The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 476: Initial Effects
Jia Lian was originally dissatisfied with the distribution of shares, but now that the business was booming, the profit was 40 taels of silver a day, and 1,200 taels a month. You should know that Wang Xifeng's annual profit from lending money was only about 1,000 taels of silver. The honeycomb coal business made that much money in just one month. How could Jia Lian not be jealous? So he tried to get more shares under the pretext of expanding production and increasing capital.

Unfortunately, this trick was not even a trifle for Jia Huan. He just smiled and said, "Now the workshop has a profit of 1,200 taels a month. In a year, even if it is cut in half, the profit is 7,200 taels. Master Lian wants to buy out my 20% stake by spending an extra 3,000 taels. Isn't it too unrealistic?"

Jia Lian was slightly embarrassed, and he coughed lightly and said, "Huan'er, you can't calculate it this way. There are risks in expanding production. If the secret recipe is accidentally leaked, or if someone cracks the secret recipe and successfully makes honeycomb coal, there will inevitably be a large number of competitors. We may lose money or even lose everything if we expand production. Don't we need to take these unpredictable risks into account? Of course, if Huan'er can come up with three thousand taels of silver, just pretend that I didn't say anything, and we will divide the profits according to the original dry shares."

Jia Huan smiled calmly and said, "With my friendship with the Seventh Prince, it won't be a problem to collect a few thousand silver coins."

Jia Lian's heart sank when he heard this, and he nodded and said, "If that's the case, then each of us will increase our capital by 3,000 taels, and our shares will remain the same."

Jia Huan waved his hand and said, "Wait a minute. Although I agree to expand production, I don't agree to do it all at once. We need to proceed step by step. First, add a workshop. If there is no problem with sales, then add a second one. If it still sells well, it won't be too late to add a third one. Do Second Brother Lian and Brother Rong agree with this?"

"Uncle Huan's idea is safe. I fully agree with it." Jia Rong already owed Jia Huan a favor, and he felt guilty for cooperating with Jia Lian just now. Naturally, he supported Jia Huan at this time.

Jia Lian had no choice but to nod his agreement, but his expression was obviously tense. He was naturally unhappy because he didn't get what he wanted.

At this time, Jia Huan smiled again and said, "Although I came up with the idea and the secret recipe of honeycomb briquettes is also mine, it is Second Brother Lian who has made great contributions to opening up the market so quickly. How about this, within a year, if the profit can exceed 20,000 taels of silver, I will give half of my shares to Second Brother Lian for free. How do you think?"

Jia Lian's eyes lit up and he blurted out, "Are you serious?"

"We can sign a written agreement!" Jia Huan said firmly.

"Rong'er, quickly get some pen and ink." Jia Lian's voice was trembling with excitement.

Jia Rong was full of envy and went to get the pen and ink himself. Jia Huan and Jia Lian then signed the contract and put their fingerprints on it. The latter was so happy holding the contract that he couldn't stop smiling.

Now the monthly profit of a workshop is 1,200 taels. If three more are opened, the monthly profit will be 4,800 taels. Of course, the demand for coal is high in winter, and sales will definitely drop sharply when the weather gets hot. But even if it is split in half, the monthly profit will be at least 2,000 taels. It should be no problem to make a profit of 20,000 taels a year. At worst, we can expand sales to surrounding cities.

Therefore, Jia Lian was very confident and motivated. Don't underestimate this half share. If the annual profit is 20,000 taels, then the half share is equivalent to an extra 1,000 taels of silver, which is not a small amount.

As the saying goes, if you want a horse to run fast, you have to feed it well first. Jia Huan realized that he had underestimated Jia Lian before. Although Jia Lian had many faults of a dandy, he was really good at business and had strong execution. He had built up the honeycomb coal business in less than a month. No wonder Grandmother Jia asked him to be the housekeeper.

Therefore, Jia Huan simply took out half of his shares to motivate him. Now it seems that the effect is undoubtedly very significant. I believe that Jia Lian will work hard next.

In addition, although honeycomb briquettes are very popular nowadays, it is just a monopoly benefit. I believe that in a few months at the earliest and half a year at the latest, counterfeit goods will pop up like mushrooms after a rain. Within one or two years, the quality will catch up with the original ones, and then the monopoly advantage will be gone. Therefore, the only time to make real money is probably this winter, and we must take advantage of this time to seize the market with all our strength.

Consumers have purchasing habits. Generally, once they identify a brand, they will not switch to other brands as long as the price and quality are not much different. Therefore, once the market share is established, even if there are ups and downs, the fluctuations will not be too large. This is one of the reasons why Jia Huan agreed to Jia Lian's increase in production.

Jia Lian now liked Jia Huan more and more. He took the initiative to fill Jia Huan's glass and said with a smile: "Huan'er, Second Brother Lian toasts you and apologizes to you on behalf of your second sister-in-law."

Jia Huan said hurriedly: "I dare not. Just as Second Brother Lian said, let the past be the past. Why mention it again?"

"Hahaha, yes, no need to mention it again!" Jia Lian laughed and drank a cup with Jia Huan, and then said: "By the way, our honeycomb coal workshop must have a resounding name." Jia Huan nodded and said: "That's exactly what I was thinking. Do Second Brother Lian and Brother Rong have any ideas?"

Jia Rong said with a smile, "Uncle Huan is a man of culture, a top scholar in the Southern Zhili Province, well-read, and he is also the largest shareholder. You should come up with the name."

Jia Lian nodded and said, "That's right!"

Jia Huan was not modest either. He hesitated for a moment and said, "How about calling him Wan Jiawang?"

Jia Rong was stunned for a moment, then clapped his hands and said, "Excellent, it is novel, straightforward, auspicious, and easy to remember."

Jia Lian originally thought that Jia Huan would name the place something like Zhai or Xuan, or something like Long Xingsheng or Lao Huangxiang, but he didn't expect it to be so straightforward, not at all like something a scholar would name it. However, it sounded good, so he nodded and said, "Then let's call it Wan Jia Wang. I'll ask a craftsman to make a plaque and hang it up later."

The three of them chatted for a while, and then Jia Huan said goodbye and left. He had an appointment to keep at Yihongyuan.

After Jia Huan left, Jia Rong invited Jia Lian to watch a play in the main courtyard, but the latter refused. Recently, he had been infatuated with a prostitute in Zuiyan Tower and had spent a lot of money on her. If he tried again tonight, he might be able to get close to her and become her first guest to enter the theater.

Just as Jia Lian was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to warn him, "Brother Rong, if your Second Aunt Lian sends someone to look for you, tell them that I am here with Brother Zhen to watch a play and have fun, and I will not be going back tonight."

Jia Rong immediately understood and said with a smile, "Nephew understands!"

Jia Lian then leisurely left Ningguo Mansion and headed straight to Zuiyan Tower with his confidant Xing'er. Today was New Year's Eve, so there was no curfew, allowing the people to celebrate the New Year all night long. Of course, even with a curfew, powerful children like Jia Lian could still walk through the streets unimpeded.

Besides, not long after Jia Lian left Ningguo Mansion, Wang Xifeng indeed sent a servant to look for him. Jia Rong sent the servant away and said, "Second Master Lian is watching a play and having fun here. I'm afraid he won't be back tonight. Tell Second Madam Lian not to wait for him."

The servant returned to Rongguo Mansion to pass on the message. When Wang Xifeng heard that Jia Lian would not come back tonight, she could not help but feel sulky.

During this period of time, Jia Lian was never home, always running outside, and even did not sleep at home at night. Wang Xifeng just thought that he had too many social engagements before the New Year and did not argue. However, tonight was New Year's Eve, the time for family reunion. Wang Xifeng thought that Jia Lian would not leave the house tonight, so she asked Feng'er to prepare some side dishes and a jar of good wine. She originally planned for the couple to have a short reunion, but Jia Lian ran out again and did not come home all night. Naturally, she was very unhappy.

Wang Xifeng is a suspicious person by nature. In addition, Jia Lian has been obviously much colder towards her recently. Not only does he not touch her, he even doesn't touch Feng'er. Can this thieving cat change his nature? Is he keeping a mistress outside?

When she thought of this, Wang Xifeng could no longer sit still. She changed her clothes, took a few maids and servants with her, and went straight to Ningguo Mansion to look for him.

When Jia Rong heard that Second Mistress Lian was coming, he was shocked and wanted to hide away, but it was too late. He saw Wang Xifeng and her men coming in aggressively, and she called out from a distance, "Rong'er!"

Seeing that he could not avoid it, Jia Rong had no choice but to face it head-on, saying with a smile, "What brings Second Aunt Lian here?"

(End of this chapter)