Just as Manager Yun relaxed his guard, Yan Qingqing spoke up again: "However, Manager Yun's teahouse is already losing money, and I don't know how long it can last. It seems that all the novel stories in my head are useless."
After Yan Qingqing finished speaking, she sighed. Seeing that Manager Yun's expression softened somewhat, she continued, "Actually, I don't want much of a share, just 30%."
But it's okay, even if the deal falls through, we can still be on good terms.
I have two scripts here with two poems accompanying them. You can try to see if they can attract some customers.
If you regret your decision and want to cooperate with me, you can find me at the Li family's house in Canghe Village. My name is Yan Qingqing.
Or you could go to the Canghe Li Ji shop on Buhou Street and ask the shopkeeper to pass on a message to me.
"If you really don't want to cooperate with me, then consider this scripture a gift."
After Yan Qingqing finished speaking, she took out several sheets of paper with dense writing from her sleeve and handed them to Mr. Wen.
Manager Yun could only crane his neck and watch longingly.
Mr. Wen took the paper, glanced at it, his hands trembling, and then excitedly said, "This, this storybook is really being given to us?"
Yan Qingqing chuckled and said, "Of course, I, Yan Qingqing, always keep my word."
In fact, when Yan Qingqing mentioned her name, Manager Yun and Mr. Wen already knew about her. Canghe Li Ji was a rising star in Chengyang County. Yan Qingqing, a widow, had opened a shop, built an embroidery workshop and a workshop all by herself, and quickly rose to prominence within a year.
Manager Yun and Mr. Wen exchanged a glance, both seemingly seeing a desperate gamble in each other's eyes.
Yan Qingqing didn't press the two of them, and then led Li Xiang'an out of the tea house.
After Yan Qingqing came out, she was humming an unknown tune, clearly in a good mood. Li Xiang'an, who had been holding back inside for a long time, saw Yan Qingqing's good mood and said, "Mother, the business deal didn't go through."
"You even lost a storybook, how can you still be so happy?"
It's no wonder Li Xiang'an asked that question, because in his memory, his mother had never done a losing business.
Upon hearing this, Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "Son, you're looking at things from a different angle."
The scripts I gave them were all about promoting our peony garden and rose garden. I originally planned to pay them to turn them into stories, but now I've saved that money.
And who knows, there might be an unexpected bonus. If Manager Yun can't hold on, I'll get my 30% stake. I've never had such a great business experience before.
After saying that, he ignored the stunned Li Xiang'an and started strolling around the street.
When Li Xiang'an turned around, Yan Qingqing was already haggling with a small vendor.
So his mother really got something for nothing, no, it should be said that his mother published a storybook that was originally intended to be heavily promoted.
Finally, Li Xiang'an silently prayed for Manager Yun, hoping he could hold on.
Li Xiang'an accompanied Yan Qingqing shopping for a long time, until the carriage was almost full of their purchases, before the mother and child returned to Canghe Village.
When Yuan Huiniang returned home and saw that Yan Qingqing had brought back so many things, she knew that her mother-in-law was in a good mood, so she was happy as well.
Yan Qingqing said to Yuan Huiniang, "I bought a lot of trinkets on the street. Take a look and see if there are any you like, then share them."
Who wouldn't be happy to receive gifts, especially since Yan Qingqing had chosen them? So she smiled and replied, "Thank you, Mother. When my sisters come back from the embroidery shop later, let them choose first."
Yan Qingqing remembered the task Wang Dong had asked her to do. She said to A'da, who was standing beside her, "Take this fifteen taels of silver to the village chief and tell him that it's from Wang Dong's investment in the inn."
Ah Da took the silver and went to the village chief's house.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and it was said that every household in the village contributed money to build a collective inn. Li Kaishan had been making so much money these past few days that his hands were sore from collecting it.
Yan Qingqing was also very happy to hear this news, which showed that the villagers of Canghe Village agreed with the idea of building a guesthouse. Only by working together could they earn more money.
Yan Qingqing hasn't been idle these past two days either. She and Li Xiang'an have been busy recruiting a new batch of workers for the workshop and embroidery shop.
Actually, hiring ordinary workers isn't difficult. You could find plenty of them. What's difficult is finding managers for the workshop.
No matter what, managers should at least be literate, but if their families were truly wealthy enough to afford education, they wouldn't be so eager to get this job.
Yan Qingqing was very troubled, and Li Xiang'an only realized the importance of reading and writing at this moment.
Li Xiang'an handed the draft list of managers to Yan Qingqing and said, "Mother, these are the people I have drafted for promotion to management positions. Please take a look."
Yan Qingqing took the list and glanced at it. Most of the people on it were people she knew well and who were reliable.
Yan Qingqing nodded and said, "The candidate is good, but right now they're just producing products in the workshop. Being illiterate isn't a big deal, but it will be difficult to move up later."
When you announce this, spread the word that if they want to earn more money and have more power, let them find their own way to learn to read. We don't need them to have profound knowledge; knowing some basic characters will suffice.
Li Xiang'an nodded upon hearing this, but he felt it would be difficult, mainly because they currently lacked the necessary conditions.
Yan Qingqing knew this all too well. She really wanted to build a school in the village, but she didn't have the means before, and now she didn't have the time to plan it.
However, Yan Qingqing plans to put this matter on the agenda by the end of the year at the latest.
Just as the mother and son finished discussing things, Ah Da came in and reported, "Madam, Second Young Master, Young Master Wu has arrived."
Yan Qingqing was somewhat surprised; hadn't Wu Jingzhi left Chengyang County yet?
However, they were business partners, and Wu Jingzhi had done them a great favor. Yan Qingqing and Li Xiang'an quickly went to greet him.
As soon as she arrived at the door, she saw Wu Jingzhi directing his servants to unload gifts. Yan Qingqing's eyebrows twitched at the sight. There were piles of brocades, cloths, fruits, and vegetables. If she didn't know better, she would think that Wu Jingzhi had come to propose marriage.
Yan Qingqing asked, "Jingzhi, what are you doing? Your aunt has everything she needs. Why did you bring so much stuff?"
Upon seeing Yan Qingqing, Wu Jingzhi smiled even more obsequiously and said, "Auntie, these fruits were sent from the capital. I brought some for you to try. These fabrics are new styles; I'll make some new clothes for you and your younger siblings."
Since they've already taken it, Yan Qingqing couldn't very well refuse to accept it. She just needed to make Yuan Huiniang remember it so she could return it later when the opportunity arose.
After chatting with Yan Qingqing for a few minutes, Wu Jingzhi wanted Li Xiang'an to take him to the embroidery workshop again.
Yan Qingqing was worried that the Wu family might be behind schedule since they had taken on so many orders, so she arranged for Li Xiang'an to take him there.
Before the two even left the house, they heard a sweet voice: "Mother, bring over that new design you drew last time, the embroidery workshop needs it."
Wu Jingzhi's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this voice.
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