Chapter 283: Seesaw Struggle
Editor: Atlas Studios
However, Mu Yangling still heard it. Seeing Ding Er run back, Mu Yangling said with a smile, “Master Hu, you won’t be able to finish eating so many sheep even if you buy them back. Why don’t you just buy a hundred of them?”
Bowen knew that his sister was afraid that the other party would not be able to pay if he bought too much, so he quickly agreed. “That’s right. You still have to provide fodder for so many sheep. Do you have enough fodder at home?”
Hu Cai also heaved a sigh of relief, but his face was filled with anger. He said arrogantly, “I have plenty of money. In short, before this deal is completed, I won’t allow you to discuss other deals.”
Was he trying to thwart their business? Mu Yangling turned her head to look at Butcher Qin and gestured with her hand by her side.
Butcher Qin thought that he had seen wrongly because this gesture was only used by butchers. It was most likely invented to help them communicate when it was inconvenient to speak while they were slaughtering pigs or entertaining guests.
Seeing that he was staring at the hand beside her, Mu Yangling thought that he wanted to increase the price. After some thought, two fingers became three.
Three taels of silver wasn’t considered low, right? He was just putting on an act with her, after all.
This time, Butcher Qin saw it clearly. Without thinking, he gestured in agreement, but he was puzzled. Was this girl’s family also in this line of work?
Satisfied, Mu Yangling turned to look at Hu Cai and pondered for a long time before reluctantly agreeing.
Overjoyed, Hu Cai went forward and kicked his thugs to get them up quickly. Other than two who got up without hurting their legs, the other two were powerless.
Although Hu Cai felt that it was detrimental to his prestige, he also knew how much strength Mu Yangling had used just now. They had really spat out a mouthful of blood earlier, so he could only let them lie on the ground.
“Master Hu, do you plan to choose immediately, or wait for your servant to bring the money over before choosing?”
Hu Cai snorted. “I want to choose now.”
He took two steps and hissed a few times. Feeling that his crotch still hurt, he instructed the two thugs, “Go in and choose. Pick the big ones for me.”
The two thugs were very willing to do this job that made Mu Yangling grit her teeth, but the key was that they couldn’t do it. One of them had his hand twisted and dislocated, and the other had been kicked in the stomach and was now walking with his back bent.
Mu Yangling rolled up her sleeves and got Zhang Wu to bring a long stick to Hu Cai. “Point and I’ll catch it for you.”
Hu Cai was excited. He did not expect to be able to order Mu Yangling around.
Bowen and Xiuhong looked at him as if they were looking at a fool. They took the rope and planned to put it on the sheep after their sister caught it.
Zhang Liu and Zhang Wu hurriedly rolled up their sleeves and wanted to help. Before Mu Yangling could wave her hand, Hu Cai instructed unhappily, “The two of you are not allowed to enter. I’ll want Miss Mu to catch them for me.”
Mu Yangling bared her white teeth, but Hu Cai was shocked by her smile. His aura fell and he muttered, “You mentioned it first.”
“I was the one who mentioned it first, so don’t worry, Master Hu. I promise to catch whichever one you point at. However, you only have three chances to order me to catch any one sheep. Don’t deliberately point at the wrong place and say that it’s not what you want. After three times, I’ll simply randomly catch one for you. No matter how big or small it is, you have to agree.”
Hu Cai immediately choked. He had wanted to do this previously, but he did not expect Mu Yangling to make a rule in advance.
In the face of power, Hu Cai had no choice but to admit it. However, he did not let Mu Yangling relax. Every time, he had to specially reselect once or twice.
After Mu Yangling caught the 100 sheep, Zhang Wu and Zhang Liu tied them up with ropes. At this moment, Ding Er was already standing at the side with two bags of silver.
“These 100 sheep cost a total of 450 taels. How about it? Does Master Hu want to buy 500 taels worth of sheep?” Mu Yangling asked.
Hu Cai was stunned. Only then did he realize that he had spent 450 taels in just the blink of an eye. This was impossible in the past.
However, looking at the sheep all over the ground in front of him, he could not bring himself to go back on his word. He could only pinch his nose and admit it. “It’s merely 450 taels. Ding Er, give her the silver.”
“Master, out of these 450 taels of silver, more than half of it is from the rent collected this year. If Old Madam finds out…”
Hu Cai glared at Ding Er. “You dare to disobey me?”
Ding Er could only count out 450 taels of silver to Mu Yangling sullenly.
Ten silver pieces worth 20 taels of silver each, four silver pieces worth 50 taels of silver each, and five silver pieces worth 10 taels of silver were handed over to Mu Yangling.
After verifying that there were no mistakes, Mu Yangling placed it in the bag.
The villagers looked at Mu Yangling with envy, jealousy, and hatred.
Mu Yangling clenched her fists at Hu Cai and said, “Please forgive me for offending you just now. However, it’s best not to do anything immoral in the future. Think of it as accumulating some good deeds for yourself. After all, you still have to live in this village for 40 to 50 years.”
Hu Cai was stunned. He was already 27 years old this year. How did this person know that he could live past 70?
One had to know that being able to live past 60 years old was already considered a long life.
The servants of the Hu Family supported Hu Cai and herded the flock of sheep home. When they reached home, Hu Cai’s rationality completely returned. As he looked at the sheep at home, he completely regretted it.
How was he going to sell so many sheep?
He had originally planned to buy it for two taels of silver and sell it for four taels of silver each. He could still earn twice as much, but now, after buying it for 4 taels 500 copper coins each, could he sell it for five taels?
Even if he was willing to sell it, no one was willing to buy it.
At this moment, Zhang Wu and Zhang Liu had already evacuated the villagers. Mu Yangling invited Butcher Qin into the house to talk.
Mu Yangling first gave Butcher Qin the reward of three taels of silver. Speaking of which, these three taels of silver were meant to keep Butcher Qin.
Butcher Qin naturally knew, but he still had doubts in his heart. He asked, “Are there butchers in Miss Mu’s family?”
Mu Yangling was stunned for a moment before she replied with a smile, “No, but my family used to be hunters and relied on hunting for a living.”
Since hunters and butchers interacted the most, Butcher Qin smiled with understanding. “No wonder Miss Mu knows about these gestures.” With that said, he said seriously, “Miss Mu, since you’re familiar with butchers, you should know that we’re only earning hard-earned money. To be honest, I can’t buy so many sheep alone, so I have to find two friends to join me. You have to lower the price for me.”
Mu Yangling thought for a moment and said, “Then 27 copper coins per catty?” Seeing Butcher Qin’s calm expression, Mu Yangling said with a smile, “Uncle Qin, I’m only earning a small profit, too. Now, the price of mutton in Xingyuan Prefecture is 56 copper coins per catty. Even if the supply you provide to the eatery is cheaper, it definitely won’t be lower than 52 copper coins, right?”
Butcher Qin was stunned for a moment before he smiled and said, “So Miss Mu has found out everything. However, you should know that it’s already not bad for a sheep that weighs about 120 catties to weigh 70 catties after being slaughtered. In other words, I can only earn 400 copper coins per sheep.”
Mu Yangling smiled. “These sheep of mine are all fat. Do you think a live sheep weighing 120 catties can’t produce 80 catties of meat?”