Chapter Fourteen: The Wager

The young woman in the linen robe glanced outside, and immediately several younger men gathered around her, trying to curry favor as they said, “Miss Little Ear of Grain, that young gentleman came to buy flatbread, but for some reason your father refused to sell it to him, and the two started arguing!”

The others chimed in, echoing the explanation.

The linen-robed girl looked at Wei Renshi, then turned to her father. The old man explained, “I told you a few days ago when I came home—he said our flatbread lacked flavor, and boasted that if he opened a shop himself, he could drive us out of business. That brash youth—it's him!”

The young woman laughed upon hearing this. “Father, what need is there for this? He's just a young lad, likely just talking big. He hasn't actually tried to ruin us, so why not sell him a flatbread?”

As she spoke, she walked to the counter and addressed Wei Renshi, “Young gentleman, please don’t be upset. I apologize on my father’s behalf. How many would you like?”

Wei Renshi saw that the lady’s attitude was pleasant, and was about to respond, but the old man would not relent. He came over and blocked the way, declaring, “No sale! He claims he wasn’t boasting before, so let him tell me—what flavor is my flatbread missing? I, Old Wang, have sold flatbread all my life. I wouldn’t dare boast elsewhere, but here in Fuchang, I’ll say none are better than mine. How dare you disparage it?”

Old Wang had spent a lifetime selling this flatbread; it was his greatest achievement, his pride and joy. Hearing Wei Renshi say it wasn’t good enough felt like a personal insult, so he wouldn’t let it go.

Wei Renshi, irritated now, didn’t want to argue with such a petty old man and was about to leave, but then noticed the packets of herbs in his hand. An idea sprang to mind.

He raised his head and said to the old man, “You old fellow, I merely pointed out a flaw in your flatbread, and you’re so petty about it! Fine, I’ll say it outright: Your flatbread does have a shortcoming, not in the bread itself but in the meat. The bread is well baked, but the meat inside is lacking. If you don’t believe me, give me a few days to prepare. Let’s set a date and have a face-to-face contest. Do you dare?”

Everyone around was startled by these words. The linen-robed girl immediately wanted to refuse, but her father was quicker, replying, “Why wouldn’t I dare?”

At that moment, a voice came from behind. Accompanied by the voice, a man stepped forward—it was Zheng, the village bailiff. He asked, “Wei Renshi? What’s happening here? Is someone bullying you?”

Beside him stood a tall, burly man.

“It’s nothing, just that I’ve challenged this old flatbread vendor to a wager,” Wei Renshi replied, then turned to Old Wang, “Let me go home and prepare. In half a month, I’ll return here, and we’ll bake side by side for the crowd to taste and judge whose is better. Do you dare?”

“Ha, I’m not afraid you’ll run away!” Old Wang scoffed.

“How will we determine the winner?” Wei Renshi asked.

Old Wang replied, “Everyone here can witness that it was this brash youth who challenged me, not the other way around. Half a month it is—if you lose, you must admit your fault and apologize to me in front of everyone. But if you fail to show up in half a month, what then?”

“A true gentleman would never break his word! I am a scholar—if I lack integrity, how can I study the teachings of the sages and pursue the wisdom of the masters? I, Wei Renshi of Changgu, leave my name here today and will return in half a month.”

“Good! We’ll all come taste it!” The crowd, eager for excitement, cheered him on, amused by his boldness.

Zheng, not knowing the backstory, hurried to pull Wei Renshi away when he heard the challenge had been issued.

“No need to worry, Uncle Zheng,” Wei Renshi said with a smile. “Let’s go.”

The three left and found another place to eat. Along the way, Wei Renshi explained the situation to Zheng, and as they sat waiting for their meal, Zheng asked, “If he won’t sell, so be it—it’s not as if there’s a shortage of flatbread. Why challenge him? Old Wang has been making flatbread since I returned, for decades now, and his flatbread is indeed the best in Fuchang.”

The implication was that Wei Renshi had little chance of beating Old Wang.

Wei Renshi smiled, “No other reason. His business is good and well-known in Fuchang. I intend to start a business related to food, and this is a perfect opportunity to let people know about it.”

“A business related to food?” Zheng was surprised.

Wei Renshi didn’t elaborate, but changed the subject, asking, “Uncle Zheng, who is this gentleman?”

“Oh, this is Tian Dali, the eldest son-in-law of our village’s Sixth Uncle. He works at the county office now,” Zheng explained. “I went to inform the magistrate about the plows and irrigation today, and happened to meet him, so I invited him to join us. Dali, this is Wei Renshi of Changgu. He is the one I mentioned to the magistrate, who created the new plow and irrigation devices.”

“Greetings, Uncle Tian,” Wei Renshi raised his hand in greeting.

“Is he really just a youth?!” Tian Dali stared at Wei Renshi in surprise. “To improve agricultural tools—that’s quite a talent!”

“You flatter me, Uncle Tian,” Wei Renshi replied with a smile.

Zheng, still concerned about the earlier events, asked, “Are you really going to compete with Old Wang in making flatbread?”

Wei Renshi nodded, “That’s right. I admit I can’t match him in baking bread itself. But in other aspects, I’m not afraid. Uncle Zheng, who in our village is best at baking bread? I need someone to help me.”

Zheng laughed, “How fortunate!”

Tian Dali also smiled, “My wife is excellent at baking bread. She can help you, Wei Renshi.”

“That’s wonderful, thank you, Uncle Tian!” Wei Renshi said joyfully, raising his hand in gratitude. “Uncle Zheng, you should help me too. Usually, I don’t get the chance to show my skills—my mother is strict. But this time, I’ll show you and Uncle Tian what truly delicious meat flatbread is.”

“Does Wei Renshi really have such culinary skills?!” Zheng was first surprised, then laughed. “Is there anything else you need to prepare? Let us know—we may be able to help.”

“There’s one item that’s difficult to obtain—it’s impossible right now. But for everything else, I need a blacksmith to make some things. That’s all for now,” Wei Renshi replied thoughtfully.

Zheng nodded, “The blacksmith is no problem—the one who made the waterwheel is from Changgu. We can call him back. If you need money, just ask.”

“Thank you, Uncle Zheng!” Wei Renshi said.