“My husband asked me to buy honey, so I went to the shop, only to find there were so many kinds. I didn’t know which was best. You try them and tell me—I can report back at home.”
He spoke smoothly, framing it as a family matter, so it sounded cheerful rather than businesslike.
They had politely said all the honey tasted good. Seeing Li Feng’s sincerity, the shop owner, who remembered his wife often chiding him for spending recklessly, felt an instant connection and pointed out flavors in each bowl to Li Feng.
Hai Youtian scooped the honey according to price. This way, the expensive honey stood out—it was sweet but not cloying, appealing to young and old alike. The cheaper kinds had flaws: some were bitter, some bland, some contained impurities.
One honey with impurities was still quite sweet, with small fragments you could chew to release more sweetness. Others were unpleasant chunks, like chewing sand.
Li Feng listened carefully and now had a clear idea.
After today’s visit, they would come again. If Lu Yang was satisfied, they could finalize the deal.
By dinner time, Li Feng brought Hai Youtian home to explain the honey workshop situation to Lu Liu.
Hai Youtian arrived happily. This family certainly had a lot going on!
After the temperature dropped, the bamboo bed was put away. On a clear day, the whole family gathered on stools, using the bamboo bed as a table.
Everyone busied themselves choosing and preparing ingredients; it was lively and warm. Hai Youtian was welcomed without ceremony and offered a stool to sit on.
He was also thinking about renting a shop. Knowing the study space was for Lu Yang, he enthusiastically described the shop, asking when Lu Yang would go inspect it: “I guarantee you’ll be satisfied!”
Lu Yang asked, “How much is the rent?”
Hai Youtian had already decided on his answer. When Lu Yang asked, he said, “Fifty taels a year.”
Lu Yang ignored him and turned to Li Feng: “Next time, we’ll have someone else check at the silver shop.”
Hai Youtian panicked. “Negotiate! Why don’t you bargain? Haven’t we always haggled?”
Lu Yang smiled at him. “We’re close enough now. I was letting you earn a little this time. If you’re not honest, I can’t give you this much, so you won’t earn anything.”
Hai Youtian: “….”
Li Feng hadn’t told him either!
Hai Youtian tried again: “Thirty-six taels a year!”
Lu Liu brought over a kettle of hot water to brew the honey water.
He glanced at Hai Youtian and said, “That shabby, remote shop costs thirty-six taels a year? The large inn I saw last time was only a little over thirty!”
Hai Youtian: “….”
Forget that.
He continued, “But that little shop of yours is twenty-one taels already!”
Lu Liu was right. “What kind of location is mine? The one you said was prime? What about this shop? It’s not as good as our place. We could even sell books at home if needed!”
Lu Yang listened, exchanging a knowing look with his father.
See how clever our Lu Liu is!
Hai Youtian, intimidated, asked Lu Yang: “Will you rent the place?”
Lu Liu helped put down the deposit. When Lu Yang spoke about renting, the rent was paid.
Hai Youtian pocketed the silver, smiling: “That shop’s price was hard to settle. You say the location is poor, but it can house a family. Houses near the academy are expensive. One that big costs at least twenty-five taels; anything below, you really couldn’t get.”
Lu Yang replied, “How about twenty-five taels? If that works, I’ll consider thirty—twenty-five goes to the silver shop, and you keep five for yourself.”
Hai Youtian’s eyes widened, a dramatic expression—clearly torn—but he refused.
He said, “I won’t take it. The silver shop will pay me my wage. How about twenty-six taels a year? I can explain to the steward. You’re still checking other shops. I haven’t found the right one yet. The steward is keeping an eye out, so this is the best answer I can give.”
Lu Yang asked, “Why not take it? Those five taels are yours—you have a family, right? It’s the end of the year. What’s wrong with spending it?”
Hai Youtian still refused. “It’s quite a sum. I can earn five taels in two months, but I really can’t take this. The silver shop hasn’t treated me unfairly; the steward has been good to me. What would I do with this money? My family isn’t starving—I just can’t accept it.”
Lu Yang nodded to Li Feng.
Previously, Li Feng had suggested hiring Hai Youtian for work.
Hai Youtian had experience in the silver shop and understood the city’s affairs and families’ situations. He was intelligent, quick-witted, diligent, and kind—he had even helped He Qingzao.
This small trial confirmed he was grateful to his employers and not greedy. He was suitable.
Lu Yang said, “When I have time, I’ll inspect the shop. If it fits, we’ll go with this price. Keep an eye on the workshop—try to find one close by. If not, get me a cheap house, and we can set up our own small workshop.”
Hai Youtian agreed, then explained the honey workshop details to Lu Liu.
As the sun set, people slowly left the bamboo bed area, heading to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Wang Fengnian and Lu Erbao went to the snack shop before dinner, delivering the household’s simmered soup, going in and out of the three households several times.
Hai Youtian observed, impressed by the family’s domestic rhythm.
He remarked, “Ordinary households don’t let elders help—they’d just spend money. Yours is well organized; everyone seems used to life in the city.”
After the observation, he returned to business.
Hai Youtian had grown up in the silver shop, learning inside and out under the steward.
A silver shop worker needed not only skill in numbers and words but also a deep understanding of shops, workshops, land, even feng shui.
When renting out a shop, they needed to know size, location, feng shui, and what business would thrive there—more than the client did.
The same applied to workshops, which were typically purchased and hard to find.
A workshop wasn’t just the building or furniture; the production equipment mattered.
A mill needed a stone grinder, a distillery a still—costly investments. Money alone wasn’t enough; skilled labor was required. If the craft was specialized, setting up a workshop became even more complicated.
Once operational, a workshop could generate goods and money. Those listed in the silver shop usually appeared there because of challenges.
Rent alone wasn’t enough—they had to sell it. Competition existed; multiple partners might bid. The ones reaching the silver shop were often not ideal.
They needed to understand a workshop’s structure and operations to evaluate it properly.
Hai Youtian was eager to learn and knowledgeable about all types of workshops.
A honey workshop, generally called a “honey mill” or “refining honey workshop,” sometimes a simple “bee house” in rural areas.
Hai Youtian sipped his honey water and continued, “There aren’t many honey workshops in the city. I visited one a year ago with the steward. We saw their accounts and evaluated it. They had many outlets. Ordinary people buy honey for water or medicinal drinks, but honey workshops sell some for direct consumption and more to other buyers—apothecaries, preserved fruit shops, dye workshops, even some paper workshops for waxed paper. Cosmetic shops buy it too. I don’t know the details, but it’s profitable.”
Lu Liu’s eyes sparkled.
Wow, that’s a big business—Brother An is going to get rich!
He asked Hai Youtian, “Do you know anyone who can refine honey? Could you hire some people to work for me?”
Hai Youtian did, though he wasn’t sure if they would accept.
“Honey is scarce and expensive. Some rural beekeepers aren’t starving—they may not want to work here.”
Lu Liu probed further and learned why honey workshops were different. Production was limited, beekeeping was tricky, and bees could sting. If new owners took over, they might delegate younger family members to learn honey refining but couldn’t replace the master craftsmen.
