Chapter 103: Outstanding Talent
Gu Yan returned to his villa, bathed and washed, changed his clothes, and came out. Shi Gun hurried forward to report: a message had come from the tea house on Academy Street, asking if the Young Lord knew when he would visit.
“She’s back in Pingjiang City?” Gu Yan raised an eyebrow and asked.
“It seems so,” Shi Gun replied with a smile.
Since the message came from the tea house on Academy Street, she must already be in Pingjiang City. There was no need to ask.
“Let’s go take a look,” Gu Yan glanced out the window.
The sun had already set, but it was still early until dark.
She must have something to discuss with him; what if it was urgent?
Li Xiaonan was called out by Wan Jing, which was quite unexpected.
“It’s so late,” Li Xiaonan pointed at the round red sun that had barely dipped below the horizon.
“You’re saying that to me, as if I have any say in the matter,” Wan Jing couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Li Xiaonan.
“That’s true. Have you had dinner yet?” Li Xiaonan walked out alongside Wan Jing.
“If I hadn’t come out, I’d be eating now,” Wan Jing smoothed her front.
Their household was particular about moderation in eating, and she was a bit hungry.
“You can’t blame me,” Li Xiaonan gave a dry, grinning laugh.
“Of course, I can’t blame you. How could anyone blame you?” Wan Jing looked at Li Xiaonan curiously.
“Heh, yes, yes, how could anyone blame me,” Li Xiaonan quickly nodded with a smile.
“Did you call our Young Lord here?” Wan Jing suddenly understood.
“No! I didn’t call him! I just asked a question,” Li Xiaonan flatly denied.
“Our Young Lord is really good to you! Can you ask him earlier next time? Look, it’s already dark,” Wan Jing said with a hint of annoyance.
“How about we go back? Mei Jie just steamed some leek buns. I’ll get you one, and then we can go,” Li Xiaonan turned to go back.
“I’m on duty and can’t eat anything with a strong smell. Let’s go quickly,” Wan Jing grabbed Li Xiaonan’s arm and pushed her forward.
Gu Yan, dressed in a silver-white long gown and a jade belt, stood with his hands behind his back by the window. Hearing the movement, he turned to look at Li Xiaonan and beckoned her over, “Come and see, this spot has really grown in.”
After he bought this tea house, he had people redecorate and plant flowers and rockeries in the courtyard. After a winter and spring, the flowers and plants in the courtyard were flourishing.
Li Xiaonan looked towards the window.
The bamboo in the courtyard stood tall and straight, and the peonies were vibrant. It was indeed extremely beautiful.
“Why are you back so soon? Is everything alright?” Gu Yan looked down at Li Xiaonan.
“After the three-day return visit, the wedding is over. Everything is fine. Thank you,” Li Xiaonan said with a solemn thank you.
“Thank you for what? The betrothal gifts? Or for me coming over?” Gu Yan looked at Li Xiaonan and smiled.
“Both. After you gave the betrothal gifts, it was very lively,” Li Xiaonan sighed.
Gu Yan smiled at her, and after a moment, his eyebrows slightly raised, he asked with a smile, “Isn’t it good for it to be lively?”
“There’s something I wanted to ask if you could help with,” Li Xiaonan changed the subject.
“Go on.”
“I’ve thought of a way for my business.”
“Still the fine cloth business?” Gu Yan suppressed a smile and gestured for Li Xiaonan to continue, “Tell me more.”
“I want to start by collecting fine cloth door-to-door. For example, in Guo Lane, I’ll go every other day, or every three to five days. Whether I can collect fine cloth or not, I’ll go, I’ll definitely go.”
“First, let everyone know that someone is collecting fine cloth year-round. If it’s jacquard fine cloth, even better. Let everyone know that weaving fine cloth earns much more money than weaving coarse cloth. This way, they will want to weave fine cloth and change their looms. Then I can lend them the looms or rent them out.”
Li Xiaonan looked serious.
Gu Yan raised his eyebrows and smiled, “Hmm, that’s a good idea. What kind of help do you need?”
“I’m short of a shopkeeper,” Li Xiaonan’s shoulders drooped. “If I go alone, they might report me to the authorities or the village head, saying I’m a swindler or something.”
“You want me to pick someone for you?”
“No. I can’t afford your people,” Li Xiaonan quickly waved her hand. “This shopkeeper is just a signboard, standing there. He doesn’t need to do anything.”
“I want to hire someone. I’ve asked, and an old man of that age who is no longer useful can be hired for a year, with food and clothing provided, and half a tael of silver. I have the money; I can afford to hire him.”
“I’m a woman, and I’m a bit young. If I go to hire someone, even if I succeed, I’m afraid of being taken advantage of by the client.”
“Could you lend someone to accompany me to hire him? Just say it’s his business, and if anything happens, he can step in to suppress it, like your shopkeeper.”
Li Xiaonan pointed at the tea house’s shopkeeper.
Gu Yan drew out his words with an “Oh,” “I understand. If you hire such an old and useless person, what will you do if you actually collect fine cloth? Who will carry it? Also, what if you encounter bad people who rob you of your silver and your cloth?”
Hearing Gu Yan’s last sentence about encountering bad people, Li Xiaonan glanced at him.
With his words and tone, was he treating her like a child?
“There are porters everywhere in Pingjiang City. For one or two bolts of cloth, I can carry them,” Li Xiaonan only answered the first part, ignoring the latter half.
“I’ll lend you A Wu, and her cousin,” Gu Yan said directly.
“No!” Li Xiaonan flatly refused.
She couldn’t afford to support those two!
“You’re a young girl. Being with a man alone, no matter how old he is, is inappropriate. I’m not at ease. That’s the first reason.”
Gu Yan looked even more serious than Li Xiaonan.
“Secondly, you’re a young girl with money, which can easily attract malicious intentions. A Wu is skilled in kung fu and can protect you.”
“No!” Li Xiaonan firmly refused.
“There’s a third reason,” Gu Yan leaned forward. “These two fools can’t stay in Linhai Town any longer. Otherwise, who knows, one day they might fall into the water or be hit by a mast, losing their lives.”
“No, you have plenty of places to arrange for them. I don’t want them,” Li Xiaonan refused without leaving any room for negotiation.
“Did A Wu offend you?” Gu Yan looked at Li Xiaonan.
“No, no! I don’t want them! My business is small; I can’t afford bodyguards. No!”
“You don’t have to support them. Just use them,” Gu Yan waved his hand generously.
Li Xiaonan turned her head away, not looking at him. “No!”
“Then how about this? I’ll invest in your business. I’ll use A Wu as the investment, and her cousin will be free. Consider it one share, or even half a share,” Gu Yan tapped his fingers on the table.
“No!” Li Xiaonan gritted her teeth and said each word.
“Either you take A Wu, or you figure out the shopkeeper situation yourself,” Gu Yan tapped his fingers on the table.
Li Xiaonan looked at him. Gu Yan met Li Xiaonan’s gaze with a sincere expression, “Xiaonan, when dealing with people and matters, you must learn to be flexible. As long as the main points are not missed, you don’t need to dwell too much on details.”
“Besides, you’re asking me now, right? You don’t have any other options, do you? If you had other options, you wouldn’t have come to me.”
“The wise adapt to circumstances, Miss A Nan.”
“A Wu is a person, not an object. She’s your person. Her wages will be considered a loan from you. For one year, if we make money, I’ll repay you with principal and interest. If we don’t make money, I’ll use tuition fees to cover it,” Li Xiaonan gritted out.
“Deal!” Gu Yan agreed happily.
