Yan Qingqing felt that although there were many people in their family, none of them were idle.
Once Li Xin's mother gets the hang of things at home, she should be able to handle them quickly.
However, once she was busy with household chores, she had to devote much less energy to the embroidery workshop. Relying on just one maid like Yue Niang wasn't enough.
Yan Qingqing thought for a moment and then instructed Ruyi, "Go to the embroidery shop and invite the Third Madam over. Tell her I need to speak with her."
Upon hearing this, Ruyi quickly agreed and went to the embroidery workshop.
Not long after, Madam Xu returned with Ruyi. Upon seeing Yan Qingqing, Madam Xu jokingly said, "Second sister-in-law, it's time for me to go to work now. Did you send someone to the embroidery workshop to find me for something?"
"Let's get this straight first: if your three small business owners withhold my wages, I'll make sure you get them back."
Yan Qingqing laughed and said, "What, I want to promote you in the embroidery workshop, but you don't want to?"
If you don't want to, then you can leave.
Upon hearing this, Madam Xu immediately perked up and said with a fawning smile, "Second Sister-in-law, what are you saying? I was just joking. If Second Sister-in-law needs anything, I wouldn't even blink if those three small business owners in our family deducted all my monthly salary."
Yan Qingqing was amused by her shamelessness, but she really liked Xu's personality.
Yan Qingqing invited Xu Shi into her room, and Ruyi, being perceptive, served Xu Shi tea.
As Xu sipped her tea, she said, "Oh dear, you're the only place in the entire Canghe Village where we can get tea."
To be honest, I didn't like this drink at first. It was so bitter, nothing like the sweet soup I had at first.
But as I drank it, it actually tasted better and better. What was that saying again? It has a delicate fragrance and a sweet aftertaste.
Well, I'm not good at describing it anyway, but it's definitely very elegant.
Yan Qingqing chuckled after hearing this, and then said, "This tea is meant to be savored. If we're really talking about quenching thirst, plain water is more suitable."
Xu recalled that before, after finishing her work in the fields, she would only drink cold water and couldn't even afford a bowl of plain water. Now that life was better, she was actually choosing between tea and sugar water. It seemed that she had truly had too many good days.
Thinking about this, Xu shook her head, realizing that her idea was wrong.
After finishing a cup of tea, Madam Xu said, "Oh, I've finished the tea. Second Sister-in-law, what brings you here?"
Yan Qingqing replied with a smile, "Hui Niang is pregnant."
Upon hearing this, Madam Xu smiled and said, "Oh, congratulations, Second Sister-in-law! You are truly blessed. Hui Niang will definitely give you a big, healthy grandson this time."
Because Xu's body was damaged during the birth of Xiang Bao, she could not have children herself, so she felt that whoever was pregnant was very lucky.
However, Yuan Huiniang's pregnancy was indeed a happy event for the Li family.
Yan Qingqing replied with a smile, "Actually, I don't care much about my grandchildren. As long as she and the child are safe and sound, that's all that matters."
Perhaps because Hui Niang has been busy with housework lately, the doctor said the pregnancy wasn't very stable, so I wanted Hui Niang to focus on her pregnancy.
However, family relationships and internal and external management also require people to be present.
I'm thinking of temporarily letting Yue Niang manage the household. Firstly, it will allow Hui Niang to focus on her pregnancy, and secondly, Yue Niang is already fifteen, which is the age for marriage. Learning more about the inner court's affairs won't hurt her.
Upon hearing this, Madam Xu exclaimed, "Second sister-in-law is so thoughtful. I doubt you could find such a good mother-in-law in all the surrounding villages."
"Sigh, why weren't we so lucky when we were young?"
When Yan Qingqing heard her teasing, she joked back, "It's not too late for you to remarry now. I'll find you an easy-going mother-in-law later."
Madam Xu quickly spat and said, "Forget it, I've finally gotten over my hardships. I can't bear to give up such a good life to someone else."
Yan Qingqing glanced at her and said, "Since you're unwilling to step down and give way to someone more capable, then listen to what I have to say."
Xu looked at Yan Qingqing, who seemed to be listening intently.
Yan Qingqing continued, "If Xinniang were in charge of the household, she probably wouldn't have much energy left for the embroidery workshop. You know, no matter how capable Yueniang is, she's still just a ten-year-old child."
I don't feel at ease without a reliable person.
Therefore, from now on, I'll have to trouble you, sister-in-law, to assist Yue Niang in managing the embroidery workshop.
Upon hearing that Yan Qingqing had entrusted such an important matter to her, Madam Xu quickly sat up straight and said, "Second Sister-in-law, you know that I am illiterate. Although I have learned a few words from Xiang Bao these days, they are still very limited."
However, since my second sister-in-law trusts me, I will certainly do my best.
Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "I can rest assured now that you've said that."
You don't need to worry about being illiterate. I plan to assign accountants to both the embroidery workshop and the craft workshop to manage the accounts, which will make things much clearer and more transparent.
Madam Xu smiled and said, "Second sister-in-law, I do not understand these things very well, but I do know that when a shop grows big, it needs to hire an accountant."
This shows that the workshops in my second sister-in-law's family are all doing well.
Yan Qingqing laughed heartily and said, "You should say our family's workshop. Don't forget that my third brother also has shares in the workshop."
The two chatted and laughed for a while, and somehow the topic of Li Xinniang's marriage came up again.
Madam Xu smiled and said, "Second sister-in-law has excellent taste. The young master of the Wu family is both good-looking and from a good family."
"But this family is too well-off; I'm afraid our Xinniang will suffer."
Yan Qingqing frowned upon hearing this. She hadn't agreed to marry Li Xinniang to Wu Jingzhi, and besides her and Yuan Huiniang noticing something amiss, even Li Xinniang herself was unaware that Wu Jingzhi had feelings for her.
Xu was still rambling on and on when Yan Qingqing interrupted her and asked, "Who told you I was going to choose Wu Jingzhi as my son-in-law? There's no such thing."
Xu said with a sigh, "No? I just saw Wu Shaodong's son going to the embroidery shop with Xinniang, chatting and laughing."
They really do look like a perfect match; I thought my second sister-in-law had chosen them together to go to the embroidery workshop because she liked them both.
Upon hearing this, Yan Qingqing jumped up from the stool and looked at Xu Shi in a sinister tone, saying, "What did you say?"
Xu was startled and looked at Yan Qingqing with some fear. She had never seen Yan Qingqing so out of control before.
Yan Qingqing then realized that her reaction was too strong, and sat down again, saying, "That little brat Wu Jingzhi actually dared to play this double-dealing game with me. He really comes from a wealthy family."
Madam Xu asked cautiously, "What exactly happened, Second Sister-in-law?"
Since Xu was not an outsider, Yan Qingqing did not hide anything from her. So she told her again about Wu Jingzhi's feelings for Li Xinniang and her own polite refusal.
Upon hearing this, Madam Xu immediately saw through Wu Jingzhi's intentions, saying that Wu Jingzhi was trying to break through Li Xinniang's defenses since Yan Qingqing was unwilling to give in.
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