7. Startup Capital

Luan Yi was in a foul mood, so when his mother entered, he merely bowed languidly, a gesture that barely counted as courtesy. As he lowered his head, he caught sight, quite by chance, of the dazzling jade bracelet on his mother’s wrist. The bracelet was pure white, its surface smooth and rounded, sparkling in the sunlight—a piece that was clearly of great value.

Suddenly, Luan Yi recalled the day they returned home for the Qingming Festival, when his mother had said, “Even if Yi were to squander all the family’s assets, my dowry could still provide for him all his life.”

To provide for someone for a lifetime—that must be no small sum.

His eyes lit up, and the smoldering embers of hope within him flared anew. He stepped forward and, with enthusiasm, invited his mother to sit upon the couch, his face beaming with a smile. “Mother, I’ve missed you.”

“Why would you miss me for no reason?” Mrs. Luan, though she said this, could not hide the smile blossoming on her face; clearly, she loved hearing those words.

Luan Yi continued his act, feigning childish affection. “I just missed you!” After a pause, he asked, “Are you in good health?”

“I am! I’m not that old, after all.”

Indeed, she wasn’t. In ancient times, people married and bore children early. Mrs. Luan had given birth to Luan Yi at nineteen, and now she was only twenty-six. “Mother, are you living comfortably?”

“Your father dotes on me, and you, Yi, are growing ever more accomplished. Of course I am comfortable.”

“Then, Mother... Eh...” Luan Yi searched for words. “Please have some ginseng soup.”

“This ginseng soup was made for you, Yi!” Knowing her son as only a mother could, Mrs. Luan cut to the chase. “Yi, do you have something on your mind?”

“Ah? No, nothing serious!” Luan Yi grinned sheepishly.

“If there’s anything troubling you, just tell me. Is it that your grandfather scolded you again?” Mrs. Luan asked with concern.

“No, nothing like that.”

“Then what is it? Speak freely to me, and I will certainly help you.”

“Really?” Luan Yi’s eyes gleamed with hope. “You’ll help me with anything, no matter what?”

“Of course!” Mrs. Luan nodded firmly.

“I’d like to borrow some money.” Luan Yi stopped beating around the bush and told her about his desire to go into business.

Mrs. Luan was momentarily stunned, staring at the little boy before her. She hadn’t expected her son, not yet seven, to have aspirations of commerce. “But if you go into business, what about your studies?”

Hearing this, Luan Yi sensed opportunity. He sidled up to her and said, “Don’t worry, Mother. The academy holds classes only half the day; afternoons are for self-study. I can use that time to tend to business with my classmates, and it won’t affect my studies at all.”

“Really?” Mrs. Luan was skeptical. “What if your grades slip?”

“That won’t happen! I know what I’m doing.”

Mrs. Luan chuckled, “A child so young, what do you know!” After thinking it over, she said, “Very well. Whether you use it for business or squander it, I’ll give you five hundred strings of coins. But let me make it clear: if I hear from your teacher that your studies are suffering, I’ll report it to your grandfather, and you know what that means—a session with the family discipline.”

Luan Yi was so moved he nearly cried. Sometimes, a mother’s love is so great that, as long as her child needs something, she gives unconditionally—even if there are conditions, they are only for the child’s future happiness. This is why a loving mother is said to spoil her child. But Luan Yi was no wastrel; he meant to use these five hundred strings to carve out a future.

“Thank you, Mother.” With that, he bowed his head in gratitude again and again.

That night, Luan Yi was so excited he barely slept. He kept sneaking to the corner of his room to stroke the large chest filled with copper coins—the foundation of his enterprise.

The next morning, he claimed that he had matters at the academy and needed to return early, taking leave of his grandfather and father. Only his mother, Mrs. Luan, knew the true reason for his hurried departure. Though she was reluctant to let him go, she did not stop him.

After breakfast, Luan Fu loaded the carriage, placing the “Guanzi” and the heavy chest inside, and Luan Yi set off on his journey. Along the way, he made a few detours, picking up Guo Jia, Shan Fu, Mao Jie, and Xi Zhicai.

On the road, Guo Jia anxiously asked why Luan Yi had called them back to the academy so early. Was it that the practical plan they had discussed was finally coming to fruition?

Luan Yi nodded excitedly and laid out his scheme.

“What? We’re going into business?” Mao Jie looked disdainful. Clearly, he had little regard for commerce, considering it unworthy of a scholar.

“Don’t underestimate business. A shop requires attention to countless details. Think about it: you have to set up a fair system for your workers to advance, so they’ll willingly stay and not slack off or leave to join a rival and leak your trade secrets. You also have to tend to your customers, making them love coming to your shop and ensuring their loyalty. See, isn’t a shop like a government office? The workers are like officials; the customers are like the people. Governing a country is much the same. ‘Water can bear the boat or overturn it’—without customers, a shop is doomed, and so is a nation if it loses its people.”

“Yi is right!” The night before, Luan Yi had actually discussed this with Guo Jia. Guo Jia was younger and not so averse to commerce, so he immediately supported Luan Yi’s plan.

Shan Fu and Xi Zhicai pondered for a moment and saw the sense in Luan Yi’s words, so they joined in as well. Only Mao Jie hesitated, but seeing his friends already united, he reluctantly agreed to help.

“Yi, tell us!” Guo Jia rubbed his hands eagerly. “What’s our venture?”

“I’ve already decided.” Luan Yi rummaged in the carriage for combs and other small items, arranging them on the wooden floor.

Those familiar with the terrain of Yingchuan immediately recognized it as a map of the area around Yingchuan Academy.

Pointing at the map, Luan Yi said, “Look here. This is Qifeng Mountain, with our academy at its base. Three li from the academy lies the official road—a thoroughfare from the north into Yingchuan, bustling with travelers. Two li further west is Wuyang County, filled with wealthy families—the Xun, Chen, and Zhao estates aren’t far from the town. So I’m thinking of opening a tavern in Wuyang County; it’s an excellent location.”

“A tavern?” Xi Zhicai wasn’t convinced. “But as far as I know, there are already three or four taverns in town! Wuyang County isn’t that large; wouldn’t another tavern be redundant?”

Luan Yi waved his hand dismissively. “I’ve already observed. There are three taverns in Wuyang: one, Mu Jin House, is run by my family. The other two: one belongs to the Xun clan, but it’s poorly managed and the food is unremarkable; the other, run by a manager surnamed Wang, mainly sells cheap fare for common folk. All three are low-grade, lacking in luxury or elegance.”

“Mu Jin House isn’t elegant enough?” Shan Fu scoffed; in his memory, Mu Jin House was second only to He Yuan House in grandeur.

“It’s a far cry!” Luan Yi smiled smugly. Compared to the grand taverns he'd seen in later generations, Mu Jin House, with its seven or eight seats and two private rooms, was nothing—hardly worth mentioning. “Our target customers are the gentry and merchants in town, as well as students from noble families at the academy. Our tavern must be luxurious and refined. It should impress at first sight, and offer a supreme experience upon visiting.” Vivid images of the tavern formed in Luan Yi’s mind, stirring his excitement. “Well, brothers, let’s do this together!”

“Alright, let’s follow Yi!” The group shouted in unison.

Returning to the academy, Luan Yi and his companions dropped off their luggage and hurried straight to Wuyang County. After an hour or so of searching, they were lucky enough to find a residence on a street corner just outside Wuyang. The owner was preparing to move south and was eager to sell, and happened upon this group of young boys wanting to buy a house.

At first, the owner thought Luan Yi was joking. But when Luan Yi revealed the chest of gleaming copper coins, the owner was convinced, marveling at the generosity of the family—who else would entrust so much money to children for their games?

What followed was a chaotic bout of haggling. In the end, unable to endure the group's relentless bargaining and eager to head south, the owner sold the house for three hundred strings of coins—fifty less than expected.

Luan Yi was quite satisfied with the new property. The rooms were relatively new, showing the previous owner had cared for them well. The layout was front shop and rear residence: three shops faced the street, and behind them was a courtyard, complete with a well and dwellings on three sides. Beyond the west wall was a small lake, clear and serene—the very lake where Luan Yi often went to muse.

Securing the deed, Luan Yi toured the courtyard, feeling increasingly pleased. His joy was evident, and he decided to stay the night in the house rather than return to the academy. Dinner was at Mu Jin House, a treat for his companions to celebrate.

That night, exhausted from the day’s exertions, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, Shan Fu, and Mao Jie soon fell asleep. Luan Yi, however, remained at his desk, sketching a renovation plan for the new house on fine silk. According to the drawing, the front shop-and-rear-residence layout would be completely transformed: the front shops would become the main dining hall, with a counter at the grand entrance. Beyond the hall, the rear courtyard would be set with tables among blooming flowers, accommodating twenty tables for guests. The east and west wings of the courtyard would each be converted into two private rooms for distinguished patrons.

Luan Yi also decided to embellish the eaves and columns with carvings, enhancing the facade’s beauty.

The final and most crucial element: Luan Yi planned to divert water from the western lake into the courtyard, creating a small channel running through the center, adorned with red lotuses.

By the time the renovation sketch was finished, dawn had broken. Luan Yi woke Luan Fu, the sleepy page slumped at the desk, and sent him off with the plans to find craftsmen. Then, picking up another piece of silk, he began to draw once more.