After the snow, heating with charcoal became essential; Shu Rui nearly ran out of the stock he had stored in autumn.
During the twelfth lunar month, the price of charcoal and firewood rose sharply, but he had no choice but to buy. Before the New Year, he purchased five carts of firewood from a villager, four delivered to the inn, one to Lu Ling’s family.
After the delivery, Shu Rui offered the villager hot tea and asked about village matters.
“What’s the current price of farmland? We had a good autumn harvest, so I imagine land prices have risen,” he asked.
The villager said, “There’s been no famine for years. Land prices rise every year. Last month, a fine plot sold for twenty strings per mu.”
Shu Rui whistled at the increase. During times of peace, with no disasters or war, land only appreciated.
Business at the inn was gradually stabilizing, giving Shu Rui some capital. He began planning ahead. With money, he could buy land or property to secure assets.
Lu Ling appeared busy nearby, but his attention was on Shu Rui, observing every interaction.
Once the villager left, Lu Ling stacked the firewood and asked, “Why ask about land prices? Thinking of buying property?”
Shu Rui replied, “The prices are high; we may not have spare money now. But in the future, we’ll want some land. Hiring tenants to farm it and deliver grain and meat each season is better than haggling with grain merchants every year.”
“Then we should watch the market, and if a good deal appears, buy some.”
Though there were restrictions on merchants owning farmland, Shu Rui’s family had scholars, so it wasn’t a concern.
Noticing Lu Ling’s hands were red and wet from the snow, Shu Rui used his handkerchief to dry them and pulled him aside. “Have you thought about where we’ll eventually run our business long-term?”
Lu Ling asked, “What do you mean? Wherever you are, I’ll be.”
“I didn’t say I won’t stay with you,” Shu Rui replied. “I mean, your hometown is Gan County. My uncle will serve in Chaoxi Prefecture for five years; whether he is promoted or transferred, he won’t stay in one place forever. Eventually, he’ll retire and return home.”
“Er-lang will have his own future and likely won’t settle in one place either.”
“You and I are different. We’re of merchant and craftsman stock. Once we settle somewhere, it’s hard to move.”
Lu Ling understood Shu Rui’s meaning. “You’re asking if we should return to Jizhou to build a foundation in our hometown or stay in Chaoxi Prefecture?”
Shu Rui nodded.
“I left home young. I don’t have connections back there, so it’s no better than staying here. The main thing is your choice. If you want to do business there, we’ll go; if not, staying here works too.”
Shu Rui preferred staying in Chaoxi Prefecture. His parents had been here, and the inn was here. Even with trusted staff, he could manage effectively. He also wanted to avoid long-term entanglement with the Bai family back in Gan County.
He asked Lu Ling to clarify his wishes so they could align plans for their business.
Settling down early allowed them to invest in land, property, and networks in one location. Otherwise, if it were temporary, resources shouldn’t be committed here but saved for Gan County.
Seeing Lu Ling’s indifference about location, Shu Rui said, “I want to stay in Chaoxi Prefecture.”
Lu Ling agreed. “Then let’s plant roots here. Your uncle will serve for a few more years; Lu Yu is at Dongshan Academy and will take time to complete his exams. With the family together, we can establish a solid base. Going back to Gan County might not be easier.”
Shu Rui nodded, thinking similarly. Staying in Chaoxi Prefecture offered more support and fewer obstacles.
Lu Ling squeezed his hand. “You think of so much and plan so far ahead, all for our future.”
Shu Rui smiled. “Who taught you to treat me well, along with your whole family?”
Lu Ling said, “I can’t just watch you work alone. Since leaving the martial hall, I’ve helped with the inn business. In the past two months, I’ve been coming and going and got some ideas for another venture related to the inn.”
Shu Rui blinked. “What venture?”
Lu Ling explained that at the city gate and dock, many merchants—both large and small—arrived with goods. While big merchants had their own accommodations, smaller merchants often had to find inns on their own.
Judging from what he’d learned, merchants or travelers carrying goods or valuables cared most about security when seeking lodging. A bit of trading on the road often involved pooled funds, and while small profits weren’t the main concern, the real fear was losing or damaging their goods—that would be a total loss.
Just a few days ago, he’d heard about a guest at a western city inn whose belongings had been stolen, leading to disputes. Guests expected the inn to take responsibility for any losses, while the inn argued it merely provided accommodation; guarding goods wasn’t part of its duty. If something was lost, it was the guest’s own problem, and if they caused a scene demanding compensation, who knew whether the theft had been inside job? Such incidents were far from rare, making travel difficult.
“Coins and banknotes are often safeguarded by money-changers, and goods can be stored at warehouses set up at docks or markets, mainly for trading purposes. But these usually only accept shipments from large merchants, and storage fees are high. Ordinary small merchants and peddlers can’t use them; they usually rely on inns or temples, or friends, to watch over their items.”
Lu Ling said, “I’m thinking we could run a shop for receiving small shipments, offering safekeeping, and at the same time introducing these merchants to stay at our inn.”
“Most of our inn’s regulars are local diners. If small merchants come from outside, we could also help sell their goods and take a small profit.”
Hearing Lu Ling’s idea, Shu Rui started to consider how the business could be managed afterward.
Seeing him deep in thought, Lu Ling didn’t bother asking if it was feasible and continued: “For such a shop, guarding the goods is key. Merchants will pay to store their items, expecting security. If anything is lost, we must compensate at full value; only then will people trust us with their goods.”
“I can guard the items myself, but one person isn’t enough. We can hire skilled hands; the martial hall has plenty of martial students. Like scholars, not everyone there will have a grand future, but as long as the pay is fair, someone will be willing.”
Lu Ling continued, “Starting a shop like this requires a considerable investment. I was thinking of bringing in a partner, so while profits are shared, risks are too.”
Shu Rui looked at how carefully Lu Ling had planned and asked, “You’re not suggesting I be the partner, are you?”
Lu Ling laughed. “We’re like a family; sharing profits and risk with you doesn’t make sense. I was thinking of Zhong Dayang. That boy is a bit stingy, but he has money, is local to Chaoxi Prefecture, and has plenty of connections, knows people at the escort agencies.”
“But he works at the martial hall; would he go into business?”
“He mentioned once that if it were a real opportunity, he’d invest his savings meant for a wife.”
Shu Rui covered his mouth to laugh; that was just like him.
“Also, I found a suitable shop for the venture. On the main street, there’s a place that was previously sealed due to a thief couple. After the case was resolved, it went up for lease, but no one wanted it because of the bad feng shui.”
Shops on the main street were expensive to rent or buy. Merchants with some standing were the only ones who could afford them, and many believed in feng shui. Since the place had been a den for thieves, those in the know avoided it.
“But it’s close to our inn. Two locations drawing customers is perfect. Others avoid it due to superstition, but if we rent it, it’s ideal—the thieves were caught by us, after all.”
Shu Rui remarked, “People will always have something to say.”
The authorities had even issued a reward for capturing the thieves; the official papers were still available.
Shu Rui looked at Lu Ling incredulously. “Since when did you plan all this so thoroughly, and you waited until now to tell me?”
Lu Ling replied, “I wasn’t hiding it, but you’re already busy running the inn. If I mentioned new ventures as soon as they came to mind, it would only add to your worries. Better to plan it fully first.”
“Everything is ready and well thought out. Even if you advise me on it now, it saves a lot of trouble later.”
Shu Rui felt warmth in his chest. “You’re finally willing to put some thought into business matters.”
“I also want to make some extra money so that when the time comes, we’ll have enough to buy a house or land. By the year’s end, if your father takes leave to settle family matters, we shouldn’t be stuck living in a shop—it’s not proper for a household of our own.”
Lu Ling had been considering this ever since learning about his father investigating the Bai family back home. Though Shu Rui had money before to buy property, it had already been spent. Dead money had to generate active funds to handle other matters.
Shu Rui had also worried about this, but by himself, he had no practical plan to resolve it. He might have been able to earn extra funds to influence his aunt, who was motivated by money, but now, with the Bai family connected to merchants, she would be harder to sway.
In the end, it came down to either relying on Uncle Lu or slowly saving money to handle it.