Chapter 33: Doing Business with You
“Aha!! Aha!” Dr. Jia bursts into laughter with his hands clapping! “It’s my fault. I failed to make myself clear. You misunderstood me, Miss Jin. I didn’t mean anything of curing you.” Jin Weiwei continues, “I know that Dr. Jia will never curse me. If I am sick, who makes sausages for you?” “Yes! Take care of yourself, Miss Jin and make more delicious sausages.” Saying that, Dr. Jia takes out an ingot of silver (ancient Chinese currency) and puts it on the table. He says loudly, “Miss Jin, I want to do business with you. Do you agree?”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
Looking at the silver on the table, Jin Weiwei asks, “What kind of business? Can you put it in detail” “Nothing else, the sausage business. From now on, you are responsible for supplying the assuages for me. And I am in charge of selling these sausages in the county. This is my down-payment. Miss Jin, if you agree, you can take the money away immediately.” Jin Weiwei is astonished about the sharp business-brain of Dr. Jia who wants the exclusive right to sell her sausages. But he is a doctor after all. How can he come up with the idea of selling sausages? Jin Weiwei asks, “You want to quit your job?” Dr. Jia smiles and says, “Preference is the only thing that directs my orientation. Happiness is the only thing that I want to get form my job. Plus, selling delicious sausages equals to curing the disease of desiring for food, doesn’t it? You know, delicious food is a magic pill to console the heart and delight the mood.”
Jin Weiwei is amused by Dr. Jia telling nonsense in a serious tone. However funny his words are, the business should be taken into consideration seriously. “Dr. Jia, give me some time to discuss it with my husband please.” Jin Weiwei intends to resort to Little Rich for some suggestions. Although on most occasions he is quiet and tactless, she views him as a smart and resourceful man especially at the critical moment. Of course, Dr. Jia, smiling and nodding, agrees with her. Then, Jin Weiwei goes to the room together with Little Rich. After a short discussion, she comes out and accepts the deal.
Considering he is her old friend and has helped her a lot before, Jin Weiwei refuses the down-payment of Dr. Jia. However, the contract needs to be signed. Jin Weiwei proposes a rule that the sausages should be labeled as Jin’s Meat-shop in any condition. Dr. Jia agrees with that rule. He thinks, “as long as the sausages can help him earn money, the brand does not matter. Moreover, it is Jin Weiwei who makes the sausage, so that requirement is reasonable.”
Also, Dr. Jia has already drafted a contract in order to guarantee his position of being the exclusive dealer. Jin Weiwei is quite satisfied with the professional and serious attitude of Dr. Jia; therefore, she signs the contract without any hesitation where they reach an agreement about the amount of the sausages, time limitation, and the price.
Unexpectedly, Dr. Jia is both an excellent doctor and a wise businessman. He not only opens a shop specializing in selling the sausages of Jin’s family, but also encourages his family and friends to advocate the sausages to other people around. Soon, the sausage of Jin’s family becomes popular in the county because of the the efficient advertisement and its excellent taste. Many people are willing to wait for a long time for the sausages.
With the rapid sales increase, Jin Weiwei together with Little Rich needs to spend much more time making the sausages which greatly squeezes her time working in the meat-shop. Therefore, Tao Xiaoqing is in charge of dealing with all the business in the meat-shop, which makes him quite busy all day long. Long-time over-loading work makes him so tired that he was hurt by the pig the moment he killed it yesterday. Although there is no serious injury in his body, Jin Weiwei decides to give him a holiday to have a rest. Today, she will take over the meat-shop.
“Excuse me, is it Jin’s Meat Shop?” Asks an elegant young man standing in front of the meat-shop. She looks up and down the young man, hale and hearty, wearing a black suit. Judging from his appearance, Jin Weiwei knows that he must be a scholar. “This is Jin’s Meat Shop and the only Jin’s Meat Shop in the county.” Replies Jin Weiwei. “If so, the sausages of Jin’s Family are sold here?” The young man stretches his neck and looks into the shop as if searching for the traces of the sausage. “Ah! You actually want to buy sausages. Unfortunately, the sausages are so popular that they have already been sold out. You are so late.” Jin Weiwei smiles and continues, “You look familiar to me. I can’t remember where I met you before. May I ask your name please?” Shaking the folding fan slightly, the young man smiles and says, “My name is Luo Shiying. I am the native of Xingtian village, so maybe we met with each other somewhere in the village.”
From Xingtian Village? Surname Luo? A scholar? “Ah! You are the talented grandson of the head of village?” Immediately, Jin Weiwei guesses the true identity of Luo Shiying. Hearing the words of Jin Weiwei, Luo Shiying breaks with an awkward smile and says, “Yes. It is true that I am the grandson of the head of the village. And it is also the truth that he takes me as a treasure. As for the talent… it is a little bit overestimation of me.” Jin Weiwei smiles, “Overestimation? No. You are the only scholar in our village, who deserves the title of scholar except for you?” “Lots of people are more talented than me! You are one of them, Miss Jin. You are so smart and talented, aren’t you?” “Me? I am just a girl who runs a meat shop.” Says Jin Weiwei with self-deprecating humour. “Don’t play tricks on me, Mr. Luo.” Says Jin Weiwei. “I’m not kidding you, Miss Jin. You are talented. Your sausage is delicious and tasty. Not only the people in the county but also those in the Linshui City are rushing to buy it.” “Is that true? My sausages have already been available in the Linsui city? And popular?” Jin Weiwei is excited about that good news. “There’s no need for me to tell lie. The sausages of Jin’s Family are quite popular in the Linshui city. Knowing that I return home today, some of my friends asked me to fetch some sausages for them. So today I come to Jin’s Meat Shop on purpose to buy some sausages. Unfortunately, I am too late. What’s a pity!” Luo Shiying shakes his head, wearing a pitiful expression.