Chapter 56 I think you're really sick
Seeing this, Manager Qian became even more smug, and his tone became increasingly sarcastic: "Miss, you are as precious as gold and jade, your fingers are more delicate than tender scallions, how could you understand the hardships of us merchants? The business in this shop is complicated and complex, it's not something you can understand just by looking at the account books!"
"You think you can just fire me like that? Hmph, let me ask you this: if I leave, can you take over all the affairs of this shop? Do you even know the origin, grade, and market price of these hundreds of silks? Do you know which families our regular customers are and what their preferences are? Can you keep things under control and prevent the staff from fooling us?"
As Manager Qian spoke, he winked at several of his trusted employees. The burly men immediately surrounded her, arms crossed, glaring at Li Bao'er with hostility, clearly intending to intimidate her.
The atmosphere inside the store instantly became tense.
Linglong's face darkened: "Think carefully before you do anything!"
Li Bao'er smiled, a faint smile that carried a cold, penetrating power, making the noisy scene inexplicably quiet down.
"Qian Youbing, are you testing me?" She walked slowly to the problematic piece of brocade, and gently touched it with her fingertip. "You say I don't understand? Then I will explain it to you."
"This piece of brocade, though its pattern is old-fashioned, is indeed a top-quality piece made by the Jiangning government. Its market price should be around fifty taels per piece. By pricing it at one hundred and twenty taels, you are only fooling those nouveau riche who don't know anything about brocade but crave prestige. You are only damaging the shop's long-standing reputation."
Bao'er then strolled over to another piece of brightly colored satin: "This Hangzhou satin, although brightly colored, lacks the toughness of the silk threads and is prone to pilling and snagging. It is a substandard product. It should be placed separately from the high-quality Hangzhou satin and clearly priced. However, you mixed it with the good goods, attempting to pass it off as genuine."
Then, she swept her gaze across the room, speaking steadily yet clearly: "As for regular customers? The accounts and order records are all clearly written down. Manager Qian, as the manager, do you really need a new employer like me to remind you?"
With each word she spoke, Manager Qian's face paled a little more. The dismissive attitude on the faces of the surrounding shop assistants gradually turned into surprise and uncertainty.
This young lady seems to know everything! She's definitely not as ignorant as they imagined.
Li Bao'er finally walked to the counter, casually picked up a fake ledger, and said, "Li Zhou used to be lenient with you, but I'm a meticulous person. Whose name was the missing Jinxiu recorded under? Or... whose pocket did it go into? I want you to make up for it all within three days."
She raised her eyes, her gaze as sharp as ice blades, and stared directly at Manager Qian, whose face was ashen: "Now, do you still think I don't understand business and can't manage this place? Do I need to continue?"
The shop fell silent. The once aggressive waiters unconsciously took a step back, lowered their heads, and dared not meet her gaze.
Manager Qian collapsed completely, drenched in cold sweat, unable to utter another word.
Li Bao'er looked around, her voice not loud, but carrying absolute authority: "From now on, I will send people to take over Xiuli Pavilion and take stock of all accounts and inventory. Those who are willing to work hard will receive their wages as usual, and there will be additional rewards for good performance. Those who want to follow Qian Youbing can settle their accounts and leave now!"
Li Bao'er didn't like learning the needlework and musical instruments that were common in this world. She had read many books on business and secretly owned quite a few shops. Therefore, she was quite decisive and efficient. With just a few words, she resolved a crisis and completely intimidated the audience.
Just then, a luxurious carriage stopped in front of the shop. The curtain was lifted, and the Third Prince, Mu Yuan, stepped out.
He was just passing by when the commotion in the shop caught his eye, and what he saw made him freeze in place.
He saw that familiar yet unfamiliar figure, Li Bao'er.
Mu Yuan was momentarily lost in thought. In his memory, Li Bao'er always followed in his footsteps, wearing the most fashionable clothes, with exquisite makeup and a flattering look in her eyes.
He enjoyed endless wealth and luxury from birth, and was surrounded by countless people.
If you were to actually ask him who the most beautiful person he has ever seen in his life is,
He would definitely blurt out, "Li Bao'er, she is like a delicate yet tenacious pear blossom, beautiful as she is, but in his eyes she is like a soulless vase, all show and no substance."
Because she didn't have any outstanding talents, was only average at needlework, and wasn't virtuous enough, she wasn't the free-spirited woman he liked.
But the woman before him, Li Bao'er, stood there with a bare face and an upright posture, showing no fear in the face of the cunning shopkeeper and the surrounding waiters. Her words were sharp and her logic clear, each sentence hitting the nail on the head, and her whole demeanor carried a calmness and sharpness that he had never seen before.
Those eyes were strikingly bright, sparkling with wisdom and confidence, far more captivating than any of her carefully made-up appearances.
Is this really Li Bao'er, who was infatuated with him and even seemed a little foolish?
Mu Yuan felt as if something had struck his heart hard.
An unprecedented sense of regret instantly wrapped around his heart like vines, tightening more and more until it almost suffocated him.
He suddenly recalled all the things she had done for him. At first, he thought she was different from other women who relied on their husbands' families, but now he realized that without extraordinary courage and resourcefulness, how could she have grown up in the Prime Minister's mansion?
Mu Yuan has a strong plan for his future. For example, he took advantage of Mu Cenlin's special feelings for Li Bao'er to make Mu Cenlin suffer.
For example, although he disliked Li Bao'er's stupidity, he still had a slight liking for her. He liked Li Bao'er's appearance and didn't mind marrying her.
It's not now, before the big things are accomplished!
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