Chapter Thirty-Two: The Student Who Fared the Worst
Page (1/3)
Shake off the excess ink, then have Zhao Yide find a skilled craftsman to turn it into a signboard.
As for hiring attendants, engaging a cook, preparing an elegant menu, and everything else, all of it was left to Qi Santai.
The craftsmen who had renovated the distillery now had another job on their hands, and the old village head naturally became the overseer.
“Mr. Ye, is there anything else you would like to add?”
Ye Xiu had deliberately left out a few matters, giving Ye Xiren a chance to speak.
He had learned this from Ye Wuji: one must not become conceited, but should observe the proper courtesies of human relationships.
Ye Xiren stroked his beard. “I do have a suggestion, though I am not sure whether I ought to say it.”
“Please, sir, speak freely.” Ye Xiu promptly added with admiration, “I am young and ignorant in many matters. I hope you will correct me.”
“The market at North Gate Bridge is already saturated. Any further development will certainly center on Wulong Lane. I believe this place may one day become another commercial street.”
A glimmer of anticipation appeared in Ye Xiren’s eyes. “Why not set aside ten percent of the profits for Old Sun? In the future, everyone could prosper together.”
“Sir, do you mean that whenever there is a business opportunity in the future, everyone in Wulong Lane should be allowed to participate, turning our lane into a model of shared prosperity?”
“Young man, you are teachable.” Ye Xiren patted Ye Xiu on the shoulder. “Old Sun has had grand ambitions all these years, but has never had the opportunity to realize them. It is a waste of his talents for him to remain merely a village head.”
“No problem. I will take ten percent of the profits from the distillery and restaurant and give it to Uncle Sun, making it easier for our neighbors to invest later.”
“Good!” The more Ye Xiren looked at Ye Xiu, the more pleased he became. “Young man, do you have a teacher?”
“I have already become a student of Liu Hanqing, the president of Jinling Academy.” Ye Xiu paused. “We are only waiting for my father to pass the provincial examination before holding the initiation ceremony.”
“Liu Hanqing? He is indeed a fine teacher.” Ye Xiren pondered for a while, then lowered his voice and reminded him, “When you go to the capital in the future, be sure to pay a visit to Zhang Taiyue, the director of the Academy of Worthies.”
“Zhang Taiyue? The former chief grand councilor?” Ye Xiu looked utterly shocked.
“Although he has stepped down as chancellor, he has remained at the Academy of Worthies. Among all of Zhang Taiyue’s students, Liu Hanqing has fared the worst.”
In the Great Qian Dynasty, there were only four official academies throughout the realm. For Liu Hanqing to become president of Jinling Academy already placed him among the elite, yet in Ye Xiren’s eyes, he was the least successful of the lot.
“Three of the current ministers of the Six Ministries are his direct disciples. Tell me, is Liu Hanqing not the least successful?” Ye Xiren explained with a laugh. “Come to think of it, although your family has fallen into decline, your fortune is far better than your grandfather’s.”
Page (1/3)
Page (2/3)
After saying this, Ye Xiren suddenly thought of something. “Make preparations tomorrow. I will go to the prefectural office at once and have a proper word with Liu Hanqing. He wants to take in a disciple, yet insists on adding conditions—requiring the boy’s father to pass the examination for a licentiate first. Where is the sense in that?”
“Mr. Ye, we must not rush this matter.” Ye Xiu lowered his voice. “Why not hold the initiation ceremony on the day the restaurant opens?”
At that, a trace of contempt appeared in Ye Xiren’s eyes.
But when he glanced sideways at his grand-nephew Qi Santai, he sighed. “Very well.”
Toward evening, Ye Wuji returned.
Ye Xiu told him about his plans to open a restaurant.
“Ye Xiren? He was your grandfather’s lifelong enemy. How did you end up getting involved with him?” Upon hearing this, Ye Wuji’s eyes widened like those of an enraged bull. “Keep your distance from him in the future. You had better pray that he does not regain his office and reopen the case against your grandfather.”
Ye Wuji’s reaction was beyond anything Ye Xiu had expected. Without haste, he explained, “Father, I am doing all this for Grandfather.”
“Who do you think you’re fooling?” Ye Wuji slammed his hand against the table. “I refuse to agree!”
“Father, trust me. If we want Grandfather to live, we cannot do without Mr. Ye.”
Ye Xiu seized Ye Wuji by the wrist. “Father, look at it from the other side. If Mr. Ye truly regains his former position, the first thing he will do is report to His Majesty and have our entire family condemned to death, with our wider clan sent into exile. What then?”
“This…” Ye Wuji fell silent at once, plunging into an inner struggle.
After a long while, he finally let out a deep breath. “You are making one hell of a gamble.”
“Father, gamble or not, the outcome remains the same.” Ye Xiu wore an expression of helplessness. “All I am doing is adding a little insurance. As long as our family leaves descendants behind, that is enough, is it not?”
After a profound internal struggle, Ye Wuji decided to compromise for the time being.
“Father, Mr. Ye told me to prepare the gifts for the initiation ceremony. Is there some particular significance to them?”
Hearing this, Ye Xiren smiled. “A teacher transmits the Way, resolves doubts, and imparts knowledge. Since the time of Confucius, there has been an unwritten rule. Children from poor families are taught without discrimination, but children from wealthy families must prepare the Six Gifts and the formal initiation offerings.”
The so-called Six Gifts were celery, symbolizing diligence in one’s studies; lotus seeds, symbolizing painstaking instruction; red beans, symbolizing good fortune; red dates, symbolizing success at the earliest opportunity; dried longan, symbolizing the completion of one’s merits; and strips of dried lean meat, expressing the disciple’s sincerity.
Given the Ye family’s present circumstances, they would not only have to hold a grand ceremony, but also prepare a feast and invite all the neighbors from the surrounding streets.
Page (2/3)
Page (3/3)
As father and son were speaking, Shopkeeper Liu and Shopkeeper Xiao arrived at the same time, seemingly by coincidence.
“Young Master Ye, the new product has been in such demand that supply cannot keep up. You see…” Shopkeeper Liu came straight to the point. “Do you think production could be increased a little further?”
“Increasing production will not be a problem. I recently acquired a distillery.” Ye Xiu regarded Shopkeeper Liu with an ambiguous smile. “Shopkeeper Liu, the two of you arranged to come to my house together. You are not here only for the liquor, are you?”
“To tell you the truth, Young Master Ye, liquor is not my only reason for coming.” Shopkeeper Liu gave an awkward smile. “I was drinking with Brother Xiao last night and heard that you had a profitable venture in hand. I thought I might as well take part.”
“The liquor is ready. Two hundred pounds will be delivered to the Jinling Tavern first thing tomorrow morning.”
With Ye Xiu’s assurance, the worry in Shopkeeper Liu’s heart finally eased. What he feared most was a shortage of the strong liquor.
“Young Master.” Shopkeeper Xiao cupped his hands toward Ye Xiu. “I have made up my mind. I am willing to join the venture. But could you give me a straight answer? Why do you want to acquire tea leaves?”
Ye Xiu considered this briefly, then looked at Shopkeeper Xiao meaningfully. “The three of us are forming a partnership. Is this to be an official enterprise or a private one?”
“An official enterprise.” Shopkeeper Xiao deliberately lowered his voice. “If you want to conduct private business, I am afraid you will have to bring in Harmony Prosperity.”
Ye Xiu suddenly understood. He now had a rough grasp of the rules governing commerce in Jinling. “So, in Jinling, the only businesses capable of standing against Harmony Prosperity are those operated by the government?”
“Stand against it?” Shopkeeper Xiao sighed and shook his head helplessly. “Rather than call it resistance, it is more a matter of social connections and established customs. It is not something that can be explained clearly in a short while.”
“Very well. Let us sign the contract first. I will tell you afterward.”
Ye Xiu placed the contracts he had prepared long ago before the two shopkeepers.
They detailed every matter concerning the acquisition of tea leaves.
Each party would invest two thousand taels, and the final dividends would be distributed according to the proportion of each party’s investment.
Each party would receive thirty percent of the profits, while the remaining ten percent would be left to the Jinling Prefectural Office as charitable funds for poverty relief and elder care.
After signing and affixing their seals, Shopkeeper Xiao impatiently asked, “Young Master Ye, can you tell the two of us now why you want to acquire tea leaves?”
Page (3/3)