Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 49: Money's Path

The alley near the County School was noticeably quieter. Xu Qing’s father’s stall remained simple—just a few books, several inkstones, and some worn brushes—and business was slow. He was holding an old book, lost in concentration.

Zhao Dequan straightened his collar, making an effort to look like an honest, plain farmer instead of a shrewd businessman. He bent slightly at the waist, wearing a sincere smile tinged with a hint of reverence.

“Mr. Xu, I am the Village Chief of Su Family Village.”

Old Xu lifted his head and looked at the unfamiliar farmer and the father-and-son behind him with some puzzlement.

Zhao Dequan carefully took out the one hundred sheets of the best-quality bamboo paper from the oilcloth bundle and presented them with both hands. “Old Mr. Xu, sorry to trouble you. This is a local paper our village worked on ourselves, made from the bamboo in the back mountain… very crude, really. I wouldn’t dare to dirty your eyes with it.”

Then his tone shifted, becoming more earnest. “But our Third Son—this boy here,” he pulled Su Ming forward, “he met your young master in town and came back saying Mr. Xu is learned and upright, a model for Qingshi Town’s scholars! He also said you sit here selling books out of pity for poor students…”

Su Ming stepped forward at the right moment and bowed respectfully. “Old Sir Xu, junior Su Ming. Although this paper is rough, it is thick and durable, not easy to tear. I thought—there must be many industrious but poor students at the County School like Brother Xu Qing. They copy books and practice calligraphy, which costs them a lot. If you don’t mind, could you sell it for us? The price is negotiable. We only hope to give poor students another option, and to earn our village a little money for oil and salt.”

Old Xu took the stack of paper and examined it carefully. The sheets were indeed coarse and yellowed, nothing like the snowy white xuan paper on his stall. But he pinched a corner with his finger and pulled hard; a flash of surprise crossed his eyes—the paper’s toughness was unexpectedly good.

He thought of his son studying by the dim oil lamp late into the night, and of students forced to practice on sand trays because paper was too expensive. His heart softened.

“This paper…indeed plain,” Old Xu said slowly, “but the texture is sturdy, and the price must be very cheap. For everyday copying and rough calculations, it will do.”He looked up, his gaze passing over Zhao Dequan’s hopeful face and settling on Su Ming’s clear, intelligent eyes, before he sighed. “Ah, if we had this earlier, Qing wouldn’t have had to copy books into the late hours over a few sheets. Fine, old man will try selling it for you. How much a sheet?”

price. If it helps those students, we can earn

Wenbao Zhai costs two copper coins. Though this is coarse, it is tough—three copper coins a

You’re a living Bodhisattva!” Zhao Dequan was overjoyed and kept kowtowing. The price exceeded his expectations, and more importantly,

them away carefully. Zhao Dequan took the heavy six hundred copper coins and felt as if the money itself

Xu, Zhao Dequan’s smile grew even more genuine. He patted Su Ming’s shoulder. “Third Son,

through the main street, turning into a narrow, crowded

that indifferent air. Zhao Dequan was brimming with confidence this

“Brother, business booming, hey.”

trick me with this time?” The shopkeeper took the paper, frowning as he examined it. “What is this? Yellow and shabby, so rough you could scrub

Dequan chuckled. “This is the real deal! Thick, with great toughness! Wrap things, patch windows, or even use it when you need to relieve yourself—far better than those flimsy grass papers! And it’s cheap! Wenbao Zhai’s worst grass paper is two copper coins; mine, I’ll give you two copper coins a sheet! You sell it for three, make

skeptically tore at it with force—it didn’t rip. His eyes lit up immediately. A one-coin margin! That was more than he earned selling daily odds

three

the same price, they sold two hundred more sheets to a

on the ox cart that had been bulging was

six hundred

the village, Zhao Dequan was in high spirits, even humming off-key. He glanced at the silent Su Ming. “Third

well done! This is what we call ‘differentiated marketing’ and ‘market segmentation’! Sell the right product in the safest way to

...

scene of dividing the