Chapter Thirty-Five: Unfavorable Outlook

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Just like today, if Jia Ping’an had started by discussing ownership of that row of houses, he feared that even if the Zheng clan agreed, they would demand an exorbitant price. That would make it far more difficult to achieve his objective.

So Jia Ping’an had come up with a roundabout approach: he would not let the other party discover his true goal. That way, negotiations would become much easier.

Sure enough, when Zheng Tianhai heard that Jia Ping’an had not come to ask the Zheng clan for protection, but merely wanted to hire workers from them to open a restaurant, he was left somewhat bewildered.

Jia Ping’an wanted to open a restaurant?

That was the message the other man was conveying.

But could such a venture really make money?

Ningguta was not a large place, with a population of only around fifty thousand. Yet in this tiny settlement there were already two sizeable restaurants: the Zheng clan’s Come and Prosper Restaurant, and the Hu clan’s Talent’s Rest Restaurant.

Naturally, there were also a few small eateries, but they were nothing to speak of. Their customers were mostly the lowest-ranking commoners, or even the servants of the various households.

Yet even with only those two restaurants, business was far from good. The Zheng clan’s establishment was doing somewhat better. After all, it had been open for many years and had become an old and trusted name, with a number of regular customers. By comparison, the Hu clan’s Talent’s Rest Restaurant was losing money month after month. If Hu Buyun had not been too proud to admit defeat, the place would probably have closed already.

In such an environment, Jia Ping’an actually wanted to open a restaurant. It seemed that a young man was still a young man—far too inclined to take things for granted.

Did he really think that because he had been lucky enough to gather several superb ginseng roots in the mountains, he had become an all-purpose genius who could do anything and do it well?

At that moment, Zheng Tianhai suddenly wondered whether he had overestimated the young man before him.

“Clan Chief Zheng? Clan Chief Zheng?”

Seeing that the other man had begun to space out after hearing his proposal, Jia Ping’an had no choice but to call out twice.

Zheng Tianhai’s distraction did not surprise him. Jia Ping’an could practically imagine what the man was thinking.

But in his view, talk of an unfavorable environment was merely an excuse weak people used to explain their failures.

The success stories of later generations contained countless legendary feats in sales: selling combs to monks, selling shoes to islanders who had never worn them, and so on. The whole point was to turn decay into wonder and the impossible into reality.

If others could accomplish such things, why could he not build a restaurant in Ningguta?

Of course, considering the limitations imposed by the local population, the restaurant business did not seem to have much of a future. Yet Jia Ping’an had still chosen this trade, primarily for the sake of his own safety and that of his family.

As long as he established a real business in Ningguta, and many people came to depend on him for their livelihoods, anyone who wanted to harm him would first have to consider the consequences.

If someone truly threatened him, would those who relied on him stand by and accept it?

At that point, this would become one of his trump cards.

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Anyone who wanted to move against him would have to think twice.

That was far better than merely selling ginseng. No matter how much money he earned, he alone would enjoy the benefits. Wealth stirred greed, and who could say whether it might attract covetous eyes—or even provoke someone to employ darker methods?

Ever since arriving in this world, Jia Ping’an had always believed that making money was secondary. The most important thing of all was preserving his life.

Hadn’t Uncle Benshan once said that the most terrifying thing in life was to die before spending one’s money?

Some truths, once understood, were not things Jia Ping’an would allow to happen to him.

At Jia Ping’an’s calls, Zheng Tianhai came back to himself. When he looked at Jia Ping’an again, a trace of uncertainty showed in his voice.

“What did you say just now? You really intend to open a restaurant?”

“That’s right. Clan Chief Zheng knows that I’ve been fortunate enough to gather some fine ginseng and sell it for a good price. But money is meant to be spent eventually, so I thought I would open a high-end restaurant and satisfy my appetite a little.”

Jia Ping’an wore a modest expression, but there was a hint of arrogance in his words.

After a young man gained wealth and success, it was inevitable that he would become somewhat inflated—in the language of later generations, he would begin to float.

Jia Ping’an’s true mental age had long since taught him to see through such matters. He was not going to become conceited, but he did intend to give others the impression that he had. Only then could he win their trust more effectively.

Sure enough, combined with the expression he was displaying, his words convinced even Zheng Tianhai that this was merely a young man who had no idea how high the heavens were or how deep the earth was.

But Zheng Tianhai was delighted.

Jia Ping’an had just said that he would hire people from the Zheng clan and pay them wages. What could be better?

The Zheng clan had put down roots in Ningguta and continued to grow. Its population had increased year after year.

One person eating one flatbread could become full. Two people might manage half a meal each. But what about three people?

Over the past two years, under the pressure of daily life, the Zheng clan had been forced to constantly urge its members to enter the mountains and search for ginseng, relying on luck simply because its finances were insufficient.

Yet gathering ginseng depended on luck. Not everyone who went into the mountains would return with anything. On the contrary, if one person out of a hundred managed to find medicinal-grade wild ginseng, that alone counted as extraordinary fortune.

As clan chief, Zheng Tianhai was already troubled by the number of idle people within the clan. Now someone had taken the initiative to come to him and discuss employment. How could that not be a good thing?

“Hahaha, Young Master Jia, you are far too polite. Your willingness to contribute to Ningguta’s development is a wonderful thing—something the Zheng clan could hardly wish for more. Tell me how many people you need and what kind. Just say the word, and this clan chief will do everything in his power to cooperate.”

Zheng Tianhai suddenly became enthusiastic. It was clear that the life of a clan chief was not particularly easy either.

Jia Ping’an knew all of this, but pretended not to understand. He rose and clasped his hands in thanks.

“That is excellent. I thank you in advance, Clan Chief Zheng.”

“Oh, there is no need to be so polite, no need at all.” At that moment, Zheng Tianhai’s smile spread all the way to his ears. He was plainly overjoyed.

“Then I shall be bold. If possible, I would like to leave the construction of the restaurant and the laying of its foundation to the Zheng clan. I estimate that I will need roughly five hundred workers at the beginning. Naturally, once the restaurant is complete, I will not need so many. In the end, perhaps only around thirty people will remain to keep an eye on the premises. Clan Chief Zheng, would that be possible?”

When he heard that as many as five hundred people would be needed, Zheng Tianhai’s face filled with smiles.

“Good. Five hundred people at the initial stage, is that right? As clan chief, I accept this matter.”

“Then I thank you for the Zheng clan’s support. The site has already been chosen. It is the place in the eastern part of the city where those three rows of houses were burned down. By the way, I heard that one of those rows belongs to the Zheng clan. I would like to purchase it, if that is not too troublesome.”

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The timing was perfect. After offering the other party substantial benefits, Jia Ping’an now made his own small request.

It truly was a small request in comparison. After all, he was hiring so many of their people—how much money would that bring them? He was only asking for one row of burned-out houses in return. Surely that was not a major matter. Besides, he had said he wanted to buy it. He would be paying for it.

Sure enough, after receiving such a benefit, Zheng Tianhai paid no attention to the matter of the houses. With a grand wave of his hand, he readily agreed.

“Thank you. However, I have only recently arrived and truly do not know the value of those houses. I happen to have another ginseng root with me. Let us use it as payment.”

As he spoke, Jia Ping’an reached into his robes. A rectangular ginseng box soon emerged.

“Oh? Is it another fine root?”

The moment he saw the ginseng, Zheng Tianhai did not even wait for his steward to take action. He rose from his seat and accepted the box himself.

When he opened it and inspected the contents, he discovered that the ginseng was at least seventy-five years old. Zheng Tianhai’s face once again split into a broad smile.

“Oh my, you are paying far too much. Far too much!”

“How could it be too much? Compared with your support for me, Clan Chief Zheng, this is nothing.”

Jia Ping’an laughed as well, deliberately presenting himself as a foolish man with more money than sense.

“Hahaha, since Young Master Jia puts it that way, then this clan chief will accept it without further protest.”

Once ginseng reached his hands, there was naturally no chance of him giving it back. Still beaming, Zheng Tianhai turned to the steward beside him.

“Go and bring the deed for that row of houses. Hand it to Young Master Jia.”

It was only a useless row of houses. In exchange for a fine ginseng root, he had unquestionably made a profit.

The houses were now his, and both sides were delighted. This was exactly the outcome Jia Ping’an preferred.

If possible, he did not want to offend people needlessly.

Of course, if anyone deliberately tried to make trouble for him, he would not show mercy when striking back.

Having achieved his purpose, Jia Ping’an took his leave. Yet within the Zheng family compound, discussion of him did not stop.

“A young man will always be a young man. He happened to gather a few good ginseng roots and now treats such treasures as if they were nothing.”

Zheng Denggao emerged from behind the folding screen as he spoke, shaking his head with a faint laugh and an expression of disdain.

This time, even Adviser Zheng Yugong did not think highly of Jia Ping’an.

How large was Ningguta, really? It already had two restaurants, both barely surviving. Did this outsider truly believe he could make money in the same business?

If that were possible, did he think no one remained in Ningguta?

Did he think no one remained in the Zheng clan?

“That is enough. We only gave up a foundation plot that was of little use. In return, we received a valuable ginseng root that is seventy or eighty years old, and we solved the problem of feeding five hundred people for a time. However you look at it, we have profited. In fact, I hope this young man continues with the venture. If he does, our own benefits will only grow.”

Zheng Tianhai gazed in the direction Jia Ping’an had departed and spoke with a touch of emotion.

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