The young shopkeeper watched Yan Qingqing and the others walk away, lost in thought.
Yuan Huiniang was afraid of upsetting her mother-in-law, so she was very careful the whole way. At the same time, she also felt a little regretful. Why did she have to suggest going to the jewelry store?
Finally, Yuan Huiniang couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Mother, shall we go home now?"
Yan Qingqing replied matter-of-factly, "No, we haven't bought the jewelry yet!"
Let's check out the next one. I remember there's a jewelry store on a nearby street.
Yuan Huiniang breathed a sigh of relief and said softly, "I thought Mother was angry."
Yan Qingqing scoffed and replied, "Your mother doesn't get angry so easily. You should also remember never to get angry over trivial people; it's not worth it."
Yuan Huiniang nodded quickly upon hearing this.
Soon they arrived at another jewelry store, which was more impressive than the one they had just visited.
As soon as Yan Qingqing entered, she was warmly greeted. After understanding their needs, several styles were presented for them to choose from.
In the end, Yuan Huiniang chose a silver hairpin shaped like a magnolia flower. Li Xinniang and Li Yueniang, being younger, chose a ruyi hairpin and a gourd hairpin, respectively.
Yan Qingqing looked at them and thought they suited them well, so she waved her hand and bought all three. It cost a total of eight taels of silver.
However, Yan Qingqing herself didn't buy any, not because she was stingy with the money. It was simply that there wasn't a style she liked at first glance. Besides, she felt that wearing silver jewelry wasn't quite appropriate for her age.
Yan Qingqing watched as Li Xinniang and Li Yueniang, after putting on the dolls, looked like elegant young ladies, and began to think about how it was time to prepare dowries for them.
Their family is now quite well-off; if they don't prepare in advance, their wedding will be rather shabby.
After spending most of the day out shopping, it was getting late. After buying the jewelry, the four of them took the oxcart back to Canghe Village.
Along the way, Yuan Huiniang and the other two discussed the changes in the city, saying that this place had become more beautiful and that place had become cleaner.
In fact, Yan Qingqing said it wasn't that Chengyang County had changed much, but rather that the three of them had changed their mindset, so everything seemed different from before.
It was already dark when the three of them returned home. Xu had already prepared dinner for them. Li Xiangyang was being looked after by Li Xiangkang and Xiao Mochen, and surprisingly, Li Xiangyang didn't cry or make a fuss.
Now, Yan Qingqing usually entrusts her child to Xu Shi when she goes out, and she rarely goes into the city more than twice a month.
Yan Qingqing had seen all of Xu's efforts, and in short, she would not mistreat the family of three.
The next day, the butcher delivered the 120 jin of meat that Yan Qingqing had ordered early in the morning, along with many large bones.
After breakfast, Yan Qingqing went to the embroidery workshop with Yuan Huiniang and the others.
Although the embroidery workshop was located in Canghe Village, Yan Qingqing didn't come very often. It was agreed that the workshop was for Yuan Huiniang and her two sisters-in-law. Yan Qingqing only gave them a general direction, and the rest was up to them to figure out on their own.
As soon as Yan Qingqing arrived at the embroidery workshop, Old Man He, who was guarding the gate, saw that their oxcart was loaded with a full load of things.
This old man, Mr. He, is He San's father. He has always had a good relationship with Mr. Li. He is around fifty years old and greeted Yan Qingqing warmly when he saw her.
Yan Qingqing responded with a smile, and then asked Yuan Huiniang to get him two catties of meat and ten catties of noodles.
Somewhat bewildered, Grandpa He asked, "Xiang Ping's mother, Xiang Ping's wife, what are you doing?"
Yuan Huiniang, who was standing to the side, smiled and said, "Grandpa He, my mother said that everyone has worked for our family for so long and has been very hardworking and conscientious."
"It's almost Chinese New Year, so let's give everyone some treats."
Grandpa He looked incredulous; he had never heard of such a good thing, even when he worked for a big landlord.
Seeing that Old Master He hadn't reacted for a while, Yan Qingqing smiled and didn't say anything more before turning around and entering the embroidery workshop.
Because it was nearing the end of the year, the last batch of goods for Jinsheng Pavilion needed to be rushed out, so the embroiderers had less time to learn embroidery skills during this period and spent most of their time rushing to meet the deadline.
Yan Qingqing glanced at Yuan Huiniang and said, "They have indeed worked hard this month, so let's give them double their wages."
These embroiderers usually earn 300 coins a month, so double that would be 600 coins.
Although it cost more than ten taels of silver, it was enough to win people's hearts.
Although Yuan Huiniang was reluctant, she quickly agreed when Yan Qingqing spoke up.
Yuan Huiniang quickly gathered all the embroiderers together and said, "With the end of the year approaching, my mother knows that everyone has been working hard lately, so there are two things she wants to tell you."
After speaking, she looked at Yan Qingqing. Yan Qingqing didn't stand on ceremony either. Although she wasn't managing the embroidery workshop anymore, it had still taken a lot of her effort. It was only natural for her to be the good Samaritan.
So he began by saying, "Thank you all very much for your hard work for the embroidery workshop over the past two months."
Our embroidery workshop is just starting out, so the conditions are relatively simple and the system is not yet perfect.
But I have seen all your hard work; you are the first batch of embroiderers in our workshop.
As long as you study diligently, you will become senior members of the embroidery workshop and eventually become master embroiderers when we expand our business.
Of course, I will also select a group of more outstanding people from among you to manage the embroidery workshop.
Your future wages could be double, triple, or even ten times more than they are now.
Yan Qingqing's words were like an inspiring stimulant.
They thought Yan Qingqing was right. If the embroidery workshop recruited new people, they would be considered veterans. If they took on apprentices, they would become master craftsmen.
Of course, the premise is that they have to have the ability.
In addition, Yan Qingqing said that their wages could be two, three, or even ten times higher. They couldn't even count how much that would be anymore, they only knew that it would be much more than they were now.
Yan Qingqing could tell from their expressions that they were full of passion.
"Just offering platitudes without concrete benefits won't last," Yan Qingqing paused before speaking again. "Although the embroidery workshop hasn't made much money yet, we can't let everyone suffer."
Yesterday, Hui Niang and I went to the county town to buy some things. Each of you will receive a portion later: two jin of meat and ten jin of flour.
The embroiderers were immediately excited. Meat and flour were priced similarly, at fifteen or sixteen coins per pound. These ten-plus pounds would cost nearly two hundred coins, almost equivalent to their monthly wages.
They all started praising Yan Qingqing's magnanimity, saying that following such a boss was a blessing they had accumulated over several lifetimes.
Before they could finish celebrating, Yan Qingqing said, "I'll give you double pay this month so you can buy more things for your parents and children."
If you felt Yan Qingqing was magnanimous just now, you're now moved.
No one knows who started it, but one word of thanks after another echoed in the embroidery workshop.
People passing by were puzzled by the commotion inside the embroidery workshop. They wanted to go in and take a look, but Old Master He stopped them, saying that this was an important place for the workshop and outsiders could not enter without permission.
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