Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Matches were a modern invention that Han Zhang had chosen to introduce after careful consideration.

Although this item seemed insignificant, it played a crucial role in daily life, and with proper handling, it could be very profitable, making it a suitable livelihood for the Han clan.

Moreover, it was safer than introducing items like soap or glass!

Because matches were relatively easy to replicate, they would not attract massive trouble due to overly unique formula technology.

"Matches are something similar to fire strikers or tinder boxes. But compared to the latter, matches ignite faster, are simpler to use, more resistant to moisture, and easier to carry..."

"And they don't cost much to make, and the process is pretty easy to copy, so they won't draw the greedy eyes of powerful people."

"But precisely because they are easy to imitate, we need to stock up big in the early stage to make a substantial profit. As for whether this business can continue afterwards, it all comes down to me passing the exams and obtaining an official position to protect the clan..."

Han Zhang briefly explained to everyone what matches were.

And how to operate them to make money, along with the risks involved.

Although there was no physical sample, Grandpa Han and the others were quite experienced. After listening to his general description, they quickly figured out that matches might be a good thing.

Clan Chief Han was very excited: "Dalang, can you really make these so-called matches?"

"Grandfather, this concerns the clan's survival; would I just talk nonsense?"

Han Zhang continued: "I roughly calculated the production cost of matches. One box of 30 matches costs about 5 wen... We can sell simple packaging for 5-10 wen, refined packaging for 10-30 wen, and luxury packaging for 50 wen or more."

"Don't worry about selling them. Regular folks might balk at the price, but for traveling merchants, tavern owners, and bigwigs, it's pocket change."

"After all, fire strikers and firestones are not cheap, and they are not easy to use in slightly damp places."

"So our matches have great prospects..."

It might not be possible to earn a fortune, but earning a few hundred taels should be achievable.

With this silver, even if they had no fields to cultivate, they could buy grain in the city to survive until he found a good marriage alliance for support and took the imperial exams next year.

Clan Chief Han and the rest had seen more of the world than ordinary villagers, and they were also bolder.

The more they thought about it, the more they felt this was feasible.

After some discussion and deliberation.

Clan Chief Han made up his mind: "Since we have no fields to cultivate anyway, and the young men of the clan have to work as laborers at the docks, we might as well take a crack at it and do exactly what Dalang suggested—make matches!"

As for what would happen if they failed?

Clan Chief Han didn't say it out loud, because there is a saying that saying something can jinx it, so it was better to avoid such talk.

At worst, they would just suffer a bit more, or bow down to the Luo and Sun families and suck it up and act like a fool.

"Alright, since everyone agrees, I will write a plan and regulations during these few days off, and we will set up a Match Workshop in the clan."

Han Zhang was not a procrastinator.

He started working immediately.

That very night, he stayed up late to write out a detailed plan and rules for the "Match Workshop."

This was not difficult for him. Before the apocalypse, he had owned his own business. Running a small workshop was a piece of cake.

In ancient times, as long as the clan chief and elders supported it, getting people to work was a breeze because the cohesion of an ancient clan was unimaginable to modern people.

With a single command.

The members of the Han clan began to bustle.

Some were responsible for raising funds, some for sourcing raw materials, some for learning techniques, and others for odd jobs and heavy labor...

Old and young, followed Han Zhang's directions and worked like a modern assembly line.

Of course, all these activities were done on the sly so the Luo family wouldn't meddle.

So,

when some villagers saw them carrying wood in and out and asked: "What are you Hans up to? If you're not farming the Sun family's fields, why aren't you looking for work in the city? Otherwise, what will you eat and drink at the end of the year?"

Clan Chief Han would put on a long face and sigh.

"Jobs in town aren't that easy to get. We can't read, so all we can do is haul stuff at the docks. If we do that for long, how can our bodies hold up?"

"Besides, you all know the carpentry skills of our third uncle. We figured we'd teach the younger generation this craft. If we really can't farm in the future, there's always carpentry, right?"

The villagers listened and hesitated.

They wanted to tell the Hans they were being stubborn as mules. Nowadays, dignity doesn't fill your belly, so just swallow your pride.

But thinking about how the Luos were so money-grubbing and bossy, if the Hans bowed down, they'd end up being their lapdogs.

Such humiliation—who'd accept that unless they had no choice?

So,

the villagers could only give them a pitying look and walk away.

As for helping, no way they'd help. They were just neighbors; nobody wanted to stick their neck out and become the next person the Luo family crushes.

After a few busy days,

By the end of the break period.

The Han family's match workshop was already up and running smoothly. They just needed to make and stockpile a ton of matches, find the right buyers, and sell the whole lot at once to make a profit.

And Han Zhang had to return to the academy for classes.

Before leaving, Han's mother and Grandma Han, as usual, made him 20 tea eggs and a pair of shoes.

"Dalang, Grandma made these tea eggs, there are 20 of them. Take them to the academy and share them with your classmates. Though our family is not from a high-status household, we shouldn't be too stingy. Get along well with your classmates."

"And these new shoes—scholars like cleanliness. Take them to wear, and don't wear those old ones—people might make fun of you..."

Grandma Han and Han's mother urged him warmly.

The rest of the Han family chimed in with worried words: "Dalang, study hard at the academy. The work at home is being taken care of, so don't fret."

Only if Dalang makes it through his studies and passes the exams to become an official would their Han family no longer be bullied.

They could take the hard knocks, as long as Dalang amounts to something.

"Big Bro, we'll work hard in the family workshop. When we earn money, we'll get you some brushes and ink!"

"Bro, I'm gonna miss you. Think of me, okay?"

The little ones at home were especially reluctant to see him go.

Every time Big Bro came home, he'd find time to teach them reading and tell them stories. They hated to see him go.

The heartfelt goodbye made Han Zhang, an orphan for so long, feel out of place.

Yet he found it warm and endearing.

He looked at these skinny relatives in patched clothes from another world, then at his own cotton clothes—not fancy, but not cheap either—and his healthy, soft palms with no calluses...

He figured he could see why his original self had studied so hard.

After a long silence, Han Zhang finally cracked a relaxed smile and ruffled his younger siblings' hair.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, little bros and sis, uncles and aunties—take good care of yourselves at home. I'm off."

With that, he bowed with a hand to his forehead.

Then he got on the donkey cart and set off for the academy.

Sure, this life came with family ties, unlike his past life where he was free and alone,

it felt... pretty good, I guess.

Han Zhang watched his gradually shrinking family, a rare softness in eyes that usually showed no joy.

...

In the village, he was a big deal, but at the academy, he was unremarkable.

The Xiangnan Academy was packed with poor scholars just like him—it was one of the better academies in the capital. If you weren't outstanding, you couldn't even get in, and his predecessor had no advantage there.

So when Han Zhang returned to the academy, he didn't have many social obligations to deal with.

Which suited him just fine!

It gave him time to get used to the ancient learning environment, books, and customs.

And to think about conning—no, *courting* some rich pretty girl so he can live off her.

Yes, Han Zhang planned to follow the example of Xiucai Luo—sweet-talking a rich and powerful husband into his home.

To be honest, it's not that he had no spine; he had no other choice.

For a poor scholar in ancient times, making it big was extremely tough. And now, with the Luo and Sun families trying to suppress the Han clan, if he didn't quickly land a good marriage, more trouble would be coming his way.

He had to live off a spouse, no two ways about it.

He's thick-skinned and doesn't care!

Besides, not everyone's got the face to be a gigolo.

Since the heavens gave him a handsome face, he wouldn't waste it. Otherwise, he'd be ungrateful and risk getting struck by lightning.

Heaven: "Wait, no, I didn't! You rebellious brat, stop bad-mouthing me!"

Anyway, there was no time to waste.

After psyching himself up, Han Zhang began to act.

Step one: find out all the unmarried young masters from official families in the capital.

Easy—just sneak into the official matchmakers' homes and check their lists.

Because as matchmakers, especially official ones, keeping records of eligible young ladies and gentlemen from prominent families was one of their basic tasks.

Then,

Step two: screen by age and the father-in-law's official rank.

—No lads under eighteen—they're not fully grown, and he couldn't bring himself to do it.

—No father-in-law above the fourth rank;

because if the father-in-law's rank was too high, they'd never consider him. If he dared to court their child, he'd probably get beaten to death, not accepted.

He'd aim for a father-in-law at the fourth or fifth rank—not too high, not too low.

Next,

Step three: check how favored the target is at home.

—Ancient men had multiple wives and concubines, so there were tons of kids in the household.

If the child wasn't favored, the father-in-law's help would be very limited.

Continue:

Step four: screen by whether the target already has a lover.

—Being the other person is tough; stealing someone's partner is even tougher.

Step five: screen by the target's education and personality.

—Too educated: hard to trick because they're rational.

—Calm, rational types, or sensitive ones: the first are hard to sweet-talk, the latter too much trouble.

Step six: filter...

This was mostly private info, impossible for regular folks to find out.

But Han Zhang was no ordinary man.

He had Plant Power—he could manipulate plants and trees to eavesdrop, secretly checking out the inner courtyards of various mansions.

Thus, after a month of sneaking around like a burglar, Han Zhang finally identified five candidates who temporarily fit his criteria.

One was a widow with no kids;

One was divorced, also childless.

The other two were also divorced and had children with their ex-husbands.

The last was unmarried, but had a terrible reputation—rumored to be especially violent, wielding a whip and beating people.

Han Zhang: ...

Forget it. Since I'm living off a woman, I can't be too picky.

You can't have it both ways.

I can do this. I definitely can!