Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Fixation (2)_1 Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Fixation (2)_1 “Honored masters, please.” Lin Ziyin served the tofu soup.
“Host brother, let me try it first.” The Guest Keeper suggested.
“Together.” The host replied, picking up his chopsticks first.
Even the simplest tofu with salt tastes much better than just boiled cabbage in water.
The monks silently finished the tofu soup in their bowls, then put down the bowls in their hands.
“I wonder how much these tofu would sell for?” The host inquired.
“Ten coins a kilogram.” Lin Ziyin answered.
“Why is it so expensive?” The Guest Keeper raised his eyebrows in surprise. “It seems to be just made from beans.”
“Yes, indeed it includes beans, but there are other ingredients as well. Moreover, making tofu involves many steps. If not careful, a whole pot can be ruined, wasting all the ingredients. Considering the kindness of the temple, I was willing to bring it for the masters to nourish their bodies. To be honest, because the temple cannot use meat oil, the deliciousness of the tofu is much compromised. It was quite a pressure for us to bring it here.” Lin Ziyin explained.
“Beans only cost two coins a kilogram, but your tofu has more than doubled in price, not to mention the water content. The price indeed seems a bit high.” The Guest Keeper still seemed concerned.
“Master, you can’t calculate it that way. Although beans are cheap, making them into tofu is more than just talk. We wouldn’t want to put any master in a difficult position. We absolutely cannot decrease the price, otherwise, we would not make any profit. If the masters cannot accept this price, I wouldn’t force it upon you. Grandfather, brother, let’s sell elsewhere.” Lin Ziyin insisted firmly.
Lin Changshu was secretly anxious on the inside. He wanted to make this deal with the temple, as the numerous monks would demand tofu daily. If a deal were to be made, it would greatly improve their family’s well-being.
“Could it be eight coins a kilogram?” The Guest Keeper didn’t expect the young girl to be so tough, ready to reject the deal without a second thought.
“No, that’s too little. There’s no profit.” Lin Ziyin shook her head and rejected.
“Girl.” The old man intervened.
Lin Ziyin looked at the old man, seeing his troubled expression, she sighed. The old man was too kind-hearted indeed. “Master, considering you’ve always looked after the Lin Family, nine coins, it really cannot be less. Otherwise, we’d practically be working for free. However, there’s a condition.”
“What condition?” The Guest Keeper asked.
“Our Lin family would like to conduct some small business in the market in the future, so we would like to store some furnaces and such in the temple, would that be possible?” Lin Ziyin stated her terms, “Of course, we won’t take it for granted, for each day we conduct our business, we’ll give an extra kilogram of tofu to the temple.”
That works! The Guest Keeper looked at the Host, waiting for his decision.
The Host calculated in his mind. The temple requires thirty kilograms of tofu daily, which would only cost around two hundred and seventy coins, but tofu has high nutritional value, so this is a good deal. “Can you deliver thirty kilograms of tofu daily?”
“Yes, completely possible.” Lin Changshu was overjoyed. Thirty kilograms of tofu per day equates to two hundred and seventy coins. Minus the cost of beans and firewood, clear two hundred coins could be made.
This was a much better deal compared to working laboriously.
“Shall we start delivering tomorrow?” The old man could not suppress his joy.
“Amitabha, it’ll begin tomorrow.” The Host made the final decision.
Lin Ziyin secretly rejoiced, their family life would significantly improve in the future.
“Master, there’s one more thing I need to clarify. From now on, if our family is busy making tofu, grandfather won’t come to deliver firewood.” She said with a smile.
The Host gave her a meaningful look, then nodded, “We can find someone else to deliver firewood.”
Lin Ziyin was unnerved by his gaze, the old monk’s eyes were too mysterious, and she felt inexplicably nervous.
“Benevolent benefactor, Amitabha, you possess a deep karmic bond with Buddha.” The Host spoke again.
“Thank you for your praise, Master.” Lin Ziyin thanked, grinning. In her mind, however, she was rolling her eyes. A deep karmic bond with Buddha, that was nonsense. She never believed in Buddha.