Cheng Shi had already made two plans, but since the Li family had no external help to rely on, there was naturally an explanation.
After a pause, Cheng Shi said: "Now that the soap business has a bright future, I wonder if we can start this business together and work together to make the business bigger."
After hearing this, Li Jian asked: "Of course that's good. I don't know how Mr. Cheng plans to cooperate."
Cheng Shi said: "Actually, it's simple. Our Cheng family's business is doing pretty well. We have ready-made shops and caravans in various places. Why don't you just buy shares with the formula, and my Cheng family will be responsible for the production and sales? Then you will be the ones to count." 20% of the shares, what do you think?"
"Of course, if you think this is not good, you can also buy the formula directly from me. I offer eight thousand taels, and I have a three-bedroom house in Yangzhou City. I will also transfer it to you when the time comes. It just so happens that Li Hao Aren't you just studying in the city? You can take care of me nearby, don't you think so?"
After hearing this condition, Li Jian was quite moved by the first one. After all, it was a long-term investment, and if it was left to the Cheng family, he might earn more money, but he was still a little reluctant to hand over the formula after all. .
Li Jian thought for a while and said, "I can't make any decision on this matter. I'll go back to discuss it and give you an answer, okay?"
Cheng Shi was not in a hurry and said: "Of course, this is a big matter and should be discussed properly. But I want to remind you that the An family has always been domineering, but they are not so strict. In the past, our family There were some disagreements, and they even started fighting and ostracizing us. You should also be careful about your safety. Now after all, your two families don’t have much to do with each other, and I can’t help you, but if we cooperate, then I I have a reason to protect you." After saying this, he didn't let Li Jian speak, served tea to see the guests off, and asked Zhang Hu to come over and see Li Jian off.
After hearing this, Li Jian's heart sank and he followed Zhang Hu out the door. On the way, Zhang Hu said: "Looking at the past relationship between you and me, I have to remind you that my master didn't lie to you just now. The An family has a very arrogant style. Relying on official connections, There are a lot of bad things done, but in my hometown, they are somewhat restrained, so not many people know about it. But if you want to ask, you will naturally find out. So you should be careful. In addition, I also want to advise you, your family Li Hao is also studying in the academy now, and he may have a bright future in the future. Even if it is not for himself, he should be considered for him. Although there is a lot of money, it is only something outside the body after all, so it is better to change to something safe and stable."
Li Jian said: "Thank you for reminding me, I will go back and discuss it with my wife." After that, he hurried home.
That night, the Li family and his wife were having a serious talk in the bedroom. Li Jian told Mr. Wei what he had said to Cheng Shi and Zhang Hu today, and then said: "Actually, what Mr. Cheng said is that it is good to do business as a joint stock, and we don't have to take care of it. We will definitely make a lot of money just by waiting for the share. "
After hearing this, Mr. Wei said: "They said it was a joint venture, but the formula was handed over to them. The production and sales are all theirs. How can you guarantee that we will really get the share by then, instead of them giving it away at will? ." After saying that, the room became quiet and seemed extremely lonely.
After a while, Wei stood up and took out the account book she had kept these days. He said to Li Jian: "No matter what, let's take stock first, understand the current situation first, and then look at the path."
Without waiting for an answer, Mr. Wei started to think about it. She started selling soap in early March, which was a total of five months. Among them, we sold 980 taels in the first three months, and then 3,120 taels in the next two months, for a total of 4,100 taels. Among them, 615 taels were deducted from the cost, and the buyer spent 230 taels on the purchase at Yahang. The commission paid to everyone in the next two months was 312 taels, and the servant’s four-month wages were 36 taels. In addition, the cost of rebuilding the house was 39 taels. That’s 2868 taels left.
Calculating this account and thinking about the current situation, Wei became more and more uncomfortable, but there was nothing she could do.
Li Jian felt sad when he saw the Wei family like this, and said, "This matter should not wait any longer. Since the two families are here to make money, maybe there will be a turn for the better, right. I just wanted to see what the An family said, too. I can make a comparison.”
As a result, the An family had someone come to their door the next day. The person who came was an outside steward of the An family, who was also a member of their family. He said directly to Li Jian: "I know you went to Cheng's house yesterday to discuss selling the formula. Have you discussed it properly?"
Li Jian replied: "No, it's just that Mr. Cheng also wanted to buy this formula, so he asked me to talk about it, but there was no result."
After hearing this, Butler An sneered and said: "Fortunately, we haven't reached an agreement. The Cheng family also wants to steal our Anjia business! Today I will tell you that you must do this business with my Anjia. If you really dare to sell it to The Cheng family. The Cheng family still has some respect in the officialdom. I can’t kill them, but you won’t have such a good life.”
Li Jian said: "Yes, yes, I don't know how you can buy this formula."
Butler An smiled and said: "Our master is generous, but he gave you a high price of one thousand taels of silver, which is enough for you to buy a house and land." After saying this, he kept staring at Li Jian.
After hearing this, Li Jian said: "Isn't this price too low? Yesterday, the schedule master said that I would pay 8,000 taels of silver to buy it."
After listening to this, Butler An smiled and said: "He has a lot of money, but I'm afraid that you have the life to take the money but not the life to spend it. My eldest brother was a Jinshi, and the current magistrate of Yangzhou is a Jinshi in the same field as my eldest son. You should think carefully about it." Think about it. I’ll come back in a few days, and I hope you’ve already thought about it.”
After saying that, he turned around and left. At this time, Mrs. Wei, who had been hiding in the room and listened to all the words, also came out.
When Li Jian saw the Wei family, he said, "The An family is too overbearing. It's unclear whether the Cheng family can keep their word. Now there is really no way out."
While the two were still distressed, soap sellers in the village also came to the door. When everyone entered the courtyard, Li Jian asked what was going on.
Everyone was seen squirming, and finally Li Yi came out and said: "We may not be able to help you sell soap. Mr. An just sent people with Li Zhengjian to each house to spread the word, saying that if we sell soap again, we will have to sell soap in the future." There is nothing we can do if we have to do more corvee labor.”
Li Jian listened and said: "I know, you can't help it. Just forget it if you can't sell it. Just put the soap back and everything will be fine."
Everyone put the soap back and left. But Li Jian was full of vicissitudes when he returned home. When he entered the house, he and Wei were speechless.
At this time, Li Jian suddenly raised his head and said, "How about I go to the city to see Hao'er, talk to Hao'er, and see what he can do."
After hearing this, Mrs. Wei said: "Why bother to bring Hao'er in and let him study in peace. It's up to us to find a solution. At worst, we will sell the formula to the Cheng family and then move to Yangzhou City. If you think about settling down in the city, don’t go too far.”
Li Jian said: "But if this is the case, it is even more important to tell Hao'er. If the An family really wants to harm someone, it would be better to let him know that he can take precautions."
After hearing this, Mrs. Wei nodded in agreement and said, "Then you can go tomorrow. You might as well have said it earlier." After that, she turned around and went back to her room.
On the second day, Li Jian asked his servants to hitch a carriage and rush to the city early in the morning. As soon as he went out, he found someone outside staring at his yard. They went over to ask who it was, but they simply said that they were from the An family, just to keep them from running around. After saying that, he stopped hiding and just looked at it openly.
Li Jian was so angry that he had no choice but to go home and talk to Wei about the matter.
After hearing this, Mrs. Wei said: "Go to the city now and talk to Hao'er, asking him not to come out while he is in the academy. As for it doesn't matter here, what they want is the formula, and they don't want to do anything now. As long as he doesn't come out. If the two of us are not walking together, I don’t think they will stop us.”
Then he listened for a while, looked around, and whispered: "Be careful when talking to these servants in the future. Don't tell them important things."
After hearing this, Li Jian asked doubtfully: "Why is this?"
Wei said: "How could the An family know that you were going out and still keep an eye on you? You can't stay out all night. Anyway, let's be careful and there will be no problem."
Li Jian listened, nodded, and went to pull the carriage to the city alone. No one outside did stop him. When they arrived at the academy, since it was not Xiu Mu today, Li Hao was still in class at the Master's place. Li Jian did not rush in and just wandered outside. In the end, Li Hao saw it and came out early out of fear of something urgent.
Li Hao asked: "Father is here in such a hurry, but there is something wrong at home."
Li Jian told Li Hao everything that had happened. After hearing this, Li Hao pondered for a while and said, "Father, don't worry, our business is not that easy to be robbed. I have a way. It is not difficult to keep the business. It's just that the An family is so bullying." People are too harsh. It’s a bit difficult to teach them a lesson, but it only takes a long time, and one day I will give them good results.”
