Chapter 17

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"Spot goods refer to items that can be exchanged on the spot, while futures require a specified date for delivery. Didn't you say, Brother Qian, that you need to adjust the goods and can only deliver them ten days later?" Wang Shouzhe casually informed him.

"That makes sense. I understand the difference now, Brother Shouzhe." Qian Zhuzhi's spirits lifted, his eyes twinkling as he whispered, "Brother Shouzhe, these 5,000 bags of pest control powder are definitely not for your own use. Could it be that you've found a new business opportunity?"

"Hehe, Brother Qian has already called it a new business opportunity." Wang Shouzhe smiled and sipped his tea, "I'm helping your business clear inventory, and I also gain a small profit from it. It's a win-win situation. Brother Qian, give me a fair price."

"Ha ha ha, a win-win situation. Brother Shouzhe, your words are quite amusing. I won't ask further. Since that's the case, I'll give you a 10% discount on these 5,000 bags of pest control powder, totaling 4,500 gold coins."

"4,000!"

"4,200 is the lowest, Brother."

"4,200 it is, but I will use the credit of the Wang family to pay for this batch of goods." Wang Shouzhe said calmly, "I will deliver 4,200 gold coins in full one month later."

Qian Zhuzhi was slightly taken aback but then smiled, "This is feasible, but we need to establish a contract. If the payment is not made on time, our business has the right to use any means to recover the debt."

The Wang family, even in its current state, is still a Xuanwu family with some assets. Just the sale of [Fenggu Farm] alone would fetch at least 10,000 gold coins. As long as there is a contract, the powerful Qian family business has many ways to recover this debt.

"Brother Qian, I was going to draft a contract anyway." Wang Shouzhe said with a serious face, "I am already in contact with a merchant ship. In three days, I will send someone to your warehouse to move 2,000 bags of pest control powder, and the second batch will be moved ten days later. If your business breaches the contract and fails to deliver the goods, you must pay a penalty of three times the value of the goods."

"Brother, rest assured. Our Qian family business has been built on trust for hundreds of years." Qian Zhuzhi said with a very serious expression, "We will deliver the goods on time and in full, no matter what."

"I trust your business's reputation, but this transaction is crucial for our small Ping'an Wang family." Wang Shouzhe said with a serious face, "A written contract will give me peace of mind."

"Since that's the case, let's write it down." Qian Zhuzhi did not think there was any reason for their side to breach the contract, and it was just a transaction of a few thousand gold coins, which was nothing to the entire Qian family.

The two spent a full hour, with Wang Shouzhe being meticulous, to clearly define all the terms of the contract.

When both parties signed the contract, Qian Zhuzhi was already drenched in sweat. He wiped his sweat and smiled wryly, "I've been in business for twenty years, and this is the first time I've seen such a detailed contract and precise wording. But on the other hand, such a detailed contract avoids unnecessary disputes in the future, broadening my horizons and teaching me something."

Hehe~

Wang Shouzhe just smiled. What's this? On Earth, some complex commercial contracts are far more intricate than this rough contract, making it incomprehensible to outsiders.

Finally obtaining the contract, Wang Shouzhe felt a great weight lifted from his heart.

Although he knew that the Qian family business would not breach their trust even without such a detailed contract, the accumulated trust over hundreds of years is the most valuable asset of a business.

As for sending experts to wipe out the family for such a small amount of money, that would be even more impossible.

Considering all these factors, Wang Shouzhe decided to take the risk. There was no other way; the Wang family was too poor, so poor that they had to calculate the cost of even a single "Small Yuan Pill," which would only lead to a vicious cycle.

The only one he felt sorry for was this Qian Zhuzhi.

He was only a minor branch manager in his middle age, clearly not from a high-ranking branch of the Qian family. This loss-making operation would likely make him bear the responsibility from the branch manager.

"Brother Qian, this cooperation has been pleasant." Wang Shouzhe stood up to leave and then whispered, "If everything goes well, I will bring you a great favor in the near future."

Qian Zhuzhi was taken aback but then laughed, "Thank you for your kind words, Brother. I'll see you out, Brother Shouzhe." Laughing and chatting, Qian Zhuzhi escorted Wang Shouzhe to the door.

After leaving the Qian family business, Wang Shouzhe's mood became incredibly pleasant. In just three days, he would significantly alleviate the financial crisis of the Wang family.

"Lord."

Two family guards, who had been waiting outside the door, led the horses over and greeted him respectfully.

"Wang Zhong, Wang Yong." Wang Shouzhe smiled, "I haven't been out for a long time. Accompany me for a good stroll around the city."

"Yes, Lord." The two guards responded respectfully and led the horses, accompanying Wang Shouzhe as he strolled around the city.

During the time of Ancestor Zouxuan, the Wang family had 47 family guards, with the highest cultivation reaching the 9th level of the Qi Condensation stage.

Now, the Wang family has only 9 family guards, with the highest cultivation reaching the 5th level of the Qi Condensation stage.

Family guards are different from servants. They are not slaves but are of the vassal class, yet they are not like guest scholars who are hired on a contractual basis.

Most family guards are trusted confidants cultivated within the family. They have a higher status and better treatment within the family but do not have the freedom to come and go as they please. They are born and die as family guards.

Their fate and life are closely tied to the main family, sharing in its prosperity and decline. Therefore, some families often arrange marriages between collateral or illegitimate children and outstanding family guards. This not only strengthens the bond but also improves the family's bloodline.

The nine family guards of the Wang family today are descendants of the guards personally cultivated by Ancestor Zouxuan, with extremely high loyalty.

"Wang Zhong, I remember your youngest son is about seven or eight years old, right?" Wang Shouzhe asked casually, "Has he qualified for the Xuanwu cultivation?"

Wang Zhong quickly followed two steps behind and replied, "Thank you, Lord, for your concern. My son participated in the spring qualification test this year and was rated as a lower-grade C. He has already entered the clan school and is in the stage of nurturing his meridians."

As he spoke, a smile crept onto his lips, clearly very satisfied with his son's qualifications.

Xuanwu qualifications are divided into those who qualify and those who do not. Whether one qualifies is extremely important, as it indicates the potential for cultivation. Among the lower-grade qualifications, there are four levels: A, B, C, and D. Being rated as a lower-grade C already places one in the second tier, worthy of significant family investment.

"Indeed, a tiger father does not have a dog son." Wang Shouzhe praised, "Teach him well; he will be better than you in the future."

"Thank you, Lord, for your kind words." Wang Zhong's eyes crinkled with a smile. He was 36 years old and had two sons, both of whom qualified for Xuanwu cultivation. His elder son, already 15, would be considered an adult in a year and could become a family guard to serve the family. His younger son, with a lower-grade C qualification, had entered the key cultivation sequence.

On the other hand, Wang Yong, another family guard, looked somewhat embarrassed. He was about the same age as Wang Zhong, married a collateral branch woman of the Wang family, and had a son and a daughter.

His son did not qualify for Xuanwu cultivation and could only study literature, currently working at the silkworm farm at 17. His daughter was only six and had not yet been tested for Xuanwu qualifications. Even if she qualified, she would still be a girl.

"Wang Yong, you need to seize the last few years and work hard with your wife to have another child." Wang Zhong teased, "Who knows, you might have a son with a lower-grade B qualification."

"Go away!" Wang Yong waved his hand impatiently, feeling somewhat gloomy whenever this topic came up.

The three strolled through Changning City, and Wang Shouzhe's memories of Changning City gradually became clearer. The city had a permanent population of about 150,000, with multiple old Xuanwu families residing there. Among them, the Changning Xu family had a relatively close relationship with the Ping'an Wang family.

However, it was just relatively close. The gap between the two families was growing larger, and they were no longer on the same level. Therefore, Wang Shouzhe had no intention of visiting the head of the Xu family.

The Changning Xu family, in addition to operating traditional farms, had a unique special industry focused on silk and cloth workshops.

All the cotton, hemp, and raw silk produced in the Changning region were supplied to the workshops of the Changning Xu family. They produced silk and cloth, which were sold throughout the state, earning them substantial profits.

One of the main industries of the Ping'an Wang family, [Xinmao Silkworm Farm], supplied raw silk to the Changning Xu family.

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