Moo.
The old yellow ox lowed, swishing its tail.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Elder Yan and the villagers, overwhelmed with gratitude. "The Gu Family only weathered this crisis because of all your help and care. I will remember the kindness you have shown us, and I will repay it!"
Leaning on his cane, Yan Sanjing beamed, his old face creasing with smiles. "Don't talk about repayment. Now that the ox and the land are back, and everyone is safe, we're happy. Come on, let's all head home."
With Elder Yan having spoken and the Gu Family's troubles resolved, everyone dispersed amid a chorus of chatter, speculation, and sighs.
Landlord Sun sat on a bench, jiggling his leg. Seeing that Liang Fengyang still would not leave, he vigorously waved his palm-leaf fan. "Master Liang, your old father is waiting for news. Isn't it time you went home?"
Liang Fengyang glanced at the sun and replied shamelessly, "I'm feeling a little hungry, so I'll stay and cadge a meal. That won't be a problem, will it, young brother Gu?"
Gu Zhengchen handed the remaining copper coins to his mother, Gu Shi, then turned to Liang Fengyang. "You're welcome to stay for a meal, but you'll have to bring your own bowls. We don't have many."
Gu Shi lightly swatted Gu Zhengchen's hand and smiled at Liang Fengyang. "Don't mind him, Master Liang. Zhengchen was joking. I'll go buy some wine and dishes to thank you all for your help."
Liang Fengyang stopped Gu Shi. "How could we trouble you with that, Auntie Gu? Liang Six, go order a tableful of wine and dishes from the Jade Spring Pavilion. Send someone to tell my father I'll be home a little later, too."
Gu Shi repeatedly protested that she could not possibly accept, but the Liang Family's servant had already run off.
Sun Bing raised a hand to wipe away his sweat and snapped, "You Liang fellow, do you have to eat here? Would going home for a meal kill you?"
Liang Fengyang took no offense. If anything, he looked rather pleased with himself.
The more anxious Landlord Sun became, the clearer it was that Gu Zhengchen had something good he wanted.
Yet the Gu Family had nothing of any real value. Their most valuable possessions were probably the yellow ox and the ten mu of land they had just recovered. If he did not discover what Landlord Sun was plotting, he would have a hard time reporting back at home.
Gu Shi tidied the table and benches, invited Liang Fengyang and Sun Bing to sit, then dragged away Gu Qingqing, who had been hoping to eavesdrop.
Sun Bing glared viciously at Liang Fengyang, but there was nothing else he could do.
Though the Liang Family's wealth could not compare with the Sun Family's, no one could overlook their standing. Liang Heng had held an honorary civil rank under the Yuan Court and taught a number of students. Most of those students had since surrendered to Great Ming, and some were reportedly serving as officials in the Capital.
Gu Zhengchen sat down. Watching Liang Fengyang and Sun Bing silently vie with each other, he tapped the table and said to Liang Fengyang, "I'm truly touched that the Liang Family offered a helping hand to get me out of this predicament."
Liang Fengyang glanced at Sun Bing with a wry smile, then told Gu Zhengchen, "Even without the Liang Family's help, you could have gotten out of it."
Gu Zhengchen waved a hand. "That's different. The Liang Family helped me out of kindness. Tomorrow, I'll visit Elder Liang to thank him."
Liang Fengyang greatly admired Gu Zhengchen's attitude. Here was someone who remembered kindness and understood gratitude.
Gu Zhengchen turned to Sun Bing and smiled. "Although Landlord Sun was eager to make a profit, he was willing to help the Gu Family. That kindness won't be forgotten."
Sun Bing's face filled with smiles, his flesh bunching up until his eyes were almost hidden. "As long as Candidate Gu keeps his word, this little favor was nothing."
Liang Fengyang was secretly astonished.
Landlord Sun was eager to make a profit? Where was that profit supposed to come from? The Gu Family might not have been reduced to four bare walls, but they were close enough.
"Young brother Gu, what's this talk of profit about? Would you mind sharing a little?"
Liang Fengyang was curious.
Sun Bing grew anxious. "Liang Fengyang, you're asking too many questions."
Gu Zhengchen raised a hand to soothe Sun Bing and said calmly, "We can't keep this hidden anyway. The Liang Family are benefactors of ours, too. We might as well tell him."
"You can tell him, but this business belongs to the Sun Family."
"Business? Would the Liang Family fight you over some business?"
Liang Fengyang was dismissive.
Gu Zhengchen fetched a little white sugar, unwrapped it, and set it on the table.
Landlord Sun's eyes instantly gleamed. With a slurp, he swallowed his saliva.
"What's this?"
Liang Fengyang looked puzzled. It was as white as snow and as fine as sand, but he could not make out what it was.
Landlord Sun pinched up a little white sugar and put it in his mouth, smacking his lips and narrowing his eyes in enjoyment. "This is white sugar, made by Candidate Gu."
"White sugar?"
Liang Fengyang was astounded.
Could there really be sugar in this world as crystalline as white snow?
He tasted a little.
Liang Fengyang's throat bobbed, then bobbed again as he repeatedly swallowed.
This white sugar had a pure sweetness, without the faint bitterness mingled into black sugar and brown sugar. It could be called the finest of all sugars. Most astonishing of all was its snowy color, far more pleasing to the eye than black or brown sugar.
This business held enormous promise!
Liang Fengyang sprang to his feet and said solemnly, "Young brother Gu, let the Liang Family have a share of this white sugar business. Name your price. We won't argue!"
Sun Bing's eyes widened. You just said you wouldn't fight me over the business, and now you've gone back on your word in the blink of an eye. Have you no shame...
Gu Zhengchen smiled.
Liang Fengyang could hardly be blamed for his excitement. This business simply had too bright a financial future.
In later generations, white sugar had long since become something people could enjoy freely, and most thought little of it.
What many people did not know, however, was that there had been a time when white sugar was classified as a national strategic resource, on a par with grain, cotton, and petroleum.
Yes, white sugar was a national strategic resource.
In fact, sugar, like salt and grain, was a necessity of life. Even without cane sugar, other sweet foods would take its place, such as honey and malt sugar.
Being necessities, they naturally had no shortage of buyers.
Besides, this was white sugar, something that had never appeared in this world before.
Rarity made a thing precious!
And just look at how pleasing that gleaming whiteness was. How much pleasure could those pitch-dark lumps bring by comparison?
Once white sugar established itself, it might well become a tribute item. It could even reach Zhu Yuanzhang's dining table. From then on, Old Zhu could dip his food in white sugar whenever he wanted, or brown sugar whenever he pleased...
Profit stirred men's hearts.
Liang Fengyang had no intention of backing down. The Liang Family had few shops or businesses to begin with, but they still had to make a living. Keeping an opera troupe cost money, too, didn't it? Whatever happened, the Liang Family had to get involved in this white sugar business.
Sun Bing was so frustrated he wanted to spit blood. This business should have belonged to the Sun Family alone, with all the profits theirs to enjoy. Now that Liang Fengyang had stirred things up, they would probably earn much less.
Gu Zhengchen looked at Sun Bing and Liang Fengyang with a smile. "Your two families can discuss how to run this business. I won't take part. Once you've reached an agreement, I can hand over the method for making white sugar, but I have one condition."
"Only one?"
Sun Bing stared.
Liang Fengyang raised his eyebrows.
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly. His smile faded, and his expression grew serious. Raising his right hand, he extended his index finger and pointed into the air. "I want Dayan Village to become your white sugar workshop."
"Ah-"
Sun Bing and Liang Fengyang stared at Gu Zhengchen in surprise, then looked at each other.
What sort of condition was that?
The profits from white sugar would be as vast as the sea. Shouldn't he be asking what share he would get, whether the accounts would be settled monthly or every three months, and things like that?
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