Chen Xiaomi glanced at the ledger in her hand. Sales at Linzhen Trading Company had been rather slow recently, while sales in Liuzhen were on the rise, with bags selling very well.
"Tomorrow, I'll go with you to Liuzhen to take a look."
Lu Lin glanced at Chen Xiaomi and said, "I'll go. You stay home. There are many people coming to deliver goods tomorrow."
Chen Xiaomi rolled her eyes and said, "I'm not a cripple."
Lu Lin smiled and said, "Of course I know you're not a cripple. If someone in the shop causes trouble, you could take on three of them. But it's hot right now." The roads in this era aren't like those in my previous life, full of potholes. What if you get heatstroke from being out in the sun?
Chen Xiaomi nodded and said, "You can never earn all the money in the world. If Xiao Cai isn't used to life in Liuzhen, bring her back with you."
“I know that if he can’t adapt, I’ll just find another manager.”
However, it's best to use your own people for the position of manager; otherwise, you might get deceived without even realizing it.
Chen Xiaocai pressed the money she had earned under her pillow, looking slightly worried.
During the day, he sold about ten bags and earned more than three taels of silver. Yesterday, he earned another four taels, and the day before yesterday... Chen Xiaocai has accumulated more than twenty taels of silver. Lu Lin has not come for several days, so he can only keep the silver for the time being.
While excited by the large sum of silver, Chen Xiaocai couldn't help but feel a little worried, fearing that he might be robbed at any moment. Chen Xiaocai was also slightly looking forward to Lu Lin's arrival. If Lu Lin came, he could hand over the silver to him and no longer live in fear.
Chen Xiaocai lay in bed, vaguely missing her older brother.
Chen Xiaocai waited for several days before Lu Lin finally arrived.
"Brother Lin, you've finally arrived." Chen Xiaocai handed the silver from her purse to Lu Lin and breathed a long sigh of relief. "It feels uneasy to carry so much silver around."
Looking at Chen Xiaocai's relieved expression, Lu Lin thought, "This Xiaocai is too short-sighted. He thinks that just over twenty taels of silver is a huge sum of money."
While the poor in this world are extremely poor, it is quite possible for some wealthy people to spend a whole day in a brothel and spend tens of taels of silver.
"The returns are pretty good!"
Chen Xiaocai nodded and said, "Yes, sometimes a lot of people come, but fewer people have come these past few days. I think there seem to be more wealthy people in this town."
Lu Lin nodded and said, "Liuzhen looks more prosperous."
"Brother Lin, how long are you staying this time?" Chen Xiaocai had mixed feelings about Lu Lin, a mixture of admiration and distance. However, after not seeing a relative for so long, seeing Lu Lin again made Chen Xiaocai feel a sense of warmth.
Lu Lin glanced at the sky and said, "It's getting late today, we'll have to stay until tomorrow before we leave."
Chen Xiaocai was secretly pleased to hear Lu Lin's words.
"Brother Lin, how are Xiaomai and Achi?"
Lu Lin raised an eyebrow. Chen Xiaocai's question seemed unintentional, but it seemed as if she had mustered up the courage to ask it. Xiaocai asked about her brother's situation, which was fine, but asking about Chen Chi's recent situation was a bit suspicious. After all, Chen Chi was a bisexual.
Previously, Chen Xiaocai and Shen Chi often played together, and there seemed to be some dubious rumors circulating about them, even though they were still such tiny children.
"Wheat is doing well, but I miss you a little, and I even suspect that I sold you out."
Chen Xiaocai scratched his head and said helplessly, "Xiaomai, he just overthinks things." Chen Xiaocai's expression softened a bit when he mentioned Xiaomai.
"As for Chen Chi, I haven't paid much attention. This kid seems a bit quiet. He stays in the room all day weaving nets. If Xiaomai doesn't ask him to play, he won't take the initiative to go and play with others."
"Oh, okay." Chen Xiaocai nodded.
Looking at Chen Xiaolai's expression, Lu Lin thought to himself: Chen Xiaocai seems to be interested. Chen Chi is not bad either, but he seems a bit too young. However, there are many arranged marriages for children here. If it is really interesting, we can arrange it as soon as possible.
“Your older brother is a little worried about you. If you feel tired, you can quit.”
Chen Xiaocai disagreed, saying, "I'm not the kind of person who gives up halfway." Although he was a little unsure at the beginning, he had persevered these past few days. "Besides, this amount of work is nothing to me."
Lu Lin looked at Chen Xiaocai with some satisfaction, thinking to himself: Potential is indeed brought out by pressure. When Chen Xiaocai first arrived, she seemed a little hesitant, but after a few days here, she seems to have become much more confident.
"Brother Lin, can we really set a price for that backpack arbitrarily?" Chen Xiaocai asked.
Lu Lin glanced at Chen Xiaocai and said, "As long as it's within a reasonable range, it's fine." There's a standard price for each backpack depending on its quality and workmanship; prices fluctuate around that, and discounts are allowed during special seasons. "Is there a problem?"
Chen Xiaocai said somewhat awkwardly, "It was too chaotic the past two days. It seems that two mid-grade bags were sold as low-grade bags. I wonder if the big boss will be angry!"
Lu Lin smiled and said, "Don't worry too much, just be careful next time." Lu Lin thought to himself: Sure enough, there were still mistakes. But, Xiao Cai is so young, it would be strange if he didn't make any.
Chen Xiaocai breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good."
“However, my wages will be deducted,” Lu Lin said.
Chen Xiaocai asked with some concern, "Will it all be removed?"
“No, not at all,” Lu Lin said.
Chen Xiaocai nodded and said, "That's good."
Qin Yi waited outside until Lu Lin and Chen Xiaocai finished talking before approaching them.
"Brother Lin."
Lu Lin was taken aback when he heard Qin Yi address him, and said, "Uncle Qin, you're making me feel uncomfortable." Qin Yi was much older than him, and besides, Qin Yi's son also called him Brother Lin. What was going on with father and son both calling him Brother Lin? "Please just call me Ah Lin!"
Qin Yi smiled awkwardly. He had initially thought it was a bit inappropriate for Lu Lin to entrust such a large store to Chen Xiaocai. However, after watching Chen Xiaocai use the abacus and do the accounting every day, handling things in an orderly manner, he was impressed by Chen Xiaocai and convinced that although she was young, she would definitely be successful in the future.
If Chen Xiaocai is this capable, Lu Lin must be even more so. Although Lu Lin is younger, Qin Yi doesn't dare to underestimate him at all. "Ah Lin, is my son alright?"
"That's good. Qin Ming's splint should be removed soon, and he should be jumping around again. Qin Lang is also good; that kid is strong and seems like he'll amount to something," Lu Lin said.
Hearing Lu Lin praise his son like that, Qin Yi blushed a little. "Alang is just a simpleton, far inferior to Xiaocai."
Lu Lin smiled and said, "Not at all."
Lu Lin unloaded the goods in Liuzhen, stayed for a day, and then left.
Lu Lin opened the package and said, "Here, Xiao Cai bought you some pastries."
Chen Xiaomi said with surprise, "Xiao Cai bought it."
Lu Lin nodded and said, "Yes, that kid is minding the shop. I promised him five percent of the shop's commission, so he's getting a pretty high wage now."
Chen Xiaomi felt a sense of pride in her younger brother's thoughtfulness.
“He not only brought things for you and Xiaocai, but also asked me to bring one for Chenchi. I think the one for Chenchi is better than the one for you. This kid is so young, yet he has so many tricks up his sleeve.” Lu Lin shook his head, looking sighing.
"Sinking Pond!" Little Cai seems to really like sinking ponds.
Lu Lin raised an eyebrow. At Chen Xiaocai's age, it's easy for her to develop feelings for people her own age.
The village girls seemed to dislike Xiao Cai. The original owner seemed to have encountered Chen Xiao Cai a few times. Once, when Xiao Cai went to the lake to wash clothes, she was mocked by the village girls.
Lu Lin thought to himself: Shen Chi is not bad. She doesn't seem like a spoiled child. If I were to marry her, she wouldn't be a troublemaker.
It's hard work for Chen Xiaocai to manage the business all by herself. Chen Chi is good at arithmetic and can help keep an eye on things.
Previously, when Lu Lin sent Chen Xiaocai to Liuzhen, he had considered whether to send Chen Chi as well.
However, Shen Chi is a twin, and Granny Shen might not necessarily let her go.
Liuzhen is different from here. In short, it's a place where no one knows the area. Xiao Cai and Qin Lang both live in the back hall, which only has one room. It's always a bit inconvenient for the man and Xiao Shuang'er to share a room.
Chen Xiaomi blinked and said, "Let's take another look. They're still young."
Lu Lin nodded and said, "Yes!" They're still two little devils. In the old days, if they were dating at this age, they would definitely get a severe scolding from teachers and parents.
"Achi, where did these pastries come from? They must be worth a lot of money. Although Lu Lin is generous, we shouldn't take advantage of him so easily," Granny Chen scolded.
Chen Chi said somewhat awkwardly, "Brother Lin gave it to me, saying it was a side dish, a specialty of Liuzhen."
Shen Chi had declined the offer without merit, but Lu Lin said that if he didn't accept it, he would be too ashamed to face Xiao Cai, so he had no choice but to accept it.
Upon hearing Shen Chi's words, Granny Shen hesitated for a moment before saying, "Xiao Cai, that boy, hasn't been back for quite some time."
Chen Chi nodded and said, "Brother Lin said that Xiao Cai is doing very well in Liuzhen, but he is short-handed there and is quite busy, so he can't get away for the time being."
Grandma Shen asked in surprise, "Xiao Cai, where did he get the money from Lu Lin?"
Chen Chi shook his head and said, "It's his wages. He's a manager now, and he earns a little over one tael of silver a month."
Grandma Shen was stunned when she heard about the salary. "Xiao Cai is really promising! But he's so young, leaving his hometown like this, it must be tough for him!"
Chen Chi nodded and said, "Yes!" Xiao Cai is still young, but she was assigned to a neighboring town.
"But to be honest, it's all thanks to Xiao Cai. Business in Liuzhen must be pretty good, so there's been a lot more work lately," Granny Shen said with a sigh.
Grandma Shen has come to appreciate the benefits of working in the shop. If she does a good job, she gets a bonus. In a month, she can earn more than one tael of silver, and her room and board are all provided.
There are many embroiderers working in the shop. The more work they do, the more they can earn. When business is bad, everyone is worried that the owner will fire them. Now that business is picking up, the female workers in the shop can have work. If the bags don't sell, then everyone will have to stay at home.
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