CHAPTER 316: CHAPTER 299: THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT, THE MORE UPSET I GET

After leaving the Women’s Virtue Academy, Yu Xiaolian first went to the backyard of Taotao Residence to check on her cosmetics workshop.

Currently, Yu Xiaolian had Sun Manxi managing the cosmetics workshop on her behalf, so as soon as she entered the backyard of Taotao Residence, she went to find Sun Manxi to ask how much lipstick made from the cochineal beetles had been produced.

Who knew she would go around in circles and still not see Sun Manxi.

"Where is your Manxi Aunt?" Yu Xiaolian asked Sun Feixue.

Sun Feixue replied while grinding flower powder, "My fourth grandpa came and just took Aunt Manxi away. It seems he wants Aunt Manxi to go back and finalize the marriage arrangement.

My fourth uncle says he wants to ask for a few days off for Aunt Manxi with you."

Yu Xiaolian nodded, understanding that Sun Manxi was only a year younger than Sun Manyu, already fifteen. Sun Manyu had been married for a year, and it was natural for Sun Sillin to be anxious about his eldest daughter’s marriage.

"Did they say anything about the other family?" Yu Xiaolian asked.

Sun Feixue shook his head, "I don’t know, we haven’t officially met them yet.

Aunt Manxi doesn’t want to go on the arranged meeting, and was forcibly taken by Fourth Uncle."

Sun Manxia suddenly put down her work and ran over to Yu Xiaolian, "Xiaolian, my eldest sister is surely still thinking about that Wang Dazhuang she was once engaged to.

I asked her, but she stubbornly refuses to admit it. She claims it’s not because of Wang Dazhuang, but that’s exactly what it is.

Xiaolian, your words always work. Later, you must persuade my sister to forget about that Wang Dazhuang.

Wang Dazhuang’s family is long gone by now. My sister is as stubborn as they come. Once she decides on someone, that’s it for her.

You should talk to her more. There are plenty of good men, much better than Wang Dazhuang throughout the world.

I’ve tried telling my sister these things, but she won’t listen to me.

Xiaolian, you go tell her. Your words work wonders and people listen."

Sun Manxi was always quiet, and Yu Xiaolian thought that was just her personality, never realizing that Sun Manxi had something on her mind.

If Sun Manxi really couldn’t let go and continued to be hung up on that Wang Dazhuang, she indeed needed to be advised. She couldn’t let her be stuck on a dead end.

"I understand, I’ll talk to her when I see her," Yu Xiaolian said.

Seeing Yu Xiaolian inspect the dried flowers in the yard, Sun Manxia added, "Winter is coming soon, and fresh flowers can’t be collected anymore. But we’ve stored plenty of dried flowers, which should last until next spring."

"Alright, thank you for your hard work. Tonight I’ll have Old Madam Gao prepare a feast, so you all can eat well."

As Yu Xiaolian spoke, she picked up a finished lipstick made from the cochineal beetles, used her fingernail to scoop a little, applied it on the back of her hand, and was pleased by the fragrant essential oil scent and the fine and smooth texture.

Leaving Taotao Residence, Yu Xiaolian went next door to Zhenpin Pavilion.

Since Zhenpin Pavilion opened, the storefront of Taotao Residence had been left empty, no longer selling products, only using its backyard as a workshop.

Of course, the workshop usage is only temporary. Yu Xiaolian plans to dismantle Taotao Residence in the warmer spring next year and build a three-story building like the Zhenpin Pavilion.

Her small business kingdom was only just beginning to take shape.

As Yu Xiaolian entered Zhenpin Pavilion, she saw many customers inside the store.

After nodding to greet the customers, Yu Xiaolian was preparing to go up to the third floor, as it was only around two in the afternoon and the sun was bright. She wanted to lie on the lounge chair on the top floor and bask in the sun for a while.

"Yu Xiaolian!" someone called out to her.

Yu Xiaolian paused her step on the stairs and turned her head.

Now in Luocheng, very few people called her by her name anymore; everyone either called her Teacher Yu, Yu Xueguan, or Master Yu.

As Yu Xiaolian turned her head, she directly faced a grinning Zheng Yuanfeng with a face full of springtime satisfaction.

Zheng Yuanfeng was still the same, holding a folding fan, cultured and refined, with a gentle demeanor.

Whoever looked at him would never think he was a businessman, only a noble young man like warm jade.

The fact proved he used to be indeed so.

But until now, Yu Xiaolian still didn’t know what reason Zheng Yuanfeng’s father was demoted for.

"Second Brother!" Yu Xiaolian’s eyes lit up with surprise.

Her future wealthy second brother might know she was short on money and had come to deliver.

When Su Jingchen’s father came to Luocheng, he said he was traveling with Zheng Yuanfeng. However, when they passed by Caozhou, Zheng Yuanfeng had something to deal with, so he let Su Dafu go ahead.

Yu Xiaolian thought Zheng Yuanfeng would come within ten days or so, but unexpectedly, it was more than half a year later.

"Why are you only here now? What were you doing in Caozhou?"

Zheng Yuanfeng smiled gently, "What else could I be doing, making money of course!"

With ten literate and trustworthy followers, whenever Zheng Yuanfeng passed by a town he liked, he would delay for ten days to open a shop, then leave one trusted person there as the shopkeeper.

By the time he arrived in Luocheng, there was no one left to use except for an illiterate coachman and five burly guards who only knew how to fight.

Yu Xiaolian invited Zheng Yuanfeng up to the third floor, and as soon as they settled, Zheng Yuanfeng spoke, "I’ve come to borrow some people from you. I won’t borrow too many, just two. I need two literate and capable people. I plan to open two stores in Luocheng, and the shops are already selected, but I lack two stewards.

I’m not borrowing for free—here, your brother brought money for you.

Your dividend, a total of thirty-eight thousand taels, count it!"

Zheng Yuanfeng took out a stack of silver notes that weren’t very thick and handed them to Yu Xiaolian.

Yu Xiaolian suspiciously accepted them.

This thin stack certainly did not look like thirty-eight thousand taels, more like thirty-eight hundred taels.

Keep in mind, the largest denomination of the silver notes from the local Great Liang money shops is one hundred taels, thirty-eight thousand taels would require three hundred and eighty notes.

Yu Xiaolian felt that Zheng Yuanfeng had given her, at most, thirty-eight hundred taels.

But when she opened the silver notes and saw the denomination, her jaw dropped.

A thousand taels each!!!

Which money shop is so impressive???

Upon looking further down, it showed Shan Yue Money Shop!!!

Had Zheng Yuanfeng opened a money shop?

Seeing Yu Xiaolian’s astonishment, Zheng Yuanfeng quickly explained, "Shan Yue Money Shop hasn’t opened in Luocheng yet, but there is one in the nearby Zheng City. If you need to cash it, you can go there to redeem it. Thirty-eight thousand taels is a lot; it’s impossible for me to carry such an amount in silver."

Yu Xiaolian: "..." It made sense, how could a note worth a thousand taels exist, or so it seems she thought.

"Why didn’t you just make a note for thirty-eight thousand taels instead of going through the trouble of preparing thirty-eight notes of a thousand taels each," Yu Xiaolian couldn’t help but tease Zheng Yuanfeng.

Zheng Yuanfeng chuckled, "I wanted to, but it felt too much like an IOU, and I couldn’t just palm off an IOU to my little sister, could I?"

Ha... did he not realize this was just as much of an empty promise?

If she wanted to get the money, she’d have to go all the way to Zheng City, not knowing how much Shan Yue Money Shop could handle. Would it close right after she collected her silver?

Would she have to make multiple trips?

Now she even doubted whether this silver note could be redeemed at all.

Whether or not there was any such Shan Yue Money Shop in Zheng City was another matter.

The more Yu Xiaolian thought about it, the more frustrated she became.

Her gaze on Zheng Yuanfeng also grew colder, full of resentment.