Chapter 65: Price Drop

Not long after Madam Shen left, the Directorate of Ceremonial delivered an imperial edict.

The newly succeeded Duke of Ningguo, Ning Yuanjun, was additionally appointed as Minister of War, overseeing the defense affairs of the capital garrison.

Even when the old Duke was alive, he had never received such heavy responsibilities.

Old Madam Ning and Madam Ning immediately went to the ancestral hall to give thanks for the ancestors’ blessings.

Ningguo Mansion inevitably held a family banquet, with opera performances and drinking, making for a lively evening.

Old Madam Ning was beaming with joy, rewarding the servants with an extra month’s allowance and a new set of clothes each, and adding more meat and dishes to the evening meal.

The dinner at Phoenix Ripple Courtyard was prepared by Granny Fan.

Spicy pork head, roasted fatty duck, dry-fried small fish, a medley of fresh vegetables, and white rice.

Pear Moon’s mood also improved, and she happily ate two large bowls.

After dinner, as promised earlier in the day, Granny Fan gave her four pig’s trotters.

With plenty of rich food these past few days and the hot weather, Pear Moon was worried the meat wouldn’t keep.

Granny Fan taught her to boil the trotters until tender, remove the bones, wrap them in cloth, and press them down with two pieces of bluestone.

Early the next morning, she was to use a coarse porcelain jar to marinate the trotter meat in fermented rice wine.

Pork head, pig’s trotters, and poultry feet could all be preserved this way, not only lasting longer but also gaining more flavor.

Granny Fan came from a background of rough labor and had a knack for making hearty home-style dishes.

It was just a pity that Shen Shi didn’t like them, finding them not fresh enough, not refined enough, not beautiful enough, and not light enough.

She was well-suited for cooking large pots of food, but her skills were wasted serving in the small kitchen.

From that day on, Shen Shi no longer dared to feign illness.

She went morning and evening to Brocade Prosperity Hall and Crane Longevity Hall to pay her respects, attending to Old Madam Ning and Madam Ning.

She also sent gifts to the second and third madams every few days, chatting and keeping them company.

Every day, she forced smiles and conversation, putting on the appearance of a filial daughter-in-law.

On two occasions when guests visited Tranquil Study, she even took the initiative to send wine and dishes over.

Madam Ning’s intention to arrange a concubine for her son was still just a rumor.

But with Shen Shi suddenly becoming so attentive, gossip began to spread.

The attractive maids in Phoenix Ripple Courtyard started getting restless again.

Each one powdered their faces and applied rouge, dressing up heavily with thick makeup and strong fragrance.

Jiangnan goose-egg powder cost one tael of silver per box, and rose rouge cost five mace for ten sheets.

The maids in Phoenix Ripple Courtyard competed to buy these from the shops, spending money without batting an eye.

And these were just the most ordinary goods; higher-quality ones were also available.

Pomegranate-red rouge paste in a silver clam-shell box cost five taels of silver per mace.

Jasmine-scented powder sticks, fine, smooth, and fragrant, cost two taels of silver each.

If one bought these, just applying them to the face daily would cost over one tael of silver.

Seeing them acting as if they’d picked up gold ingots, Pear Moon couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

After inquiring privately, she learned that they had all bought pepper and made some money from it.

Pepper had already risen to over six taels per catty. She didn’t know about others, but almost everyone in Phoenix Ripple Courtyard had bought some.

Autumn Abundance deeply regretted selling too early, lamenting every morning upon waking that she had missed out on earning a hundred taels.

Fortunately, she was timid and didn’t dare buy more even with money, fearing she might lose it someday.

She and Huan Huan took on work, helping others queue to buy and sell pepper, charging three mace of silver per trip.

Maids and grannies who couldn’t get away came to hire them with money.

Autumn Abundance was good at accounting, pretending to go out and queue while secretly buying and selling on the side, earning a few extra taels from the price difference.

After several busy days, they finally took a break.

“The price dropped today, five taels and five mace per catty,” Autumn Abundance chatted idly while cracking melon seeds.

It was the first price drop in many days, so Pear Moon looked up at her.

“It dropped two mace the morning before yesterday but rose back in the afternoon. Today’s drop was bigger, and it hasn’t risen again.”

With no one in the Small Tea Room, Autumn Abundance took three taels of broken silver and stuffed it into Pear Moon’s purse.

“You’ll cook tonight. Huan Huan wants braised trotters.”

What a picky little thing—she didn’t say she wanted it herself but pushed it onto someone else.

After earning money these past few days, all of them had rounded out, looking plump and fair.

The pig trotters had been marinating for several days, and Pear Moon was also eager to try them, so she sent the two of them to the Small Stove Room to tend the fire.

It was an overcast, rainy day, with many flower petals and tender leaves scattered along the corridor.

Pear Moon simmered a pot of sugarcane sweet soup, preparing it for Shen Shi to drink after dinner.

In a wooden basin, licorice and chrysanthemum greens were soaking, along with a large handful of mugwort shoots.

Pear Moon discussed with Granny Fan about making chrysanthemum seedling pancakes and mugwort clam stir-fry for dinner.

The tender tips of the chrysanthemum seedlings were blanched, mixed with yam flour and licorice broth to form a batter, then pan-fried in hot oil into small patties.

The yam was soft and glutinous, the chrysanthemum seedlings fragrant and fresh, carrying a rustic charm reminiscent of the woods.

Mugwort was also a seasonal delicacy of spring. After blanching to preserve its color, it was stir-fried with clam meat, seasoned with salt and vinegar.

The mugwort’s aroma was rich and penetrating, while the clams were savory and springy.

With these two dishes served, no matter how refined or finicky one was, there would be nothing to criticize.

Pear Moon had learned this from a family banquet, sneaking a taste when the plates were being cleared.

The oil, salt, vinegar, pepper, and wine were all ordinary, but it was a pity that soy sauce was used for seasoning, making the color a bit too dark.

She planned to use fermented bean sauce instead, which would not only brighten the color but also enhance the flavor.

Just as she was about to leave with the vegetables, she saw Xiafu and a few others hurriedly running in.

“Sisters, would you like some tea? The water just boiled.” Pear Moon took out the tea leaves.

Xiafu quickly replied, “Xiao Yue, you’re busy. We’ll just sit for a moment and leave.”

“The price dropped so fast! It’s already five taels and three maces, and I bought it at six taels!”

“I want to sell, but Xiang Hui-jie won’t let me. She says it’ll rise tomorrow.”

“What if it drops again tomorrow? I’m so anxious!”

“The silver was borrowed from someone else. Even if I lose some money, I should sell. My heart is pounding!”

Dressed in bright, flowery clothes, powdered with fragrant makeup, lips stained with rouge, their hair sleek and glossy, adorned with new silk flowers.

Without even asking, it was clear they had made money speculating on pepper and were now losing it.

The maids had little silver, and many had pooled their money to buy. When prices rose, they didn’t feel it, but now that they were falling, everyone was uneasy.

Pear Moon left them behind and hurried to the Small Stove Room to cook.

Over there, Granny Fan was also worried about the falling pepper prices. She had ten catties on hand and hadn’t sold any yet.

“Mama bought early, so selling now would still be profitable. Better to sell early and put your mind at ease.”

Cold vegetables sizzled as they hit the hot oil, and Pear Moon quickly stirred them.

Granny Fan was still hesitating, filled with regret.

“If I’d sold at six taels, I could’ve made over twenty taels. Now it’s dropped to five taels and three maces, and I’ll only make a little over ten taels. If it rises back to six taels tomorrow, I’ll definitely sell!”

She wouldn’t listen to advice and hurried away on anxious feet.

In the evening, Pear Moon braised the pig trotters, and the three of them hid in the small room to eat.

Everyone in Phoenix Ripple Courtyard was talking about pepper prices, and they felt awkward listening.

The braised trotters were tender and flavorful, the meat gelatinous and incredibly fragrant!

“It must be that pepper from other regions has arrived.”

The wine-marinated trotters weren’t greasy, and the wine aroma was refreshing. Pear Moon took another piece.

“Exactly!” Autumn Abundance lightly slapped the table.

“Since yesterday, they’ve been selling pepper from the south. Some of it is still green and not fully dried!”

“Some say the price might rise again tomorrow.” Huan Huan, having gained some insight, chimed in.

“Rise, my foot! It dropped seven maces in a day. Who would dare buy now? Everyone’s selling, so how could it rise?”

Autumn Abundance made sense, and Pear Moon also thought it unlikely to rise again.

Pepper from Jiangnan had arrived and was piled up everywhere to dry, not yet released in large quantities.

In a couple of days, once it was fully dried and all put on the market, the price would only drop faster.

“Tomorrow, you two will tend to the tea stove and not go out running errands.”

“I’d like to run errands, but there’s no one to hire.”

Once prices dropped, who would still spend money to hire errand runners?

The next day, after breakfast, Pear Moon was about to wash the teacups and boil water to brew tea.

Outside the tea room, someone had already been stomping their feet and crying for a while.

“It’s dropped to four taels! It can’t even be sold, what do we do?”