In the plan that the two had discussed and drafted, Liu Yingying was responsible for planning their business empire and offered advice behind the scenes.

Ye Qingyuan was responsible for front-end operations.

Of course, he has always been good at this.

Just as Ye Qingyuan was brimming with confidence, if he could really make this cotton business a success, then let alone the mere Tao family and Sun family.

He probably has no rivals even in the entire Ningzhou!

At this moment, Liu Yingying said unhurriedly, "Actually, besides cotton, I also have an alum mine!"

"What? Alum... alum ore?!" Ye Qingyuan was so shocked he almost couldn't sit still.

Now, all his businesses are being severely suppressed by the Tao and Sun families.

But apart from the dyeing and weaving business.

The reason is simple: the fabric dyed by the Ye family's dye house has a brighter color and does not fade over time.

This was all because he listened to Liu Yingying's advice and added alum to the dye!

However, apart from Liu Yingying, no one else could obtain alum.

Moreover, Liu Yingying had a very limited supply of alum.

Therefore, Ye Qingyuan's business empire is also limited.

But if Liu Yingying really did own an entire alum mine, then…

"Lord Ning'an, where is that alum mine now?"

"Mr. Ye, please don't get agitated... let me explain slowly..." Liu Yingying personally poured him another cup of tea to comfort him.

Then he explained his plan...

Her abilities are limited on her own.

Moreover, her plan mainly focuses on developing agricultural and sideline industries, while other businesses will have to wait.

She can't do everything herself.

Therefore, it is necessary to find a long-term partner.

Ye Qingyuan is the most suitable person among those she can choose right now.

The two quickly reached an agreement, and Ye Qingyuan would then purchase the alum mine in Baotian Town.

Liu Yingying was in charge of leading a team to refine pure alum.

The festive atmosphere of the New Year has gradually faded, and Liu Yingying's days are getting busier and busier.

Recently, more and more people from the surrounding villages have been visiting the two elders, Zhu Youcai and his wife.

Lu Sufen had secretly come over twice to remind Liu Yingying, but she didn't pay much attention.

Human hearts are like quicksand, gathering and scattering, all coming and going for the sake of profit.

Finally, on the morning of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Zhu Jianqiang returned home in glory, riding in a luxurious sedan chair carried by four men, followed by seven or eight attendants…

Because the county had given prior notice, not only the villagers of Taoyuan Village were there to greet them at the crossroads that morning, but also villagers from the surrounding villages.

Looking across the entire Ma'ao Township, how many years has it been since a single decent high-ranking official has emerged?

Okay, even though Zhu Jianqiang was only a minor official of the seventh rank, he was still an official!

And he was a high-ranking official in Beijing!

As everyone eagerly awaited his arrival, the first thing Zhu Jianqiang did after getting off the carriage was to kowtow several times to Zhu Youcai and his wife in front of everyone.

His expression and demeanor were exactly like that of a filial son and virtuous grandson!

"Father, Mother, your unfilial son has returned!"

"Be strong, your parents have finally been waiting for you to come back!"

Listen to that tone! It's practically saying that if Zhu Jianqiang doesn't come back soon, they'll be tortured to death by Liu Yingying!

Before the mother and her two children could finish speaking, they all hugged each other and burst into tears.

Zhao Di, Zhu Jiawang, and Zhu Jiafu, the three siblings, stood aside wiping away tears.

Zhu Erqiang, Zhu Sanqiang and his wife, and their child were also waiting expectantly nearby.

Liu Yingying, the wife who had shared hardships with the husband, was relegated to the back and watched the whole scene with cold eyes.

Standing next to Liu Yingying were Lu Daikui, Zou Xiuzhi, and others.

They had received the news and came specifically to support Liu Yingying.

Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Lu Daikui scratched the back of his head and asked in a low voice, "Girl, has that corrupt official always had such a close relationship with his parents?"

"No, those two old people thought he was dead. In order to save food, they even wanted to sell the three children he left behind. How good do you think their relationship could be?"

Liu Yingying told the truth without embellishing anything.

In fact.

Although Zhu Jianqiang was the only one among the three sons of the Zhu family who was educated, he did not receive much favoritism from the old couple.

Instead, she did everything she could to drain his blood and raise her other two sons.

Finally, the family of three finished crying in each other's arms.

Everyone present, except for the elders of the same clan, knelt down and kowtowed to Zhu Jianqiang.

"This humble subject respectfully welcomes Lord Zhu back to his hometown!"

The compliments grew louder and louder.

Lu Daikui and the others were unwilling to kowtow to Zhu Jianqiang, but they couldn't resist the fact that he was an official after all.

They were just ordinary people.

In order not to give the Zhu family any leverage, they had no choice but to kneel down.

At this moment, Zhu Jianqiang's vanity had reached its peak!

In the capital, he was just a minor official of the seventh rank, and he had to bow and scrape to everyone he met.

In the Marquis's residence... it was even more so...

But returning here and seeing these people groveling at his feet, he was suddenly filled with a sense of arrogance, as if saying, "If Heaven had not given birth to me, Zhu Jianqiang, the officialdom would have remained in perpetual darkness."

Suddenly, a slightly slender figure came into view.

The couple met again after nearly two years, and Liu Yingying had changed a lot.

For a moment, Zhu Jianqiang was somewhat dazed by what he saw.

Everyone else was kneeling, but she remained standing there, tall and independent, seemingly untouched by the world.

Upon seeing me, he showed neither joy nor resentment, as if he were looking at a complete stranger.

"Liu, are you dead? What are you standing there for? Come over here and pay your respects to your husband!"

Taking advantage of her son's return, Ma Jinhua spoke to Liu Yingying with a more assertive tone.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!