Rebirth: Not Being a Waste - Chapter 91

After arriving at the village chief’s house, Zhang Shu jumps out of the cart and knocks on the gate. Soon, someone comes to open the door.

“Hello, Auntie. Is the village chief at home?”

“He is. Come on in.” The village chief’s wife, seeing that Zhang Shu is alone, warmly invites him inside.

“Grandpa, Grandma, get down from the cart,” Zhang Shu says with a smile before circling back to help them down.

“Uncle Zhang, Aunt Zhang, what brings you here today? Come in, quickly.” The village chief’s wife greets them with respect. Though the villagers honor their elders, they don’t overly indulge those who rely solely on their age for authority.

Hearing voices outside, the village chief soon steps out. He looks at Grandpa Zhang and says, “I was planning to visit you at the clinic later. I heard Zhang Shu took you there overnight. Are you feeling better now?”

“It’s nothing serious, thank you for your concern,” Grandpa Zhang sighs. A prosperous family needs a solid foundation, and the village chief’s family is proof of that. Despite his son passing the imperial examination, he still treats ordinary people with kindness. Unlike some scholars who become arrogant after gaining status, the village chief remains humble.

“I wonder what brings Uncle Zhang here today,” the village chief asks. “If it was something urgent, you could have just sent Zhang Shu over to call me. Why come in person?”

“Sigh…” Grandpa Zhang lets out a long sigh. “It’s a misfortune within the family. I fall ill this time because I’m angered by my children.”

The village chief’s expression turns serious. “As juniors, how dare they disrespect their elders? Where are they? Why don’t I see them?” He glances around, stretching his head to look beyond the courtyard, but there’s no sign of them.

Aside from the three members of the Zhang family and the village chief, no one else is present. Li Mujin and the others have already taken another ox cart home.

“Why would they come?” Grandpa Zhang’s face darkens. “At my son-in-law’s banquet yesterday, my second son publicly severed ties with me, and my daughter blindly sided with her husband’s family. I’m completely disappointed.”

He no longer believes in keeping family disgrace a secret. After yesterday’s events, word will spread through the village anyway—better to say it himself than let rumors take hold.

The village chief is furious. The imperial court emphasizes filial piety. For a child to disown their father in public—how can such disgrace be tolerated?

“I will have the men bring Zhang An back immediately!” he declares. As Zhang Yucn is already married, her husband’s family is involved, making intervention difficult. However, Zhang An’s household registration is still in the village, making it easier to handle him.

To maintain order, the village chief often organizes strong men to discipline those who violate village rules. This is permitted by higher authorities—as long as they don’t maim or kill, he has full authority to enforce discipline.

They are the ones who punished Zhang An’s family last time.

“No need,” Grandpa Zhang shakes his head. “I’ve already given up on them. If they want to sever ties, let them do it completely. I’m old—I can’t keep worrying about them. One day, when I die, I don’t want them coming back to take advantage of Ah’shu.”

Just as Zhang An and the others were once expected to be filial and obedient to Grandpa Zhang, if Grandpa Zhang is gone, Zhang Shu would be expected to be filial to his uncle and aunt. Though not to the same extent as one would serve their own parents, the obligation remains.

The village chief frowns. “Are you sure? This is a serious matter.” He isn’t pleased with how things have turned out—having unfilial children in the village reflects poorly on him as the leader. He would have preferred to discipline them properly.

“I’ve thought it through. Please have someone write up the severance documents. Keep two copies for yourself. If they come back to cause trouble after my wife and I pass away, I’ll need your help dealing with them,” Grandpa Zhang says, looking paler and weaker than before.

Grandpa Zhang looks frail, his pale face making him seem even weaker. Hearing his words, which sound like he’s entrusting his final affairs, the village chief solemnly nods. He then calls for Yang Yicheng to come and draft the severance document.

Grandpa Zhang is satisfied. With the document written by a juren, it will carry even greater weight in the future. Yang Yicheng seems destined for a higher position, and having his name on the document makes it even more authoritative.

The village chief initially considers expelling Zhang An’s family from the village, but after some thought, he decides against it. If they are removed, it would be harder to hold them accountable if they cause trouble later.

When Zhang Shu later tells Li Mujin about the matter, the two sit in silence for a while before putting it behind them. After all, their elders have done this for their sake.

After severing ties, the Zhang family remains somber for some time. First, it is a painful matter—family bonds are not so easily cut. Yet now, a thin piece of paper completely severs their connection. Even though the elderly couple have come to terms with it, sadness is inevitable.

Secondly, Grandpa Zhang’s health has yet to recover. A once strong and capable man has been worn down by his own children. Without proper care, he might never regain his former strength.

However, the arrival of an unexpected guest soon lifts the gloom.

“Bang, bang, bang!” Someone knocks on the courtyard door.

Yu Xiaoliu runs to open it, only to see a familiar face.

“Master Hu? What brings you here? Come in!” He turns back to the yard and shouts, “Brother Shu, come out quickly! Master Hu is here!”

Zhang Shu can’t hear clearly from inside the house. He wonders, What Hu Ye? But when he steps outside, he freezes in surprise.

(Translator’s Notes:”Hu Ye” (虎爷) literally translates to “Lord Tiger” or “Tiger Master” in Chinese. It is a respectful title often used in folklore and religious contexts to refer to a tiger spirit or deity.)

“Brother Hu? Why are you here? Come in and have a seat!”

Hu Caiwang chuckles. “What? Surprised to see me? Don’t be in such a hurry to invite me in—I have someone to introduce to you first.”

A thin man with bright eyes and a shrewd demeanor steps forward. “Boss Zhang, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Zhang Shu is taken aback. He doesn’t recognize this man—why has he heard of him?

Hu Caiwang laughs. “Brother Zhang, this is Shopkeeper Chu Mo, a trusted confidant of Young Master Chu. He’s here to do business with you.”

Chu Mo seems to remember something and claps his hands. Two servants step forward, each carrying a basket.

“This is the sweet potato my young master sent. As you requested, we picked only the largest ones.”

Zhang Shu’s heart pounds with excitement. He picks one up and breaks off a small piece. A drop of milky-white liquid seeps out—it’s a variety rich in starch! If he plants these, he can produce sweet potato flour next year.

“Thank you, Young Master Chu!” Zhang Shu says excitedly. He has hardly dared to hope for this. Such things are often beyond reach, and Nanhai County is so far away that he expects to make the trip himself. He never imagines that Young Master Chu would keep his promise and send them all the way here. How can he not be grateful?

“You’re too polite, Boss Zhang,” Chu Mo says with a smile. “The potato vermicelli our master brought back in the first half of the year sells incredibly well. Northerners love it—almost every household adds some to their dishes. It’s delicious, filling, and in constant demand. Once it’s sold out, people are left waiting eagerly for the next batch.”

Zhang Shu hesitates. “But the autumn potatoes haven’t been processed into vermicelli yet. If you can wait, it’s already mid-September—perhaps in another month or two, they’ll be ready.” His meaning is clear—he assumes they have come to buy more vermicelli, but since he has none available, he feels bad for wasting their trip.

Chu Mo shakes his head. “Boss Zhang, you’ve misunderstood. We’re not here to buy vermicelli this time—we’re here to discuss another business opportunity with you.”

Hu Caiwang cuts in. “Brother Zhang, let’s not stand around talking in the courtyard. Invite Shopkeeper Chu inside.”

Realizing his lapse in hospitality, Zhang Shu quickly leads them to the main hall, then goes to the kitchen to fetch two bowls of tea.

Hu Caiwang sits for a while, then stands up knowingly and says, “I noticed some interesting things in the yard just now—I’ll go take a look around.”

Once Hu Caiwang leaves, Chu Mo turns to Zhang Shu. “Our young master has been considering something. If we only buy vermicelli, the cost of transportation alone outweighs the profit, making it a losing business in the long run. A more sustainable solution is needed. So, our young master hopes to discuss another kind of business with you.”

Zhang Shu thinks carefully about his words. If they’re not here just to buy vermicelli, what could they want? Then, he recalls something Young Master Chu once mentioned—his household has an abundance of potatoes. Could it be…?

Zhang Shu’s eyes flash with understanding. “Is Young Master Chu looking to buy the vermicelli-making recipe?”

Chu Mo smiles. “Boss Zhang is as astute as they say. That’s exactly what we want.”

Zhang Shu hesitates. Right now, his family is the sole producer of vermicelli—he has a monopoly. But once the recipe is out, wealthier merchants could outcompete him, producing more at a larger scale. Where would that leave him?

It’s like having a golden hen that lays eggs every day—steady, reliable profit. But now, someone wants to take the hen away. What should he do?

Chu Mo sees the hesitation in Zhang Shu’s expression. He gives him time to think, then adds, “Let me make one thing clear, Boss Zhang. If we acquire the recipe, we will only produce vermicelli in the north and sell it in the northern market. We won’t interfere with business in the south. You will still have full control over your region.”

This eases Zhang Shu’s concerns. If that’s the case, then he can consider it. It’s not as though he’s losing everything—he will still have his own market.

Seeing his expression soften, Chu Mo presses on. “Boss Zhang, I know you have ambitions. Why not sell us the recipe and use the money to expand your business? You know as well as I do—if you can’t scale up production, no matter how good your product is, people will turn elsewhere.”

Zhang Shu is moved. He has been struggling with limited land and production, making only one or two hundred taels at a time. His and Jin’er’s child will soon be born, and there will likely be more children in the future. If he wants them to study and succeed, he needs far more money than what he’s making now.

After a long moment of contemplation, he makes his decision.

“I’m willing to sell. How much is Young Master Chu offering for the recipe?”

Chu Mo raises one finger.

Zhang Shu thinks, A hundred taels? That’s not bad, since the recipe itself is simple. But… it still feels a bit low.

“One thousand taels!” Chu Mo announces. “Our young master is offering one thousand taels!”

Of course, this isn’t their final offer—haggling is part of business.