Zhang Dahai and Wu Caiwei happily rented a courtyard and settled down. Neither of them was the type to live off their savings. After investigating, they decided to start with winemaking, which Gao Feixue was most familiar with.
The Gao family's recipes had already been sold, so the two of them got together to develop new varieties.
Fortunately, they had lived through several lifetimes together, had seen a lot, enjoyed research, and liked to collect things. This was not particularly difficult for them. Within a few days, they had developed several new varieties.
They found an agent, rented a shop, decorated, and opened for business. The business was not very good at first. Wu Caiwei had confidence in her wine. After all, before opening the small tavern, they had gone to major taverns in the capital to taste others' wines. She wasn't boasting, but others' wines really couldn't compare to hers. So, she took some wine and offered free samples to people on the street.
This tasting opened up their reputation, and business gradually picked up. Since ancient times, the profit from wine has been very large. To earn more money, they also contacted major restaurants in the capital and sold their wines to them at a price 30% below market value.
As their business grew, they constantly recruited people. Of course, one should not have the intention to harm others, but one must guard against others. Whenever wine was transported out, the two of them would inspect it first. This was something that would be consumed, and the consequences of someone playing dirty would be unimaginable.
Their concerns were not unfounded. At first, everything was fine, and they found nothing. After about a month, Wu Caiwei actually found laxatives in a vat of wine. She singled out everyone who had come into contact with that vat of wine and interrogated them one by one. After much questioning, they discovered that a clerk who had resigned the day before had had the most contact with it.
When they found his residence, they discovered that he had already left the capital, and no one knew his whereabouts.
Knowing this outcome in advance, the two of them became extremely vigilant and tightened their control even further.
Unbeknownst to them, in a dark corner, a woman was furious, thinking that those people were useless. She had spent so much silver, yet Gao Feixue and Zhang Dahai were unharmed.
When Madam Lin received news of their business, the small tavern had already opened. Worried, she visited several times. Seeing that business was indeed good, she felt relieved and sent them more silver.
Although Master Lin did not visit personally like Madam Lin, he always paid attention to their movements. Unlike Madam Lin, he looked beyond the surface and into the intrinsic. In his spare time, he and his butler calculated Zhang Dahai's accounts and learned his daily income. The two of them fell silent. They never expected him to be so capable, exceeding their imagination.
The second young master was a little restless. He had initially thought that a bumpkin from the countryside would not be able to survive in the capital. Unexpectedly, he was a master businessman and could live well even without the Lin family. This would not do. It had attracted his father's attention, and Marquis Anning fanned the flames. If his father could not withstand the pressure and took him back to inherit the Lin family, what would become of himself? Wouldn't he become a laughingstock of the capital?
As soon as Wu Caiwei finished sending off a batch of goods, she turned around and saw the second young master. She smiled and said, "Young Master, what brings you here?"
"I've come to see my elder brother. No matter what, we are brothers. I didn't have time to talk much last time before he left. I've been busy with court matters every day, and today I finally have some free time, so I came to see him," the second young master said politely.
As they chatted, they walked towards the main courtyard. When they arrived, they happened to overhear the butler talking to Zhang Dahai. "Young Master, I received news that the owner of the largest restaurant in Huizhou will be coming to the capital in a few days to meet with you alone to discuss business matters. The 10,000 taels of wine they bought from us last time sold out in just a few days. He wants to negotiate prices with you personally and establish a long-term relationship."
Zhang Dahai nodded. "Isn't the house next door for sale? You can buy it directly and recruit more people. They are already too busy."
The butler immediately agreed. He looked up and saw Wu Caiwei and the second young master, quickly bowed, and then hurried away.
If the second young master had intended to simply assess the situation before arriving, hearing their conversation, coupled with the information he had heard daily, and knowing that almost all the restaurants in the capital were sourcing from him, he immediately changed his mind.
"My elder brother's speed in making money is beyond reach. My second brother is so envious. I have a suggestion, I wonder if elder brother agrees?" As he spoke, he sat down on a stool next to Zhang Dahai.
"Oh? Tell me about it?" Zhang Dahai looked at him with interest.
"Behind every business in the capital, there are high-ranking officials and noble lords as backers. Your business is so grand and developing so rapidly, you've already encroached on others' interests. If I'm not mistaken, many people are secretly plotting ways to deal with you. I am a fifth-rank official, and my father is a second-rank official. In the capital, I may not be the most powerful, but at least people won't dare to casually bully me. Why don't we join forces and do business together? I'll be your backing." The second young master stared intently at him, wanting to see his reaction.
"So, my second brother has his eye on my business. This is a big matter. You'll have to give me some time to consider it carefully."
Zhang Dahai did not want to get involved with him. The reason he said he would consider it was mainly to buy time. Of course, he knew that in the capital, one could not get anywhere without connections. However, he heard that his mother's family was from Marquis Anning's mansion. If possible, he would rather build a good relationship with them, as aristocratic families were not comparable to ordinary newly rich officials.
They had lived in the capital for some time and knew that Master Lin was a second-rank official in the court. His ancestors were farmers. He had won the top scholar in one go, and then was favored by Marquis Anning, who took him as his son-in-law. After two generations of development, they had successfully become a scholarly family. However, compared to true aristocratic clans, their foundation was still too thin.
Next, to win over Zhang Dahai, the second young master began to show off how capable he was and how many high-ranking officials and noble lords he knew.
Zhang Dahai nodded in agreement, letting the words go in one ear and out the other.
It was almost noon when he left. As soon as he entered the Lin family's gate, he met the personal maid of the concubine who had been waiting for a long time. Mother and son happily ate lunch together.
Concubine Liu impatiently asked, "I heard you went to Zhang Dahai's place this morning. How was it? Is his business really as good as rumored?"
The second young master took a sip of tea and nodded. Concubine Liu couldn't sit still and anxiously said, "Then what should we do? Are we just going to watch them grow stronger?"
The second young master calmly told his concubine everything he saw and heard today and his conversation with Zhang Dahai.
"You still want to cooperate with him? Do you really want to protect his business?"
Looking at his concubine's surprised gaze, the second young master said calmly, "How is that possible? I wish something would go wrong for him, cause some trouble for the Lin family, and make father disappointed in him."