from Guan Xiaorou as planned, and returned with Runniang at top speed. Brothels typically barred respectable women, but the guards, forewarned by the madam, let Runniang in.
In Tang Xiaobei’s courtyard, Jin Feng handed the madam the notes. “Madam Zhou, here’s a hundred and eighty taels. Please count.”
The madam, unceremoniously, licked her finger and counted twice, then tucked the notes away. “Madam Zhou, Xiaobei’s contract,” Jin Feng said.
“Right, almost forgot,” she said, pulling out a contract and a token. “Xiaobei’s in your care now, sir.”
“Of course,” Jin Feng replied absently, opening the contract.
Upon reading it, he laughed in exasperation.
