Chapter 453 I Have a Difficult Request

Zhao Ergou recounted the story of Zhou's wonton shop and even drew a picture of the shop's layout.

"Your idea is good," Cheng Wanwan praised. "If this backyard is used well, it won't be any worse than the main store. You might have to personally oversee the decoration."

As she spoke, she called Si Dan over. She dictated the instructions, and Si Dan was responsible for grinding the ink and writing out three contracts.

“We’ll keep one copy ourselves, give one to Manager Zhou, and take the other to the government for filing.” She pointed to the last clause and said, “Including the government is the only way to deter those who want to play tricks. In the future, we will have more and more franchisees, and it will be difficult to manage them. Only by using the law to restrain people’s hearts can we minimize losses. Of course, if some people insist on challenging the law, then there’s nothing we can do but deal with them according to the clause.”

The contract clearly states that if the franchisee breaches the contract, they must compensate ten times the franchise fee, and for every dish that is leaked, they must compensate at a rate of one hundred taels of silver per dish…

Of course, if Dahe Banquet breaches the contract, it will also be liable for tenfold compensation for all losses...

This contract is binding on both parties.

The next morning, Zhao Ergou went to the city to take care of this matter.

Cao Yingying handed over the design drafts she had spent two sleepless nights drawing. She had drawn hundreds of outfits and finally selected the three she was most satisfied with.

She looked at Cheng Wanwan somewhat nervously: "What does Mother think?"

Cheng Wanwan doesn't actually have a deep understanding of clothing design, but she is a modern person who often reads fashion magazines, so she knows a little about it. At least she knows what styles of clothes can hide flaws for fat people, thin people, tall people, and short people. However, she only knows the general styles, and she still needs to rely on professionals for some details and sizes.

She looked at the three pictures carefully and exclaimed in disbelief, "Yingying, you have a real talent for fashion design."

She only gave Yingying a few pointers, but Yingying quickly grasped the concepts and designed three very unique outfits. One was suitable for people with fuller figures, one for people with shorter stature, and one for people with flat chests. They were eye-catching even on paper, and they would probably look even better when they were made.

Cao Yingying breathed a sigh of relief: "Then I'll have the embroiderer finish the clothes first and let me see."

“We’ll make four sizes for each style, and each size will have a different color combination, striving to make them one-of-a-kind,” Cheng Wanwan said. “After the clothes are made, do you plan to hang them in the Cao family’s shop for sale, or will you buy another shop yourself?”

“I’m already married, so I won’t be involved in business matters with the Cao family anymore.” Cao Yingying had already made up her mind. “Aren’t there still some unrented shops in the market of our Dahe Village? I plan to have Kong Xiuniang rent one, and then hang the finished clothes in the shop for sale.”

Cheng Wanwan looked at her approvingly.

Once the lotus pond officially opens to tourists, the market business will be boosted, and these clothes designed specifically for wealthy ladies will sell out easily.

Now, the goal is to increase production.

"If we decide to make garments, we'll probably need to hire quite a few embroiderers," Cheng Wanwan pondered. "Many young girls in our village are learning embroidery from Master Kong. Are their skills up to par?"

Cao Yingying stood up: "I need to go ask Kong Xiuniang."

She carried three design drafts and walked towards the Cao family's mulberry garden.

Cheng Wanwan sat in the courtyard, continuing to ponder ways to improve the glycerin process. She wasn't a science student, so reading these books was very difficult for her. She slowly sorted through the information and put together a set of rules.

As she looked around, sweat began to bead on her forehead. When she looked up, she realized the sun was getting stronger, so she quickly moved to a spot under the shade of a tree.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and I really want to eat a bowl of ice jelly.

Oh, and ice jelly!

She put down her pen, realizing how she had forgotten something so important—ice jelly was the first step in her business success.

Selling it the way it was last year won't work; she wants to make ice jelly a specialty food of Dahe Village.

She has a huge business at home and is definitely too busy to handle it all, so who should she hand it over to?

Just then, I saw the two sisters, Liu Daya and Liu Erya, carrying a bamboo basket into the doorway. The basket was full of wild peaches.

Now that the seedlings have been planted, the two sisters don't have much to do, so they often go up the mountain. They heard that Cheng Wanwan likes to eat fruit, so they search for it on the mountain every day.

"Second Aunt, we found a peach tree on the mountain, and the peaches are all ripe." Liu Erya washed a peach and handed it to Cheng Wanwan. "I ate one, it's so sweet, Second Aunt, have a taste."

Cheng Wanwan took a bite; it was crisp and crunchy, and indeed sweet.

She asked the two maids to sit down and casually asked, "Are you getting used to staying at your second aunt's place?"

When asked about this, Liu Daya's eyes reddened, and she lowered her head, saying, "I didn't know life could be so comfortable... If it weren't for my second aunt taking us in, my family would probably still be being beaten, bullied, and starving every day..."

"What do you mean by 'taking in'? Don't say that." Cheng Wanwan said while eating a peach. "Your mother has saved some money and is preparing to build a house. It'll be done in the next few months. You two can set up your own household anytime. Don't talk about taking in or anything like that. But the seedlings don't need much care these next few months. Your mother can manage on her own. Do you two sisters have anything you want to do?"

Liu Daya raised her head: "Second Aunt, I want to learn kung fu from Master He, is that possible?"

Cheng Wanwan chuckled and said, "You go to practice kung fu with San Niu and Si Dan every morning. Do you really think your second aunt doesn't know? If you want to learn, then learn. Once you've mastered it, no one will dare to bully your family anymore. But you only need to practice kung fu in the morning. You still have the whole day to do it. Don't you want to start a small business?"

Liu Erya's eyes lit up: "I want to start a business."

"Your second aunt has a small business that she can give you, but it requires you to be willing to work hard. Are you willing to endure hardship?"

"able!!"

The two girls spoke in unison.

Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll teach you how to make this dish tomorrow."

The two sisters looked at each other and saw hope in each other's eyes. Before, it was just a glimmer of hope, but now, that hope has burst forth like wildfire.

Cao Yingying returned from the mulberry garden in the afternoon.

"Kong Xiu Niang has taught four apprentices, but one of them is pregnant, so only three can work for the time being," she said with a smile. "Let these three make the clothes first, and if they can sell them, we'll recruit more people."

Just as Cheng Wanwan was about to reply, a person appeared at the entrance of the courtyard.

She turned her head and saw Sun Shuiqin.

Sun Shuiqin was dressed in a pale yellow dress, and if you ignored her big belly, she looked exceptionally charming.

"What brings you here, silly wife? Come in and sit down."

Cheng Wanwan greeted her.

No matter what unpleasant things Er Gou and Sun Shuiqin had in the past, they are now married and Sun Shuiqin seems to be doing quite well. She will soon become a mother and her life is gradually settling down, so the past is no longer so important.

She asked in a friendly manner, "How many months along are you? How much longer until you give birth?"

“She’s only five or six months along, too early to give birth.” Sun Shuiqin looked up at Cao Yingying and said slowly, “Miss Cao, I have a favor to ask…”

"Sister-in-law Shagen, don't call me that, it sounds too formal," Cao Yingying said shyly. "Just call me Er Gou's wife."

Sun Shuiqin's eyes were clouded as she spoke with difficulty, "Er Gou's wife..."