On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the Niu family welcomed a guest, none other than Master Mu.

Since April, Master Mu had ordered his men to carefully renovate and re-inspect the shops in Jiangzhou. Sure enough, they discovered something unusual.

His newly hired carpenters and painters pointed out the differences, noting that there were many spots of blood-stained paint on the corners of the painted surfaces.

Master Mu came specifically to deliver a gift.

With a wave of his hand, he saw six servants carrying in three large baskets of things. They opened them one after another, revealing a large box of jewelry, a large box of gold ingots, and a large box of gold leaves.

This is truly... a society of the super-rich. Niu Da and Xiao Fu Bao were somewhat confused, but expressed their shock and bewilderment.

Everyone says the Mu family has declined.

How did a company that was one of the wealthiest in the country manage to lose money for twelve years and still have this foundation? Where exactly did it go wrong?

"This is to show our respect to the little girl. If it weren't for her pointing out the key to the matter, our family would have lost more money in a year than this," said Master Mu.

Master Mu, with a rather familiar air, sat down in the main hall, closed his folding fan, and, appearing quite magnanimous, said:

"I, Mu, once dominated the business world in my youth, but I never imagined that I would be defeated by my former best friend. I was too trusting of others!"

After expressing his feelings, he added:

"Fortunately, I have a benefactor in my life to help me. How fortunate I am! Ever since my family dug out those witchcraft practices, the feng shui of my family in Jiangzhou has been improving day by day." "You must accept these offerings to the little fairy boy. If you don't, you'll be slapping me in the face!"

Niu Da had lived for over thirty years and this was the first time he had ever seen someone insist on giving money to his family. But since they had said so, Niu Da couldn't very well refuse.

Little Fu Bao felt embarrassed to refuse.

The father and daughter, "forced into a corner," nodded in unison:

"Then I shall respectfully accept your offer!"

"Oh my, brother, how many fine daughters have you had! Each one has grown up to be so clever and capable," Master Mu said again.

When someone praises his daughter, Niu Da is naturally happy, but hearing Master Mu's lingering words, Niu Da's whole body tenses up.

Could this guy also be after one of his daughters, trying to abduct her to be his daughter-in-law or something? Is his daughter that easy to kidnap?

Niu Da quickly said:

"Yes, daughters grow up and are no longer under their mother's or even my control! Speaking of which, my eldest daughter is almost of marriageable age, and I'm thinking of bringing one of her suitable men into the family."

These words shut down what Master Mu was about to say. Then he thought about it and realized it wasn't a big deal; his son was already twenty, seven years older than the young girl. He just chuckled awkwardly twice and said:

"I'd also like to buy some of your carp. I heard you also sell pickles, and I'd like to buy some of those too. You also raise grouper, but there aren't many. If you have more, you can sell me the grouper as well." "My family also owns a restaurant, but it's not in Niushan County, it's in the prefectural capital."

That means they won't compete with the Niu family's restaurant for business.

When Niu Da heard that Master Mu wanted to buy his family's carp and pickles, his eyes lit up, and he looked at Master Mu as if he were the God of Wealth.

Some of the carp from Niu Dajia's farm have been raised for two years, resulting in extremely plump and tender meat.

"How many kilograms of fish do you want?" Niu Da asked.

"Just send me a thousand catties of fish every month," said Master Mu.

"A thousand catties? That many?" Niu Da was somewhat incredulous. He had bought carp from some restaurants, but at most he would only buy about five hundred catties of carp a year.

"My restaurant is big. After the renovation and hiring a new head chef, the customer flow is constant, and business is booming!"

No wonder Master Mu was so happy.

“My son will be taking the imperial examination in August. The carp leaping over the dragon gate symbolizes good fortune, doesn’t it?” said Master Mu.

Niu Dadao:

"Your son will definitely win!"

Those who pass the prefectural examination become Juren (successful candidates in the provincial examination).

He passed the provincial examination again and became a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

Those who passed the imperial examination were divided into two classes: the first class and the second class.

The most enlightened aspect of the Great Zhou Dynasty was that it not only did not discriminate against merchants, but also allowed merchants and their children to participate in the imperial examinations, as well as allowed sons-in-law and their children to participate in the imperial examinations.

Master Mu's son is exceptionally talented in literature.

After Master Mu left, Xiao Fubao, like a little money-grubber, lay down in front of a box containing a large box of gold leaves, counting them one by one. After counting to ten thousand, she couldn't count them anymore.

Last night, I dreamt about the gold leaves to Zhaocai, saying, "Zhaocai, you're rich now! You can eat like this for many, many years to come!"

[If we get rich, he'll get what he wants and make a fortune quietly. He won't lose out. However, he might sell all his shops and silk stores in a few years.]

Why?

[His son became an official, so he won't be able to do business anymore, which is why he'll make a fortune in the next few years.]

"Oh! My second uncle and my older brother are also going to take the prefectural examination. Will they pass?"

[The essay will likely be accepted, but the Wealth Star is just a money tree, not a literary deity. It wouldn't know this!]

"Oh, okay!"

How could Zhao Cai know that Master Mu's son would become an official?

Little Fu Bao didn't think much of it.

The little guy received three large boxes of gold and jewelry, and he was so happy he was practically rolling on the floor when he went to sleep that night.

Xiao Heng couldn't help but gently flick Xiao Fubao's forehead, saying affectionately:

"Turns out I was a little money-grubber when I was a kid!"

The Niu family's newly built ten rooms have been completed. The two or three people who used to live together now have to separate.

Only Xiao Fubao and Niu Baolan were arranged to sleep in the same room because they were too young and the family did not have enough servants to take care of them.

The bed was quite large, and there was another room on the outer layer where Xiang'er and Cuizhu would take turns keeping watch at night. Anyway, Xiao Fubao wouldn't sleep with Xiao Heng anymore. Besides, Xiao Heng would be fifteen after the New Year, which was the age in the Great Zhou Dynasty to get married.

Sometimes, the two of them would sleep with Chen Yu and Niu Da.

The other girls, apart from the visiting relatives, each had their own room.

Xiao Fubao was rather carefree; she wasn't sad at all about sleeping separately from Xiao Heng. Niu Baolan was also carefree; she wasn't sad at all about sleeping separately from Niu Cuihua.

The two carefree kids lived their lives just like that.

In May, on the Dragon Boat Festival, Niu Baozhu turned six. Old Master Zhuo brought Zhuo Ming to the Niu family to play for a few days. He also said that he would go to the prefectural examination with Niu Yong and Xiao Heng.

Xiao Fubao was a little surprised. He was fifty-four years old this year, and he was still thinking about taking the imperial examination to become a scholar? Old Master Zhuo had been trying to become a scholar for decades, and had been ridiculed by a few unkind people for half his life. Scholars spend their whole lives hoping to make a name for themselves and finally be able to hold their heads high.

You'll learn as long as you live, and you'll take exams as long as you live.