Chapter 9 Earn your own dignity

Wu Song had no idea that he was recognized, let alone that he was misunderstood by Ximen Qing. He regretted it as soon as he walked out of the pharmacy.

Not only did he scold Pan Jinlian, he also said harsh words to Wu Da who had returned home. The relationship between the family members was so strained, how could he have the face to offer medicine now?
Return the medicine? Too embarrassed.

I was thinking about it all the way with a conflicted mind, and when I looked up, I was already outside the yamen.

Forget it, I’ll keep it for now and find a chance later.

Wu Song was worried that night and dragged Yang Chang to drink until midnight.

The heavy snow lasted for two days before it stopped. When I opened the door, I saw nothing but white.

Wu Song originally wanted to find Wu Da and suggest that he set up a stall at home, but as soon as he walked out of the yamen gate, he turned around and went back.

He had said harsh words to Pan Jinlian that day, and was afraid of being ridiculed by her when he returned home, so he thought that Wu Hui would come to find him. After all, they were brothers from the same mother, so how could they hold grudges overnight?
Wu Song and Wu Da have depended on each other for many years, and he is used to his brother giving in first every time.

But this time, he miscalculated.

Pan Jinlian failed to seduce Wu Song, and was instead insulted and scolded by Wu Song, who not only said mean things to Wu Da, but also forbade him to go to the yamen.

Wu Da is honest, dutiful and cowardly. He is caught between his wife and his brother. He is unwilling to agree with Pan Jinlian in speaking ill of Wu Song, nor does he want to go to the yamen to find his brothers to talk it out. Every morning, he makes pancakes and goes out on his shoulder, not returning home until dusk. He uses avoidance to deal with family conflicts.

Wu Song waited for several days, but Wu Da never showed up.

In desperation, he thought of Yang Chang and asked him to find Wu Da on his behalf and persuade his brother to do business at home.

Yang Chang understood immediately and went to Zi Shi Street first after receiving the task.

After confirming that Wu Da was not at home at the time, they asked the neighbors about his whereabouts. Finally, they found him near the Lion Bridge and heard someone selling pancakes.

"Chuibing, delicious chuibing, two cents each."

The voice was clear and childish. Yang Chang knew it was not Wu Da, so he looked in the direction of the sound with curiosity. He saw a young man leaning against the railing beside the bridge, shouting and hawking his wares, with his hands folded for warmth.

Since we are colleagues from Wuhan University, maybe he knows his whereabouts.

When Yang Chang thought of this, he strode up the stairs and headed towards the Lion Bridge.

When the boy came to the bridge, the man squatting next to him was none other than Wu Dalang.
Wu Song and Pan Jinlian were at odds, and as the eldest brother he was unable to resolve the situation, so he could only squat outside and suffer alone. Even his hawking had to be done by outsiders.

"Big brother!"

"Saburo?"

Wu Da was so frightened when he heard the sound that he climbed up, which surprised the young man next to him.

"Da Lang, I didn't say you have a brother."

"Brother Yun, he is Erlang's acknowledged brother, the Third Brother of the Yang Family."

"Oh"

As soon as Yang Changgang walked up to him, Wu Da enthusiastically introduced him.

Upon hearing that the young man was Yun Ge, an important supporting actor in the Wuda tragedy, Yang Chang could not help but take a few more glances at him. Judging from his clothes and appearance, he was a poor child who made a living in the market, but he had a sense of justice in his heart.

"Brother, I see that you don't look well. Why don't you go home and rest earlier? It won't hurt to sell two fewer fans."

"I'm fine."

Wu Da shook his head and explained, "I was just squatting underground to avoid the wind. It's colder than snowing on this thaw day. The pancakes I made in the morning won't sell on the same day. If they are left overnight, they won't taste good tomorrow. Even if the price is reduced, no one will buy them. So I'd better sell them out before returning. Sanlang, you can go and do your official business. Yun Ge will help me take care of things."

"How much is left? I bought them all for you."

Yang Changyan went to take out the silver, but Wu Da grabbed him and said sternly, "Sanlang, don't do this. You want to eat a few, but you can't pay for them. Erlang will be angry with me if he knows."

"hehe."

Yang Chang nodded and smiled, "My second brother asked me to come. There has been a heavy snowfall in Yanggu County these days, and he is worried that you will catch a cold and get sick if you stay outside for a long time."

"It's okay. I'm wearing thick clothes."

Wu Da felt bad after hearing this, but he forced himself to smile at Yang Chang: "Just take care of yourselves. I'm used to it over the years. When it snows, there are fewer people and less business, so I have to stay out for a few more hours."

"Second brother's idea is that you should stop carrying your load through the streets and alleys and sell at your doorstep. This way, you won't be exposed to the wind and sun. If there are many customers, you can make more. If there are few customers, you can make less." As soon as Yang Chang finished speaking, Wu Da hadn't said anything to refuse, but Yun Ge beside him couldn't help but retort, "Wu Dutou doesn't know how to do business. How many people come and go in Zi Shi Street? If Dalang stays at home to do business, I'm afraid he won't even sell half of what he usually sells."

"Yes."

Wu Da nodded and agreed: "Doing business is not that simple. You and Erlang don't have to worry about me. Just do your job well in the government office."

"Haha, you can't say that."

Yang Chang smiled and pointed at the restaurant under the bridge and said, "Look at the big restaurant across the street. Why don't they sell their food on poles? As long as they build a reputation with the taste, customers will come to them. If you sell pancakes at home, you can set up a steamer outside the door. Hot pancakes will definitely taste better than cold ones."

“What a hassle.”

Wu Da frowned upon hearing this, but Yun Ge affirmed: "Brother Yang is right, it's just that a good reputation is not easy to come by."

"That's not difficult."

After Yang Chang finished speaking, he gave Yun Ge a mysterious smile and said, "Just find someone to spread the word everywhere. Yun Ge, are you willing to help with the promotion? I will pay you when the time comes."

"really?"

Yun Ge was overjoyed when he heard this, thinking, is there such a good thing?

"Do I sound like I'm kidding?"

"That's great, I'm willing to do that."

Seeing that Yang Chang and Yun Ge took it seriously, Wu Da was so anxious that he jumped up and down. He pulled Yang Chang aside and said in a deep voice: "Sanlang, I am a small business, how can I afford to hire people? Besides, publicity may not be useful."

"Haha."

Yang Chang held Wu Da's rough hand and said confidently, "Promotion requires strategy. If you want to gain fame, you need to make concessions in the early stage to attract customers and then lock them in with the taste."

"Profit-giving? Two cents for a pancake, that's the market price in Yanggu and even in Song Dynasty, the profit is already very thin."

"You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a lamb. Buy five and get one free, will that be a loss?"

"That won't happen."

After hearing Wu Da's answer, Yang Chang turned to Yun Ge and asked, "Would you run a few more miles to buy an extra pancake?"

"hey-hey."

Yun Ge scratched his head and smiled: "Of course I am willing, but rich people won't do that."

"Buy five and get two free? Or three free."

Yun Ge's eyes were wide open, as if to say who wouldn't want to take advantage of a bargain? Wu Da was so anxious that he interrupted Yang Chang and reminded him: "San Lang, I just said that the profit is small, buy five get three free is a loss"

"Don't be afraid of losing money, bro. This is to attract customers. A small loss can be earned back. Why don't you set a buy five get three free offer three days before the opening, and each person can only get one free offer."

After Yang Chang comforted Wu Da, he turned to look at Yun Ge and said, "Do you think that with this kind of publicity, customers will be willing to walk two more miles?"

“That’s great.”

"It's settled. I want all the remaining pancakes here. Let's go back and discuss it. We'll do business at home in the future."

Without further ado, Yang Chang picked up the pole and prepared to help Wu Da carry the basket home. He lowered his head and lifted the white cloth on the basket, took out two pancakes from it and handed them to Yun Ge, saying, "I'll give you two pancakes. Come to Zi Shi Street in two days to discuss publicity matters. You'll be paid."

"Thank you very much."

Yun Ge took the pancake and bowed to express his gratitude, then he started to tease Wu Da: "Da Lang, Brother Yang is more straightforward than you, and Wu Dutou has good taste."

"Here."

Wu Da didn't expect that Yang Chang was serious. He stood there with a groggy head. When he woke up, Yun Ge had already walked far away, and Yang Chang had already picked up two baskets.

"Sanlang, although you said it very well, I have to discuss it with my wife, so I can't be impatient."

"Don't worry, big brother. I will help you with some advice. You have to earn your dignity back. My second brother did it by beating the tiger. You don't want to be looked down upon by your sister-in-law, do you?"

"I"

(End of this chapter)