Xiao San bowed again, and seeing this, the Duan family felt even more favorably toward Xiao San, the youngest son of the Prime Minister's steward.
The two families hadn't even formally exchanged betrothal gifts yet, but Xiao San's enthusiastic visit with gifts made the Duan family very pleased.
"Young Master Xiao, please have a seat. I'll go boil some water and cook a meal." Madam Ma smiled and quickly walked into the kitchen, ready to properly entertain her future son-in-law.
Xiao San was invited into the hall by Duan Gang and sat down in a chair.
After Xiao San sat down, he smiled and said, "Our Prime Minister is very busy with official duties and is summoned by His Majesty every morning and evening. Just now, my master returned from the palace. This box of pastries was a gift from His Majesty to my master, but my master doesn't like pastries, so he gave it to me instead."
"After I brought my owner back, I decided to send some over for you to try."
"These are palace snacks."
The Duan family was filled with longing for the palace snacks. Duan Gang went outside and called out, "Mother, bring me a plate."
"They're here." Madam Ma trotted in, carrying an empty plate. "Let's all try some pastries from the palace." She gently placed a plate on the table, unwrapped the pastry package, and took out the pastries, placing them on the plate.
"Young Master Xiao, please have some snacks." The Duan family urged Xiao San to eat first.
Xiao San waved his hand in refusal, saying, "I eat this kind of snack almost every day, I'm tired of it. You all eat, you all eat."
He boasted, "I'm with the Prime Minister every day, and I've eaten all the delicacies in the palace." Of course, he wouldn't tell the truth—the master would give the servants the leftovers.
Duan Dayi's stomach was growling with hunger, so he reached out and picked up a piece, swallowing it in a few bites.
He exclaimed, "I have never tasted such delicious pastries before. They must have come from the palace."
Duan Gang also ate a piece and praised it highly, "Delicious, delicious, really delicious! The palace pastries are indeed extraordinary."
Madam Ma watched as her husband and son finished their snacks with relish, leaving two pieces on the plate. Only then did she reach out and carefully pick up a piece of snack and put it in her mouth.
As the pastry melted on her tongue, Madam Ma frowned slightly, muttering to herself, "Why doesn't this taste as good as Miss Lin's pastries?" She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, and took the remaining pastry to her daughter, Qiaoqing.
Qiaoqing happily took a pastry, brought it to her lips, and took a small bite. Instantly, a sweet flavor filled her mouth. She closed her eyes and exclaimed in delight, "Wow, the pastries from the palace are indeed the most delicious!"
"Hmph, even Miss Lin hasn't eaten such delicious snacks."
Looking at her daughter's satisfied expression, Madam Ma smiled and said softly, "Young Master Xiao is a really good person. Your parents have arranged this marriage for you."
Qiaoqing nodded quickly and replied, "Okay, okay, Mother."
A smug smile appeared on her face, and she continued, "He's much better than the one you married, Miss."
Hearing her daughter's words, Madam Ma couldn't help but agree. The man her daughter married seemed to be slightly inferior to Xiao San. It was clear that a discarded son of the royal family was not even as good as a servant who had some influence in an official's household.
Xiao San is favored by the Prime Minister and has a bright future ahead of him.
At this moment, Xiao San was sitting in the hall, speaking eloquently, "Our Prime Minister's eldest daughter is now Consort Xiao, who is extremely favored by the Emperor, and will soon become a Noble Consort."
He added proudly, "My sister is Consort Xiao's maid, and she enjoys Consort Xiao's deep trust. Even His Majesty is very satisfied with her service."
Xiao San's words seemed to be hinting at something to the Duan family.
Upon hearing this, the Duan family members were overjoyed, their eyes shining.
They thought to themselves, "To be able to marry into such a wonderful family is a dream come true!"
Duan Dayi first stated his position to Xiao San: "Tomorrow is the big day of Miss Lin's wedding, and our whole family has to go and help out. In two days, our two families can go through the formalities and finalize the marriage."
Upon hearing this, Xiao San quickly replied, "Father-in-law, I was just about to tell you about this! In two days, our family will definitely send people to your door to exchange gifts and set the wedding date."
His words were as sweet as honey, and he continued, "Father-in-law and mother-in-law, don't worry, after I marry your sister, I will definitely treat her well and will never let her suffer the slightest grievance!"
The Duan family was very pleased with Xiao San's words and grew to like their future son-in-law more and more.
Seeing the harmonious atmosphere, Xiao San seized the opportunity to ask, "Father-in-law, how's business at your shop these days?"
Duan Dayi didn't hide anything and answered truthfully, "It's excellent! It couldn't be better! Especially that cloth bag, it sells even better than silver jewelry!"
Duan Gang, who was standing nearby, chimed in with a smile, "I think this shop should be renamed Cloth Bag Shop, not something like Silver Glistening."
Upon hearing this, Xiao San's curiosity was instantly piqued, and he quickly asked, "Oh? What's so good about it? Father-in-law, please tell your son-in-law."
Duan Dayi smiled smugly and said, "Our master originally wanted these bags to sell for ten copper coins each, but I sold them for one tael of silver each! They're sold out every day, and people who want them have to pay silver to place an order first."
Upon hearing this, Xiao San couldn't help but give Duan Dayi a thumbs up and exclaimed, "Father-in-law, you are truly a master!"
He lowered his voice and whispered in Duan Dayi's ear, "Since this business is so good, Father-in-law, what do you think about us doing it ourselves?"
“We have no capital, and no shop,” Duan Dayi shook his head.
“Father-in-law, what do you think of this? My family has three shops; we can easily run our own business,” Xiao San said with a smile, then took a cloth bag from his pocket and handed it to Duan Dayi. “Take a look at this bag; what do you think?”
Duan Dayi took the cloth bag and examined it carefully. The cloth bag looked well-made and of good quality.
But he still hesitated, "This bag is indeed nice, but where did it come from? As far as I know, only the Lin family seems to have this kind of cloth bag."
Xiao San smiled slightly and said confidently, "Father-in-law, don't worry. It's not difficult for the Prime Minister's residence to find a merchant to make these bags, is it? Leave the goods to me. You and your brother-in-law just need to take care of selling them. We'll split the profits 70/70, with us getting 70% and you getting 30%. What do you think?"
Duan Dayi was stunned after hearing Xiao San's words.
Duan Gang jumped up from his chair excitedly, looking at his father with longing for his father to nod in agreement.
Duan Dayi couldn't help but feel uneasy: Our family not only owes the Lin family money, but also a favor. If we don't help Miss Lin with her shop and instead try to steal her business, it seems rather unfair of us.
Just then, a slight noise came from outside the door. It turned out that Qiaoqing had been eavesdropping on the conversation inside.
When she heard that her father did not seem to agree to Young Master Xiao's request, she finally could not contain her anxiety and rushed in from outside.
"Father, please agree to Young Master Xiao's request so that our family can do business with him!" Qiaoqing said as soon as she entered the door, her tone revealing a hint of urgency and pleading.
Her gaze was fixed on Xiao San, and she was overjoyed: I have finally found a good husband.
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