“Okay.” Gu Shouxin nodded solemnly.

"Father, Mother, how about this? We won't build a separate workshop or anything like that. We can just use my lab. If we can produce a thousand sets a month, the four of us sisters can manage it. As for sales, that'll have to be up to Mother. Actually, this is good too, because I'll have more time to research new things," Gu Nian said.

“Hmm, then I’ll design another set of boxes. I think the soap is quite easy to make. When you’re making it, make a lot at once and we can sell it to a cosmetics shop, or to peddlers. I’ve met a few traveling merchants these days, and we can make a good income by selling to them.” Cai Xiaolian immediately changed her mind.

"You can handle this, Mother. We'll just do the work. By the way, I'm thinking of giving Huihui and Sisi twenty taels of silver each as wages. What do you think?" Gu Nian asked.

“Okay. But Niannian, although Huihui and Sisi are your cousins, even close brothers should keep clear accounts. If you continue working here next year, you need to agree on your monthly wages first. I think those two sisters are quite capable; you can decide how much to pay them.” Cai Xiaolian nodded and said.

"If it weren't for my aunt, I would have wanted them to join my research lab. Sigh, that aunt of mine, never mind." Gu Nian shook her head, looking disgusted.

"Sister, we can tell Auntie to ask Sister Huihui and Sister Sisi to do the work, and then we can do it ourselves in secret! We can do it quietly so no one knows," Gu Xin said slyly, her eyes darting around.

"You! You thought you were a naive and innocent girl, but you're not naive at all!" Gu Nian tapped Gu Xin's nose.

"Of course I'm not stupid! I'm not white either! As for whether it's sweet or not, I haven't tasted it myself, so I don't know! Hehe!" Gu Xin is becoming more and more lively.

The family sat and talked for a while, then washed up and went to bed.

...

On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, Lu Zheng received a message by carrier pigeon early in the morning.

He stared blankly at the beginning of the note, but when he read the last few sentences, he couldn't help but frown.

Xue Er followed a wealthy gentleman to Qingzhou Prefecture.

The wealthy and powerful man who can get Xue Er to follow him must be incredibly rich and powerful!

Moreover, it was New Year's Eve, so Xue Er's family members certainly wouldn't go out with him. So who was the person who went out?

Hopefully they stay in Gyeongju and don't come to Taoyuan County.

He was quite afraid that Xue Er would run into Gu Nian.

If these two people were to meet, he would bet that Xue Er would definitely take a liking to Gu Nian. The current Gu Nian is not the Gu Nian of the previous life. If Xue Er dares to take her away, Gu Nian will dare to resist.

Given Xue Er's personality, the more unattainable something is, the more he likes it. Wouldn't that just cause trouble for the Gu family?

As for whether Gu Nian would be interested in Xue Er, Lu Zheng wasn't sure, since the Gu Nian he knew now was not the same person he knew.

"Yuanyuan, what are you thinking about again? You're so young, why do you have so many worries? Did you receive another letter? What, did your scoundrel father write it to you?" At this moment, Grandma Xiao walked in and asked.

"No." Lu Zheng shook his head.

"You idiot! Yuanyuan, Grandma is going to the capital after the New Year to poison your father and cripple him. Will you hate Grandma?" Grandma Xiao said through gritted teeth.

That bastard abandoned his son in the old house and didn't even bother to check on him during the New Year. That scoundrel will be killed by that bitch Lin sooner or later!