After the workshop started operations, production gradually began under the arrangement of Yan Qingqing and Li Xiang'an.
The embroidery workshop was overseen by Madam Xu and Li Yueniang. In addition to the orders from the Wu family, they also received several orders for dolls before the Lunar New Year, taking advantage of the food processing workshop's success.
So they immediately threw themselves into the intense production process.
Li Xinniang gradually withdrew from the management of the workshop, while Li Yueniang became more mature and composed.
She is extremely capable in her work, not at all like an eleven or twelve-year-old girl.
Yuan Huiniang would also visit the workshop from time to time to discuss its future development prospects with Xu Shi and the others.
Yan Qingqing's overall plan for this year is still to make money, and make more money.
This year she plans to open another branch factory for processing, and she also plans to start a business selling rouge and face powder. She has already developed several products.
In addition, she plans to buy several thousand acres of land to grow cotton, which is also a major event that benefits the country and its people.
When the news reaches the Heavenly Court, the Emperor will surely bestow rewards upon them.
Of course, this is just Yan Qingqing's initial plan, and how it will be implemented in the future remains to be seen.
Yan Qingqing was engrossed in her thoughts when Yuan Huiniang quietly entered her room.
Ruyi and Ruxue quickly bowed to her upon seeing her, and Yan Qingqing then came to her senses and waved to Yuan Huiniang.
Yuan Huiniang laughed and said, "You two girls, didn't you see that my mother was deep in thought? I didn't dare to disturb her, but you two did, and now you've disturbed her train of thought. Be careful you don't get kicked out."
Ruyi and Ruxue naturally knew that Yuan Huiniang was trying to win Yan Qingqing's favor, so they quickly begged for forgiveness.
Yan Qingqing watched the three of them joking around and said, "Alright, if you kick them out, who will serve me? I'm not satisfied with anyone else."
These words delighted Ruyi and Ruxue.
Yuan Huiniang was six months pregnant, and her belly looked unusually large.
Yan Qingqing glanced at her belly with some concern. In these days, medical conditions are poor, and a baby that is too big or a twin pregnancy is not necessarily a good thing.
She remembered that the original owner of this body had suffered severe bleeding when giving birth to Li Xiang'an and Li Xiangping. It almost resulted in the deaths of all three, but the original owner was lucky and survived.
Seeing Yan Qingqing looking at her belly, Yuan Huiniang smiled and said, "This is my second pregnancy, so I'm showing a bit."
In addition, our family's life has become better, and we've been taking so many nourishing supplements every day that we've gone a bit overboard.
The doctor said that as long as I control my diet and get some exercise later on, it shouldn't be a problem.
Yan Qingqing reached out and touched Yuan Huiniang's belly, saying, "It's not that it's not important, but we need to make sure everything is absolutely safe."
If I had to choose between you and my unborn grandson, I would choose you without hesitation.
Of course, Mother hopes you will all be safe and sound.
Yuan Huiniang was even more moved by Yan Qingqing's words. What did she do to deserve such a good mother-in-law in this life?
She needs to be even more filial to Yan Qingqing in the future.
While moved, Yuan Huiniang did not forget the purpose of her visit to Yan Qingqing.
She knew that bringing up this topic would probably upset Yan Qingqing again, but as the young mistress of the household, she had to say some things.
So Yuan Huiniang glanced at Yan Qingqing quietly and slowly said, "Mother, my younger sister is getting married on the eighth day of the third month. We are still a thousand miles away from the capital."
We must depart no later than the eighth day of the second lunar month.
I know Mother is still angry with my younger sister, but what's done is done, and we should handle this matter properly.
Sure enough, as soon as Yuan Huiniang finished speaking, Yan Qingqing's expression turned not good.
Fortunately, Yan Qingqing's expression soon softened.
After all, they were mother and daughter, and Yan Qingqing had done her best. This was Li Xinniang's own choice, and whether it was fate or misfortune was none of her business.
Yan Qingqing nodded and sighed, "In terms of family wealth, our family is still too shallow, and we have no businesses anywhere except in Chengyang County."
Although I have a fifth-rank official title, it's not of much use to me.
I said before the new year that I would send the Wu family's betrothal gifts back as part of the dowry, and give her an additional 50,000 taels of silver as part of her dowry.
The betrothal gifts from the Wu family were quite substantial, as if they had prepared them well in advance.
Actually, when Yuan Huiniang showed Yan Qingqing the list of gifts from the Wu family, Yan Qingqing already had some doubts.
Firstly, these things were prepared too quickly. It had only been a few days since Wu Jingzhi proposed to Li Xinniang. Even if Wu Jingzhi sent a message to the Wu family by carrier pigeon, it would still take some time to prepare these things.
Secondly, there are many items inside that Li Xinniang doesn't like at all. Since Wu Jingzhi likes Li Xinniang, doesn't he know her preferences?
Therefore, Yan Qingqing suspected that these things were not originally prepared by the Wu family for Li Xinniang, but rather seemed to be prepared for another girl.
This is another reason why Yan Qingqing is even less optimistic about the marriage after the two got engaged.
But deep down, Yan Qingqing still wanted Li Xin's mother to be well.
Therefore, no other items were prepared for Li Xinniang, only 50,000 taels of silver notes were given to her as a safety net, so that she could have some emergency funds.
Whether or not Li Xinniang can understand her good intentions is up to her; in any case, she has done what she could.
Yan Qingqing thought for a moment and said, "Your father's three-year mourning period is not over, so they cannot hold the wedding in Canghe County."
Xinniang was determined to return to the capital with Wu Jingzhi.
Even if we prepare a lot of things in our small town, people might not even be interested. So let's just forget about these dowry items.
"I'll buy another batch of servants later. You can keep their indentures; I hope they'll protect her in the future."
Yuan Huiniang nodded and said, "Mother is so thoughtful."
Yan Qingqing sighed. What was the use of being so thoughtful? After all, the capital was too far away, and she really couldn't help with anything.
Yan Qingqing kept her word and quickly hired another batch of servants: eight maids, eight rough-working women, and eight young servants.
After Yan Qingqing looked at it, she said a few words, using both kindness and severity, and then had someone send it directly into Li Xinniang's courtyard.
Li Xin's mother had her wedding dress and everything else ready. But she felt even more empty inside.
She was increasingly regretful, but she knew there was no going back. She only hoped that Wu Jing was sincere towards her and wouldn't let her down.
Li Xinniang was sitting by the window in a daze when she saw Yuan Huiniang leading a large group of people into her courtyard.
Li Xinniang quickly composed herself and came out to greet them, asking, "Sister-in-law, what brings you here?"
Yuan Huiniang held her hand and smiled, "It's because your wedding date has been set, and I'm worried about you marrying into the capital alone, so I specially bought a group of servants."
However, their contracts are all in my hands, and you may dispose of any of them if they have any disloyal intentions.
Those who dare to betray their master deserve to be killed.
Yuan Huiniang said this to the servants, and sure enough, they all knelt down immediately after hearing it, saying that they dared not.
In fact, according to Yuan Huiniang's opinion, it would be best to give these people's indentures to Li Xinniang.
However, Yan Qingqing said that Li Xinniang was too soft-hearted, and that the fact that she had indebtedness contracts made them even more reckless. She even said that Li Xinniang might not be able to keep these indebtedness contracts safe in the end, and that they would be afraid if they were in her hands.
Every decision Yan Qingqing made was made with Li Xinniang's best interests in mind.
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