Chapter 36: New Business Models
Jia Hao stared at Old Yang with a questioning look. Old Yang nodded again to confirm Jia Hao. ” Yes, It is what you heard, Young Master Jia.”
” Well…No worries. A hundred thousand gold is nothing.” Jia Hao gave a hollow laugh as he turned around. Picking a few more things, he turned around.
” Let’s go back.”
Old Yang shook his head when he heard that. ” Very well, Young Master.”
When he returned to his room, he saw Cai Yixue sitting in the garden attached to their courtyard, reading a book.
” You have returned?” Cai Yixue turned around and looked at Jia Hao. ” What sort of wine you give to father? He can’t stop praising it.”
” Hehe, Nothing. It’s just a small token of appreciation.” Jia Hao grinned as he sat beside her.
” Wife, I want to ask you something.” Jia Hao looked at Cai Yixue and asked.
” Can you tell me about the Yan Kingdom, Yunlan Continent and these strange monsters?”
Cai Yixue looked surprised when she heard Jia Hao’s question. ” You don’t know?”
” If I knew, Would I have asked to you?” Jia Hao gave a wry smile.
” Well, As you know, This world is known as Yunlan Continent. Currently, we are on the Kyushu mainland. A thousand years ago, a great part of the Kyushu continent was ruled by Zhou Dynasty.”
” However, they weren’t the only power. There were also a hundred families, foreign tribes, Yao races, hidden sects across the land, each with their own power.”
” Five hundred years ago, a strange mist descended to the world. The borders between various regions were cut off, which spread chaos across the Kyushu mainland.”
” Yao or demon beast race were the original habitants of the Kyushu mainland.”
” However, from the dark mist rose strange monsters, similar to the demon race. Some of them were simply hostile to living beings as they only cared about their races.”
” We started to call them Dark Monsters. For example, the goblins you faced are considered as Dark Monsters.”
” The invasion of the dark mist also increased the spiritual energy across the land. However, due to the Zhou Dynasty got weakened, the civil war started.”
” The seventh prince of the Zhou Dynasty rebelled as he took several generals and marched towards the south. In the name of quelling rebellion, he conquered land across the lands in the southern direction.”
” But instead of returning to the Zhou Dynasty, he made the Yan Kingdom and became the king.”
” The Zhou Dynasty did nothing?” Jia Hao asked in a surprised voice.
” What can they do?” Cai Yixue shrugged. ” Too many things popped out before them, so they can only concentrate their force and face the bigger problems.”
” However, there are many foreign races that appeared, making the situation even more chaotic. Elves, Dwarves, and many other mystical tribes also appeared.”
” But it was also the era where martial techniques and spiritual arts flourished. The powers that were being suppressed by the Zhou Dynasty started to rise and vie with each other for the imperial hegemony.”
” Our family’s ancestor followed the First Emperor through all his expeditions. My father is the sixth generation patriarch of Cai Family and one of the six great generals.”
” But of course, as the Imperial Family consolidated, they started to reduce the military power of all families.” Cai Yixue snorted lightly. ” Otherwise, do you think our Cai Family declined to this state?”
Jia Hao was amazed when he heard about the history of the Yunlan Continent. ‘ It’s like a clash between two types of fantasy. Not to mention, these dark monsters have similarities but different origins than demon beasts.’
Demon beasts, which are also called as Yao race, the demon in their name is because they gained senitnent.
After years of practice and comprehension, even ordinary beasts and plants gain spirituality, turning them into demons.
At first, they can only perceive their surroundings with intelligence. After that, they learn communication and techniques similar to the martial artists.
After reaching a certain state, they can even transform into humans.
‘ Hmm, I wonder if I can find cat girls and snake girls here?’ Jia Hao gave a light cough as he cleared his mind.
” But no need to worry.” Cai Yixue spoke with assurance. ” With years of expeditions, the Great Yan Kingdom expelled all the foreign forces outside of its territory.”
” Other than a few danger zones, you won’t encounter dark monsters at all.”
” Well, That’s good.” Jia Hao sighed in relief.
” Wife, Do we have any food shops under our businesses?”
Cai Yixue was taken aback. ” We do have two of them. But they aren’t big as a restaurant.”
” One is a bun shop and another is tea and snack house.” Cai Yixue spoke.
” And, How much returns we get per year?” Jia Hao asked again.
” Roughly around….30,000 taels of gold?” Cai Yixue thought for a moment and answered.
” What? Only 30,000 taels?” Jia Hao frowned. ” Each of them?”
” No, the combination of both.”
Jia Hao became speechless when he heard that.
When he saw the Hongxin Tower, he saw several dishes whose prices were over a thousand taels of gold.
Even if the shops were two small shops, Jia Hao thought both shops would earn over 100,000 taels of gold.
Ten taels of gold are enough for a farmer to live for a year. The ordinary soldiers get thirty taels per year.
However, how can you call your family or group a rich aristocrat if you don’t earn over 100,000 taels per year? Not to mention Cai Family, which has one of the highest standing in Nanhai City.
” Well, There are better shops in the city. Why would people come to our shop instead of going to them?” Cai Yixue smiled bitterly.
” However, Recently, our silk business is also going down. I am thinking of withdrawing all silk business and also pulling out money from our food stores. We should focus on our army and smithies for now.”
” Why?” Jia Hao interrupted her.
” The food and silk business are practically gold mine. Why do you want to withdraw from it?”
” What else we can do?” Cai Yixue rolled her eyes.
” Niu Family is one of the biggest silk merchants in Nanhai City. He supplies silk to various nobles and even the imperial family.”
” They alone are this powerful?”
” Naturally not. They are supported by the Leng Family of Imperial Capital. Their business and commerce spread across the entire kingdom.”
” Not to mention, one of the Leng Family’s young miss is the concubine of the second prince.”
” I guess after getting humiliated by the Cai Family, the Niu Family already started their counterattack, huh?” Jia Hao smiled.
” You are sharp.”
” But I insist. Do not close any of the business. And, you don’t need to worry about the money supplied to them for the time being.”
” Why?” Cai Yixue questioned. Jia Hao only gave a devilish smirk.
” Did you forget our dear accountant Zhu Wuya is going to give us a lot of money?”
Cai Yixue’s eyes turned wide when she realized that. ” Ah, How could I forget about that?”
” However, even with the influx of money, can we salvage these sinking businesses?” Cai Yixue argued. ” Why don’t we…”
” Don’t worry, My wife.” Jia Hao suddenly leaned towards Cai Yixue, making her stunned.
” Since I have asked you to continue these businesses, I will naturally find some way to save them.”
Cai Yixue’s heart thumped faster when she saw Jia Hao trying to hold her palm.
” Ahem, I guess you are right. I should believe you.” Cai Yixue turned away as she pushed Jia Hao away lightly.
Jia Hao became amused as he could see faint strings of pink thread rising from Cai Yixue’s body. But they broke instantly.
‘ Haha, I guess my wife still has some temper, huh?’ Jia Hao rubbed his chin.
” No worries, I will melt your heart for me.”
” Did you say anything?” Cai Yixue asked in confusion.
” No, Not at all.” Jia Hao shook his head.
” Also, In a few days, something big is going to happen. I hope you stay with us.” Cai Yixue looked at Jia Hao.
” Afraid not, Wife.” Jia Hao grinned. ” As long as I am here, no one can touch Cai Family.”
” En…”
Cai Yixue looked at Jia Hao till his figure vanished. With a light sigh, she rubbed her cheek.
” He…He is pretty considerate.”
Cai Yixue mumbled as she fell in deep thought.
” Young Miss, Patriarch has sent you a message.” Minmin appeared as she bowed before Cai Yixue.
Taking the scroll, Cai Yixue read it thoroughly. “Interesting, has the Emperor finally decided to play this game?”
” What happened, Young Miss?”
” Three days later, the selection of Nanhai City Magistrate will happen. Father is probably going to compete for this position as the status is the same as the City Lord of Nanhai City.”
” However, to be the City Magistrate and become the head of law and justice in Nanhai City, he needed to pass a test.” Cai Yixue sighed.
” I am afraid, Niu Family, Shi Family, and some other powers in the Nanhai City won’t agree.” Minmin raised her concerns.
” I know that, Minmin.” Cai Yixue nodded. ” However, We need to grab this opportunity no matter what. Because, if Father becomes the City Magistrate, no one would be able to shake the foundation of the Cai Family anymore.
