The next day, after breakfast, Sun Chengen brought the blueprints to find Ruan Meng.
Ruan Meng sought her elder brother's advice. Ruan Qian, who was currently preoccupied with his studies, trusted Ruan Meng enough to let her make her own decision at the school.
The second and third brothers saw this and prepared to go out to go beachcombing. Ruan dreamed for a while and then called the second brother to stop.
Ruan Meng asked Sun Chengen for his opinion on the store's renovation. Sun Chengen was about to say that it would be handled by the manager, but seeing that Ruan Meng had brought it up specifically, he stopped talking, looked at Ruan Meng, and asked her for her opinion.
Ruan Meng suggested that her second brother give it a try, providing his opinions on the drawings free of charge.
Sun Chengen did not agree directly, but agreed to let his second son give it a try. If the drawings were approved by the housekeeper, they could be used. If they were used, they would pay the fees according to market prices.
The second brother was somewhat stunned upon hearing this.
Can he really do it?
Ruan Meng encouraged him, saying that the second son loved music, chess, calligraphy and painting and was already quite accomplished in them. He had eaten at many restaurants in the mansion and at friends' homes in the past and was very familiar with the layout and arrangement of the best restaurants in the capital. Designing a shop in Nanxian was simply a waste of his talents.
Ruan Meng's encouragement boosted the second son's confidence. Sun Chengen's approval was also based on this consideration: the Ruan family members were knowledgeable and capable, and if Ruan Meng said it was feasible, it was probably true.
The second brother put down the wooden bucket, moved closer to Ruan Meng, and began to inquire about the shop's situation.
Seeing her second brother's focused expression, Ruan Meng smiled for no apparent reason.
Enabling family members to apply their knowledge and skills is far more important than simply providing them with food and drink.
Based on the layout of the surrounding streets, Ruan Meng selected three shops as sales points for braised food, fish noodles, and fish balls.
Because there are many varieties of braised food, while fish noodles and fish balls are relatively limited, Ruan Meng suggested that the braised food shop be set up in the store, while the fish balls and fish noodles only need to be set up in the stalls in front of the store.
Sun Chengen thought Ruan Meng's idea was feasible, so he didn't offer any opinions. He only asked Ruan Qian to submit his renovation suggestions as soon as possible. Once approved, the Sun family could sign an agreement with the village collective to arrange for the shop to be sold.
The schoolhouses of the Song and Fan families have been thoroughly cleaned, and all the desks have been moved in.
Ruan Meng thought for a moment, then named a few herbs and asked Du Xiaocan to prescribe a herbal remedy for allergies.
After Du Xiaocan finished preparing the ingredients, he asked Ruan Meng about their purpose. Ruan Meng pretended to be mysterious and said that she would find out later.
After the herbal decoction was prepared, Ruan Meng gave it to Feng Yun, Feng Xi, and the two craftsmen to try. The craftsmen were somewhat surprised, as they were not sick and therefore did not need the medicine.
Ruan Meng smiled and said it was for prevention.
After finishing the drink, he took Du Xiaocan, Feng Yun, and Feng Xi up the mountain.
After traversing half a mountain, Ruan Meng finally found her target.
She had only read about lacquer trees in medical books, and hadn't been able to find them in her past life. She only remembered them when she walked into the school and thought of the blackboard and chalk. (Image of lacquer tree from the internet.) Because lacquer trees cause strong allergic reactions, more than half of those who approach them will experience an allergic reaction, even if it's just from being exposed to the wind. That's why Ruan Meng asked Du Xiaocan to prepare anti-allergy medicine in advance.
This was the first time Feng Yun and Feng Xi, who had lived on the island for over twenty years, had ever been near a lacquer tree.
In the past, people would stay away from logging, only hearing from the elders that this tree would cause people to itch all over their body, develop bumps, and even have difficulty breathing. I never expected it to be an allergy!
After taking the herbal soup that Ruan Meng brought, they were completely unharmed and were even able to cut open the tree bark and collect the sap.
Feng Yun and Feng Xi were astonished to hear that tree sap could be used to make lacquerware.
The same wooden furniture, but lacquered utensils, can cost several times more, and Ruan Meng just casually told them that.
Ruan Meng casually instructed Du Xiaocan, "When you get back the anti-allergy herbs, go and get a few for Brother Feng and Second Brother Feng. If you have time, you can make some lacquered boxes. If they don't sell well, I can ask the He family to sell them."
"Let's work first, and when we've saved up enough money, we'll open a shop specializing in woodworking and lacquerware!"
Upon hearing this, Feng Yun and Feng Xi were extremely grateful. Ruan Meng had originally said that there would be enough lacquer tree sap, but the two insisted on cutting all the sap from both lacquer trees before they were willing to go down the mountain.
Ruan Meng and Feng Yun went to the school, measured the size of the classroom, and asked Feng Yun and Feng Xi to make two wooden boards.
Ruan Meng heard that there was a gypsum mine on the island, so she wrote down a prescription and asked Xiao Kai to take it back to He Cong. She was in a bit of a hurry, as she needed to see the prescription that evening.
Lunch was prepared by the eldest sister-in-law, with Ah Chun taking the initiative to prepare it. Ruan Meng was so tired that she only managed to eat a couple of bites before falling fast asleep.
After Feng Yun and Feng Xi finished making the wooden planks, they went to find Ruan Meng.
Hearing that she was asleep, they were reluctant to wake her, but Ruan Meng reminded them that the subsequent procedures were very important and time was tight, so the two of them dared not delay.
When her sister-in-law entered the room, she woke Ruan Meng up with concern. Ruan Meng jumped up and instantly regained her composure.
"Is it done?"
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