TFA1 4.3 - Returning A Kindness

  Dourk Tavern, Walluo City.

  The lunch went quick and the food was as delicious as Captain Rumus said. The delicacy of each menu was equivalent to a menu from family restaurant on earth. It was quite extraordinary because in Amstell Continent sugar, salt, and spices were expensive.

  Unfortunately, the ginger ale served by Dourk Tavern made the group from Magwurt City wanted to cry and swear non-stop.

  "This beer tastes like horse pee mixed with boiled ginger water," Captain Rumus complained while glancing at Amur Beer samples.

  Lt. Colonel Slane said casually, "Maybe we can offer Amur Beer to this tavern."

  "Ser Slane, with all respect, I think Amur Beer deserves a better place,” Captain Rummus said in pleading tone. "One of my men can return to Magwurt City to pick up Lady Maine. Then, we can follow her advice to meet noble families at Walluo Castle."

  Lt. Colonel Slane took a bite of his apple before saying, "Captain, it doesn't matter where we start, what matters is where we end. Moreover, the Amur Beer we carry is not the exclusive commodity for nobles."

  Captain Rumus fell in silent while Lt. Colonel Slane cheerfully called one of the waitresses.

  "I want to thank the cook for the delicious lunch he made. Can I offer him a glass of beer?"

  The waitress who seemed to be 17-18 years old nodded before saying proudly, "Papa was the head cook at Walluo Castle before opening this tavern. Unfortunately, his habit of giving leftover food to beggars made him lost his position."

  "No wonder."

  Lt. Colonel Slane smiled, and then took a beer glass that will be included in Amur Beer's promotion. Meanwhile, Captain Rumus grabbed a small barrel containing Amur Beer samples from his man and immediately opened the seal.

  As Amur Beer fell to the glass in Lt. Colonel Slane's hand, the waitress was amazed at the clear golden-yellow beer.

  And not long after the young waitress brought Amur Beer to kitchen, an old man in casual clothes and a grey-colored apron came out carrying the empty glass.

  All of the man's hair had turned white, his face was also full of wrinkles, but his steps were steady while his eyes were sharp and clear.

  The Old Man gave a small bow before the Magwurt City group and then said, "Gentlemen, my name is Dourk and I am very honored by your compliments. The beer you brought is extraordinarily delicious."

  “…”

  Old Man Dourk looked at the empty glass in his hand before continuing in admiration, "I don't know who made it, but I'm sure it takes decades to perfect the recipe."

  Lt. Colonel Slane immediately got up to his feet before giving a small bow to Old Dourk, "My name is Slane, thank you for your compliment, and can we sell the Amur Beer you just tasted through this tavern?"

  Captain Rumus immediately invited Old Dourk to sit in his chair, or to be precise in front of Lt. Colonel Slane, and without hesitation Old Dourk accepted it as he said, "I don't mind, but I doubt I can buy Amur Beer.

  This shop’s profit is not great. I can't even hire workers, and only rely on my wife to help me in the kitchen while my daughters become the waitresses."

  Lt. Colonel Slane turned his gaze to Sturk before saying, "What about him?"

  "While recuperating Sturk works here, but apart from food and shelter I can't pay him properly. Honestly, I don't know how long he will last."

  After pondering for a moment Lt. Colonel Slane said, "Amur Beer is not expensive. It’s only 6 coins / glass. Also, for the first year you only need to pay 48 liters for each barrel of 50 liters."

  Old Dourk dropped his jaw before doubtfully asking, "Are you sure about the offer?"

  "I am."

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  "How many barrels you have brought?"

  "32 barrels. After you open the seal, each barrel must be consumed within 12 days before the taste becomes softer. For unopened barrels, the taste can last up to 2 years as long as you store it properly."

  After making a brief calculation Old Man Dourk said, "I'll take 15 barrels."

  "Can you take them all?"

  "Sorry, I have an adequate storage room, but I still have to buy vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, and other stuffs."

  "Mr. Dourk, right now you just have to pay a down payment and next month I will come to collect the rest. You can also return the unsold beer as long as it is remains in its original condition, or maybe you will increase the order later."

  Old Dourk looked at Lt. Colonel Slane deeply. "Mr. Slane, you have a strange way of trading."

  "You can call it a breakthrough in marketing."

  Old Man Dourk smiled faintly before asking, "Have you met the other bar owners? Most of them are pricks, but they are not idiots who can't see an opportunity. They'll grab your offer without hesitation."

  "Unfortunately, we didn't meet them and I’m tired of walking around."

  Old Dourk gave a small nod as he wondered why Lt. Colonel Slane didn't wait until he met a mid-range bar owner to get a better price, but in the end he chose not to reveal his heart.

  Lt. Colonel Slane smoothly closed the deal with Old Dourk, and the old man happily offered his cart to move Amur Beer to his tavern.

  ---

  A farm and ranch in south of Walluo City

  Of the hundreds of farming families in Kandez Region, Jarak Family was only a mid-level player. When Tuscan Region was at its prime, Jarak Family received only a small amount of orders. However, when Tuscan Region was at its lowest point, Jarak Family was the only farmer family who did not look away when Tuscan Region begged a significant amount of discount from them.

  The Jarak family even sold staple food to Tuscan Region for almost no profit several times. When Tuscan Region’s condition improved greatly, Viscount Rattel immediately decided that it was the time to return Jarak Family’s favor.

  Captain Rumus smoothly parked the M1152 in front of a large house with wooden walls and thatched roof, and as soon as he got off, an old man immediately approached him while dozens of children looked at the iron carriages that had just entered their yard with curious gaze.

  "You haven't visited me in a long time, and now when you come you are riding a strange iron carriage."

  "Uncle Jarak, it's nice to see you are healthy and fit."

  Old Jarak gave a small nod before speaking casually, "Come in, we have lot of excess vegetables in our field."

  As usual, Old Man Jarak would say he had a lot of excess vegetables and would sell them cheap. However, never once did he sell unworthy vegetables or fruit to Tuscan Region. Therefore, Captain Rumus felt his heart became warm while his gaze was fixed on the old farmer before him.

  "Ummm ... Uncle Jarak, we'd better talk first. Our order this time is bigger than usual."

  "It seems the news that Tuscan Region won the war against Northern Coalition is true."

  "Yeah, and now Tuscan Region's economy has improved."

  Without further ado, Old Jarak took the Magwurt City group to sit in the terrace, and not long after that several women came out carrying apples, pears, oranges, boiled corns, and roasted sweet potatoes.

  "I hope you are still fond of farmers' food."

  "Of course, for me and the entire Tuscan Region, every food from Jarak Family’s farmland is a priceless blessing."

  Without hesitation, Captain Rumus took a roasted sweet potato and devoured it cheerfully, while Lt. Colonel Slane and his bodyguards took various fruits.

  As a farmer who cares for every plant in his farmland like his own child, the stern expression on Old Jarak's face softened as he watched his guests cheerfully enjoy the harvest from his field.

  After putting a mouthful of roasted sweet potato in his mouth, Captain Rumus handed over a list to Old Man Jarak, who accepted it with wide eyes.

  In all his life he had never seen such white paper and such neat writing, so it was natural that he was stunned for a while, and when he read the list, Old Man Jarak became even more dumbfounded.

  Apart from wheat, barley, soybeans, and cereal crops, he could provide all vegetables, fruits, and tubers on the list. It's just that the list specifically stated that each product must be graded based on their size and quality.

  As for animal products such as meat, milk, and eggs, the condition for them was that they must be as fresh as possible.

  "The grading will be tiring, but I can do it. The problem is the quantity. It’s too big for my family. I have to invite other families, and of course they will not give you a discount like me."

  Captain Rumus casually nodded, "We will pay the normal price. It's just that we'll only talk to Uncle Jarak."

  As the sole representative, Jarak Family would receive a 2% commission from other families, but Old Jarak was in no rush to celebrate.

  "Are you sure with that? I believe you know that for orders of this size, 6-8 biggest players will be appointed as representatives."

  "We are absolutely sure."

  "Fine, if you wish it that way, but you must be aware I can't convince other families just by talking."

  "We do."

  Without delay Captain Rumus took out 20 banknotes made of 30x20 cm sheepskin, worth 10,000 coins each, complete with a receipt.

  Old Jarak looked at the banknote in front of him for a moment before calling out his wife. With great care, Old Jarak's wife then examined the banknotes one by one before finally she took a deep breath.

  "All of them are genuine banknotes from Makai Central Bank, where do you get them?"

  Captain Rumus cheerfully answered, "From an underground vault at Fort Cambia."

  Old Man Jarak and his wife immediately took a deep breath, while inwardly they muttered, 'Looks like the blessing of gods in heaven are returning to Tuscan Region.'

  *****