Chapter 191: Big Order
Su Yaoguang was just about to close the door when she saw the arrogant Young Master Cui standing at the doorway.
“What a rare guest!” She smiled while opening the door.
Cui Rong awkwardly walked in and looked around, seeing their shelves filled with a dazzling array of goods.
“Your shop’s business hasn’t been great lately either!”
Su Yaoguang raised an eyebrow: “I thought after saving you, you’d at least remember my kindness and not come to cause me trouble again. Are we not done fighting yet?”
“Who said I was fighting with you?” Cui Rong said indifferently. “I’ve never taken you seriously.”
“Fine, fine. Young Master, what brings you here today, gracing us with your presence?”
“I’m here to talk cooperation with you.” Cui Rong said, “Do you want to call out your family members to discuss it?”
“No need. You talk with me first. I’ll see what kind of cooperation it is.” Su Yaoguang said as she personally brought out tea. “Did you come alone?”
“The manager is waiting outside. He said I could just talk with you.” After all, he was the future head of the Cui family and needed to learn to be independent.
“What kind of cooperation does Young Master Cui want to discuss?”
“Jin Le Fang’s cosmetics really can’t compare to yours. There’s no point continuing to sell them, so I plan to stop this business.”
“Then what are you cooperating with me on?”
“The Cui family’s shops are all over the world, totaling more than a hundred large and small ones. Sell Peach Blossom Workshop’s goods to me, and I’ll sell them to other places. Of course, I take thirty percent of the profit.”
“Easily taking thirty percent of the profit. Young Master, you have quite the appetite!”
“I’ll provide the labor to transport your goods to other places and be responsible for selling them. You just need to supply them to me and you’ll make money.”
Su Yaoguang lightly tapped the table, her mind racing.
Thirty percent profit.
The Cui family business is huge. If cooperation is really reached, production would need to expand significantly, and it wouldn’t be small money anymore.
“I have a suggestion. Don’t just focus on our goods; look at something else.” Su Yaoguang leaned closer to him. “Our door-to-door service also makes a lot of money.”
“That’s your own craft. Can you sell that to me?”
“Why not? As long as it’s in the deed and we’ve reached cooperation, you just arrange people to come learn the craft. I just need to get my share of the money.”
“You have a big appetite.”
“Since it’s cooperation, of course it has to be big cooperation. What’s the point for small money?” Su Yaoguang said. “Think about it first!”
“What’s there to think about? If you dare to share your craft, I dare to take this order.”
“Alright then, let’s write the deed.”
By the time Zhou Wangshu returned, Su Yaoguang and Cui Rong had already written the deed and each pressed their handprints.
The deed was made in triplicate, with each keeping one copy and the last submitted to the government office for filing. That way, any profit entanglements would be judged by the government.
When Cui Rong saw Zhou Wangshu, he reverted to his usual arrogant demeanor, straightened his clothes, and left.
Zhou Wangshu looked at the deed and said, “Looks like he’s not an incompetent person.”
“The Cui family business is so big, which shows their ancestors were all smart people. This Young Master Cui is just spoiled, but he’s not dumb.”
Su Yaoguang blew on the ink on the deed and added, “His eyesight is especially good; he knows to come cooperate with me.”
No matter how good Peach Blossom Workshop’s business is, it’s only one of the best in this county town. The county town only has so many people; it’s already saturated and can’t make big money. Now cooperating with the Cui family means expanding the business without her effort, and it can make her brand famous—profitable and prestigious, simply a good deal delivered to the door. Of course, the Cui family doesn’t lose out either; they don’t need to worry about product recipe research, just sell the goods and get thirty percent profit.
Even counting labor, they can still get twenty percent profit.
Su Yaoguang’s side needs to hire labor to rush work and be responsible for raw material losses; after deducting those, they only get fifty percent profit.
Everyone gets profit; all are happy.
“Good fortune came today. Shall we go celebrate?”
“How to celebrate?”
“Later, light a fire in the courtyard, and we’ll roast a whole lamb.”
Before Zhou Wangshu could speak, Su Yaoguang ran to the backyard to share this good fortune with the others.
The other Su family members heard they took such a big order at the last moment before closing and were all beaming with joy.
Soon, a bonfire was set up in Peach Blossom Workshop’s backyard.
“The lamb is here.” Zhang Zhaodi called to the two shop assistants behind her to put the freshly slaughtered lamb on the spit. “I ordered three lambs from old man Yang who sells sheep; the other two are still being slaughtered and will be sent over once processed. Today is a great day; everyone eat and drink well to celebrate properly.”
“Enjoy the delicious food and fine wine today; tomorrow we’ll be busy.” Zhang Yingdi said. “When rushing work then, don’t complain!”
Su Yaoguang smiled and said, “We don’t have enough people. Tomorrow we start recruiting workers. Peach Blossom Workshop’s backyard is too small; we need to rent a big courtyard separately.”
Zhou Wangshu sat by the bonfire, watching Su Yaoguang discuss Peach Blossom Workshop’s next work arrangements with the others.
Peaceful times.
With fine wine, delicious food, bright smiling faces, hearty laughter…
Wonderful.
Opposite, Fenghua Pavilion.
Zhong Lanhua looked at the empty box and questioned the shop assistant in front of her: “Wasn’t business good today? Why is there no silver?”
The shop assistant said, “The Eldest Young Master took it.”
“Hui’er?” Zhong Lanhua frowned. “How much did he take?”
“Fifty taels.” The shop assistant said, “Not just today’s—yesterday’s and the day before’s. Whenever silver was earned, the Eldest Young Master took it.”
“Has Hui’er come back?”
“Not yet.”
Zhong Lanhua waved her hand.
The shop assistants didn’t leave in a hurry but said, “Boss, our wages haven’t been settled yet.”
“What’s the rush? Will I short you?” Zhong Lanhua said impatiently. “We’ll settle after selling goods tomorrow.”
The shop assistants pursed their lips and left unhappily.
Zhong Lanhua had a headache: “What’s wrong with Hui’er? Why take so much silver out? Business is hard now, and if he keeps spending without restraint, when will we save enough silver to get him a wife?”
Zhong Lanhua thought of Jiang Yihuan. If she were here, there’d be someone to discuss matters with. Now that she’s gone, she’s like a headless fly.
Should she go find Huan’er and bring her back?
But lately, Hui’er didn’t know what was wrong; he was clamoring for her to choose between son and daughter.
He used to be very sensible, but now he’s like this—definitely because those people outside always mock him with Xiao Yanci.
All Xiao Yanci’s fault, that useless thing.
Wait a bit longer. Once Hui’er’s anger subsides, she’ll bring up bringing Huan’er back. Tomorrow, go see how Huan’er is doing and secretly give her some money.
