The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 539 - 537: Dividend Distribution

Chapter 539: Chapter 537: Dividend Distribution

Shopkeeper Wu chatted briefly with Wang Yongzhu, mentioning his age allowed him to speak more freely, as he could be her father. He complimented her clothing, noting its clever design.

Wang Yongzhu smiled, "This was just something I thought up in my spare time. I have several other designs, but I have been too busy lately to make more than this one. Once I have finished my household chores, I will make one for the Wu Family young lady to wear for fun."

Shopkeeper Wu chuckled and thanked her. He had business to attend to that day, and after nodding toward the others, he said, "I have some matters to discuss with Miss Wang, may I borrow one of the Song brother’s other rooms?"

Song Chongjin stood up, "Please, discuss here; we will go to the next room over.

With that, he invited Steward Lu and Wu Zhongbao to the east wing.

Once everyone had left, Shopkeeper Wu took out a box and an account book from his coat and placed them on the table.

Wang Yongzhu looked at Shopkeeper Wu, puzzled, "What is this about?"

"The New Year is approaching. The day after you went to the restaurant to buy wine, the Boss sent a message for me to go to the capital to settle the accounts. I only returned a few days ago. All the accounts have been cleared, and here is the ledger; please have a look," Shopkeeper Wu pushed the account book towards Wang Yongzhu.

Wang Yongzhu took the account book and browsed through it. It briefly recorded the volume of dyed cloth produced and sold each month and the profits made.

Then there was a grand total, which gave Wang Yongzhu quite a shock at first glance.

In just half a year, sales had reached over twelve thousand taels of silver.

Even with a twenty-eight percent share, she would receive over two thousand taels.

Together with the five hundred taels from Boss Zhang, that was nearly three thousand taels. Perhaps for the wealthy families in the city, such an amount of money was insignificant.

But for a peasant family, it was an unimaginable sum, more than many could earn in several lifetimes.

Wang Yongzhu felt a surge of excitement in her heart, "I didn’t expect to earn so much."

Shopkeeper Wu, stroking his beard, also smiled proudly, "Indeed, the Boss is also very satisfied. He said making the silver is good, but the most important thing is that the reputation of our Auspicious Cloth Store has been established even in the Capital City. Not to mention anything else, the womenfolk of the Noble Patron families in the Capital now take pride in wearing clothes made from our Auspicious Cloth Store’s fabric. With this reputation, we can firmly establish ourselves by introducing a few more colors next year!"

Wang Yongzhu knew Shopkeeper Wu was hinting that she should produce new dye formulas for the coming year.

Surely, the formulas needed to be provided. The dye business was profitable and hassle-free, and it even secured the favor of royalty as a protective charm—what could be better?

Therefore, she took the cue from Shopkeeper Wu and replied, "You are right, Shopkeeper Wu. After spring arrives next year, I will start working on it and strive to come up with a few new colors."

This was her agreement.

Shopkeeper Wu instantly breathed a sigh of relief, smiling so broadly his eyes nearly disappeared.

During his trip to the capital to check the accounts, his master had unexpectedly granted him an audience. Normally, with his status, it was already exceptional to meet with the chief steward; this year was indeed a special honor.

The master gave no other instructions but to ensure he kept the Wang Family young lady close and to prevent other families from winning her over.

The underlying message subtly revealed the intention of the master to consider a well-born son by concubine from their own family to take Wang Yongzhu as his bride.

Shopkeeper Wu was startled; he might be simple-minded, but he knew Wang Yongzhu was not someone easily manipulated, and he feared his master’s plan might not come to fruition.

Moreover, the Wang Family Young Lady was already betrothed to the Song family brothers, and that Song Chongjin, his background in Qilidun could not be concealed from him. No wonder he stood out as someone extraordinary. It turns out he had been cultivated by people sent by a Noble Patron from the Capital City.

Although it was later said that Song Chongjin was adopted by his foster mother, with specialized training and education from these people, and being so young, who could say what his future holds?

As the old saying goes, "Do not belittle the young for their poverty!"

Now that the cooperation was going well, and in order to have complete control over the dye formula, Shopkeeper Wu felt he could not, in good conscience, propose to take someone else’s cherished daughter as a concubine.

Therefore, while explaining the situation of Wang Yongzhu, he also half-revealed the news that she already had a fiancé and was about to get married.

The master pondered for a moment and then said that if the wedding took place, the congratulatory gift should be more generous. He then waved his hand for Shopkeeper Wu to leave.

After leaving the master’s room, Shopkeeper Wu discovered his back was soaked with sweat.

Feeling unsettled in his heart, he completed the accounts; seeing the master showed no sign of any action, he finally let go of his worries.

He guessed that the master had only had a whim, thinking that taking a peasant girl as a concubine for his son by concubine was already a special favor, given for the secret recipe in her hands.

Now that it turned out this young lady already had a fiancé, she was hardly a match for his son, and so he probably dropped the matter.

With such calculations in mind, Shopkeeper Wu finished the accounts, took the profits that should be shared with Wang Yongzhu, and hurried back.

In previous years, he would have taken the opportunity to enjoy the provincial city, bringing back some local specialities.

But at this moment, after seeing Wang Yongzhu, Shopkeeper Wu, for some strange reason, thought that if the master saw the appearance and aura of the Wang Family Young Lady, he might just change his mind.

What a relief! What a relief!

Seeing that Wang Yongzhu did not comment after checking the accounts, Shopkeeper Wu pushed over the box: "The total is two thousand four hundred thirty-eight taels of silver. This box contains two thousand four hundred and fifty taels in silver notes. Please count them."

Wang Yongzhu opened the box, and inside was a thick stack of silver notes, some with denominations of one hundred taels and others of fifty taels.

Shopkeeper Wu was a meticulous man. In a place like Shiqiao Town, a silver note of one hundred taels was already a significant amount. Any larger would be impractical, so he prepared notes of one hundred and fifty taels to facilitate easier exchange.

After Wang Yongzhu finished counting the silver notes, the total was indeed what Shopkeeper Wu had said. She nodded and took out a one hundred tael note and a fifty tael note and handed them to Shopkeeper Wu: "This is for the advance on the last profit share."

Shopkeeper Wu was surprised but happily accepted without any objection.

Having handed over all the profits, Shopkeeper Wu felt a weight lifted off him and could finally enjoy some tea.

Wang Yongzhu pondered for a moment before speaking, "Speaking of which, I also have a matter to discuss with Shopkeeper Wu. However, I’ve been busy with collecting mountain goods and building a house, and haven’t had the moment to bring it up. Today is a good day to talk about it, to see if it’s feasible. Shopkeeper Wu can think it over after returning."

Shopkeeper Wu immediately perked up his ears: "What’s the matter? Is it about business?"

Wang Yongzhu nodded, "Does Shopkeeper Wu still remember that Boss Tian who initially spent money to deceive my Third Brother and steal our formula by sneaking into our home?"

Shopkeeper Wu’s expression stiffened, but he quickly regained his composure: "Is it that Boss Tian from the Riches Dye Workshop?"