Chapter 148: Good Business
Old Yu Xing entered the Guild. President Shi was frowning in annoyance at an official document before him. Upon seeing Old Yu Xing, he quickly beckoned, “I was just about to send someone to find you. Come over and take a look at this.”
President Shi picked up the few pages of the official document and handed them to Old Yu Xing.
“We’ve already sent word to the Prefectural Yamen and the Cao Division Yamen. If they don’t handle this matter of Yueyang Cloth Shop, and if there are any more donations or levies, don’t come looking for us. Look at this, it’s been sent over again. What nerve!” President Shi slammed the table in anger.
“This is about the Crown Prince’s reception. If they don’t send it to us, it will be a major issue. This is about our reputation,” Old Yu Xing said with a smile after carefully examining it.
President Shi’s brow remained furrowed. He snorted and picked up his cup to drink tea.
“Regarding the Yueyang Cloth Shop matter, have you found out anything from your end?” Old Yu Xing put down the official document and asked President Shi.
“They say the business of Yueyang Preserved Egg Business relies entirely on the Zhang Family’s Eldest Daughter-in-law, Yin Shi, from Dexing Warehouse. They say Yin Shi is the daughter of the old established family from Gaoyou’s Yin Family.” President Shi spat, “This woman is using her family’s ancestral skills to make money for others. Her family has such a daughter, it’s truly a sin!”
“I went to see. The shop is entirely managed by that Sister-in-law Yin. She’s an expert salesperson,” Old Yu Xing added with a smile.
“Yueyang Cloth Shop is also a partnership between the Zhang Family and the Li Family. Dexing Warehouse does business in fodder. The Foreman Xiao of the Fodder Guild is related to me through a distant affinity by marriage. I plan to have Foreman Xiao put in a word to have the Zhang Family withdraw. At worst, we can offer some business to the Zhang Family as compensation.”
President Shi looked troubled.
This was a guild matter, but it involved his personal connections. This compensation business might even require him to spend his own money and effort.
Alas! He shouldn’t have coveted this minor ninth-rank honorary title back then. Ever since becoming President, there have been troubles every year. He was utterly fed up.
“I’ve also found out some things,” Old Yu Xing said in a lowered voice, leaning closer to President Shi. “Do you know how she conducts her business?”
Old Yu Xing explained in detail how Yueyang Cloth Shop bought looms on credit and then collected fine cloth, with each household having at most four looms. He clicked his tongue, “Her ingenuity is truly remarkable. It’s no wonder our Prefectural Yamen and Cao Division Yamen are standing by. Even if they have no backing, doing business this way is indeed within the bounds of the law.”
“Doing it this way…” President Shi frowned and did a rough calculation, also clicking his tongue. “Without going through the Guild, her cloth can’t enter Linhai Town. But even selling it retail in the shop, the profit is still considerable!”
“Exactly. It doesn’t take up much space, and there’s no need to hire weavers. This is a good business,” Old Yu Xing said with a smile.
“What do you mean by that?” President Shi looked at Old Yu Xing.
“Don’t you think this is a good business?” Old Yu Xing merely repeated the question, saying no more.
“Yueyang has no weaving workshops. This matter is easy to handle. We all have weaving workshops. In that case, how do we distinguish whether this fine cloth is produced by our workshops or bought from others?” President Shi shook his head. “The business is good, but it’s not suitable for us.”
“There’s always a way,” Old Yu Xing said with a smile.
President Shi frowned, then after a moment, shook his head. “No, her business doesn’t earn much more silver than our weaving workshops. Doing it together, alas.”
President Shi sighed.
“Back then, the weaving workshops in Jiangnan were all taxed at fifty percent. It was because there were too many people mixing domestic and foreign sales, trying to fish in troubled waters, that it angered the imperial court.
“Alas, let’s not entertain this idea. There are plenty of profitable businesses in the world. Our weaving workshops, while not the most profitable, are close. If you want to earn more silver, just add more looms and hire more weavers, isn’t that the same? Why get involved in this?”
“How can it be so easy to add looms? By the end of this year, we’ll be discussing the loom quotas for each guild for the next three years. How many do you think we can add?” Old Yu Xing asked with a half-smile.
President Shi raised his hand to rub his face. After a moment of stunned silence, he let out a long sigh.
The loom quotas for silk guilds in various regions are discussed every three years. To snatch more loom quotas, they fight every year. This year, the quotas are up for grabs again! How could he possibly contend with them!
Alas! He truly shouldn’t have become President!
Old Yu Xing came out of the Guild, walking with his hands behind his back, contemplating. After walking for half a street, Old Yu Xing stopped, beckoned a servant, and ordered him to call his wife’s brother over to have tea at the Tongchun Tea House ahead.
………………………………
Matchmaker Miao had a busy day and night. The next day, she slept until the afternoon and then headed straight to the Wu Family Residence.
Matchmaker Miao washed her face and then carefully applied a layer of powder. Aunt Wu had fried a plate of eggs and served a dish of rice cakes.
While eating, Matchmaker Miao vividly recounted how she waited, how she had the cart driver take her to Guo Lane, how she found Sister-in-law Lu, how she thoroughly investigated the business, and how she then told Second Sister.
Wu Sanniang sat opposite Matchmaker Miao, slowly fanning herself with a round fan, glancing sideways at the excited and chattering Matchmaker Miao.
After listening to Matchmaker Miao’s business talk, Wu Sanniang slowly rolled her eyes. After a moment, she snorted, “This business is indeed easy to do.”
“Isn’t it easy! Just buy a loom with silver! That’s all the capital needed! From then on, it’s all profit! Tsk, she really knows how to make money,” Matchmaker Miao clicked her tongue.
“Did you ask Second Sister who asked her to inquire about this business?” Aunt Wu leaned forward, asking with concern.
“Ping Yatou asked Second Sister to inquire. That’s definitely a man’s business outside. How could our Second Sister know about men’s affairs outside? Asking is useless,” Matchmaker Miao poured herself a cup of tea.
“Perhaps someone has taken a liking to this business. It’s too easy to make money,” Wu Sanniang snorted again.
“Look how smart our Third Sister is! I thought the same. I don’t know which family it is, but if they can entrust it to Ping Yatou, they must be someone of status. With this move, the business in Yueyang won’t be easy anymore!” Matchmaker Miao laughed.
“Matchmaker Miao, do you think the Yu Family can also do this business?” Wu Sanniang asked softly.
“Why not! They can do it, they can do it! What a great business! Look at our Third Sister, how smart she is!”
Matchmaker Miao’s praise suddenly paused, and she slapped the table.
“Third Sister, I’ll make arrangements for you. You need to meet Da Lang Yu.
“You tell him that you saw the Yueyang Preserved Egg Business starting a fine cloth business. The fine cloth has inconsistent quality, which made you think of the underlying mechanism. So you asked me to investigate, and it turned out to be as you thought. You think it’s a good business and asked Da Lang to go to Hejia Village to see if it can be done!”
The Yu Family thought her Third Sister was incompetent and couldn’t manage a household. This was the perfect opportunity to show the Yu Family her Third Sister’s intelligence and capability!
“I already thought of it, I just couldn’t be bothered to say it,” Wu Sanniang snorted.
“Third Sister did think of it and told me. I thought she was just imagining things. You know, I’m a bit slow,” Aunt Wu quickly chimed in with a smile.
“Our Third Sister is so smart! The sooner the better for this matter. I’ll go find Da Lang Yu right now. You get dressed and change your clothes,” Matchmaker Miao stood up and bustled out.
