You are currently engaged in a price negotiation with a merchant. Unlocked new skill: Bargaining (Beginner 0/100).
Bargaining proficiency +1.
"This rabbit weighs at least five catties, and its meat is plump and delicious. Once it's in the kitchen, whether braised or roasted, it would sell for more than forty copper coins."
"This rabbit pelt can be made into a warm vest for a child in winter."
Xu Fan analyzed the situation unhurriedly, his points clear and logical.
"At Fuju Fur Shop in the east of town, a complete rabbit pelt fetches at least thirty copper coins. You're only offering twenty, which is clearly taking advantage of us country folk who don't know the market."
The smile on the fat steward's face completely vanished. He hadn't expected this seemingly rustic young man to be so knowledgeable about market prices, even knowing the rates at Fuju Fur Shop.
"Young man, what exactly do you want?"
"The rabbit, seventy copper coins. The fur, thirty copper coins. A total of one hundred copper coins, not a single coin less," Xu Fan stated his price. "If your Yingxian Restaurant doesn't take it, there are plenty of other places that will. It's just a few more steps for us brothers."
After speaking, he made a move as if to pull Xu Chengbo away.
"Wait!" The fat steward quickly called out to him.
He re-examined the young man before him.
This young man had calm eyes, neither servile nor overbearing, completely unlike an ordinary farm boy.
Although the price was higher than he anticipated, it was still within an acceptable range.
This batch of goods was indeed good, and it would be a shame if another restaurant snatched it up.
"Fine! One hundred copper coins it is!" The fat steward gritted his teeth, counted out one hundred copper coins from his money pouch, and handed them over. "Young man, you're tough! If you have good goods in the future, bring them here again!"
"Certainly." Xu Fan took the copper coins, counted them carefully, and then handed over the goods.
Xu Chengbo, standing by, watched in a daze.
He couldn't believe that his eldest brother had earned dozens of extra copper coins with just a few words!
Still in shock, Xu Chengbo stammered, "B-big brother, h-how did you know the prices at those fur shops?"
"By observing, listening, and thinking more, you naturally learn," Xu Fan smiled, patting his head. "A glib tongue is also a skill. Follow me from now on, and you'll learn slowly."
After one negotiation, Bargaining increased to 25.
After the transaction was complete and he had received one hundred copper coins, Xu Fan did not leave immediately. Instead, he led Xu Chengbo to a corner of the main hall and sat down, ordering only a pot of the cheapest coarse tea.
He perked up his ears, listening to the conversations of the surrounding merchants and customers.
You are currently gathering information. Unlocked new skill: Information Filtering (Beginner 0/100).
Information Filtering proficiency +1.
"Have you heard? A year from now, the immortal masters of Qingyun Sect will open their mountain gates again to accept disciples. I wonder what a grand occasion it will be this time," a middle-aged man who looked like a wealthy merchant sighed.
"Sigh, don't even think about it. How could ordinary mortals like us stumble upon such immortal opportunities?"
"I heard that someone in Jiangzhong Town is offering a high price for a Spirit Medicine called Blood Coagulation Grass, but I don't know if it's true or not," another person said in a low voice.
Immortal masters!
Spirit Medicine!
One year later!
Xu Fan remained outwardly calm, but he committed this information firmly to memory.
This world was much vaster than he had imagined.
A cultivation world from a novel!
After sitting for a while, he took Xu Chengbo to a general store first.
"Boss, how much is salt?"
"Coarse salt is ten copper coins a catty, fine salt is thirty copper coins a catty."
"I'll take two catties of coarse salt."
He also bought a small jar of lard, which cost him thirty copper coins.
Next, he didn't go to the grand-looking rice shops with fancy storefronts. Instead, he ducked into a small alley and found an inconspicuous grain store.
"Boss, how much is unpolished rice per shi?"
"Two hundred copper coins."
"What about old rice?"
"Old rice is cheaper, one hundred and fifty copper coins per shi. But the taste is a bit worse; it's all last year's grain."
Xu Fan grabbed a handful of old rice, sniffed it, and then examined its color.
You are currently distinguishing the quality of grain. Unlocked new skill: Appraisal (Beginner 0/100).
Appraisal proficiency +1.
Item: Aged Unpolished Rice.
Origin: Downstream of Qingyang River.
Storage duration: One year and three months.
Condition: Dry, no mold, slight aged grain aroma, safe for consumption.
The information on the panel gave him a clear understanding.
He smiled at the boss, who was also looking at the rice, and said, "Boss, this rice of yours is last year's stock from the Wang Family Estate downstream, isn't it? Although it's old rice, it's well-preserved and hasn't gotten damp."
"I don't have much money. How about seventy copper coins for half a shi?"
Although it was old rice, it was still dry and free of mold.
For the Xu Family now, filling their stomachs was the priority; taste was secondary.
The boss was an honest man and nodded in agreement.
Seventy copper coins bought half a shi of old rice, which was sixty catties.
With the remaining money, he bought a small packet of the cheapest candy.
On the way back, Xu Chengbo carried half a sack of rice, sweating profusely, but a brilliant smile beamed on his face.
This was the most fulfilling and proud journey he had ever taken in his life.
When the two brothers carried the grain back to the village, the entire village was in an uproar.
"Heavens, the Xu Family bought rice! And so much of it!"
"That must be dozens of catties, right?"
"It seems Xu Family's Eldest Son has truly made something of himself!"
Yan Aini and Xu Chang had been waiting at the village entrance. Seeing their two sons return safely with so many things, they were too excited to speak.
Back home, when the sack of unpolished rice poured into the rice jar with a whoosh, filling the nearly empty jar by about half, Yan Aini could no longer hold back. She covered her face, squatted on the ground, and wept tears of joy.
The Xu Family's rice jar was finally no longer empty!
Xu Fan took out the packet of candy from his in my arms and distributed it to his younger siblings.
"Wow! It's candy!" Xu Wenwen and Xu Ruize, the two little ones, received the candy, their eyes curving into crescent moons with smiles.
They carefully peeled open the wrappers, put the candy into their mouths, and the sweetness spread from their tongues all the way to their hearts.
Watching his younger siblings' happy faces, listening to his parents' excited whispers, and smelling the fragrant aroma of grain from the rice jar, Xu Fan smiled warmly... Since Xu Fan and his brother carried half a sack of rice back from town, the Xu Family's standing in the village had undergone a tremendous change.
Previously, the Xu Family's door was truly deserted; apart from debt collectors and those coming to mock them, no one was willing to set foot inside.
Now, however, the threshold was almost worn flat.
"Oh, Aini, my dear sister, are you home? I thought your family had many children, so I specially brought two eggs to help them build up their health."
"Brother Chang, I heard your eldest son is really making a name for himself. He's truly bringing honor to you!"
"Huining, come, this is a cloth tiger Auntie made herself. Take it for your younger siblings to play with."
Every few days, there would always be some distant relatives and enthusiastic neighbors, carrying small, inexpensive items, coming to curry favor.
They surrounded Xu Chang and Yan Aini, calling them 'brother' and 'sister' affectionately, as if they were long-lost family.
Their true intentions were clear to everyone.
"Fan'er, look at me, your third uncle, my family is also struggling to make ends meet. Can you… can you also teach third uncle how to get some wild animal in the mountains?"
That day, a paternal uncle from the clan rubbed his hands, asking Xu Fan with a fawning expression.
"That's right, Fan'er, we're all from the same village, you can't keep all the good things to yourself," another aunt chimed in.
Facing these overly enthusiastic villagers, Xu Fan always smiled kindly, his attitude benevolent, yet he revealed nothing.
"Esteemed uncles and aunties, the method for these traps isn't really a secret. My second brother, Chengbo, has been learning from me recently, and you all can see, his hands are covered in blisters. This kind of thing requires hard work."
He pulled Xu Chengbo forward, and Xu Chengbo puffed out his chest, showing his blistered hands to everyone.
"Moreover, going into the mountains to hunt relies seventy percent on luck and thirty percent on courage."
"I just got lucky, like a blind cat catching a dead mouse. The mountains are very dangerous, full of venomous insects and fierce beasts. I can't guarantee that everyone who goes in will come out safely."
He attributed his success to luck, which both silenced others and highlighted the risks of entering the mountains, making those who wanted to gain without effort think twice.
"As for the method of these traps," he changed the subject, "it's not really a secret either. My father knows how to weave baskets, and these traps are quite similar in principle to basket weaving."
"If you all truly want to learn, you can exchange some things for it. For example, one catty of grain for the simplest snare method, or if anyone has surplus ironware, they can also exchange it."
"I'm doing this for everyone's good, after all, people always don't cherish things they get for free."
At these words, most people backed off.
They had originally intended to get something for nothing. Upon hearing that they had to exchange real grain for a method that wasn't guaranteed to succeed, they immediately lost interest.
"Hmph, I thought he was so generous, turns out he's just a money-grubber."
"Exactly, he just caught two rabbits, and he's already acting like a big shot."
The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving behind only a few sour remarks.
Xu Chang and Yan Aini watched this scene, feeling both a sense of relief and some worry.
"Fan'er, won't you… offend everyone in the village this way?" Yan Aini whispered.