The next day, Ye Caiping, along with Ye Daquan and the Du and Wei families, continued to set up their stall.
While selling, he told his regular customers that he would no longer be setting up a stall there, and that if they wanted to drink spicy soup, they should go to Haoyun Inn or Yingfu Restaurant.
After selling just one bucket, another restaurant called Chunlai Restaurant came to order more, and they signed a contract right there at the stall.
Ye Caiping felt that was enough. After selling the last two buckets, she packed her things and left the county town.
Back home, she closed her bedroom door and began rapidly calculating with her abacus.
Small town: 3 barrels in the morning, 6 barrels at noon, and 4 barrels in the evening.
In the county town: 6 buckets in the morning, 6 buckets at noon, and 3 buckets in the evening.
There are 28 barrels in total.
After deducting costs and labor, one barrel can earn 300 coins, and one can make 8 taels and 4 qian a day.
The returns are decent.
She could actually distribute to more stores, but that would be too much trouble.
First, they needed to hire people; second, they didn't have a place to cook; third, they didn't have enough oxcarts; and fourth, she didn't have time to manage, as her older brothers weren't up to the task yet.
In addition, this business won't last long; once her workshop opens, there will basically be nothing left to do.
Let's leave it at that for now! Don't try to do too much at once; she should focus her energy on more important things.
...
After lunch, Ye Caiping held a meeting with her family.
“Starting tomorrow, there will be no more street vendors in the county. We've also signed contracts with three restaurants over there, and they'll be delivering goods from now on.”
"My eldest and second sisters-in-law are making spicy soup at home, while my eldest and second brothers and Bajin are delivering goods."
“I noticed that the amount delivered to the town and the county is about the same. From now on, Second Brother and Eight Jin will deliver 3 buckets to the town in the morning, 6 buckets at noon, and 4 buckets in the evening.”
“My elder brother used his own oxcart to deliver them to the county town, six buckets in the morning, six buckets at noon, and three buckets in the evening.”
"Everyone gets the same pay. Eldest brother, second brother, eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, and mother all get 30 coins a day. Eight catties (a unit of weight) has to provide an ox and a cart, so he gets 35 coins. That's how it is."
Grandma Ye said anxiously, "Well... now that the eldest son's family and the second son's family have started helping, I don't need to work anymore, and I don't need to be paid."
Ye Caiping smiled and said, "Not at all, Mother, you're the supervisor! I'll keep this money; it's my way of showing my respect to you and Father."
When Grandma Ye heard about the filial offering, she didn't refuse and smiled so much that her eyes narrowed into slits.
Ye Daquan said, "Erquan and Bajin can be delivered to the small town, but not to the county seat... Am I the only one?"
"I'm planning to hire another person... What do you think of Third Brother?" He was referring to his cousin, Ye Sanquan.
"Great job, San Quan is very strong." Ye Daquan was very satisfied.
I'll go find him in a bit.
Ye Caiping had considered naming him Ye Yong. But that would mean the eldest son's family would have an extra person receiving wages, which would be unfair to the second son's family.
Besides, although it's the off-season for farming now, there are still farm chores like watering and weeding to do, and someone has to do them.
Ye Daquan frowned, looking conflicted: "Um... little sister, can I not deliver the goods? Let Yong'er do the work! He's a grown man now, very strong and steady."
Ye Caiping nodded. After so many things, her older brother had become more and more mature and knew how to consider his son's feelings.
"Either is fine. It's just... should I pay you or Yong'er the wages?"
He looked at Ye Yong as he spoke.
Ye Yong was deeply moved that Ye Daquan would give him the job: "Just give the wages to my dad, or directly to my mom."
Ye Caiping nodded. They were from the same household, and Ye Yong didn't yet have the ability to make decisions. It was only right that the money be given to Daquan or the Du family.
Mrs. Du was very happy, and as she looked at Ye Daquan with a gratified expression, Ye Daquan suddenly blurted out:
"Phew, finally I have some free time. Now I can follow my little sister around every day and help her carry bricks."
Ye Caiping: "..."
Du: "..."
Ye Yong: "..."
The Ye family members: "..."
Du was so angry that she jumped up, wishing she could slap him hard!
Ye Erquan slammed his fist on the table in regret: "Big brother is too cunning! Damn it, how did that little rascal Ye Peng end up going to school!"
At that moment, he finally understood what it meant to have many children and many blessings.
The Ye family members: "..."
Ye Caiping coughed lightly: "It's getting late, I'm going to find Sanquan and Bajin."
Grandma Ye suddenly spoke up: "Wait, Caiping, sit down for a while. I have something to say."
Her voice was somewhat solemn, which stopped the noise in the room and made everyone look over.
Ye Erquan asked, "Mother, is there anything else?"
Old Mrs. Ye and Old Mr. Ye exchanged a glance. Old Mr. Ye nodded, and then Old Mrs. Ye said with a serious expression:
"Daquan, Erquan, eldest daughter-in-law, second daughter-in-law."
When Ye Daquan and his wife, and Ye Erquan and his wife were suddenly addressed so formally, they couldn't help but tense up and let out a sigh.
Even Ye Yong, Jin Hua, and Yin Hua became nervous.
Grandma Ye continued, "Now you all get paid. Each room gets 60 coins a day, which is 1.8 taels a month."
“Cai Ping gave each of you 30 taels a few days ago. Da Quan used to be able to afford to marry off his son for 30 taels, but now he can get it done for 15 taels, right?”
"Yes, Mother." Madam Du smiled.
Grandma Ye nodded: "Now that you've all settled down, your father and I are relieved. Your father and I have been thinking about this for a long time, and we still think it's time to divide the family property now!"
Everyone from the first and second wives' families stared at Old Madam Ye in shock.
Madam Wei, her face pale, said, "Mother, please be well..."
"That's precisely why we should separate the family when things are going well," Old Mrs. Ye said, looking at her. "A tree grows big and branches out. This family will eventually separate, sooner or later."
The people from the first and second wives were taken aback.
Ye Caiping nodded slightly. In the past, when families divided their property, disputes over land and houses could escalate into very ugly conflicts.
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