"I think the story of opening a music school is fake. This is just the young lady trying to trick the young master into buying a shop for them!"
Mr. Shen frowned, thinking about the issue of profit and fame.
As a merchant, if you want to grow bigger and stronger, you must establish good relations with the government.
The relationship between the Shen family and the government has been maintained through the granary for many years, stabilizing grain prices, providing disaster relief and porridge, etc. However, this relationship has naturally become bland over the years.
He was worrying about how to deepen this relationship.
If we can help the county magistrate solve the employment problem by running a music school, it would indeed be a good idea.
But you may not make much money.
But he soon figured it out: fame and fortune, fame and fortune, fame comes first, profit comes second. With County Magistrate Lu as a backer, the Shen family's business in Puning City will naturally get better and better!
So, when he heard Aunt Sun's words, he scolded her unhappily, "Shut up! What do you know? Do you think everyone is as ignorant as you?"
Aunt Sun shut her mouth in dissatisfaction, and looked at Liu Wanyun with even more dissatisfaction.
In fact, Liu Wanyun’s consideration was very simple. She just wanted to use this name to open her own shop so that the three of them could go out and work and earn money openly!
After all, it’s not possible for a man to be in charge of a women’s needlework workshop!
Moreover, with Madam Lu, the wife of an official, taking the lead, there won't be too many people talking about the issue of women going out, and even if there are still people who want to talk, they will have to think carefully before doing so.
Mr. Shen quickly made a decision on the matter and agreed to Liu Wanyun's method; but Mrs. Shen was somewhat dissatisfied with the fact that her other two sons wanted to buy shops for their daughters-in-law, so she suggested that they buy the shops in the name of the Shen family and then she would take over the matter.
Mr. Shen thought about it and decided that it would be better to do it in the name of the Shen family's young lady. If it failed, it would be the young people's fault for messing around and failing to accomplish anything. If it succeeded, she would also be a member of the Shen family.
Under pressure from their daughters-in-law, her three sons also said that their mother had two shops to manage and could not take care of it all, so it would be better to leave it to the three daughters-in-law of Liu, Guan and Zhang.
From this, it was decided that the task of setting up the women's needlework academy would be handled by Liu, Guan and Zhang.
After coming out of Heshun Hall, Liu Wanyun deliberately called out to Aunt Sun because she always couldn't figure out which side to stand on, so she wanted to provoke her.
"Auntie Sun, do you also think that women shouldn't go out and work in public? That's such a pity. I originally thought that if Grandfather agreed to this, we could let Sister Zhaodi work with us and let her be responsible for making the embroidery patterns. We would then give her a portion of the profits and save them for her own dowry. Now, I have no choice but to not consider her!"
These words made Aunt Sun open her mouth wide. This... there was such a good thing. Her face changed like the June weather, and she immediately said with a smile, "Madam, please don't be angry with me. It's my short-sightedness that I didn't understand the benefits of your idea. You are the best sister-in-law I have ever met. You always think about your younger sisters at home..."
People are like this. Once it benefits themselves, no matter how big the dissatisfaction is, they can put it aside temporarily!
"Oh, since you said so, I'll think about it later!"
However, Liu Wanyun ignored her belated flattery and left slowly. Aunt Sun wanted to hold her back and say something, but Zhaodi quickly stopped her.
"Little girl, let's go, it's time to go to the dining hall for dinner!"
Only then did she say with some regret, "Oh, I really should have listened to you and not gone against your sister-in-law!"
After dinner, Liu, Guan and Zhang slipped away to Jingxinzhai early and had some private conversations while the three men were not there.
"Why did you suddenly think of setting up a training workshop for female workers? I can't keep up with you! When did you come up with this idea?"
Zhang Xinyue was a little dissatisfied. She had a good idea but didn't even inform them in advance, so they couldn't cooperate well. She felt like she had no presence!
Liu Wanyun smiled and explained, "On the way back, the idea had just taken shape when Aunt Sun mentioned the shop. To avoid being lectured by Auntie, I quickly threw the idea out. I didn't expect it to succeed right away."
After explaining, he glanced at her sideways, "But, based on our tacit understanding, whether I said it or not, didn't you all cooperate? I gave you advice, and I killed so many brain cells. If you're still not satisfied, I'll beat you to death!"
He was about to hit her, but Zhang Xinyue quickly pleaded for mercy, "I'm just worried. I don't understand what you're thinking. If I mess it up..."
Guan Xiaoyu, however, had a worried look on her face. "We have a shop, but how are we going to recruit apprentices? Who will trust us? Besides, we'll definitely have to invest a lot of money in the early stages..."
Liu Wanyun slowly expressed her thoughts, "I've thought about this a long time ago. Let's ask Miss Lu to act as a bridge and get her involved. Let her handle the recruitment... As for the money, I plan to open a makeup and fashion training class for wealthy young ladies and earn some money from them... As for the rest, we'll take it one step at a time and not rush into anything."
Zhang Xinyue suddenly sighed, "Alas! Now I truly feel that we will have to live here for a long time in frustration!"
Liu Wanyun comforted him, "Everything has two sides. It may seem like we've entered an era where women are not free and are left behind, but in reality, we don't have to worry about making a living these days. We do meaningful things. If you think about it this way, don't you think life isn't so difficult now?"
But they are still too young and think too simply.
They thought that all women would feel like them, that this era is unfair to women, and that they want to challenge and change it.
At least Miss Lu was different from what they thought. She was the daughter of a county magistrate, she had no worries about food and clothing, and she was very popular. What she cared about was what fresh food was available today, what new clothing styles were available, and how to marry the man of her dreams.
So, when they went to find Lu Zihan the next day and told her their plan, Lu Zihan flatly refused.
"I'm not interested in making money from business. You should find someone else to help you!"
Liu Wanyun tried to elicit her empathy. "This isn't just about making money. It can also help those poor women make a living so they don't have to be trapped at home..."
Lu Zihan's eyes widened, and she asked in confusion, "Men are responsible for the outside affairs and women are responsible for the inside affairs. Shouldn't women stay at home and take care of everything in the house? Leave the money-making to men. Why worry about this?"
"But what if the man's earnings aren't enough to cover the family expenses? Then the woman will..."
Lu Zihan interrupted her, "Why is it not enough? That means the man is not working hard enough, so you should encourage him..."
Guan Xiaoyu said calmly, "It's better to fight for it yourself than to rely on men!"
Lu Zihan has always had an unspeakable feeling towards the wife of the second brother of the Shen family. He felt that she had snatched away the person he loved, but he also felt that this matter had nothing to do with her.
She chuckled and said meaningfully, "I agree with this point. We should strive for it, otherwise we will miss it!"
However, in the end, she was still unwilling to get involved in the matter, nor was she willing to help them communicate with her mother.
Liu Wanyun and the other two had no choice but to return home and decided to consult Mrs. Shen about what to do!
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