Chapter 2624 - 2597: Grain Shop

Bai Shan said, "We’ve been busy with affairs since returning to the capital and only managed to free up some time now. Originally, we intended to host guests at our home for a gathering, but Princess Danyang coincidentally hosted her summer banquet. If the princess and Liu Huan declined the summer banquet, it wouldn’t be appropriate to visit my house, so we decided to meet outside instead."

He laughed, "I figured Senior Brother and scholarly sister-in-law might not be keen on attending the summer banquet either, so I invited them."

Madam Tang overheard a few words and turned her head, "Exactly, I didn’t want to go to that summer banquet. It’s so hot, the sun is so bright, even in the open pavilion it feels uncomfortable, and with many people, the heart feels stifled."

Manbao asked curiously, "Why is Princess Danyang hosting a banquet at this time?"

Mingda whispered, "Cousin from my aunt’s family has come of age and is discussing marriage, so my aunt has been keen on hosting banquets lately."

Manbao suddenly understood.

Madam Tang then looked at Liu Huan with amusement, "Why didn’t Liu Gongzi attend? Didn’t your grandmother drag you along?"

Zhou Liru, who was quietly eating on the side, raised her head, and Manbao promptly said, "Scholarly sister-in-law, he’s now my nephew-in-law."

Liu Huan: ... Although it’s true, the title makes him uncomfortable; after all, weren’t they classmates once?

Madam Tang also paused, then turned to look at Zhou Liru. Now in Zhou Man’s family, only this one hasn’t married yet?

She laughed, "When did this happen? Why not host a banquet?"

Manbao laughed, "When they finalized the engagement, both families simply had a meal together, no need to make it public."

Mainly because Zhou Liru is currently engrossed in her studies, and the Liu family feels Liu Huan isn’t stable enough, so there’s no rush for the marriage this year.

Madam Tang then poured a glass of wine, raised her cup, and laughed, "Though belated, congratulations are in order for you both."

Liu Huan and Zhou Liru, suddenly being mentioned, blushed slightly and raised their cups to thank Madam Tang.

It was a rare gathering for everyone, and Bai Shan was generous, ordering many dishes, including seasonal fruits.

In the private room, there were ice basins, open windows, and even a breeze blowing in, cooler than at home. The best part was, outside was one of the busiest streets in the capital,

after the meal, everyone could lean by the windows to watch the bustling scene below. Madam Tang even invited everyone to play leaf cards together.

Separated by a screen, Lord Tang and a few of them sat cross-legged on a tatami, chatting and discussing the recent good poems and writings from the capital.

Now there were already candidates entering the capital, preparing for the late autumn imperial exam.

Lord Tang laughed and said, "Isn’t this the largest private room in the Nine Blessings Building?"

Bai Shan nodded, given the number of guests he invited, he directly booked the largest room.

Not being particularly wealthy, Lord Tang exclaimed, "How come all of you seem so wealthy?"

Although Bai Shan is a bit frugal, undeniably he is still quite wealthy. Lord Tang even sensed the Bai Family might be wealthier than the Tang Family.

Bai Shan chuckled and said, "Senior Brother Tang is joking. You don’t seem like someone short on money either."

He leaned closer and whispered, "Is it that your scholarly sister-in-law controls the household finances and doesn’t give you spending money?"

Lord Tang nervously glanced outside the screen, unable to resist elbowing him, whispering, "Keep your voice down."

After speaking, he felt something was wrong, and quietly asked, "Isn’t Zhou Man managing your salary?"

Bai Shan shook his head, "Both mine and Manbao’s salaries are managed by my grandmother and mother."

Before marriage, Manbao’s salary was received by the Zhou Family. Since it wasn’t much, Old Zhou kept it for her. When she got married, Old Zhou had Zhou SiLang swap it for good-looking official silver as dowry.

As for the salary rice, it was used at home and in the restaurant.

After marriage, the salary continued to be collected by both the Zhou and Bai Families, although the salary silver was managed by Old Madam Liu, used in communal funds, while the rice was stored in the family’s warehouse, used by both the household and the restaurant.

Even though Manbao is already married, she still receives a significant bonus from the restaurant annually.

Every month, Manbao and Bai Shan each receive twenty taels of monthly silver from communal funds, making their five to six taels of salary each month seem insignificant.

If not for the income from their farmland, they would completely rely on their elders.

Bai Shan stroked his chin and said, "I should buy some gifts for grandmother and mother when I return later."

Lord Tang: ...

Bai Shan curiously asked him, "Senior Brother Tang, don’t you have monthly silver?"

Lord Tang squirmed a bit and whispered, "I do, but it’s not enough to spend..."

Next to them, Bai Erlang also grew curious, "How much per month?"

Lord Tang held up two fingers, and Bai Shan and Bai Erlang replied, "Isn’t it the same as ours? Why isn’t it enough?"

Bai Erlang said, "I spend a maximum of five taels a month and still have fifteen taels left over."

Even when Bai Erlang’s monthly money was only five taels, he could lend it out to classmates and earn interest, let alone now, he still saves a lot each month.

Furthermore, he manages his own salary silver, as Mingda doesn’t ask for it, and unused salary rice is directly sold to the grain shop.

"Oh, I’ve been meaning to tell you, I’m planning to open a grain shop in New City’s Yongzhou area. Later, you can send any surplus salary rice to my grain shop for sale. I’ll offer you a fair price."

Bai Shan nodded.

Lord Tang then asked him, "Why did you think of opening a grain shop?"

Bai Erlang said, "What choice do I have? The grain shop prices outside are so low, just one transaction and they earn three or four coins per bushel of rice from us. Why should I let them earn this money when I have my own shop?"

Actually, Bai Erlang was very excited the first time he received his salary, so he took a special leave to receive it.

He managed it once and then left it alone; he only cared for the money while the salary rice piled up in the family warehouse.

The steward of the princess’ mansion was negligent; without proper storage, last month’s heavy rain caused some rice in the warehouse to get damp, and Bai Erlang, seeing the unfolding commotion, curiously went to have a look, realizing they had lots of salary rice.

Some belonged to him, and some was Mingda’s share.

Mingda lived in the capital and also received monthly salary rice.

Bai Erlang thought they couldn’t consume so much at home, the rice left there was just feeding the mice, so he sent it directly to be sold at the grain store.

But the rice prices were squeezed greatly, not to mention the already damp rice; even the unaffected portion had its price significantly reduced.

As for the already damp portion, it was practically given away to the grain shop.

Infuriated, Bai Erlang donated all the rice to Yushan Hall, then decided to open a grain shop, assigning some managers and staff, ready to sell the rice himself, much better.

He said, "Anyway, not all the shops in New City are rented out now, the shop is ready, just clean up and it’s ready to sell grain. Sell when we have stock, close when we don’t, how convenient."

Lord Tang and Bai Shan: ...

Lord Tang turned to Bai Shan, "Won’t you advise him?"

Bai Shan waved his hand indifferently, "Forget it, the shop is his own, and both the manager and servants are his own; as long as he doesn’t lose money, it’s fine."

Yin Huo then said, "Then I’ll give you my surplus salary rice from now on."

He paused and added, "And my father’s too."

Liu Huan immediately said, "Mine too."

Bai Erlang was overjoyed.