These past few days, Lanqin has been worried because she can't find a manager she can trust. The storefront has already been found, and the decoration will be copied directly from the Zhaojia family's shops. However, Lanqin has entrusted Cui Da and Cui Er, along with her half-brother Qiu Gui and Ayinda, to recruit managers. They will each be the head manager of a shop, overseeing all matters in the shop. Lanqin will only need to check the accounting books every few days.

After several days of selection, they finally sent a few people for Lanqin to interview again. However, after Lanqin screened them using manager recruitment questions from later generations, she found that almost none of them were qualified.

On this day, Lanqin arrived at the gatehouse she had rented in Dongcheng. After meeting the last interviewee, she lost all interest in interviewing.

“Consort, what kind of person do you want? We’ve met at least a dozen, and we brothers all think they’re quite good, but after you’ve seen them, you think they’re not suitable,” Qiu Gui said to Lan Qin. Cui Da and Cui Er stood beside Lan Qin and said to her. Qiu Gui and A Yinda stood on the other side; they were Lan Qin’s brothers, and Cui Da and Cui Er dared not offend them, so they could only be careful and deferential to them in every way.

Lanqin looked at her half-brother, who was a few years older than her, and said, "Who were those people just now? I asked you to hire people who know how to manage a restaurant, not people who know how to spend money. Anyone can spend money. What kind of suggestions were those? They clearly don't understand anything."

Qiu Gui was initially reluctant to come, but Ling Zhu forced him into this job with no other choice. He had only intended to work casually, earn some money to support his family, and rely on his allotted land and shops to make ends meet. However, he hadn't expected Lan Qin's requirements to be so high, which presented him with numerous difficulties in recruiting.

“Sister, you’re not offering much money. There are good people, but you’re willing to spend money on them. For example, that big restaurant over there is doing incredibly well. Their manager must be experienced. Are you willing to pay a high price to poach him?” Qiu Gui was not unfamiliar with food; on the contrary, he was quite a seasoned gourmet.

"Then what are you doing, my dear brother? I pay you thirty taels of silver a month, and you expect me to poach other people's shopkeepers at exorbitant prices? What is your purpose then?" Lanqin retorted. Cui Da and Cui Er exchanged a glance and continued listening to Lanqin scold her half-brother.

Qiu Gui was rendered speechless by Lan Qin's sarcastic remark. Seeing her brother being reprimanded, A Yinda said, "Third Sister, actually Second Brother is just inexperienced. Now that we're managing such a large store all at once, there are many things we're unfamiliar with. I think we could first go to the existing store to learn, and then recruit more people after we've gained some experience. That way, at least we'll know what kind of people Third Sister needs!"

Lanqin had to admit that her fifth brother was more sensible than Qiugui. After he said that, Lanqin also felt that she had forced them into this situation and had been too demanding of them.

“Alright, Qiu Gui, you should go with Ayinda to the Thirteenth Prince’s wife’s place tomorrow to learn first. You can come back after you’ve gained some knowledge and experience. In the next few days, let Cui Da and Cui Er be in charge of recruiting people,” Lan Qin said, stepping back.

Qiu Gui and Ayinda went out first, got into their carriage, and went back. Along the way, Qiu Gui complained incessantly. He was not only ungrateful to Lan Qin, but even resented her for instigating Lingzhu to split the family business, making his life miserable. Seeing Qiu Gui's confusion, Ayinda advised, "Second Brother, don't blame Third Sister for being strict. She now manages several shops and is also a concubine of the Prince's mansion; she must be very busy. We brothers can't give her peace of mind; it's truly shameful. Third Sister's decision to have us brothers help her manage these hot pot restaurants shows her trust in us. Second Brother, please don't say anything more."

Qiu Gui was surprised that Ayinda actually supported Lanqin, and said angrily, "Don't forget who drove us to this point. It was she and her mother who ganged up on Father!"

Ayinda's birth mother was Ma, who was originally just a maidservant to Lingzhu. She was taken in by Lingzhu because of her beauty. However, she was dull and honest, far less charming than Madam Yang, and naturally did not receive Lingzhu's favor, nor did she receive any favor with Ayinda. Therefore, Ayinda would never have dared to talk back to Qiu Gui before, but now things were different. They both came to work for Lanqin. Ayinda was young, but her attitude was very humble, which made Lanqin quite fond of her.

“I think Third Sister’s approach is right. Father is getting older, and how much longer can we rely on him? It’s better to separate the family sooner rather than later, so we can still get a share. If Father is gone one day, what good will it do us, as illegitimate sons? I think Third Sister’s proposal to separate the family now is actually for our own good. Now, she’s even finding jobs for us, so we can become independent sooner, which is exactly what she’s doing to prepare for the future!” Ayinda said.

Qiu Gui was taken aback. He naturally disagreed with Ayinda's words and said disdainfully, "You've been bewitched by her. We used to live a good life. Now we have to be treated like those lowly commoners, listening to her boss everyone around. Is this really for our benefit?"

Ayinda ignored Qiu Gui; those who couldn't understand wouldn't understand even if you explained it to them until the end. In the following days, the two brothers went to Zhaojia's place to learn from her steward.