Chapter 250

In Li Wen’s rambling, the villagers clearly understood.

In the prefectural city, there were refugees everywhere. Not only did they lack silver to buy, but there were also groups of people who could potentially resort to robbery at any time.

Even the households in the prefectural city were not living well. Those who had some silver prioritized buying grain; who would be willing to spend it on wild game?

Their bellies were not very well-off either. With silver in hand, why would they buy lean rabbit meat instead of pork? It was simply impossible.

Selling by the roadside not only carried great risks but also often yielded no sales.

Even if onlookers knew that the goods had been sold, they couldn’t help but worry upon hearing this.

Next, they heard Hu Wenhua lead everyone in various circles, arriving at the side door of a wealthy household—apparently, these households had many doors, not everyone could enter through the main gate.

Li Wen knew this from his work assistance in the prefectural city. However, he always coordinated with the steward and never dealt with kitchen procurement. Moreover, each time he assisted, the wage was agreed upon upfront—agree to work or scram. He had no idea how to price rabbits, negotiate, or even provide benefits to kitchen procurers.

Yes, benefits for kitchen procurers!

Otherwise, why would anyone buy from you?

Even if their rabbits were fat and tender, it wasn’t for them to eat, it was for their masters!

If there was no rabbit meat, there was still lamb, pork, chicken, duck, goose, wild boar, wild rabbit, and pheasant—there was no shortage of options!

“Our rabbits, fat ones, are priced at one hundred twenty-three wen, and smaller ones at just over one hundred wen, plus we keep the rabbit skins.” Wild rabbits from the mountains varied in size, with prices ranging from fifty to ten wen, but the largest wild rabbits usually weighed only two to three catties, while theirs weighed a full six to seven catties!

It was normal for meat to be more expensive with more quantity.

Finally hearing the price of the rabbit, the onlookers collectively gasped.

Strange!

“It’s more expensive than the price of an old laying hen!” A laying hen weighing over two catties could sell for seventy to eighty wen.

Although it was much lighter than the rabbits they raised, once fed to maturity, they wouldn’t grow much meat, right?

It’s not like they weren’t fed!

Moreover, the chicken feed had to be mixed with rice and grains. They certainly wouldn’t be willing to feed them, but they had to give some bran; after all, when people were hungry in a disaster year, they could also eat it, so it counted as a cost.

To get them to lay more eggs, they even had to occasionally dig up earthworms and catch large green caterpillars.

From hatching to egg-laying, more chicks often died than survived, all of which were costs.

Compared to feeding rabbits, it was not at all easier, even more troublesome!

“Raising rabbits is good, raising rabbits is good!”

“Oh right, what about the rabbit skins?”

Mentioning rabbit skins made Li Wen even happier.

Hu Wenhua said that it wasn’t possible to go back and forth to sell a few rabbit skins again, and they were factored into the rabbit’s price, so the above price was a discounted one.

“Sold! The people who buy rabbit skins said that it’s too hot now, and rabbit skins won’t fetch a good price. If it comes around late autumn, a rabbit skin could sell for over thirty wen, but now it can only fetch twenty-three wen.”

The crowd opened their mouths wide in surprise.

They had initially thought that getting a dozen wen for rabbit skins would be good enough, but they hadn’t expected to fetch twenty-three wen!

This time, there was no need for copper gongs; the scene was unusually quiet.

“Those procurers said that if there’s any next time, we can still deliver them.”

“The cost of entering the city has gone up again. It’s now four copper plates per person, and even the cart costs money!”

“The prefectural city has gotten quite chaotic again. Let’s each go home and assess our grain reserves and the rabbits that will be ready for market. Calculate how long it will take for a trip. If we decide not to sell the grain, we should bring fewer carts.”

Taking advantage of the quiet moment, Li Wen quickly said everything he wanted to say.

Surely there were sensible people among them who would inform their families upon returning home. Even if they themselves didn’t know, they could ask around the neighbors.

The old village chief took the opportunity to say, “This time Hu Wenhua helped us out, we should thank him properly. But empty words won’t do. Let’s discuss it again when we get back.”

Before, when things hadn’t worked out, they were afraid the villagers might object if they talked about rewards. Now that things were settled, it was appropriate to bring it up.

“Yes, the old village chief is right!” A man who had come along loudly agreed.

Having witnessed the disorder in the prefectural city, they understood the difference having Hu Wenhua with them made—without him leading the way, they wouldn’t even be sure if they could safely bring the rabbits back, let alone sell them.

They were also more appreciative of the old village chief, who had thought ahead about who to send.

At first, the onlookers might not have been pleased, but after hearing Li Wen’s words, they fully understood how difficult it was to sell these rabbits!

In any case, they couldn’t sell them on their own, and even if they did manage to sell them, they wouldn’t fetch such a price.

Furthermore, with a steady supply of rabbits to sell in the future, they were assured of a real income, so they all cooperated with the old village chief: “The old village chief is right!”

“We can’t just thank him verbally. Let’s discuss it when we get back.”

“Thank you so much, Brother Wenhua! Don’t worry, we won’t let you go for nothing.”

After all, he wasn’t from their village, and he didn’t eat or drink from their household. Why should he help them sell rabbits?

Moreover, selling once was enough. If they didn’t go later, they wouldn’t be able to speak up again.

What if those procurers only recognized Hu Wenhua? There had to be back-and-forth, not to mention, he deserved adequate compensation for his efforts.

Hu Wenhua just smiled and didn’t decline politely.

He understood in his heart that helping once was an assistance, but doing it many times would become an obligation. If he didn’t go once, it might be seen as his fault.

It was better to negotiate the price from the beginning.

The villagers earned money selling rabbits, and he earned money by running errands to sell goods—both sides benefited.

If he found other ways to earn money in the future and didn’t go to sell rabbits in the prefectural city, they wouldn’t say anything. After all, both parties fulfilled their part.

He didn’t think there was anything wrong with receiving money. Earning silver through diligence and wit wasn’t shameful.

Fan Erzhu and his companions didn’t expect Hu Wenhua to accompany them on a trip, and they were already feeling uneasy about discussing compensation after just thanking him verbally.

Hu Wenhua didn’t raise rabbits, nor was he from their village. He was simply called along by the old village chief to go to the prefectural city. But now, after Li Wen’s words, they were talking about paying him for his trouble?

What trouble did he have?

Ask around the whole village—whose son wouldn’t want to go to the prefectural city? Even if it’s dangerous outside, which of those kids would be afraid?

They only found it exciting and novel!

In their view, Hu Wenhua had been cooped up at second aunt’s house for too long and wanted to get some fresh air.

To their surprise, he could even earn money along the way. Heaven really wasn’t fair.

As the crowd dispersed, Hu Wenhua, Fan Jin, and a few others who came to meet them returned home together.

The rest of them, lively and bustling, crowded around the old village chief’s yard to discuss rewards.

Fan Erzhu and his group found their own fathers and silently returned home.

Even the Hu family could earn some income.

Everyone else was earning money, but they were the only ones who weren’t.