Chapter 171

Wang Yuan’er ultimately couldn’t hold back. She hastily instructed Wang Qing’er and the others to mind the shop while she headed to the fermented tofu workshop.

“I was just thinking of sending someone to call you, and here you are. The young master has arrived,” Manager Guan greeted her with a smile as soon as he saw her.

So he really came? Cui Yuan wasn’t lying.

Wang Yuan’er felt a surge of joy and respectfully bowed to Manager Guan, saying, “Let me pay my respects first; I’ll check on the batch of fermented tofu in the cellar afterward.”

In truth, paying her respects was just an excuse—she was there to gather information. Manager Guan didn’t expose her and simply waved her along.

Wang Yuan’er arrived at the small courtyard where Song San was resting. A servant nearby was preparing writing materials. When the servant noticed her, he quietly informed her.

Song San looked up and smiled, “You came quickly, like a cat drawn to the scent of fish.”

“I heard from Young Master Cui that you’d arrived, so I came to pay my respects,” Wang Yuan’er explained after bowing and sitting across from him.

“Young Master Cui? Cui Yuan?” Song San appeared surprised. “You know him?”

Wang Yuan’er smiled lightly. “He once rented a small courtyard from me.”

Song San narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her. This girl had some skills!

Wang Yuan’er didn’t bother guessing what Song San was thinking and quickly asked, “Young Master Song, is there news regarding the investment in the merchant ship on this trip?”

“You’re quite impatient,” Song San said with a hearty laugh. “Just as you imagined, an initial agreement has been reached. I was planning to have someone call you over to discuss this matter.”

Hearing this, Wang Yuan’er’s eyes lit up brightly.

Finding her reaction amusing, Song San handed over a document that was placed to the side. “Here is the collaboration paperwork from several parties. The plans are outlined here. The ship is being built in Guangzhou, and it will be completed in as little as two months or, at most, ten days later. According to everyone’s intentions, the ship will first complete one shipment within the Northern Dynasty. Once the paperwork for external trade is approved, it will then be utilized for foreign trade.”

As Wang Yuan’er listened, she looked through the plan document. The details were clearly listed one by one. This merchant company, with Song San as the president, held a 49% share, while the remaining shares were divided among the other parties.

“This is your contract document. Once you sign and file it, this 2% share will be yours,” Song San handed another document to her, adding, “But you need to think carefully. Signing means that for the entire next year, you won’t receive your 30% dividend from the fermented tofu business, as all of it will be invested in this venture.”

Wang Yuan’er took the document and looked it over, astonished. “2%?”

She would have been satisfied even with just a 1% share, so to get 2%—Wang Yuan’er was so overjoyed that her hands trembled.

“This is just an investment. The risks at sea are high. One wrong step, and you could lose everything. You need to think this through,” Song San warned her with a sidelong glance.

Wang Yuan’er looked at him and nodded eagerly. “I know, I understand! I’m willing to invest—even if it means eating plain buns and pickled vegetables for a whole year.”

Song San burst out laughing. “Straightforward as always!”

Wang Yuan’er then asked when the Maritime Trade Bureau would be established.

“Court decisions are not made so quickly; they must pass through many stages. At the latest, it should happen by next year,” Song San replied vaguely.

Wang Yuan’er knew some things couldn’t be rushed. Others might not realize it, but she was certain the Maritime Trade Bureau would be established. This meant that merchant ships would definitely be in demand. At present, the construction of the waterways in Changle Town is in full swing. The canals were clearly getting wider. Imagining the future, with these wide canals crowded with ships—what a bustling scene it would be!

As Wang Yuan’er imagined the lively scene, she couldn’t help but smile.

“You seem quite certain that the Maritime Trade Bureau will be established in Changle Town?” Song San suddenly asked, looking at her. “Did Cui Yuan tell you this?”

“Why would he tell me?” Wang Yuan’er felt somewhat baffled.

“You don’t know he is…” Song San paused when he saw her confused expression, then changed the subject. “Never mind! If it wasn’t him, how did you know?”

“Well… I was just guessing. Isn’t Changle Town a central location? Besides Long Beach, our town is the only one connected to waterways and ports. If not here, where else would it be established? It’s just a random guess,” Wang Yuan’er said, laughing nervously, trying to divert the conversation. “When is the document signing scheduled?”

Song San was clearly skeptical of her explanation, but based on the information he had gathered, the Wang family had been an honest carpenter lineage for generations. This young woman had faced her fair share of hardships in life. Perhaps she truly was sharp enough to observe and infer it on her own—some people do have foresight!

Song San did not press further. Whether someone was trustworthy or not, the truth would eventually surface—this, he was confident about!

Wang Yuan’er, afraid that Song San might change his mind, quickly sought a mediator and finalized the contract as soon as she heard from him that it could be signed and filed anytime. Her eagerness, like someone trying desperately to secure a duck already in hand, left people both amused and exasperated.

At the same time, the Wang family learned that Wang Yuan’er had invested the profits for the entire next year into this merchant ship venture.

“A whole year’s profit! Why didn’t you discuss this with us? Even if you don’t trust your second uncle and aunt, you could at least have told your grandparents! Truly a case of a woman prioritizing outsiders—she trusts strangers more than her own family,” Madam Zhang was the first to jump in and complain.

Wang Yuan’er held a 30% stake in her partnership with Jinji, which she was aware of. However, she didn’t know exactly how much that 30% amounted to. Yet, seeing the fermented tofu workshop sending out cartloads of products and knowing that all wholesale and retail buyers exclusively purchased from them, it was obvious—business was thriving.

Thus, this year’s profits were sure to be significant. But this girl, without saying a word, had invested all of it into some merchant ship—what even was that about?

Madam Zhang felt distressed, thinking about how much silver it must have been! She seemed to forget, though, that she personally didn’t get a single coin from those 30% profits. So what was there for her to feel pained about?

Even Grandma Wang wasn’t too pleased. After everything with Wang Min’er, Wang Yuan’er had offered many suggestions that made Grandma feel reassured and sympathetic toward the children who had lost their parents early. Slowly, she had become more partial toward their branch of the family, thinking they had grown closer to the main household. But unexpectedly, Wang Yuan’er made such a major decision on her own without consulting them at all. Didn’t this mean she didn’t value them or take them into consideration?

“You have made up your mind, and we cannot interfere with you. I’ll just remind you—don’t end up shooting yourself in the foot or capsizing your boat in the ditch. In any situation, it’s the family who can be trusted!” said Granny Wang with a sarcastic tone. She grabbed her basket of sewing supplies nearby and sternly started her sewing.

Grandpa Wang smoked his water pipe and said, “Your grandma is right, it’s not that we want to take advantage of you. It’s just that this year’s profit is too much. If there were to be losses, then…”

“I see you’ve been tricked! Signed those documents without a clue.” Madam Zhang scoffed with a sideways glance: “Just wait and see! Before long, they’ll come and tell you about losses, and by then, you won’t even have a place to cry!”

“Auntie, the Song family is a century-old household. What could they cheat me out of when I’m dirt poor? Besides, business always has its ups and downs. If there really are losses, I’ll have nothing to say.” Wang Yuan’er rolled her eyes. While she trusted her own family, she had to draw a line, as she certainly did not trust her aunt!

“Indeed, what would a woman like you understand? I believe Yuan’er has great foresight.” Wang Er, who had been silent until now, glared at Zhang Shi and asked Wang Yuan’er, “Yuan’er girl, how much profit are we talking about this year? Can we still invest?”

What kind of family is the Song family anyway? If they’re investing in this merchant ship, it clearly means there’s big money to be made. What’s frustrating is this dead girl Yuan’er didn’t bother to inform us about this good opportunity, leaving us to miss out entirely.

Wang Yuan’er paused for a moment and replied, “This involves thousands of taels of silver, and the shares are already divided. Second Uncle, are you thinking of investing?”

“Have you gone mad?” Madam Zhang exclaimed, eyes wide.

“Move aside,” Wang Er impatiently shoved her and said, “Can’t we add another share?”

His words were so urgent that even Grandpa Wang and the others turned to look, unsure of what he meant.

Wang Yuan’er shook her head.

Wang Er looked defeated and said, “I’m just saying, Yuan’er, this isn’t right. When there’s such a great opportunity, why didn’t you mention it to me?”

“Second Son, what do you mean by that?” Grandpa Wang couldn’t help but ask.

“Father, the Song family runs big businesses and has strong connections in official circles. Now that Young Master Song is suddenly involved in setting up this merchant ship, it’s definitely going to make a lot of money. This is obviously a golden opportunity, and yet Yuan’er didn’t tell us about it. Otherwise, we could’ve invested too!” Wang Er complained as he looked at Wang Yuan’er.

Wang Yuan’er, both amused and exasperated, replied, “Second Uncle, I had to work very hard to secure even this one share.”

Hearing her husband’s words, Madam Zhang began to realize the potential. If her husband was saying that the merchant ship could bring in big money, then hadn’t they truly missed out on a great opportunity?

The thought pained Madam Zhang like a dull knife cutting into her heart. She said sharply, “We’re all one family, yet you kept such a good thing from us and didn’t let us know. Remember, when the time comes, it’s your Second Uncle and your younger brother, Fuquan, who’ll support you.”

Truly, she was both a saint and a demon. Just moments ago, she claimed Yuan’er had been cheated, but now she was saying this. Turning over a pig’s stomach, and it’s nothing but filth inside!

“You just said it was a loss-making deal and couldn’t be trusted. How could I dare to tell you?” Wang Yuan’er retorted unhappily. “And as for support, we also have brothers, our direct relatives!”

“How big is Baolai? Will he even grow…?” Madam Zhang blurted out without thinking.

“Zhang, did you stuff your mouth with filth this morning? What nonsense are you spouting?” Grandma Wang snapped sharply, cutting off her words.

Wang Yuan’er’s face darkened. What did Madam Zhang mean—was she implying that Baolai wouldn’t grow?

“And even if she told you, what could you do? Do you have thousands of taels of silver to invest?” Grandma Wang said coldly, glaring at Wang Er and his wife. “If you’ve got the ability, go find opportunities for yourselves. Don’t just sit here complaining. As grown-ups, don’t you know what to say and what not to say?”

Madam Zhang grumbled under her breath but ultimately didn’t dare talk back. Wang Er shot a glare at his wife, thinking she was becoming more and more unreasonable.

Madam Zhang, full of frustration, thought to herself—if Wang Yuan’er had been straightforward, perhaps she could have scraped together some silver. Was Wang Min’er, married into the Tang family, incapable of doing anything?

But why should only Wang Yuan’er be allowed to invest? Couldn’t she tell Min’er to whisper some words to her husband on the pillow and get the Tang family to start their own merchant ship business?