Chapter 23: The True First Bucket of Gold
Wang Youdao intervened abruptly, and although this left many fur traders disgruntled, there was little they could do about it.
After all, Wang Youdao’s status spoke for itself. Moreover, rumor had it that he was currying favor with a truly eminent figure lately—who would dare challenge him now?
At the Li Yuanjing household, after sipping a few mouthfuls of tea, Wang Youdao wasted no time and dove straight into negotiations.
“Yuanjing, between you and me, your Uncle Wang won’t mince words. Let’s not discuss anything else, just this grey-white wolf king—if it were sold in the capital, it might fetch several hundred taels of silver at least.”
“But,”
“You know, Yuanjing, accounts aren’t always so straightforward.”
“For this grey-white wolf king, I’ll offer eighty taels of silver. What do you think?”
“Eighty taels?” Li Yuanjing was taken aback. Not only was that a hefty sum for their era, but even in later times it would be a substantial amount.
Li Yuanjing had hoped to negotiate with the fur merchants for sixty or seventy taels, which would have sufficed.
He hadn’t expected Wang Youdao to be so generous.
Yet, Li Yuanjing quickly realized the rumors were likely true. Wang Youdao must be seeking to please the important figure he’d met—the nobleman he’d encountered when selling fish in the county.
Wang Youdao intended to use the wolf king to curry favor with that distinguished patron.
At this moment, Wang Youdao was showing Li Yuanjing considerable respect. How could Li Yuanjing not reciprocate?
He promptly clasped his hands respectfully and said, “Uncle Wang, your kindness to your nephew is unforgettable! Let this be the price. Oh, yes, Uncle Wang, please wait a moment!”
As he spoke, Li Yuanjing retrieved a small package from a battered cabinet and handed it to Wang Youdao with a smile: “Uncle Wang, these are the white sugar candies I bought earlier. I was going to sell them to you when I needed money, but now, I’ll simply gift them to you.”
Wang Youdao examined the oil-paper package—the sugar was clearly of fine quality. Stroking his beard, he laughed: “A promising youth indeed, a promising youth.”
Li Yuanjing grinned sheepishly and added, “Uncle Wang, your nephew has one more matter that may require your assistance…”
“Oh?” Wang Youdao’s eyes narrowed, “Speak freely.”
Li Yuanjing smiled honestly and said,
“Uncle Wang, although we agreed on this price, could you tell others that the grey-white wolf king was sold for fifty taels?”
“Also, Uncle Wang, I only need seventy taels in cash. Could you give me the remaining ten taels in copper coins?”
Wang Youdao’s old eyes narrowed further, looking at Li Yuanjing with greater admiration. “That can be arranged.”
Soon, Li Yuanjing and Wang Youdao concluded their transaction. Li Yuanjing now held seventy gleaming taels of silver and ten thousand copper coins.
When Wang Youdao went out to spread the word, Jade Girl was so overwhelmed with excitement that she could barely stand, staring at Li Yuanjing in disbelief. “Brother, these silver taels, these coins—are they really ours?”
Li Yuanjing laughed heartily, planted a kiss on Jade Girl’s cheek, and said, “Is there any doubt?”
“Jade Girl, hurry and put the silver away. Also, divide the copper coins into portions of one hundred each. I’ll be out to socialize.”
“Yes, Brother!” Jade Girl, her cheeks flushed, hurriedly began to gather and sort the coins as if she were a thief.
Outside, Li Yuanjing found that Wang Youdao had already announced the news. Everyone knew Li Yuanjing had sold just the wolf king for fifty taels of silver.
For a moment, everyone looked at Li Yuanjing with unspeakable envy and jealousy—wishing they could exchange places with him.
Unfortunately, that was clearly impossible.
Wang Youdao, being a considerate man, took only the grey-white wolf king, leaving the other three wolves with Li Yuanjing.
Li Yuanjing resumed bargaining with the fur traders.
Ultimately, he sold the three wolves for another fifteen taels.
Altogether, Li Yuanjing now held nearly a hundred taels in cash—a leap from refugee to local gentry.
But this was merely gross profit, with expenses yet to be deducted.
Once the fur merchants departed and Jade Girl finished dividing the copper coins, Li Yuanjing began distributing rewards to the villagers who had helped the previous night.
“Wow!”
“Scholar Li is truly generous, so generous!”
“I always said, in the end, it’s the scholars who succeed. Yuanjing will surely become a top scholar.”
“You know nothing! I knew from the day Yuanjing was born that he had the look of a favored one…”
Soon, the villagers who had helped erupted in excitement, each praising Li Yuanjing, eager for others to know they had always believed in him.
Jade Girl instantly became the darling of the village women.
Their flattery was even more unabashed than the men’s, nearly elevating Jade Girl to a heavenly fairy, blessed with exquisite fortune.
Yet, between the lines, they subtly hinted their hope that their own husbands might one day become long-term workers in Li Yuanjing’s household.
Jade Girl was clearly unaccustomed to such attention, her face quickly turning crimson as she rushed to Li Yuanjing for rescue.
Li Yuanjing, meanwhile, received many requests from villagers wanting to become his long-term workers. He clapped his hands, signaling for silence.
Immediately, everyone quieted, eyes fixed expectantly on Li Yuanjing.
Even the old village chief couldn’t help but marvel—when he tried to speak, the villagers never behaved so obediently.
“Everyone, fellow villagers, since you all hold me in such regard, I cannot fail to honor it. If you wish to become my long-term workers, I welcome it wholeheartedly.”
“However, I have not yet decided what business to pursue. Once I have, I will let everyone know.”
“Furthermore, each will be paid no less than two hundred copper coins per month. How does that sound?”
“Wow.”
“Yuanjing, I’ve not doted on you in vain!”
“Yuanjing, I always knew you were a grateful soul…”
The crowd erupted once more, waves of praise surging toward Li Yuanjing.
Li Yuanjing was not stingy. He immediately gave Zhang Kun five taels of silver, instructing him to take a dozen strong men to the town to buy grain, meat, and some daily necessities.
Anyone who went would receive a pound of grain.
This caused another stir, and a group set off toward the town in high spirits.
Once they left, the commotion outside Li Yuanjing’s home finally subsided.
Li Yuanjing then pulled Zhang Kun’s sisters, Big Ya and Second Ya, into the house.
He took out six hundred copper coins, giving each three hundred, saying, “Big Ya, Second Ya, you helped me greatly last night. Take these coins.”
“Huh?”
“Brother Yuanjing, we get some too? But… but that’s too much…”
Big Ya and Second Ya were frightened. Never in their lives had they held so many coins—they were at a loss.
Li Yuanjing signaled to Jade Girl.
She understood and went to comfort the two young women.
After a while, the girls finally accepted the coins, tearfully kneeling and bowing deeply to Li Yuanjing.
After sending them off, Jade Girl could no longer contain herself. She threw herself into Li Yuanjing’s arms, her tears streaming, choking out, “Brother, pinch me, please—am I dreaming?”