Gu Lili had very few people around her who could be of use.
Gu Yun Chu and the others are not yet adults and cannot stand on their own. If even he, as their uncle, doesn't help her, then who else can help her?
Staying in Jiangdu would not only help Gu Lili, but also allow her to see Liu Miaoyin frequently. Why not?
"Second Uncle, you should think this through. If you stay in Jiangdu, you'll probably have fewer opportunities to come home in the future," Gu Lili reminded him.
Gu Lili already has a plan for this estate: all the land will be used to grow flowers.
If the soap business proves successful, it could also encourage local farmers to grow soap.
If Li Ershu stays in Jiangdu, she can let the traveling merchants in Jiangdu know about her things as soon as possible.
Li Ershu nodded and said, "I've thought it through. You can rest assured and leave it to me."
However, he doesn't know many characters yet, so he'll probably have to ask Liu Miaoyin for help in the future.
This will also make it easier to help Gu Lili manage things.
Gu Lili knew that Li Ershu was wholeheartedly devoted to her, and she wasn't the kind of person who was stingy.
“Second Uncle, then let’s consider this workshop a joint venture between us. We’ll still split the profits at 10% each,” Gu Lili immediately said.
Upon hearing this, Li Ershu nearly fell off the carriage.
Chang'an quickly grabbed Li Ershu, preventing him from falling.
Li Ershu patted his chest and quickly shook his head to refuse, saying, "No, no, I haven't spent a single penny. How can I get something for nothing? You just need to give me a monthly allowance."
Li Ershu found it hard to accept becoming a shopkeeper without spending a single penny.
He helped Gu Lili not for money, but simply to ensure she had no worries.
Gu Lili has already helped him so much, he really feels bad about being her employer for nothing.
"Second Uncle, look at what you're saying. What do you mean by getting something for nothing? Since you've stayed in Jiangdu, you've had less time to go home, and I've had less time to come here either. You've been taking care of almost everything. I'm giving you things because you deserve them!" Gu Lili said.
Gu Lili's eyes darted around, and suddenly she thought of a way to get Li Ershu to accept it.
That's moral blackmail!
"Alright, it's settled then. If you don't agree, I'll have to ask someone else for help. But if that person doesn't do their best to protect this workshop and I lose everything, then I'll have no choice but to take my life!"
Chang'an glanced at the quirky Gu Lili and couldn't help but chuckle.
Upon hearing Gu Lili's words, Li Ershu's face showed anxiety.
How could we let Gu Lili lose everything?
"Fine! I agree. You silly girl! You have no manners and you're always scaring your uncle!" Li Ershu rolled his eyes at Gu Lili and gritted his teeth as he agreed.
Li Ershu thought to himself, since Gu Lili has asked him to be the boss, he must do his best.
To help Gu Lili earn more money so that she has no worries about the future.
"I wasn't trying to scare you!" Gu Lili stuck out her tongue and said playfully, "Then I'll tell Grandpa and Grandma when I go back to Donghai."
Li Ershu nodded.
As if she had thought of something, her face suddenly turned red.
"My parents are illiterate. When you go back, tell them about me and Miaoyin. Once I've earned more money, I'll marry Miaoyin!"
Chang'an and Gu Lili looked at Li Ershu, this rough and uncouth man, with a shy expression on his face.
The two of them laughed.
"Don't laugh at me! I'm afraid that when you find your own loved ones in the future, I'll laugh at you like that too!" Li Ershu said, feigning annoyance.
Chang'an and Gu Lili quickly suppressed their smiles. Those who needed to drive the carriage drove on, while those who needed to rest in the carriage went inside to rest.
Li Ershu looked smug, and the two of them shut up.
He was in a good mood and started humming a little tune all the way to the village.
When they arrived at the village, the craftsmen were indeed already there.
Because Gu Lili wasn't very familiar with Jiangdu, and Liu Ying had only recently started working there, Gu Lili simply outsourced the material selection to the craftsmen. All she had to do was pay and check if the materials met the standards.
The pit for the outhouse is already being dug; they must have been working on it early this morning.
When Craftsman Wang saw Gu Lili enter, he quickly put down his work and walked towards them.
“Miss Gu, you’ve arrived! You’ve come at the perfect time. Let’s see if my construction is correct,” the craftsman Wang said with an honest smile.
Gu Lili and the other two followed Craftsman Wang around and nodded in satisfaction.
The craftsmen that Liu Ying found were all quite reliable.
"That's great, you guys keep going. I'm going to check on how Zhou the carpenter's bed is coming along," Gu Lili praised.
Craftsman Wang nodded and led Gu Lili to the other side.
Carpenter Zhou and his three apprentices were modifying wooden planks.
"Old Zhou, is this the Miss Gu you've been looking for?" Craftsman Wang called out to Old Zhou from a distance.
At that moment, Lao Zhou was concentrating on making a wooden bed. When he heard Lao Zhou shout, he quickly raised his head.
Perhaps because he was too engrossed, when he looked up, his face was covered in sawdust.
He didn't have time to tidy up and hurriedly jogged over here.
Yesterday, when he received the blueprints from Lao Wang, he was quite shocked.
Who came up with this ingenious idea for a bed?
It's really useful!
He immediately said he had to meet the person who drew the blueprint. When Lao Wang told him that the girl who drew the blueprint was still a young woman who had not yet reached marriageable age, Lao Zhou was even more shocked.
"Old Zhou, you come running over with sawdust all over your face, it's so real!" Old Wang looked at Old Zhou and couldn't help but laugh and cry.
Old Zhou is just too focused when he gets down to business.
When Lao Zhou heard Lao Wang say that he was covered in sawdust, he quickly smiled sheepishly and said, "I'm sorry you had to see this."
As he spoke, he quickly walked to the side, shook off all the sawdust from his clothes, and then came back.
During this time, Gu Lili also looked at the wooden planks they had pushed that day.
Old Zhou is indeed remarkable; in just one morning, he had already figured out the basic shape of the bunk bed.
It seems her worries were unnecessary.
"Carpenter Zhou is really amazing! He's already got it to the basic shape so quickly. Craftsman Wang was right," Gu Lili couldn't help but praise.
Both of them looked pleased with themselves after being praised by Gu Lili.
However, compared to Lao Wang's smugness, Lao Zhou's face showed a somewhat complicated expression.
Old Zhou cupped his hands in greeting and asked Gu Lili, "Miss, may I ask, did you draw this blueprint yourself?"
Old Wang was speechless upon hearing this.
"I told you yesterday that I watched Miss Gu draw these blueprints with my own eyes, so why are you still asking?"
Old Zhou ignored Old Wang and continued to wait for Gu Lili's answer.
Seeing Gu Lili nod, Old Zhou unexpectedly knelt down.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com