Lu Liu stood outside the courtyard, watching them walk away, the words still echoing in his mind:
Choosing him would feel guilty. Not choosing him would feel even more guilty.
They would never abandon his brother again, but neither could they follow him and live with him.
It was clearly a good thing, yet so difficult to manage.
After Xie Yan went to the prefecture city, Lu Yang became busy.
He ran to the pawnbroker, checked on shops and warehouses, and also looked to purchase good farmland.
The farmland should be near Li Village or Lu Jia Tun, and he would need to find two tenant households.
The shop should preferably come with a storage room; if not, it could be a shop with a workshop, and the workshop should be relatively large.
This was a big business, so Lu Yang went with the Luo brothers to negotiate. The pawnbroker was attentive and provided some information on available shops that very day.
Lu Yang didn’t rush to inspect them himself; he let them gather more information, and once everything was ready, he would go together to view them.
Meanwhile, he took two Door God paintings to visit Boss Ding.
Boss Ding was delighted—he thought Xie Yan had only mentioned it casually, but Lu Yang had remembered.
It had been a long time since he’d seen Lu Yang and asked, “What big business are you working on lately?”
Lu Yang smiled, his usual calm demeanor unchanged.
“I haven’t been doing business recently. My husband just returned from the prefectural academy and will stay a while before going back to study. I’m just keeping him company at home.”
Boss Ding couldn’t understand Lu Yang. He assumed Lu Yang was ambitious and saw that Xie Yan clearly listened to her. Seeing her willing to stay at home, he was surprised and impressed.
“Your husband is lucky to have you managing both home and affairs.”
Lu Yang smiled modestly: “Old brother is also fortunate. My sister-in-law is capable of taking care of home matters too.”
Boss Ding laughed and spread open the two Door God paintings.
Xie Yan’s skill was evident. In the previous Door Gods, the expressions bore traces of Lu Yang’s features. These new paintings were lifelike, dignified, and full of spirit.
Boss Ding said, “I should have your husband paint a Wealth God. That painting can hang in the home. These Door Gods, if displayed outside, I’d be afraid someone would steal them.”
Lu Yang agreed: “I moved, and the previous Door Gods haven’t been hung outside either. I just couldn’t part with them.”
Boss Ding thought for a moment: “I’ll hang them in the wine shop. Door Gods ward off misfortune best when visible.”
Lu Yang left the choice to him. They chatted briefly about family matters, then touched on business.
A few merchants approached Boss Ding, hoping he could act as intermediary and invite Lu Yang to discuss mountain mushroom trade.
Lu Yang was honest: “My husband also does business. I won’t go into details, but in trade, consistency matters. If they insist on old prices, I can’t agree. Our firm has established itself at the prefectural port. This year, the popular dish is mushrooms. Restaurants compete to offer it, shipping hundreds of pounds—selling is never a problem.
“They tried to negotiate earlier. I told them honestly, but they underestimated me. They thought they could outlast me and weaken my position. Now? I’m profitable, and they’re struggling.
“I won’t lower my purchase price. The prices I give are after removing taxes and transport, already below the prefectural sale price. They can still profit locally. My shop is nearby—you know ordinary mushrooms are affordable. Only premium mushrooms are priced higher. The profit margins are clear to them. I only want the villagers to earn more, not suffer losses. I hear they claim I’m ruthless—tell them, if I were ruthless, they wouldn’t get a single mushroom.”
Lu Yang understood the importance of fairness; he wouldn’t crush others unnecessarily.
Business was normal, and he had no reason to complain about failed negotiations. Profits were his, earned legitimately.
Boss Ding said nothing; he was just passing on the message.
After leaving the wine shop, Lu Yang headed to his small shop.
Lu Lin and the others were there, taking intermittent breaks. Ginkgo and Pomegranate had rested recently, too. They were villagers; when resting, they rested in full, sometimes for two days, staying home overnight.
Lu Yang arrived, and Lu Lin showed him the accounts, reviewing recent income and expenses.
Lu Yang knew the figures: he paid Lu Lin 1 tael and 2 qian a month, Zhang Tie 1 tael, and Ginkgo and Pomegranate 8 qian each—total labor cost 3 taels 8 qian.
Monthly shop revenue averaged 9 taels, leaving roughly 60 taels in surplus annually.
For this shop, the expenses were relatively high, but Lu Yang wasn’t relying on it for major profits yet.
Next year, he would raise Lu Lin’s wage to 1 tael 5 qian, keeping the others’ wages unchanged, then adjust again mid-year. Lu Lin’s wage could reach 3–5 taels monthly.
With higher wages, the responsibility increased.
Lu Yang told him: “I plan to buy 25 acres of land, eventually adding livestock and a stone mill. When the fields yield wheat, we’ll have flour. The shop will then supply flour, seasonal vegetables, and fruits. I’ve also partnered in a firm, so I won’t be in the county often. You must check the accounts and visit the stronghold with my brother-in-law.
“The heavier your responsibilities, the slower your studies. I’ll hire an accountant to teach you. Tuition comes from the shop. Learn seriously, and see if Ginkgo and Pomegranate want to study too. You need to train helpers for when you’re busy, pregnant, or raising children.”
The shop had enough staff; Lu Yang rarely needed to come.
Lu Lin, knowing Lu Yang would take charge, listened to his plans, thinking Lu Yang was underestimating the work.
Lu Lin asked: “Are you going to the prefecture city?”
Lu Yang nodded: “Not at the beginning of the year, but definitely mid-year. Don’t worry—I can’t sit still; I’ll visit often.”
Lu Lin shook his head, reluctant: “You won’t come often. You’ll be busy in the prefecture. You’ll also get pregnant and have a child—delaying you a year or two. We’ll hardly see each other.”
Lu Yang held his hand and patted it: “Lin-gege, that’s how it is. If I can’t come, you can visit me. We can’t always be so lucky—pregnancy might overlap, dragged along by the little one.”
Lu Lin said: “You never know. In the village, brides often get pregnant together. One family conceives, others follow.”
Lu Yang spoke frankly: “That’s because most marriages happen during the winter lull. When idle, couples have children. If one couple conceives, the neighbors likely do too. By birth time, multiple babies arrive together—makes things lively.”
His bluntness made Lu Lin laugh and cry at the same time.
Lu Lin urged him to check the accounts, but Lu Yang skimmed them quickly.
The future was uncertain. For now, Lu Lin was his trustworthy elder brother and chief clerk; no need to scrutinize every detail.
This shop carried his hopes and starting point.
They put the accounts aside and inspected the front and back rooms.
Lu Yang noted: “The kang platforms are uncomfortable. We’ve slept poorly before. Fix all the platforms before winter. The shop walls can wait until after the New Year.”
Lu Lin noted everything. Lu Yang added: “Soon, Li Village will open a shop in the county. Send someone to help—teach them to sell, attract customers, and negotiate. Visit them frequently; you’ll deal with them often.”
Lu Lin asked: “Is that your younger brother?”
