Xu Mingyuan's Choice

"Would that work? My dad's abilities..."

Daniu couldn't bring himself to finish.

His dad was no good at anything—except being first to the dinner table.

No wonder even his uncle looked down on his dad a little.

"My dad said everyone is born with a use. Everyone has something they're good at, and you have to guide them according to their strengths."

"He once told me a story. Its hero was an ordinary man, just like Uncle Ergou, but later he went into business.

"From then on, he prospered and became a famous wealthy merchant in Southern Commandery City. Even the officials at the Commandery Seat treated him with courtesy."

"What's the story called?"

"Chen Ergou's Demonic Life!"

At that, everyone fell silent.

Xu Mingyuan smiled and continued, "In Dongxi Village, Uncle Ergou is my dad's closest friend."

"Go home and tell Uncle Ergou to give up growing Jade Pears and work with my dad instead."

"You can hire people to do the growing while my dad guides them. Our two families can sell the fruit and vegetables together. But my dad's heart isn't in business, so Uncle Ergou will probably handle that."

"As for the profits, I think a seventy-thirty split is fair. Seventy for my family, thirty for yours."

"Why seventy-thirty?"

Xu Mingwei suddenly cut in. He was curious how his younger brother had arrived at that split.

"Yeah. Since Uncle Chuan and my dad are such good friends, why not split it fifty-fifty, or according to how much each family contributes?"

Daniu had attended school for several years and was no longer an ignorant little boy.

Xu Mingyuan chuckled and began to explain. "First, if Uncle Ergou wants to grow good fruit and vegetables but doesn't ask my dad, he'll have to find someone else who knows how. Wouldn't that cost money?"

"If he just plants whatever he likes, tell me, which family in Dongxi Village makes money growing fruit and vegetables? They're lucky if they don't lose money."

"My dad and Uncle Ergou may be good friends, but even blood brothers keep clear accounts. Your uncle wouldn't support your family for no reason either, would he?"

"My dad is a renowned farmer for miles around. Would hiring him be cheap?"

"If it's just the occasional bit of advice, that's fine. But if it's all the time, my dad is busy too."

As Xu Mingyuan talked, Chen Daniu kept nodding, finding his reasoning sound.

"Second, if our families sell together, whatever your crops turn out like, my family's fruit and vegetables have already made a name for themselves. People in Dongxi Village choose ours first, and it's the same for miles around."

"Dad once taught me a term for it: the reputation effect."

"Think of the century-old herb shops and jewelry stores in the county town. If your dad and mom went there, wouldn't those shops be their first choice?"

"The more customers you get, the higher your profits."

"If your family sells on its own, you can work out how much you'd end up making."

"Of course, there's another way we could work together: sell separately. The proceeds from my family's crops would all be ours, while yours could still benefit from my dad's reputation."

"We could split the profits thirty-seventy, or twenty-eighty."

Xu Mingwei's eyes lit up. This arrangement would benefit both families.

It would help Uncle Ergou's family while bringing in extra income for their own.

After all, Uncle Ergou's family had far more connections than theirs. With Dad's guidance, the produce would at least be decent. Once they scaled up, the yearly profits would probably be substantial.

Standing at the hall entrance, Xu Chuan was astonished by Xu Mingyuan's reasoning.

He had given the boy some guidance, but for a seven-year-old to understand this much and devise such a partnership showed extraordinary talent.

The Way to Wealth. That talent belongs to him, without a doubt.

Xu Chuan smiled faintly. He had made his decision.

Chen Fangfang's eyes shone as she looked at Xu Mingyuan in admiration. "A Yuan, you're so clever."

"I'm going home right now to tell my dad and mom your idea."

Chen Daniu went back with Chen Fangfang at once.

"A Yuan, come here," Xu Chuan called suddenly.

The two brothers turned and said together, "Dad."

Xu Mingyuan walked over and asked curiously, "What is it, Dad?"

"That was a thoughtful idea. How did you come up with it?"

"You think it's good too, Dad?"

Xu Mingyuan's heart bloomed with joy at Xu Chuan's approval, and he couldn't stop smiling.

"Honestly, I was just thinking out loud."

Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "What do you want to do when you grow up? Go into business? Follow your elder brother on the Martial Way? Or learn farming from me?"

Xu Mingyuan thought for a moment. "I trained in the Martial Way with my brother before. At first I thought it was fun, but later I realized how hard it was. I don't think I could keep at it every day like he does."

"As for farming, I don't think I'm cut out for it."

"If I can choose, I'd rather go into business. I like counting money."

"All right, then come with me. Shitou, stand guard outside and don't let anyone in."

"Yes, Dad."

Xu Chuan intended to bestow a Fate Talent upon Xu Mingyuan.

In Chen Ergou's courtyard.

The couple had calmed down.

Chen Daniu and Chen Fangfang came back and told Chen Ergou about Xu Mingyuan's idea.

Chen Ergou slapped his thigh. "That's a great idea!"

"Working with Brother Chuan, we can't go wrong."

"Tsk, how does A Yuan's mind work? He's only seven and already coming up with ideas like that. No wonder he's like Brother Chuan. He had plenty of ideas as a child too."

Xu Yan gave a couple of cold laughs. "Only a heedless fool like you would agree without thinking."

"Why wouldn't I agree to a good opportunity like this?"

"It's your fault for coveting Brother Chuan's Jade Pears. We poured three years of labor and money into them, and what did we get? Nothing but half-dead saplings."

"I'm telling you, if you refuse, we'll divide the family property. I'll work with Brother Chuan myself, and you can spend your days with those Jade Pear trees."

Xu Yan's willow-leaf brows trembled lightly, then drew together, forming fine creases above the bridge of her nose.

She frowned slightly.

In just a few years, Xu Chuan had managed the Xu Household so well that it had surpassed Chen Ergou's and was even catching up to his father's.

Once the old man passed away, Chen Ergou wasn't the eldest son of the main line. At most, he would receive a portion of the family property.

But working with the Xu Household offered a real chance at wealth.

Her own relationship with Xu Chuan, though, was only so-so. Calling each other cousins was little more than a formality.

Distant relatives were worth less than neighbors who were close friends.

"Why are you getting so fierce? Did I say I disagreed?"

Xu Yan's expression softened noticeably, and she spoke gently.

"I mean, this is only an idea between children. In the end, my cousin still has to agree."

"Think it through first. Work out the terms of the partnership and how to split the profits, then go discuss it properly with him. Otherwise, he'll ask you a question and you won't know a thing—you'll just keep nodding."

"You're nearly thirty. Don't give my cousin a reason to look down on you."

"My elder brother might look down on me, but Brother Chuan never would. We grew up wearing the same pair of split-crotch pants."

Chen Ergou sounded certain, but then he changed tack. "Still, wife, you're right about that."

"I'll think it over properly and visit Brother Chuan in a couple of days."

Just then, Chen Daniu and Chen Fangfang's stomachs growled.

Xu Yan slapped her forehead. "Your dad made me so angry I forgot to cook. You still have school this afternoon, so go eat at Uncle Chuan's first."

"I'll go too." Chen Ergou had a thick skin.

"You have the nerve?" Xu Yan's face darkened again. "Do we have no food at home?"

"The children have school. Do you?"

"Fine, I won't go. Hurry up, then. I'm hungry."