After all, Han Yu was the son-in-law she had chosen. Although she had high expectations for him, it was better to make some things clear in advance.
So Yan Qingqing didn't mince words and said directly, "You know that our Li family has a rule that a man can only take a concubine if he is forty years old and has no children. Moreover, if a concubine gives birth to a child, the child must be raised by the legal wife."
This is definitely a good thing for the daughters-in-law of the Li family, but it's not so friendly to the sons-in-law.
If you can abide by these rules, we can begin negotiating the marriage. If you feel you cannot do it, your aunt will not force you.
I will find a way to annul this engagement myself.
Han Yu knew some of the Li family's rules.
Since he dared to ask for Li Yueniang's hand in front of the emperor, he must have already thought it through.
Moreover, he had no real obsession with having multiple wives and concubines; he was content to have just one soulmate in this life.
After making up his mind, Han Yu replied, "Don't worry, Auntie. If Yue Niang marries me, I will only have her for the rest of my life and will never marry anyone else."
Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "Good, Auntie was right about you."
Don't worry, if Yue Niang does anything naughty in the future, just tell me, and I'll definitely discipline her properly.
Before Yan Qingqing could finish speaking, Li Yueniang's voice rang out, "Mother, what are you saying? Your daughter isn't even married yet, and you're already siding with outsiders."
Upon hearing that Han Yu had arrived, Li Yueniang couldn't stay in her own courtyard any longer and finally couldn't resist sneaking a peek.
Hearing Han Yu's promise made her feel as sweet as if she had eaten honey.
Yan Qingqing looked at Li Yueniang and laughed, "Hmph, you little brat, you still have the nerve to say that. Look what you've done to Han Yu, you've even scarred him."
Only then did Li Yueniang dare to look up at Han Yu, and sure enough, there was a very obvious scar on the left side of his forehead.
It looked particularly out of place on that handsome face.
Li Yueniang walked hesitantly to Han Yu, gave him a deep bow, and said, "Young Master Han, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."
That day, I was just happy to see you parading through the streets on horseback. I called out to you, but you didn't hear me, so I had a moment of madness and came up with this terrible idea.
Han Yu looked at Li Yueniang's flushed cheeks and ashamed appearance, and felt a little itchy inside, but he didn't dare to be presumptuous in front of Yan Qingqing and Li Xiang'an, his brother-in-law.
He could only smile and say, "It's alright. If it weren't for Yue'er's smash, we wouldn't have the fate we have today."
When Li Yueniang heard Han Yu call her Yue'er in front of her mother and second brother, she dared not look up.
Seeing Li Yueniang's cowardly appearance, Yan Qingqing couldn't help but sigh. She was someone who was all show and no substance.
Following the principle of "out of sight, out of mind," Yan Qingqing waved her hand and said, "Alright, Yue Niang, you show Han Yu around our house."
This is his first visit; it would be good for him to come more often and get to know the house better.
Upon hearing this, Li Yueniang quickly agreed. She didn't know what was wrong with her today; she couldn't control herself and her face was flushed and her heart was pounding. She even felt a little embarrassed.
Han Yu also wanted to have a few words with Li Yueniang alone, so he gladly followed her.
The remaining two, Yan Qingqing and Li Xiang'an, continued discussing business matters.
In fact, Rouge Workshop had made ample preparations, and Yan Qingqing had already explained everything that needed to be explained. The only remaining issue was the execution.
Yan Qingqing thought for a moment and then said, "After things stabilize at Rouge Shop, Mother wants to expand our embroidery shop business."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiang'an smiled and said, "This is indeed our family's traditional business. Yue Niang has been doing this for so long and has a lot of experience. Mother can entrust this matter to her."
Yan Qingqing shook her head and said, "After all, Yue Niang is already engaged, and she will get married in two years at most."
She can participate in the family business, but I don't plan to give her any shares in this new business.
Yan Qingqing wasn't sexist, but it was the reality that once a woman got married, she had to take care of her husband's family more and didn't have the energy to devote to her own family anymore.
The promises she made to Li Xinniang and Li Yueniang still stand; they still have shares in the embroidery workshop in Canghe Town. However, Yan Qingqing doesn't plan to give them shares in the new business, as this would be unfair to Li Xiangping and the others.
She can take care of the girls in the family appropriately, but she can't take care of them too much.
Li Xiang'an didn't care about these things. After all, under Yan Qingqing's long-term indoctrination, the idea of giving way to his older and younger sisters was already deeply ingrained.
But if his mother insists on treating everyone equally, he has no objection.
Yan Qingqing thought for a moment and said, "Your sister-in-law and Yue Niang both have shares in the family, but Mu Xi doesn't."
So let her manage this new business; we'll give her 30% of the shares later.
Mu Xi is already engaged to Li Xiang'an, so she is naturally his future daughter-in-law.
Yan Qingqing treated her and Yuan Huiniang the same way.
Li Xiang'an did not refuse upon hearing this; her mother giving Mu Xi 30% of the shares was also a way of giving him face.
At least his mother treated him the same as his elder brother, and did not look down on him or Mu Xi just because his elder brother went into politics and his mother went into business.
Li Xiang'an, unusually not so serious, smiled and said, "In that case, I'll thank Mother on behalf of Mu Xi."
However, although Mu Xi has achieved great success in martial arts, her son is afraid that she does not have the talent for business.
So I'll have to ask you to put in more effort, Mother.
Yan Qingqing: ……
It's said that daughters are like birds that cannot stay at home once they grow up, but it seems the same applies to sons. Is this a case of wanting their parents to contribute money and effort, or is it that Mu Xi wants to reap the benefits without lifting a finger?
Yan Qingqing looked at Li Xiang'an and said calmly, "Don't worry, Mu Xi is more capable than you think. I believe she can handle it."
What else could Li Xiang'an say? After all, his mother was very generous and wanted to give his wife 30% of the shares.
Three days later, Canghe Liji Rouge Shop officially opened.
Many ladies and young women lined up early in the morning.
They had heard that Li's rouge shop had limited stock and even imposed purchase restrictions.
If you arrive late and can't buy anything, you'll have nowhere to cry.
After all, they weren't particularly familiar with Madam Mingzhao, so it wouldn't be appropriate for them to visit her without permission.
Soon, Li Xiang'an personally took charge of the situation.
Having been in business for so many years, Li Xiang'an was already quite adept at handling such situations.
Moreover, Li Xiang'an was handsome, and he looked like a refined gentleman when he stood there. Everyone knew that he was the second son of Lady Mingzhao, which made many innocent girls blush and their hearts race.
Li Xiang'an didn't take up too much of their time, urging these big spenders to hurry into the store and make their selections.
The store's sales staff are all professionally trained; they not only have excellent service but are also very professional.
They would recommend suitable products based on the skin conditions of these ladies.
The ladies were taken aback when they saw the prices of these products.
They usually buy a box of the finest rouge for no more than five taels of silver, but this one costs several hundred taels.
Many people are wavering, hesitating whether to buy or not.
Since Yan Qingqing dared to set such a price, she must have already thought of a corresponding countermeasure.
Therefore, every customer who entered the store never left empty-handed.
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