Chapter (9): A Trip to the Port City to Sell the Great Wild Boars (Part 4)
"Brother, isn't five silver taels for three jin a bit much?"
Bai Li had fully expected this reaction.
When selling game meat, there are generally estimated market rates, but they are never fixed. Hunting wild beasts involves risking one's life, so the price is ultimately dictated by the seller's word.
Bai Li replied with a calm, steady smile.
"Brother, you look like a merchant. Let me ask you: when was the last time you ate wild boar? And I mean real wild boar, not just mountain game."
The man paused to reflect, and soon a specific look crossed his face.
"I can't quite recall. Four years? Or perhaps five?"
It might have even been longer.
One could easily draw the conclusion: even a traveling merchant, someone who moved from place to place, had only tasted wild boar once in many years. This spoke volumes about the rarity of the meat in these parts.
In the dense, mountainous forests, dangerous beasts were numerous, and in this era, weaponry was far from advanced. Most people were unwilling to take up the life-threatening trade of a hunter. That was precisely why such meat was so scarce.
Bai Li offered no further argument, merely maintaining his smile. The man was no fool; he understood exactly what Bai Li was implying. He broke into a laugh.
"Fine! Looking at these massive boars, it's clear they weren't easy to take down. I was just talking; I won't actually haggle with you. Weigh out fifteen silver taels' worth for me."
Fifteen taels would buy nine jin. Bai Li leaned in with a hospitable grin.
"Brother, why not make it twenty taels? If you do, I'll throw in an extra jin for free."
The man considered the offer for a moment and nodded.
"Fair enough. Twenty taels it is."
He had wanted to buy the meat the moment he saw it in the city, intending to share a feast of wild boar and strong spirits with his merchant caravan. To wealthy merchants, a bit of silver was of little consequence.
The onlookers, who had been eavesdropping on the exchange, were struck by the fact that thirteen jin of meat had sold before the bristles were even cleared. Forgetting their intentions to haggle, they scrambled away to fetch their silver.
The eldest sons of the two families, who were busy boiling water, stood in a daze. The elders' mustaches twitched in shock. Five silver taels for three jin... just like that?
And since when did Bai Li know how to conduct business so skillfully? Was this really the same "trash" boy who had grown up before their eyes?
Soon, however, their shock turned to pure joy. At five taels for three jin, they realized these two beasts could bring in over a thousand silver taels.
Based on his inherited memories, Bai Li knew the country he now inhabited was currently at peace. The reigning Emperor was regarded as a true father to the nation. While selling goods daily usually required purchasing a stall from the authorities, occasional sales like this caused no trouble. The Emperor had allowed for a certain degree of leniency in the rules for commoners, and the people loved him for it.
Bai Li was naturally relieved. In ancient times, if a nation was in turmoil, the common folk at the bottom suffered most. Seeing the peace of this era made him genuinely happy.
Once the water reached a boil, the bristles were removed, and Bai Li himself began butchering the meat. Initially, his elder brother and Jiang Ting wanted to help, but Bai Li's knife skills were superb. Realizing they couldn't cut the meat nearly as neatly or efficiently, they stepped back to manage the crowd and collect the silver instead.
In truth, Bai Li wasn't a master butcher by trade. However, between his hunting trips in his previous life and the butchering videos he had seen, his skill with a blade was far from amateur.
Under Jiang Ting's firm direction, the long queue of buyers didn't dare break formation. They were warned that anyone cutting the line or causing a ruckus would be refused service.
The orderly line became a spectacle in itself. A District Magistrate passing by noticed the queue and turned to his assistant. "Liu Qing, what is happening over there?"
Liu Qing, who had been at the docks all day, didn't know either. He hurried over to inquire and returned with an excited expression.
"Magistrate! That crowd is queuing for wild boar meat! Someone brought two massive boars to the city today. Why don't you buy some boar trotter for the Madam? It would be incredibly nourishing for her."
The Magistrate's wife had given birth just two days prior; wild boar trotter soup would indeed be excellent for her recovery. The Magistrate, delighted by the idea, dismounted and joined the back of the queue.
Liu Qing wanted to suggest that the Magistrate simply go to the front—no seller would refuse an official—but remembering his master's character, he held his tongue.
This Magistrate was a local of the region. Though the district was small and remote, its port made it lucrative, and many officials vied for a posting here. While others submitted flowery petitions about national prosperity and regional development, this Magistrate's application simply stated that this was his birthplace.
He simply wished to serve in his home district.
This had been so starkly different from other petitions that the Emperor had laughed and granted him the post.
Liu Qing shook his head but followed his master nonetheless. If an official is good, the people will naturally love him.
Some in the crowd noticed the Magistrate standing in line and couldn't help but speak up. The birth of his child was no secret.
"Magistrate, why don't you go to the front? There are many people ahead; the trotters might run out!"
With only two boars, there were only eight trotters available. There were surely others in line hoping to buy them.
The Magistrate shook his head calmly. "Didn't they say they won't sell to those who don't queue? Even if I don't get the trotters, any meat will do fine."
Though people stopped pestering him, word traveled up the line that the Magistrate was at the back specifically hoping for trotters. When the news reached Bai Li, he asked the Village Head to go and invite the official forward.
Was this a joke? How could they not show respect to the Magistrate?
Village Head Jiang Yan, though lower in rank, was technically a government representative, making him the best choice for the task. After much persistence from Jiang Yan and the encouragement of the queuing townspeople, the Magistrate finally gave in and moved to the front.
Bai Li greeted him with a polite smile.
"Magistrate, I'm not trying to flatter you. I heard your Madam recently gave birth; if you wait too long, it'll be too late to cook for tonight's meal. That's why I invited you forward. If there were anyone else in this crowd needing trotters for a new mother, I would prioritize them as well. Please, buy with a clear conscience. Do you want the trotters? How many should I weigh? I'm charging five silver taels for three jin."
From the Magistrate's willingness to wait in line, Bai Li knew he wasn't a tyrant and likely wouldn't appreciate being bribed. Thus, Bai Li explained his reasoning clearly and didn't offer a discount or a free gift, charging the same market rate he set for everyone else.
Hearing this, the Magistrate relaxed. He had indeed been worried the trotters would sell out. With the crowd's support, he accepted.
"In that case, weigh out two for me."
The two trotters weighed nearly eight jin, and Bai Li charged thirteen silver taels. The Magistrate took his purchase and headed home with a smile, allowing the queue to resume.
Most people bought only three jin, but restaurant owners bought anywhere from ten to thirty. The first boar vanished quickly. As Bai Li began butchering the second, those at the back of the line began to panic and shout.
"Brother selling meat! Is there any left for us? We've been waiting so long! If it looks like you'll run out, you should set a limit!"
The people at the front were having none of that.
"If you're too late, that's your problem! We're buying as much as we need!"
To prevent a brawl, Bai Li quickly interjected, "Please, don't fight! This second one is even larger. Stay calm; there should be enough for everyone."
By the time the queue was finished, more than half the crowd had been served. Just as Bai Li promised, almost everyone got something, though those at the very end had to settle for a mix of bones and meat. Though they were disappointed not to get exactly what they wanted, they were relieved not to leave empty-handed.
Bai Li had originally wanted to keep the bones to make marrow soup for the little ones at home, but he hadn't expected the crowd to be so thorough—they even wanted the heads. While most people didn't eat boar heads, some viewed this rare meat as a delicacy even in its tougher parts, and the heads sold at a slightly lower price than the prime cuts.
The only things no one wanted were the offal—the internal organs. People of this era viewed offal as repulsive and refused to eat it. While a few might eat the head, they shunned the organs entirely. They wouldn't even take them for free.
Bai Li sighed, looking at the basket of offal. He wasn't foolish enough to throw such a thing away.
The Bai and Jiang men wanted to discard the organs, but Bai Li's firm insistence on keeping them left them bewildered. Ultimately, they let him have his way. The day's events had been too exhilarating for them to dwell on such trifles.
The total revenue from the wild boar sale exceeded a thousand silver taels—specifically, one thousand three hundred and fifty-four silver taels. The sheer amount left them wide-eyed and dizzy; they never imagined making money could be this easy.
After packing everything up, they rented two rooms at the most affordable inn they could find. By then, it was roughly 9:00 PM.
Bai Li told the others to rest. He requested water from the innkeeper, cleaned the boar offal, and set them to boil so they would keep until the next day. The others tried to stop him, but Bai Li remained stubborn, and eventually, they gave up.
They couldn't help but think that since Bai Li had changed, he had become incredibly stingy. Even with over a thousand taels in hand, was he still so desperate that he wanted to eat offal?
Exhausted in both mind and body, they soon fell into a deep sleep. In rural villages, people slept early to save on lamp oil, and it was already past their usual bedtime.
Once he was certain everyone was asleep, Bai Li quietly slipped out of the inn. His footsteps were directed toward the largest brothel in the Port City.
Bai Li hadn't come to the city just to sell meat. There was one more thing he had to do: he had to retrieve the indentured servitude contracts for Xiaofu and Xiaowu—contracts the original Bai Li had already signed to sell his own children to the brothel.