Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside

"Little Xiao Yu, you've really given Uncle a big hand today." Liang Zhuzi was so pleased with how smoothly everything went today, and he then pulled Liang Dunzi to his side and said, "From now on, the tofu and seasoning spices dealings for our twelve families will be led by Dunzi. If you folks at the workshop have any issues, talk to him, and if there's any slip-up from our twelve families, seek him out. If he can't solve it, I'll come back and chop him to pieces."

After taking over the shop, he plans to take his wife and children to Hukang County. The business in Daxing Town will be handed over to his younger brother Liang Dunzi.

Liang Dunzi quickly assured, "Little Xiao Yu, don't worry, Uncle Dunzi will definitely manage our twelve families well."

Gu Jinli wasn't worried about those twelve families causing any trouble; after all, they had signed a contract. Once the tofu and spices leave the workshop, any problems that arise would be entirely the buyer's responsibility.

However, since Liang Zhuzi was handling the business in Hukang County alone, another contract needed to be signed, requiring a guarantor, so Liang Dunzi went to Village Chief He's house to invite Village Chief He himself.

When Village Chief He heard that Liang Zhuzi was planning to open a shop in Hukang County exclusively selling seasoning spices, he grabbed his walking stick and hurried over to Gu Jinli's house, moving so briskly that even Liang Dunzi couldn't keep up.

Upon entering Gu Jinli's house, he pointed at Liang Zhuzi and scolded, "Liang Zhuzi, you're shamelessly cunning. Knowing that seasoning spices make money, you run off to open a shop in Hukang County to sell just that. How much seasoning does the Xiao Yu family produce in a day to supply your shop?"

He then asked Gu Jinli, "Little Xiao Yu, how much seasoning has he asked you for?"

Gu Jinli replied, "Thirty-five kilograms per day."

Village Chief He was old and didn't think as quickly anymore. Frowning and pondering for a while, he suddenly exclaimed, "Doesn't that add up to over a thousand kilos a month!"

Village Chief He, pointing at Liang Zhuzi with his walking stick, angrily said, "You really are impudent, demanding so much seasoning. What about our village?"

The villagers were eagerly waiting their turn, only for Liang Zhuzi, an outsider, to snatch away so much of the spices. Village Chief He beat his chest and stomped his feet, almost dying of heartache.

Liang Zhuzi dodged Village Chief He's walking stick and said with a forced smile, "Old Uncle, the more spices I take, the more work there will be for your villagers in the workshop. This is a...win-win situation. You should be happy. Hey hey hey, don't hit, don't hit, the walking stick is meant for support, not hitting people."

"Phooey, the old man's walking stick is meant to hit people." After cursing for a while, Village Chief He knew when to relent and didn't make any more fuss. After all, if he continued, Little Xiao Yu would be upset.

Village Chief He took a stool offered by Gu Dashan and sat down, saying to Gu Jinli, "Little Xiao Yu, what does the contract say? Read it to the old man."

Jin Sheng was still away studying at the town's private school and had not returned, and Gu Jin'an was also not around, so only Gu Jinli could read it out.

Gu Jinli read the contents of the contract to Village Chief He.

Village Chief He listened and nodded in approval: "Not bad." This contract was very favorable for the Gu's Workshop.

He took the contract, examined it for a while, found the spot where a guarantor's name was needed, and wrote his own name down, then dipped his hand in ink and pressed his handprint onto it.

"Now that it's signed, you young man better work well and not tarnish the old man's reputation." Being a guarantor comes with responsibilities, and Village Chief He doesn't want his reputation ruined because of an outsider.

Liang Zhuzi laughed and said, "Rest assured, Elder. Our villages are neighbors. When I open a shop in Hukang County, my second and third younger brothers, along with my old mother, will still be home. If I do anything disgraceful, you can just lead a group to my house and deal with it."

Liang Dunzi also put on a smile and said, "Old Uncle, our two villages are like brothers from different surnames since our ancestors' days. Please, set your mind at ease."

Village Chief He sneered, "You brothers just love to play innocent after snagging a good deal. You knew the He Family People wanted to do the spice business, yet you competed with us for it, and after winning, you won't even let an old man complain a bit."

Village Chief He glanced toward the Liang family's Old San and said, "Of the three brothers, only Liang Hengzi has a trustworthy nature, the two of you are unreliable."

Liang Zhuzi's father is an old farmer who toils in the fields; he can't even recognize big characters, let alone have heard any pleasant words, so the names he chose for his three sons are all related to parts of a house.

Liang Hengzi smiled and said, "Thank you, Old Uncle, for your compliments. With me here, you can rest assured."

Village Chief He choked, pointing at Liang Hengzi and said, "Old man praised too soon, you're just as shrewd as your two brothers."

Village Chief He felt that the He Family People had suffered a great loss and couldn't help but turn to Gu Jinli and say, "Little Xiao Yu, you have seen how the He Family People have been behaving recently. We have been honest and haven't done any dishonorable deeds. When are you going to supply us with more spice?"

"Your Uncle He Dalin works as an accountant in a cloth shop at the county town. Last time he sent a letter, he mentioned that the variety stores in town have begun selling spices, and many families are going to buy them. Those spices in the county sell for quite a high price, five hundred copper coins for four taels."

"How many families are there in the county? Every family is willing to spend money. If you supply us, the He family, with a few dozen pounds of spices, we can transport the goods to the county for Uncle He Dalin to sell, and our village can become wealthy sooner."

He Dalin is Village Chief He's second son; Village Chief He chose names for his two sons that connote abundance and wealth.

Indeed, transporting spices to sell in the county can be profitable, but she currently cannot increase the supply for Village Chief He.

"Village Chief, the workshop can only produce a little over a hundred pounds of spice per day. We have to reserve some for Elder Lei Wu, some for the Qi Family in Prefecture, and the tofu stalls in town also sell spice. For now, we can only supply Uncle Liang first. After the workshop's daily spice output reaches two hundred pounds, we can increase the supply for the He family."

Liang Zhuzi's eyes are sharp, and his mind is quick. He was the first one to suggest opening a store specifically to sell spices. Village Chief He is just too late.

Moreover, there are still some destitute families within the He family who have not been settled. It's not too late to increase the spice supply for the He family after Village Chief He sorts them out.

However...

"The workshop needs people to grind spices. Village Chief, you can pick six people to send us, whether it's women or girls. As long as they are honest, willing to work hard and don't harbor ill intentions, that would be sufficient."

And she especially added, "Ask around He Shiliu's family to see if they are willing. If they are, reserve two spots for them."

He Shiliu is capable, has a wide network, and has always been kind to their families; it's essential to maintain a good relationship with him.

Village Chief He was delighted to hear this, "Eh, Little Xiao Yu, old man knew you're a good person. Done and done, I'll go back and pick the people for you. I'll make sure to pick the honest and kind ones. The lazy, greedy, and rash lot won't even think of working in your workshop."

He added, "He Shiliu's family, right? They will surely be willing to come."

Village Chief He received a 'sweet date' and was no longer so jealous of Liang Zhuzi and his brothers. Seeing Brother Cheng next to him, he even smiled and said to him, "Brother Cheng, Brother Tongsheng was just talking about you this morning. Come by the village chief's house when you're free to play with Tongsheng, alright?"