It was not easy for Lu Laoda to catch up to Steward Shao, and he had to keep a smiling face all along the way.
Steward Shao did not make it difficult for him, kindly reminding him, "The County Governor still thinks highly of your Lu Family. Serve the County Governor well, just obey and handle matters properly, and advancing further wouldn’t be difficult."
With these words, Lu Laoda finally felt relieved.
However, due to Lu Laosan being paralyzed and the divorce with Ms. Wu, the Lu Family was not as prosperous as before and could no longer live a lavish life but had to cut back on expenses.
The next day, Lu Laoer calculated the family’s savings and sold most of the Lu Family servants. Originally, there were twenty servants in the Lu Mansion in the village, but now only six remained, and one of the two mule carts was also sold.
Although the selling of the servants and mule cart by the Lu Family was done quietly after nightfall, the villagers of Da Feng Village had been watching the Lu Family closely these days. When the Lu Family transported the servants to the county in a mule cart for sale at night, the villagers knew about it the next day.
The villagers gathered again to gossip about the Lu Family, but it didn’t stop there. A rumor started in the village that the Lu Family had offended County Magistrate Zou, and he was out to destroy the Lu Family. Soon, the Lu Family would be arrested and put on trial, and those who had helped the Lu Family commit wrongdoings were not going to escape either; all would be arrested and jailed!
The Lu Family had dominated the village for twenty years, committing countless wrongdoings. Many from the Lu Family clan had assisted them, and hearing these rumors, they beca terrified. Those who originally flocked to Old Master Lu’s house distanced themselves from the Lu Family, trying to sever ties, fearing they would be dragged down by his family.
The prestige of Old Master Lu’s family in the village plumted overnight. Moreover, many people from neighboring villages, who had been bullied by the Lu Family, took advantage of the darkness to co to the Lu Mansion and dumped manure at the front door. For several days, the entrance of the Lu Mansion reeked.
Old Master Lu was furious and wanted to catch those who dumped the manure, but it was impossible. Now his household was short-staffed, and those dumping manure did it secretly at night and fled imdiately after, so he had no way of knowing who they were.
Because of all these events, gossip about the Lu Family never ceased in the village.
When Gu Jinli and Qin San Lang heard these gossips, they maintained their composure; no one knew that they were behind Lu Laosan’s paralysis.
By the end of the month, the families of Gu Jinli stopped work in the afternoon and gathered together to settle the monthly accounts.
Jin’an calculated the accounts for the families every day, so the monthly accounting was not difficult. It took him only half an hour to finalize the monthly accounts.
He reported to the families, "We started selling tofu on the day of the Lantern Festival. During this period, due to other matters, we didn’t set up our stall every day and have only been in business for forty days. Until February 19, we only conducted business in our town without selling tofu wholesale to Liang Zhuzi and his group. During this period, the daily average profit was seven taels."
When they first started the tofu business, they could only earn around five taels a day. Later, the business improved, and earnings could reach up to ten taels or more per day. However, on average, they made about seven taels daily.
"Starting February 19, we began selling tofu wholesale to Liang Zhuzi and his group. It has been exactly eleven days, and the daily profit has averaged twelve taels."
"In these forty days, our families have collectively earned four hundred and twelve taels of silver."
"Four hundred and twelve taels!" Mrs. Chen exclaid excitedly upon hearing the figure, nearly fainting in excitent, "Is it, is it really that much, is it pure profit? Brother An, is this pure profit?"
Jin’an nodded, "It is pure profit, the cost has already been excluded, this four hundred and twelve taels is what our families can share."
"Oh my, it’s really that much money, I need a mont to take it in." Mrs. Chen covered her chest and sat down, appearing as though she was about to pass out.
Ms. Chu was deeply moved, "This tofu, selling for just five cents each, really brings in money."
She had lived with Father Luo in the county before and had seen large sums of money. The escort agency where Father Luo worked could earn hundreds of taels for a single long escort mission, but that was money exchanged for risking their lives, without knowing if they could return alive. But now, they were earning so much just by setting up a stall and selling so snacks; Ms. Chu was stunned.
Third Grandma said with a smile, "Exactly, selling piece by piece, over a month, we really can see big money."
Old Mrs. Yan, who had a bad throat, was so excited that she couldn’t speak at this mont. Hearing what Third Grandma said, she could only nod in agreent.
Gu Dafu also nodded, "Third Aunt is right, if we were back in our hotown, we could never earn so much money from hard work all our lives, and now we’ve earned it in just over a month."
His father was the village chief, and their family was considered the wealthiest in the village. But when the famine struck, his father had to sell half of their land and, together with their life savings, barely managed to gather three hundred taels. The thought of four hundred taels was unimaginable.
Elder Qin was also surprised by the figure. He had seen tens of thousands of taels of silver, but he also ca from a poor family and knew how hard it was for farrs to make money. Now, in just over a month, they had earned more than four hundred taels, which was truly incredible.
After the families got over their shock, Jin’an added, "This silver, each uncle, aunt, and family will take a share of ten percent, each getting to divide forty-one taels and two hundred cents. Please check if this is the amount each of your families has received?"
They divided the money daily and counted their own share daily, rembering how much they had earned. Hearing Jin’an announce the figure, they thought about it and nodded in agreent, "That’s right, that’s the amount."
Gu Jinli’s family took a forty percent share in the tofu business, receiving one hundred sixty-four taels and eight hundred cents, the most among the seven families.
However, the families did not feel jealous. The tofu was made by Xiao Yu, and they were grateful to have a share. Thinking of the old tis during their escape from the famine, if they were still not content and started making careless comnts, it would be utterly inhuman.
Although they had made a lot of money, Gu Jinli’s family did not have so much silver at their disposal now. A few days ago, they had to manage the house and land deeds and buy land which had cost fifty-eight taels.
Furthermore, with the cost of hiring people to reclaim land and daily expenses, the family now had about one hundred twenty taels of savings left, but even this amount was unimaginable as savings for people like Gu Dashan.
After finishing the monthly accounts, Gu Jinli once again brought up the matter of hiring help, "Although we have made quite a bit of money this last month, it’s been extrely tiring. With everyone busy from morning to night, there isn’t a mont to spare, and continuing this way will wear people out. I’ve been thinking, from next month we should hire so help to take on the heavy tasks, which would make things much lighter for us and allow us to produce more tofu."
Aunt Tian, used to hardship, was pained by the thought of spending money and waved her hand, saying, "It’s alright, we are not tired, there’s no need to hire help."
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