Chapter 101: Earning Money
“No matter how good your things are, you won’t be able to sell them at a good price if you go to a pawn shop. A conscientious pawn shop owner might give you a 50% discount, but a dishonest one might even give you 30% or 40% off.
Keep these things and sell them in our Zhuyuan shop when it opens. I promise to give you a good price."
Meng Xiyan didn't quite believe it and wanted to ask her what to do.
Meng Chifei pushed him out.
"Brother, don't you still believe in Yanyan's ability to make money? Leave everything to her, we won't lose a thing.
Don’t you still have to go door to door to collect donations?
It’s getting dark, you should hurry up and get busy.”
Meng Xiyan was pushed out of the house by his sister before he could say a word.
Meng Chifei didn't rest either, and began to sort out valuable things and silver at home.
Seeing this, the two concubines also came to help clean up.
Wen Yan felt uncomfortable just standing by and watching, so she said she wanted to go out and keep an eye on the bookstore's decoration and left.
Sun Rulan, who lives in the guest house, has almost healed the injury on his arm after several days of recuperation.
In order to stay in the general's mansion, he still let the bandage hang around his neck.
At this moment, he was sitting under a tree in the yard, reading a book leisurely.
Hearing the commotion outside, he called the servant over: "What happened to the Meng family? Why is there such a commotion?"
"I'll go and find out right away." The servant ran out immediately.
Not long after, the servant came back in a hurry.
He reported to Sun Rulan: "Sir, the maids and servants of the Meng family are packing up things, including gold, silver and jade.
It is said that they will be sold and used for disaster relief."
"Disaster relief? Has there been another disaster somewhere?"
“I haven’t heard the details, but judging by their actions, the disaster must be quite serious.
Miss Meng carried out all her dowry, dozens of boxes, filling up the entire yard, leaving no room to step.
It's all gold and silver, and there are also a lot of calligraphy and antiques. They look very valuable."
Sun Rulan's face suddenly turned gloomy.
Meng Chifei actually gave away all her dowry.
Meng Chifei will take those things to the Sun family in the future.
I'm still sitting here.
She donated all the money without even asking herself. Isn't that too disrespectful of herself?
Sun Rulan's face became increasingly gloomy.
But soon, he realized that there was something strange about this matter.
Disaster relief is the court's responsibility.
Why is the General's Mansion joining in the fun?
Even if you want to donate money, eight thousand will be enough.
How did it come to the point where all the dowry for my soon-to-be-married daughter had to be given away?
This matter is of no trivial importance.
Emotions surged in his eyes as he instructed the servant, "Go out and find out where the disaster occurred. Remember, the more detailed the better."
**
Meng Xiyan took people to the residences of officials to collect donations.
Meng Xiyan held an account book, and the family members or housekeepers signed on the book to show how much money each family donated.
The accounts are clear at a glance.
The officials' families were very cooperative and were very willing to pay.
But, wait until he leaves.
Those words were very unpleasant to hear.
They say he is short-sighted.
It was just a few hundred or dozens of taels of silver, but he actually came to ask for it in person.
He has brought shame to the Meng family!
Some people even spit at him behind his back.
Meng Xiyan didn't care.
Brother Chen, on the other hand, had an unhappy expression and anger in his eyes.
Meng Xiyan comforted him: "Let them talk if they want to. As long as there is money for disaster relief, I can even hold a tea party for them."
Chen Yi's lips moved, but those words of defending injustice were never spoken.
That evening.
The news of the severe drought in Jinyang Prefecture spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.
This matter is being discussed everywhere.
Some people were worried, "I'm afraid that refugees from Jinyang Prefecture will flee here and cause chaos everywhere, which could easily lead to riots."
Some people have become accustomed to it: "There have been floods and droughts from time to time in recent years, and the court will take care of it."
Wen Yan left the general's mansion, strolled around the street, listened to the people's discussions, and then went to the new shop to look at the decoration.
Although the general's mansion is wealthy, it is still far from enough to provide disaster relief to the entire prefecture.
Therefore, the sooner they open their calligraphy and painting shop, the better.
This way there will be a steady flow of money to support their disaster relief efforts.
Wen Yan breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that the new shop would be completed in three days.
At that moment, Xiao Wu, the waiter she had hired from the paper shop, came to her with some study supplies. "These are the suppliers I recently secured. They may be small businesses, but their products are good. If the boss likes them, I can sign a contract with them."
Wen Yan took a look.
The quality is not top notch, but not bad either.
Wen Yan asked him to sign it.
Seeing how motivated he was, Wen Yan encouraged him, "Our shop will be opening in a few days. Work hard. If the products sell well, you will definitely get a commission."
Xiao Wu didn't expect to get a commission, and immediately said happily: "Don't worry, young boss, I will definitely not let you down."
After Wen Yan came out of the pen and ink shop, he went to Tianyi Cloth Shop again.
Discuss with Shopkeeper Cui about increasing sales efforts.
Wen Yan said to Shopkeeper Cui, "Besides the usual methods of attracting customers, how are the new styles of clothes that I asked the embroiderers to make going?"
"According to your wishes, three pieces of each design were made, and they were all carefully crafted by the best embroiderers."
“It can be sold in a few days.
No matter what means you use, you should sell it for as high a price as possible."
Shopkeeper Cui asked worriedly, "Are you in such a hurry to make money for disaster relief?"
Wen Yan confessed to him: "Yes, the brother and sister have taken on the task of disaster relief, and they need to solve the problem of the money themselves.
Your family's chief treasurer even took out the dowry money."
"What!" Shopkeeper Cui, an elder of the Meng family, became very anxious when he heard that his master had even taken out the dowry.
He immediately patted his chest and promised Wen Yan, "I will definitely sell as much silver as possible."
After reaching an agreement with Manager Cui, Wen Yan was about to leave.
Then Qingchuan came hurriedly.
Wen Yan looked at him in surprise: "Why are you here?"
Qingchuan said anxiously, "I heard that the Meng family took on the disaster relief mission, so I wanted to come over and ask if there was anything I could do to help."
Mainly the three thousand taels of silver borrowed from here.
He wanted to sell the goods and return the money to them first.
Wen Yan waved her hand, "That's just a drop in the bucket, there's no need to worry."
Wen Yan was afraid that he would have a psychological burden, so she took the initiative to change the subject.
Ask him about tea.
When they learned that he had not yet found the caravan heading north, they asked him if he wanted to wait a few more days before setting off with the relief team.
At that time, the imperial court will send troops to escort the food and supplies, and they will be safer.
Qingchuan was naturally more than happy to do so, and he immediately bowed to Wen Yan and said, "Miss Wen, please introduce me to someone."
Wen Yan also reminded him that if he had some spare money, he could get some salt and silk and transport them to the north to sell.
Dusk is falling.
Wen Yan estimated that by the time the general's property had been counted, it should be almost complete.
Only then did she walk back slowly.
Meng Xiyan, who went out to collect debts, returned home just as she did.
He slumped down in his chair without any dignity, looking half dead: "Dealing with those people is harder than fighting the enemy in battle."
Aunt Man Yue felt very sorry for him when she saw that he was very tired, so she quickly asked someone to serve the meal.
They were just about to sit down.
Sun Rulan suddenly appeared at the door: "Brother Meng and everyone, haven't you had dinner yet? It seems I came at the wrong time. I'll come back later."
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