Chapter 128 Every Detail Matters

Chapter 128 Every Detail Matters

Mr. Chen Wu dug into his own pocket and endured a night of torment, which included but was not limited to Zhou Ergou racing five kilometers through the dark and windy streets of Jing County with two large bundles of Zheng family trinkets, leaving him far behind in the cart.

As those three conspicuous individuals sprinted, Li Sanshun, still mindful of his duties as the workshop head, chased after them while vomiting, "Keep it down, don't make a scene, ugh—!"

To be honest, his retching was the loudest sound.

Mr. Chen Wu wanted to cry, but he had no time; he still had to send these embarrassing individuals back home one by one.

By the time dawn broke, he felt his hair had turned white at the temples, and he had aged at least five years.

How could he repay himself for those lost five years?

On the way back to Xuancheng in the cart, Mr. Chen Wu, with black eyes, punched the inside wall of the carriage!

He wanted to curse, but didn't know who to curse!

Curse Dong Wubo, the cunning old fox!?

Or Li Sanshun, who vomited until the world spun!?

Or Zhou Ergou, who ran through the night and saw the sunrise at four in the morning!?

Or that little wretch He Xianjin!?

These people... he couldn't find a single person to blame!

The entire process left him cursing, and it was purely his own fault.

He spent money, went out of his way, invited guests, only to suffer!

The silk on the inner wall of the carriage wasn't soft enough, making Chen Wu's palms tingle.

Lu Er, his long-time attendant, cautiously observed Chen Wu's expression and hesitantly said, "Are we just going back like this...?"

Now, the shops in Jing County are so lucrative!

That pile of silver!

In early June, Jing County sent account books to Xuancheng, showing profits comparable to the mulberry paper workshop in the eastern part of the city. The exact amount was unknown; it was a secret known only to the matriarch. But seeing her smile when she read the accounts, one could guess the sum was substantial!

Over the past six months, the profits have been increasing daily! — That's how business works: once you find the right path, it's not about you chasing money anymore; it's money coming to you!

Money will only grow more and more!

Wealthy people, at a certain level, don't need to earn their own money.

Money generates more money, and even money itself comes begging to be earned!

Just like that, let it go?

Lu Er continued in a low voice, "I watched the sales at the shop. Those who go to Shuixi Street are mostly scholars, buying practice books and paper. Those who go to 'Look Bar' on Shuidong Street are mostly rich ladies in fine clothing. They come out with thick books each. I hired a beggar girl to go in and look. Guess what? The shop sells tea too!"

"I roughly calculated that with the number of customers and the prices, the monthly profit from Jing County is at least this much—"

Lu Er held up one finger.

Chen Wu squinted, "One note?"

One note equals fifty taels.

Too conservative, overly conservative, conservatism limits one's thinking...

Lu Er shook his head, "One hundred taels!"

Lu Er looked around furtively.

Chen Wu scolded, "We're in a cart!"

Oh, unless someone is hiding under the cart or on top of the cover...

Lu Er quickly glanced out the window.

Chen Wu: ...

Does the Chen family have some mysterious recruitment standard?

Like, those with sharp minds aren't allowed to join?

"Stop dilly-dallying, just say it!" Chen Wu clearly grew angry.

Lu Er hurriedly said, "And I heard that woman has more tricks than a sieve. Now all printing in Jing County goes through her hands. Any books or notebooks need to buy Chen's paper from the eastern part of the city... All the notebooks and paper from private schools and academies also go through Chen's... The shop on Shuidong Street used to belong to Song Kee, but now it's a place for reading and drinking tea!"

"You think about it. She hasn't missed any business opportunities: scholars, women, and candidates. In just one year, apart from toilet paper, every paper-related business in Jing County goes through Chen's. They'd rather make mistakes than miss anything..."

Chen Wu was stunned, then shocked, but his face remained calm. Lowering his gaze, he hesitated, "...Could it really be that little wretch's doing?"

He knew Dong Wubo's capabilities well; he had some skills, but not that much.

...

Upon returning to Xuancheng, Chen Wu entered the courtyard and saw Chen Cai, the second master, rushing out.

Chen Wu smiled and asked, "Where are you off to?"

Chen Cai, a tight-lipped man, seeing his fifth uncle, had many things on his mind but didn't know where to start. With an exasperated "Ah," he said, "To the east, there's trouble at the workshop! Ah, I'll explain later!"

Chen Wu nodded with a smile and took out two pieces of Dingzhuang rice cake wrapped in oil paper from his sleeve, "You probably haven't had lunch. I brought these specially for you."

Chen Cai gratefully took it. "You remembered that I love the rice cakes from Dingzhuang!"

Chen Wu affectionately ruffled Chen Cai's hair. "Even if you're fifty, sixty, or eighty, you'll always be Uncle Wu's dear nephew."

Touched, Chen Cai waved his hand and, with his chubby body, clumsily turned to run out.

After Chen Cai left the corridor, Chen Wu leaned over to Lu Er and whispered, "Go find out what happened at which workshop or shop. Don't alarm anyone." As he spoke, he walked inside and entered the main hall, where Lady Qu was having lunch. Duan, the widow of the eldest branch, accompanied her, while Xu from the second branch stood beside Lady Qu, serving her food.

Sun from the third branch was probably hiding in her room, cooking hot pot again.

Chen Wu smiled warmly. "Sister-in-law, I'm back."

Lady Qu nodded, and Xu quickly turned to greet him. Duan glanced at Chen Wu, her expression indifferent.

Chen Wu inwardly scoffed. Even though the eldest son was gone, Duan still acted like a governor's wife.

Then he thought again; even without the eldest son, Chen Jianfang could ensure the prosperity of the eldest branch for another thirty years. He greeted both women kindly.

Lady Qu instructed someone to bring a chair and move a stool, then set aside her walking stick, signaling Chen Wu to come closer. "Was everything smooth? The grass in Dingzhuang has become increasingly scarce these past few years. I heard that the second master of Fu Rong Ji secured the supply as soon as autumn arrived, paying three hundred taels upfront. I feared you might go too late and get nothing."

Chen Wu recalled how enthusiastic the farmers in Dingzhuang were when they heard it was Chen's collecting the grass. They were so eager to sell that they offered fair prices.

There was just one unpleasant moment.

One village head asked upon hearing it was Chen's, "Where's that little girl from last year? Why isn't she here today? If she had come, I would have slaughtered a pig and prepared a proper feast for her."

What little girl? There was no little girl in Chen's. Doing business with a little girl seemed unreliable.

Chen Wu thought this through but kept a steady face. "Our reputation for honesty and reliability is well-known. Even if others went first, the village heads and farmers prefer to sell to us. This time, we secured ten months' worth of grass for two hundred taels. I inspected the material; it's strong and long, perfect for making cooked xuan paper."

"You handle things well; I've always trusted you," Lady Qu said, preparing to ask someone to bring an extra set of chopsticks and bowls.

In a merchant family, there wasn't such strict separation between elders and younger generations or between genders.

Chen Wu hurriedly declined. "Sister-in-law, I ate on the way! I had some rice cakes and cold water, enough to fill my stomach!" Then he changed the subject, smiling as he mentioned something Lady Qu would be interested in. "After securing the grass, I visited our hometown. Erlang looks thinner now. Perhaps influenced by his teacher, he seems a bit tired. I left him two fresh ginseng roots from the mountains."

Indeed, Lady Qu put down her chopsticks, frowning. "Erlang looks tired?"

Chen Wu smiled. "You know your grandson. Erlang has always been responsible. After Qingcheng Mountain Courtyard disbanded, he took in those scholars who had nowhere else to go. He found a house, stopped studying himself, and became their full-time teacher all day, only to return home late at night to study and write—working day and night, no wonder he's tired."

Lady Qu's brows furrowed with a hint of coldness, turning to Duan. "Did Erlang mention any of this in his letters to you?"

Duan gently wiped her mouth, placing the handkerchief aside, her expression unchanged. "He already has an official title. If his father hadn't died, he would have been married with children. Since I'm neither his superior nor his boss, why should he report every detail to me?"