East Market or West Market?

Xu Mingyuan arrived at the gates of the Chen Household.

The servant on duty cupped his hands as soon as he saw him. "Second Young Master Xu, are you here to see the eldest young master or the master?"

The servants all knew that the Xu Household and the Chen Household were close and visited each other often.

"I'm here to see Uncle Ergou."

"Please follow me, Second Young Master Xu."

After five years of working with the Xu Household, the Chen Household had become one of the largest landowners in Dongxi Village.

Compared with his elder brother, a Second-Rate Martial Artist, Chen Ergou lived a far more comfortable life.

His elder brother, Chen Daming, had married a wealthy merchant's daughter, but he had little talent for earning money and even less for business.

Two years earlier, he had borrowed a considerable sum from his father and father-in-law, then pulled strings to become a Yamen Runner in Qingjiang County.

The position let him skim a little off the top now and then, but the pickings were nothing special.

Sometimes, he even borrowed money from Chen Ergou.

At last, Chen Ergou no longer cowered before his elder brother. He could stand tall.

Of course, it would be a different story if Chen Daming became a First-Class Martial Artist.

But he had reached forty, and his potential was long exhausted. A Second-Rate Martial Artist was as far as he would ever go.

That was why he had found a way into the Qingjiang County yamen.

It was an iron rice bowl, at least. A secure livelihood.

By now, the Chen Household's grounds had been renovated, with a new courtyard built.

The property covered half as much land again as the Xu Household's.

They had hired an accountant, servants, and maids as well.

They looked every inch the landed gentry.

Xu Mingyuan followed the servant inside and looked around. Uncle Ergou certainly knew how to enjoy himself. I haven't been here for a month or two, and he's added another osmanthus tree and a rockery.

In the front courtyard.

Chen Daniu was practicing martial arts at home. When he spotted Xu Mingyuan, he stopped at once and came over with a grin. "What brings you here?"

After Xu Mingyuan had begun learning martial arts, Chen Daniu had asked his own father to let him do the same.

Seeing everyone in the Xu Household training, Chen Ergou had sent him to a Martial Arts Hall too.

Chen Daming had acquaintances at the Black Tiger Martial Arts School. As his nephew, Chen Daniu would receive some consideration, at least.

But whether he succeeded in martial arts depended on him.

Fortunately, unlike Chen Ergou, Chen Daniu had perseverance.

He rose to train at cockcrow and did not rest until midnight.

With his family sparing no expense on his training, Chen Daniu's strength was approaching Xu Mingyuan's. Becoming a Third-Rate Martial Artist in another two or three years would be no problem, and he had a chance of becoming a Second-Rate Martial Artist before thirty.

"Come on, A Yuan," Chen Daniu said. "I hardly ever see you when I'm home. Let's spar."

"I won't lose to you now."

"Next time. I have something important to discuss with Uncle Ergou today."

Xu Mingyuan smiled. Setting aside that distant aunt of his, whose branch had long since passed beyond the five degrees of kinship, the Chen father and son were quite to his liking.

One matter was one matter and another was another. Xu Mingyuan kept them separate.

After all, Xu Chuan had set that example for them.

"You're here for my dad? All right, then. But if you keep getting distracted like this, I'll overtake you sooner or later."

"Heh, what's the point of comparing yourself to me? I only started training because my dad made me. If you want a contest, take on my big brother. My talent for the Martial Way is nowhere near his."

"I'm not stupid. You're the one I'm comparing myself to!"

Xu Mingyuan was left speechless by Chen Daniu's look of supreme cleverness. He waved a hand. "I won't interrupt your training. We'll talk later."

He then followed the servant into the inner courtyard.

"A Yuan, what brings you here?"

Chen Ergou's face lit up when he saw him. He waved the servant away.

The servant cupped his hands, left the inner courtyard, and returned to his post at the main gate.

"You've come about something, haven't you? Come on, let's talk in my study."

They entered the study, where a row of shelves was packed with books.

Seeing Xu Mingyuan glance at them, Chen Ergou explained with a smile, "They're just for show. You know Uncle Ergou doesn't have much ink in his belly. I can only make the place look scholarly."

"The more I think about it, the more certain I am that Brother Chuan was right to have you children study and practice writing from a young age, even after you began training in martial arts."

"Unlike my Daniu. He's thrown himself into the Martial Way completely."

"He's probably forgotten most of what he learned at school those few years."

"Sit, A Yuan."

Chen Ergou invited Xu Mingyuan to sit, then asked, "Would you like some tea?"

"No, thanks. I just finished breakfast."

Xu Mingyuan smiled. "Uncle Ergou, don't sell Daniu short. He's doing well. His achievements in the Martial Way will surely surpass his eldest uncle's."

"Of course." Chen Ergou looked pleased with himself. "I've spent plenty of silver on that boy. If he didn't have something to show for it, all that money would've gone to waste!"

"Enough chatting. What did you come to see me about?"

Chen Ergou poured himself a cup of tea, picked it up, and took a sip.

"Uncle Ergou, you mentioned opening a shop in the county seat to my dad before, didn't you?"

"That's right. Has your dad agreed?"

Xu Mingyuan nodded. "My dad supports opening a shop too. There's only so much room to grow in Dongxi Village. The Xu Household will be centered in the Qingjiang County Seat from now on."

"Is that so?" Delight spread across Chen Ergou's face. "Then let's put our heads together and work out how to open this shop."

"There's no need, Uncle Ergou."

"What do you mean?" Chen Ergou paused and stared at Xu Mingyuan in surprise.

At thirteen, the childishness was gradually fading from Xu Mingyuan's face. There was a touch of spirit in his features, and a touch of confidence.

"Qingjiang County isn't like the countryside. It's full of officials and powerful families. If our households go in together and something happens, years of work from both of us could be lost."

"So I suggest we keep them separate."

"You mean each household opens and runs its own shop?"

Xu Mingyuan nodded.

Chen Ergou fell into thought.

The past few years had tempered him. He was no longer a novice, and he had his own judgment in business.

"That could work. The Qingjiang County Seat is the wealthiest and largest among the nearby counties. The market for fruit and vegetables is big. As long as we don't set up too close to each other, we won't hurt each other's business, and we can both make the most profit."

Seeing that Chen Ergou was coming around, Xu Mingyuan said, "Then let's settle it that way, Uncle Ergou. Dad has put me in full charge of the Xu Household's fruit and vegetable shop in the Qingjiang County Seat. I still have a lot to take care of."

"The Qingjiang County Seat has crouching tigers and hidden dragons. I'll need to plan carefully too."

Xu Mingyuan took his leave. As he came out of the inner courtyard, Xu Yan happened to step out of her room and saw him.

She frowned slightly and went into the study. "That was A Yuan just now, wasn't it? What did he want? Was he here to discuss working together on the fruit and vegetable shop in Qingjiang County?"

"That's right," Chen Ergou said. "But after weighing everything, I've decided we should keep our businesses separate."

"Each household will open its own shop."

"We can't keep using the Xu Household's name for everything we do."

"That's true, but as things stand..."

Xu Yan started to say more, but Chen Ergou raised a hand to stop her. "That's enough. It's settled. Let's work out our own shop plans."

She sighed inwardly. It seems the Xu Household doesn't want to work with us anymore.

So be it. Now we won't have to hold back. We can spread our wings.

"Dear, do you think we should open our shop in the East Market or the West Market?" Chen Ergou asked. "The East Market has more officials and wealthy families, while the West Market is mostly ordinary folk."

"The East Market, of course. It's thriving, and we'll earn more there."

At the Xu Household.

"Dad, should we open our shop in the East Market or the West Market? The East Market, I think. We've been selling there already, so we have a foothold."

After some thought, Xu Mingyuan spoke to Xu Chuan.

Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "A Yuan, selling from a stall and opening a shop aren't quite the same."

"Once you open a shop, you put down roots. The East Market is thriving. You can charge more and make a higher profit, but behind all that prosperity lies a tangled web of interests."

"You favor the West Market, Dad?"

Xu Chuan nodded. "Today, I'll tell you what a supermarket is."

He began to explain. Xu Mingyuan was bright and quick-minded. He understood Xu Chuan's meaning at once and started building on the idea.

"In the West Market, the Xu Household could buy fruit and vegetables from independent growers and sell them under our own name. We could classify our own produce as premium, price it much higher, and keep it distinct."

"We could also work with growers who don't want to sell to us. We'd provide them space and charge a little rent."

"With Jade Pears as our golden signboard, the Xu Household can easily make a name for itself.

Once we have a name, we'll draw a crowd.

That'll boost sales of the fruit and vegetables we buy from ordinary growers and bring in even more independent sellers."

"Like a snowball, growing bigger and bigger as it rolls."

After that nudge, something seemed to click for Xu Mingyuan. His eyes grew brighter and brighter, as though he had discovered a new world.

"Dad, I'll head to the Qingjiang County Seat right now to discuss partnerships and choose a shop location. I won't be back for the next few days."

"Go on." Xu Chuan smiled. "Take Zhou Ming, Zhao Dalong, and the others. Remember to play it safe. Better to go without than settle for less."

"Yes, Dad."

Xu Mingyuan collected several thousand taels' worth of banknotes from Bai Jing, gathered his people, and set off for the Qingjiang County Seat.