TATLC Chapter 69

Raine: I am so sorry this is late. I have an eye infection and couldn’t open my eyes for the past two weeks. I couldn’t get my eyes checked because of the heavy storm. On top of that, I broke my phone because I dropped it while trying to go down the stairs blind. Anyways, I can barely open my eyes now and I have a cold, but here’s an update.

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Chen Xiaomi looked at the account book in his hands. Sales at the Lin Town branch had been sluggish lately, while Liu Town was doing well and the bags were selling really well.

“Tomorrow, I’ll go with you to Liu Town to take a look.”

Lu Lin looked at Chen Xiaomi and said, “I can go by myself. You should stay home. There are a lot of people coming to deliver goods tomorrow.”

Chen Xiaomi rolled his eyes and said, “I’m not some useless person.”

Lu Lin chuckled, “Of course I know you’re not. When troublemakers show up at the store, you can take on three of them at once. But it’s really hot right now.” The roads in this era weren’t like his previous life, they were full of bumps and holes. What if he got heatstroke on the way?

Chen Xiaomi nodded, “Money can always be earned. If Xiaocai isn’t comfortable in Liu Town, just bring him back.”

“I know. If he can’t adapt, I’ll find another shopkeeper.”

But for a shopkeeper position, it was best to use someone they trusted. Otherwise, they might get cheated without even realizing it.

Chen Xiaocai pressed the silver he’d earned under his pillow, feeling a bit worried.

He’d sold over ten bags during the day, earning more than three taels of silver. Yesterday he’d earned four taels, and the day before that… Chen Xiaocai already had more than twenty taels of silver piled up. Lu Lin hadn’t come for several days, so he had to keep the silver for now.

Having so much silver made Chen Xiaocai excited, but he couldn’t help feeling worried too. He was scared that someday he’d get robbed. He was looking forward to Lu Lin’s arrival. When Lu Lin came, he could hand over the silver and wouldn’t have to worry anymore.

Chen Xiaocai lay in bed, missing his big brother a little.

After waiting several days, Lu Lin finally arrived.

“Lin-ge, you’re finally here.” Chen Xiaocai handed Lu Lin the silver from his pouch and let out a long sigh of relief. “Having so much silver on me felt really unsafe.”

Looking at Chen Xiaocai’s relieved expression, Lu Lin thought to himself that this kid’s horizons were still too narrow. He thought just over twenty taels was a huge fortune.

Although poor people in this world were really poor, some rich people could easily spend dozens of taels in a single day at a brothel.

“The profit is pretty good!”

Chen Xiaocai nodded. “Yeah, sometimes a lot of people come by. Though these past few days, the numbers have dropped a little. I think there might be more rich people in this town.”

Lu Lin agreed, “Liu Town does look more prosperous.”

“Lin-ge, how long will you stay this time?” Chen Xiaocai had complicated feelings about Lu Lin. He looked up to him but also felt distant. Still, after not seeing family for so long, seeing Lu Lin suddenly made Chen Xiaocai feel a sense of closeness.

Lu Lin glanced at the sky. “It’s getting late today, so I’ll have to stay until tomorrow before leaving.”

Hearing this, Chen Xiaocai felt secretly happy.

“Lin-ge, are Xiaomai and Ah Chi doing well?”

Lu Lin raised his eyebrows. Chen Xiaocai’s question seemed casual, but it looked like he’d gathered courage to ask it. It was normal for Xiaocai to ask about his brother’s situation, but asking about Shen Chi’s situation was a bit suspicious. After all, Shen Chi was a Shuang’er.

Before, Chen Xiaocai and Shen Chi often played together, and there seemed to be some unclear rumors going around, even though they were just little kids.

“Xiaomai is doing well, he just misses you a bit. He even suspects I sold you off.”

Chen Xiaocai scratched his head and said helplessly, “Xiaomai just likes to overthink.” When he mentioned Xiaomai, Chen Xiaocai’s expression became gentler.

“As for Shen Chi, I haven’t paid much attention. That kid seems a bit quiet, staying in his room all day making knots. If Xiaomai doesn’t look for him to play, he won’t actively look for others to play with either.”

“Oh, I see.” Chen Xiaocai nodded.

Lu Lin looked at Chen Xiaocai’s expression and thought to himself, Is Xiaocai starting to develop feelings? Shen Chi’s a good kid, but isn’t he a bit too young? Then again, arranged childhood betrothals are common here. If there really are feelings, they could settle it early.

“Your big brother is a bit worried about you. If you feel tired and don’t want to do this anymore, that’s fine too.”

Chen Xiaocai dismissed the idea. “I’m not the type to give up halfway.” Although he felt uncertain at the beginning, he’d stuck it out these past few days. “Besides, this amount of work is nothing to me.”

Lu Lin looked at him approvingly. Potential really does come out under pressure. When Xiaocai first arrived, he seemed hesitant, but after just a few days here, he’s grown much more confident.

“Lin-ge, can I really set the price for those bags however I want?” Chen Xiaocai asked.

Lu Lin looked at Chen Xiaocai and said, “As long as it’s within reasonable limits.” Based on the bags’ quality and craftmanship, each bag had a standard price. Fluctuating around that price or offering discounts during special occasions was allowed. “Did something happen?”

Chen Xiaocai said awkwardly, “It was too chaotic a couple days ago. I think two mid-grade bags got sold as low-grade bags. Will the boss be angry?”

Lu Lin smiled. “Don’t worry too much about it. Just be more careful next time.” Sure enough, there were mistakes, but Xiaocai is still so young. It would be strange if he didn’t make mistakes.

Chen Xiaocai sighed in relief. “That’s good then.”

“But your wages will be docked.” Lu Lin said.

Chen Xiaocai asked worriedly, “Will it all be deducted?”

“That won’t happen,” Lu Lin replied.

Chen Xiaomi nodded in relief. “Good.”

Qin Yi waited outside the room. When he saw Lu Lin and Chen Xiaocai had finished talking, he came over.

“Lin-ge.”

Lu Lin was startled when he heard Qin Yi’s way of addressing him and said, “Uncle Qin, calling me that is too much.” Qin Yi was much older than him, and Qin Yi’s son also called him Brother Lin. What was it supposed to mean if both father and son called him Lin-ge? “You should just call me Ah Lin!”

Qin Yi smiled awkwardly. He had originally thought Lu Lin putting such a big store in Chen Xiaocai’s hands was inappropriate, but watching Chen Xiaocai use the abacus and do accounts every day, handling everything perfectly, he became convinced that although Chen Xiaocai was young, he would definitely succeed in the future.

If Chen Xiaocai was so capable, Lu Lin must be even more capable. Although Lu Lin was a bit young, Qin Yi didn’t dare look down on him at all. “Ah Lin, are my sons doing okay?”

“They’re doing well. Qin Ming’s splint should be ready to come off. It won’t be long before he’s bouncing around again. Qin Lang is doing well too. That kid is strong and looks like he’ll have a bright future.” Lu Lin said.

Hearing Lu Lin praise his sons like this, Qin Yi blushed a bit. “Ah Lang is just a simple kid, nowhere near as good as Xiaocai.”

Lu Lin smiled. “Not at all.”

Lu Lin unloaded the goods in Liu Town, stayed for a day, then left.

He opened a package and said, “Here, Xiaocai bought you some pastries.”

Chen Xiaomi was surprised. “Xiaocai bought these?”

Lu Lin nodded. “Yeah. That kid’s managing the shop now, and I promised him five percent of the profits as commission. So his earnings are pretty good.”

Having such a thoughtful younger brother made Chen Xiaomi feel proud.

“Not only did he get something for you and Xiaocai, but he also asked me to bring a separate portion for Shen Chi. Honestly, the one for Shen Chi looks even better than yours. This kid is still so young but already has so many romantic thoughts.” Lu Lin shook his head with a sigh.

“Shen Chi! Xiaocai really seems to like Shen Chi.”

Lu Lin raised his eyebrows. At Chen Xiaocai’s age, it was easy to develop feelings for peers.

The girls in the village seemed to really dislike Xiaocai. The original owner had encountered him a few times. Once when Xiaocai went to the lake to wash clothes, he seemed to have been mocked by those village girls.

Lu Lin thought, Shen Chi isn’t bad. He doesn’t look spoiled, and if he really married into the family, he wouldn’t be a troublemaker.

Chen Xiaocai managing the trading company alone was hard work. Shen Chi also knew arithmetic and could help keep an eye on things.

When Lu Lin had sent Chen Xiaocai to Liu Town, he’d thought about whether to send Shen Chi too.

But Shen Chi was a young Shuang’er after all, and Grandma Shen might not let him go.

Liu Town was different from here. It was basically an unfamiliar place. Xiaocai and Qin Lang both lived in the back room, and there was only one room in the back. It wouldn’t be appropriate for a grown man and a young Shuang’er to share the same space.

Chen Xiaomi blinked and said, “Let’s see how it goes. They’re both still young.”

Lu Lin nodded and said, “Yeah!” They were still just little kids. In his previous life, talking about romance at this age would definitely get you scolded by teachers and parents.

“Ah Chi, where did these pastries come from? They must be worth quite a bit of silver. Although Lu Lin is generous, we shouldn’t just take advantage of people.” Grandma Shen scolded.

Shen Chi said awkwardly, “Brother Lin gave them to me. He said they were from Xiaocai, a specialty from Liu Town.”

One shouldn’t accept rewards without merit. Shen Chi had tried to refuse, but Lu Lin said if he didn’t accept them, he’d have no face to see Xiaocai. So he had no choice but to accept.

Grandma Shen hesitated when she heard Shen Chi’s words and said, “Xiaocai? That kid hasn’t been back for a while.”

Shen Chi nodded and said, “Brother Lin said Xiaocai is doing really well in Liu Town, but they’re short-handed there and he’s busy, so he can’t get away for now.”

Grandma Shen said in surprise, “Where did he get the money? Did Lu Lin give it to him?”

Shen Chi shook his head. “It’s his wages. He became a shopkeeper and makes over one tael of silver a month.”

Grandma Shen was shocked when she heard this salary. “Xiaocai is really successful! But he’s so young, being away from home isn’t easy either!”

Shen Chi nodded. “That’s true!” Xiaocai was still so young but had been sent to a neighboring town.

“But really, it’s thanks to Xiaocai. The business in Liu Town should be good, so there’s been more work lately.” Grandma Shen said emotionally.

Grandma Shen had experienced the benefits of working in the store. When she worked in the store, if she did well, she’d get bonuses. She could earn over one tael of silver a month, and food and housing were included.

There were quite a few embroiderers working in the store. The more work there was, the more they could earn. When business was slow, everyone worried the owner would lay people off. Now that things were picking up, the workers finally had steady work. If the products didn’t sell, they’d all be stuck at home with nothing to do.

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