Chapter 85
"Don’t rush, Song, just let me finish," Yu Ying reiterated.
Song Sanlang hesitated briefly but then said, "Alright, Mrs. Fu, go ahead."
Yu Ying analyzed with him, "If it were just Song managing the stall, we certainly wouldn't have earned this much, right?"
Given that Song Sanlang had to hire help out of necessity, the sales were probably even less than her estimate of eighty jars.
Song Sanlang was aware of this limitation.
He nodded in agreement, "Indeed, I couldn’t have."
"I am far away in Yu County, and Song cannot consult with me on every matter. But making the right decision that brings good profits, I am more than grateful to Song, how could I exploit his earnings?"
Yu Ying recalled the sales figures Song Sanlang mentioned and calculated again in her mind.
Based on the promise she had made earlier, the two types of face cream were to be calculated at four and six wen per jar, respectively. Now, they sold eighty-seven and fifty-eight jars.
So, the corresponding payment would be three hundred forty-eight wen for each, totaling six hundred ninety-six wen.
Accounting for his daily expenses of seven wen, which is quite frugal, it would amount to nearly three hundred wen in over forty days, plus a rent of one hundred twenty wen.
After deducting around four hundred wen for these expenses, he would only have two to three hundred wen left.
Subtracting the two hundred wen for Miss Su’s wages, there would be very little remaining.
Considering this, it would be better to treat the stall as a small shop. Song would be the manager, and Miss Su an employee. If they could earn more, she, as the owner, certainly shouldn't be stingy.
"Working hard for over a month to earn just twenty or thirty wen, even if Song doesn’t mind, I’m not willing to be so miserly."
While Song Sanlang was still thinking, Yu Ying made a decision, "Let's do it this way. Paying an extra two hundred wen or so a month is still quite profitable for me."
Song Sanlang looked a bit solemn, but he couldn't help saying, "But she was hired by me, it doesn’t seem right for Mrs. Fu to pay her wages."
Yu Ying firmly said, "I think this is the most reasonable way. When there's profit, we should all earn together to ensure the business lasts longer. If only I am well-fed while others only get soup, the business won’t last. Business is business, and personal feelings aside, I will not be vague about what should be given."
Song Sanlang fell silent.
Yu Ying added, "Moreover, if this year’s earnings are good, perhaps next year we can open a small shop in the provincial capital. Then we could ask Miss Su to help us long-term."
Hearing Mrs. Fu's plan to open a shop in the provincial capital, Song Sanlang's solemn face revealed a flash of surprise, but he quickly considered the current profits and realized that a small shop could indeed be profitable.
"Right, please tell Miss Su that at the end of the year, based on the stall’s profits, she will receive additional bonuses," Yu Ying requested.
Song Sanlang was taken aback, "The daily wage of seven wen is already quite good, and she gets a bonus too?"
Yu Ying smiled, "This is to motivate Miss Su. Before, she might have sold only four jars a day, but with this incentive, she could sell six. I only need to take a few wen from the extra profit of those two jars to pay her, making it a no-loss business."
Concluding her point, Yu Ying looked at him, "Think about it, Song, doesn't it make sense?"
Song Sanlang pondered for a moment.
He remembered when he worked for a noble family; had there been a year-end reward for his labor, he certainly would have worked harder.
Realizing this, he agreed, "Indeed, it would make one work harder."
Yu Ying didn’t dwell on Miss Su's matter and moved on to discuss the current stock.
"There's only a bit more than half a month until the year's end. With the increased shopping around the New Year, the remaining 140 jars of face cream should be more than enough."
After some thought, she added, "But I’m considering making more, especially with the New Year’s holiday approaching, to try and sell as much as possible."
Song Sanlang suggested, "The method of giving away free samples worked well before. At least one or two out of ten people would return to buy."
Yu Ying shook her head, "That strategy is no longer novel. Today, I noticed other stalls also giving away free samples. If we do it, we need to offer something different."
Song Sanlang asked doubtfully, "But our stall focuses on face cream, what else can we give?"
Yu Ying thought for a moment before speaking, "Although we sell face cream, most of our customers are women who can afford face cream, and thus likely afford other cosmetics like rouge and powder..."
Pausing mid-sentence, Yu Ying suddenly had an idea, her face lighting up with a smile, "I know what to give away."
Song Sanlang looked puzzled.
Yu Ying shared with him, "Let’s make lip balm."
She realized she had overlooked the fact that in addition to face cream, they could also make lip balm!
Yu Ying, having thought of this, said, "I'll buy the ingredients tomorrow morning and start preparing. I'll deliver them before you close the stall."
She added, "I’ll make a small quantity for giveaways, and also a regular amount of lip balm for sale."
After discussing her ideas with Song Sanlang, it was almost time to return.
The over five thousand wen in the basket weighed about thirty kilograms. Yu Ying couldn’t carry it alone for half an hour without straining her hands, so Song Sanlang carried the basket almost to the inn before leaving.
When Yu Ying got back to her room at the inn and closed the door, she opened the basket to find it filled with copper coins.
It seemed Song Sanlang had strung the coins by the days, which is why each string varied in amount.
Yu Ying carefully took out the copper coins from the basket, placing them all on the table. She then untied the hemp ropes and began joyfully counting the coins.
She first counted out the money for Song Sanlang and Miss Su, totaling nine hundred and forty-one wen.
Then she calculated the costs: two thousand four hundred wen for ingredients and around six hundred wen for the stall rent and Song’s food and lodging.
After deducting a ten percent profit share for her brother-in-law and his wife, the net profit came to around one thousand five hundred wen.
Although it was only about one thousand five hundred wen, it was nearly equivalent to what a poor family might spend in a year.
And since this was just the start and they were already making money, it suggested future prospects could be even better.
Compared to half a year ago, when she was scraping together pennies, now she could earn the same amount in about three months that she initially needed to redeem her brother-in-law, something Yu Ying had not even dared to imagine initially.
With an income of one thousand five hundred wen, plus some money earned from selling medicinal herbs over the past month, despite spending over five thousand wen on renting land and hiring labor for land reclamation, Yu Ying's savings were still around five taels of silver.
This amount of money could buy a small house in Yu County.
However, given the unstable situation, Yu Ying still felt that renting a house was the safest option.
Happy with her substantial earnings for the day, Yu Ying hummed a tune while stringing the copper coins. Halfway through, a servant brought food, so she paused to eat and then took a bath.
By the time she resumed counting the coins, it was already completely dark.
She hadn’t seen Fu Wei as he had gone to a banquet at the Governor's Mansion with the county magistrate in the afternoon.
The Governor's Mansion was brightly lit, filled with the sounds of music and dance. Dancers gracefully moved in the center of the feast.
The county magistrates were flattering the Governor, and the clerks were toasting and chatting, creating a lively atmosphere of clinking cups and laughter.
The banquet's splendor and liveliness belied the fact that Cangwu Prefecture was one of the lower-ranked among the one hundred and ninety prefectures in the country, as if it were a time of great peace and prosperity.
Fu Wei wore a feigned smile, interacting with clerks from other counties.
The clerks from other counties looked down upon him and Yu County, all displaying a sense of superiority.
One person said, "I heard that Lord Fu of Yu County was once an adopted son of the Wuling Prefecture Governor. Being an adopted son, he must have some talents. I wonder if he can ride horses and shoot arrows?"
Another clerk in his thirties laughed, "This young Lord Fu's legs are crippled. Asking him to ride and shoot is just making things difficult for him. It’d be easier to have him pour a cup of tea for you."
Hearing this, Mr. Qian, who was nearby, had a slightly darkened expression.
Fu Wei, maintaining a smile, picked up the wine pot to pour for the speaker, "Although my legs are disabled, my archery skills are still decent."
Seeing him actually pour the tea, Mr. Qian’s expression worsened, while others laughed heartily, increasingly disregarding Fu Wei.
The thirty-something clerk commented, "Since your archery is decent, why not demonstrate it for us?"
This suggestion effectively treated Fu Wei as entertainment for amusement.
The Governor, surrounded by beauties, noticed his clerks laughing heartily. He raised his hand to quiet the music and asked, "What are you gentlemen discussing that’s so amusing?"
The clerk who suggested Fu Wei demonstrate his archery stood up and replied, "Your Excellency, this clerk from Yu County claims his archery is decent despite his disability. I proposed he showcase his skills for everyone's enjoyment."
All eyes then turned to Fu Wei.
Fu Wei bowed towards the Governor.
The Governor, interested, said, "That's a good suggestion. Bring in the archery target."
Fu Wei said, "Just me shooting might not be very entertaining." Smiling, he looked at the clerk who made the suggestion, "I noticed calluses on Mr. Gu's left hand and on the index and middle finger of his right hand, clearly a sign of an experienced archer. Why not join me?"
The man called Mr. Gu was taken aback, not expecting Fu Wei to involve him and turn him into a subject of amusement.
The Governor suggested, "Then how about a competition between you two? The winner will receive a reward from me..." He paused, scanning the crowd, his gaze settling on a beautiful dancer. He then called her over, smiling, "Whoever wins will spend the night with this beautiful dancer."
Fu Wei's eyes narrowed slightly, his hand tightening, and then he bowed, "Your Excellency, with my disability... I am afraid I cannot enjoy such a reward."
His response led to varied expressions in the crowd, with some thinking, 'His disability is in his legs, not his manhood, why act so reserved?'
Others, not considering this, simply felt that he indeed was incapable.
Mr. Gu, the clerk, mocked with a laugh, "Mr. Fu's refusal seems to suggest he could actually beat me."
Fu Wei simply smiled and remained silent.
The Governor, greatly interested, plucked a golden hairpin from his concubine's hair, saying with a laugh, "You can have either the beauty or this golden hairpin, or even both if you wish. Choose whatever you like."
County Magistrate Zhou looked at Fu Wei with concern.
He had anticipated that today's banquet wouldn't pass peacefully when he arrived.
As the least regarded among the seven counties, Yu County often faced difficulties in previous years, and this year's target seemed likely to be Fu Wei.
It was expected that Fu Wei would be used to belittle Yu County.
Zhou had thought of visiting the Governor and then not bringing Fu Wei to the banquet, but they ended up attending together.
If Fu Wei lost, Yu County would likely continue to be the butt of jokes among the other counties.
The clerk Mr. Gu, who challenged Fu Wei to archery, was a clerk from Wu'an County, only slightly better off than Yu County. Ridiculing Yu County would deflect laughter away from Wu'an County.
Mr. Qian, sitting beside Fu Wei, whispered, "Mr. Gu's father was once a cavalry archer captain in the army, and Mr. Gu himself has practiced archery since childhood. Are you confident you can beat him?"
Fu Wei's face still held a gentle smile, "I have also practiced archery since childhood."
He had learned archery from a young age under his adoptive father, who was a prefectural governor in charge of an army.
Mr. Qian remained worried, "But Mr. Gu is fully able-bodied, and you… It seems somewhat unfair."
Fu Wei shook his head, "It's alright."
At that moment, the target was set up, and someone brought two regular bows, each weighing about twenty kilograms, and handed them to both men.
As the archery contest involved one competitor with disabled legs, the crowd's interest shifted entirely from the beautiful dancer to the competition.
Mr. Gu glanced at Fu Wei with undisguised contempt, saying, "If Mr. Fu can beat me, I will bow to you as a junior and call you 'sir'. If you lose, you must call me 'grandfather' three times. How about that?"
Fu Wei smiled, "Mr. Gu wishing to become my grandfather is wishful thinking, I'm afraid."
This remark from Fu Wei made the crowd struggle to hold back their laughter.
Mr. Gu scoffed disdainfully, "Don’t speak too soon."
The rules of the contest were simple: five arrows each, and the one whose arrows were closest to the bullseye would win.
Fu Wei asked Mr. Qian to position his wheelchair sideways to the target and adjusted his angle for shooting.
Mr. Gu withdrew his gaze from Fu Wei, took a breath, nocked an arrow, and aimed at the target. The next instant, the arrow swiftly left the bow.
The target had five rings; Mr. Gu's first arrow wasn't exactly at the bullseye but deviated only slightly, still hitting the central ring.
Fu Wei, sitting sideways, nocked and drew the bow, squinting slightly towards the target. The surroundings were exceptionally quiet, and he waited for a moment when the wind arose.
When the wind ceased, he suddenly opened his eyes with sharp focus, and the arrow left the bow.
Chapter 85
"Don’t rush, Song, just let me finish," Yu Ying reiterated.
Song Sanlang hesitated briefly but then said, "Alright, Mrs. Fu, go ahead."
Yu Ying analyzed with him, "If it were just Song managing the stall, we certainly wouldn't have earned this much, right?"
Given that Song Sanlang had to hire help out of necessity, the sales were probably even less than her estimate of eighty jars.
Song Sanlang was aware of this limitation.
He nodded in agreement, "Indeed, I couldn’t have."
"I am far away in Yu County, and Song cannot consult with me on every matter. But making the right decision that brings good profits, I am more than grateful to Song, how could I exploit his earnings?"
Yu Ying recalled the sales figures Song Sanlang mentioned and calculated again in her mind.
Based on the promise she had made earlier, the two types of face cream were to be calculated at four and six wen per jar, respectively. Now, they sold eighty-seven and fifty-eight jars.
So, the corresponding payment would be three hundred forty-eight wen for each, totaling six hundred ninety-six wen.
Accounting for his daily expenses of seven wen, which is quite frugal, it would amount to nearly three hundred wen in over forty days, plus a rent of one hundred twenty wen.
After deducting around four hundred wen for these expenses, he would only have two to three hundred wen left.
Subtracting the two hundred wen for Miss Su’s wages, there would be very little remaining.
Considering this, it would be better to treat the stall as a small shop. Song would be the manager, and Miss Su an employee. If they could earn more, she, as the owner, certainly shouldn't be stingy.
"Working hard for over a month to earn just twenty or thirty wen, even if Song doesn’t mind, I’m not willing to be so miserly."
While Song Sanlang was still thinking, Yu Ying made a decision, "Let's do it this way. Paying an extra two hundred wen or so a month is still quite profitable for me."
Song Sanlang looked a bit solemn, but he couldn't help saying, "But she was hired by me, it doesn’t seem right for Mrs. Fu to pay her wages."
Yu Ying firmly said, "I think this is the most reasonable way. When there's profit, we should all earn together to ensure the business lasts longer. If only I am well-fed while others only get soup, the business won’t last. Business is business, and personal feelings aside, I will not be vague about what should be given."
Song Sanlang fell silent.
Yu Ying added, "Moreover, if this year’s earnings are good, perhaps next year we can open a small shop in the provincial capital. Then we could ask Miss Su to help us long-term."
Hearing Mrs. Fu's plan to open a shop in the provincial capital, Song Sanlang's solemn face revealed a flash of surprise, but he quickly considered the current profits and realized that a small shop could indeed be profitable.
"Right, please tell Miss Su that at the end of the year, based on the stall’s profits, she will receive additional bonuses," Yu Ying requested.
Song Sanlang was taken aback, "The daily wage of seven wen is already quite good, and she gets a bonus too?"
Yu Ying smiled, "This is to motivate Miss Su. Before, she might have sold only four jars a day, but with this incentive, she could sell six. I only need to take a few wen from the extra profit of those two jars to pay her, making it a no-loss business."
Concluding her point, Yu Ying looked at him, "Think about it, Song, doesn't it make sense?"
Song Sanlang pondered for a moment.
He remembered when he worked for a noble family; had there been a year-end reward for his labor, he certainly would have worked harder.
Realizing this, he agreed, "Indeed, it would make one work harder."
Yu Ying didn’t dwell on Miss Su's matter and moved on to discuss the current stock.
"There's only a bit more than half a month until the year's end. With the increased shopping around the New Year, the remaining 140 jars of face cream should be more than enough."
After some thought, she added, "But I’m considering making more, especially with the New Year’s holiday approaching, to try and sell as much as possible."
Song Sanlang suggested, "The method of giving away free samples worked well before. At least one or two out of ten people would return to buy."
Yu Ying shook her head, "That strategy is no longer novel. Today, I noticed other stalls also giving away free samples. If we do it, we need to offer something different."
Song Sanlang asked doubtfully, "But our stall focuses on face cream, what else can we give?"
Yu Ying thought for a moment before speaking, "Although we sell face cream, most of our customers are women who can afford face cream, and thus likely afford other cosmetics like rouge and powder..."
Pausing mid-sentence, Yu Ying suddenly had an idea, her face lighting up with a smile, "I know what to give away."
Song Sanlang looked puzzled.
Yu Ying shared with him, "Let’s make lip balm."
She realized she had overlooked the fact that in addition to face cream, they could also make lip balm!
Yu Ying, having thought of this, said, "I'll buy the ingredients tomorrow morning and start preparing. I'll deliver them before you close the stall."
She added, "I’ll make a small quantity for giveaways, and also a regular amount of lip balm for sale."
After discussing her ideas with Song Sanlang, it was almost time to return.
The over five thousand wen in the basket weighed about thirty kilograms. Yu Ying couldn’t carry it alone for half an hour without straining her hands, so Song Sanlang carried the basket almost to the inn before leaving.
When Yu Ying got back to her room at the inn and closed the door, she opened the basket to find it filled with copper coins.
It seemed Song Sanlang had strung the coins by the days, which is why each string varied in amount.
Yu Ying carefully took out the copper coins from the basket, placing them all on the table. She then untied the hemp ropes and began joyfully counting the coins.
She first counted out the money for Song Sanlang and Miss Su, totaling nine hundred and forty-one wen.
Then she calculated the costs: two thousand four hundred wen for ingredients and around six hundred wen for the stall rent and Song’s food and lodging.
After deducting a ten percent profit share for her brother-in-law and his wife, the net profit came to around one thousand five hundred wen.
Although it was only about one thousand five hundred wen, it was nearly equivalent to what a poor family might spend in a year.
And since this was just the start and they were already making money, it suggested future prospects could be even better.
Compared to half a year ago, when she was scraping together pennies, now she could earn the same amount in about three months that she initially needed to redeem her brother-in-law, something Yu Ying had not even dared to imagine initially.
With an income of one thousand five hundred wen, plus some money earned from selling medicinal herbs over the past month, despite spending over five thousand wen on renting land and hiring labor for land reclamation, Yu Ying's savings were still around five taels of silver.
This amount of money could buy a small house in Yu County.
However, given the unstable situation, Yu Ying still felt that renting a house was the safest option.
Happy with her substantial earnings for the day, Yu Ying hummed a tune while stringing the copper coins. Halfway through, a servant brought food, so she paused to eat and then took a bath.
By the time she resumed counting the coins, it was already completely dark.
She hadn’t seen Fu Wei as he had gone to a banquet at the Governor's Mansion with the county magistrate in the afternoon.
The Governor's Mansion was brightly lit, filled with the sounds of music and dance. Dancers gracefully moved in the center of the feast.
The county magistrates were flattering the Governor, and the clerks were toasting and chatting, creating a lively atmosphere of clinking cups and laughter.
The banquet's splendor and liveliness belied the fact that Cangwu Prefecture was one of the lower-ranked among the one hundred and ninety prefectures in the country, as if it were a time of great peace and prosperity.
Fu Wei wore a feigned smile, interacting with clerks from other counties.
The clerks from other counties looked down upon him and Yu County, all displaying a sense of superiority.
One person said, "I heard that Lord Fu of Yu County was once an adopted son of the Wuling Prefecture Governor. Being an adopted son, he must have some talents. I wonder if he can ride horses and shoot arrows?"
Another clerk in his thirties laughed, "This young Lord Fu's legs are crippled. Asking him to ride and shoot is just making things difficult for him. It’d be easier to have him pour a cup of tea for you."
Hearing this, Mr. Qian, who was nearby, had a slightly darkened expression.
Fu Wei, maintaining a smile, picked up the wine pot to pour for the speaker, "Although my legs are disabled, my archery skills are still decent."
Seeing him actually pour the tea, Mr. Qian’s expression worsened, while others laughed heartily, increasingly disregarding Fu Wei.
The thirty-something clerk commented, "Since your archery is decent, why not demonstrate it for us?"
This suggestion effectively treated Fu Wei as entertainment for amusement.
The Governor, surrounded by beauties, noticed his clerks laughing heartily. He raised his hand to quiet the music and asked, "What are you gentlemen discussing that’s so amusing?"
The clerk who suggested Fu Wei demonstrate his archery stood up and replied, "Your Excellency, this clerk from Yu County claims his archery is decent despite his disability. I proposed he showcase his skills for everyone's enjoyment."
All eyes then turned to Fu Wei.
Fu Wei bowed towards the Governor.
The Governor, interested, said, "That's a good suggestion. Bring in the archery target."
Fu Wei said, "Just me shooting might not be very entertaining." Smiling, he looked at the clerk who made the suggestion, "I noticed calluses on Mr. Gu's left hand and on the index and middle finger of his right hand, clearly a sign of an experienced archer. Why not join me?"
The man called Mr. Gu was taken aback, not expecting Fu Wei to involve him and turn him into a subject of amusement.
The Governor suggested, "Then how about a competition between you two? The winner will receive a reward from me..." He paused, scanning the crowd, his gaze settling on a beautiful dancer. He then called her over, smiling, "Whoever wins will spend the night with this beautiful dancer."
Fu Wei's eyes narrowed slightly, his hand tightening, and then he bowed, "Your Excellency, with my disability... I am afraid I cannot enjoy such a reward."
His response led to varied expressions in the crowd, with some thinking, 'His disability is in his legs, not his manhood, why act so reserved?'
Others, not considering this, simply felt that he indeed was incapable.
Mr. Gu, the clerk, mocked with a laugh, "Mr. Fu's refusal seems to suggest he could actually beat me."
Fu Wei simply smiled and remained silent.
The Governor, greatly interested, plucked a golden hairpin from his concubine's hair, saying with a laugh, "You can have either the beauty or this golden hairpin, or even both if you wish. Choose whatever you like."
County Magistrate Zhou looked at Fu Wei with concern.
He had anticipated that today's banquet wouldn't pass peacefully when he arrived.
As the least regarded among the seven counties, Yu County often faced difficulties in previous years, and this year's target seemed likely to be Fu Wei.
It was expected that Fu Wei would be used to belittle Yu County.
Zhou had thought of visiting the Governor and then not bringing Fu Wei to the banquet, but they ended up attending together.
If Fu Wei lost, Yu County would likely continue to be the butt of jokes among the other counties.
The clerk Mr. Gu, who challenged Fu Wei to archery, was a clerk from Wu'an County, only slightly better off than Yu County. Ridiculing Yu County would deflect laughter away from Wu'an County.
Mr. Qian, sitting beside Fu Wei, whispered, "Mr. Gu's father was once a cavalry archer captain in the army, and Mr. Gu himself has practiced archery since childhood. Are you confident you can beat him?"
Fu Wei's face still held a gentle smile, "I have also practiced archery since childhood."
He had learned archery from a young age under his adoptive father, who was a prefectural governor in charge of an army.
Mr. Qian remained worried, "But Mr. Gu is fully able-bodied, and you… It seems somewhat unfair."
Fu Wei shook his head, "It's alright."
At that moment, the target was set up, and someone brought two regular bows, each weighing about twenty kilograms, and handed them to both men.
As the archery contest involved one competitor with disabled legs, the crowd's interest shifted entirely from the beautiful dancer to the competition.
Mr. Gu glanced at Fu Wei with undisguised contempt, saying, "If Mr. Fu can beat me, I will bow to you as a junior and call you 'sir'. If you lose, you must call me 'grandfather' three times. How about that?"
Fu Wei smiled, "Mr. Gu wishing to become my grandfather is wishful thinking, I'm afraid."
This remark from Fu Wei made the crowd struggle to hold back their laughter.
Mr. Gu scoffed disdainfully, "Don’t speak too soon."
The rules of the contest were simple: five arrows each, and the one whose arrows were closest to the bullseye would win.
Fu Wei asked Mr. Qian to position his wheelchair sideways to the target and adjusted his angle for shooting.
Mr. Gu withdrew his gaze from Fu Wei, took a breath, nocked an arrow, and aimed at the target. The next instant, the arrow swiftly left the bow.
The target had five rings; Mr. Gu's first arrow wasn't exactly at the bullseye but deviated only slightly, still hitting the central ring.
Fu Wei, sitting sideways, nocked and drew the bow, squinting slightly towards the target. The surroundings were exceptionally quiet, and he waited for a moment when the wind arose.
When the wind ceased, he suddenly opened his eyes with sharp focus, and the arrow left the bow.
