Ch. 251..255: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 251-255

Chapter 251: Chapter 251: Being Remembered by Someone (3)_1

"No need for formalities. Open the shop." Chu Suifeng instructed coldly.

The man immediately moved aside, making way for Chu Suifeng to walk in front.

Chu Suifeng and Si Jinhan walked into the shop side by side, with Lin Ziyin and Qiaoqiao following them shortly after.

The last person to enter was the smaller man.

"Are you satisfied?" Seeing the lady scrutinizing the place with a discerning eye, Si Jinhan joked, "This property belongs to the prince. He wouldn’t mind spending a bit of money. The business hasn’t even started yet and you’re already earning a profit. Maybe you could consider giving us ten percent more profits?"

"The investment was low, and the prince and you got a lot of silver." Lin Ziyin replied nonchalantly.

"You can’t take a joke." Si Jinhan was not pleased when he didn’t get the advantageous deal he was looking for.

"It just needs a bit of decoration and it can be used. The shop has a backyard which can serve as the kitchen, and it also has a well, making it convenient to fetch water." Lin Ziyin was somewhat pleased with the shop.

"How would you decorate it?" Si Jinhan enquired.

"I will give you the draft. It’ll be best if you can get it ready as soon as possible." Lin Ziyin said.

"Once we have the sketch, finish the work according to it immediately." Chu Suifeng instructed the small man coldly.

"Yes, your highness." The man replied respectfully.

"His surname is Liao. If there are any issues, you can talk to him." Chu Suifeng continued, addressing Lin Ziyin.

"If he knows how to do business, then let him temporarily be in charge of the store." Lin Ziyin suggested nonchalantly.

"Aren’t you afraid he would steal your silver?" Si Jinhan was taken aback by Lin Ziyin’s suggestion. Shopkeepers always chose trustworthy men to oversee their businesses. Lin Ziyin was truly an anomaly; she always managed to surprise him.

"I’m not an idiot." Lin Ziyin replied calmly.

His words were shut down by her single sentence leaving Si Jinhan speechless. Chu Suifeng had a light smile playing on his lips.

"I will come to check the accounts every month." Lin Ziyin said.

What good would checking the accounts do, if he learnt the technique and then there’s no point crying over spilt milk.

"I don’t believe the income of the Vegetarian Feast will be less than that of the roasted ducks." Lin Ziyin explained calmly, "And I trust the prince’s character, so naturally, I trust his people."

Chu Suifeng cast a cold glance at Si Jinhan.

Si Jinhan shivered involuntarily. Well then, there’s an old saying: women and villains are hard to raise. That wily girl, trying to pit him against the prince. Trusting the prince’s character was not the same as stating that he himself never trusted the prince’s character, right? She’s really cunning!

For the first time, Si Jinhan cursed a woman in his heart.

Lin Ziyin was indifferent to his inner turmoil. Calling for a charcoal piece, she quickly sketched out a design.

"Three days." Chu Suifeng ordered curtly.

"Yes, your highness." The shopkeeper answered.

Three days? Lin Ziyin was a little surprised.

But the surprise was soon gone. Having known Chu Suifeng as the lord of Feng City, she knew things would progress quickly.

"Wait, your highness. If possible, I would like to make a few changes to the draft." Since he was capable, Lin Ziyin intended to make the setup best in class.

Seeing no objection from his lord, Shopkeeper Liao quickly presented her with the draft.

Lin Ziyin made a few changes and handed it back.

"This?" Viewing the draft, Shopkeeper Liao was somewhat perplexed.

"If it’s difficult, then follow the initial design." Lin Ziyin was unsure if this epoch had transparent glass.

"This kind of colored glaze costs a large amount of silver per piece, are you sure you want to invest so much?" After seeing the draft, Si Jinhan’s eyes were filled with ridicule as he looked at her, asking with an amused smile.

Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Being Remembered by Someone (4)_1

"Consider this as my investment," Chu Suifeng said nonchalantly. He believed that Lin Ziyin would not act rashly.

Si Jinhan felt defeated again, staring blankly at Chu Suifeng, as if he did not recognize him.

"Thank you, Prince. I am willing to give up another ten percent of the profit from roast duck to the Prince." Lin Ziyin was as generous as the other party.

"I have also helped you a lot, you can’t favor one and discriminate against the other," Si Jinhan complained, squeezing in to defend himself.

Lin Ziyin simply responded with two words, "Ha Ha".

Then there was silence. Regardless of the harsh words uttered by Si Jinhan, she pretended not to hear them all.

Towards such a woman, Si Jinhan ultimately admitted he was defeated by her.

"What is the use of those golden things you planted?" Chu Suifeng asked her casually, not paying much attention to the profit matter.

"Are you referring to corn?" Lin Ziyin asked, taken aback.

Chu Suifeng nodded.

"It’s a grain that’s second only to rice and wheat in terms of yield and pest resistance. The stalks can be used to feed cattle after harvest," Lin Ziyin replied, "Of course, the ground corn can be used to make various starches, and even oil can be extracted from it."

"Can it be planted on a large scale?" Chu Suifeng asked more eagerly, his tone becoming more serious.

"It’s hard to say at this point, I’m still in the experimental phase. I’ll reassess after the next harvest," said Lin Ziyin.

Chu Suifeng let go of the matter about corn cultivation. After all, the fact that the Lin family stayed in the Northern Land meant that they couldn’t escape anyway. If corn cultivation proves successful, it can be promoted in the Northern Land in the future, providing an additional layer of security for the people.

Three days passed quickly, and when Lin Ziyin stepped into the shop again, she found that it had been completely transformed.

The most attractive item in the shop was a glass counter in the center that served as the checkout desk. It wasn’t as clear as modern glass, but it allowed customers to see the items inside clearly.

"Are we going to open for business in such a hurry tomorrow?" Si Jinhan was also curious about the decoration in the shop. He wasn’t worried about the business at all, since they had the fame of both the Prince and himself, they would not lack customers.

"What else does the Third Young Master want?" Lin Ziyin asked lightly.

"Shouldn’t we hire a lion dance troop to liven things up?" Si Jinhan asked puzzledly. When other people’s shops open, they often make quite a fuss, and surely his opening shouldn’t be quiet and unassuming.

Lin Ziyin indeed intended for a low-profile start, "Do you not know the saying, ’Good wine needs no bush’?."

Alright, he lost. Si Jinhan realized that whenever he was with Lin Ziyin, he was always on the losing end, a thought that somewhat dampened his mood.

"Tomorrow, I will be the first to have a taste." He declared firmly.

Lin Ziyin did not have the time to entertain him, and ushered several men sent by Chu Suifeng to the back of the shop, "Tomorrow I will teach you the techniques of making roast duck and slicing it. If you are unable to master it, please go back to the Prince."

At this moment, Lin Ziyin felt somewhat annoyed. After all, these were Chu Suifeng’s men, not really hers to command.

"These are the indenture of several of us. The Prince asked me to give it to Lin Ziyin." Unexpectedly, just when she was feeling annoyed, the Shopkeeper Liao came over and respectfully handed her several indenture documents.

This move by Chu Suifeng was beyond Lin Ziyin’s expectation.

However, in her opinion, whether there was an indenture or not made no difference. Even if these men were fanatically loyal to Chu Suifeng, they would think of Chu Suifeng, their former master, first in case of any trouble. Furthermore, no matter how capable she, Lin Ziyin, was, she couldn’t escape from Chu Suifeng’s control.

Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Being Remembered by Someone (5)_1

Perhaps, Chu Suifeng was confident about this trait of hers, which was why he handed the indenture to her so openly. Maybe it was to grant her peace of mind.

Regardless of the consequences, Lin Ziyin pretended to be oblivious, smiling faintly as she let Yu Shaohui take and store the indenture.

There was a lot to prepare that night. Though it was a roast duck shop, it also dealt with other duck businesses. Smoked duck, braised duck, duck neck and duck beak, they had it all. They even had to prepare some vegetarian dishes!

Si Jinhan was only there to spectate; he knew nothing about running a business and left after spending some time in the shop.

Lin Ziyin and Zige, however, were busy in the shop until midnight, staying in the guest rooms in the backyard for the night.

Before dawn the next day, Yu Shaohui and the shop clerks went to get ducks from the Guo Family.

Lin Ziyin started to get hands-on. Choosing the right duck for roasting was crucial, they had to weigh over six Jin, with three parts lean and seven parts fat. This would ensure a succulent roast duck. The roasting process was also important, it had to be manually rotated consistently, and only the back and sides of the duck could be roasted.

The charcoal fire in the old-style stove illuminated Lin Ziyin’s face, making her glow. The trainees watched nervously with their eyes wide open, not daring to blink.

Brushing and stuffing... they feared missing a single detail.

In the kitchen on the left, a few small burners held dough skins. Several young servants guarded them, working briskly.

Once the major tasks were completed, Lin Ziyin checked on the braised duck in the pot. The necks, wings, and legs were sold separately, quite surprisingly.

Feng City wasn’t small, but the grand affair of Prince Ling and the third son of the Si Family, opening a shop, had reached the ears of all the noble families.

To save face for the Prince and the third son, heads of every household came to the shop.

Soon, the shop was filled with customers, most of whom came for the roast duck.

Once customers entered, the shopkeepers immediately busied themselves.

Cutting the duck, chopping onions, serving sweet bean sauce. Due to lack of training, everyone seemed somewhat flustered. Nevertheless, none of the distinguished guests dared to lose their temper or rush them.

"Exceptional." Many people couldn’t stop singing praises after eating the roast duck. Of course, there were some envious of the Si Family bragging about the bustling scene. Even a fool could tell that the Si Family was bound to have a steady income from now on.

"The spice is just right, the flavor is excellent." Some ordered braised duck as Lin Ziyin used her own chili, a condiment not yet available in the market, which won over many palates.

Shopkeeper Liao never imagined that a mere duck could make so many people bow down. If people initially came to give face to the Prince, now even more were genuinely fond of the roast and braised ducks from Linji.

"In the future, we’ll also sell Peking duck, soy sauce duck, and old duck soup. You all should learn well." Lin Ziyin instructed.

Shopkeeper Liao, having witnessed the entire process, understood why Lin Ziyin dared to use the manpower provided by the Prince. Regardless of the type of duck dish, they all required the Lin Family’s unique seasoning formula. For instance, even if you’ve mastered the roasting techniques for the roast duck, without the Lin Family’s seasoning, no one could replicate its taste.

The two sisters stayed in the City for half a month. Lin Changshu and Wu Dayou, worried, had visited a few times, but seeing everyone busy in the shop, they stopped coming.

They didn’t come, but the Guo Family did.

The Guo Family was quite upset. They had raised a lot of ducks and not only worried about the lack of market for their ducks, but also what to do with the surplus of duck eggs. But now, a few hundred ducks were almost sold out in less than a month. They struggled to keep up with the supply of ducklings.

Chapter 254: Chapter 254: Being Remembered by Someone (6)_1

Knowing that Lin Ziyin couldn’t possibly delay his business and that there were plenty of duck raisers in the village, Guo Zhongkui hurriedly followed the mule cart to Feng City to find Lin Ziyin.

"Sure, you can buy their ducks, but they must first sign a contract with your family." Lin Ziyin immediately suggested after hearing him clearly.

"A contract with us?" Guo Zhongkui was taken aback.

He was an honest man who only knew how to raise ducks; how could he also act as a foreman to buy ducks?

"Yes, for each duck, you can collect an extra two cents. But you also bear the risk." Lin Ziyin instructed patiently, "Big brother Guo, business is unlike ordinary social interactions. If you consistently give in, you may end up cheated with sick or underweight ducks, possibly leading to bankruptcy. However, as you’ve seen, my shop needs a large number of ducks. You can earn two cents for each duck per year, it adds up to a sizeable amount. Think about it. If you’re not willing, I can find someone else."

Guo Zhongkui understood that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

He was more aware that this great opportunity was actually given to him by Lin Ziyin. The roast duck shop needs at least eighty or ninety ducks a day. Just by helping to oversee, he could effortlessly earn more than a hundred cents. In a year, how much silver would that be!

This money, Lin Ziyin could totally keep it for himself.

But Lin Ziyin gave it, and even reminded him. It was all out of consideration for his sister Guo Huiniang.

"Big brother Guo should think it over before deciding, after all, you know your relatives well." Lin Ziyin stopped talking with a smile.

"Alright, I’ll do it." To improve his family’s living conditions, Guo Zhongkui decided to risk it.

Seeing that Guo Zhongkui was not hopelessly ignorant, Lin Ziyin was secretly pleased. This is how people are, if they don’t strive on their own, even their relatives can’t help them. This is the principle of helping in emergencies, not in poverty.

"Big brother Guo, you have a lot of experience in raising ducks. Why not try raising more ducklings? It could also generate some income." Lin Ziyin gave him another suggestion.

"It’s possible to raise ducklings, but it’s not easy to have ducklings in winter." Guo Zhongkui answered with a bitter smile.

"I know a master who can build an Earth Dragon. If you trust me, Big brother Guo, why not let this master set up an Earth Dragon and heated bed in your house? This way, the temperature is met, and you can hatch ducklings on the bed." Lin Ziyin suggested, "However, I can’t guarantee that this method will definitely work. You may also suffer some loss of duck eggs initially."

Artificial incubation in winter? This was another new concept. It took Guo Zhongkui quite some time to regain his senses. "Ziyin, I know you mean well for us. Whether this method you suggested works or not, I want to give it a try. When you’re free, could you introduce that master to me?"

"That’s easy. I’ll give you his address later, and you can look for him along the way." Lin Ziyin was pleased with his courage, "As for the rights to proxy purchase, I will announce it with my elder brother tomorrow. When the time comes, you just sign and put your fingerprint on it."

"Thank you, Ziyin." Guo Zhongkui felt dizzy with all this information.

The two things Lin Ziyin mentioned today made him feel like he was dreaming.

Lin Ziyin did not detain him, let his assistant pack a roast duck and some pastries for him. He also generously provided sauces, and another pack of duck necks and braised dishes.

"I’m embarrassed..." Guo Zhongkui was somewhat shy.

Lin Ziyin forcefully handed the basket into his hands.

"Sister, what if there aren’t enough ducks?" Zige overheard her conversation with Guo Zhongkui.

Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Being Remembered by Someone (7)_1

Lin Ziyin pondered a bit, realizing that she was not thoughtful enough.

Raising ducks in ancient times indeed couldn’t compare to modern duck farms, especially since hormones didn’t exist in these times. Every duck raised required a process and a cycle. Relying solely on the ducks from the Guo family was not sustainable in the long run.

"Shopkeeper Liao, put up a notice stating that, due to the constraints of supply, from tomorrow onwards, we can only provide fifty roasted ducks and fifty braised ducks," Lin Ziyin instructed.

What Lin Ziyin told Guo Zhongkui earlier, Shopkeeper Liao also heard every word. Upon hearing Lin Ziyin’s command, he wasn’t surprised, but there was a slight sense of regret in his heart.

He felt a sense of pity that a booming business has to halt due to the lack of supply.

"It will get much better next year," Lin Ziyin said with a smile, "In case we run out of roasted duck, we can still prepare other roasted and braised meats."

Once the Lin family posted the notice, not only did many aristocrats complain, many customers who traveled from far also lined up early in the morning just to get a taste of the delicious ducks.

"Lack of supply?" Chu Suifeng showed up in the duck restaurant.

"Prince, don’t worry, we might have a shortage this year, but next year will be much better. I’ve already asked Shopkeeper Liao to discuss with the pig farm butchers about adding new varieties to our restaurant," Lin Ziyin spoke indifferently.

"If most people start raising ducks, would you be able to sell them?" Chu Suifeng asked.

"I could," Lin Ziyin answered with a smile, "Not only duck meat, I could sell pork and chicken too. It’s not a problem if we have surplus, the concern would rather be an insufficient supply."

"Northern Land is vast with a sparse population. If everyone is raising chickens, ducks, and pigs, to whom will you sell?" Chu Suifeng continued to question.

Lin Ziyin never thought that a Prince would care about raising chickens and ducks.

"Let’s put it this way, having a shop is a marketing strategy, but it is not the only method. As long as Prince has enough parchment, we would be able to sell the chickens and ducks from the Northern Land," Lin Ziyin explained.

Chu Suifeng, after listening, did not seem relaxed. Raising chickens and ducks could indeed increase people’s income, but rearing a large number of poultry would need a consistent supply of feed. In winter, the people could hardly feed themselves, let alone their livestock.

Moreover, if there were an outbreak of poultry diseases, the consequences would be disastrous. It could even cause a loss of human lives.

"Raising chickens, ducks, and pigs all require a clean environment. Epidemics could cause a complete loss. So, those who rear livestock must clean up regularly and maintain good ventilation. If the Prince is really concerned about the welfare of the people, you could request Ding’an Temple to assign a few medicinal monks to developing medicine that could prevent these diseases. Raising chickens and ducks not only increases income, it also increases crop yields in the fields. Strictly speaking, it’s a form of recycling" Lin Ziyin said softly.

"Without food, everything is mere talk," Chu Suifeng responded coldly, "Do you have any solutions for the food problem?"

"Prince, I’m not a Bodhisattva, how can I magically transform feed?" Lin Ziyin replied with a note of distress.

Chu Suifeng gave Lin Ziyin a cold glance.

Lin Ziyin touched her nose and forced herself to say, "It’s not like there’s no solution at all."

"Tell me." Chu Suifeng commanded coldly.

"There are plenty of earthworms in the ground, which can be bred in poultry dung piles. These earthworms are the best food for chickens and ducks. Also, the small fishes and snails in the rivers are the best feed for ducks." Northern Land might be cold, but it had many rivers and Ludang marshes.

Indeed, there were plenty of snails!

Chu Suifeng remained silent after listening, but his middle finger tapped lightly on the table.

"I want to raise pigs in my manor, do you think it’s feasible?" Suddenly, he briskly changed the topic.

"Of course! I also plan to raise pigs on my property. The leftover residue from making soy products in my household can be used as feed." Lin Ziyin responded quickly. However, she felt aggrieved. How petty, he’s even concerned about her household’s tofu residue.

Chu Suifeng gave Lin Ziyin a deep look, then disappeared as quick as the wind.

Lin Ziyin’s interest in him coming and going was virtually nil.

However, the very next day, she got to see the efficient way Chu Suifeng handled matters.

"Prince is encouraging people to raise more chickens and ducks, apparently saying that he would buy back any surplus livestock from his own estate. He’ll even buy back chicken and duck eggs, and Ding’an Temple is responsible for creating medicinal pellets for the poultry. Even the way to feed the poultry sounds interesting. For instance, they’re promoting earthworm farming in dung piles, and even snails are used to feed the ducks. If all these methodologies could work, life would indeed improve," Lin Changshu started talking once he came to the shop.

Lin Ziyin breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. Thankfully, Chu Suifeng didn’t mention her name in the notice. It’s better to let the Prince alone get the limelight.

"Why is the Prince suddenly so interested in raising chickens and ducks?" Inside the study of Prince’s residence, Si Jinhan joked with Chu Suifeng.

"I do hope the golden corn will be successful," Chu Suifeng briefly replied, changing the subject. "The second batch of military pay has not arrived yet."

"If they default, the soldiers’ lives in Border City will become even harder. Hopefully, the Tatars’ inner conflicts get worse, sparing us some peace," Si Jinhan sighed, a playful grin on his face.