Chapter 123 Changing to sow discord?
When Feng heard that she could make money, she immediately forgot about finding a concubine and looked at Gu Qingning eagerly.
"Qing Ning, how do you make a lot of money?"
Gu Qingning: "Last year, due to the reduction in cotton production, the price of cloth rose sharply—"
Feng interrupted her: "I know about this matter, just tell me the key points!"
Gu Qingning nodded good-temperedly and continued:
"After the imperial court provided disaster relief, cotton farmers received subsidies this year. In addition, the weather has been good so far this year, and the cotton production will increase several times compared to last year."
"I see that the Duke's Mansion and you, mother, have several clothing stores. You can wait until the price of cloth drops to the lowest point and stock up on some cloth."
Feng frowned tightly, "You said you wanted me to get rich, but you asked me to hoard cloth? And how can you be sure that the price of cloth this year will be lower than last year?"
Gu Qingning: "Last year, the price of cloth was high. This year, the weather is good, so cotton farmers will plant more cotton. Scarcity makes things more expensive, and vice versa."
"It is expected that the price of cloth will reach its lowest point in October. At that time, we will buy a large amount and store it properly. We will be able to sell it at a good price next year."
Feng was stunned by what she heard.
"Will your idea work? You said that cloth will be cheaper this year, I believe it, after all, the harvest is good this year, but why will the price definitely go up next year?"
Besides, the year is not even halfway through yet, and there is still so much time left. Is it appropriate to increase investment at this time?
Gu Qingning said confidently: "Although it will take a long time, there will definitely be a reward. But if mother thinks it is too risky, she can invest less at that time. There is still plenty of time, mother can think about it more."
Feng nodded.
After a while, the two men came out of the house and returned to the banquet.
Shen Ruoying was extremely anxious and wanted to know what the two of them had said in private.
She wanted to eavesdrop, but the young guard with excellent martial arts skills beside Gu Qingning was guarding the door without leaving.
It made it impossible for anyone to eavesdrop on her.
When Gu Qingning sat back next to Shen Ruoying, she heard Shen Ruoying say half-jokingly and half-seriously:
"My mother is actually closer to you than to me, her own daughter-in-law. I'm a little jealous."
Gu Qingning looked at her in confusion, "Mother was the best to you before, but she suddenly changed. Why? Don't you know the reason?"
The smile on Shen Ruoying's face froze for a moment, "Sister-in-law, I was just joking, don't take it seriously."
Gu Qingning: "Oh, so you were just joking. I told you that your mother doesn't value you anymore because of what you did before. I'm sure you know it well, so you didn't ask."
Shen Ruoying: “…”
She was extremely angry, but when she thought of something, her expression softened.
After looking around, he finally whispered to Shen Ruoying, "Sister-in-law, when you and mother left just now, I heard them talking about wanting to send our concubine's daughter to the young master as a concubine! Do you know about this?"
Gu Qingning nodded, "I heard about it, but it's just a rumor."
Shen Ruoying looked at her calm and composed appearance, and felt annoyed, so she added, "It is said that it was instructed by my mother. Why, didn't my mother tell you? Oh my God, they actually hid it from you?"
Gu Qingning understood that Shen Ruoying had started to change her methods. She was no longer as high-profile as before, and she started to sow discord?
Gu Qingning showed a puzzled expression on her face.
Shen Ruoying suddenly became happy, and she seemed to be very concerned.
"Actually, Qing Ning, you can't blame mother. She did this for the good of the Duke's Mansion."
Gu Qingning: "You mean, mother gave the young master a concubine for the good of the Duke's Mansion?"
Shen Ruoying intuitively felt that something was wrong, but after listening to Gu Qingning's words, she nodded.
"Sister-in-law, a wife should behave like a wife. Which husband doesn't take concubines? The higher the status, the more likely he is to have three wives and four concubines."
"You've lived in Guangping Marquis's Mansion for more than ten years, how come you haven't learned anything?"
"Sister-in-law, you must not contradict mother's arrangements. Oh, and don't go back and make trouble with the young master. After all, the young master's status is there, and men are the most face-conscious."
After all these words, under the pretext of doing it for your own good, they are actually just criticizing you.
It was just like when she was still in the Marquis of Guangping's Mansion, the eldest daughter, Shen Ruoying, was aggressive towards her cousin who was staying in the mansion.
Even secretly guiding her to quarrel with the young master?
Gu Qingning: "I am ashamed of myself. I am indeed not as good as you in learning how to get your husband to take a concubine."
This remark sounded a bit sarcastic, and Shen Ruoying wanted to refute it.
Gu Qingning turned around, walked to Feng, and said sincerely:
"Mother, Ruoying just talked about the reasons for letting your husband take a concubine. She said she wanted to take a concubine for Hangzhi."
Feng had thought about changing the wife for her own son Hangzhi before. But now the wife cannot be changed. But it would not be bad to marry a few concubines of noble families with status, right?
Thinking of this, she looked at Shen Ruoying with bright eyes.
"Really? That's great, Ruoying. Mother knows that you are the most sensible one."
Shen Ruoying smiled dryly, "Mother, Hangzhi already has two concubines. Aren't you going to take a concubine for the young master?"
Feng choked.
Gu Qingning said from the side: "Mother has never said that she wants to take a concubine for the young master. It's just rumors from outsiders. Mother specifically told us about this last night, right, mother?"
Feng: "Lime, actually..."
Gu Qingning sighed, "Mother, to be honest, after I went back home last night, I don't know why, the young master suddenly got angry with me and said something like, there are so many things going on in the backyard, so annoying, I don't know what happened."
Feng was stunned, and suddenly remembered that when she wanted to arrange a concubine for Lu Jingyu, this stepson also got angry.
Although it wasn't directed at her, it was still quite scary.
Thinking of this, she suddenly didn't dare to mention the matter of taking a concubine for Lu Jingyu.
Instead, he turned around and said eagerly, "Ruoying, come here and see what kind of concubine you would like to take for Hangzhi?"
Shen Ruoying had no choice but to walk away with a pale face.
Before, they surrounded Feng and wanted to find out about Lu Jingyu's preferences.
After all, Lu Jingyu is the next Duke, and being his concubine is not too bad.
Although Lu Hangzhi won the third place in the imperial examination, his current official position is too low.
The concubine daughters of these noble families are supposed to be married into some families as the principal wives, so why would they only be concubines to a young scholar?
So, when they heard that the concubine was not for Lu Jingyu but for Lu Hangzhi, most of the noble ladies around left instantly!
Feng: “…”
But there are still a few left, but Feng himself doesn't like them!
Gu Qingning wanted to walk around, so she asked Banxia to accompany her, and Mo Yu followed not far away.
When leaving the banquet, Banxia asked in confusion: "Master, are you really going to take the Duke's wife to make money?"
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