Agreed

 

Five thousand taels to buy out and the first year’s profit at a 10% share. It was no small sum, and considering Jing Yi’s current status, he couldn’t agree easily.

 

“Xiao Yi, don’t worry, we both know the value of this soap business. Master knows you have great talent. We only hope for pleasant cooperation in the future. If there’s any good trade or bright idea, think of the Huang family first, think of your big brother Huang!” Elder brother Huang said, patting Jing Yi’s shoulder affectionately.

 

“Of course, Big Brother Huang. We have an unbreakable bond, and Huang Second Brother has shown me great kindness. Without his guidance in town back then, I would certainly have not been here,” Jing Yi replied.

 

Hearing this, shopkeeper Huang sighed with regret. Ah, what a shame! What a shame. How did we just meet now? If we’d met earlier, I’d have married my daughter to Brother Jing here. He’s talented and, I heard, very considerate to his wife.

 

He pondered for a moment. After all, having multiple wives and concubines wasn’t unusual. He didn’t ask for much—just a regular wife would do.

 

“Xiao Yi, Big Brother has a young daughter, in her prime…” As soon as Jing Yi heard this, he sensed that the conversation had taken an odd turn. It was a dangerous topic, so he quickly intervened.

 

“Big Brother Huang! I’ve already promised my husband a lifelong commitment. You can’t make me break my word! Your daughter is youthful and beautiful. She naturally deserves a much more outstanding young talent than I am.”

 

“A lifelong commitment… Sigh! Alright, my little girl isn’t destined for it,” Elder brother Huang felt increasingly that Jing Yi was a high-quality son-in-law, but since Jing Yi had spoken, he wouldn’t insist.

 

“Look at you, with a father like you, your daughter’s good fortune is yet to come,” Jing Yi said, wiping his brow, grateful that Chuxia wouldn’t learn of this discussion.

 

After that, they signed the contract. They discussed the soap and fragrant soap production on Jing Yi’s side, with the Huang family’s banner leading in the local Anchang County market, and Huang Second Brother overseeing and acting as the “leader.”

 

The main battleground for the Huang family was in the capital and the vicinity of Qingzhou, where significant profits could be made. The next step would be to expand toward prosperous regions like Jiangnan or Liangzhe, where they could command higher prices. So, for the next three to five years, the two businesses would not interfere with each other.

 

Jing Yi provided the prepared soap-making method to shopkeeper Huang, exchanging money on the spot.

 

In fact, the method wasn’t complicated, but Jing Yi was thorough and responsible. In addition to the soap recipe, he wrote various recipes for fragrant soaps and instructions on the soap-making process, covering six pages.

 

After taking the papers, shopkeeper Huang, out of habit, read them carefully and could feel the effort Jing Yi had put in. Especially when Jing Yi discussed various modern marketing methods like celebrity endorsements, event marketing, pamphlets, and even lottery campaigns, Elder Brother Huang was astonished.

 

Despite being an experienced businessman, he was amazed by the modern examples adapted by Jing Yi and almost wanted to take Jing Yi with him to build a business empire.

 

However, Second Brother Huang poured a bucket of cold water on the idea. “Hey, don’t you get it? Brother Jing and I are the same; we both love a carefree life. You don’t understand, huh?”

 

Huang’s Second Brother propped his legs up, shaking his head playfully.

 

“Put your legs down and sit properly!” Elder Brother Huang thought he could never change his ways.

 

“Alright, Big Brother,” Huang’s Second Brother obediently put his legs down.

 

Jing Yi couldn’t help but chuckle. He never expected that the usually reliable Huang Second Brother was quite straightforward.

 

With the major deal settled, Jing Yi breathed a sigh of relief. His capital had grown, and establishing a connection with the Huang family in Qingzhou gave him peace of mind.

 

After the banquet, he returned home happily with five thousand taels.

 

Hey, it’s time to show off to Chuxia!

 

It was December again, and this year marked Chuxia’s first New Year since his marriage to the Jing family. It was sure to be celebrated with great care.

 

Furthermore, with the five thousand taels as a foundation, Jing Yi thought about finding some good food and fun activities for the whole family during the upcoming Spring Festival.

 

On the 23rd day of the twelfth month, it’s time for making sticky sugar candy.

 

The 23rd day of the twelfth month is known as “Xiao Nian” or “Little New Year,” and it’s also the day to worship the Kitchen God. On this day, every household sincerely worships the Kitchen God by offering sweet candy, hoping that he’ll speak well of their family in the heavenly court.

 

The Jing family was no exception. With shopkeepers and servers managing both their shops, the members of the Jing family weren’t confined to the shops every day anymore.

 

Early in the morning on this day, the Jing family got busy. Jing’s father, Jing Yi, and the whole family, including the newly hired servants, prepared offerings for the Kitchen God. Once the ceremony concluded successfully, they distributed sweets and snacks to the children, symbolizing good fortune.

 

After the Little New Year, the festive atmosphere in the town and village began to intensify. However, Jing Yi was still busy finishing some year-end work for the current year.

 

First, regarding Master Liao’s projects, they agreed to finish work on the 28th day of the lunar calendar for the Chinese New Year and start working again on the 10th day of the first lunar month. The laborers in the town and the village had no objections. Working a few extra days during the busy New Year season meant more income, which was better for a prosperous year.

 

Even though it was challenging to work during the winter when the ground was frozen, Jing Yi’s extra earnings from this period’s laborer wages were not insignificant compared to the soap business.

 

For Master Liao’s projects, Jing Yi also arranged for an additional task. He planned to build an east-facing courtyard next to their current house in the spring. The new courtyard would be integrated with the current Jing residence by adding a couple more doors, creating a larger compound.

 

As for the small eateries, Jing Yi discussed the holiday schedule with both the store managers. They decided that the shops would be closed from the 29th day of the twelfth month to the 5th day of the first lunar month. However, from the 25th day of the twelfth month to the 15th day of the first lunar month, they would have reduced business hours. The shops would open at 10 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. each day.

 

Jing Yi also announced that there would be a gathering and year-end bonus distribution on the 29th day of the twelfth month. Employees from both shops were overjoyed. They didn’t fully understand what a “gathering” meant, but they certainly understood the idea of receiving a year-end bonus. Jing’s boss had always been generous, and now they were even more motivated to work!

 

The hot pot restaurant had only been opened at the beginning of the year, and the Jing family had never hosted a year-end celebration before. This year, with more employees, Jing Yi was keen on providing the expected benefits.

 

With all the work arrangements in place these days, Jing Yi finally dedicated himself to celebrating the Chinese New Year with Chuxia and the rest of the family.

 

As a boss, when you earn money, you should enjoy life. If you only focus on making money, being a boss wouldn’t be meaningful.

 

On the 26th day of the twelfth month, it’s time to slaughter pigs for New Year’s meat.

 

Starting from this day, people start preparing for the upcoming New Year, and the festive atmosphere becomes increasingly apparent.

 

Families that pay attention to traditions on this day invite relatives and friends over to enjoy a meal featuring pork from a freshly slaughtered pig. There’s a vibrant atmosphere as they cook a pot of delicious pork. Even if someone isn’t missing meals, the sight and smell of the simmering pork can make anyone salivate.

 

People who were familiar with Jing Yi began to invite him to their homes to enjoy pork dishes on the 26th day of the twelfth month. Eventually, as more people wanted to invite him, it didn’t seem practical to go to each one, so Jing Yi decided to invite everyone to the Jing’s family home. This way, they could all celebrate together and enjoy the festivities before the New Year.

 

To prepare for this event, Jing Yi had instructed steward Tong to buy two live pigs from a neighboring village. These pigs were quite large and well-fed, each weighing over two hundred jin (about 220 pounds).

 

He had arranged for the village butcher to come and slaughter the pigs on the 26th day of the twelfth month. Traditionally, the 26th day is when the pigs are slaughtered, but usually, the butcher doesn’t leave the village. However, because Jing Yi was a valuable customer and a prominent figure in the nearby villages, the butcher made an exception and agreed to come.

 

“Kill the pig! Kill the pig!” the children in the village spread the word.

 

In previous years, the well-off families in the village would typically buy a pig’s trotter or, at best, purchase a couple of pounds of pork from the large market. This was already considered quite good. Those who raised pigs in their households would sell the whole pig to the butcher to get a better price.

 

Therefore, the children in the village rarely witnessed pig slaughters, and this time, they weren’t afraid. Even the boys and girls, not to mention the little kids, joined together to head to the Jing family’s grand house. They all knew that the Jing family was kind and treated the children well. Watching the excitement, they certainly wouldn’t be scolded or told to leave.

 

The pig slaughter took place in an open space to the east of the Jing family’s residence. It was crowded with people. They had only just arrived, but others around them were already chatting excitedly.

 

“Brother Jing Rong, your family got two New Year pigs! So generous!”

 

“These pigs are so fat! You really know how to pick them. Just looking at these live pigs makes my mouth water.”

 

“Haha, you glutton!”

 

“Aunt Caiyun, you can’t possibly finish these two pigs by yourselves! How about selling one? I was planning to go to the big market, but now I might not need to.”

 

“That’s right, that’s right! Sell one! I was too lazy to go to the big market.”

 

“Slaughter the pig! Slaughter the pig! Uncle Jing, can we start now?”

 

“Haha, these kids are more eager than us!”

 

The discussions varied, and Jing’s father and mother didn’t know whose words to respond to first.

 

Eventually, Jing’s father noticed the group of children and chuckled, saying, “Let’s be clear about this: slaughtering a pig isn’t something fun. In a little while, the knives will go in white, and they’ll come out red. It’ll be a gory sight, so gers and girls, don’t linger here to watch the excitement. Boys under seven years old should go home too. It’s not suitable for you.”

 

It was the big New Year, and scaring the children wasn’t a good idea.

 

“It’s not scary! It’s not scary! I’ve never seen a pig being slaughtered before!”

 

“Uncle Rong, if we’re scared. We’ll close our eyes.”

 

“Grandpa Rong, I’ll just watch a little.”

 

The children appealed to Jing Father with a mix of coyness and stubbornness. Seeing Jing Father’s difficult expression, he was about to give in, but Jing Yi quickly took over.

 

“No, this pig slaughtering isn’t something fun. Here’s what we’ll do. Those kids who were just mentioned, come to my house and stay there. You’ll still be able to hear the sounds of the pig being slaughtered, so just listen to the noises.”

 

As always, children read faces well. Once they saw Jing Yi’s stern expression and heard his instructions, they reluctantly made their way to the Jing household. Even Xiao Shu wasn’t an exception. Under the watchful gaze of her big brother, she slowly returned home.

 

“Ah Yi, I won’t watch either. I’ll go back and get some candies and snacks for these little ones. Their mouths are pouting to the heavens.” Chuxia smiled, shook his head, and after a brief chat with Jing Yi, went back inside.

 

Although he hadn’t seen a pig being slaughtered, he had witnessed the slaughter of chickens, and he really didn’t want to witness this gory scene.

 

“Brother Chen, it’s about time. Let’s get started. Thanks for your hard work!” Jing Yi, seeing Chuxia return to the courtyard, signaled to the butcher that they could begin.