Finally, with Jiang Yuwei's explanation, Magistrate Li recharged five taels of silver, while Master Sun directly recharged ten taels. They also set a monthly delivery time, and Jiang Yuwei then saw the two off.
Doctor Lin also became a member and deposited two taels of silver. He then hurriedly returned to the pharmacy. Just as this group left, a group of scholars arrived outside. They were brought by the second young master of the Xu family. Jiang Yuwei had no time to rest and was busy greeting the guests.
In just one morning, most of the paper and notebooks in the shop were sold out. Jiang Yuwei was thinking that if things continued like this, Aunt Zhang, Aunt Zhou, Zhang Guang, and Ning Qiu would all have to be hired as long-term workers. Ning Qiu and Ning Daya could come to the shop in town with Uncle Ning Wu to sell goods every day, while the fool would still live in the shop and look after it.
Aunt Zhou and Aunt Zhang were left at home to work as long-term laborers. When Ning Qiu and Ning Daya were not at the market, they could help him manage. Although Zhang Guang was young, he was quick and strong, and he could do all the work in the paper mill.
With that in mind, Jiang Yuwei took advantage of the lunch break to draft the documents, planning to sign them together with them when she got back in the evening.
Seeing that most of the customers had left, Jiang Yuwei asked the simpleton to help hang all the large characters sent by the second young master and Master Sun behind the counter.
After finishing her tasks, Jiang Yuwei went to the backyard to stir-fry an eggplant, make a tomato and egg soup, took out all the braised dishes she had made yesterday, chopped them up and plated them, stir-fried a plate of peanuts, and heated up the steamed buns before serving them.
Jiang Yuwei called everyone to eat in the backyard, while she went to the front to watch the shop. After everyone had finished eating, she went to the backyard to have lunch.
After the meal, Jiang Yuwei wrote down all the questions that customers asked most often during the day's business hours, and summarized a more complete set of scripts. She also summarized the problems that arose and the directions for improvement. Jiang Yuwei also wrote a store management procedure and posted it in the warehouse in the backyard.
After summarizing everything, Jiang Yuwei planned to hold a meeting with everyone after closing the shop that night to discuss it further. After tidying up the backyard, Jiang Yuwei went to help in the frontyard.
With the help of the second young master and Master Sun in promoting the business, the Moxianzhai was bustling with customers on its first day of business. Everyone was busy all day and made a lot of money. Jiang Yuwei put all of it into her space and left some for daily expenses in the counter.
After closing the shop, Jiang Yuwei held a meeting with everyone, signed the long-term worker contract with Ning Qiu, gave some instructions to the simpleton, and then led everyone back to Ningjia Village. However, as soon as they arrived at the door, they saw Chen Guixiang and Ning Chunlin waiting outside.
Jiang Yuwei glanced at the cart behind Ning Chunlin, which was piled high with paper mulberry bark, then stepped forward, opened the courtyard gate, and spoke calmly to the two of them:
"Come in, take the cart directly to the backyard to weigh the items."
Seeing this, Ning Chunlin hurriedly and happily shouted:
"Okay, sister-in-law, I'll go right away."
Jiang Yuwei was somewhat surprised by Ning Chunlin's sudden enthusiasm, but she didn't think much of it and simply unloaded everything from the oxcart. Ning Zhao and Ning Wan greeted Chen Guixiang lightly and then ran inside to play.
Seeing this, Chen Guixiang felt somewhat embarrassed. Standing in the courtyard, she wanted to speak, but didn't know how. So, observing Jiang Yuwei's expression, she stammered, "..."
"Well, we've gathered enough paper mulberry bark and wood ash you wanted. I weighed them at home."
Jiang Yuwei didn't even look at her, just kept her head down busy preparing dinner. Hearing what she said, she replied indifferently:
"oh."
Seeing this, Chen Guixiang stepped forward and continued:
"Well, since I've prepared everything for you, regarding what happened between Xu Feng and Xu Jing..."
Jiang Yuwei waved her hand to interrupt:
"I'm a person of my word, and I don't go back on my word."
Relieved by these words, Chen Guixiang nodded and continued:
"I...I know you're a good person..."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuwei immediately looked up at Chen Guixiang and frowned, saying:
"What's wrong with you today? Have you lost your mind? Why are you praising me?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Guixiang's eyes widened, then, as if she had thought of something, she looked towards the door of the side room and asked in a low voice:
"Is that idiot not home?"
Jiang Yuwei glanced at Chen Guixiang's furtive behavior and said calmly:
"Not here."
Upon hearing this, Chen Guixiang breathed a sigh of relief, patted her chest a few times, and muttered:
"I think we should kick that idiot out as soon as possible. What's the point of keeping him at home? All he knows is how to eat and not how to work. He's not even smart enough. These days, who can afford to keep an idle person?"
Jiang Yuwei stared into Chen Guixiang's eyes for a while, then looked up at what was behind her and said:
"Fool, you're back."
Upon hearing this, Chen Guixiang immediately jumped up and hid behind Jiang Yuwei, excitedly looking around:
"Where is it? Where is it, you idiot..."
Jiang Yuwei burst out laughing upon seeing this:
"I misread it."
Chen Guixiang then realized she had been somewhat out of line, quickly moved away from Jiang Yuwei, stood a little further away, coughed a few times, and said:
"Well, I didn't come here for anything else today. I heard from Qianqian that your shop in the city has opened?"
Jiang Yuwei raised an eyebrow at Chen Guixiang and nodded.
Upon seeing this, a glint of light flashed in Chen Guixiang's eyes, and then she smiled and said:
“Look, we don’t have much land. Your father and I, along with Sun Shi, can manage it. Your second brother has never done hard labor before, so he can’t do the work in the fields. I’m thinking that you’ll definitely need manpower to open a shop. Instead of hiring others, you should hire people from our own family.”
As Chen Guixiang spoke, she looked up and examined Jiang Yuwei's expression. Seeing that Jiang Yuwei seemed unaffected, she dared to continue:
"If you don't want to use Yunyun, fine. But Chunlin is your second brother, he's one of our own. We should use our own people, so as not to let the good stuff go to outsiders."
Jiang Yuwei finally understood why Ning Chunlin had been so enthusiastic towards her earlier, and why Chen Guixiang was being so attentive to her now—it turned out they were waiting for her here.
Jiang Yuwei continued working with her hands, her head still closed, and spoke calmly:
"Now that everyone in the shop is here, we don't need any more help."
Chen Guixiang became anxious upon hearing this:
"Why can't you understand? Oh, what I mean is that it's easier to use your own family than others. If everyone is here, you can just fire one of them, right?"
Jiang Yuwei added a ladle of water to the pot and said:
"We can't make it in time, the documents have already been signed."
Seeing this, Chen Guixiang became even more anxious:
"To be honest, you're stupid and lack common sense. You can't just sign a document like that. I think you should just find a reason to invalidate it. After all, it's your family business, so you can do whatever you want with it!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuwei slammed the water ladle down in her hand, looked up at Chen Guixiang, and said in a deep voice:
"You still know this is my family's business?"
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