Chapter 231: Greed
Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Greed
This stove not only had a large heating area but could also be moved around. It didn’t require carefully chosen charcoal and could even burn firewood directly, making it very convenient.
“Sister, your stove is really good.”
“You’re not thinking of selling this kind of stove, are you?” She clearly saw the surprise in Gu Qingping’s eyes.
This stove was made by Xiao Yunjing with iron plates he had found with great difficulty.
The weather here was freezing cold. Without a stove, the room would be as cold as an ice cellar.
Gu Qingping nodded, got up, and took a look around the iron stove.
The Gu Family also has shops and businesses; otherwise, Gu Xicheng’s meager official salary wouldn’t be enough to support the entire Senior Grand Secretary’s household. Which prominent family doesn’t have its own enterprises? Moreover, the major businesses are essentially controlled by these influential families, with commoners holding less than ten percent. And these prominent families have plenty of silver; this stove would be perfect to sell to the wealthy. The only issue is that iron is a controlled material, so I’d need to find a substitute.
He mentally reviewed several materials but rejected them all. Looks like I’ll have to give it more thought when I get back.
Meanwhile, Ms. Li was also surveying the room. She hadn’t had a chance to look closely yesterday, but today’s inspection left her astounded.
One wouldn’t have guessed it of this younger sister, but all the furnishings in the room were of the highest quality. The chair I’m sitting on, this Eight Immortals table, and that wardrobe—all made of golden nanmu wood! No wonder there was such a pleasant fragrance upon entering the room. Although I’ve never seen these specific items before, being from the Capital City, I’m not entirely ignorant. Just from the wood’s color, those golden patterns, and this scent, it’s clear. How wonderful it would be if I had a set of furniture like this in my room too!
As she continued to look, a hint of greed couldn’t help but flicker in her eyes.
Gu Qingli glanced at her. How could the greed in those eyes escape my notice? She didn’t disturb Ms. Li, letting her look her fill.
It was just that she thoroughly disapproved of this Ms. Li.
When Gu Qingping and Ms. Su saw these things, they didn’t react this way.
Indeed, the furniture in her room was all golden nanmu. Some of it Xiao Yunjing had acquired back when he was in Qiyang County, and the rest was loot from Dean Lin’s house.
There was enough to assemble three or four complete sets of furniture, with wood to spare.
Gu Qingli never scrimped on her own food, clothing, or daily necessities; as soon as she had these pieces, she had them put in place.
Not long after Wuqing went out, she returned with tea and some pastries. She set them on the table and then poured tea for Gu Qingping and his wife.
Gu Qingli’s cup contained only plain hot water.
“Hmm?” Gu Qingping smelled the fragrant tea and sat back down, his eyes glued to the teacup on the table.
The tea in the cup exuded a rich aroma, with small tea leaves, each the size of a willow leaf tip, drifting and bobbing within. He watched them for a moment, then took a sip. His eyes lit up, and he proceeded to finish the entire cup.
As the tea went down his throat, it carried a natural fragrance and a hint of sweetness, unlike ordinary tea that is first bitter and then mellow.
His mind also seemed to clear in an instant.
Furthermore, a warm current spread through his limbs and torso, dispelling all the fatigue from their recent journey and leaving him feeling thoroughly refreshed and invigorated.
His whole body felt suffused with energy.
This is truly fine tea! How can such good tea exist in this world? If it were sold, it would easily be worth a fortune!
Immediately, he looked at Gu Qingli, his eyes shining, “Sister, this tea is excellent! Where did you get it? I’ll go get some too, bring it back, and sell it.”
“Are you abandoning your studies for commerce?” Gu Qingli asked, surprised. This newfound elder brother of mine really seems to enjoy business. He was just interested in the stove, and now he’s taken an interest in the tea as well.
“Of course not,” Gu Qingping replied. “I was just thinking that I have a few shops, and one of them happens to be a tea shop. If we can get such excellent tea to sell, it will definitely be very profitable.”
As the saying goes, one doesn’t know the cost of firewood and rice until one manages a household. Since taking over the few shops my mother entrusted to me and reviewing the ledgers last month, I’ve finally started to understand a bit about business. I’m married now, and it’s time I shouldered my responsibilities. As for balancing business and studies, I don’t see them as conflicting. Giving up my studies is out of the question; I’m bound to enter officialdom sooner or later. But I can’t neglect business either. I’ve discovered I quite enjoy it. If I weren’t the legitimate son and thus obligated to pursue an official career, I would definitely choose to be a merchant. Business also requires knowledge and a sharp mind. Logically, the family shops could have been entirely managed by Ms. Li. But I discovered she has the brains of a pig. It’s not that she’s completely unlettered, but her mind and eyes are never on proper matters. All day long, she only thinks about how to live extravagantly or stares covetously at the family’s possessions. I had initially thought that since Ms. Li’s father is a Master at the Imperial Academy, his children would be intelligent. However, after marrying her, I found that wasn’t the case at all. Not only is she shallow, but she’s also greedy. I saw the look in her eyes earlier when she was looking at Sister’s things. Coveting from one’s parents might be somewhat excusable, but to extend that greed to my sister is simply preposterous.
Gu Qingli observed Gu Qingping’s expression; he seemed frank and sincere. He genuinely wants to do this business. It wouldn’t be a problem to let him sell these tea leaves. They come from my Space. It’s not just plain tea leaves; I added a few types of medicinal herbs, and Wuyou roasted them. However, the yield isn’t high. I have about ten jin in the Space. I could give him some to sell for now. There are many wealthy people in the Capital City, so it should sell well. But if I’m to supply Gu Qingping in the long term, I’ll need to find more tea trees to plant in the Space. The few I have there now are far from enough.
So, she said, “I cultivated these tea leaves myself, but the yield isn’t high. I can let you sell them, but how should we structure our cooperation?”
Even blood brothers should settle accounts clearly. Since there’s interest in partnering up to sell it, the terms must be clear. If I really wanted to sell these tea leaves, I could just open my own shop. But since Gu Qingping has brought it up, I don’t mind partnering with him. Let him earn a little something.
When Gu Qingping saw she was amenable, he was overjoyed. He said, “These tea leaves could sell for a thousand taels per jin, no problem. Sister, look, how about this for cooperation? The tea leaves are yours. We sell them in the shop. Regardless of how much silver they fetch, we split it eighty-twenty—you get eighty percent, I get twenty.”
“A thousand taels of silver per jin?” Gu Qingli’s eyes lit up. These tea leaves are that valuable? I’m quite surprised. In that case, this business is a must!
“Yes,” Gu Qingping affirmed. “And that’s a conservative estimate. We’ll only know the exact selling price once they’re actually sold. What do you think, Sister?”
“Husband, isn’t twenty percent a bit too little for us? We’re providing the shop, the labor, and the management,” Ms. Li interjected quickly, before Gu Qingli could reply.
Gu Qingping’s face darkened. He shot a cold glare at this shallow woman. I really regret marrying her. Does she think Sister, with such high-quality tea leaves, would have trouble selling them? She’s offering me a chance to profit, a clean twenty percent for hardly any work, and she thinks it’s too little? Does she think Sister incurs no costs growing and processing this tea? All I have to do is sell it, and it’s not like these tea leaves will be hard to move. This imbecile! If Sister decides against partnering because of this, you can cry your eyes out! Forget twenty percent; you won’t get a single strand of hair!
Frightened by his glare, Ms. Li shrank back slightly, her lips moving soundlessly for a few moments before she looked towards Gu Qingli, who had a faint smile playing on her lips.