Chapter Thirteen: Calculating Costs in Business

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Chun Nuan felt that children must be involved when working. She had struggled for a long time just to pick a few, but when Chun Ning and Luo Xiaogang arrived, they quickly filled a whole basket.

“Let’s go home.”

Today went smoothly without any danger, a small test proving that her plan could continue.

Luo Xiaogang also made a little money and, holding the coins for the first time, didn’t know what to do with them.

“I want to hide it so my parents don’t see.”

“When I earn more, I want to buy meat to eat. No, wait, I want to buy new clothes to wear. I’ve never worn new clothes before, only hand-me-downs from my older brothers...”

He walked excitedly, chanting as he went, but lost his train of thought near home.

“Sister Chun Nuan, how about you keep my money for me? I can ask you for it when I need it.”

Luo Xiaogang thought for a moment: “I don’t know where to hide money, and I can’t tell them I’m helping you. The best way is not to bring money home.”

This kid was really clever!

“Aren’t you afraid I won’t give you the money?”

“No, your family are good people. Good people don’t cheat.”

Chun Nuan smiled; this child was still too trusting.

“Chun Ning, keep Xiaogang’s money with you and keep track of it.” Chun Nuan said, “Also, keep an account of the money from selling flower cakes today to see if we made a profit.”

“Sis...”

Chun Ning wanted to say, isn’t there already several coins in his pouch? Isn’t that earning money?

“Doing business means calculating costs. The ingredients for frying flower cakes and the twenty coins paid at the dock are costs.” Chun Nuan instructed him, “You and Luo Xiaogang picked flowers, sold cakes, and paid Xiaogang’s wages—these are labor costs.”

“How do we calculate that?”

“Tomorrow, we’ll buy oil and flour.”

“The other ingredients were all gifts from Young Master Zhao.”

“You can ask about the prices of those ingredients, how much per pound, then figure out how much is needed to fry one batch of flower cakes. By calculating the total cost, we’ll know if this business makes a profit or a loss.”

It felt so complicated.

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Much harder than studying!

But now he was the eldest male of the Xiao family; the family had to rely on him, so he had to listen to his sister’s teaching.

Chun Ning nodded in understanding.

The siblings handed over the money earned at the dock to their grandmother.

“Before, it was your eldest uncle’s wife who managed the household expenses.” The old lady hadn’t managed the household for many years; besides, there was little left to manage now. “As the eldest son’s wife, you should still shoulder this burden.”

“Mother, it’s not that your daughter-in-law is unwilling, but she lacks the ability.” Madam Xu quickly stood to report, “Mother, since leaving the capital, we’ve relied entirely on Nuan Nuan’s management. The way to earn money was also her idea. In my opinion, this household should be entrusted to Nuan Nuan.”

“But Nuan Nuan is still a young girl—”

“Mother, I will assist her.” Madam Xu glanced at the two younger siblings and her daughter-in-law Zhu Shi. “Our Xiao household’s inner affairs have always been clean and orderly. After such a great disaster, we must unite to survive. Now the responsibility of supporting the family lies on Nuan Nuan. We cannot do anything else but support her fully. Everyone and everything in the household must follow Nuan Nuan’s arrangements.”

“Mother, sister-in-law, I will obey you.” Madam Xu felt sorry for her daughter but knew that Nuan Nuan truly had this capability. “Though I may be lacking in other ways, I will never be a burden to Nuan Nuan.”

“Me too. Whatever you ask me to do, I will do. Don’t worry, I’ll learn all the household chores.”

Huang Shi was also a daughter of a minor official. She had four children, the eldest Chun Yan aged twelve and the youngest Chun Qiang only two. She feared the family would fall apart. How could she, a woman, raise four children alone?

She had to learn to wash clothes, cook, and chop firewood herself—things once done by servants.

“Grandmother, mother, aunt, I will also follow your instructions.” Pregnant Zhu Shi declared.

“Good, good. Since you all agree.” The old lady turned to Chun Nuan. “Nuan Nuan, the family is entrusted to you.”

“Grandmother...”

“Good child, thank you for your hard work.”

“Alright.”

At this point, Chun Nuan could not refuse.

“By the way, Nuan Nuan.” Madam Xu recalled something. “You said we could do some sewing and embroidery, like making handkerchiefs. Where can we find such work?”

“I’ll ask around.”

Chun Nuan thought of something.

“Grandmother, unless something unexpected happens, we’ll probably be living here for a long time.”

Naturally, the unexpected would be if the emperor graciously pardoned the Xiao family someday.

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That possibility was practically zero. The patriarch had been beheaded; none of the three sons learned medicine. Even if others were pardoned, to the imperial family, they were already useless. There was no one to think of as a royal physician.

“So, your granddaughter plans to lease some land to cultivate grain and vegetables.”

“We don’t know how to farm.” Madam Xu was anxious. Having never done any manual labor, unable to tell the seasons or grains, how could they farm?

“No matter, we can ask neighbors or simply follow what they grow. I know that growing some vegetables means we can eat fresh greens every couple of months, so we won’t have to buy them, reducing expenses.”

Increasing income and cutting expenses was the top priority.

“Nuan Nuan, if you think it’s good, just do it.” The old lady fully supported her, though sadly she could only offer moral support—no manpower or funds.

“Good. When Chun Ning earns some money, we’ll lease some land to farm.”

Chun Ning went to the market to inquire about prices of ingredients, noted them down, and returned, aware that his sister planned to lease land. Now, relying on him to sell flower cakes to make money, the task felt heavier!

“Sis, the ingredients that Young Master Zhao gave us are quite expensive.”

“Then record the prices. When we get back on our feet, you can give him gifts of equal value as a return favor.”

“Okay.” Chun Ning learned a lot from his sister.

He vowed to repay Young Master Zhao’s favor as soon as possible. After all, he was betrothed to a member of the Xiao family and it wasn’t suitable for his sister to be too involved.

At the Zhao residence, Madam Zhao stood before the steward and Aunt Niu.

“Madam, the small kitchen’s ingredients were just purchased two days ago, and today Aunt Niu wants to restock. She also said...”

“Said what?” Madam Zhou glanced at the angry Aunt Niu. This old housekeeper’s temper was worsening. Why couldn’t she speak properly and had to quarrel with the steward?

“Aunt Niu said that some ingredients from the small kitchen were taken by Third Young Master, so they need to be repurchased.” The steward was quite displeased. “Madam, don’t you think this excuse is ridiculous?”

“Madam, the ingredients were indeed taken by Third Young Master. I’m not lying!” Aunt Niu urged. “Yesterday afternoon, Third Young Master packed some ingredients from the small kitchen into a bamboo basket and took them away, even leaving the basket behind.”

Madam Zhou set down her teacup and asked Aunt Niu with curiosity:

“What did he take the ingredients for?”