Mist Plane. Jug Inn.
The inn was built of brick and stood five meters tall. A hired squad of five guards patrolled the grounds, their sharp eyes scanning the people inside.
The inn itself was a three-story building, with a tavern on the first floor and guest rooms on the second and third.
Spring had arrived, and the trees at the inn had sprouted tender green buds, a cheerful sight.
Fukangxi was inspecting the goods with Steward Halu.
Steward Halu was a short, stout middle-aged man and a trusted subordinate of Fukangxi's father. He handled management with ease and was in his element when dealing with the city's grocers, nearby residents, and lower- and middle-ranking officials.
The Jug Inn had quickly become established. Since the Four-Sided Merchant Guild happened to have come to assess the situation as well, business was good.
With results like these, Fukangxi was very pleased with Halu. It would take him ten years of study to match Halu's practical business skills. Had he not been his father's son, he would never have been put in charge of the inn.
Still, Fukangxi understood that the diligent Halu worked only for his father. If Fukangxi defied his father's wishes, Halu could immediately take control.
Just then, Halu held a list in his hand and scanned the goods on the cart. "This caravan brought along beef, salted fish, sausages, ham, cheese..."
After checking everything, Halu said, "Good, the quantities match the list. Young master, we can buy flour locally. They had a bumper harvest last year!"
Fukangxi nodded. "Then let's move it all into the storeroom!"
The two of them worked together to carry all the goods into the storeroom. These would be the inn's luxury provisions for the next month.
Once they finished, Halu was also quite pleased