Xu Lanzhi smiled indulgently and said, "Don't make fun of me. I've already helped your second and third aunts, and your eldest aunt has been left out in the cold for so many days. It's time for her to get some benefits."

Tang Qiqi was not happy about it. She had also investigated the place Liujiatun and knew exactly what was suitable to grow. However, she had never brought it up, not for any other reason than that she did not like Tang Chunya.

Tang Qiqi bluntly said, "Mom, doing business is not charity. If you help your aunt today, will you go and give benefits to all those distant relatives tomorrow? Your mentality is wrong."

Xu Lanzhi said, "You silly girl, you're teaching your mother how to do things again. Your aunt is indeed not well-liked, but you have to consider your grandmother's feelings."

In the past, I wouldn't have dared to let your aunt get involved in our business, but things are different now, aren't they?

Tang Qiqi asked with some curiosity, "What's different now?"

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Xu Lanzhi said logically, "We used to hire people to do the work, but your aunt's temper was definitely not good, so she wouldn't listen to us. But I think the contracting method you mentioned is great. Your aunt will then focus her energy on increasing production."

Besides, your older cousin Liu Jianchang has been working at our wheat base for quite some time now, and I've found him to be a very capable worker. Letting him go back to Liujiatun and lead his family is a good idea; after all, they're family, how could we possibly ignore them!

Tang Qiqi smiled meaningfully: "Old ginger is spicier, Mother is absolutely right! I wonder what you want them to plant!"

Xu Lanzhi paused and said, "Liujiatun is all dry land. If all else fails, we can plant wheat. Jianchang has experience with that."

Tang Qiqi shook her head and said, "Mom, growing wheat is good, but I think we need to diversify our businesses. Think about it, what are the four things people can't live without? Clothing, food, housing, and transportation. As long as we focus on these things, we can make money no matter what we do."

Xu Lanzhi didn't quite understand, so Tang Qiqi explained it again: "Clothing, food, housing, and transportation mean having clothes to wear, food to eat, and a place to live. This means solving everyone's travel problem."

Xu Lanzhi nodded thoughtfully and said, "We grow wheat and rice for food, and raise sheep to make clothes. Do you mean you want your older cousin and the others to build houses for people? That won't do. Your brother isn't cut out for that. He's only good at farming!"

Tang Qiqi said, "Building houses is a good idea, but we need to wait. I want them to grow cotton. With cotton, they can spin thread and weave cloth. The fabric for clothes these days is either too expensive or too rough, and it's not comfortable to wear at all!"

Xu Lanzhi was puzzled: "Didn't you ask your third sister to raise sheep, saying you wanted to make clothes from the wool? This is giving your third sister a rival! What is cotton anyway? Can you make clothes from cotton? Our clothes are all made of linen now."

Tang Qiqi then remembered that cotton was only introduced to China in large quantities during the Yuan Dynasty. At that time, only fabrics like silk and hemp were available. Cotton, on the other hand, had a huge market.

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Tang Qiqi patiently explained, "Cotton is not actually a flower. It is the fruit of a plant. It is called cotton because it looks like a blooming flower."

It's soft, white, and easier to care for than wool, so if cotton could be used to make clothes, ordinary people could also wear comfortable clothes!

Xu Lanzhi was surprised to hear this: "There are such good things? That's great! This way, even poor people can wear comfortable clothes."

Tang Qiqi agreed, saying, "Yes, as for planting cotton affecting Third Sister's business, you're overthinking it. These are two completely different things, and the fabrics made from them are also different."

Besides, they sell everything they grow to us before it's processed into fabric, so you don't need to worry about your aunt causing trouble!

Xu Lanzhi then realized that Tang Qiqi had actually planned this all along. She laughed and said, "Qiqi, you said I was doing charity work, but I think you are the one who is. Did you plan to have your aunt and the others do this business all along?"

Tang Qiqi naturally wouldn't admit it. She just spread her hands and said, "Mother, you're overthinking it. The reason I made this plan is simply because Liujiatun is a suitable place to grow cotton, and the spinning wheel and loom that Third Sister needs can be used there. It's just a side thing."

Xu Lanzhi replied, "Yes, yes, it's just a side thing. Then let's find your eldest cousin. I need to talk to him about this. Your aunt is too noisy, and things could easily end badly."

While someone was going to invite Liu Jianchang, Xu Lanzhi told Wang about her idea. Wang was naturally very grateful and said emotionally, "Lanzhi, you've really gone through a lot. This family has been so fortunate to have you these past few years! Don't worry, if your eldest sister says anything unpleasant again, I'll tear her mouth apart!"

Xu Lanzhi spoke frankly about the matter at hand: "Mother, my eldest sister's words are unpleasant to hear, but she's not a bad person at heart. Every time I give birth to a girl, she either wants to give her away or drown her. How can I, as her mother, not be angry?"

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Fortunately, Mother, you are reasonable. Although you always scolded and complained, no matter how difficult it was, you gritted your teeth and kept the child. For your kindness, I will not abandon my eldest sister.

"But Mother, let me make this clear: I've given them the opportunity, so they need to work hard. I promise I won't let them down. And if they cause trouble, I won't stand idly by."

Wang knew perfectly well that her daughter-in-law was giving her a heads-up, meaning that if Tang Chunya didn't behave herself, she really wouldn't take care of them.

Although her words were unpleasant to hear, they weren't entirely wrong. If Xu Lanzhi hadn't been more assertive, who would have listened to her?

Madam Wang said, "Lanzhi, I know. I will have a good talk with your eldest sister and tell her to work hard. When do you plan to tell her about this?"

At this moment, Liu Jianchang arrived. Xu Lanzhi said, "Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Mother, I need to discuss this with Jianchang and see if he is willing to take on this job."

Liu Jianchang asked, looking completely bewildered, "Auntie, what do you want me to do?"

Xu Lanzhi said, "Isn't this because your second aunt's family set up a rice base? Your mother said that I, as your aunt, haven't treated everyone equally, and she wants me to do something for your family too."

After working with Xu Lanzhi for so many days, Liu Jianchang knew that as long as he worked diligently, his aunt was a very good person, unlike what his mother had said.

He guessed that his mother must be jealous of his second aunt's husband and had come here to make trouble again. He quickly said, "Aunt, I'm doing a good job here. Don't listen to my mother's nonsense. That's just how she is. She says things she shouldn't say. Don't take her seriously."