Chapter 332: Short-handed for a Big Project

Gu Fei added, "Father, with all this land and the shops we have now, we need people to manage everything. Someone has to collect rent and deal with the tenants."

"As for the work in the fields and ponds, I think we should hire farmhands. I’m afraid you won’t have time to work the land yourself anymore, Father."

Gu Zhang nodded. "Alright, we’ll hire farmhands."

Gu Fei said seriously, "We also need to buy some servants for the household. In the future, the fields and shops will each need their own steward. You and Mother won’t be able to manage it all."

Mrs. Chen waved her hands dismissively. "Our family, having servants? Even with Lian’er, I treat her like one of the family. Besides, there isn’t that much to do around the house. Your sister-in-law, Lan Zhi, and I can handle it all easily."

Gu Fei shook her head. "When Father goes out in the future, he should have an attendant. We also need a doorman for the front gate. Otherwise, if something comes up, there will be no one for people to talk to."

"And Second Brother, you should stop selling barbecue. For now, you can learn from the shop’s steward. Once you’ve gained some experience, you can take over management of all the shops."

Gu Erlang’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise. "I’ll get to manage all the shops?"

Gu Fei smiled. "If not you, then who? These are all family businesses, so of course a family member should be the one to manage them. Besides, you’re a grown man now, Second Brother, a pillar of this family."

Gu Erlang scratched his head, embarrassed, and stole a glance at Lan Zhi. She was already looking at him and gave him an encouraging nod.

Gu Fei paused for a moment. "But none of that is urgent. There’s something more important at hand. Father, I plan to buy a few ships and go into sea trade."

"What?" Mrs. Chen’s voice shot up. "You want to go to sea *yourself*?"

Ping’an City was close to the sea, and she’d heard stories about maritime ventures. It was not at all uncommon for ships to capsize and sink.

In her heart, Gu Fei did want to go herself. ’In my past life, I only ever made it to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Now that I’m here, I want to see the world too.’

She hesitated. "That’s not set in stone. The main problem right now is a lack of manpower."

Mrs. Chen said, "I won’t stop you from buying ships for sea trade, but on one condition: you cannot go yourself!"

Gu Fei just smiled at her mother, neither confirming nor denying. Instead, she turned to Gu Zhang and began to explain the details of the sea trade venture. It would require purchasing goods for the voyage, and once overseas, they would need to sell them and buy new cargo. All of this required people who were sharp, capable, and ideally, experienced.

Even if she went herself, she would need to bring a few trustworthy people along, or there would be no one to get things done.

When Gu Zhang and Mrs. Chen heard that a single ship cost five thousand taels of Silver, and the cargo would be worth over ten thousand taels of Silver, they both fell silent.

Gu Zhang wondered, ’Just where did my daughter come across such a fortune? I still can’t begin to fathom the extent of her abilities.’

Mrs. Chen, for her part, felt a mix of joy and sorrow. She was happy her daughter could earn so much Silver, but also a little sad. ’I worked so hard growing those peppers, hoping to give my daughter a good life... who knew we wouldn’t even be able to keep up with her?’

’The inn has barely been open, and now she’s talking about buying ships for sea trade.’

’The little bit of silver I earn from farming is really only enough to buy her a few flowers to wear in her hair.’

Lan Zhi, on the other hand, was unfazed. Having come from the Marquis Mansion, she wasn’t shocked by such sums, but her admiration for Gu Fei grew even more.

Li Chunhua, however, felt as if she were listening to a Heavenly Book. She couldn’t believe what her sister-in-law was saying.

Gu Zhang, being a man who had read books and had some worldly knowledge, accepted the reality of the situation after a moment’s thought. "So, you’re saying you have the Silver for the ships and the cargo, you just need the people to handle it all?"

Gu Fei nodded emphatically. Her father had hit the nail right on the head.