Chapter 81 Dividends

Chapter 81: Dividends

After Huang Zheng left, Meng Wan stayed up late into the night drafting plans. He knew he couldn't contend with those people now, but that didn't mean he wouldn't be able to in the future.

He drew a big circle on the paper, then got up to bathe and sleep. Lying in bed, he hugged Song Tingzhou's pillow and let his mind wander.

*Once my Zhou Lang aces all the exams up the ladder, we'll see if they still dare to flaunt themselves in front of me!*

The next day, he took Bi Yun to the Nie residence. Second Master Nie truly embodied the refinement of a scholar. When the servant led him inside, the servant spoke not a single redundant word, kept his eyes lowered, and remained courteous and composed—a stark contrast to the servants of the Zhu family.

Upon entering the Nie estate, Meng Wan should first pay respects to the master of the house. Second Master Nie's husband came from a scholarly family; his father was an intellectual of pure reputation, and he carried the air of an official's wife without being off-putting.

"So you're Song family's husband, Meng? My husband often speaks of you two."

Meng Wan was unfamiliar with the etiquette of such households. Not daring to sit improperly and invite ridicule, he chose to remain standing at the lower end of the hall as he replied, "Master Nie is our family's benefactor."

Having entered the Nie home, it felt more appropriate to address him as "Master," following Song Tingzhou's lead.

Second Master Nie's husband smiled, his well-maintained hands clasped on the table. "Why be so reserved? Sit and have some tea."

Feigning a flattered and overwhelmed expression, Meng Wan said, "Coming to your door empty-handed is already a discourtesy from a junior. I wouldn't dare disturb your peace any further. I'll take my leave now to find the Fourth Young Master in his courtyard."

Not waiting for a response, he backed away with Bi Yun.

After Meng Wan left, Second Master Nie's husband remarked discontentedly, "I'm not going to eat him. Why run off so fast?"

The elderly maid beside him chuckled, "Master, you favor these young ones, but perhaps your presence is too imposing. People from humble families can't handle it and end up fleeing."

Second Master Nie's husband frowned and scolded, "Do not speak ill of guests behind their backs."

The maid quickly knelt to apologize. "This old servant was careless with my ramblings. Please forgive me, Master."

"Rise," Second Master Nie's husband said coldly.

The maid rose with practiced ease, clearly having begged forgiveness plenty of times—it was normal for her.

"If you like Song Fulang, you could invite him over more often."

Second Master Nie's husband neither agreed nor disagreed. Instead, he went to the arhat couch nearby, pulled out two storybook pamphlets from a drawer, and began reading, occasionally letting out a soft laugh at amusing parts.

"You're quite a rare guest, visiting my second uncle's place to find me. I suspect you have something serious to discuss?"

Nie Zhiyao's courtyard was quite spacious, complete with flowers, grass, and a pond. At that moment, he stood on a curved bridge feeding fish.

Second Master Nie and his husband had only one son, and their household was clean—no concubines or mistresses. As a proper family member, Nie Zhiyao lived a far more leisurely and relaxed life here than in Shangjing.

Meng Wan approached with a grin, his eyes curving into a pleasant arch. "Fourth Young Master Nie, any interest in doing a small business with me?"

Nie Zhiyao tossed aside the fish food, took the wet towel handed to him by a young servant, and wiped his hands. "Small business?"

—

If anyone claimed Song Family's breakfast shop was the second most popular in Changping, no one would dare claim first place. Countless small breakfast vendors envied their popularity. Their fried dough had been imitated by others, but no matter how others kneaded and shaped it, they couldn't fry it to the same fluffiness.

On the twentieth of August, Meng Wan posted a red notice at the entrance of the breakfast shop. The writing was neat, slightly larger than usual for easier reading.

The first curious person rushed over to read, pronouncing each word slowly.

"Fifty taels... of silver? Teaching the art of fried dough making. Help open a new shop—only for those with sincere hearts, limited to twenty people. On the first of September, at Song Family, Liudi Alley. Latecomers will not be accommodated..."

"Teaching the fried dough technique!"

"Is it real or fake? Move aside, let me see."

"Brother, I can't read. Read it again for me."

"Fifty taels? Seriously?"

"What, are you going?"

Chang Jinhua and Lu Chunfang were out front tending to the customers. Following Meng Wan's instructions, if anyone asked, they simply urged them to come in person on the first of September, saying nothing more.

On the first of September, Lu Chunfang put on new clothes she had sewn herself, her voice trembling. "Wan Geer, I... I'm afraid I won't do well."

Meng Wan's tone was flat. "Earlier, when I asked if anyone wanted to take over this shop, it was you, Sister-in-law, who said you'd take over the business. I asked you several times to confirm, and you didn't change your mind. That's how today's Song Family fried dough workshop came about. And now you say you're scared?"

His words deflated Lu Chunfang, leaving her at a loss for words.

Chang Jinhua defended her. "Chunfang said she's scared, not that she's backing out."

Chang Jinhua tried to comfort her. "Haven't I taught you how to knead the dough? The fried doughs we've been selling these past few days were all kneaded by you—how can it not work?

Don't worry. You used to envy how capable Wan Geer was, right? Back when we started the fried dough business in town, you should have seen how daring he was—he didn't even test it out before jumping right into business. If you just keep staying in the city with Master Feng, working as a hired hand, how much money can you save?"

"Aunt Song, I do want to open my own shop and make a living. I'm not going back on my word."

Chang Jinhua patiently comforted her. Even though Lu Chunfang's heart was still uneasy, she had long resolved to start her own business.

Song Family's shop was already well-established in the west of the city. Handing it to Lu Chunfang was a mix of emotional connection and Chang Jinhua's compassion.

Moreover, Meng Wan had limited energy—he had to think about Song Tingzhou far off in Fengtian Prefecture, write his storybooks, and manage the family's livelihood.

Ever since their last conversation, he had washed his hands of Lu Chunfang and Feng Jinzhang's affairs. If Lu Chunfang couldn't handle it, was Meng Wan going to force it on her anyway?

He could sell off the existing business; there were plenty of takers.

Meng Wan's plan was simple: spin off the fried dough business. He would provide the technique, then screen for diligent and decisive people to learn. They would sign a three-year contract, after which they owed nothing to each other, and they could teach the skill to whomever they wanted. The fifty-taels fee was the first screening threshold.

His shop pulled in twenty to thirty taels a month, but he was always wary of making others envious and causing trouble.

Small shops only needed to pay business tax, but if profits exceeded a thousand taels, their status would be downgraded to merchant class.

Song Tingzhou's studies were the family's top priority. They would remain in the city until he passed the imperial examinations. There was no way they could keep the shop open forever, and they had to stay away from splashy businesses.

He patiently broke it down for Chang Jinhua. She might not be the sharpest person, but she had one good quality—she listened to sense.

She was self-aware and wouldn't run the household just because she was older.

Even though Chang Jinhua hated to let go of the breakfast shop after hearing Meng Wan's advice, she was prepared to give it up.

Today, the shop was shut down for the day. The main task was picking suitable candidates to learn the fried dough technique.

A large crowd had already gathered at the entrance to Song Family's courtyard. The moment Bi Yun opened the door, some people tried to push in, but the guards they'd borrowed from Nie Zhiyao blocked their way.

"Only those who've paid the tuition can come inside. The rest, step back!"

At that, the crowd surged back and stood far off in the alley, watching from afar. In the end, only a dozen or so people remained. After glancing around, two more stepped back.

Bi Yun, standing among the guards, repeated what Meng Wan had told him to say. "If you sincerely wish to learn the craft and start a business, pay your silver here, and you can come into the courtyard."

In the end, only fourteen people came before him, some hesitant, some with firm eyes, and some with a sense of desperation.

After everyone entered, Bi Yun waited for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Seeing no one else coming, he closed the courtyard gate, shutting out the curious onlookers.

In the Song family's courtyard, a dozen wooden stools were arranged. Bi Yun asked them to sit in order and had the extra stools moved back to the side room.

"Li Niang, Qin Niang, why are you here too?" Lu Chunfang asked curiously from the side.

Meng Wan looked over and saw that it was Qin Niang from the Li family next door and Li Niang, the daughter-in-law of Aunt Zhou.

Not only the two of them, but also a lean, quick-looking woman behind them looked familiar to him, seeming to be the woman who ran a noodle stall at the city's north inn.

People in Liudi Lane knew that the Song family's business was profitable, but most thought that if too many learned it, everyone would go sell it, and it wouldn't be unique anymore.

Meng Wan had posted the notice for a while now. Vendors who paid attention to his shop spread the news far and wide, with most being small traders from the north and south of the city. Today's crowd was mainly made up of these small-time vendors.

After all, they all made a living by setting up stalls in the prefectural city. Everyone could scrape together fifty taels, but it was most of their family savings, so no one dared to spend it frivolously. Thus, more people took a wait-and-see attitude.

Qin Niang had worked at the Song home before, so she wanted to give it a try. Her family, having received favors from Meng Wan, agreed, but the fifty taels were borrowed from her second sister-in-law, to be repaid if she truly made money later.

As for Li Niang, she and Aunt Zhou hadn't considered it at all. Manager Zhou overheard them chatting and urged Li Niang to come learn.

Qin Niang smiled. "Don't worry, even if the two of us learn, we won't open a shop on this street."

She planned to open after marriage, near her fiancé's stall.

Li Niang's location was also easy to find; Manager Zhou would just find a place near Ruifeng Tower for her.

Meng Wan chuckled. "Since we've come to this point, I might as well clarify a few things. If you find it unacceptable, I can still refund your silver."

The fourteen people sat on the wooden stools. Hearing Meng Wan say they could still get a refund, they felt a bit more at ease.

"Everyone wants to learn how to make fried dough, all wanting to open their own businesses. But first, let me explain the first condition..."

Meng Wan turned sideways and beckoned to Bi Yun. Bi Yun stepped forward, took out a stack of written contracts, and handed one to each of the fourteen seated people.

Many people were illiterate, so they became flustered holding the contracts, asking around in confusion, and the scene became chaotic.

Meng Wan also found a chair and sat down, letting everyone vent their emotions. When they quieted down a bit, he continued, "If you can't read, ask someone literate nearby. You should have compared these fourteen documents—they are identical word for word. If there are no objections, I'll start explaining from the first condition."

He waited a moment, and seeing no one had questions, he began, "First, after learning, you must not open shops on the same street as each other. Can everyone do this?"

Everyone nodded. Qin Niang, sitting in front, smiled and said, "Opening a shop is to make money, not to compete head-on. Who would be stupid enough to crowd together?"

It's not like meat stalls or vegetable stalls, which can cluster together to attract people to buy vegetables and meat.

For this kind of breakfast shop, it's fine if they sell different items on the same street, but if two shops both sell the same buns or noodles, they'd rather be several streets apart.

Meng Wan smiled back at Qin Niang. "Alright. Second—of the fifty taels you've handed in, I will only take twenty taels as tuition. The remaining thirty taels I will return to you as an investment to help you open your shops..."

"Still returning to us!"

"Really?"

Li Niang asked incredulously, "So learning the craft only costs twenty taels?"

Originally, Meng Wan didn't plan to make money from these tuition fees. Setting the fifty-tael threshold was only to screen out those truly determined to open shops.

Now, these fourteen people had gritted their teeth and paid fifty taels. Upon entering, they were told that only twenty taels were tuition and the remaining thirty was investment for opening their shops, which made them overjoyed.

They had already resigned themselves to paying the money, and then being told thirty taels would be returned—who cared what it was for? It was back in their hands, an unexpected surprise.

"Everyone, listen to me first. These thirty taels are not being returned for free. You heard what I just said—this is my investment capital and has additional requirements."

After Meng Wan finished, the crowd quieted down, all waiting for him to continue with the conditions.

"For the next three years, each month you must give me twenty percent of your revenue after deducting costs."

Afraid that some might not understand, he patiently explained, "That is, if your shop earns twelve taels a month, after costs, if you have ten taels left, you must give me two of those."

Between giving two taels monthly or paying fifty taels now to learn, most people actually preferred the former.

After all, the business hadn't opened yet, and everyone was uncertain. Even if they only netted two taels a month, they would be content. Otherwise, relying on their husbands' manual labor or their own work as laborers, they only earned a few hundred copper coins a month.

The contract Meng Wan wrote also included several miscellaneous clauses, such as not teaching this craft to anyone else privately within three years, and not disclosing the accounting and profit sharing.

Finally, he emphasized another point: each month's accounts must be clear. If anyone deliberately falsified accounts to cheat him by giving less silver, he could take them to court based on this contract!

He spoke with a serious expression, intimidated everyone. Even those with ulterior motives would not dare pull any tricks in the short term.

It was only three years. Any sensible person would not take the risk of being sued for just three years.

Meng Wan told them to go home and think it over carefully, discuss with their families. If they decided, to come tomorrow morning to start learning; if they didn't want to learn, they could come to the Song home tomorrow morning for a refund.

After everyone left, Meng Wan drank two cups of tea, parched from all that talking.

"Thank you for your hard work, brothers. Take this money to buy yourselves some drinks." Bi Yun took out two strings of cash and handed them out to the Nie family's servants. They thanked Meng Wan and headed back to the Nie residence.

Only after handling all the shop matters could Meng Wan free himself up for other ventures with Nie Zhiyao. That day Meng Wan had only given him a general idea, and they would discuss the details after the breakfast shop business was taken care of.