Chapter 36: A Lively Household
In about fifteen minutes, Sister-in-law Yin came over again.
This time, Sister-in-law Yin was very different from before. The Sister-in-law Yin from before was like a blooming flower, but this time, she had completely closed up like a flower bud, her head hanging low.
Li Xiaonan stood at the kitchen door, standing on tiptoe and craning her neck to look behind Sister-in-law Yin.
Following Sister-in-law Yin was an old couple. The old man was tall and thin, with sparse, graying hair and a similarly sparse, graying beard. As he walked, he would occasionally stroke his beard, his eyes stern and his expression serious.
The old woman was slightly shorter, plump and fair-skinned, with a smiling face that looked extremely amiable.
Li Jinzhu quickly pressed herself against the wall, her steps light and hurried as she went out to greet them.
“It’s not easy to walk, so we won’t come in,” the old woman said, standing outside the threshold and peering at the courtyard full of eggs.
Li Xiaonan followed closely behind Li Jinzhu, going out to the courtyard gate.
“Is this business you’re doing just a one-off, or do you plan to do it long-term?” the old man asked Li Jinzhu directly, with his hands behind his back.
“That depends on how well these eggs sell after they’re made,” Li Xiaonan answered before Li Jinzhu could.
“This little A Nan is truly clever,” the old woman said, appraising Li Xiaonan with a smile.
“That’s the plan of traveling merchants. Are you planning to carry baskets and hawk preserved eggs and salted eggs all over Pingjiang City?” the old man asked, glancing at Li Xiaonan.
“That wouldn’t be very respectable. You are a family of scholars and farmers, and you have a Xiucai Scholar in your home,” the old woman interjected with a smile to smooth things over.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Li Xiaonan nodded quickly.
“For a shop-based business, you need a shop and a workshop. Once it’s set up, can you try it out for a while before deciding?” the old man continued.
“What if we only do business with these eggs?” Li Xiaonan asked, pointing to the eggs filling the courtyard.
“Just this egg business? Then what’s the point of doing it?
“Workshops and shops aren’t rented by the day or month, but by the year. Three to five years is considered short. Renting a shop or workshop for just a year or two to sell these eggs? That’s not how you waste copper coins.” The old man frowned.
“Do you think this business is viable? If not, what should we do with these eggs?” Li Jinzhu bowed and asked for advice.
“Since your family has moved to Pingjiang City, if you don’t have any other livelihood, you should open a shop to have some active income. She makes excellent preserved and salted eggs, their taste is truly good. You sisters…”
The old man looked from Li Jinzhu to Li Yuzhu, then to Li Yin Zhu, and continued, “You all look like you can endure hardship and work hard. This business can be done.”
“Then let’s do it for a few years and see,” Li Jinzhu said, glancing at Sister-in-law Yin.
Sister-in-law Yin met her gaze and winked at her.
“Mm. She doesn’t understand. That empty house across the street cannot be used as a workshop,” the old man glared at Sister-in-law Yin, who flinched and shrunk her neck in fear.
“What kind of area is this? That’s the Prefectural School! It’s a very prestigious area in all of Pingjiang City. Renting a residential house in such a prestigious area to use as a workshop, hmph!” The old man glared at Sister-in-law Yin again.
Sister-in-law Yin held her breath and lowered her head, not daring to make a sound.
“Since you want to do this business…”
“Do you need to discuss it with your Xiucai Scholar and let him make the decision?” the old woman interrupted the old man, looking at Li Jinzhu and asking with a smile.
“My brother is wholeheartedly focused on studying and never gets involved in these matters. There’s no need to ask him; I can discuss it with my sisters,” Li Jinzhu replied with a smile.
“That’s right. Studying requires complete concentration,” the old man nodded in approval. “The most urgent matter now is to find a place for a workshop. These eggs need to be pickled quickly. The workshop cannot be in the city; the rent in the city is too expensive. I’ll go with the Boss to look outside the city. It won’t be too late to find a shop after the preserved and salted eggs are pickled.”
As the old man spoke, he turned and descended the steps.
“Come to my house for dinner tonight, and we can talk properly,” the old woman invited warmly, following him down the steps.
………………………………
Gu Yan didn’t pay attention to the commotion of Li Xiaonan’s family dealing with the eggs in the courtyard.
In the letter from his mother brought by Pan Shiyi, it was stated that Madam Pan, the biological aunt of his eldest brother-in-law, had been feeling melancholic recently and would be staying at their Prince’s Estate villa in Pingjiang Prefecture for a while to relax, asking him to take good care of her.
Madam Pan and his mother had been the closest of friends since they were very young. Madam Pan had been widowed only a few years after marrying into the Shi family.
This Madam Pan had a cheerful and humorous disposition. The Old Madam of the Shi family doted on her immensely, and everyone in the Shi family respected and looked after her. All her friends and relatives liked her, so why would she be feeling melancholic?
In the past, she had been cheerful her entire life. When she was critically ill and near death, it was said she passed away while laughing.
This Madam’s long journey was definitely not because she was feeling melancholic.
She came to make him feel melancholic!
Madam Pan would undoubtedly be accompanied by Miss Shi, and this trip must have been Miss Shi’s idea.
Madam Pan doted on Miss Shi the most, treating her as her own daughter. Madam Pan and his mother both believed that he and Miss Shi were a match made in heaven.
In the past, he had also thought so.
Now, he had forcibly broken off his engagement with Miss Shi. His mother was unwilling, Madam Pan was certainly unwilling, and that Miss Shi was even more unwilling.
Miss Shi had once gone to Prince Rui’s Mansion to confront him in person, but he had refused to see her. He did not want to see her.
Gu Yan had thought about it all night. He was planning to leave for Hangcheng after breakfast to ask his sixth aunt to meet Madam Pan from afar and invite them to Hangcheng to relieve her melancholy.
However, the very next morning, while Gu Yan was still eating breakfast, a steward from the Shi family entered the villa gates:
Madam Pan’s ship had already passed the wharf of Pingjiang City and was not far from the villa’s wharf.
After hearing the report from the Shi family steward, Gu Yan narrowed his eyes, then relaxed them a moment later, calmly replying that he knew.
This was Miss Shi’s arrangement.
She liked to catch people off guard. Her ability to control situations was something he still greatly admired.
Gu Yan instructed a servant to summon Uncle Hong and informed him that Madam Pan was not far from the villa’s wharf.
Uncle Hong was extremely surprised. Without asking further questions, he hurriedly had the villa’s blueprints brought over. He made suggestions, and Gu Yan selected the courtyard where Madam Pan would stay. Then, he ordered the courtyard to be tidied, personnel to be allocated, and after giving hurried instructions, he rushed to the villa’s wharf to welcome Madam Pan.
Half an hour later, Gu Yan stood at the villa’s wharf, idly fanning himself with his folding fan, watching the large building ship slowly approach the wharf.
The building ship docked at the wharf, and a wide gangplank was extended. Miss Shi helped Madam Pan onto the gangplank.
Gu Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Miss Shi.
Miss Shi wore a light cape of lotus root color. She held Madam Pan’s arm, looking at Madam Pan, as if her eyes were only on Madam Pan.
Gu Yan could not see her features clearly.
There was no need to see clearly. He knew her features and appearance all too well. He didn’t want to see her even for a moment.
