210 Three Businesses

Lu Jiao wasn’t aware of Manager Li’s thoughts and said to Manager Li cheerfully, “Your owner sure is an interesting person.”

Manager Li chuckled.

The horse galloped to Baohe Tang. Inside, Zhao Lingfeng and Qi Lei awaited.

Qi Lei bowed to Lu Jiao respectfully, “Master, you’re here.”

Lu Jiao nodded. Beside her, Zhao Lingfeng spoke up, “Lady Lu sure is difficult to invite over.”

Lu Jiao ignored his provocation and confirmed with Zhao Lingfeng with interest, “I heard from Manager Li that you called me here today to split the money?”

She wasn’t sure how much money they were talking about. Before, she planned to buy some land to farm medicinal herbs but she found out that her 5,000 taels of silver won’t be able to get her much. Who knew that Zhao Lingfeng would come at the right time to deliver her money? She just had to find out how much.

Lu Jiao was focused on Zhao Lingfeng, who gave Qi Lei a look. Qi Lei was tempted to cover his face to hide. Before, Zhao Lingfeng had made a bet with him that Lu Jiao would be over the moon to hear about getting money. Qi Lei fought against that guess. She wasn’t that greedy!

His master, however, showed her true colors right away.

Zhao Lingfeng smiled and took out an invoice from his desk. He placed it before Lu Jiao.

This was an invoice for the ice Zhao Lingfeng hired people to make. It included labor costs and material costs. In addition, the sales and profit figures were also laid out cleanly. Lu Jiao carefully looked through it and knew that it wasn’t a fake.

It was the end of July and to have sold this much was considered a success. This has proven Zhao Lingfeng to be a very capable third young master and that he lived up to his positive reputation.

Lu Jiao couldn’t help but giggle, “Not bad at all. Owner Zhao is truly an entrepreneur. I definitely don’t need to worry about teaming up with you.”

Zhao Lingfeng was glad to hear that. He knew that even though the two of them signed a contract, Lu Jiao would be able to get out of it if she really wanted to. Therefore, the whole ice-selling business was a test she gave for him to show his trustworthiness.

Lu Jiao’s words today confirmed his guesses. Lu Jiao was genuinely going to base her future decisions on how well he performed with the ice selling.

Zhao Lingfeng finally relaxed. He took out a stash of silver certificates and gave it to Lu Jiao, “Ice selling made a little more than 60,000 taels of silver. However, I have rounded down since it’s almost the end of July and we have some time to make more money. Here is your share of the profit – 18,500 taels of silver.

18,000 taels of silver is your share of the ice business. The other 500 is for saving the magistrate’s daughter-in-law and her child. They gifted us 500 to thank us. I won’t take my cut of that. It’s all yours.”

Lu Jiao’s eyes lit up and the grin on her lips deepened. She patted the stash of silver certificates and announced brightly, “Owner Zhao, you’re an honest businessman. I am certain that we will have a good time working together.”

The reason why Zhao Lingfeng never fought against Lu Jiao for anything was that Lu Jiao’s abilities truly earned his respect.

He was intelligent enough to know to keep the capable ones on his side. He wasn’t someone who was short-sighted and greedy over small amounts of profits.

Color flashed in Zhao Lingfeng’s eyes after he heard Lu Jiao’s words.

“Whatever makes Lady Lu happy.”

Lu Jiao then started to count the stash of certificates. She did feel that other people’s gaze was awkward at all.

Zhao Lingfeng and Qi Lei were used to this and didn’t mind.

Zhao Lingfeng then gave Qi Lei his 10% share.

“This is yours.”

Qi Lei did not expect to earn so much money so fast. He felt at loss and ended up pushing his 6,000 taels of silver toward Lu Jiao, “Master, you can have this.”

Since his master liked money, she can have it.

Lu Jiao rolled her eyes at Qi Lei, “Do your hands itch holding money?”

Since Lu Jiao refused to take it, Qi Lei turned to Zhao Lingfeng. Both Zhao Lingfeng and himself worked for the fifth young master. It felt wrong to take 6,000 taels of silver for himself.

Qi Lei thought about it and said to Zhao Lingfeng, “Then, I will take 10% of the profit leftover after the master’s paid out.”

He meant that he would only take 10% of the 70% left from the profit earned.

For example, today’s 60,000 minus Lu Jiao’s share of 18,000 would be 42,000. He would take 10% of that, which was 4,200 taels of silver.

Qi Lei took out that 4,200 and returned the rest. Zhao Lingfeng didn’t comment while Lu Jiao stared at him like he was dumb, “You’re an idiot for thinking you’re making too much money.”

That was his personality though and she was too lazy to say anything more.

Lu Jiao put away the stash and said to Zhao Lingfeng and Qi Lei, “Honestly, I want to buy some land to farm herbs. Would you know any places here in the Qinghe district?”

Zhao Lingfeng was more knowledgeable about this than Qi Lei. He asked Lu Jiao caringly, “Are you looking for land close to the city or close to the suburbs?”

He then speculated, “Near Qili, land cost around 42 to 48 taels of silver per acre. The suburbs are cheaper. You can get an acre for 24 to 30 taels of silver. Land in the center of the Qinghe district would cost at least 90 taels of silver per acre.

I would still suggest you buy at a central location though, specifically the City of Xian. Transportation is much more convenient. Plus, we plan on opening our three businesses there. You would be close to the businesses and it would be much more convenient.”

Lu Jiao agreed. Establishing the three businesses in the City of Xian would be much more convenient than doing it in a small town. The Qinghe District had more roads leading into it and even had access to water. Everything she planned on making with her manufacturer will eventually be shipped out to different places. Transportation was key.

Since they were going to build their businesses there, it made sense for her to buy land there as well.

Lu Jiao looked at Zhao Lingfeng and said, “Then please keep an eye out for me. I want to buy at least 150 acres of land first for herbs.”

Zhao Lingfeng nodded, “Okay, I’ll look around for you. If there are any opportunities, I’ll inform you.”

“Okay.”

Afterward, the group started to chat about the three manufacturers they planned on building. Zhao Lingfeng started the discussion by describing his initial ideas and asked Lu Jiao for her thoughts.

Zhao Lingfeng’s plan was to buy 80 acres of land first in preparation. Lu Jiao upped that figure to 160. Her thought was that they may expand to other businesses and it would be better to get more land.

Zhao Lingfeng agreed right away after Lu Jiao spoke her thoughts. He indicated that he would start to prepare for this while Lu Jiao stated that he would draw out the plans for the oil press.

After everything was discussed and agreed upon, Lu Jiao got ready to leave. Zhao Lingfeng then gave her the contract that now had the government’s stamp of approval, “This is our partnership agreement. I’ve gotten it stamped at the county office. Keep it safe.”

Lu Jiao took it with respect. This involved her future assets. She read the agreement and discovered that Zhao Lingfeng had named the three businesses. The oil mill will be called Lu’s Oil Mill. The cosmeceutical store will be called Jiao’s Cosmetics. As for the pharmacy, it will be named Mingren Pharmacy.

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