Yan Qingqing was pleased to see Yuan Huiniang so interested in Li Xiang'an's marriage.
So he smiled and said, "Then I'll leave this matter to you."
"Your mother doesn't care about family background or social standing, but the girl must be of good character, and your second brother must like her."
Yan Qingqing's request seems simple, but it's actually not easy to fulfill. Who knows what kind of girl Li Xiang'an likes?
Thinking of this, Yuan Huiniang looked at Li Xiang'an and asked, "Second brother, what kind of girl do you like? Your sister-in-law can find one for you accordingly."
Before Yuan Huiniang could finish speaking, Li Xiang'an's face flushed red.
Then he stood up and said hesitantly, "Sister-in-law, I have no plans to get married yet. Let's talk about this later."
After saying that, he quickly left Yan Qingqing's room, leaving everyone in the room looking at each other in bewilderment.
Yan Qingqing was surprised that Li Xiang'an was so decisive in business, yet so clueless about this area.
This is a clear weakness; this won't do.
Besides, they haven't finished discussing things yet.
Li Yueniang chuckled and said, "Is Second Brother really this cowardly? What's there to be ashamed of? When will he ever be able to marry Second Sister-in-law?"
Yan Qingqing glared at Li Yueniang and said, "That's your second brother. How can you talk like that? Don't you know how to be ashamed? It's a pity he's a girl."
Li Yueniang chuckled and leaned close to Yan Qingqing, saying, "What's wrong with being a girl? Mother still loves me just the same."
Yan Qingqing didn't know what kind of personality Li Yueniang had, but she was definitely shameless.
She likes girls like that, but others might not.
However, it's too early to talk about these things now; their business is the priority right now.
Yan Qingqing thought for a moment and then said, "When we expand the market, we should not only expand the food processing workshop and the cleaning and chemical workshop, but also the embroidery workshop and our cooked food shop."
So it's not enough for the second son to go alone; Yue Niang will probably have to go out too."
Upon hearing this, Li Yueniang exclaimed happily, "Really, Mother? I can go out too! That's wonderful!"
I've always wanted to go out and broaden my horizons, but unfortunately, I've never even left Chengyang County in my entire life.
Yuan Huiniang said enviously, "Second sister, don't even mention you, I've never been out either. Now that you mention it, I want to go out and see the world too."
Yan Qingqing waved her hand to signal them to quiet down, and then said, "You all have a chance to get out, but we can't spare any more people right now."
Here's what I'm thinking: let your third uncle temporarily manage the food processing workshop. Plus, there are already a few good managers in the workshop, so it shouldn't be a problem.
Your third aunt is in charge of the embroidery shop, and Hui Niang can also help out from time to time, so Yue Niang can go out.
Wang Dong and Xiang Bao need to spare one person to go with them to the deli.
I'll talk to them both later and see who's more suitable to go.
Yan Qingqing was really worried about Li Xiang'an going out to develop the market on his own.
If they go out together and something happens, they can discuss it together.
No one objected to Yan Qingqing's words.
So the matter was temporarily settled, but they still needed to consider how to implement these plans. Seeing that it was getting late, Yan Qingqing dismissed them.
The next morning, Yan Qingqing asked Ruyi to take people to take stock of her private treasury.
Especially the gold and silver notes, which need to be taken out separately after inventory.
Also, compile a list of any items that are no longer needed but are easy to sell.
Upon hearing this, Ruyi said with tears in her eyes, "Madam, is our family already in such dire straits?"
I still have some gold and silver jewelry that you bestowed upon me, Madam. I'll take them all out and ask you to find someone to sell them together.
From now on, this servant will no longer need a monthly allowance; Madam only needs to provide me with food.
Yan Qingqing looked at Ruyi with some surprise. What was wrong with this girl's thinking? Although she had donated all the family's silver, all the workshops were operating normally. It was unreasonable to deduct a maid's monthly salary.
If it really comes to that, then why would they still keep servants?
Yan Qingqing deliberately teased Ruyi, saying, "Since Ruyi is so thoughtful, I'll sell you too, so I can get a few more taels of silver."
Upon hearing this, Ruyi burst into tears. She didn't want to leave the mistress, but now that the family was facing difficulties, selling her was indeed better than keeping her at home.
But she didn't want to leave the lady; the lady had been so good to her and trusted her so much.
The other maids and servants working in the courtyard craned their necks to see what was wrong with Ruyi and why she was crying so bitterly.
Yan Qingqing touched her nose, realizing she was just making trouble for herself. She was just bored; why did she have to tease this little girl?
So he quickly pulled Ruyi up from the ground and coaxed her softly, "Okay, don't cry, I was just joking with you."
My lady, I'm so used to your service. I'd rather sell anyone else than sell you.
Besides, our family hasn't reached the point of having to sell everything we own.
Upon hearing this, Ruyi stopped crying and asked uncertainly, "Really? Then why is Madam taking inventory of the storeroom?"
Yan Qingqing sighed and said, "I was thinking of getting rid of those things that I don't need. They just take up space in the warehouse."
Ruyi sobbed and asked, "Doesn't our family lack money?"
Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "Of course there is a shortage, but we don't have to worry about food and clothing."
I want your second young master to expand the business in the prefectural city and the capital, but he'll definitely need start-up capital.
Ruyi stopped sobbing upon hearing this.
All she knew was that the madam had held a meeting with several young masters and ladies last night, but she really didn't know what the meeting was about.
However, Ruyi knew that she had enough to eat and drink at home and that Yan Qingqing wouldn't sell her, so she happily went to take inventory of the storeroom.
Yan Qingqing has accumulated a considerable amount of private savings over the past two years, amounting to a total of seventy to eighty thousand taels of silver.
In addition, those unnecessary and space-consuming items can also be sold for 20,000 to 30,000 taels, so raising 100,000 taels is not a problem.
In addition, the profits from various workshops and shops after the New Year amounted to seventy to eighty thousand taels.
However, Yan Qingqing couldn't take all the silver; she had to leave some for the workshop to operate normally.
Therefore, Yan Qingqing currently has approximately 150,000 taels of silver at her disposal.
This amount of silver is sufficient for the time being to build workshops and buy shops.
However, the news of Yan Qingqing selling her family property was leaked by someone.
The people were abuzz with discussion. They said that the people of Zhaoshuo had donated all their possessions to help with disaster relief and support the border region, and now they could only make a living by pawning their belongings.
Some people say that Ming Zhaoshuo even sold his personal maid to supplement his family income.
It's truly a blessing for the common people of their Great Yan Dynasty to have such a patriotic and benevolent official.
Some villagers, grateful for Yan Qingqing's kindness, would secretly leave eggs, vegetables, and rice at the Li family's door.
Some wealthy businessmen also wanted to give Yan Qingqing money privately.
Yan Qingqing was extremely surprised when she found out; wasn't this a huge misunderstanding?
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