Chapter 165

The canal transport guild originated from canal shipping and has always existed in a semi-gray area. To put it positively, the canal guild is essentially a shipping fleet that operates openly and has gained legitimate recognition. However, as Liu Qingyan mentioned, less favorably, it started as a band of water bandits—now called guild members—struggling to make a living at the bottom of society.

Whether the name “Canal Guild” sounds good or not doesn’t matter as long as it generates profit. While the guild may hold some status in the martial world, it is insignificant in politics. Why?

In the martial world, the guild’s position may seem prominent, but how could it surpass that of officials or the imperial court? There are three types of canal boats that dominate and intimidate canal guild operations, two of which are tied to government authority: official boats and naval vessels. Who wouldn’t respect their affiliation with the government?

Official boats, especially those belonging to imperial envoys, have priority passage rights on canal routes, and canal guild boats must give way. If anyone purposely causes trouble or provokes them, they are courting disaster.

Then there are naval vessels—what is a navy for if not warfare? Would you dare to block their way or act arrogantly? One shot from a cannon, and you’d be finished.

Finally, there’s the third type: copper boats from Yunnan. Copper boats have a deep draft and heavy weight, making them difficult to maneuver. They charge recklessly through canal routes, forcing other boats to yield to them. If another vessel isn’t careful and gets sunk in a collision, it’s considered their own fault.

Thus, the canal guild also has its limitations.

Song San wasn’t looking for trouble by forming a canal guild. As a member of the Song family, a centuries-old clan, certain covert measures could be taken discreetly without publicly tarnishing the family name.

While the canal guild could be avoided, the opportunity to establish a canal shipping fleet could not be ignored. Otherwise, it would be like watching silver sprout wings and fly away. His uncle oversaw the Ministry of Revenue. How could Song San not know whether the Maritime Trade Office would be established or where it would be located?

But how did this girl know?

Song San looked at Wang Yuan’er with great interest. He was certain that this information had not yet been announced in the imperial court!

If she had deduced it solely from their brief conversation, then her intellect was exceptional—not at all comparable to the average village girl and even surpassing many young noblewomen. For instance, his own sisters at home were only concerned with discussing which jewelry pieces were the prettiest or which new silk fabrics had been released.

It’s said that children from poor families grow up quickly. Wasn’t this the very proof?

Clap, clap, clap!

“Miss Wang guessed one part of it correctly but missed another,” Song San said, clapping his hands. “As Miss Wang mentioned, the Maritime Trade Office will establish four locations: Guangzhou, Mingzhou, Quanzhou, and one right here in Changle.”

As soon as Song San finished speaking, the others around the table were even more astonished but chose to remain silent, waiting for him to continue.

“What I mean is, instead of letting others earn the silver, why don’t we build our own ships, navigate the canals ourselves, and form a trade fleet?” Song San said, taking a sip of wine.

A trade fleet—on the water, forming an entire shipping fleet?

Wang Yuan’er’s eyes instantly lit up as if two sparks of fire had been ignited. A trade fleet—what did that imply? It wasn’t just about one or two canal boats; it was an entire fleet. How much profit could be generated from just one trip?

People often say that a single shipping trip could feed a family for a year. So what about a trade fleet transporting goods? Buying, selling, and then reselling—the wealth would be endless!

Wang Yuan’er counted on her fingers again and again, feeling as though hundreds of cats were scratching at her heart, making her itch with excitement.

“My plan,” Song San explained, “is to first build four trade ships. All of you here are prominent individuals. If any of you are interested in investing in these trade ships, I can guarantee that you’ll earn overflowing profits and double your returns.” He refilled everyone’s cups and raised his own with a smile.

Liu Huai and Liu Qingyan exchanged a glance before smiling and raising their cups. “Young Master Song, you’re known as a ‘merchant among merchants.’ If you say this is a profitable business, then it’s definitely worth pursuing. Count us in. Tell us the specifics—how much silver will it require?” they said.

As the two prominent figures raised their cups, the others followed suit. An eager Wang Yuan’er also raised her cup without hesitation.

By the time the banquet ended, it was nearing dusk, but Wang Yuan’er stayed behind, waiting for Song San.

When Song San emerged from the washroom and heard that Wang Yuan’er was still waiting, he raised an eyebrow and returned to the private room. There she was, chin propped on her hand, frowning thoughtfully.

“It’s getting dark. Why haven’t you gone home yet? It’s not appropriate for a young lady to be out so late,” Song San said, pouring himself a cup of tea.

Wang Yuan’er hesitated, biting her lip and deliberating for a moment before finally speaking. “Young Master Song, about your trade ship investment—what kind of investment plan is it?”

Song San raised an eyebrow, glancing sideways at her. “Miss Wang, are you interested?”

Wang Yuan’er nodded firmly. Opportunities like this were rare, and she was determined to seize it.

“The cost of building a single trade ship capable of carrying 500 shi is a thousand taels of silver,” Song San said casually. “And that doesn’t include regular maintenance, taxes, and other expenses. Based on my initial calculations, each partner must contribute no less than ten thousand taels.”

“Ten… ten thousand taels!” Wang Yuan’er exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock.

She hadn’t expected such an astronomical sum. Forget ten thousand—she couldn’t even come up with a thousand at the moment. While waiting earlier, she had done some mental calculations and realized she had only 180 taels of savings to her name. Ten thousand taels was practically an unreachable figure for her.

Wang Yuan’er couldn’t help but feel deflated. What could she do? Was she really going to let this opportunity slip through her fingers?

Her face was full of frustration and regret, which made Song San smile faintly. After all, she was just a young girl, showing all her thoughts plainly on her face.

“Is there… is there a smaller share? Like, you invest however much silver you can and hold a percentage of the shares, even if it’s just one percent!” Wang Yuan’er asked, her cheeks flushing red.

Song San chuckled and, instead of answering directly, remarked, “As far as I know, your family is still running the tea egg and marinated tofu business. Compared to ordinary households, while not considered wealthy, you all certainly have no worries about food and clothing. Not to mention, you’ve also partnered with my Jinji brand, holding a thirty percent share. The future dividends will be substantial enough to keep your family comfortable. Why, then, are you so eager to invest in the trade ship business? A young lady like you should simply find an ideal husband to marry.”

Wang Yuan’er blushed and said, “In this world, who would ever complain about having too much silver? Not earning money when you can is just foolish! Besides, this isn’t shady business—why wouldn’t I want to earn?” She paused, pursed her lips, and lowered her head before continuing, “Young Master Song, you know my family’s situation. My parents have passed away, and I have several younger sisters, with a baby brother still nursing. They’re all growing up. I just want to make the most of my abilities to create some foundation for them. That way, when it’s time for their marriages, they’ll have confidence and won’t be looked down upon or bullied.”

Song San was stunned.

“Children from poor families grow up quickly. I don’t have an elder brother, nor do I have any brothers old enough to help. As the eldest daughter, it’s my duty to shoulder the responsibility of taking charge of this household and ensuring they all live comfortably. I want others to see that even though we’ve lost our parents, we can still live well and with dignity.” Wang Yuan’er looked up at him and said, “Young Master Song, isn’t life about standing tall and proving oneself? I earn my silver with my own hands and mind—is there anything wrong with that? It’s said that women are not inferior to heroes, and I believe a woman can hold up a household just as well!”

“Excellent!” A glimmer of admiration flashed in Song San’s eyes as he clapped his hands and exclaimed, “A fine example of a woman who is not inferior to heroes!”

Wang Yuan’er, feeling a little embarrassed, pulled a bitter face and said, “But what’s the use of that? Circumstances aren’t in my favor. I don’t have the silver or the people to make it happen. Asking to join as a shareholder is just me being thick-skinned.” She stood up, politely bowed, and added, “Young Master Song, please don’t take it to heart!”

Even as she said this, her tone couldn’t hide her disappointment and regret. How could she not feel regret? This was clearly an opportunity to make a fortune, but she hated having no capital to seize it.

“If you’re truly determined to buy in, it’s not entirely impossible,” Song San said, rubbing the jade ring on his finger. “But remember, in business, there’s no such thing as guaranteed profit. Especially at sea—the risks are far higher than on land. If the weather turns against you, ships can capsize and goods can be lost entirely. Would you dare to invest under such circumstances, Miss Wang?”

Wang Yuan’er froze for a moment. She hadn’t considered that aspect. But as Song San had said, doing business always involved both gains and losses. If one hesitated, fearing every possible risk—afraid of ghosts at the bow and thieves at the stern—how could they ever hope to achieve great success?

“Fortune favors the bold. Young Master Song, since you’ve proposed this business, I trust you’ve considered all aspects thoroughly. I believe in you,” Wang Yuan’er said after careful thought, her eyes full of sincerity. “But as you mentioned, could I still invest? To be honest, I only have about two hundred taels of silver at hand!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, her face burned with embarrassment, and she couldn’t help but mock herself internally. Where did she find the confidence to ask for a stake in this business with such a small amount?

It seems that running her own business had thickened her skin.

Wang Yuan’er touched her flushed cheeks, feeling a bit self-conscious. Her changing expressions didn’t escape the sharp eyes of Song San, who had been through countless business negotiations. He couldn’t help but laugh. “Miss Wang, have you forgotten? You still have a thirty percent share in Jinji!”

Wang Yuan’er’s eyes widened in alarm, and without hesitation, she said, “I’m not giving up those shares!”

After all, the fermented tofu was her creation. While she wouldn’t go as far as to say it was the result of blood, sweat, and tears, she had poured significant effort into it. There was no way she would easily relinquish those shares.

“Who said you needed to convert your shares? What I’m saying is that I can let you advance the dividends from your thirty-percent share and invest them into the trade ship. But let’s be clear—my Song family will hold the majority share in this trade ship venture. You saw everyone present today; with the capital they’re putting in, their shares will naturally reflect that. For you, it’ll likely amount to only one or two percent,” Song San explained calmly.

“Re-really? You’d really let me advance the dividends?” Wang Yuan’er said, overwhelmed with excitement. She grabbed his sleeve in earnest. “That’s fine! Even if it’s just one percent, I’m still willing to invest.”

Song San glanced at the hand on his sleeve, his expression somewhat ambiguous. Then he looked at her flushed, excited face, clearly devoid of any ulterior motive, and couldn’t help but shake his head. Well, adding one more investor wouldn’t make much difference. Leaving her a share could be seen as a gesture of goodwill for their past cooperation.