Chapter 2498 - 2472: Settling Accounts

Zhou Lijun’s eyes lit up, saying, "Sell the ointments we make at home, like the skin whitening cream and acne removal cream."

She said, "Little aunt, have your meal first, and I’ll do the accounting for you after dinner."

Manbao couldn’t help but ask, "Does our family have that much money now?"

"Not from the communal pot," Zhou Lijun said, "Most of the communal money is currently with Fourth Uncle."

But Zhou SiLang is on the grasslands right now. Oh, Xiang Mingxue also went with him a month ago, they’re probably still collecting various goods on the grasslands.

He can’t come back until at least the end of September.

So Zhou Lijun wants each household to contribute money. If little aunt agrees, it’s half the battle won.

Manbao asked, "How much money is in the communal pot now?"

Zhou Lijun: "Over three hundred taels."

That’s quite a bit, considering Zhou SiLang brought the account book to the capital and distributed last year’s profits from autumn until this summer, and the communal money now comes from selling ointments and restaurant operations that belong to the communal pot.

Manbao thought of the money she received this year and the gem spices she brought back, and instantly felt confident, "Okay, let’s buy."

The gem spices Manbao gave to Zhou SiLang were sold without even keeping a cut for himself; he practically returned the entire sale amount to her.

First sold in the capital, then went south all the way to Yizhou, selling everything off along the way, he made quite a fortune.

Combined with the communal money Zhou Man received this year, it amounted to even more.

But why did Zhou Lijun think of buying a shop?

You see, they currently rent a courtyard outside specifically for making ointments and creams, and old customers directly come to purchase, sometimes bringing new customers too; they’re making quite a lot.

After the meal, Zhou Lijun held a cup of tea and talked with Zhou Man in the courtyard, "Initially, Fifth Aunt’s production was limited. In the capital, only certain people can afford the skin whitening and acne creams, so I thought there was no need to buy a shop. But lately, because of cowpox vaccination, many people have come to buy the scar-lightening ointment, and even out-of-town pharmacists have sought us out, so I think we need a shop, and a good one at that."

Manbao pondered, "But we only have these few types of creams, isn’t that too few?"

Zhou Lijun said, "I used to think there were too few, but not anymore. Many people have been using our skin whitening cream these past two years; not only women, but some young men use it too. Especially the acne cream, it’s selling really well. So I think focusing on these few items is quite good, and with little aunt’s current skills and age, there will be more formulas in the future."

Manbao thought it made sense and nodded, "Okay, how much silver should I contribute?"

Zhou Lijun said, "I’ve calculated. Since the formulas are provided by you, little aunt, you’ll contribute ten percent. For the other branches, I’ll count one branch separately. After excluding your share, there are seven branches, each bearing thirteen percent of the cost and claiming ten percent of the share."

Manbao was taken aback, "Ten percent per branch?"

Zhou Lijun nodded, "That’s right, ten percent per branch. Altogether, that’s eighty percent. The remaining twenty percent will go to the communal pot, with ten percent of the annual dividends retained for shop management and the other ten percent given to Grandpa and Grandma."

This means the seven branches bear their portion of the communal share.

Manbao thought it over and didn’t object, "Will the other branches agree?"

Zhou Lijun smiled, "As long as you agree, little aunt, the other branches will agree."

The eldest uncle and aunt don’t need to be mentioned; they’ll definitely follow little aunt. Her mother doesn’t need worrying, she can convince her father. Third Uncle will follow Grandpa and Grandma’s lead, and Fourth Uncle, Fifth Uncle, and Sixth Uncle are fond of little aunt and won’t oppose.

Zhou Lijun laughed, "When the time comes, I’ll set the rules, and Fourth Aunt and Fifth Aunt can manage the shop’s back end, specifically overseeing the ointment concoction process, and receive monthly wages."

This way, everyone stays engaged, and money continues to be made.

Manbao asked, "How much are you estimating for the initial investment cost?"

Zhou Lijun hesitated for a moment then said, "Ten thousand taels."

Even a wealthy person like Manbao couldn’t help but be surprised; it’s indeed very expensive.

"I’ve got no issues with it, but will the other branches be willing to put out that much money?"

She felt that would nearly empty each branch’s savings.

Although Zhou SiLang has made quite a bit of money in the past few years, making large trips could earn several hundred or over a thousand taels after all costs are deducted; Manbao remembers the account book noting that two years ago was the most profitable, earning two thousand eight hundred taels at once, but that was when Zhou SiLang ventured to buy pearls, and afterward, he stopped doing that business.

One reason was fear of having to switch to merchant registration after getting too big;

Another reason was the increased danger of procuring pearls.

Then, such a sum is divided into many shares, as everyone has a stake in it.

Nonetheless, this money is still significant, enough to be what the old Zhou family would have accumulated over seven or eight years under normal circumstances.

Even Old Zhou couldn’t help but sigh, "No wonder capable people all want to go into business instead of farming."

But doing business, especially like Zhou SiLang’s traveling merchant style, is indeed arduous; you can tell from Zhou SiLang’s appearance, he has aged faster compared to Zhou Wulang and Zhou Liulang over the past few years. Under the sun and wind, he’s just a tad short of not being Manbao’s most handsome brother anymore.

Manbao contributing a thousand taels doesn’t pressure her because she has multiple sources of income, but for other branches, contributing thirteen hundred taels is tough.

Especially for the eldest brother and third brother.

In the evening, Manbao quietly sneaked over to find her eldest sister-in-law.

Zhou Dalang saw her come and got up to go to the outer room, leaving the inner room for her and the sister-in-law to talk.

Manbao quietly asked Junior Ms.Qian, "Eldest Sister-in-law, how much money have you and Elder Brother saved?"

Junior Ms.Qian asked her, "Are you short on funds?"

Manbao shook her head and whispered the matter of Lijun wanting to buy the shop, then softly said, "Lijun has calculated privately, and a year after purchasing the shop, we should be able to earn back the money spent."

Junior Ms.Qian was astonished, "Is it that profitable?"

Manbao said modestly, "Mainly because it’s the right time due to cowpox vaccination; many people have learned about the acne cream and skin whitening ointment because of the scar-lightening ointment. Some young masters even love buying them more than ladies. Now business is much better, Lijun has privately calculated, and current sales have at least doubled compared to before."

So they still need to hire more people.

Junior Ms.Qian glanced outside and then asked softly, "How much silver does our main branch need to contribute?"

"You tell me how much you have first."

Junior Ms.Qian replied, "Over eight hundred taels."

Manbao was taken aback, asking, "Why so little?"

Junior Ms.Qian laughed, "You forgot, Datou just got married not long ago. We bought twenty acres of land in the suburbs as part of his dowry, and with other expenses, we’ve spent a lot. SanToul is growing up too, and we’re recently arranging for a marriage for him."

Junior Ms.Qian sighed here, "The capital isn’t like our village, and our family isn’t like before. It used to cost only five or six taels to marry someone in the village. Adding the banquet, seven or eight taels was enough. Now, at least a hundred taels are needed."