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While everyone was discussing, Lu Songli was making a plan on her notebook.
She had already secured the use of the Qin family’s wealth. The rest, she estimated, would have at least a small portion supporting her. As for those who hesitated and didn’t join in, there would be some, but it wasn’t a big problem.
Xue Xu leaned over, “You understand business?”
Lu Songli didn’t even raise her head, “Hm, what’s so difficult about it?”
Since joining them, Xue Xu had been like an invisible person, rarely speaking. He was never seen, either hiding in the carriage reading or reading in a corner, even during meals he was silent.
In short, he didn’t work or contribute. Chen Chang’an was clearly more active than him. Did he think that by acting like a freeloader, they would drive him away?
Lu Songli wasn’t in a hurry. They were already on their ship, not easy to get off. There would always be opportunities to bring him on board. And now, wasn’t this one?
“Arrogant, audacious! Such words from a woman are unbelievable. You know, many men wouldn’t be able to handle this, yet you say it’s easy? It’s just that I, Xue Xu, believe you.”
“Although you say business is easy, the hierarchy of scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant, isn’t it improper for you to do this?”
“Scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant, or scholar, merchant, artisan, and farmer, does the order of this hierarchy matter? Overall, they are all part of society, each with their own role. Why look down on merchants?” Lu Songli had been a successor of socialism, although she never actually succeeded. In the future, scholars, those who read and became officials, became servants of the people. So, she didn’t think this chain of contempt was that important.
Xue Xu thought, she would definitely be liked by his friend if she said that.
Lu Songli: “The existence of merchants can revitalize the economy, promote economic prosperity, and improve the quality of life of the common people.” And happiness index, “For example, just now, that old man from Li Village wanted a few feet of cloth from Chang’an City. He can’t be expected to travel thousands of miles to buy it, can he? You see, the existence of merchants is very necessary, isn’t it?” And who wouldn’t want money? Earning a living with your skills, making money with your skills, there’s nothing shameful about it.
She used a lot of unfamiliar words that Xue Xu had never heard before, but he seemed to understand their meaning.
Just then, Xu Zheng, Yang Wei, Hu Guangcong, and the three Qin brothers arrived, telling her that the discussion had reached a conclusion. They would all participate, and the two carts of seized wealth were to be at Lu Songli’s disposal. Furthermore, if they needed anything, they could arrange it directly.
Lu Songli didn’t expect everyone to trust her so much. She immediately stated, “Thank you for your trust. I will definitely do my best and not disappoint you. At least, I won’t let you lose money.”
After saying that, she first dismissed everyone, letting them go about their own business. She would announce specific tasks after dinner.
Everyone had no objections to her words, because without exception, none of them had ever been in business.
After everyone left, Xue Xu clicked his tongue, “You have a really united heart.” It’s rare to have such a united heart. The key is that they were all willing to follow Lu Songli’s orders, a woman.
“Thanks to everyone’s kindness,” Lu Songli smiled and invited, “What’s yours is mine. Would Boss Xue Xu like to join in too?”
“I don’t have any money,” Xue Xu said frankly.
“Boss Xue Xu can join as a technical partner.”
“Technical?”
“It’s based on your talent and abilities, taking a share. The share size is the same as mine, how about that?”
The terms Lu Songli offered were very tempting, but Xue Xu still said cautiously, “I don’t have any talent.”
“Do you know how to manage accounts?” Lu Songli asked with a smile, thinking to herself, talent is like pregnancy, it can’t be hidden, one day you’ll automatically reveal your true colors.
Xue Xu didn’t say anything. Although he didn’t have money, to be frank, he never lacked money to spend. When he needed money, he would find a small power holder, get close, offer some advice, and he would have whatever he wanted.
Lu Songli could probably guess his inner thoughts about money. Although Xue Xu didn’t have stable wealth, he had the pride of a strategist, that confidence that even if he lost a thousand gold, he could regain it.
“Boss Xue Xu, a person without foresight will surely have near worries. Everyone needs to plan for themselves. You’re not young anymore, it’s time to consider your retirement. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. Although wealth isn’t the only measure of a person’s success, Boss Xue Xu, when you’re old, if you’re still penniless, how embarrassing would that be?”
A person lives by their face, a tree lives by its bark. Lu Songli’s words made Xue Xu’s face turn red, and the image was a bit shocking.
“Besides, wouldn’t you be bored doing nothing all day?”
Xue Xu argued, “Reading! I’m reading! How can that be considered doing nothing?”
“Doesn’t Boss Xue Xu want to see how much money we can make this time?” Lu Songli directly used a reverse psychology tactic, a challenge is better than an invitation.
Xue Xu scoffed inwardly, how much could they make? Just a few coins, right?
“Boss Xue Xu, just help us manage the accounts. With your skills, it won’t take much time. This bit of time is just enough for you to stretch your muscles.”
And so, Xue Xu was persuaded by Lu Songli, half-heartedly taking on the task of accounting.
Lu Songli was right, he was indeed bored. He had already read through all the books in the mountain fortress in the past two or three years, and now he was just rereading them.
After dinner, Lu Songli began assigning tasks.
“Let’s not waste time, let’s get started. Our first step is to test the waters, first, we’ll collect the Bupleurum and Forsythia from Li Village. Big Brother, you and Xu Yasi will together inventory all the supplies in our caravan, then summarize and register them, confirming how much money we have available to use.”
“Second Brother, you and Yang Zong will select some people, preferably those who are kind-faced, eloquent, or have some linguistic talent, and who can learn dialects quickly. From the selected brothers, assign two to go to nearby villages to inquire about the usual purchase prices of small merchants.”
She had previously learned a little about the prices of common medicinal herbs in Chang’an City. Based on that, she could deduce the purchase prices in the origin, but since they were now in the origin, it was more direct and accurate to inquire directly.
Finally, Lu Songli looked towards Qin Sheng and Hu Guangcong, noticing that her husband, Qin Sheng, was staring at her eagerly, as if saying, “What about me? What do I need to do?”
“Sixth Master and Brother Hu will continue your work, guarding the safety of our caravan, and also gathering information along the way about local medicinal herb merchants and renowned pharmacies.”
This wasn’t the future, where a person could go to a strange village to buy local products without any problems. Those small merchants who could buy in a certain village must have some connections with the villagers.
Lu Songli and their actions were equivalent to taking away the rice bowls of those small medicinal herb merchants, snatching food from the tiger’s mouth. There would definitely be some who would be unhappy. No matter what she did, the safety of the caravan was paramount. With people, they could have everything.