Free Web NovelChapter 462: Chapter 254: Handling Your Business with Your ’Pastry
December 29th. The cold was still bone-chilling.
It was just after seven in the morning at the Cheng Residence on Yunli Lane, in Jade Peak County Town.
Inside the reception hall, seven people were waiting. Various baskets, boxes, and gift packages lay beside them. They sipped their tea absently, all appearing to be waiting for something.
Just then, Zhang Zeyu entered the reception hall. With a calm expression, he addressed an elderly man, "Patriarch Ma, please follow me."
"Ah, yes, yes, of course." The elderly man who had been addressed shot to his feet excitedly. With an agility that belied his age, he hastily grabbed an exquisite basket from the floor and followed Zhang Zeyu toward the study.
The other six people in the reception hall looked on, their eyes filled with anxiety, envy, and apprehension.
At the study door, the old man gave Zhang Zeyu a grateful nod, then cautiously stepped inside as directed.
Inside the study, the old man saw Cheng Zongyang sitting in a chair behind his desk, reading a book from the Commerce Association.
Seeing Zhang Zeyu bring someone in, Cheng Zongyang set down the volume in his hands and said with a warm smile:
"Clan Leader Ma from Yuxi County in Linchuan Prefecture?"
"Steward Cheng," the old man said, clasping his hands in a respectful salute. "You are too kind. Please, just call me Ma Buyi."
Cheng Zongyang waved his hand. "No need for such formalities. Clan Leader Ma, why don’t you tell me what brings you here today?"
Ma Buyi quickly lifted the basket and placed it on the desk in front of Cheng Zongyang. A fawning smile spread across his face as he began to open it, saying:
"Lord Steward, our Ma Family has a unique, secret recipe for a special medicinal cake. It’s made from twenty-two fine medicinal ingredients and has the effect of prolonging life and enhancing one’s qi and blood. It’s effective for both ordinary people and Martial Artists, and it’s suitable for all ages. Of course, it’s especially beneficial for those who have yet to reach Entry Grade."
"So, I’ve come today hoping to show it to you, Steward Cheng, to see if it might be added to the association’s procurement list so we can establish a long-term partnership."
With that, he took out a portion of the cake, which was wrapped in oil paper, placed it on the desk, and unwrapped it.
As the cake was revealed from its rather exquisite packaging, Cheng Zongyang immediately smelled the sweet fragrance of osmanthus. He saw that it had been cut into thumb-sized, brown blocks, looking somewhat like gelatinous cakes.
"Lord Steward, to improve the flavor, we sprinkle it with osmanthus powder after the cakes are set. It makes them taste quite excellent. Please, have a taste."
Cheng Zongyang showed no intention of trying it. He smiled and said, "Clan Leader Ma, the Commerce Association already carries many similar cakes and medicinal foods. What’s the price on yours?"
Ma Buyi chuckled and replied, "Lord Steward, to be perfectly honest, a portion of this cake contains ten pieces and is made with..."
TAP... TAP... TAP... Cheng Zongyang rapped his knuckles on the desk. His expression was calm as he said, "Stick to the question."
Cut off before he could elaborate on the preciousness of the ingredients, Ma Buyi gave an awkward laugh and quickly corrected himself:
"To be frank, Lord Steward, one portion of this cake costs one tael and five mace to produce. If we were to partner, we’d set the price at one tael and seven mace, for a profit of only two mace."
Cheng Zongyang shook his head. "It’s a fine product, but your price has no advantage. With such a high procurement cost, we’d have to sell it for nearly two taels of silver. For that price, a customer could just buy a good set of Medicinal Materials for Body Forging. And let’s be honest, you don’t actually believe eating one portion of this cake will cause any significant improvement, do you? It’s not going to be easy to get this on the procurement list. It has no edge. You may leave for now."
"There’s no need to be hasty, Lord Steward." Ma Buyi chuckled and quickly took another oil-paper-wrapped package from the basket. He opened it in front of Cheng Zongyang to reveal ten small, identically sized gold ingots.
He pushed the package across the desk. "I am, of course, aware that you must review countless similar items, Lord Steward," he said, his voice dripping with sycophancy. "Choosing the best product at the best price is no easy task. So, please consider this ’cake’ a treat for your subordinates. A small token of my sincerity. And underneath... there is another small ’cake,’ just for you."
As he spoke, he slid three bank notes out from under the gold.
Cheng Zongyang’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw the notes.
’Da Yi Bank Money Tickets?’
From what he knew about the Da Yi Commerce Association, its banking division—the Da Yi Bank—issued its own Money Tickets that were convenient for transport and trade. With the full backing of the Da Yi Commerce Association, Da Yi Money Tickets were a universal currency accepted in every nation and region.
The Da Yi Commerce Association had no fear of counterfeiters, as the material used to make the Money Tickets was impossible to replicate.
Cheng Zongyang had once taken a ten-tael Money Ticket into the Wilderness World for appraisal and confirmed that the paper was made from a type of Spirit Plant Material. How could anyone possibly forge that? And who would dare even try?
This gave them more credibility than any dynasty. Even when the Thirteen Royal Families were at war with the Da Liang and Jin Kingdoms, and Da Liang Silver Notes became all but useless, the Da Yi Commerce Association’s Money Tickets held their value and remained universally accepted.
Therefore, the Da Yi Commerce Association itself only recognized three forms of currency: gold, silver, and Da Yi Money Tickets.
The Da Yi Commerce Association and its Bank did not accept copper coins, simply because copper coins could not be circulated between different nations and regions.
Because of this, gold, silver, and Da Yi Money Tickets were the three universal currencies recognized by every nation and faction!
’Just like the US Dollar in my past life!’
Cheng Zongyang glanced down and saw that each Money Ticket had a face value of five thousand taels.
’Fifteen thousand taels in total!’
"I didn’t realize Clan Leader Ma was so generous," he said, his voice level. "To think you would send such a ’cake’. It’s quite valuable. Far too rich for me to eat, I’m afraid."
