The Farm Girl's Charismatic Fortune-Chapter 81 - 79 Big Business Special Fingerprints

The next morning, as soon as the sky began to brighten, the family had finished their breakfast and busied themselves with their tasks.

Today was the day to deliver books to the bookstore, and Ruo Xuan would not miss the opportunity to go into the city, so she followed her parents to sell books.

Ruo Jiang and the Jiang family were responsible for printing the books at home, which they found simpler and more relaxed than farming. Coming from a Scholar’s family, Mrs. Jiang was well capable of this task.

Meanwhile, she also took charge of supervising the children as they practiced writing and memorized texts.

Ruo Hai was in charge of plowing the fields and training Ruo Zhou in martial arts.

In another five days, the martial arts recruitment competition at Dengfeng Academy would begin, and the entrance exams for Juxian Academy and Bailu Academy were in ten days.

Ruo Zhou did not dare to slack off and trained himself to exhaustion every day before he dared to stop.

Ruo Chuan, before dawn had even broken, took the tiger, white fox, and three wolves into the city to sell, planning to enter the city as soon as the gates opened.

County City

Ruo Shui had just pushed the handcart to the front of the bookstore when the shopkeeper came out enthusiastically to help move the books: "Mr. Ruo, you’ve finally arrived! I’ve got a big deal here, let’s go in and talk quickly."

Ruo Shui alone carried the remaining bundles of books inside.

Ruo Xuan smartly hopped off the carriage and followed suit.

Mrs. Liu also stayed outside with the parked handcart, which held a new quilt, cured meats, and freshly prepared game—chickens, ducks, and pigeons—one of each kind, which she planned to take to her father later.

Just yesterday, Old Man Liu had sent word asking them to visit his home when they came to the city.

Ruo Xuan eagerly ran in and asked, "Shopkeeper Grandfather, what big deal are you talking about?"

It was still early, and there were no customers in the bookstore. The shopkeeper got straight to the point: "A merchant from the Capital City ordered five thousand books, which he needs in ten days. Can you rush the order? He’s already left the full down payment of four hundred taels of silver with me, and he signed the contract as well, which is also here. He has business to discuss in a neighboring county and couldn’t wait for your arrival to discuss in person. So, the contract is already signed."

Ruo Shui was shocked: "Five thousand books? That’s a lot!"

Indeed, it was a big deal!

"Absolutely," answered the shopkeeper. "Mr. Ruo, if your miraculous device can produce the books, you should consider signing the contract. If it can’t be done, don’t sign, as the figure is not insignificant. If he comes again, I will turn him away for you. After all, there are students ordering books from my store, with an order of five hundred every three days that cannot be missed. That merchant does business in four countries. He originally wanted to order ten thousand to sell to neighboring countries, but I feared you couldn’t fulfil that many in time, so I told him five thousand, consisting of the Four Books, Five Classics, and ’Thousand Character Classic’."

Ruo Shui thought about it: five thousand books in ten days meant they needed to print an additional five hundred books every day. Relying solely on himself and his second brother, that indeed would be impossible.

Printing the books was quick, but after printing, they still had to be bound and such, which couldn’t be rushed.

However, with his mother, wife, elder brother, sister-in-law, third brother, and sixth brother all able to help, there was no reason not to earn the silver. Ruo Shui said, "Alright! I’ll find more people to help, five thousand books can be done."

The shopkeeper was surprised by this response but also pleased: "Very good! Here’s the contract for you to review. Be absolutely sure that you can produce the books before you sign it. The penalty for breaking the contract is substantial, one thousand taels."

Ruo Shui frowned upon hearing this: "That much?"

As the shopkeeper took out the keys to unlock a drawer and looked for the contract, he explained: "The merchant was planning to return to the Capital City today. It was only because he was impressed by the books you printed that he agreed to stay an extra ten days. He set the penalty at one thousand taels in case he ended up waiting in vain for nothing. However, he does pay a high price for each book, eighty copper coins per copy. Going to neighboring countries, your Xuanyuan Country’s books are in high demand, hence the premium. But you have to be certain you can produce them before signing."

Ruo Xuan was not worried about failing to print the books at all. Printing ten thousand books would just mean using one Immortal Technique, and if one wasn’t enough, she could use two and recover in two days.

Of course, unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn’t use Immortal Techniques, as Divine Lord Xuanyuan’s angry expression was quite frightening.

He hadn’t even paid attention to her yesterday.

Ruo Xuan tugged at Ruo Shui’s sleeve, "Dad, agree to it!"

The shopkeeper pulled out the contract and four hundred taels worth of silver notes from the drawer, placing them in front of Ruo Shui: "Mr. Ruo, please take a look. The merchant has already signed it. If you feel confident in fulfilling the order, sign it. But if not, you mustn’t force it. Our bookstore is just facilitating the deal and will not make a single coin from it. Therefore, we won’t take any responsibility either."

Five thousand books, ten days time, the risk was too great; he didn’t know if they could manage to copy them all, so the Shopkeeper simply decided not to make any profit and act the good Samaritan by passing on the message.

Shopkeeper: "Take a close look, and don’t overextend yourself."

Once the contract was out, Ruo Xuan could feel there was something extraordinary.

She blinked her large eyes, couldn’t help but tiptoe to have a look, but unfortunately, the counter was over a meter high, and she wasn’t tall enough.

Ruo Shui reviewed the contract, which contained no traps; five thousand copies of the Four Books and Five Classics, with each title needing five hundred copies for a total of four thousand five hundred copies, and the remaining five hundred were to be the "Thousand Character Classic." As long as they delivered on time and in full, the quantity of books could not be less, but could be more; any extra silver needed would be settled upon delivery.

The typefaces for these books were all ready to go; they could catch up by working through the night.

Ten days to earn four hundred taels of silver, less the cost of paper and ink, still left them with over three hundred and fifty taels. They would have to work around the clock, eating and sleeping be damned!

The family was preparing to build a house and clear new land, needing to buy fruit seedlings and medicinal plant seeds; they were in dire need of money.

The Shopkeeper passed over the ink and brush: "If you can do it, there’s no harm in signing. My bookstore doesn’t even make three to four hundred taels in a month!"

The bookstore’s monthly profits were rather fixed, ranging from one hundred to two hundred taels, and only sometimes, when a generous scholar came by to buy top-quality inkstones, ink sticks, or famous calligraphy and paintings, could they make several hundred taels, or even over a thousand.

"Agreed." Ruo Shui signed her name on the two copies of the contract and made her handprint.

"The books need to be delivered to the post station outside the city at Shili Slope, does Mr. Ruo know the place? If not, I can send someone to lead the way when the time comes. It is also written on the contract, remember to deliver on time."

"Thank you, Shopkeeper, no need to trouble your men, I know the place." The delivery location was also written on the contract.

"Good to know."

After Ruo Shui finished signing, Ruo Xuan said, "Dad, I want to look at the contract."

Ruo Shui handed her the contract and slid several silver notes into his pocket to keep safe.

Ruo Xuan took it and glanced at the handprint at the bottom. The pattern of the handprint was very unique; strictly speaking, it was not a fingerprint but a symbol.

Anyone who received such a contract would sign it.

Was the other party about to make a move!

The excitement within Ruo Xuan was extraordinary; how many bolts of lightning would the heavens send down this time?

Seeing her inspect the contract so intently, the Shopkeeper couldn’t resist teasing her: "Little girl, do you understand what you’re reading? Do you recognize the words written on it?"

Ruo Xuan nodded, "Yes! I recognize them all."

The Shopkeeper smiled and said, "Then read it out for Shopkeeper grandpa to hear."

In a youthful voice, Ruo Xuan began to read aloud: "The contract of sale and purchase, I, Hen Yuanzhi..."

As the Shopkeeper listened, he couldn’t help but feel a profound respect; she truly recognized the words? Could she recite the entire contract?

Worthy indeed of a master’s daughter!

Impressed, he gave Ruo Shui a thumbs-up: "Mr. Ruo’s daughter is as impressive as Mr. Ruo himself. Is she four years old yet? Such a young age and she already recognizes so many characters!" freёnovelkiss.com

Ruo Shui smiled proudly, "Three and a half."

"Admirable! Admirable!"

Ruo Shui exchanged a few more pleasantries with the Shopkeeper and then left; he had to visit his father-in-law and then hurry home to print books.

Five thousand books were no joke!