Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 141 Cao Hong's Confusion

The soap was a great success, and merchants from other states flocked to the area.

In the stone pavilion in the backyard of Cao Yan's residence, Cao Hong, who had recently been making headlines, was pulling Cao Yan aside to drink celebratory wine.

Cao Hong's hand, holding the wine cup, trembled slightly.

"Zian, guess how much our chamber of commerce earned this month?" Cao Hong's voice was filled with undisguised excitement.

Before Cao Yan could reply, Cao Hong blurted out, "A full three thousand strings of cash! After deducting costs, we've made a net profit of nearly one thousand strings!" He slammed down his wine cup, spilling a few drops onto the table. "Under my elder brother's rule, the total tax revenue last year was only around sixty thousand strings of cash, and we've already made a thousand strings in just one month!"

Cao Yan smiled and poured him another cup of wine: "Brother Zilian, you have made great contributions, you should drink a few more cups of celebratory wine."

Cao Hong took a swig of wine and wiped his mouth: "Those aristocratic sons who used to be so arrogant now bow and scrape before me."

Yesterday, the Wang family of Shanyang specially hosted a banquet for me, saying they wanted me to discuss investing in their company.

And those merchants, who used to avoid me like the plague, are now scrambling to become our soap distributors.

He became more and more excited as he spoke, "Zian, you have no idea, I, Cao Hong, have never been so glorious in my life!"

"Isn't that great?" Cao Yan kept agreeing with Cao Hong, acting as a good listener.

Seeing that Cao Yan was listening attentively, Cao Hong became even more interested, describing with great enthusiasm the various details of how those people flattered him, his words filled with a triumphant and exhilarating feeling.

After several rounds of drinks, Cao Hong's eyes gradually became hazy, and the hand holding the wine cup fell limply to his side.

He looked up at the bright moon in the night sky, a trace of loneliness appearing on his face, and his voice gradually lowered: "Zi'an, do you think I'm really useless?"

Cao Yan was taken aback by these words, put down the wine pot, and asked, "Brother, what makes you say that?"

Cao Hong's voice carried a hint of bitterness, and also revealed a deep sense of helplessness.
“In the past, I have always been my elder brother’s bodyguard, serving him faithfully and never having any disloyalty.”

I thought I could always protect my elder brother like this, risking my life for him.

But everything changed after Xu Chu came to his elder brother's side.

Xu Chu is exceptionally brave and loyal to his elder brother. He is more useful to his elder brother than I am.

Gradually, I found myself becoming insignificant; often, my older brother no longer needed me.

At this point, Cao Hong's eyes reddened slightly. He picked up the wine cup again, but only held it without drinking.

"When we gathered in Chenliu, among the brothers who joined my elder brother, I had the fewest soldiers."

In terms of martial prowess, I am only slightly better than Zihe (Cao Chun).

As for strategy... let's not even go there.

Cao Hong's voice grew softer and softer, trembling slightly.
“I often wonder if I’m holding my elder brother back now?”

Have we become a burden to you?

Sometimes, this thought feels like a huge rock, making it hard for me to breathe.

As he spoke, Cao Hong could no longer hold back his tears, which streamed down his cheeks. He no longer tried to hide them, but simply wept silently. "I feel like I can no longer find my place by my elder brother's side. Am I, Cao Hong, destined to be nothing more than a dispensable person in this life?"

Looking at the heartbroken and pained Cao Hong, Cao Yan couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow.

Before he transmigrated here, Cao Yan's situation was probably even more awkward than Cao Hong's now.

“Brother, you’re mistaken.” Cao Yan gently patted Cao Hong’s shoulder and said softly, “Everyone has their own area of ​​expertise and their own suitable place.”

You may not be the most outstanding on the battlefield, but in the business world, you have demonstrated a talent and ability that surpasses all the other members of the Cao family. The business world is like a battlefield, and the battles in the commercial realm are no less intense than those on a real battlefield.

Look how successfully you've managed the Chamber of Commerce, earning us our first pot of gold so quickly.

With you fighting on the business frontier, we'll have enough money to recruit soldiers, build excellent equipment, and prepare ample supplies.

Your contributions to the Cao family's great cause are equally irreplaceable and vital!

Cao Hong raised his head and looked at Cao Yan, his eyes full of doubt and uncertainty: "Zi'an, am I really as important as you say?"

“Of course it’s true.” Cao Yan nodded firmly. “Brother, you must believe in yourself.”

Every effort you make here is laying the foundation for our future.

Your contributions are in no way less than those of the generals who charge into battle.

Cao Hong remained silent for a moment.

Cao Yan's words made him realize that everything he had done was indeed of extraordinary significance.

He suddenly gripped Cao Yan's hand tightly and said, "Zi'an, you're right! Although I, Cao Hong, am not as good as others on the battlefield, I am determined to make a great career in business!"

He stood up, looked at the bright moon in the night sky, and murmured to himself, "With you, Cao Zian, and my elder brother, leading troops into battle..."

Cao Zian, you offer advice and strategies... and you fight on the battlefield too?

"Wait a minute, why do I feel like you, Cao Zi'an, are number one in everything right now?"

Cao Hong suddenly looked down at Cao Yan, thinking to himself, "When did this guy go from being last in everything to being number one in every subject?"
Cao Yan laughed heartily, stood up, and said, "Brother, let's drink this cup together, to help you conquer the business world!"

Distracted by this, Cao Hong immediately forgot what he had originally wanted to ask...

He raised his glass and said to Cao Yan, "Come on, let's drink to this, to our chamber of commerce, to our future!"

The two raised their wine cups and drank them down in one gulp.

Cao Hong wiped his mouth, his eyes hardening once more.
"Zi'an, I'll set off tomorrow to make arrangements. I want to sell our soap in Jizhou, Jingzhou, and even Yizhou! I want everyone in the world to use our soap!"

Looking at Cao Hong, who had regained his spirits, Cao Yan smiled with satisfaction: "That's right. I believe that with your abilities, brother, as long as you put your heart into it, our chamber of commerce will surely shine brightly in this world."

Cao Yan pulled Cao Hong back to sit down and said, "However, we can't be too hasty. We have to take it one step at a time. But no matter what difficulties we encounter, our brothers will stand by your side."

"Zian, thank you. Thank you for helping me rediscover my value." Cao Hong looked at Cao Yan, his eyes filled with gratitude.

Cao Yan smiled and said, "We brothers don't need to say such things. Let's go back inside and discuss our next plan."

Cao Hong suddenly asked, "By the way, do you remember what you said about opening a restaurant with me?"

"A restaurant?" Cao Yan suddenly remembered that there was indeed such a thing. "I remember, of course I remember! It was because of Lü Bu that it was delayed."

"After I've sorted out the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce, shall we set up the restaurant?"

"No problem at all!"

under the moonlight,
The system notification tone suddenly sounded.

[Cao Hong's favorability towards you has changed. Current favorability: 91%]

(End of this chapter)