The Farm Girl's Charismatic Fortune

The next day, the family had finished breakfast just as dawn broke, and each turned to their own 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 there.

Ruo Jiang and Madam Jiang stayed at home in charge of printing books. Printing books was considered simpler and more relaxing than farming, and since Madam Jiang was the daughter of a Scholar, she was capable of the task.

In addition, she also took responsibility for supervising the children's calligraphy practice and their recitation of books.

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

In five days' time, Dengfeng Academy's enrollment martial arts competition would begin, while the entrance examinations for Juxian Academy and Bailu Academy would be in ten days.

Ruo Zhou dared not slack off; he practiced every day until he was utterly exhausted before he allowed himself to stop.

Ruo Chuan, before the sky had even lightened, took the tiger, the white fox, and the three wolves to the city to sell. He planned to enter the city as soon as the city gates of the provincial capital opened.

County Town

Ruo Shui had just arrived outside the bookstore, pushing a handcart, when the enthusiastic shopkeeper once again hurried out to help move the books inside, "Mr. Ruo, you've arrived! I have a big business deal here, let's go inside and talk quickly."

Ruo Shui alone carried the remaining several bundles of books inside.

Ruo Xuan agilely leaped down from the horse cart to follow.

Madam Liu remained outside with the cart, which contained a new quilt, cured meat, and freshly butchered wild chicken, wild duck, and wild pigeon—one of each, which she intended to deliver to her father later.

Yesterday, old man Liu had sent someone to ask them to stop by his house when they came to the city.

Impatient, Ruo Xuan rushed in to inquire, "Shopkeeper Grandpa, what big deal are you talking about?"

It was still early, and there were no customers in the bookstore, so the shopkeeper spoke directly, "A merchant from Capital City has placed an order for five thousand books, to be delivered in ten days. Can you make it? He has left a full deposit of four hundred taels of silver here, and he has signed the contract, which he left with me too.

He has business in the neighboring county and couldn't wait for you to discuss it in person, so he signed the contract in advance."

Ruo Shui expressed astonishment, "Five thousand books, that many?"

Indeed, it was a big business deal!

"Yes, if Mr. Ruo's Immortal Technique can produce those, you should consider signing the contract. If you can't make it on time, don't sign, as the amount is substantial. When he comes back next time, I'll decline him on your behalf. After all, I've got students here placing orders too, and we can't be short of the five hundred books every three days.

That merchant does business in all four countries, initially planning to order ten thousand books to sell to neighboring countries. Fearing you couldn't fulfill such a large order on time, I told him five thousand, all for Four Books, Five Classics, and the 'Thousand Character Classic'."

Ruo Shui thought that five thousand books in ten days mean they would need to print an extra five hundred books daily, which was certainly not something he and his second brother could do alone.

Printing was fast, but after printing, there were tasks like binding, which couldn't be hurried.

However, with the help of his mother, wife, elder brother, second sister-in-law, third brother, and sixth brother, and with silver at stake, he saw no reason not to earn it. Ruo Shui then said, "Okay! I'll get some more people to help, five thousand books can be done."

The shopkeeper was surprised to hear this but was also delighted, "Not bad, haha! Here is the contract, take a look. You need to be sure you can produce the books before you sign, as the penalty for breach is substantial, a thousand taels of silver."

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

The shopkeeper, while taking out keys to unlock a drawer and searching for the contract, said, "He originally planned to return to Capital City today, but he decided to stay for ten more days because he liked the books you copied. He doesn't want to wait in vain for ten days, which is why the penalty for breach is set at a thousand taels.

However, the price he's offering per book is also high, eighty wen each. He's selling them to neighboring countries, where our Xuanyuan Country's books are highly prized, hence the high price. But you need to be sure you can produce them before you sign."

Ruo Xuan wasn't worried at all about not being able to print the books; printing ten thousand books was just a matter of expending an Immortal Technique. If one wasn't enough, she would use two, and she could recover in two days.

Of course, she wouldn't use her Immortal Technique unless it was absolutely necessary, as Divine Lord Xuanyuan's angry expression was rather intimidating.

He had ignored her the entire previous day.

Ruo Xuan tugged on Ruo Shui's sleeve, "Dad, agree to it!"

The shopkeeper took out the contract and a silver note worth four hundred taels from the drawer and laid them in front of Ruo Shui, "Mr. Ruo, please take a look. The merchant has already signed his part. If you think you can do it, sign your part, but don't force it if you can't. We at the bookstore are merely facilitating this deal without making any profit, so we won't take any responsibility."

The deal of five thousand books in ten days was too risky; he didn't know if they could produce that many, so the shopkeeper decided not to take a commission and instead just act as a kind intermediary, helping to pass on the deal.

Shopkeeper: "Take a close look, and only commit to what you can handle."

As soon as the contract was unveiled, Ruo Xuan felt something extraordinary about it.

She blinked her big eyes, unable to resist standing on tiptoe to look, but unfortunately, the counter was over a meter high, and she was not tall enough.

Ruo Shui examined the contract and found no traps; five thousand copies of the Four Books and Five Classics, five hundred copies of each book for a total of four thousand five hundred, with the remaining five hundred copies all being the "Thousand Character Classic." All that was required was to deliver on time and in the correct quantity—the number of books could be more but not less, with the extra payment to be made at the time of delivery.

All the book molds were ready-made, and with some late-night efforts, they could meet the deadline.

In ten days, they could make four hundred taels. Even after deducting the cost of paper and ink, there would still be more than three hundred and fifty taels. They must work tirelessly to complete the order!

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

The shopkeeper moved the writing materials over: "If you can do it, don't be afraid to sign. My bookstore doesn't even make three to four hundred taels in a month!"

The bookstore's monthly profit was quite fixed, varying from one hundred to two hundred taels. Sometimes, when they encountered a generous scholar purchasing high-quality inkstones, ink sticks, or famous calligraphy and paintings, they could earn several hundred or even a thousand taels.

"Alright." Ruo Shui signed her name on the two copies of the contract and affixed her fingerprint.

"You'll need to deliver the books to the post station at Shili Slope outside the city. Do you know the place, Mr. Ruo? If not, I'll send someone to guide you when the time comes. The contract also states this; remember to deliver on time."

"Thank you, Shopkeeper. There's no need to inconvenience your people, I know the place." The delivery location was also written on the contract.

"As long as you know."

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

Ruo Shui handed over the contract to Ruo Xuan and safely tucked several silver notes into his chest pocket.

Ruo Xuan took it and glanced at the fingerprint on the signature. This fingerprint was very peculiar; strictly speaking, it wasn't a fingerprint at all, but a rune.

Anyone who received such a contract would sign it.

Was it time for the other party to take action?

Ruo Xuan was exceptionally excited. How many bolts of lightning would heaven send down this time?

Seeing her so earnestly examining it, the shopkeeper couldn't resist teasing her: "Little girl, can you understand what you're looking at? Do you recognize the words on it?"

Ruo Xuan nodded her head: "I do! I recognize them all."

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

In her childish voice, Ruo Xuan started to read aloud: "Sale and purchase contract, I, Hen Yuanzhi..."

As the shopkeeper listened, he could not help but feel a deep respect—could she truly read? Was she able to recite the entire contract?

Worthy of being a master's daughter!

He couldn't help but give Ruo Shui a thumbs-up: "Mr. Ruo's daughter is as impressive as Mr. Ruo himself. Is she four yet? At such a young age, she already knows so many words!"

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

"Admirable! Admirable!"

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

Five thousand books were no small task!