Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

Chapter 280: Chapter 278: Development

Liyang, and indeed the vast majority of Jiangzhou, was fertile plains.

This land was ideal for farming, which meant dense forests were rare and lumber was extremely scarce.

To build a respectable estate, most of the construction materials had to be shipped in from other regions.

Chen Li knew from personal experience just how exorbitant the shipping costs were.

Previously, just rebuilding a three-courtyard residence for Wang Shihui’s family had cost 2,300 taels of silver.

Had it been in a mountainous region, it might have only cost several hundred taels of silver.

The majority of the expense was spent on transporting lumber and stone.

But a small courtyard complex like that was no longer nearly enough to meet the Chen Family’s needs.

Chen Li estimated that, thinking long-term, the residence his family needed to build would be comparable in size to a small market town.

The cost of such a large-scale construction project would be even more staggering.

And for a project of the same specifications, the cost would only be higher, never lower.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered other options, like trying to manufacture the cement from his past life to build houses.

But setting aside the fact that he only had a vague concept of it with no specific formula or process, even if he managed to create it, building a house was a true technical skill, involving knowledge of structure, load-bearing, design, and much more.

He hadn’t worked in civil engineering in his past life. These were not problems that could be solved by imagination alone.

Even consulting with craftsmen wouldn’t be something that could be accomplished overnight.

’Whatever. If it costs more silver, so be it.’

Chen Li could only console himself with that thought.

After mulling it over, he decided it was best to build according to the rules of this world.

But the mere mention of silver gave Chen Li an even bigger headache.

Over the past few years, the Chen Family’s main sources of income included the following large sums.

The tax silver from Mirror Mountain: eight hundred thousand taels.

From the Eight Generals of Wind Gate: two hundred thousand taels of silver and two thousand taels of gold.

From the spoils after wiping out the Liu Family: ten thousand taels of gold.

Furthermore, besides the significant income from selling silkworm cocoons and raw silk, all other miscellaneous earnings only amounted to about twenty thousand taels of silver.

At first glance, the family’s assets seemed quite substantial.

However, a look at their expenditures was shocking.

The biggest expense was, without a doubt, the family’s Cultivation.

In the past two years, Chen Li’s own Cultivation, including the medicinal ingredients he purchased, had cost him over four hundred thirty thousand taels of silver.

This was mainly spent on two things: the Sweet Wind Jade Dew Heaven-Repairing Creation Pill and the Eight Treasures Spirit Nourishing Soup.

A single portion of the former cost two thousand taels of silver, while a portion of the latter cost five hundred taels.

And that was just for him alone.

His eldest son, Shouheng, had taken a total of two thousand eight hundred taels of gold for his Cultivation at the He Niu Martial Arts Academy and to handle a fine at the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau.

His second son, Shouye, had spent over sixty thousand taels of silver on his daily Cultivation.

His wife, Song Ying, his daughter, Shouyue, and his concubine, Liu Yun, consumed Medicinal Cuisine less frequently than Shouheng and Shouye.

After all, the Eight Treasures Spirit Nourishing Soup was extremely effective, and since they were still in the Qi Realm, one portion a month was sufficient.

But even so, at one portion of Eight Treasures Spirit Nourishing Soup per person each month, the cost for the three of them over two years was nearly forty thousand taels for the Medicinal Cuisine alone.

This was only what was spent on everyone’s Cultivation.

On top of that were the daily living expenses for the large family’s food, clothing, and other necessities, which was another considerable sum.

Then there were the costs of adding silk-reeling machines and looms, expanding the workshops and silkworm nurseries, and paying the craftsmen’s wages.

And the Cultivation Resources and silver taels given to Bai San, Shu Qi, Linglong, Liu Zongying, and the others.

Plus the silver coins invested in developing the family’s martial strength...

When all these miscellaneous expenses were tallied up, the amount was astounding.

The total expenditure over more than two years was a staggering seven hundred forty thousand taels.

Now, the Chen Family’s accounts showed only a little over two hundred sixty thousand taels of liquid silver remaining.

As for gold, there were still nine thousand two hundred taels left.

On average, that amounted to an annual expenditure of three hundred seventy thousand taels.

Although things like building a residence and making looms were one-time investments with future returns and didn’t need to be counted as daily expenses, it was almost a certainty that expenses would grow in the future as his children’s Cultivation levels increased.

’We’re just burning through our fortune!’

Looking at the account book, Chen Li let out a long sigh, feeling a headache more intense than any he’d ever had before.

If he didn’t touch the gold, the existing silver in the accounts would likely not even be enough to support the family’s normal operations for the next year, let alone a massive construction project.

And this was just the current state of affairs.

Now that Zhou Shuwei had married into the family, her Cultivation expenses naturally had to be included.

After Li Jinru gave birth to his eldest grandson, Zhiyuan, she had also begun practicing the Five Grains Qi Storage Technique, and that cost had to be factored in as well.

Once his daughter, Shouyue, broke through to the Spirit Realm, one portion of Eight Treasures Spirit Nourishing Soup a month would certainly not be enough; increasing it to three or four portions would be normal.

Not to mention his eldest son Shouheng, second son Shouye, and even his daughter-in-law Zhou Shuwei—when they eventually broke through to the Divine Hall Pass, they would surely need the even more expensive Sweet Wind Jade Dew Heaven-Repairing Creation Pill.

The expenses then would likely flow like water.

And after he himself reached the Divine Intent Pass and began cultivating Guiyuan, the resources and silver required would be incalculable.

Looking at their income, on the other hand, aside from the yet-to-be-consolidated profits from the Zhou Family’s businesses, the family’s current stable income depended mainly on its more than nine hundred and fifty acres of farmland.

Even when all the mulberry trees matured, the total annual income from the silkworm cocoons would, under ideal conditions, only amount to a little over fifty thousand taels—not even a fraction of their yearly expenses.

Even if they were to reel the silk and weave it into brocade, after deducting all costs, the profit would only be around one hundred fifty thousand taels.

Compared to their enormous expenditures, their income still wouldn’t cover their costs.

Money! Money! Money!

Chen Li rubbed the bridge of his nose, the word echoing in his mind.

After meticulously calculating the accounts, his grand idea of a massive construction project had been mostly extinguished.

’Better to wait until things are more stable,’ he thought helplessly.

Right now, the fastest way Chen Li could think of to replenish their silver was the stash of at least five thousand taels of gold that Gossip had mentioned.

If he could get his hands on it and exchange it for silver on the Black Market, it would be worth one million taels, enough to support the family’s operations for two or three years.

But this was ultimately a stopgap measure, not a long-term solution.

If their income couldn’t cover their expenditures, they would be spending tomorrow’s earnings today. When tomorrow’s earnings were gone, how would they sustain themselves?

Unless... they went back to robbing and pillaging, wiping out entire families.

But even then, like with the Liu Family, they could only bring back gold.

Hauling back large quantities of silver taels was impossible.

As the account book was closed, a brief silence fell over the family members.

The charcoal brazier let out an occasional, soft crackle.

Chen Li’s gaze swept over his family seated around him.

"This is, more or less, the family’s situation," Chen Li said, breaking the silence. "Let’s hear it. How should we move forward? Does anyone have any ideas?"

Although the brothers Shouheng and Shouye had helped Chen Li and Song Ying manage the family’s affairs over the years, they mostly just followed orders or handled specific tasks.

This was the first time the income and expense ledgers had been laid out so completely before them.

They had only ever known that their parents never skimped on the silver coins needed for their Cultivation, but they had never considered how the vast amounts of gold and silver required to maintain the family were earned.

Shouheng’s job ringing the bell at the He Niu Martial Arts Academy only earned him a monthly salary of three hundred taels.

Shouye and his wife, Li Jinru, ran an apothecary, but a month of hard work only brought in one or two hundred taels of silver.

Their meager earnings were a drop in the ocean compared to the family’s expenses.

For a moment, they had no idea what to do.

As for Shouyue, Jinru, Liu Yun, and the others, they were even more at a loss.

In the heavy silence, it was the new daughter-in-law, Zhou Shuwei, who spoke first. "The remaining businesses from the Zhou Family, such as rent from farmland and income from storefronts, can still bring in about forty thousand taels a year after expenses. If... if we could get the Textile Workshop back, it should generate around one hundred thousand taels a year."

She paused, a hint of helplessness in her voice. "However, the key to that profit lies in reacquiring the Official Tribute Contract from the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau. The old contract is now void, so that path is temporarily closed. As for the ordinary silk trade..."

At this, she shook her head slightly. "Right now, the Jiangzhou area is filled with silk shops, and the market is already saturated. If we want to move a large volume of goods, we would need trade routes to sell silk far away in the north, the Northern Desert, the Western Regions, or by sea to places like Nanyang.

"If we only open a Silk Shop in Jiangzhou, in my humble opinion, we might be able to establish ourselves at the high end and build a reputation. The Zhou Family’s Floating Light and Shadow Brocade is highly favored by the Noble Families in Jiangzhou and even in the Capital City. This was why the Textile Bureau valued it in the past, with a single bolt selling for as much as three hundred taels at its peak.

"If we can use this to break into the market and gain a foothold, we can then gradually expand downward to capture the mid- and low-end markets. However, weaving the Floating Light and Shadow is extremely difficult. A skilled master weaver, even with two apprentices assisting, can only produce about five bolts a year.

"Although the family now has ten master weavers, expanding our scale by recruiting more apprentices and passing on the skills is not something that can be accomplished overnight. It will take time to build up."

Chen Li listened quietly, nodding slowly.

While Zhou Shuwei hadn’t offered a solution with immediate results, the path she pointed out was practical and feasible. Her assessment of the market, in particular, was very pertinent.

This brought him a small measure of comfort.

It was true that his family had risen too quickly. Their foundation was insufficient, their roots shallow; they were like the textbook definition of nouveau riche.

It was only natural that they found themselves in a situation where their income couldn’t cover their expenses.

In this world, there were no shortcuts to reaching heaven in a single step.

More often, one had to rely on patience, using time to slowly temper and strengthen one’s foundation.

You have to eat one bite at a time, and you have to walk one step at a time.

"Shuwei’s words are reasonable."

Chen Li fell silent for a moment before making a decision. "The matter of selling silk cannot be rushed, but it also cannot wait. Shouye..."

He looked at his second son. "After the New Year’s festivities, go to Mirror Mountain and Liyang and find a good storefront in each. You can ask Qian Laibao to help you scout them out. We’ll start by opening two Silk Shops.

"They don’t need to be large, but you must hire someone to redesign and decorate them to be as lavish as possible. We will specialize in high-end silks, so we have to get the appearances right. We must establish Floating Light and Shadow as a premium brand."

Chen Shouye replied, "Yes, Father. I will see it done."

Chen Li’s gaze then turned to Zhou Shuwei. "Shuwei, those ten master weavers are old hands from your Zhou Family. I’ll have to ask you to discuss with them the matter of taking on many apprentices and passing down their skills."

Zhou Shuwei nodded. "I understand."

The family then discussed the details further.

BANG... POP!

Outside the window, a firecracker exploded.

A brilliant firework shot into the air, blooming against the inky black sky and casting flickering light upon everyone’s faces.

The New Year had quietly arrived.

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