Chapter 576: Chapter 563: Regret
Zhuang Qingsui’s schooling had been settled, and the stone in Zhuang Qingning’s heart finally fell.
In the days before going to the academy, Qingsui continued to study with Fan Wenxuan as usual.
Meanwhile, Zhuang Qingning was helping Zhuang Qingsui pack some of the things she would need at the academy.
The academy provided everything, from bedding and utensils to writing materials. What needed to be brought were just some personal clothes and belongings.
Zhuang Qingsui already had plenty of clothes, and since the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, she casually selected a few substitutes.
While the packing was nearly complete, Zhuang Yutian and Mrs. Meng asked Zhuang Qingning to the county town to see the fabric they had woven.
“Miss Ning, what do you think of this fabric?” Mrs. Meng handed a small piece of fabric to Zhuang Qingning.
The cloth was undyed and had the original snowy hue of the cotton which looked soft and mild under the spring sunlight. When touched, it felt delicate and soft, extremely skin-friendly.
“Is this cloth woven by the loom?” Zhuang Qingning asked.
Her voice contained much surprise.
She knew that the things made from the blueprints provided must be good, but she had not expected such fine and soft fabric.
When Zhuang Yutian and Mrs. Meng saw Zhuang Qingning’s reaction, they looked at each other, then at Qingning.
Their expressions seemed to be asking, don’t you know what kind of cloth your own loom would weave?
Zhuang Qingning coughed lightly to cover her embarrassment, and explained, “I have also used this loom before, but the cloth I wove was far less delicate than what you have woven.”
“Oh, it’s not that we are better at spinning and weaving, but that these new tools are indeed far superior,” Mrs. Meng laughed, “The yarn produced with this spinning wheel is so fine and tough. With good yarn, of course, the woven cloth is also delicate.”
“By calculations, the same amount of cotton would produce nearly 20% more fabric than Songjiang’s. Even if we produce the most common cotton fabric in large quantities, we can sell as much as we produce.”
“Now we no longer have to worry about not having enough goods to sell.” Zhuang Yutian also laughed, then said, “In these recent days, I’ve already found a place in the county, the price has been negotiated, just waiting to pay the money and sign the paper. I’m preparing to build the workshop as you suggested, bring a few experienced weaving experts, apart from this natural color cotton fabric, makes some patterned fabric, and gradually build up the workshop business.”
“Uncle Yutian and Auntie are indeed good at business. I’ll let you gradually build up the workshop.” Zhuang Qingning smiled, “In future, I’ll be a hands-off manager, I won’t interfere with anything, but let’s make this clear first, the divided profit, I’ll definitely need to take my share.”
Trust freely given is not doubted, and doubt avoided justifies trust. What’s more, Zhuang Yutian and Mrs. Meng were excellent at doing business and Zhuang Qingning knew she could trust them. She planned to let them boldly go ahead with this venture.
“If Miss Ning says so, then you can rest assured that you will not be shortchanged.” Zhuang Yutian chuckled.
As the three were talking, a shopkeeper’s assistant from the store rushed over, shouting, “Boss, Boss, something has happened…”
The young man was obviously in a hurry, his forehead was already covered in a thin layer of sweat, he said anxiously, “Boss, it’s not good, Manager Li’s assistant, Li Shun come to say, that plot of land may not be rentable to us.”
“Why is that?” Zhuang Yutian was taken aback, “Didn’t we already settle the price with Manager Li? Why suddenly it can’t be rented now?”
“I don’t know the specifics, but according to what Li Shun said, another merchant is also interested in that plot of land, and is offering a higher price, so Manager Li wants to rent it to someone else.”
The shop assistant said, “Manager Li felt awkward and asked Li Shun to come over and give us a heads up so that we could find a new location as soon as possible. He also brought a canister of tea as an apology.”
Zhuang Yutian immediately frowned, “Understood, I got it, you let Li Shun go back first, don’t accept the tea, tell him I will go to see Manager Li soon to discuss the matter.”
“Yes, I’ll go now.” The assistant answered and hurried off.
“In business, the one offering higher price gets the deal. We have no agreement signed nor money exchanged with Manager Li, it’s reasonable for him to change his mind.”
Mrs. Meng reassured, “We can find another place, the county town is big, we can certainly find a suitable location, perhaps it will be even better than the one offered by Manager Li.”
“We can indeed look for a new place, but the issue must be clarified.”
Zhuang Yutian replied gravely, “If some merchant outbids us for the location, that’s not a problem. These things happen, the one offering a higher price gets the deal. But if it’s the same as the shortage problem in our shop…”
Then that’s not right!
After hearing Zhuang Yutian’s words, Mrs. Meng’s face grew serious, and she nodded, “You’re right. If they are deliberately stirring up trouble, no matter how many locations we find, they are likely to interfere.”
“Yes, that’s what I’m worried about.” Zhuang Yutian stood up, “I’ll go to Manager Li’s place, ask him, see if he’ll tell the truth, and then decide what to do next.”
“Okay.” Mrs. Meng nodded.
“By the way, I also have something to do out, so I will accompany Uncle Yutian to go out.”
Since she was already in the county town, she could also conveniently visit Zhong Yingcai and see how his soap workshop preparations were proceeding.
“Alright, let’s go together.”
Zhuang Yutian grabbed a jar of wine and walked out of the door with Zhuang Qingning.
Since their destinations were in the same direction, they walked together. Before they even reached the bookstore that Manager Li owned, Zhuang Qingning bumped into Zhong Yingcai on the road.
“Manager Zhuang?”
Before Zhuang Qingning could greet him, Zhong Yingcai gave a surprised shout, then quickly approached, “Did Manager Zhuang come to the county town today to visit the workshop?”
“Yes.” Zhuang Qingning nodded, “I came to see how the soap workshop you are organizing is coming along.”
“I must confess to Manager Zhuang, that my workshop may need a few more days to be finished.” Zhong Yingcai apologized.
“Oh?” Zhuang Qingning was somewhat surprised.
This Zhong Yingcai, in her impression, was even more of a workaholic than Cheng Ruize.