The Daily Life of Farming and Raising Children in Ancient Mountain Residences

Chapter 280: Arrangements

Sang Luo’s suggestions led Shen Jin to consider carefully, but he didn’t deliberate for long. After a glance at his younger brothers, he shook his head.

“We should stay here. I’m thirteen and can start learning the business. Xiao Yin and Xiao Tie can also gain experience over the next two or three years. If the northern trade routes open up, we could travel to the capital several times a year. If you need help in the capital later, any of us three brothers can go. For now, we should stay here.”

“If there’s anything you think Xiao Yin, Xiao Tie, and I can handle, you can entrust it to us.”

His determination was clear in his words.

Sang Luo, understanding his thoughts, raised an eyebrow and said, “Alright, we’re not leaving immediately. If you change your mind, you can let me know.”

“I won’t change my mind.”

Sang Luo smiled, “Don’t decide so quickly. Check with Xiao Yin and Xiao Tie first. I’ll go visit the Chen family.”

Regardless of whether Shen Jin and his brothers stayed or not, Sang Luo planned to shift the production of fermented bean curd, cold rabbit, bread, cakes, egg tarts, and pork floss to a workshop model. She needed to discuss the specific procedures with the Chen family.

Shen Ning, who always participated in business matters, either helping or learning, accompanied Sang Luo. She also took the opportunity to carry the two youngest children, who always seemed eager to be out and about. After they had walked a short distance from the house, Shen Ning asked Sang Luo, “Sister-in-law, if Xiao Jin stays, are you thinking of having him manage the accounts here?”

“Yes,” Sang Luo confirmed. “When it comes to money matters, with our relationship with the Chen family, we can be flexible with management, production, and recipes. However, we must be precise with the accounts. It’s not about friendship or trust; the better the relationship, the clearer the accounts should be to avoid any issues that might eventually harm the relationship.”

“If Xiao Jin is willing to go to the capital, I was originally considering asking Wen Yin if she would take over the accounts.”

This would essentially be hiring a financial manager.

Xu Wenqing would have been a good choice, but he enjoyed traveling and might not stay on the estate. On the other hand, Xu Wenyin, with her natural aptitude and quiet demeanor, would be a good fit for handling the accounts.

Shen Ning, reflecting on Sang Luo’s suggestion about visiting the Chen family, realized that Shen Jin seemed to be particularly focused on managing the accounts. The recipes were secondary; if there were special recipes to keep secret, Shen Jin would bring Xiao Yin and Xiao Tie to work on them. Otherwise, opening a workshop was also fine.

Indeed, that was the attitude. Shen Jin, who was frequently traveling for business, knew how much dried meat, pork floss, and fermented bean curd could be distributed locally. Within a year, as the public’s living conditions improved and meat prices dropped, the demand for pork floss and dried meat would increase significantly, making it necessary to open a workshop to ensure supply.

The truly secret recipes were for items like bread, cakes, egg tarts—products that could only be sold fresh in Shezhou and could be made in limited quantities by family members.

Sang Luo smiled, “That’s not entirely correct.”

…

While the brothers were discussing their plans, Shen Tie asked Shen Jin, “Brother, aren’t we going to leave with elder brother and sister-in-law? The products sold in their shop will still be produced in workshops, and it seems we won’t be needed to help.”

“Of course we’ll be needed,” Shen Jin replied. “There will be plenty of areas where help is required. Even if elder sister-in-law opens a workshop, the accounts will need someone to manage. Moreover, we can currently hire people from the estate, but what about in the future? As the workshop expands, it will be harder to manage. Elder Brother is good, but as we hire more people, it will be different. Over time, the presence of us three brothers here versus not here will make a big difference.”

If they stayed, it meant Shen family members were still present.

Shen Tie didn’t fully understand the implications. Shen Jin patted his head, “I know you’re reluctant to part with elder brother and sister-in-law. Once they’re settled in the capital, I’ll take you with me when I go north for business. You can stay there for a few months at a time. But for now, let’s focus on proper business.”

Shen Jin understood the attachment his younger brothers had to the elder branch, as he felt the same way himself. After enduring dark times, everyone longs for light, especially when that light has warmed and saved them. Having grown accustomed to being with elder brother, sister-in-law, second brother, and elder sister, it’s natural to feel secure when they are near.

So, Shen Tie’s feelings were even stronger. He had grown up around elder brother and sister-in-law, and despite the separation, his dependence was straightforward and pure.

Shen Jin continued, trying to encourage Shen Tie, “Alright, focus on learning your skills and don’t slack off. If you really want to go to the capital, it’s not impossible. When elder sister-in-law needs help in the future, if you have the skills, you might be able to go.”

Shen Tie asked, “How long until then? You started as an apprentice at thirteen; I’m thirteen now too. If there’s a shop in the capital, I could go there as an apprentice.”

Three years seemed like a long time to Shen Tie.

Shen Yin, listening to the conversation, added with a smile, “You’ll need to learn to read, arithmetic, and business skills just like brother did, at least not falling too far behind.”

Shen Tie, feeling troubled, bit his lip and fell silent.

Shen Jin laughed, “Work hard.”

…

While the three brothers were sorting out their plans, Sang Luo reached out to the Chen family and discussed the arrangements she had in mind.

In addition to setting up workshops for noodles and vermicelli, they would also establish a food processing workshop for other products originally made in Shen family’s backyard, including tofu and dried bean curd, which were previously handled by the Chen family.

The Chen family would continue to manage this, focusing on production planning, quality control, and storage, while familiar women from the estate would handle the actual production.

There was no need to find new premises; if Shen Jin went to the capital, she would lock up the main house and the east wing, leaving the remaining keys with the Chen family. If Shen Jin stayed, he would simply be given the keys directly.

Shen Ning, along with the two younger children, was playing with Ah Rui, while Mrs. Chen accompanied Sang Luo on a tour of the estate’s various families. The Xu and Wei families were financially secure and did not need this kind of support, but the Shi, Lu, and Zhou families were interested. After discussing, they decided that the farming season could be skipped. The Gan sisters-in-law, Feng Liuniang, Zhou Dalang, and Zhou Erlang’s wives—six in total—along with the Chen family’s three generations, made nine people in total.

Even with the expanded business, this would be sufficient.

When they returned, Chen Dashan asked about Shen Jin and his brothers’ arrangements. Sang Luo said, “Before leaving, Shen Jin mentioned not leaving, likely wanting to stay behind to help manage the estate’s land and workshops.”

Mrs. Chen exclaimed, “This child is thoughtful.”

He was truly different from Shen San and Li Shi, and that was fortunate.

Chen Dashan smiled, “I expected him to stay. To be honest, Xiao Jin has the makings of a businessman—smart, detail-oriented, and perceptive.”

Running a business in the past month had indeed been a learning experience. The first thing in each place was to explore and gather information about potential shops, as business and location could be assessed by observation. The character of shopkeepers and their staff had to be judged through observation and inquiry.

Seeing a variety of people, including both good and bad, helped develop a keen eye. For someone so young as Shen Jin to have such sharpness, he was certainly well-suited for the capital.

Chen Dashan found it amusing and shared his thoughts with Sang Luo, “It’s right for him to stay. I wanted to tell you this as well. If you’re leaving this to our family, it would be best to leave Xiao Jin and Xiao Yin here. Even if they go with you, you’ll need to hire someone to handle the accounts. It’s not about trust; with money involved, even among siblings, clear accounts are necessary to maintain good relations.”

Sang Luo finally understood the reason.

After discussing the main matters, Mrs. Chen, holding Qian Bao in her arms, asked Sang Luo about the situation in the capital: “Have you inquired with the official who issued the decree? Can you move into the house in the capital as soon as you arrive? What about the estate granted by the emperor—will you need to clear the land?”

Sang Luo smiled, “I’ve looked into it. The house will be prepared, and you can move in as long as you bring your clothes and belongings. The estate is on the outskirts of the capital. It was originally an estate of a previous dynasty’s official. Due to its good location, it was later designated as an imperial estate by the Da Qi dynasty. It currently has an estate manager and tenant farmers. This year, crops have been planted, and when harvest comes, aside from what’s given to the farmers, the rest will be considered mine.”

When Mrs. Chen and Zhou Ge heard that the granted estate included crops, they were delighted. “Does it really come with crops for all five hundred mu?”

“I don’t know the exact details, but it’s likely close.”

Mrs. Chen praised the emperor’s generosity and fairness, and couldn’t help but mention how Chen You Tian had received rewards for teaching farming.

After chatting for a while, Mrs. Chen said, “The news about you being summoned to the capital in August or September has spread to the surrounding villages. The workshop is worried, fearing it might shut down later. They inquired with me, and I can answer them. They also asked if the school would still be running.”

“It will still be operating, with expenses covered from our account.”

Mrs. Chen laughed, “Good, that will ease their minds. They’ve seen the benefits of education; boys as young as seven or eight can go to village schools, but girls and adults can’t attend. I’ll let them know tomorrow.”

In the midst of their conversation, little Ah Rui, who was learning to crawl in a crib with a railing, began to cry. Ah Yao, excitedly waving her hands, hadn’t yet stopped.

Chen Dashan, seeing this, couldn’t help but laugh. Instead of comforting Ah Rui, he teased, “Son, you’re really making progress. A little pat from Ah Yao can make you cry so much?”

As soon as he spoke, Ah Yao, who had been waving her hands happily, paused when she heard her playmate crying. She froze, stopped crawling, and with a strong push against the crib, sat up with a long “oh” sound.

She looked at Chen Rui crying.

Mrs. Chen exclaimed, “Ah Yao can sit up now?”

“Sister-in-law, Ah Yao can sit up!”

As a result, Chen Rui, who had just been crying for attention, was completely overshadowed by Ah Yao’s new skill.

Sang Luo knew her daughter well and went to check on Chen Rui: “Ah Yao has more strength than Qian Bao.”

Fortunately, Chen Rui’s face wasn’t red. Zhou Ge also said, “What strength can such a little one have?”

On the other hand, Ah Yao was fascinated by the new perspective from sitting up for the first time. She looked around and waved her hands joyfully.

At just under six months old, Ah Yao’s ability to sit up was a fresh event. Her peers, Qian Bao and Chen Rui, just four days younger, were also being guided to learn to sit, creating a lively scene. Ah Yao enjoyed herself so much that she fell asleep in Sang Luo’s arms before they even reached home.

…

By evening, after discussing with the three brothers again, the arrangements were settled. However, Shen Jin would not manage the accounts; instead, Shen Yin would learn from Shen Ning and gradually take over the accounting.

As for Shen Jin:

“Your talent is in the field, following the business team. When you return home, help Xiao Yin with the accounts and gain experience. Elder sister-in-law will rely on you for help in the future.”

This statement excited the two brothers. Shen Jin had never dared to propose managing the accounts; he could only do so if elder sister-in-law was willing. If she wasn’t, he wouldn’t have brought it up himself.

Now, with elder sister-in-law saying they would be needed, the brothers couldn’t hide their delight.

“Sister-in-law, what about me?” Shen Tie chimed in.

Before Sang Luo could respond, Shen Yin gave him a nudge: “You first need to keep up with your lessons!”

The siblings in the room all laughed.