CMWKSD -Chapter 49 Ten Percent Profit

The determined look on Jiu Yue and Ji Yiqing’s faces made Wang Sheng realize that no matter how much he struggled, this ten percent profit was absolutely impossible to keep.

The pills in Jiu Yue’s hand weren’t meant for him to sell. It was probably just a favor done along the way, a straightforward way of telling him that she had plenty of good things in her hands.

If he refused to give that ten percent, there would naturally be plenty of others willing to pay.

Jiu Yue raised her brows and tucked the items she had just taken out back into her small bag.

Her little nose wrinkled, and she stood up tightly, going to pull Ji Yiqing along. “Let’s go, let’s go. At worst, we’ll find someone in the prefectural city to cooperate with.”

Although Wang Sheng had only interacted with Jiu Yue a few times, he had already experienced her no-nonsense character.

Quickly, he grabbed Ji Yiqing from the other side, saying, “Doctor Jiu Yue, it’s not that we don’t want to, we really don’t.” At the same time, he wiped the sweat from his face. The sour and spicy noodles were so sour, numbing, and spicy that they had given him immense pleasure. His sweat still hadn’t fully dried.

Jiu Yue snorted and sat down to the side.

Wang Sheng smiled helplessly and looked at Ji Yiqing, shaking his head as if he had been defeated.

Ji Yiqing had a faint smile at the corners of his mouth and didn’t expose Wang Sheng’s little thoughts.

This was how business worked: there were back-and-forth negotiations, always needing to say something, always needing to nitpick something, always needing to belittle something…

All of this was done to achieve the ultimate goal. After all, no one was a fool; what’s offered is what’s offered.

But this wasn’t business—this was charity.

Jiu Yue was different. Straightforward by nature, with strength deciding everything, she especially disliked these roundabout tactics.

One word: succeed. If not, just leave.

If someone came and spoke in flowery words she didn’t understand, what then? Did they think she was uneducated?

Even though she was a “Jiulu-yu” (a playful self-deprecating term she used for herself), her education wasn’t low at all.

But Jiu Yue would never voice that—she wouldn’t reveal her weakness.

Wang Sheng awkwardly sat down. “Ten percent it is, ten percent. Shall we sign the contract now?”

Hearing this, Jiu Yue immediately turned to look at Ji Yiqing. Ji Yiqing had intended to think it over a little longer, maybe tease him, but seeing Jiu Yue like that, he let out a faint, indulgent smile and then looked up at Wang Sheng. “Fine.”

Wang Sheng immediately arranged for the shopkeeper to bring pens, ink, paper, and seals.

While the shopkeeper went to fetch the writing supplies, Ji Yiqing clarified that they only wanted ten percent of the profits from what they had brought.

“Also, I am, after all, a member of the Ji family. I hope, when you want to buy raw materials in the future, you’ll first consider purchasing from Ji family village.”

Wang Sheng paused mid-pen stroke, his eyes scanning the faint scars on Ji Yiqing’s face. He instantly understood Ji Yiqing’s meaning.

It seemed Ji Yiqing was preparing for the imperial exam in April next year.

Recalling Ji Yiqing’s talent and reputation, a mere scholar exam was probably nothing significant to him. He would surely aim higher.

Whether in government or in the imperial exams, family ties were always an unavoidable factor.

Ji Yiqing naturally wouldn’t hesitate to sell this advantage to benefit his clan.

Moreover, as far as he knew, not many in the Ji family were to be trifled with. Ji Yiqing was likely thinking of his own future as well.

Of course, Wang Sheng had no idea that the entire Ji family had already been neatly taken care of by Jiu Yue.

Wang Sheng nodded. “Naturally.”

Having connections with Ji Yiqing could only be beneficial for him in the future, no matter how far Ji Yiqing went in the imperial exams.

It might even strengthen his ties with Ji Yiqing—or with Jiu Yue—through this slight acquaintance.

Wang Sheng finished writing the contract and handed it to Ji Yiqing. “I’ve signed and stamped it. Take a look.”

Ji Yiqing took it in stride, glanced at it without much scrutiny, and nudged it toward Jiu Yue. “Jiu Yue, you sign.”

Jiu Yue blinked. Half of that ten percent profit was already hers—who cared who signed?

She didn’t want to overthink it, so she picked up the contract and read it word by word. If this could make money, she wouldn’t have to worry about silver anymore. She could stop constantly thinking about robbery day after day.

Otherwise, it would be just like her life back in the 22nd century—always overthinking money.

If it weren’t for the lack of silver, who would do those things?

After reading, she nodded at Ji Yiqing, then signed her name and stamped it.

Ji Yiqing didn’t think much about it either. He was entering the officialdom through the exams, and historically, officials did not compete with the people for profits—no official had shops that generated income under their name. That was one fact.

Secondly, this product was originally created by Jiu Yue. Taking half was already generous.

Of course, Ji Yiqing didn’t tell Jiu Yue about the family treasury. Traditionally, aside from the head of the household, everyone else’s earnings were to be contributed to the family treasury for expenses.

After all, without Jiu Yue, they wouldn’t have fine clothes to wear or regular meals of rice, flour, and meat.

After signing, Wang Sheng handed it back to the shopkeeper. It still needed to be filed with the county office for the contract to be officially valid.

Fortunately, the county office was currently managed by Assistant magistrate Li, who, at this critical time, wouldn’t do anything to offend Ji Yiqing.

Ji Yiqing took out the pre-written recipes—about half were just recipes.

Wang Sheng flipped through them and realized they were recipe instructions, with the layered recipes at the bottom.

Seeing the process for making starch and noodles, he couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of his mouth. It was unexpectedly simple.

And the so-called white jade bowls—what white jade bowls? They were clearly lotus root powder. But he couldn’t say that, as it might be discovered.

Such simple things, and they were taking a ten percent cut from him. Wang Sheng felt a twinge of pain, but a businessman is a businessman—profit is profit. After a brief moment of annoyance, he quickly recovered.

Smiling, he said to Ji Yiqing, “Truly talented at a young age.” Ji Yiqing smiled faintly but said nothing. The recipes might be simple, but as long as no one leaked them, it was no big deal.

Wang Sheng, being capable, asked directly, “How many pounds of sweet potatoes does your village have? And lotus roots? How many pounds of lotus roots?”

Ji Yiqing estimated the harvest for the year. “Several tens of thousands of pounds is no problem.”

Wang Sheng tapped the table with his fingers. “Are you sure the starch, noodles, and lotus root powder can be stored for a full year?”

Ji Yiqing guaranteed, “As long as they’re kept in a dry, ventilated place, a year is fine.”

Wang Sheng said, “Tomorrow, bring me five thousand pounds of sweet potatoes first. As for the rest, we’ll discuss it in a couple of days.”

Ji Yiqing nodded, knowing Wang Sheng was helping support Ji family village. “On behalf of the villagers, I thank you, Lord Wang.”