Top Scholar

Chapter 189 Join if you can’t beat him
The dinner table.

Su Tai didn't know why his father was so shocked, so he quickly gestured and said, "It's about holding a white-shafted spear and thrusting at each other, using techniques like horizontal thrusts, low thrusts, and high thrusts..."

"You scared me! It was just shooting practice..." Su Youcai breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was something else entirely.

Then he paused, startled: "Wait a minute, why are you guys practicing with guns?!"

“Because she is also studying martial arts…” Su Tai whispered.

"Why would a girl like her need to learn martial arts?" Su Youcai asked, puzzled.

"Because he's going to inherit the position of Pacification Commissioner of Yongning." Su Lu had to share the blame for his second brother. Even though his brother was heartless, constantly feeding him his affections, he couldn't be unjust...

"I see." Su Youcai suddenly realized that such an important position could indeed make the government make an exception.

He paused for a moment and then said softly, "So, the struggle within the Pacification Division is over?"

“It should be.” Su Lu nodded and said, “She Yunluo entered the martial arts school as a successor, which means that She Saihua has petitioned the court to officially designate her as the successor.”

"Hmm, this means that those leaders who supported She Ziying and her son have changed their tune under her pressure." Su Youcai tapped his fingers lightly on the table and said, "And so much time has passed, the problem should be solved..."

“Yes, times have changed.” Su Lu nodded and said, “Besides, we are not what we used to be, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

"That's good..." Su Youcai finally breathed a sigh of relief, and then instructed Su Tai, "But it's still best to avoid contact with that kind of person. We're not from the same world, so just be polite on the surface."

“Oh…” Su Tai nodded obediently, his eyes losing their light.

"What, you're still reluctant to part with it?" Su Youcai glanced at him.

“No, Qiu-ge’er said the same thing,” Su Tai said slowly.

"Don't be sad, Xia-ge'er. When we get back, your mother will find you a good marriage." The landlady comforted him with a smile, "You have no idea how popular you are now. In the first month of the lunar year, matchmakers have come to visit seven or eight times."

"Oh, oh." Sutai was no longer so downcast.

"Sigh, it seems Xia-ge'er has really grown up..." Su Youcai sighed, then looked at Su Lu: "What about you? Has anyone taken a liking to you?"

"I don't have that kind of luck." Su Lu sighed as well, though he had taken in a whole bunch of adopted sons.

“Miss She said that many young ladies from prominent families have been asking her about Brother Qiu,” Su Tai suddenly said casually.

"Second Brother, this is so pointless," Su Lu said speechlessly. "And I was just speaking up for you!"

"Hey, hey. We'll share the hardships." Su Tai smiled.

“Sigh…” Su Youcai couldn’t laugh. He said to the landlady, “It seems we really have to accompany them to school. Otherwise, who knows what trouble those two brats will cause.”

"Yes." The proprietress nodded. The two had already discussed it with their families; they came to see if it was necessary for them to accompany their children to school.

Now it seems very necessary... With my uncle's precedent, I'm quite worried about the Su family in this regard.

Sleeping with your enemy's daughter might at most result in a beating, but sleeping with the chieftain's daughter could cost you your life.

"Great!" Su Lu wholeheartedly agreed with his father's decision. After all, he didn't have any Miss She or Miss Xiang, so having his family with him was the best thing ever.

“Won’t it be difficult to stay at the government office then?” Su Youcai asked him.

"Of course." Su Lu nodded and said, "We both felt it was inappropriate a long time ago. We always cause trouble for others, and we feel really bad about it."

“Okay! We’ll look for a place to stay tomorrow.” Su Youcai decided, “Let’s pack up and move there as soon as possible.”

"If you accompany your children to school, what will happen to the sales of Tian Shui Ji and Er Lang Jiu?" Su Lu asked.

"Is your son more important or making money?" Su Youcai said, his beard bristling and eyes wide. "Parents can't be absent during the crucial stages of a child's growth, or they'll have lifelong regrets!"

"Don't worry," the proprietress said with a smile, "Sweet Water Restaurant's business has been completely sorted out. We can just do it again in the same order as last year. I've already agreed on profit sharing with the staff, and with your uncle keeping an eye on things, that's enough."

"Yes." Su Lu nodded, confirming that it was indeed the case.

"As for Erlang wine, nowadays the emperor's daughters don't have to worry about getting married, but rather they worry about not having enough daughters." The proprietress continued, "This year, Suji plans to brew 140,000 jin of wine, but the intended orders have already exceeded 200,000."

"That's amazing?" Su Lu exclaimed in amazement.

"Back in town, we sold 80,000 jin of wine in just six months," the proprietress said proudly. "Now that Hejiang Wine Shop is all ours, can it be the same as before?"

"Looks like I need to find a way to increase production," Su Lu murmured. He had three great passions in life: learning, teaching, and making money, all of which he enjoyed immensely.

"Yes, but it's easier said than done." The proprietress sighed softly. "The clan has enough manpower, and the cellars can be expanded, but five thousand acres of sorghum fields can only produce so much red-tasseled sorghum. Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice."

“It’s not enough for just our clansmen to farm. We need to mobilize the villagers along the Chishui River to grow sorghum as well. We can buy it at a high price!” Su Lu said in a deep voice. “Captain Ma is already handling this,” the proprietress said. “He has spoken with all the centurions and offered 800 cash per shi. But clearing the land, planting in spring, and harvesting in autumn will take a long time.”

“Indeed.” Su Lu nodded and said, “Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. Is there any other way?”

"Yes, there is..." the proprietress sighed softly, "but I can't mention it."

"Let Chengji help with the brewing?" Su Lu understood the implied meaning.

"Qiu-ge'er is so clever," the landlady exclaimed, then told Su Lu what her father had said.

The younger brother was dumbfounded. His second sister-in-law, who was all-powerful in his eyes, was actually speaking to Qiu Ge'er in a reporting tone. Wasn't this going against the natural order?

He couldn't help but sigh. It's not that I don't understand, it's just that the world changes too fast...

After listening attentively to his godmother's words, Su Lu smiled and said, "It's a good thing that the Cheng family is willing to share Langquan Well. We, the younger generation, have long been looking forward to this day of reconciliation."

“But they have conditions—they want the recipe for Erlang Wine.” The godmother said in a low voice, “However, I said that the recipe already belongs to Su’s, so I can only ask around for them.”

Then he said seriously, "I am no longer a member of the He family, so my son doesn't need to worry."

"We can't give them the formula." Su Lu nodded and said decisively, "We'd rather not have Langquan Well!"

"Sigh, you make it sound so easy, child. If we can't get that well back, how many old people will die with regrets?" Su Youcai sighed.

“Father, this is just a strategy.” Su Lu said helplessly, “Langquan Well is right there. We will find a way to get it back sooner or later. There is no need to give up half of the goose that lays the golden eggs for this well.”

“Exactly,” Su Tai nodded. “When Qiu’er passes the imperial examination and becomes a scholar, will he still have trouble getting Langquan Well back?”

“We’re doing just fine. We can afford to wait, but they can’t,” my uncle chimed in.

"..." The proprietress knew from their attitude that the Su family would never accept her father's proposal. So she asked directly, "Then what does Qiu-ge'er think would be appropriate?"

“Let them bring Langquanjing to join us!” Su Lu said in a deep voice. “Of course, to save face for them, we won’t be called Su’s anymore. We can change it to ‘Erlang Winery’!”

“A joint venture…” the proprietress said slowly, “That is indeed a possible solution.”

“They can understand it that way, but we must take the lead,” Su Lu said in a deep voice. “They can have at most one-third of the shares!”

"Can they accept this?" Su Youcai felt it was too little.

"That's their business, no need to worry about them." Su Lu said calmly, "If they don't accept it now, they can wait until later. They'll accept it eventually."

“One-third is actually quite fair.” The proprietress nodded and said, “Langquan Well can take one-tenth, and the workers of Cheng’s winery and the eight thousand acres of sorghum fields can take two-tenths. In fact, three-tenths is enough.”

"Giving Mother an extra three points is to save face for her," Su Lu said with a smile.

"That woman has quite a bit of influence," the proprietress laughed. This was no joke; after the two companies joined forces, a one-thirtieth share was no small sum.

Furthermore, Su Lu's shareholding arrangement was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a well-thought-out plan—after the joint venture was established according to his proposal, the Su family's collective shareholding would not be as much as two-thirds!
Because Su Ji also owns 10% of Su Tai's shares and the proprietress owns 20% of the shares.

After the merger, the Su family's collective shareholding was about 47%, the Cheng family's collective shareholding was 33%, Su Tai's shareholding was 7%, and the boss's wife's shareholding was 13%.

Therefore, the Su family is both the largest shareholder and does not hold an absolute majority, so they cannot have absolute power and will not excessively harm the interests of the Cheng family.

However, when it comes to matters concerning the fundamental interests of the entire Su clan, Su Tai, with its 7% stake, will unconditionally side with the Su clan. The Su clan's shareholding exceeds 50%, guaranteeing absolute control.

In short, this is a solution that is neither entirely satisfactory nor entirely acceptable to either party...

"Since it's inconvenient for Mother to come forward, let Uncle act as her representative and talk to the Elder." Su Lu added, "He's the most sensible person, so let him persuade the old clan chief."

"Me?" The uncle pointed to himself, flattered, and said, "You really believe me about something this big?"

"What's so unbelievable about that?" Su Lu laughed. "You must be a master negotiator!"

"Just say he's stingy," Su Youcai complained.

“Second brother, you need to learn how Qiu-ge speak.” Su Youma said with a wry smile, “The same thing comes out of your mouths in two completely different ways.”

“Okay, I’ll tell my dad if they agree.” The landlady smiled at Su Lu with a sigh of relief. “You’re such a good son. This matter has been worrying me a lot lately, but after hearing what you said, I feel much better.”

“I’m an outsider, so of course I see things clearly,” Su Lu said with a smile. “Mother was caught in the middle, so how can it be the same?”

"It's alright, with my son backing me up, I won't be caught in the middle." The proprietress's expression brightened. "Once things are settled here, I'll go back and take care of everything thoroughly!"

(End of this chapter)