Expelled from the Duke's mansion, the fake heiress is richer than a country.

Chapter 149 Reunion with Young Master Yan

Before half an incense stick's time had passed, Wei Yu returned, covered in sweat, jogging back with his assistant.

Seeing the Yu siblings was a stroke of good luck! Luckily, the waiter didn't mistake them for someone else this time, lest he be disappointed again?

He gripped Yu Wenbin's hands tightly as he stood up, his eyes beaming as he looked at Yu Wanran: "Miss Yu, Brother Yu! You've finally arrived! We agreed to meet in March, why are you late again this time?"

He thought that something had happened to them on their journey and that they would never be able to contact each other again.

Yu Wenbin chuckled ingratiatingly, his eyes sizing up the other man. Three months had passed, and this Boss Wei had gained even more weight! His oversized brocade robe couldn't conceal his protruding belly, and his face was white and chubby, resembling a lump of fermenting dough.

"Something came up at home, so I had to be late."

Yu Wanran smiled and said, "Mr. Wei, judging from your wealthy appearance and the fact that your shop has moved to a new location, your business must be booming lately."

Wei Yucai gestured for the waiter to leave and invited the two men to sit down, making no attempt to hide his smug satisfaction.

"Thanks to the magical dyes you two sent, I've been given a real boost! The red cloth dyed by Ruicai Workshop has not only won the favor of nobles, but has also been designated as tribute by the imperial family!"

He will have no worries about selling his red cloth in the future, and his value may even increase a hundredfold. He has already recouped the several thousand taels of capital he invested in purchasing raw materials, and may have even made more money.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to acquire the most prime piece of land in the capital and expand his business.

Undoubtedly, he was grateful to the Yu siblings!

Yu Wenbin didn't care how much money the other party had made from the red grass; he only cared about whether the red grass cultivated in the old house could be sold again. Without bothering with pleasantries, he got straight to the point.

"So... Mr. Wei, are you still buying red velvet grass?"

"Yes! Of course!"

Wei Yucai was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the two siblings because he wanted to finalize a long-term contract. Most importantly, he couldn't let outsiders know about this deal.

In addition to signing a contract, he also needs to sign confidentiality agreements with his two siblings before he can feel at ease!

"but……"

He said with a hint of difficulty, "I probably won't need too much red clover each year. After all, this dye can only color one shade of red, so its use is rather limited."

He's going for a high-end strategy, using scarcity marketing. Producing too much would lower the brand value of Hongbu, which would be counterproductive. Yu Wenbin might not understand this, but he believes Yu Wanran will.

Yu Wanran nodded.

She had long anticipated what Wei Yucai said. The fact that they had reached a long-term cooperation agreement with Ruicaifang had already exceeded her expectations.

Perhaps this time the circumstances were different. Wei Yucai did a good job of keeping it a secret; they also inadvertently broke the roots of the red velvet grass, making it a scarce commodity controlled by the Yu family. This led to red velvet grass becoming a long-term business.

"How much red velvet grass does Mr. Wei plan to purchase each year? For how many years will the contract be?"

Wei Yucai held up three short, chubby fingers: "Let's sign a five-year contract. Every year, you'll send thirty shi of goods! As for the price, it'll still be five hundred wen per jin."

This amount of money is just a drop in the ocean for him right now.

Yu Wenbin was overjoyed.

Judging from Wei Yucai's expression and words, I thought things were hopeless. But unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better, and the other party was even willing to sign a long-term contract!

He lowered his head, holding his teacup, using the act of drinking water to conceal the barely concealed joy on his face. He knew he wasn't good with words, much less suited to dealing with these cunning and shrewd businessmen. So he simply remained a background figure, leaving the negotiations to his third sister.

Yu Wanran frowned slightly.

Wei Yucai could only see the top of Yu Wenbin's head. He noticed that Yu Wanran looked troubled, and his heart tightened immediately.

"Miss Yu, what's wrong? Is thirty shi of red velvet grass not enough? Then I can take another five shi..."

To repay the Yu family, he asked for thirty shi (a unit of dry measure) of red velvet grass, which was already excessive, and the purchase price hadn't been lowered. If the Yu family's demands were too high and they were never satisfied, he truly...

Yu Wanran shook her head, recalling what her father had said.

"Boss Wei, we may not be able to supply you with this much stock next year. My father has worked so hard to cultivate the red grass, but we might not even harvest thirty shi (a unit of dry measure) at that time?"

Wei Yu's eyes widened; he hadn't expected her to say that! Immediately, he worried that he didn't have enough dye and hurriedly asked, "Thirty shi? Do you have twenty shi? Twenty shi is a must!"

"There should be at least twenty shi (a unit of dry measure)."

Yu Wanran gave an affirmative answer.

"Twenty bushels would be fine!"

Wei Yu breathed a sigh of relief: "I will buy any excess, as long as it does not exceed thirty shi, at a price of five hundred wen per jin!"

Yu Wanran nodded in agreement.

They reached a consensus that this single business deal would bring the Yu family over a thousand taels of silver in income each year. Combined with the dividends she would give her family from her business dealings, the Yu family would be completely transformed.

When signing the contract, she let Yu Wenbin handle it himself. From now on, Mr. Wei would be a long-term business partner of the Yu family, and she would no longer interfere.

To reassure the Yu family about cultivating the red velvet grass, Wei Yucai generously gave Yu Wenbin two hundred taels of silver as a deposit. He also gifted him three bolts of bright red brocade.

This brocade cloth is worth at least fifty taels a bolt on the market, and even more on the black market. The key issue is that it's priceless. Noble ladies in the capital vie to own a dress of this bright red brocade, considering it an honor. However, only the wealthy, powerful, and well-connected can afford it; ordinary people simply cannot buy it!

Wei Yu gave away three horses at once because he valued the Yu family as his business partner so much that he reluctantly gave them away despite the financial burden.

Leaving Ruicai Workshop, Yu Wenbin was radiant, as if floating on clouds. He absolutely refused the three bolts of brocade, insisting on giving them all to Yu Wanran.

Yu Wanran pleaded with him, saying that his younger brother and niece would need the horses for their future marriages, and only then did he reluctantly accept two horses.

The two found an inn to stay in. Yu Wanran still wanted to find a market for Chengni inkstones, so she asked her elder brother to stay at the inn to watch over their luggage, while she packed up the inkstones given to her by Lin Fang and headed straight for the bustling city.

She went into two shops selling stationery and other writing implements. The shopkeepers glanced at the inkstone she took out; it was dark and unremarkable. After hearing that it was made of clay, they offered her tea and saw her out without saying a word.

This was only because Yu Wanran had a remarkable demeanor and didn't embarrass her in public.

Yu Wanran was undeterred. In business, the beginning is always the hardest part when trying to establish a market for a novel product. She planned to stay in the capital for a few more days and visit every merchant selling inkstones.

She walked into the largest and most elegantly furnished calligraphy and painting shop, but before she could even get close to the counter and speak to the shopkeeper, she heard someone calling her from behind.

"Miss Yu?"

This voice is so familiar!

Yu Wanran looked in surprise toward the sound and saw Yan Cheng'an, dressed in a light fur coat and loosely slung, walking toward her with a folding fan in his hand and a look of delight on his face. Behind him was a young man wearing a royal blue brocade robe and a turban.

The man was amiable and greeted Yan Cheng'an and Yu Wanran, his eyes revealing shrewdness.

"Miss Yu, what are you doing here? When did you come to the capital?"

Yan Cheng'an could hardly hide his delight, and didn't even notice his companions thoughtfully observing the two of them.

Yu Wanran smiled.

"I just arrived in the capital today. Young Master Yan, are you also here with friends to purchase writing brushes and ink?"