SC1 10.2 – Big Storehouse
Winter would come soon and most hunters would cease their hunt. Therefore, Butcher Jin would try to stock as much meat as possible. When I said I had more than a thousand fresh killed pheasants and hare, he instantly decided to buy half of it.
“Are you sure you want to buy that many?” In casual tone I tried to confirm Butcher Jin’s intention.
“I am,” Butcher Jin firmly replied. “I already bought tons of coarse salt to preserve it, and actually that amount would only last a week or two once the hunters cease their hunt.”
“I will still do some hunting in winter and sale the harvest here. You don’t need to make big buy in one go.”
“It’s okay. Salted pheasant and hare could last for three months.”
“I see.”
Wasting no time I piled up pheasants and hare from my spatial storage to the floor. Butcher Jin then called his wife and sons to help him selected and weight the pheasant or hare they wanted.
“Warrior Deitoro, as usual, you always have fresh and perfect harvest,” Butcher Jin said as he selected a fat hare.
“Yeah,” I replied briefly.
Then, Butcher Jin turned his gaze to Yunno and Yui who stood next to me, “Do these kids carry out the hunt too?”
“Not yet,” I casually replied. “I will let them go to hunt only when they possess sufficient skill to escape dangerous situation.”
“I see. It’s a wise decision, and unlike their original family who exploited their parent and then sold them.”
After a smile I said, “It seems you are aware of Tadaoka Household’s matter.”
“Everyone around Rokube knows how Kazuyori exploited her daughter and her son-in-law, or her crazy obsession to make her third son into government official.”
“To be honest, I also don’t understand how she can have such nasty personality and obsession.”
“Fortunately,” After taking a deep breath Butcher Jin continued, “Now they are staying with you.”
While in my heart I smiled amusingly I asked, “How do you know it’s fortunate for them to stay with me?”
“Once glance and I know you treat them properly,” Butcher Jin said without stopping his work in checking and selecting the fattest hare or pheasant.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“I’m flattered,” I genuinely said.
A few minutes later the weighing completed and Butcher Jin paid me. His wife also gave Yunno and Yui a small bundle of rice crackers, and I silently carved this gesture of kindness deep in my heart.
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Our next stop was Sotora, and as soon as I entered it Minami immediately walked over to us with big smile.
“Welcome, Warrior Deitoro.” Minami turned her gaze to Yunno and Yui before adding, “And these two sweeties must be Yunno and Yui.”
“Yeah.”
I replied as inwardly I heaved a deep sigh. It seemed Butcher Jin was right. Everyone around Rokube knew Tadaoka Household’s matter to some extent.
“Little Yunno and Little Yui, welcome to Sotora,” Minami said in friendly tone. “You can call me Big Sis Minami.”
“Nice to meet you, Big Sis Minami.”
Yunno politely said while Yui nodded her head.
After giving Yunno and Yui another smile, Minami turned her gaze to me. “Warrior Deitoro, what can I do for you?”
“I need writing supply,” I calmly said. “Along with a few jars pickled-napa cabbage and dozen bamboo strainer.”
“Understood.”
In swift but happy manner Minami assisted me, and it took only 15 minutes before I got everything I needed and paid it in the cashier. Actually, Yunno and Yui curiously looked over to every inch of Sotora, but we had no time for recreational shopping.
Not to mention, when later they shopped with Kato, they could satisfy their curiosity to the fullest. But for now, it’s first thing first.
“Warrior Deitoro, if I may know, do you plan to buy sweet potato today?” Minami politely asked as she walked us to the front door.
Big question mark instantly appeared in my forehead. “How do you know I want to buy sweet potato?”
“Last time you bought a big batch of sweet potato in green market, one of my senior saw it and told me.”
“I see.” I slightly nodded two times before saying, “You are correct. I want to buy lot of sweet potato today.”
“May I suggest you to buy it from our place,” Minami expectantly said. “I guarantee you. Our place has the best price in the town.”
“Do you mean Sotora is also selling sweet potato?”
“Yeah, we sell various staple foods. Taro, sweet potato, potato, corn, peanut, soy bean, mug bean, red bean, rice, and other agriculture commodity.”
“Can I check it?”
“Please follow me.”
Without delay Minami took us to the back yard of Sotora, and then we crossing a long, wide, and beautiful inner yard before arriving at a front yard of a big storehouse.
“We make a sale only to a listed wholesaler, but I have permission from Owner Tokuma to put you in the list,” Minami explained as she took us to enter the storehouse.
“Does the owner buy the goods from the farmer directly?” I asked.
“No, the goods are from his own farmland. He owns almost all farmland in the east of Rokube.”
“Wait a second,” I creased my brow as I recalled some story. “If I remember it correctly, that farmland belongs to a former high-ranking official from Kamakura. He chose to stay in Rokube after retiring from his position four years ago, and open that farmland.”
“Correct, Owner Tokuma is that retired high-ranking official,” Minami happily replied.
“I see. No wonder the farmland was opened almost at the same time with Sotora.” I nodded my head like someone who just received enlightenment. “Well then, show me the example of best sweet potato, potato, corn, soy bean, sunflower seed, and short-grain rice you have.”
“Please wait for a moment.”
Wasting no time Minami complied with my request, and after through fully checking the sample one by one, I had to admit the quality and the price for each item was beyond my expectation.
In bulk sales the prices was:
Sweet potato, 80 cent/kg
Potato, 60 cent/kg
Corn (dried), 1.10 moon/kg
Soy bean (dried), 1.10 moon/kg
Sun flower seed (dried), 40 cent/kg
Short-grain rice, 1.20 moon/kg
“Are you sure the price is correct?” I hesitantly asked. “It’s below the price in green market.”
“Absolutely,” Minami firmly replied. “This storehouse has five-level big cellar, and each one is equipped with preservation rune. Therefore, we can store as much goods as we could and maintain a stable price the year around.”
“I see.”
Rokube Town was located in region with long growing period, short winter, and fertile land. So, if you had storing facility equipped with preservation rune to store the abundant harvest, you would be able to maintain stable price and sufficient supply. Maybe, this was the reason why for the last few winters Rokube Town didn’t experience a spike of price for staple food.
“Well,” I happily said. “Give me yellow sweet potato, purple sweet potato, corn, potato, soy bean, sun flower seed, and short-grain rice, 200 kg each.”
“Are you sure you want to buy that many?”
“Yes, we will storage it in our spatial ring.”
“Understood.”
Without delay Minami asked the storehouse manager to prepare the goods. Then, as the storehouse also had vegetables and fruits for bulk sales, I decided to buy some. It was only 10 kg for each vegetable, but it was a good chance to teach Yunno and Yui how to select the best ingredient for my cooking.
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