Chapter 239: I'll Bear the Consequences
Even without rare varieties, these alone would be enough for her to set up a stall. Hua Zhi turned to Wu Zheng who stood nearby, "I'd like to examine them more closely, if that's acceptable?"
Wu Zheng responded cheerfully, "Of course! Chen Er, bring a net."
The net was a handy tool for scooping things from the pond, coming in various sizes. The one Wu Zheng now held was medium-sized. Wherever Hua Zhi stood, he would scoop up a netful for her to inspect carefully.
The fish were lively and sizable. Those living by the coast knew the principle of catching large ones while releasing the small to ensure sustainability. Other items like shrimp, snails, and shellfish were also fresh, but fish still made up the vast majority.
"Why don't I see any crabs?"
Wu Zheng showed surprise, "You want those, Miss? We do have them, and I won't deceive you—they're our least popular item at the fishery. They're troublesome to eat with little meat, so few people like them."
As he spoke, Wu Zheng led her to the pond at the very edge. This one was slightly different from the others, appearing much deeper—understandable, as they'd probably climb out if it were too shallow.
Although they didn't sell well, the crabs appeared quite lively, clearly well cared for, though they were somewhat small.
"Are these all you have?"
"These are all, Miss. Do they not meet your standards?"
"It's not that they're unsatisfactory. I'd prefer larger ones."
Now Wu Zheng was truly puzzled. Could it be that these sideways-crawling creatures were popular elsewhere? Thinking this, he became more cautious, "We do have larger ones, but here only the small ones are bought for drunken crab. The larger ones have hard shells and tough meat, quite disliked by locals. If I may ask, is there another way to prepare them?"
"They are indeed troublesome to eat, but when done right, they have their own appeal. Don't worry, Master Wu—if they end up being unsellable after I buy them, I'll accept the responsibility and won't blame you for not warning me."
"You're straightforward, Miss. Then I'll be honest too—if we can make this deal, I won't profit from the crabs. Consider it my effort to help those elderly and young fishermen find a livelihood."
Hua Zhi looked at Wu Zheng, "How so?"
"Most fisheries don't accept crabs. I take some only out of pity for those families with no other options. Born and raised here, they're destined to make their living from the sea from birth. Countless lives are lost to these waters every year." Wu Zheng shook his head, guiding Hua Zhi back. "For some families, losing one person means their world collapses. The elderly can't go to sea, the children are too young—they can only dig for oysters and gather crabs along the shore to survive. Although I accept some, I dare not take too many—they take up too much space. If you truly have a way to sell these crabs, you'd be their great benefactor."
"Life is hard for everyone." Hua Zhi responded neutrally and said no more. It wasn't that she lacked compassion, but she couldn't let softheartedness override reason. If the deal went through, she would have ways to address their problems—provided the deal was finalized first.
Wu Zheng raised his cup in a toast. It felt refreshing to negotiate so smoothly with a woman.
Hua Zhi paused briefly, then raised her cup in return, merely wetting her lips before setting it down."I arranged for shipping with Dong Lai Shipping Firm, and their young master recommended An Tai Fishing Firm to me, saying your goods are excellent. I can see that's indeed true." Hua Zhi extended her hand, and Bao Xia placed several sheets of paper in her palm.
After flipping through them, Hua Zhi pushed the papers toward Wu Zheng. "The quantity I need isn't small, and I sincerely hope to finalize this deal with you, Manager Wu."
Wu Zheng had known this order wouldn't be small, but he never expected it to be this massive! Unless dried, fresh seafood doesn't last long. He had initially thought even a large order would have its limits, but this far exceeded his estimates!
After reviewing the last page, Wu Zheng took a sip of tea to steady himself before saying, "Currently, my fishing firm doesn't have this much stock. May I ask how many days you can give me to prepare?"
Hua Zhi shook her head. "Not now. This isn't a one-time deal either. I plan to receive the first batch in August, with the second batch ten days later. Subsequent delivery schedules will depend on how business goes."
It was like manna from heaven!
Wu Zheng's mind was filled with that thought. He bit the tip of his tongue hard to calm down and pressed further, "Regarding the quantity..."
"If business picks up later, the quantity will naturally increase accordingly." Hua Zhi smiled. "Surely Manager Wu can handle it?"
"I can handle it, of course I can handle it." Even if he couldn't, there were ways to manage—as long as he could secure this deal, nothing else would be a problem!
At this point, their positions in the negotiation had completely reversed, with Hua Zhi sitting firmly in the driver's seat.
"The prices are all listed. The final transaction price will depend on our future discussions." Hua Zhi stood up. "I'm in no hurry. Manager Wu can take your time to consider. I'll return at this time tomorrow."
Wu Zheng hurriedly rose as well. "Let me see you out, Miss."
They bid farewell at the fishing firm's entrance. Once the party had gone some distance, Wu Zheng immediately sent someone to follow them and see where they were staying. Turning back, he instructed his chief steward, "Go fetch Li Xiang right away."
Li Xiang was the owner of Shun Chang Fishing Firm, who had joined forces with Wu Zheng to compete against Yu Shun Fishing Firm. Upon hearing this, Chen Er immediately understood what his boss was planning.
"Chen Er, if this succeeds, you'll be handsomely rewarded."
Chen Er grinned widely—he knew his boss would never shortchange him!
Back at the inn, Bao Xia and Xu Ying went off to handle miscellaneous tasks. Hua Zhi turned to Little Six, who had been looking like he had something to say all the way. "Worried?"
The Sixth Prince hesitated. "I'm not sure if the prices are right."
"Once they're shown to others, right or wrong, they can't be changed. Business operates on integrity—there's no room for going back on your word. If we've made a mistake this time, I'll bear the consequences for you. But Little Six, not all consequences can be shouldered afterward. Money is one thing, but what about human lives? Once someone dies, they can't be brought back to life."
The Sixth Prince lowered his head, feeling both ashamed and remorseful.
Hua Zhi straightened the collar of this child who was already nearly as tall as her. "Remember, it's better to be overprepared than to give yourself reason for regret, understand?"
"Yes, I'll remember."
"Good that you remember. It's still early—go take a walk and look around. If you're unsure about anything, clarify it further. Just be careful."The Sixth Prince looked up. The longer he spent with Sister Hua, the more he envied Berlin. Berlin had been taught and cared for by Sister Hua for many years like this. He himself felt so blessed just from receiving this little bit of attention—he couldn't imagine how blessed Berlin must feel.
Hua Zhi didn't ponder the emotions flickering in the child's eyes. Watching him leave, she called Wang Cheng in immediately. "There's a Yu Shun Fishing Firm here whose methods are likely unscrupulous. You must protect Little Six at all costs—absolutely no carelessness."
"Yes."
"Hurry along now."
Tapping the table with her fingers, Hua Zhi instructed, "Everyone stay alert. This is a small place—our arrival won't go unnoticed."
Shaoyao rubbed against her with a sly chuckle. "Don't worry, Hua Hua. I'll give anyone who dares show up a proper welcome."
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