Family-oriented.

After finishing his meal, Gu Junshan wiped his mouth with a clean white handkerchief and casually tossed it onto the dining table.

"Okay, just say what's on your mind."

The atmosphere became slightly tense.

Young Master Gu shrank his neck and looked at the third brother.

Young Master Gu smiled.

This second brother, when he should have had the courage, actually backed down.

She stood up and said calmly, "Father, Mei Liulang is not lying. Our family's cloth is indeed very popular in the prefectural city."

With his head down, he took the notebook from his hand and handed it over with both hands.

Gu Junshan was slightly taken aback.

Take it and gently peel it off.

Examine closely the line of Chinese characters written in a strange black pen.

“Da Chuan Cloth Shop, Wang's Cloth Shop...48 people, 36 people, etc., as well as Qianyun Yarn, Huanhua Brocade, etc.”

After carefully calculating, his expression became even more serious.

“I know what you mean. The Gu family’s cloth shop sells in the city and rents out storefronts. According to the figures you collected from the cloth shop, the Gu family can indeed make a lot of money.”

However, the Gu family has strict rules that prohibit them from operating outside the town. Even selling in the county town was a bold step taken by your grandfather.

Fortunately, the result was not bad.

While one can earn more in the prefectural city, the malicious competition from peers, the high rent for storefronts, and the anxiety of arriving in an unfamiliar place make it far from the stability that a few hundred taels more per month can provide.

What's needed for a family is a steady, long-term commitment, not a sudden, explosive growth.

At this point, Gu Junshan stood up.

"father!"

It was rare for Young Master Gu to show such backbone.

"Father, you're so old-fashioned. The Gu family has a bright future ahead of us, and the opportunity to become the town's top merchants is right in front of us. Why are you hesitating?"

"How dare you, Shi Ming, speak to your father like that!"

The second wife, who had been quietly watching without saying a word, was scolded.

Gu San Shao said in a hoarse voice, "Father, is it really not allowed?"

"That's impossible. The Gu family's foundation is in Daxing Town, and they've established themselves in Lushang County. Don't even think about the prefectural city; that's too reckless!"

The First Madam, who had been sitting upright, said softly, "Second Brother, Third Brother, listen to your father. You're all grown up now. You should learn to curb your unrealistic ideas and stop making your father angry."

Gu Si Shao gently approached Gu Junshan and took his hand with his chubby little hand.

"Father, don't be angry. Second Brother and Third Brother didn't mean it."

Gu Junshan's expression softened slightly, and he took the other person's small hand and left.

"If only all my family members could be as obedient as Silang..."

Upon entering the study, Gu Junshan was restless.

“Uncle Ru, when you go to Yingzhou Prefecture to check these cloth shops, I have a feeling that there is a force behind the scenes pushing our Gu family.”

“Master, Mei Liulang is indeed a wealthy merchant family in the Songjiang area, but it is only a declining branch.”

"I knew it would be like this."

Gu Junshan chuckled.

"Also, take over and seal up the cash in the cloth shop's accounts immediately to prevent those two scoundrels from secretly misappropriating the cash to rent shops."

Also, someone needs to keep an eye on the flow of cloth in and out of the accounting department.

"yes."

...

Wei Rui Xuan, the second wife's courtyard.

"Mother, I think the Gu family will eventually leave us nowhere to go."

Young Master Gu sighed softly.

Young Master Gu pursed his lips, his tone calm.

"It's normal that Father doesn't want to listen to us; Father has always been a steady and reliable person!"

"I'm unwilling to take big risks, and besides, Yingzhou Prefecture is indeed a major city; who can predict the future of business?"

The second wife held the white cat in her arms and stroked its head.

Meow.

"I don't understand business matters, but I'm just asking you, is it really profitable to open a cloth shop in the prefectural city?"

"Yes, my third brother and I both checked it out. It's very profitable, what a pity."

He slumped back in his chair, looking utterly exhausted.

Young Master Gu rubbed his temples.

"Right now, we need to confirm whether Mei Liulang is from a powerful family in the south. Otherwise, it's strange that someone would suddenly appear out of nowhere..."

As they were talking, Steward He knocked on the door and whispered the information he had gathered to Young Master Gu.

"What is it, Third Brother?"

Young Master Gu: "News from the south indicates that the Sixth Young Master of the Mei family is indeed a powerful clan in the Songjiang Prefecture area. However, he is only from a remote branch of the Mei family."

Young Master Gu scoffed, "He's also a pretentious person. Otherwise, a wealthy family like his wouldn't be unable to pay the remaining balance of a few hundred taels, yet he acts like a rich and powerful person who doesn't care about money in town."

How ironic!

The second wife's rosy lips moved slightly as she softly said, "Second son, third son, you've both grown up. If you want something, strive for it yourself. Don't expect to rely on others to give you everything."

Once you achieve something, you will naturally gain recognition from others.

To gain respect due to a lack of social standing, one must take a completely different path.

But there's one condition: one of you must obey your father and faithfully guard the cloth shop.

Then the second wife got up, took out a small box from under the bed, opened it, took out a silver note and said indifferently, "I can't help you much in business, this is some private money that I've saved up."

He took out a stack of silver notes, about five or six hundred taels.

"Thank you, Mother!"

Young Master Gu frowned slightly and came out of the room.

"Third brother, what does Mother mean?"

Third Young Master Gu said calmly, "Previously, Mother spoke of establishing a new Gu family. I wonder if Second Brother can truly grasp that?"

Young Master Gu hesitated slightly.

"Understood. Father must have locked up the money in the accounting office very tightly, and the storeroom is probably being watched as well."

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!