Chapter 126 of Volume 1: Building a Factory

  Just as Chu Xinyi couldn't bear the maddening silence and was about to speak out again, Old Lady slowly said, "…Chu Niangniang is right, General, why don't you bring Zhen Shi back? It would also avoid people gossiping behind our backs that it's this old woman who broke up your marriage." Seeing Shen Zhongge's body tremble, she changed the subject, "…I'm old and I don't dare to let the Imperial Decree Lady serve me. Tomorrow, I'll move to the ancestral mansion and wait for your father to come pick me up."

  Chu Xinyi suppressed the joy in her heart and smiled awkwardly, "What are you talking about, Old Madam? You're still a fourth-rank noble lady, my sister has to kowtow to you when she sees you."

  Yu Guang secretly looked at Shen Zhong's expression.

  Shen Zhong's face changed color, his hand gripping the cup tightly, the veins on the back of his hand bulging one by one. With a loud crack, a fine Qinghua porcelain teacup finally could not withstand the enormous pressure and shattered into powder. Fresh blood mixed with tea water dripped down from his palm.

  "General!" Hong Sang exclaimed, and immediately went forward with a handkerchief to wipe away.

  The old lady's eyes widened in astonishment.

  "Mother worries too much." Shen Zhongge pushed open the red mulberry tree, and covered his injured hand with his sleeve. "I've already ordered someone to repair the ancestral mansion, and Shiniang will be there to recuperate until her death." He stood up, "Mother, please sit down first, I still have official business to attend to, I'll go to the study room now." His voice was cold and low, after speaking, he didn't wait for the old lady's response, Shen Zhongge had already walked out in big strides.

  Looking at his desolate and lonely back, the old lady felt a inexplicable sense of fear in her heart, for no reason, she felt that this son was gradually getting farther and farther away from her.

  Her lips moved again and again, she wanted to call out to Shen Zhongge, comfort him a few words, ask if his hand hurt, and have the doctor come to bandage it. But as an elder, her dignity didn't allow her to make a sound, and she watched as Shen Zhongge's figure disappeared outside the door. The old lady shook her head with force and muttered, "I'm thinking nonsense... In this world, there has never been a son who can surpass his mother."

  He promised to let Zhen Shiniang stay in the ancestral home for the rest of her life, isn't that a compromise with her?

  Then what is she still afraid of?

  ……

  The location and signing of the pharmaceutical factory went very smoothly.

  Zhen Shiniang spent two days taking Jian Wu, Jianwen and Li Qifu couple to see several houses on the list, and finally settled on a three-entrance courtyard in Linggu Town.

  What surprised Zhen Shining was that the seller turned out to be a former slave of the Zou family, who had been killed by Shen Zhongge. The case of Anqing Hou's coup had been suppressed. The Zou family had not yet been punished, but they knew that their fate was sealed, so they were in a hurry to sell off their property and flee. This 300 mu of good land would normally be worth at least 3,000 or 4,000 taels of silver, but it was sold for such a low price because the Zou family was eager to escape.

  Because it's too cheap, people are afraid of being deceived and don't know the inside story. As a result, no one dares to make a move for the time being.

  Zhen Shining was also worried at first, fearing that the Zou family would find out about her relationship with Shen Zhongge and take revenge. After careful consideration, she decided to wait until the Sixth Princess got married, and then the Emperor would eventually settle this account. The Zou family would never have a chance to turn things around again, so it was better to seize this opportunity. After several rounds of negotiation and price reduction, they finally bought it for 2,400 taels of silver, with 1,200 taels paid as a deposit. The remaining 900 taels were paid after the transfer, and the final payment would be made in full three months later.

  With no silver in hand, the agreed payment method relieved Zhen Shiniang of a lot of pressure.

  They were eager to open for business. The other side was also eager to get rid of it, and the two parties reached an agreement quickly. On the day of signing the contract, Zhen Shiniang brought Jian Wu, Jian Wen, Li Qi and his wife, and the newly bought servants to take over the house, stayed in Linggu for three days, made a comprehensive plan for the pharmaceutical factory according to local conditions, compiled a summary, handed it over to Li Qi and Li Changhe for implementation, and Zhen Shiniang took Jian Wu and Jian Wen on the carriage back to Wutong Town.

  “…why did you give Li Dabo 20% of the shares?” As soon as they left Linggu Town, Jianwen hugged Zhen Shi's arm and said, "Xikuai's uncle said that for five taels of silver, we can hire a shopkeeper who will listen to your every word."

  From the selection of the site, Zhen Shiniang had been accompanied by Jian Wu and Jian Wen, including negotiating with the seller, discussing business and pharmaceutical planning with Li Qifu couple, without avoiding them. Zhen Shiniang took an attitude of letting things take their own course, they could understand as much as they could, and learn a little bit if they could.

  Daren Hall is theirs, she doesn't have much time left, can't wait for them to grow up and hand it over to them, can only start now and slowly show up and teach.

  What delighted Zhen Shiniang was that, although Jianwen was not as good at playing chess as Jianwu and couldn't even beat him in a fight, he had a special sensitivity to numbers. When Jianwu made mistakes in ten calculations, five of them would be wrong, but Jianwen could calculate accurately and quickly with 100% accuracy. Moreover, he was more sensitive than Jianwu in observing words and expressions.

  Although he didn't understand, he saw the excitement on Li Qi's face when they were told that they would be given 20% of the shares. Without thinking, Jianwen guessed that his mother had been taken advantage of in the cooperation between the two families. For the past two days, he had been sulking, especially being on guard against Li Qi and his wife. As soon as he was out of their sight, he couldn't wait to ask about it.

  "Wen Ge has been unhappy about this matter all along." Zhen Shi Nang suddenly realized.

  "Seeing Li Dabo and Li Bomu's joyful faces, it's like taking advantage of Mother's kindness." Jianwen's small face was tense, "They bully Mother because she is a weak and gentle woman who doesn't understand business!"

  " Weak and inferior woman..." Zhen Shi Nang teased, "Our Wen Ge already knows how to use idioms." Seeing Jian Wen wanting to change the subject, she changed the topic, "Uncle Li is excited not because he took advantage of me, but because what I gave him exceeded his expectations..."

  Jian Wen blinked, confused.

  "Wen Ge is right, with five taels of silver, we can hire a shopkeeper at Da Ren Tang, but it's not necessarily that we can find someone as knowledgeable and down-to-earth as you, Li Bo Fu."

  "Mother can give him ten taels of silver!" Jianwen said loudly, "Xikuai Auntie said that with the contract from the Imperial Hospital and your ultimate secret recipe, the profits of Darintang will be hundreds or thousands of taels in the future. Originally, it was all mother's alone, what contribution did Uncle Li make, why should he want twenty shares?"

  This little guy knows quite a lot!

  "...it'll take a few years." Zhen Shi Niang felt a wave of relief, and she rubbed Jian Wen's head. "This is exactly what your Uncle Li expected. He thought I would give him at most ten shares, or maybe even hire him, that's why he was so excited." As if Jian Wen wasn't just a five-year-old child, Zhen Shi Niang looked at him seriously. "I've also been thinking carefully about this. Firstly, our capital isn't enough, and giving him twenty shares means he has to invest twenty shares' worth of capital too. And once we lose money, he'll take on 20% of the risk..." Seeing Jian Wen looking at her with wide eyes full of doubt, she patiently explained further. "For example, if Da Ren Tang loses one hundred taels of silver this year, we only need to pay eighty taels, and he'll make up for the remaining twenty taels."

  "But... " Jian Wen shook his head, "With Xiao Daren and Niang's extraordinary secret recipe, Da Ren Tang will never suffer losses."

  It's quite difficult to persuade this little guy.

  Zhen Shiniang broke out in a cold sweat.

  Is it good or bad for a child to be too clever?

  "This is just one of them." Zhen Shi Niang nodded in agreement, "The most important thing is that I'm not feeling well and can't show my face, the medicine factory must have someone loyal to manage it for me. I gave him 20 shares, so he feels like the real boss, and will put all his energy into the factory...". Taking this opportunity, Zhen Shi Niang started telling a story about how to handle employee relationships, finally saying "...our Wen Ge wants to become a truly wealthy merchant, he must have a broad mind, remember that money isn't earned by one person alone. When there's money, everyone should earn it together, and let people feel like they belong with you, only then will they be willing to work hard for you."

  "Uh-huh..." Jianwen nodded slightly, seeming to understand yet not quite understand.

  Zhen Shining looked at him and felt warm in her heart, stretched out her hand to hug her son and hold him in her arms.

  She doesn't expect them to understand now, as long as they remember her words, when they grow up, one day they will understand the heart and soul she put in today, hopefully these can silently influence their thoughts and choices in their future life.

  "Mother, Uncle Li said that Xiao Hei needs to eat raw meat in order to bring out its wild nature!" Jian Wu shouted, breaking the silence inside the carriage.

  Look at the girl only holding her brother, he felt particularly uncomfortable, but in his arms was a small black dog, and he didn't dare to go forward to grab it, Zhen Shiniang hated dog hair the most.

  Jian Wen was suddenly interrupted while quietly thinking about his mother's words, and he immediately glared at him, "I'm discussing serious matters with Mother, don't interrupt!"

  "What a serious matter, you're fooling around!" One sentence didn't match, Jian Wu kicked his foot over.

  A man monopolized his mother's bosom, he had been displeased with Jianwen for a long time.

  He had long been accustomed to Jian Wu's sudden and unpredictable kicks, but before he could even react, Jian Wen had already deftly blocked the kick and said with a straight face, "Mother is teaching me the ways of business, I will become a great merchant who will be rich beyond compare!"

  These two kids fight every day as soon as they open their eyes until they fall asleep.

  Zhen Shi Niang suddenly felt a headache, "Wu Ge..." She stiffened her face.

  Just stretched out his leg, saw the mother was angry, Jian Wu retracted his leg, but his mouth was not reconciled, "Who would believe you!" He looked up at Zhen Shi Niang, "He used to say he wanted to be a top scholar!"

  Jian Wen's face suddenly turned red, "I'll first become the richest man in the world, then I'll take the imperial examination and become a top scholar!"

  Jian Wu sneered, "Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, with merchants at the bottom, are not what a great man should be!"

  "Mother..." Jian Wen couldn't out-argue his younger brother, so he turned his head to look at his mother.

  "...then Brother Wu said what is considered a great man's behavior?" Zhen Shi Niang was very curious how Jian Wu would have such an idea, who taught him at such a young age?

  In her mind, all professions are equal and unique, she has never taught them these things.

  "Brother Ji said that a real man should establish virtue in his heart and build achievements in the world!" Just then, Jian Wu puffed out his chest, "I won't follow my mother to sell medicine, I want to take the imperial martial arts exam and become a great general like General Shen, so majestic and powerful!"

  Zhen Shining's heart wailed in sorrow.

  She tried every means to keep them apart, but the child still single-mindedly adored that arrogant old father of his.

  For her son's future, Zhen Shiniang has never been stingy. What they like is their freedom and their choice. If conditions permit, she hopes to help them achieve it as much as possible.

  Quietly pondering, Wen Ge wants to engage in business, Wu Ge wants to retire, this is not bad either.

  Just as he was about to offer some words of encouragement, he felt Jianwen's body stiffen in his arms, and before he knew it, Jianwen had fallen asleep.

  Because of Jian Wu's sentence "Business is not for great men", he had a knot in his heart.