Lanqin nodded to Shi Shi; it seemed her sister-in-law was a sensible person. Lanqin felt she could give her half-brothers a chance; it was up to them to seize it. If they still wanted to live off the communal pot, then sorry, that was it!
So, Lanqin explained her plan to open a branch of Daqing Hot Pot to her mother and sister-in-law in detail. Actually, she had another idea in mind: to raise funds from them, especially from Shi Shi. Her father was a second-rank official, a legitimate official in the capital, though not a lucrative post. Shi Shi definitely had some savings. She just wouldn't contribute them. Lanqin understood this; it was her dowry, and there was no reason for her to use it to subsidize Lingzhu's miscellaneous household expenses. Now that Lanqin was certain the branch would be profitable, she wanted them to invest and take a share, so they could receive endless dividends in the future.
Anjia was old and found it hard to accept, but seeing that Lanqin needed money, she wanted to give Lanqin the money again, but Lanqin refused. Shi listened to Lanqin's words and, although she didn't say anything, she was still grumbling to herself.
Shi excused herself to check on the meal prepared for Lanqin and left, allowing the mother and daughter to have a private conversation.
“Mother, my sister-in-law is a sensible and shrewd woman. We can rest assured that we will entrust her with the household affairs.” Lanqin said.
"Hmm. But she's a bit too protective of her own. Anyway, your brother's salary has been given to her in full. She hasn't taken out any money herself. Sigh, the whole family is eating your father's food." Anjia sighed. Although she and her husband had argued all their lives, Anjia still stood up for Lingzhu.
“Mother, my sister-in-law’s actions are perfectly justifiable. She’s managing this household for you and my brother. It’s unreasonable for her to have to contribute money to the household expenses while those people eat and drink for free every day,” Lanqin said.
Anjia nodded, then picked up Lanqin and said, "Qin'er, I'm very happy that you support the division of the family, but I'm a little worried about you taking those half-brothers with you. Don't let them ruin you. You are now the concubine of Prince Yong, so you must cherish your status. If you ask me, you should stop doing these things in public. I'm afraid the palace will be dissatisfied with you."
Lanqin nestled in Anjia's arms and said coquettishly, "Mother, don't worry. The Prince supports me. Besides, what I'm doing isn't just to find a way for the people in the family, but also for myself and for the Prince. Mother, you don't need to worry about it."
Anjia patted Lanqin's back gently, comforting her as she had when she was a child, saying, "Good, my Qin'er has grown up and doesn't need me to worry about her anymore. I'm so happy, so happy that Qin'er is so much better than me and so much luckier!"
Lanqin said, "Mother is so lucky to have raised such a blessed daughter as Qin'er. She'll enjoy good fortune with her in the future!"
One sentence made Anjia laugh non-stop, and she gently pinched Lanqin's nose, saying that she was really shameless and shameless, and that no one would praise themselves like that! The mother and daughter had a few private words, and then Lingzhu returned.
Lanqin specifically asked Lingzhu to dismiss everyone else and sit down with him alone in the study to talk. This was the first time Lanqin had ever spoken to her adoptive father so solemnly.
"Father, Lanqin has returned today because there is something she wants to discuss with you," Lanqin said directly, without intending to beat around the bush.
"Qin'er, please speak frankly about what's on your mind!" Ling Zhu said directly. He had already begun to look at Lan Qin with new respect.
"Father, after discussing with the Prince, Qin'er plans to open several more branches of Daqing Hot Pot. Since Lanqin can't be in the public eye, she needs to find some of her own people to manage these stores. Lanqin is thinking that Qiugui is already over thirty, and the sons of Madam Ma and Madam Liu are all grown up. I wonder what arrangements Father has for them? If they don't want a career in government, Lanqin can let them try. If they are sincere, Lanqin will certainly not treat them unfairly. The real owner behind these stores is actually our Prince. The Prince will not mistreat them," Lanqin said.
After listening quietly to Lanqin's explanation, Lingzhu was secretly delighted. Lanqin's timely assistance in resolving Qiugui's rebellious son's matter was truly a godsend. As for Lingzhu's fifth son, Adayin, he wasn't suited for studying and would only be able to go into business in the future; sending him to Lanqin's side to help out would be perfect.
As for the sixth son, he is still young and has some talent for studying, so Lingzhu plans to let him continue to take the imperial examinations.
Seeing that Lingzhu remained silent, Lanqin knew he was pondering something, so she patiently waited for his reply.
Sure enough, Lingzhu thought for a moment and said, "Qin'er, your father is anxious about finding a job. If you can take him with you and give him a position, your father will be very pleased. Adain can also help you. He is an honest child and should be able to help you. Keda is still too young and it would be better for him to stay at home and study."
Lanqin smiled and changed the subject, saying, "Alright, then let's go with them. Father will have to trouble you to talk to them, but don't force yourself. Once you're there, you can no longer act like a young master from an official family. There are rules about what you should and shouldn't do. If you don't do your job properly, our place isn't for idlers. If you don't perform well, I'll punish and expel you just the same. Father should know what kind of person the Prince is. Qiu Fu is currently the registrar in Xiangyang, and he helped the Prince last time; the Prince remembers it. So, since Lanqin is using brothers from the family, they shouldn't tarnish my reputation."
Lingzhu was secretly amazed by Lanqin's quick wit and admired her greatly. However, he also sighed for his illegitimate sons, knowing that this elder sister would not be easily fooled in the future.
“Of course, Father will explain it to them,” Lingzhu quickly replied.
“Father, if you go and say that, they might not go. They’re all used to being pampered at home. Suddenly asking them to go out and find work on their own is probably something they won’t do for a while,” Lanqin said to Lingzhu.
“If he doesn’t go, I’ll whip him until he does!” Lingzhu said, his face ashen.
Lanqin suppressed a smile and said, "Father loves his son dearly, but I'm afraid he might not be able to harden his heart. Unless we drive them to the brink, they might be willing to go out and find their own way."
Lingzhu frowned, pondering Lanqin's words, and then he understood somewhat.
"Father, I heard that Mother has already proposed to you that we separate the family?" Seeing that Lingzhu remained silent, Lanqin had no choice but to speak up herself. She was now trying to force Lingzhu to agree to the separation of the family, and then gradually force him to get rid of those parasites that were harming the Ling family.
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