After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

Gu Lin was surprised, not by the booming sales of soap and bar soap, but by the fact that Fang Jiyue had sold the soap and bar soap to the capital and Jiangnan region first.

Thinking about it carefully, it's not surprising. All the prefectures of the Great Qian Dynasty take the things popular in the capital and Jiangnan as fashion. If Fang Jiyue first makes a name for his soaps in the capital, then it will be easier to sell them in other places.

Gu Lin offered a few polite compliments to Fang Jiyue, and then said to the servant, "Since the formula for the scented soap and bar soap has been sold to your young master, I will simply collect my share of the profits."

Unlike before when he looked down on Gu Lin, after witnessing the money-making power of soap and bar soap, the servant felt that if his young master could marry Boss Gu, he would undoubtedly be holding a treasure trove.

With a smile, the servant pulled a thin envelope from his clothes and presented it to Gu Lin with both hands, saying, "Mr. Gu, this is the profit share from the soaps sold in Jiangnan and the capital, totaling ten thousand taels of silver. Please check it."

"Ten thousand taels of silver?"

A look of surprise flashed across Gu Lin's eyes as he glanced at the servant.

He remembered the price he and Fang Jiyue had set for the soap. Although it was expensive, it shouldn't be so high that the profit sharing between the two of them would amount to that much.

Thinking of the silver that had been flowing into the young master's purse like water over the past few months, and his own increased monthly salary, the servant became even more amiable towards Gu Lin, saying, "There are countless wealthy families in the capital and Jiangnan. The young master has raised the price of soap by ten taels. Ten taels is a huge sum for ordinary people, but for those ladies, it's just the price of a snack. Moreover, after experiencing the benefits of soap, no one can resist the temptation. Those ladies are afraid that the soap will be sold out, so they bought a lot at once."

"If it weren't for your and the young master's foresight in stocking up on so much inventory, our soaps and bar soaps would have sold out in less than five days."

As he spoke, the servant handed the silver notes to the man, saying, "This is just the beginning, Mr. Gu. You can rest assured and wait to receive your money."

Gu Lin smiled slightly and said, "Thanks to Young Master Fang, I can sit back and wait for the money to flow into my pocket from now on."

After handing over the dividends and congratulatory gifts to Gu Lin, the attendant took his leave.

Gu Lin has received huge dividends from the cooperation with Tongfang Jiyue on numerous occasions.

Previously, the amount was only a few thousand taels, but this time it increased several times, suddenly reaching ten thousand taels.

After several years of experience, Gu Lin managed to keep his composure and managed not to show any excessive surprise in front of the servants.

Holding Gu An in his arms, Gu Lin slowly calmed down.

With Good Fortune Tower around, Gu Lin wasn't short of money, so he didn't intend to keep the ten thousand taels in his possession.

The city is vast, and although his Good Fortune Restaurant is famous, it cannot compare to those established brands in terms of heritage. If he wants to expand his business, he needs to expand his operations, and the best way to do that is to continue opening restaurants.

Furthermore, the new restaurant should ideally follow the same model as Hao Yun Lou, without making any innovations.

That's right, Gu Lin wants to create a chain brand. He doesn't expect it to be like modern brands such as Huashi or Yangfu, which have branches all over the country, but at least Haoyunlou should be found all over Fucheng.

Using the same model at the same time is to prevent others from interfering. Good Luck Restaurant has taken away many customers from other restaurants by relying on innovation and quality. Naturally, many people will feel resentful and come to cause trouble out of envy. The magistrate's brother-in-law in front is the best example.

Gu Lin originally thought he had been careful enough, but after going to the yamen, he realized that he had trusted Fu Manlou and Fang Jiyue too much.

His relationship with the other party was merely a business transaction, at most a business partner and an ordinary friend. How could he possibly think that the other party would risk offending a prefectural magistrate to save him?

Until he has the ability to protect himself, Gu Lin will not reveal any other new ideas.

When Zheng Hao returned home in the evening, Gu Lin noticed that his hands were empty and knew that the gift had been given.

Without Gu Lin asking, Zheng Hao took the initiative to recount his visit to the scholar during the day: "Mr. Zhou had arranged for a scholar to act as my guarantor in advance, and today I went to visit him with the invitation given by Mr. Zhou. After the scholar tested my knowledge, he agreed to act as my guarantor."

After learning from the other party that everything was settled, Gu Lin breathed a sigh of relief and said to Zheng Hao, "For the next year, just focus on your studies. Don't worry about the family. I'm waiting for you to pass the imperial examination and become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examination). When that happens, I'll open a new restaurant called Juren Lou (Juren Restaurant)."

As he spoke, a teasing smile crossed Gu Lin's face.

Zheng Hao's expression softened slightly, his demeanor neither arrogant nor impatient, but his tone remained firm as he said, "Uncle Gu, you can wait another year."

.

After closing Good Luck Restaurant, Gu Lin took Gu An home. When they got to their door, Gu Lin saw an oxcart parked outside.

Gu Lin had some guesses about this.

He quickened his pace, leading Gu An to the front door. Sure enough, through the wide-open door, he saw Zhao's wife and brother in the previously empty courtyard.

Not only that, Gu Lin's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Brother Lin." Turning her head, she saw the young man and boy standing at the door and called out in surprise.

As Gu Lin entered the courtyard, his gaze involuntarily fell on the thin figure behind Zhao's wife. However, rather than inquiring about the person's background, Gu Lin was more concerned about how Zhao's wife and her husband had fared during their time back in the county town, how the baby's one-month celebration went, and whether Yu's wife had suffered any health problems after giving birth.

Thinking this through, Gu Lin asked one question after another.

"Oh dear, speak slowly, speak slowly," Sister Zhao said repeatedly.

From the first question to the second, Sister-in-law Zhao answered carefully: "Your brother Zhao and I have had a good time these past two weeks. We first went back to Xiahe Village for a few days, and then went to the county town for a few days. We had plenty to eat and drink every day, and we weren't having any trouble getting used to it. The only thing that felt uncomfortable was that you and Gu An weren't around. Even though you two are usually quiet and don't talk much when you're with me, I feel like there's a lot of life and it's lively when you're around."

"Speaking of Brother Yu's child's full moon celebration, you don't know how grand it was if you didn't attend! Many families in the county only hold a few tables and invite close relatives for a meal when they have a full moon celebration for their child."

Yu Ge'er's family prepared over a dozen tables of food, inviting the entire village to their house for his baby's one-month celebration. The dishes were delicious, with pork, duck, fish, and all sorts of meats. That day, everyone in the village ate to their heart's content. For the next ten years or so, whenever someone held a one-month celebration, people would probably compare it to Yu Ge'er's.

Hearing about the grand celebration of Yu Ge'er's baby's one-month celebration, Gu Lin was also pleased, and then asked, "Sister-in-law, you've said so much, but you haven't said whether Yu Ge'er gave birth to a boy, a girl, or a boy?"

Sister Zhao clapped her hands and said regretfully, "I almost forgot to tell you, Brother Yu gave birth to a boy this time. The full moon gift you prepared for the child was too expensive, and to avoid attracting envy and covetousness, on the day of the full moon celebration, after everyone else left, I secretly went to Brother Yu and gave him the gold necklace and gold bracelet you prepared for the child."

Although Yu-ge'er was somewhat disappointed that you couldn't attend in person, he understood your difficulties. Before I returned, he repeatedly asked me to convey his gratitude to you, and also mentioned that he was currently unwell after giving birth, but would come to the prefectural city to serve you after completing his postpartum confinement and handing over the affairs of Happiness Building and Happiness Residence to reliable people.

Hearing that Yu Ge'er not only didn't blame him for breaking his promise, but also expressed his willingness to come to the prefectural city to continue working with him, Gu Lin didn't know whether to feel touched or helpless, considering that the other party was already thinking so much even before she had finished her postpartum confinement.

Gu Lin said to Zhao's wife, "I also hope that Brother Yu can come and help me soon. I still don't have enough manpower. I have to think twice before opening a new restaurant."

Looking at the young man with a melancholy expression on his face, Sister Zhao said with a mix of laughter and scolding, "You should be content. Look around, how many people can go from Xiahe Village to the prefectural city in just a few years like you?"

"I don't understand any grand principles, but I know that you have to take things one step at a time, and you have to eat one bite at a time. No one can become fat in one bite."

Zhao's words of comfort reached Gu Lin's ears, and the worry on his face gradually disappeared.

Then, Gu Lin asked Zhao's sister-in-law with concern, "Sister-in-law, did Yu'er suffer any physical damage from giving birth in winter?"

Winter's cold and snowy weather is particularly unfriendly to women and men who have just given birth, especially when their bodies are weak and vulnerable to wind and cold. If they are not careful to avoid catching a cold, it may be a minor issue, but the real danger is that it could lead to long-term health problems.

Sister-in-law Zhao waved her hand and said, "Everything is fine. Although it was Yu'er's first pregnancy, the delivery went very smoothly. Other girls would have to endure a whole night of labor pains to give birth the first time, but Yu'er gave birth in just two hours."

Sister-in-law Zhao said, "But Brother Yu is really stubborn. Three days after giving birth, when he was able to get up and walk, he wanted to go back to work at the restaurant. Fortunately, Chen Xiaoliu and Chen Laoliu persuaded him to stop, otherwise Brother Yu would never have taken a postpartum confinement."

She finally agreed to take care of herself during her postpartum period, but Yu-ge'er was still a handful. He wasn't comfortable completely entrusting the affairs of Xingfu Lou and Xingfu Ju to Chen Xiaoliu and the others, fearing they might make mistakes. So, he had Chen Xiaoliu bring the account books home for him to review every day. However, it was thanks to his meticulousness that Xingfu Ju and Xingfu Lou were managed so well, without the slightest mess.

Hearing from Sister Zhao that Yu-ge'er was doing well, Gu Lin felt relieved. At this moment, his attention returned to the girl standing behind Sister Zhao.

The other person hasn't said a word since I came in.

At first, because the other person was thin, kept his head down, and was dressed in men's clothing, Gu Lin thought the other person was a boy.

But when he was talking to Sister Zhao, Gu Lin noticed that she raised her head once. Although the movement was quick, Gu Lin still saw her delicate and gentle face and determined that she was a young girl.

Aunt Zhao also noticed Gu Lin's gaze. She turned slightly to the side and grabbed the girl's arm behind her, saying, "Xiao Cui, say hello to your Uncle Gu."

The girl was timid. Gu Lin watched as she slowly raised her head. Even though she didn't dare to look him in the eye, she still tried her best to look into his eyes.

Xiao Cui greeted him softly, "Hello, Uncle Gu."

Seeing her terrified niece, Sister-in-law Zhao patted her hand to comfort her, then turned to Gu Lin with a sigh and said, "Brother Lin, this is my eldest sister's daughter. Years ago, my eldest sister followed her husband's family to settle in the south. Although we lived in the north and south, we would exchange letters every year. Last year, I sent a letter but did not receive a reply from my eldest sister, which gave me a bad feeling. Sure enough, when I returned this time, I saw that Brother Yu had taken in Xiao Cui, who had fled from the south. My eldest sister's family of six fled from the south to the north, and apart from Xiao Cui, everyone else died."

At this point, Zhao's wife, who had lived most of her life and witnessed countless births, aging, sickness, and deaths, couldn't help but shed tears as she faced the passing of her beloved relative.

Her voice choked with emotion as she said, "I had heard that the floods in the south were very serious, but my eldest sister lived far away from the disaster area, so I thought she wouldn't be affected. But who would have thought that natural disasters and man-made calamities would leave only a little girl in our once happy family of six. If it weren't for... if it weren't for her uncle being a kind man who was willing to protect her and bring her to the prefectural city, I don't even want to think about how Xiao Cui would have survived on the road of fleeing the disaster."

Even if they survived, it would probably be worse than death.

Looking at the heartbroken and distressed Sister Zhao in front of him, Gu Lin's mood gradually became heavy.

Last year, Gu Lin learned about the floods in the south, and refugee camps were still set up at the gate of the prefectural city to accommodate refugees who had fled from the south.

Seeing the emaciated people lying in the dilapidated thatched huts, their sunken eyes empty and lifeless, Gu Lin felt extremely distressed.

He did his best to provide porridge and donate old clothes to the refugees, but it was still a drop in the ocean.

Gu Lin felt bad for these strangers, let alone the fact that it was Zhao's sister-in-law's family that had gotten into trouble...

Every word that came out of Zhao's red lips and white teeth was filled with blood and corpses. No amount of comfort could save the person who had lost their loved one.

Gu Lin said softly, "Please accept my condolences, sister-in-law."

Zhao's sister-in-law wiped away her tears and said, "I've lived for decades and seen many life and death events. People always have to look forward. What I need to do now is take good care of Xiao Cui and let my elder sister rest in peace."

Seeing that Sister Zhao was not defeated by this incident, Gu Lin's heavy mood eased slightly.

He glanced at Xiao Cui, then said to Sister Zhao, "Xiao Cui has been on the run for a long time, and her body is probably very weak. Let's find a doctor to take a look at her first, and then we'll make further plans."

The implication was that Xiao Cui should stay there.

Tears welled up in her eyes again, and Sister Zhao said to Gu Lin with gratitude, "Brother Lin, thank you so much. You have helped our family so much."

Gu Lin took out a handkerchief and handed it to Sister Zhao, frowning slightly as he said, "Sister Zhao, what are you saying? As the saying goes, family members don't speak like strangers. Since we all consider each other family, let's not say such hurtful things."

"Alright, alright." Zhao's wife took the handkerchief to wipe her tears, then changed the subject and said, "I appreciate your kindness. I know that Zheng is going to take the imperial examination next year and can't be disturbed. The house I bought hasn't been rented out yet, so I'll let Xiao Cui move in after that."

Seeing the disapproval on Gu Lin's face, Sister-in-law Zhao spoke up.