Chapter 17 – Chapter 17: Final Sale_1

“Spot goods refer to items that can be exchanged on the spot, while futures are items to be exchanged on a specified date. Old Brother Qian, didn’t you mention that you need to adjust your inventory, and only able to have the exchange after ten days?” Wang Shouzhe casually explained to him.

“Makes sense. With Brother Shouzhe’s explanations, I can now understand the difference,” responded Principal Qian, his spirits lifting. He gave his eyes a roll and said in a low voice, “Brother Shouzhe, if I’m not mistaken, these 5,000 bags of Insecticide Powder are not from your own inventory, did you find a new business opportunity?”

“Haha, well if Old Brother Qian called it a new business opportunity…” Wang Shouzhe sipped his tea with a grin, “I just help your company clear out its inventory, and I can even make a small profit from it. It’s a win-win situation. Old Brother Qian, name your honest price.”

“Hahaha, a win-win situation, Brother Shouzhe’s suggestion is really interesting. I won’t pry anymore. In this case, I’ll give you a 10% discount for these 5,000 bags of Insecticide Powder, a total of 4,500 Qian Gold.”

“Four thousand!”

“4,200 is the lowest I can go, Brother.”

“4,200 it is, but I intend to make the payment for these goods using the credibility of the Ping’an Wang Family,” Wang Shouzhe said it calmly, “I will pay the 4,200 Qian Gold in full a month from now.”

Principal Qian was momentarily startled, but quickly smiled and said, “This works, but we need to have a contract in place. If you’re unable to make the payment then, our company will have the right to take any steps necessary to collect.”

Even though the Wang family had seen a decline, they were still a Profound Martial prominent family. They had some assets left. Just selling the Fenggu Farm alone would bring in at least ten thousand Qian Gold. As long as a contract was in place, the Qian Family, with their vast resources, would have numerous ways to collect on this debt.

“Even if Old Brother Qian hadn’t mentioned a contract, I was planning to draft one.” Wang Shouzhe said seriously. “I’ve already been in contact with a freighter. I’ll send someone to your warehouse to transport 2,000 bags of Insecticide Powder in three days, and the second batch will follow ten days later. If the company refuses to deliver the goods or cannot deliver them, you have to compensate us three times the value of the goods.”

“Please be reassured, Brother. The credibility of Qian’s line of business has been upheld for hundreds of years,” Principal Qian responded solemnly, “Under all circumstances, we will deliver the goods on time and in full.”

“I trust the credibility of your company, but this deal is of great importance to our little Ping’an Wang family,” Wang Shouzhe continued solemnly, “I’d feel secure if we write it in black and white in the contract.”

“In that case, let’s add it,” Principal Qian didn’t think his company had any reason to default, and this deal of just mere thousands of Qian Gold didn’t matter much to the entire Qian family.

It took the two of them two hours to finalize all the terms of the contract under Wang Shouzhe’s meticulous scrutiny.

After both parties put their signatures on the contract, Principal Qian was covered in sweat. He wiped his brow and chuckled, “I’ve been in the business for 20 years and this is the first time I’ve encountered such detailed contract clauses and careful wording. But having said that, these detailed clauses will indeed prevent needless disputes in the future. It’s been enlightening.”

Hehe~

Wang Shouzhe just smiled. To him, this was nothing. The complexity of some business contracts on Earth far surpasses this rudimentary contract by hundreds of times.

With the contract now in hand, a big stone in Wang Shouzhe’s heart fell to the ground.

Based on his understanding of the Qian family’s business, they wouldn’t breach their own credibility, even if the contract wasn’t this detailed. After all, the credibility built up over hundreds of years is a business’s most valuable asset.

As for dispatching heavy hitters to exterminate him over such a small amount of money? Even more impossible.

Though his Old Ancestor Longyan was on the verge of death, he’s still an old Spiritual Platform expert from the Purple Abode. No one knew what kind of tricks he had up his sleeve. If he decided to let loose regardless of his own well-being, he could very well take out a particular Spiritual Platform individual.

It was with all these reasons in mind that Wang Shouzhe made this risky decision. But he had no other choice. The Wang family was too poor, so poor they had to carefully calculate even for a single “Little Cultivation Pill”. If things continued as they were, they would merely fall into a vicious cycle.

The only one he potentially wronged was Principal Qian.

A middle-aged man who was only a minor principal of a branch in a remote area. It was clear that he didn’t hold much weight within the sprawling Qian family. This unprofitable business could likely make him bear the responsibility.

“Old Brother Qian, it was a pleasure doing business with you this time,” said Wang Shouzhe as he got up to leave. Then he added in a low voice, “If all goes according to plan, I will be doing a great favor for you in the near future.”

Principal Qian was momentarily startled, but then he laughed heartily, “I look forward to your good words, brother. Let me escort you to the door.” With a friendly chat and laughter, Principal Qian saw Wang Shouzhe out the door.

After leaving the Qian Family’s business, Wang Shouzhe’s mood instantly became joyful. In just three days, he would be able to greatly alleviate the financial crisis of the Wang family.

“Family Head.”

Two household heads who had been standing outside the door led the horse over and greeted him respectfully.

“Wang Zhong, Wang Yong.” Wang Shouzhe laughed, “I haven’t been out for a while, accompany me to stroll around Guard City.”

“Yes, Family Head.” Both household heads respectfully responded, leading the horse and accompanying Wang Shouzhe on a leisurely stroll around Guard City.

During the time of Elder Zhou Xuan, the Wang family had a peak of forty-seven household heads, with the highest cultivation base reaching the Vital Energy Refining Realm level nine.

However, the current Wang family only has nine household heads, with the highest cultivation base only reaching the Vital Energy Refining Realm level five.

The household heads differed from servants, they were no longer slaves, but vassals. Yet, they also differed from visiting elders who are contracted outsiders.

The vast majority of household heads are trusted followers cultivated within the family. They have a high status and treatment within the family, but they do not have the freedom to come and go as they please. To live as a household head is to die as a household head.

Their fate and life and death, are all tightly bound with their master’s family. They prosper or decline together with the family. It is for this reason that some families often arrange a union between side-line or illegitimate children and very excellent household heads. One reason is to bind closer, and the second reason is to improve the family bloodline.

The nine household heads of the current Wang family are descendants of household heads personally cultivated by Elder Zhou Xuan; their loyalty is extremely high.

“Wang Zhong, remember your youngest son is about seven or eight years old, right?” Wang Shouzhe casually asked, “Did he pass the Profound Martial talent examination?”

Wang Zhong hurriedly caught up and replied, “The little one has participated in this year’s spring talent examination, achieving a Low Grade Class C attainment. He has started his cultivation initiation in the Clan School and begun the stage of nurturing his meridians.”

As he spoke, a faint smile spread across his face. He was clearly very satisfied with his son’s talent.

The Profound Martial talent was divided into those who passed and those who didn’t. The ability to pass is extremely important, representing potential for future cultivation. And among those who passed, it’s subdivided into four grades: A, B, C, and D. Being rated as Low Grade Class C is already considered the second tier, worthy of significant investment in cultivation by the family.

“A chip off the old block indeed.” Wang Shouzhe praised, “Guide him well, he may exceed you someday.”

“Thanks for Family Head’s blessing.” Wang Zhong laughed until the wrinkles around his eyes piled up. This year he was thirty-six years old and had two sons. Both of them had passed the Profound Martial appraisal, with his eldest son just turning fifteen. In another year, he would reach adulthood and be able to become a household head serving the family. His younger son’s talent had even reached Low Grade Class C, entering the list for special cultivation.

Wang Yong, the other household head, looked rather awkward in comparison. He was about the same age as Wang Zhong, married to a side-line daughter of the Wang family, with a son and a daughter.

His son failed to pass the Profound Martial talent examination and could only learn academics. He was currently seventeen years old and worked in the Silkworm Manor. His six-year-old daughter still had not undergone the Profound Martial talent examination and even if she did pass, she would always be just a girl.

“Wang Yong, you must seize the last few years and work hard with your wife to have another child.” Wang Zhong jokingly suggested, “Maybe you will be lucky and produce a Grade B son.”

“Go away!” Wang Yong waved his hand impatiently. Whenever this topic was brought up, he got a little sulky.

The three of them casually strolled around Changning Guard City, as Wang Shouzhe’s memories of Changning City gradually became clearer. The city had a resident population of about 150 to 160,000 people, inhabited by several old Profound Martial families, among which the closest relationship with the Ping’an Wang family was the Changning Xu family.

But this was just a relatively close relationship after all. The gap between the two families was becoming larger and larger, and they were no longer on the same level. Therefore, Wang Shouzhe had no intention of visiting the Xu Family Head.

Apart from operating traditional farms, the unique business of Changning Xu family mainly revolved around silk and cotton mills.

All the cotton, hemp and raw cocoons produced in Changning Guard area were supplied to several workshops of Changning Xu family. They produced fabric and silk, which were sold throughout the state, earning a considerable profit.

At the same time, the raw cocoons produced by the Xinmao Silkworm Farm, one of the pillar industries of the Ping’an Wang family, were supplied to the Changning Xu family.