Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 121 Unknown Reasons_1

Chapter 121: Chapter 121 Unknown Reasons_1

Upon hearing that their share was half less than the third branch’s, yet they still had to contribute three taels of silver and two laborers, Lady Wang and Lady Tang felt unwilling.

Lady Wang kept silent, while Lady Tang spoke up, "Uncle is joking, right? We’ve contributed so much silver, and still have to provide two laborers. Why should our share be so much less than yours?"

Qian Dagui and Qian Ergui also felt that since they were all brothers, they should split the shares equally if they were going into business together. Why should there be a difference in shares, especially such a large one? Seeing Lady Tang stepping up with her question, they all looked at Qian Sangui for his response.

Qian Yixiu shook his head in secret, thinking that Qian Sangui had formed a habit of earning money alone for the family to spend, and the honest Qian Dagui and Qian Ergui had grown accustomed to taking advantage of such situations. Even under the principle of profit, he could calculate that they had already taken a big advantage. In the end, they were just country folks who hadn’t seen much of the world and couldn’t even do this simple calculation, far inferior to Qian Sigui, who was shrewd and still took brotherly affection into account.

Qian Sangui said, "Our family really doesn’t lack those few taels of silver or those laborers. We could have just opened a shop by ourselves to make money. We just wanted our brothers to live better, that’s why we thought of opening a shop together, to let you all make some money and live a better life..."

"If we are all brothers and you have the heart to share, not missing the silver, then why not distribute it evenly?" asked Lady Tang, not understanding.

Qian Yixiu laughed ironically and couldn’t help but say, "Since we’re all brothers and should divide things equally, when my family was living in a thatched cottage, why didn’t you suggest dividing a couple of your big tile-roofed houses for my family to live in?"

"Oh, how can you compare the two..." Lady Wang could barely contain herself and had just started to speak when she was interrupted by Qian Manchuan.

"Mom, please don’t speak anymore. I think uncle is sincerely trying to help our two families. Not to mention the money they spent on buying the baking oven and providing the location. Just teaching us how to make these pastries alone, we should be grateful to them,"

Qian Manhe also said, "The apprentices in those shops have to work for their masters for many years for free just to learn a skill, yet Aunt Hua taught us just like that; it’s something that not even more silver could buy. We should be thankful to uncle."

Upon hearing this, Qian Dagui and Qian Ergui thought, yes, they had been too hasty earlier and had not thought deeply about it. Indeed, that was the reason, and they both chuckled in agreement.

Lady Tang wanted to say more, but was glared at by Qian Ergui; she shut her mouth unwillingly.

It seems these two nephews had a clearer understanding.

Qian Sangui nodded and asked Qian Hua to take out the contract and bylaws to read to them, saying if they had no objections, the brothers would sign and seal the agreement tomorrow and invite Second Grandpa and Wang Lizheng as witnesses.

After returning home, Lady Wang was full of regret, saying, "If I had known this day would come, we never should have separated from the family."

Qian Dagui coldly snorted, "You’ve thought of all the good things yourself. When others have money, they want to act like a family. When they hit hard times, you wish you could throw them far away."

"I was just thinking of our home and wanted you and the children to have a better life," replied Lady Wang discontentedly.

Qian Ergui scolded Lady Tang as soon as he got home, saying she opened her big mouth and offended everyone, making Qian Sangui and him grow further apart.

Qian Manhe too spoke discontentedly, "Mom should learn from Lady Da Gui. Look at her, even if she is unwilling in her heart, she doesn’t speak up. She always waits for you to be the one to offend people. In the future, no matter what happens, please don’t speak carelessly again. If we truly offend someone, uncle will no longer think of our family afterward."

Lady Tang was still puzzled, "Our family put in so much silver and even provided two laborers, why should our share be half less than the third branch’s? Watching uncle looking frail and as if a gust of wind could bring him down, but his heart seems so callous."

"Try saying that about my third brother again!" Qian Ergui’s eyes flared.

Qian Manhe sighed helplessly, "Mother may not contribute silver or labor, but her share shouldn’t be half that of the third house."

Lady Tang asked eagerly, "Then what should be done?"

"You just stay out of running the shop!" Qian Ergui shouted, "You don’t want to invest money or effort, yet you still want to make a profit. Only a thick-skinned woman like you would dare to think that way!"

On the twenty-eighth day of September, a lucky day according to the lunar calendar, the Old Brothers of the Qian Pastry Shop was officially established.

The brothers agreed that the pastry chefs would be Lady Wei, Lady Xu, and Lady Wong. To prevent the pastry recipes from leaking, they repeatedly warned these two not to have ulterior motives and not to tell their natal families.

Old woman Qian even threatened, "If you disobey and tell your natal families, the Old Qian Family can’t afford to have daughters-in-law like you."

Lady Xu and Lady Wong hurriedly pledged their loyalty. They were also thrilled at heart, knowing that mastering this money-making skill would elevate their status in the family.

In terms of sales, Qian Sigui was in charge of the provincial city. The second house had fewer people, so Qian Manhe sold in the town for convenience in taking care of the family. The first house had more hands, so Qian Manchuan went to the county town to sell.

Given the current small scale, they could only sell in the town and the county town for now. Later, when they make more money, they would buy a larger steaming oven, hire more people, buy a cart, and sell to the provincial city.

Qian Sangui was the principal owner of the Old Brother Pastry Shop, in charge of the overall responsibility. Qian Dagui, Qian Ergui, Qian Sigui, and a few others were secondary owners. Since Qian Sangui had poor health, Qian Hua assisted and also acted as the accountant, while Huang Tie took care of purchasing.

The owners agreed that for the first three months, there would be no dividends; the money earned would be used as development funds for the shop.

Qian Yixiu went to the county town again to network, taking a sample of each pastry to Wuxi Tea Building for Shopkeeper Cui to taste. She also said that if Shopkeeper Cui made the Old Brothers of the Qian’s pastries the exclusive snack of the tea house, they would give them at a twenty percent discount.

Everyone loves quality goods at low prices, and Shopkeeper Cui not only agreed that Wuxi Tea Building in Xishan County would exclusively use Old Brother pastries, but the branches in the provincial city would as well.

Most businesses have their main store in the bustling provincial city and branches in the county towns. Wuxi Tea Building’s situation was the reverse because Xishan County Town is adjacent to Xiding Mountain, famous for its tea production. Here, the tea house serves not only as a tea shop and tearoom but also as a place for buying tea, making tea, and selling tea. Shopkeeper Cui, who manages everything, must stay here.

This was the public excuse.

There was another, most important reason, unknown to outsiders: Liang Jinzhao, the young master, would come here each year to see Zhang Zhongkun in Xishan County Town and Master Beikong in Daci Temple, only ten miles from the county town, to seek medical treatment and acupuncture. He stayed here for convenience in taking care of his needs.

The Duke Mansion kept the matter of Liang Jinzhao’s illness tightly concealed, as only a few heads of the household within the Duke Mansion and Liang Jinzhao’s parents were aware, along with a few household heads from his mother’s family, the Song family, and the young master Song Huaijin.

To better conceal the truth, the late old Duke sought the help of Master Beikong, with whom he had deep friendship, and asked him to take Liang Jinzhao as a lay disciple. The official story was that he came to Xishan County each year to listen to the master’s teachings on Chan Buddhism, when in fact it was for treatment.

Shopkeeper Cui was a dowry servant of Liang Jinzhao’s mother, and eleven years ago, he opened a shop here for the sake of the young master. Unexpectedly, he also managed to grow the business.