Chapter 30.1 (2/2)

Although He Wude and the other elders didn't speak about it openly, from their behavior, certain clues were apparent. However, these old men were quite good at deception. They didn't let He Yitian and Cheng Yanli to pick up on these clues.

After the Skill Compet.i.tion, everybody dined together and went their separate ways.

However, in the great courtyard, He Wude, the second generation's three members, He Yiming, and He Yitian were gathered together.

The topic of their discussion was precisely the development plan for the new year.

Previously, among the third generation, even He Yitian had never partic.i.p.ated in this discussion. However, today, He Wude had specifically called He Yitian and He Yiming to attend the discussion. His intentions were evident.

The children of the third generation had officially begun to partic.i.p.ate in the affairs of the manor.

Around a round table, He Yitian and He Yiming were responsible to fill their elders' teacups while listening and offering their a.s.sertions at the same time.

He Quanming placed the account book on the table and said, ”Father, this year's profit is quite good. Accounting the expenses and sales of the shops, we've altogether summed up a profit of two thousand silver taels.”

He Quanyi also tossed out an account book and said, ”A lot of the land around the manor has already been cleared out. The revenue from the grains is also quite good. Adding the hunts from the forest and the sales of mountainous local specialities in the city, the harvest is plentiful,” He paused for a bit before continuing, ”However, there are hundreds of mouths to feed in the manor. Adding in their monthly salaries, special rewards and so on&h.e.l.lip;.the profit is not as much as it seems. Adding in the new constructions, repair, and a.s.sembling the materials for the future castle, it's a huge expense- in total an expenditure of five thousand silver taels.”

He Yitian and He Yiming exchanged a glance. It turned out that even after everybody in the manor painstakingly worked, they were unable to cover their expenditure.

He Wude faintly nodded. His face didn't have a shred of expression, as if already expecting such an outcome.

”Second, how is the business with Yuan family?” The old man calmly asked.

He Quanming's face immediately revealed a full smile, ”Father, this year, our business partners.h.i.+p with Yuan family has gone extremely smooth. All the products have been sold without a hitch, fetching a profit of a thousand gold taels.”

He Yitian and He Yiming gaped, almost not daring to believe their ears.

Although gold and silver were both expensive metals, the difference in their values was quite significant. In the Northwest, two taels of gold could easily be exchanged for ten taels of silver.

Two thousand gold taels meant ten thousand taels of silver. In comparison, the manor's five thousand taels deficit didn't even seem worth mentioning.

He Wude smiled in satisfaction before suddenly saying, ”Yitian, Yiming, do you understand now? Although we've shops in the city, due to constant expansion of the manor, even after all these years, we're still not able to cover this debt. To continue the expansion of the manor and save for the clan as well, business with Yuan family is our true lifeline.”

He Yitian thought for a bit before saying, ”Grandfather, this Yuan family you speak of, is it the same as Yuan family of the Gold Forest country?”

”Correct, the Yuan family of Gold Forest country,” He Wude faintly nodded and said, ”Although their strength in the Gold Forest country is not too big, they have vast connections. Moreover, the current family head of Yuan family, Yuan Zeyo, is my companion from back in the day who ventured the world outside with me. They are definitely the best partners for our He family.”

He Yiming eyed everybody around and asked, ”What's our business with the Yuan family that involves such a profit?”

He Quanming hesitated a bit, then said, ”Smuggling.”

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