Chapter 124: There’s Still Too Little Money!

Before long, Lu Yang arrived at the county town.

The streets appeared much the same as he remembered them. Merchants called out their wares, pedestrians moved between storefronts, and the occasional carriage passed through the crowded streets.

Lu Yang released his Divine Sense, allowing it to spread through the surrounding area.

After a short while, he withdrew his Divine Sense, a faint smile appearing beneath his wooden mask.

It seemed that Zheng Hui had indeed succeeded.

Over the past two years, the man’s name had gradually become familiar among the local merchants. His businesses had recovered, and his reputation had begun to grow once again.

Although he had not regained the full prosperity of the Zheng Family, he had at least managed to establish himself.

For someone who had once lost almost everything, this was already a great achievement.

Lu Yang adjusted his clothes and headed towards the familiar courtyard.

After arriving before the gate, he knocked twice.

*Knock!* *Knock!*

Footsteps soon sounded from within.

The gate opened, revealing a middle aged man.

His clothes were clean and well maintained, his face no longer as haggard as it had been two years ago. There was even a trace of color in his cheeks, and his overall appearance appeared somewhat younger than before.

The moment he saw Lu Yang’s wooden mask, the Zheng Hui’s expression changed.

"Senior!"

He hurriedly stepped aside, his voice filled with unconcealed excitement.

"You have finally arrived!"

Lu Yang nodded slightly, "Let us go inside."

"Of course! Please, come in!"

Zheng Hui quickly led him into the courtyard.

Compared to their first meeting, the place was considerably tidier. The furniture was simple, but everything was arranged neatly, and there were no signs of the desperation that had once filled the household.

After entering the main hall, Lu Yang took a seat.

Zheng Hui immediately poured him a cup of tea.

"Senior, I have been waiting for your arrival for almost a year."

Lu Yang raised an eyebrow.

"A year?"

"Yes."

Zheng Hui said somewhat awkwardly.

"When you gave me the silver, you said that you would return after two years. I was afraid that if I left this courtyard, you might have difficulty finding me when you came back."

He paused before continuing.

"My wife and children have already been moved elsewhere. Only I have been staying here since then."

Lu Yang looked at him for a moment and nodded slightly.

He could sense the sincerity in Zheng Hui’s words.

The man had taken his warning seriously and made arrangements to ensure that he could be found when the time came.

"Very well, tell me about your business."

Zheng Hui’s expression immediately became serious.

He straightened his back, reached beneath the table, and took out a thick book.

"Senior, I have recorded all the relevant accounts here. Every expenditure, transaction, and the profits from each business are included."

He respectfully placed the book before Lu Yang.

"I did not dare to neglect your investment."

Lu Yang accepted it and began flipping through the pages.

The records were very detailed.

The initial capital had been distributed carefully, with most of the money used to reopen businesses that the Zheng Family previously operated.

There were three clothing stores, a restaurant, and a general store, opened one by one over the two years, all businesses Zheng Hui understood well.

He did not attempt to enter unfamiliar industries just because they appeared profitable. Instead, he relied on his previous experience and rebuilt the parts of his family’s business with which he was most familiar.

This was a sensible decision.

Lu Yang continued reading.

The initial period was a little difficult. Zheng Hui had to rebuild his network of suppliers, regain the trust of customers, and negotiate with merchants who previously dealt with the Zheng Family.

There were also several unexpected expenses.

Nevertheless, he gradually overcame these difficulties, and by the second year, his businesses had become relatively stable, with quite impressive results.

The combined profits generated by the businesses during the second year already exceeded five hundred taels of silver.

Lu Yang looked at the figure again before turning another page and closed the book, a faint sigh escaping his lips.

This fellow was genuinely talented.

He had not only managed to recover from the destruction of his family but also rebuilt a considerable portion of its former business within two years.

The Zheng Family’s previous annual profits were only around six to seven hundred taels of silver, and Zheng Hui had started with only one hundred and fifty taels of silver.

Under such circumstances, achieving these results was remarkable.

Lu Yang looked at the man sitting opposite him.

"Your performance is better than I expected."

Zheng Hui immediately lowered his head.

"This was only possible because senior gave me an opportunity."

Lu Yang did not respond, just shaking his head almost casually.

He indeed provided the initial capital and backing, but that alone could not guarantee success.

If Zheng Hui was truly incompetent, he might have squandered the silver within a few months. Instead, he managed to use it to establish several profitable businesses.

After a moment, Lu Yang asked, "What are your plans for the next few years?"

Zheng Hui had evidently considered this question in advance.

"If everything proceeds smoothly, I intend to expand gradually over the next three years. I will strengthen the existing businesses before opening additional stores in some more districts."

He paused briefly, seemingly contemplating something before saying.

"By then, I believe the annual profits could exceed one thousand taels of silver. That’s the limit a one merchant can earn annually in a single county."

Lu Yang nodded, understanding the reasoning.

According to their original agreement, Zheng Hui would retain seventy percent of the profits, while Lu Yang would receive the remaining thirty percent.

If the annual profits eventually reached one thousand taels, Lu Yang would receive three hundred taels every year.

For an ordinary household or even a Body Tempering peak cultivator, this would be an impressive income.

For a Spirit Awakening cultivator, however...

In Lu Yang’s third life, after reaching the later stages of Spirit Awakening Realm and becoming the Supreme Elder of the Lu Family, his monthly cultivation expenses exceeded one hundred taels of silver.

Even a relatively modest annual expenditure of twelve hundred taels would therefore have been insufficient to cover his former needs.

Of course, his current circumstances were different.

He was only at the peak of the First Stage of Spirit Awakening Realm, and he did not intend to imitate the Lu Family’s cultivation methods from his previous life by consuming resources without restraint.

Nevertheless, cultivation became increasingly expensive as one’s realm advanced.

The Spirit Awakening Realm was only the beginning.

Once he reached its middle and later stages, the resources required to make further progress would increase considerably, and if he eventually reached the Essence Gathering Realm...

Lu Yang did not even want to calculate the expenditure.

Three hundred taels per year would help, but it was far from sufficient.

In the end, there was still too little money!