Isn't it ridiculous to extract the raw materials for silk from plants?

But the second wife's grand gesture today was a great show of respect for him, and it was clear that they were there for him. He did have some money, so it would be unreasonable not to help the poor second wife.

Thinking of this, Grandpa Gao smiled and said to Shen Qing, "I'm very pleased with your drive. I'm willing to do business with you, but you have to tell me first how you want to do it."

Taking the opportunity, Uncle Gao fanned the flames: "A woman, she can't even read a single word! She's good at having children at home, but what business is she going to do?"

Shen Qing ignored him and calmly looked at Grandpa Gao: "I went to Shanghai a few days ago and met some foreign businessmen. I showed them the Gao family's silk, but unfortunately they thought the price was a bit high, so the deal fell through. But the relationship was established. In the future, when our rayon is produced, we can export it to Europe through them, and the profits will be very considerable."

Grandpa Gao was a little surprised and asked, "How did you get to know these foreigners?"

Shen Qing coughed lightly and awkwardly touched his nose: "I have a fellow townsman who studied abroad and is now a comprador in Shanghai."

Grandpa Gao let out a long "Oh," and said thoughtfully, "That is indeed a method."

He turned and sat down, seemingly lost in thought, then suddenly stood up and asked Shen Qing, "What's your fellow villager's name?"

Shen Qing: "..."

How could she not see that Grandpa Gao also had his eye on the relationship with the foreign merchant?

However, she couldn't reveal Cheng Zhiwen's name; she didn't want the Gao family to know that the original owner of this body had been engaged to Cheng Zhiwen.

"Boss Chen!" Shen Qing exclaimed quickly, "Everyone in the underworld calls him Boss Chen!"

Grandpa Gao nodded in belief: "So it's Boss Chen."

Shen Qing seized the opportunity and said, "So you agree to do business with me?"

Grandpa Gao snapped out of his daze, looked at everyone, and, with the air of a patriarch, called out, "In that case, I'll take the lead and invest ten thousand taels of silver in my niece-in-law's business."

Shen Qing swallowed hard.

Ten thousand taels isn't enough...

Fortunately, Grandpa Gao immediately added, "Anyone willing to join, raise your hand! We need 50,000 taels of silver. Let's see if we can gather enough for five families! It'll help my second brother too!"

"What if we lose money?"

"That's right! Nobody's money comes from thin air; it's all hard-earned! We can't afford to lose it!"

"She's an illiterate woman, what kind of business can she possibly do! She'll never succeed!"

Shen Qing had anticipated this situation.

She didn't say anything, but waited quietly until they had all finished speaking before uttering three words: "Stock-to-bond conversion!"

Everyone was stunned.

I've never heard of that word before.

Shen Qing raised his right index finger and said, "Ten shares in total, ten thousand taels per share! If you invest ten thousand taels in me today, you will receive ten percent of the profits from the artificial silk in the future! If we earn five hundred thousand taels, you can take fifty thousand taels of profit per share!"

The crowd chuckled and said, "Whether we can even earn back the 50,000 taels is a question, let alone hope to earn 500,000 taels."

Shen Qing closed his eyes, his heart filled with immense frustration, but he could only force himself to endure it: "Wang's Silk Shop has been making hundreds of thousands of taels of silver in less than half a year since it switched to making foreign cloth. I believe that artificial silk can also do so!"

"If the business fails two years from now, the 10,000 taels you invested today will become my debt. I will repay you the 10,000 taels with interest at a monthly rate of 5%. This is called equity-to-debt conversion."

The crowd understood and some were tempted.

If you save money, you'll receive dividends; if you lose money, you'll still get some interest.

It's worth it.

This deal was worth it!

They all expressed their willingness to invest 10,000 taels of silver in Shen Qing.

...

After the birthday banquet ended, Shen Qing saw off the Gao family relatives and then immediately returned to his room to draft an agreement.

She was afraid that these people would change their minds after waking up and refuse to hand over the money, so she had to draft their investment agreements overnight and go door-to-door to exchange them for banknotes first thing in the morning.

Chunju also stayed awake, waiting beside Shen Qing for her to do as she pleased.

"Young Madam, why did you agree to repay them even if the business failed? Wasn't that money their capital for the business partnership?"

Since it's a partnership, there's no reason to have to pay back the principal even if you lose money.

This is a principle that even an uneducated maid like Chunju understands.

Shen Qing sighed, his gaze fixed on the contents of the document: "I didn't want to make this agreement, but they simply can't come up with the money otherwise. I really have nowhere else to raise funds, so I have no choice but to take this gamble."

She managed to raise 50,000 taels, but she couldn't be happy; instead, she felt even more pressured.

If the rayon project fails, she will owe Zhao Yuanwai 100,000 taels, plus an additional 50,000 taels to Gao's family.

With tens of thousands of taels of silver, we'll really have to sell the house then.

If she doesn't resort to this desperate measure, she definitely won't be able to raise a single penny.

It's risky, but we have no choice but to take the gamble!

As they were talking, Shen Qing suddenly thought of the sneaky Third Master Gao, put down his brush, placed it on the brush holder, and turned to look at Chunju: "By the way, how long did Third Master Gao linger there after I left?"

Chunju recalled, "He knocked on every single brick of that wall, and then moved on to another wall."

Shen Qing frowned: "Why are you knocking on those bricks? Is there some kind of hidden mechanism or secret passage?"

Chunju shook her head: "I don't know either. How about I ask the other maids and servants tomorrow?"

Shen Qing felt that something was strange about this.

The Gao family's house was just an ordinary northern Jiangsu-style courtyard house, with brown tiles and gray walls, three courtyards, two small pavilions in each courtyard, and about ten rooms.

Although it's not small, it's not exactly a stunning mansion.

That Master Zhao and his cronies were willing to bribe the county magistrate just to seize this house. And there was also Old Man Gao, who was secretly plotting to take over the house.

Could there be some hidden secret in this house?

Thinking of this, Shen Qing instructed Chunju: "Don't tell anyone about this matter concerning Third Master Gao, and don't inquire about it. Let me observe further."

Chunju let out a soft "Yes," and obediently retreated behind her master.

Shen Qing continued to draft the agreement.

Suddenly remembering something, he put down his pen, got up, and walked towards the door.

She went to the kitchen, asked for a round steamed cake, and asked Chunju to find a thin candle to stick on the cake. Then she carried it to Gao Liushi's room.

Madam Gao was still sitting by the headboard. Perhaps because of the lively birthday celebration she had attended today, her complexion looked better.

Shen Qing carried the steamed cake to her and said softly, "Grandma, we have a custom in our hometown: on the day of your birthday, make a wish in your heart, then blow out this candle, and your wish will come true."

That evening, Gao Liu did not expose her and allowed her to borrow money from Gao's relatives. She was grateful for Gao's support and her attitude towards her improved.

Looking at the steamed cake, Gao Liu sighed, "My wish? I want my son to come back to life, is that possible?"