Yang Wenqing picked up the teacup before him and took a small sip, easing the fatigue from having just dealt with official business. A gentle smile on his face, he started to chat. "Dad, how has everything been at home? Is Mom doing okay?"
Seeing his son ask about family matters, Yang Jianmu quickly replied, "Everything’s fine, just fine! Your mom’s as healthy as ever. She just talks about you all the time. The clan all pitched in for the spring planting, so we finished up early. The weather’s been perfect this year, so it looks like we’ll have a good harvest."
Third Elder Yang Dehou stroked his beard and added, "That’s right. Here in the Yang Family Village, we live off the land. As long as the heavens provide, we can always get by. You’re the one who has it truly tough, being out there on your own. We might not understand the work at the bureau, but we know it isn’t easy."
After a few pleasantries, the atmosphere grew more relaxed. But Yang Jianmu, being a more direct man and unable to stop thinking about the big business his son had mentioned in his letter, couldn’t help but speak up. "Wenqing, that... that company you talked about in your letter. What’s the plan, exactly? I’ve been completely in the dark."
Hearing this, Yang Dehou tapped his cane lightly on the ground and chided with a laugh, "You’re less composed than your own son. Wenqing just sat down and has barely had two sips of his tea."
With that, he too turned to Yang Wenqing, a shrewd light glinting in his cloudy eyes. "This business certainly weighs on the mind. Wenqing, since you called us here, you must have a well-developed plan. Why don’t you lay it out, so this Third Grand-uncle of yours can get a clear picture."
Yang Wenqing set down his teacup. He looked calmly at the Third Elder and his father and got straight to the point. "Third Grand-uncle, Dad, it’s quite simple. In essence, this trading company is a way for the Yang family to leverage my resources and position in the county seat to open up a new revenue stream for the clan."
His tone was clear, possessing the calm confidence of a leader.
"I will handle the trading company’s capital and connections, as well as the most critical component: the special travel permits. What the clan needs to do is provide a stable and reliable source of goods—the grain, mountain produce, and medicinal herbs from our Yang Family Village and other trusted, nearby villages. I’ll set the purchase price at least fifteen to twenty percent higher than what those lowballing merchants used to offer, ensuring our people see a real increase in their income."
Hearing this, Third Elder Yang Dehou’s eyes visibly lit up, and he involuntarily leaned forward. ’This is far better than just working for some other trading company!’
Yang Wenqing continued, "I will take seventy percent of the profits generated by the trading company. This share is to be put into a separate account, managed by a person of my choosing. Its sole purpose will be to acquire all the resources I need for my Cultivation."
He looked at the Third Elder and his father. "The final thirty percent of the profits will go to the clan’s public assets. It can be used for the clan school, repairing the ancestral hall, aiding orphans and widows, or as seed money for the family to develop other industries. Any surplus will be kept in a separate account for emergencies."
"However, my contributions come with a simple requirement: in the future, I will need to select some of the clan’s younger generation to come and assist me."
After Yang Wenqing finished, Yang Dehou lightly tapped his fingers on his cane, his mind racing with calculations.
’In the past, the village’s produce was constantly lowballed by outside merchants, with most of the profits siphoned away by others. This plan meant reclaiming the lion’s share of that profit chain for themselves.’
’Even though Yang Wenqing was taking seventy percent, this business wouldn’t even exist without him. The clan wouldn’t get the thirty percent for public assets, nor the premium on their goods. What’s more, the higher Wenqing’s Cultivation, the stronger the family’s backing would be. That seventy percent might seem like it’s for him alone, but in truth, it would ultimately benefit the family in other ways.’
’If Yang Wenqing really became a mighty Cultivator in the future, the profits from this company would be the least of the benefits he’d bring.’
Having thought it through, a smile of enlightenment spread across Yang Dehou’s face, and he nodded emphatically. "Excellent! Wenqing, your plan is thorough and benefits everyone. You are paving a new path for the family, so it is only right that the family fully supports your Cultivation. It is the natural order of things!"
Yang Jianmu understood now as well. His face filled with pride and excitement as he nodded again and again. "Yes, yes! Wenqing, don’t you worry. The family will make sure this is handled perfectly."
Yang Wenqing smiled as well. His eyes were on Yang Jianmu, but his thoughts were not on the business itself, but on more far-reaching developments. ’In this world, the power of a family is immense. Every faction is composed of various intertwined families, all climbing to higher positions through one competition after another.’
’What he wanted was to gradually take control of the Yang Family Village. While some internal corruption would be unavoidable, it was an acceptable price to pay compared to the benefits he would gain.’
With the major decision settled, the atmosphere in the reception room became thoroughly warm and filled with hope. A bright light shone in everyone’s eyes.
After his laughter subsided, a hint of worry returned to the Third Elder’s face. He said softly, "But if we do things this way, won’t the town’s grain depot and the official merchants who collect medicinal herbs... cause trouble for us?"
Yang Wenqing smiled confidently. "Don’t worry, Third Grand-uncle. First, as long as our Yang Family Village submits the public grain levy and pays its taxes to the town without holding anything back, they’ll have no legitimate reason to obstruct us openly. Second, our ’Four Seas Trading Company’ will be a properly registered business in the county seat. We will pay all commercial taxes and tariffs strictly by the book."
"We’re not trying to steal business from the state-backed enterprises. We’re using our special permits to go to more remote villages—places the large caravans won’t bother with, or where they lowball the locals even more ruthlessly. We’ll purchase goods there to supplement the market. We can even sell some of our county’s specialties to the neighboring counties. As long as we operate within the law, there won’t be any problems."
He paused, then added with a slight smile, "And once the trading company is established, won’t it be much more convenient for our own village to procure things? Like basic Cultivation resources, for example?"