Cheng Chi had a good plan, but things did not develop as he imagined.
First, Cheng Mian came to him and tactfully said that since he had received favors from the eldest son's family, it was impossible for him to sell his shares for profit at this time. What was the difference between that and a businessman who bought low and sold high
Then Cheng Wen from the fifth room also came to see him.
Cheng Wen's words were very straightforward: "… At the beginning, I didn't have money, so I said I would use the antiques in my home as collateral, and you agreed. Now you and the second branch have conflicts, I can't just walk away, what kind of person would I be! Besides, I now have an income of 5,000 taels of silver every year. Even if the second branch gives me 100,000 taels of silver, it is only my income for 20 years, and it will be gone after I use it up. But I hold this share in my hand, and I get money every year, a steady stream, isn't it more cost-effective than buying it out? Besides, it's not certain whether the second branch is willing to spend 100,000 taels of silver to buy the shares in my hand. I think it's too much of a loss after I calculated it."
Cheng Chi picked up the teapot and refilled Cheng Wen's cup of tea, saying, "Are you so sure that Yutai Bank can survive for twenty years? What if Yutai Bank goes bankrupt in two years? Wouldn't you be at a huge loss?"
"No, that's impossible!" Cheng Wen stared at Cheng Chi with eyes wide open, stuttering, "You are only in your twenties today, and Yutai Bank can still thrive for another twenty years, right?"
"What does the twenty years of prosperity of Yutai Bank have to do with my age?"
"As long as you are not senile, this bank will not fail, right?" Cheng Wen's eyes widened, and he said, "Don't fool me, I heard that the people from the second branch are looking for people to do business with. When they heard that it was the Cheng family of Jiuru Lane, they all came running over, but when they heard that it was the second branch's own idea, they all said they had something to do and ran away faster than anyone else. Otherwise, do you think you can live so peacefully? Do you think Yutai Bank can be so prosperous? I finally see clearly that those people don't want to do business with the Cheng family, they want to do business with you!" He said with a little pride, "Anyway, I have seen it clearly this time. As long as you are in charge of the Cheng family's affairs, I will take advantage of the big tree. If you quit one day... well, I will follow you. I will invest in whatever business you do!"
Cheng Chi just smiled and said nothing.
Cheng Wen said hurriedly: "What I said is true. I made up my mind when I came here. If you fight with the second house, I will definitely help you. If you don't believe me, I can swear."
"It's not as serious as you say." Cheng Chi said with a smile, "I just think that if you sell your shares and buy some land, the risk may be lower."
"You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child." Cheng Wen patted his chest, "The risk of farmland is small, but the return is not high. I still decided to follow you."
That depends on whether I am willing for you to follow me!
Cheng Chi muttered to himself, smiled faintly and poured another cup of tea for Cheng Wen.
"Ouch! Ouch!" Cheng Wen said hurriedly, "I'll do it, I'll do it. You are the God of Wealth, how can I ask the God of Wealth to pour tea for me?"
Cheng Chi raised his hand to avoid Cheng Wen's outstretched arm, and said with a smile: "Don't you get rich if you drink what the God of Wealth wants? I'll pour you some tea, just sit down and drink it."
"That makes sense." Cheng Wen chuckled and sat down again. He watched Cheng Chi fill his teacup, then approached Cheng Chi attentively and whispered, "Silang, tell me the truth. You didn't get the salt permit this year. Is it because of the old ancestor of the second house..." He pointed in the direction of the second house and said, "I'm telling you, I know the brother-in-law of the newly promoted Lianghuai Transport Manager. Do you want me to help you go to Huai'an? We can't get the salt permits for Liangzhe, so can't we get the salt permits for Lianghuai? I don't believe it!"
"No!" Cheng Chi was a little surprised and said with a smile, "I just felt that the salt permit business was not easy to do, so I gave up."
Cheng Wen stamped his feet and said, "You find it troublesome, but I don't! Why didn't you think of giving me this business? You really don't know the hunger of a hungry man when you are full!"
Cheng Chi said apologetically: "I really didn't expect that... How about I help you get started in the shipping business with someone else? It's risky, but if you don't open the business for three years, you can make a living for three years after you open it..."
Before he could finish his words, Cheng Wen slapped him on the arm and said with great emotion: "I said that the three brothers of the eldest house are the most loyal. Last time I went to the capital, I was embarrassed to see Brother Jing, so I went to your second brother Wei. Your second brother Wei didn't ask anything, but took me to the Daxiangguo Temple in person, and asked the steward to take me around the capital. In the end, he gave me a hundred taels of silver. Although I didn't tell anyone about this, I always remembered it in my heart. Let's just say this. I have a total of 20,000 taels of silver in my hand. You can ask the steward to go with me to get the silver notes later..."
"Brother Wen, you should contact the other party on your own!" Cheng Chi interrupted Cheng Wen with a smile, and said, "It's not good for me to get involved... The other party is a friend of mine, and he's not very wealthy. If he wants me to lower the price by one point, I can't say no to him. I'm afraid that Brother Wen will suffer losses."
"Okay, okay, okay." Cheng Wen smiled so brightly that only his two rows of white teeth were visible. "You ask your manager to introduce me to someone else. How we negotiate is my business!"
"I can't just leave it to you." Cheng Chi said with a smile, "I didn't have the manpower to take care of this business before, so I didn't get involved, but I asked my manager to calculate the profits before. He should know what to pay attention to. I'll let the manager talk to you later, so you won't be in the dark when you talk to others."
"That's right, that's right." This time Cheng Wen patted his thigh, "Others say you're aloof, but I think you're shy. If I'd known you were like this, I should have come to visit you earlier..."
Huaishan stood aside, his stomach almost cramped from laughing. After finally seeing Cheng Wen off, he really couldn't help it and started laughing while leaning against a pillar.
Cheng Chi glanced at him coldly, and seeing that it was getting late and almost time for dinner, he went to see Old Madam Guo.
Mrs. Guo asked him, "Is Master Wen gone?"
"Let's go." Cheng Chi said, and sat down below Mrs. Guo.
Madam Guo pondered and said, "You spent so much effort to attract several families to Yutai Bank, why are you asking them to sell their shares now?"
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "In the beginning, it was to warn the ancestors of the second branch not to act rashly. Now that the eldest brother has established himself, it is not so easy for him to make a move even if he wants to. On the contrary, he can separate the fourth and fifth branches. If there is to be a fuss, let the three of us do it, and don't involve them."
Madam Guo nodded and changed the subject: "I heard Shao Jin went to play chess with you?"
"She's just a kid, looking for something fun to do." Cheng Chi said with a smile, "I'll deal with her when I'm free, but if I'm not free, I'll just ignore her."
Madam Guo smiled and said, "Why don't you invite Jiu Nie to your home to play? You haven't seen him for some time."
"I just haven't been with him at home for a while." Cheng Chi said with a smile, "We had dinner together at Mei Yan Lou two days ago!"
"Eh!" Madam Guo asked curiously, "Didn't you say that there was nothing delicious in Meiyanlou? Why did you suddenly go there?"
Cheng Chi said: "It's just on the way."
Mrs. Guo didn't ask any more questions.
Cheng Chi said, "Didn't you say you were going to Mount Putuo to burn incense? When are you going? I happen to have nothing to do these days, so I can go with you!"
"That's great!" Mrs. Guo couldn't help but smile from the corners of her eyes and eyebrows. She hurriedly pulled her son's hand and said, "Then it's settled. You can't say you have something to do before you go out like last time, which made me lose my mood."
In the end I didn’t make it!
Cheng Chi felt sad as he watched his mother holding his hand tightly as if she were holding on to a life-saving straw.
He could now imagine how sad his mother would be when she knew he would never come back.
Or, should we wait until mother passes away
This thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly rejected it.
If Xiao Zhenhai can find Jinling, he can also find Jiuru Lane.
If he doesn't leave, it will only bring greater harm to his mother.
"I will definitely accompany you to visit Mount Putuo." Cheng Chi's voice was softer and warmer than he had imagined. "I will also go out for a walk with my mother. Speaking of which, we haven't been out together for ten years..."
"Yes, yes, yes." Madam Guo nodded continuously and said, "Shaojin's scriptures should be copied soon. When the time comes, we will take the child with us. She can also play a few games of chess with you on the way instead of me... Oh, time is still a bit tight. I will leave the outside affairs to you. Besides Shaojin, Nanny Shi will also go. She has served me all her life and is not young anymore. After following me to Putuo Mountain this time, I don't know if she will have the chance to go out again. As for Biyu and Feicui, I will take them with me as well. Who should I leave at home to look after the house..."
Mrs. Guo is such a strong person, but for a moment she was so happy that she was incoherent.
Cheng Chi looked even more sad, and said with a smile: "Mom, you don't have to be so anxious. I have been free these few months and can accompany you out at any time. Please choose a good day first, and then I will ask Qin Ziping to come and help you with some trivial matters to ensure that you can go out smoothly."
Hearing that her son had been idle for the past few months, Mrs. Guo was happy but also calmed down and began to arrange the travel arrangements in an orderly manner.
In just half an hour, Zhou Shaojin, who was copying books in the Buddhist hall, found out.
Biyu came over and told her personally: "… The old lady said that you should go with us!"
"Really?" Zhou Shaojin excitedly pulled Biyu's hand.
"Really!" Biyu smiled, "The old lady has sent someone to the fourth room to pass on the message. She will go to the fourth room to visit Old An tomorrow to discuss this matter."
"I wonder if I can bring my sister along." Zhou Shaojin murmured, "I have never been to Putuo Temple in my two lifetimes!"
"Talk to your old lady An." Biyu gave her some advice, "Why don't you just bring a few less servants with you?"
People who travel only think about the crowds and the excitement; expenses are not something they consider at all.
Zhou Shaojin couldn't sit still anymore and went back to Jiashu Hall early.
※
Thank you Tianwaixianxian, Zixiao1, and janeuoo for the spirit beast eggs.
Xiao Zhizhi will have a day off tomorrow. The weather is bad where I am, with both snow and rain, so I can only leave a day in advance. The day after tomorrow my parents will be going home for the New Year, and I will have to go to the station to pick them up. It may take a few days to update, so please bear with me.
I will pay back the "debt" as soon as possible...
PS: The taciturn Zhizhi continues to beg for pink votes!
O(∩_∩)O~
※(To be continued)