Chapter 105: Business Stolen

Chapter 105

Flower Pin Courtyard

The sun was at its peak. The workshop at the front was bustling about busily. Batch after batch of cured meat was hung out to dry until it was just right, before being smoked and finally piled up in the warehouse like small mountains.

With just the two Leisure Residences, given the speed at which they replenished their stock every three months with 300 to 500 catties, they really could not consume it all.

Fortunately, everyone in this world was constantly on the move. While Xu Mo busily handled the Sun family’s affairs on the positive side, Zheng Ruqian was also kept busy on the contrary.

Other than delivering dried beans to Shopkeeper Hao in Anyang County, with twenty-five catties per shipment and fifty catties sold, he also brought cured meat to Anyang County. Through giving free samples, he managed to gain the favor of several dried goods shops. Zheng Ruqian reached an agreement with them to stock the cured meat in their shops on consignment, with the profits split 20:80.

The shops took 20%, while Zheng Ruqian took 80%.

Together with the demand from the two Leisure Residences in the prefectural city and county city, it was just enough to match the workshop’s output.

If they wanted to sell to more shops, they would have to expand the workshop and hire more workers, which was simply not cost-effective.

For Zheng Ruqian, a small workshop like this that earned over a hundred taels of silver a year was already sufficient.

Therefore, when Xu Mo said he could return to Xieyang County, Zheng Er was the first to respond enthusiastically. He bared his big teeth as he packed the two carts of dried beans to bring to White Shopkeeper, as well as several boxes of Anyang County specialties for Magistrate Pang.

As he passed by Jiang Sheng, he also made it a point to mess up her neatly combed little braids.

“Stinky Er Ge!” Jiang Sheng had been whispering to San Ge when he suddenly interrupted them. She immediately flared up, placing her fists on her waist and looking just like a teapot. “What are you doing, what are you doing? From now on, Sheng Sheng won’t bother with stinky Er Ge anymore!”

In the past, Zheng Ruqian would have been worried that his sister was angry. Now he was not worried anymore, because he had a killer move—candied haws on skewers.

But before he could take out the sour fruit coated thickly with syrup, Jiang San rushed in.

“Er Gongzi, something bad has happened!”

Everyone in the yard was taken aback.

The reason Sun Yu competed for the position of Prefect of Anshui was to help the Sun family deal with Fang Heng. Although there were also internal conflicts within the Wang family itself, their stance on killing Fang Heng should still be unanimous.

Looking at it this way, even if Sun Yu fell and the Sun family was thrown into chaos, the Wang family would still make a move against Fang Heng and cause trouble.

Xu Mo had even made all sorts of preparations to weather the upcoming storm.

They just did not expect that the one causing trouble this time would actually be Zheng Er.

“Me? What trouble could I cause?” Zheng Ruqian laughed. “I’m not taking any exams, and I didn’t go out alone either. What could possibly happen to me?”

Even for the dried bean deliveries to Anyang County, it was Jiang Si who went.

Or could it be the Pang brothers who went to Yunshui County?

At this thought, Zheng Ruqian finally had a serious attitude. “Who met with trouble? Are they still alive? If alive, hurry and send them to the medical center. If dead, we shall avenge them.”

But he had never suffered losses like this before, let alone dealt with such a huge blow.

Little Jiang Sheng seemed to have come to his front. The little girl's voice fluctuated between near and far. "Er Ge, don't feel down. This workshop did not lose money... I was prepared for you to lose money initially. But you actually didn't lose any. You've done very well..."

Is that so? Has he done very well?

If he did very well, shouldn't he have earned a lot more money, and bought Jiejie a big house and embroidered shoes encrusted with pearls?

He was not good. He was not a good elder brother. He could not pass the exams to become an official. He had no skills or medical knowledge. And he was a little stupid.

If he could not earn money, he was nothing. He was a person anyone could abandon.

Like Niang, who kicked him out.

And the aunties at Yihong Court, who mocked him for not being a girl, for his lack of delicate features, saying he would only starve in future.

Who else was there? Endless ridicule. Come on, bring it on. He was not afraid. He could take it.

"Erdi!"

"Er Ge!"

Someone bellowed by his ear, while someone else sobbed softly. Someone called gently, someone tugged his sleeve.

Oh, it was Eldest Brother, and his three younger brothers, as well as the most well-behaved, smart little sister.

They were by his side, repeatedly calling his drifting soul, calling back his lost fighting spirit.

"Erdi, we're up against more than just the Wang family. There's also a behemoth like the Fang family. One day, we will eventually go to Fengjing. We will face more obstacles and setbacks. Can you really be tripped up by something like the cured meat recipe being leaked?"

That was Eldest Brother Xu Mo's tone of resenting iron not becoming steel.

"Er Ge, the workshop failed, but we can do other things. Next time, we'll be more stringent when choosing people. We won't be soft-hearted and give short contracts anymore. We'll give long contracts, lifelong contracts. We will definitely rise again in Dongshan."

That was Third Brother Fang Heng. He seemed to have it worse, being hunted by both Fang and Wang families.

"Er Ge, if you can't earn money, I'll provide for you. We won't starve to death."

That was Fourth Brother Wen Zhiyun. The once submissive and cowardly little pity had finally become upright and steadfast.

Zheng Ruqian's eyes gradually came into focus, and his hearing returned to normal.

Little Fifth Chang Yan and little sister Jiang Sheng held onto each of his arms from left to right, nestling against his sides. In the still rather cold early spring, they were like two small stoves, warming up his lifeless body which lacked warmth.

"Er Ge, why aren't you talking all of a sudden? Has Er Ge become silly?" Jiang Sheng sobbed softly. "Sheng Sheng doesn't want Er Ge to become silly. As long as Er Ge isn't silly, he can mess up Sheng Sheng's hair however he likes. It'll be fine, everything will be fine."

Chang Yan pursed his lips, looking up repeatedly with eyes full of worry.

Ah, Zheng Er, you're really worthless, worrying your family again.