236 That Bit of Money
Wang Chuanman had almost forgotten that their family still had an agreement that had not been fulfilled. That was to go to Shopkeeper Zhou’s house to be a steward.
This was the repayment Old Madam Wang should receive after saving Shopkeeper Zhou. Actually, from another perspective, this was also an opportunity for Shopkeeper Zhou to interact with their family.
There was also a difference between merchants. There were those who earned 100 taels of silver a month, and those who earned 10,000 taels of silver a month.
Shopkeeper Zhou belonged to the latter.
When a businessman’s wealth accumulated to a certain stage, they had to start looking for another path. Even if they did not take the path of the Imperial Examination, they could still establish a few good connections as a way out.
Now that their family was living well, especially after Wang Chuanman brought Wang Aibao back, he found out that his family had a few thousand taels of silver and a pile of antiques.
Wang Chuanman’s heart wavered.
He watched his third brother do business and was also tempted. He wished his brother would give him dozens of taels of silver and let him try to start a business.
Even if he did not start a new line of business, it would be good to open a branch of the Wang Family’s steamed bun shop elsewhere.
It would be much more profitable than toiling in the fields and facing the yellow soil every day.
After saying aloud this thought, he was beaten up by Old Madam Wang.
“You really dare to think about it!” Old Madam Wang chased after Wang Chuanman with a stick as she cursed, “I’ve tried my best to stop us from becoming a merchant family, but you can’t wait for our family to become a merchant!”
Wang Chuanman did not dare to run too quickly, lest he hurt his mother’s waist.
However, he did not dare to stop. It would hurt when she hit him as she was usually ruthless.
“Mother, I was just saying. Don’t take it seriously!” Wang Chuanman begged for mercy. “I know my mistake now. Stop chasing me!”
Old Madam Wang could not catch up to Wang Chuanman. She slammed the stick in her hand on the ground. “Old man!”
“Hey!” Old man Wang fanned the flames at the side. “Chuanman, stop running. Look at how tired your mother is. Let her punish you to vent her anger!”
Since his parents had already spoken, Wang Chuanman could only stop and move in front of Old Madam Wang.
Old Madam Wang clobbered his buttocks.
“Do you still want to do business?”
Wang Chuanman shook his head and resisted the urge to rub his butt. “No, I don’t want to do it anymore…”
His wife and daughter were watching. He could not lose face like this.
Old Madam Wang hit him again.
“Mother, I already said I don’t want to do it anymore!” Wang Chuanman’s eyes widened like copper bells. In the end, he couldn’t help but jump up.
It really hurt!
Old Madam Wang: “Did you forget what I said just now?”
Wang Chuanman was confused.
What?
What did she say just now?
Wang Erlang reminded softly, “Fourth Uncle, we’re talking about what to do with the crops in the village.”
Under the intense pain, Wang Chuanman seemed to be enlightened and immediately understood what Old Madam Wang meant.
“Mother, do you want me to transport all the crops in the village to Shopkeeper Zhou to sell?”
Old Madam Wang gave him a look that said, “At least you’re not hopeless.”
Wang Chuanman: “…Isn’t this still business?”
“That’s different from being a shopkeeper yourself!” Old Madam Wang reminded Wang Chuanman. “You have to remember that in the future, no matter what Shopkeeper Zhou says, you have to work hard and learn how to manage things. Don’t only think about how much money you can earn. Our family doesn’t care about this bit of money!”
This time, not only Wang Chuanman, but the others from the Wang Family also looked at Old Madam Wang.
They remembered that as a manager, the salary for an entire year was 150 taels, right?
Was that a “bit of” money?
How much did she want then? How was it a small sum of money to Old Madam Wang?