Chapter 121 Arrangements

  Xu Lingning was busy transferring rice from the Xu family's granary in Tongzhou. Shiying was listening to Jiang Bingzheng's letter: "...In Yanjing, there are only two perfume shops. One on East Avenue is specialized in selling perfumes for women to apply on their bodies, and one on West Avenue is specialized in selling fruit syrups." He spoke with flying eyebrows and a colorful expression, "On East Avenue, they use small glass bottles, the expensive ones can be bought for three taels of silver, and the cheaper ones can be sold for eight cents. As for West Avenue, three or four taels of silver can buy a ceramic jar, very cheap. Madam wants to open a perfume shop? I think this idea is feasible." With that, his smile became extremely self-satisfied, "You definitely can't guess who the owner of the East Avenue shop is?" Without waiting for Shiying's response, he slyly smiled and said, "It's our Fifth Madame from the mansion."

  The eleventh girl was shocked.

  Never thought things would turn out so coincidental.

  "When the time comes, we'll just tell Madame Wu and she'll definitely take back the shop. Then we can offer high wages to keep the apprentices, servants, and craftsmen who make the flower extract, change the name, and it will be our own business!" Jiang Bingzheng looked at Shiyi Niang with a self-satisfied expression, "It's not even going to require any effort."

  No wonder he was kicked out by Director Tao, with a mind full of tricks and schemes.

  "So you've inquired clearly, how many bottles of their most expensive perfume are sold per day? How many bottles of the cheapest perfume are sold per day? How many bottles are sold in total every day? What kind of people buy the most expensive perfume? And what kind of people buy the cheapest perfume? You've inquired about all these clearly?"

  Eleventh Sister's words were one after another, changing her usual gentle tone to a stern and pressing one. Jiang Bingzheng's face turned bright red as he stammered: "Th-these are all business secrets of various families, how can we casually show them to others?"

  "Alright, I'll tell you." Eleventh Sister smiled and said, "You squat in front of the Flower Dew Shop from dawn till dusk, staring at who comes and goes, what they buy... isn't that it?"

  Jiang Bingzheng's eyes widened in surprise.

  What Shiyi said was completely professional. But who told her this? Tao's mother? No, Tao's mother shouldn't know these things... Was it Yang Hui Zu who told her? That doesn't seem right either, Yang Hui Zu is clever but has never managed a shop... For a moment, he muttered to himself in confusion.

  Although she had never done business before, the mother of Shíyīniáng's previous life was a businesswoman, and she had been influenced by her for some time, even thinking of letting her daughter inherit her career, so she knew a little bit about it.

  She looked at Jiang Bingzheng's appearance, not knowing that before doing business, some basic preparatory work should be done. It was completely a deception to herself that she didn't understand as a little girl and was too lazy to do it.

  "Since you haven't fully figured it out yet, go figure it out and then come back to me!" said Eleventh Sister, picking up her tea cup.

  Jiang Bingzheng retreated in some disarray.

  Eleventh Girl looked at his back and instructed Amber: "You go give Yang Hui Zu a message, let him keep an eye on this Jiang Bing Zheng. So as not to deceive under the banner of Yongping Hou Fu."

  "Impossible!" Amber whispered, "Does he have the guts?"

  "This kind of person I understand the most." Shiyi Niang sneered, "Get ready to follow me to Yanjing to make a fortune. You just let Yang Hui Zong keep an eye on him. It's just right, can take a look at what kind of person Yang Hui Zong is!"

  Huangpu left at the sound of her voice, but was stopped by Shier Niang: "Go and bring me Wan Yizong!"

  "Hmm!" Amber busied herself making arrangements and had Wan Yizong summoned over.

  Wan Yi Zong took out a few pieces of paper from his sleeve and replied to Shi yi Niang: "When watermelons first come on the market, they can sell for four cents each. By the peak season, they can only sell for two cents each. Apples are eight cents per catty, pears are five cents per catty, pears are two cents each, and walnuts are nine cents per catty..."

  "Alright, alright, bring it over and let me see!" said Eleventh Sister, seeing that he was struggling to get the words out.

  Wan Yizong's face turned red as he handed over the paper slip in his hand.

  Lü Yun handed it over to Shíyī Niáng, but instead, she was left staring blankly.

  The top is scribbled with some crosses and dots, comparable to Martian script.

  Wan Yizong muttered: "I... I don't recognize characters..."

  The eleventh girl handed him a piece of paper and asked: "You say, can this fruit tree be planted?"

  Wan Yizong nodded repeatedly and said, "I asked a family around here who planted fruit trees, they only had twelve mu of land, all of which were pear and plum trees, but they had an annual income of sixteen taels of silver."

  "Ah," said Xiāng Niáng, "how did you know?"

  Wan Yizong said, "I crouched at their gate for several days, almost being mistaken as a beggar - I counted how many baskets of pears and plums they sold every day. The method was slow but effective."

  The eleventh daughter secretly nodded in agreement.

  This Wan Yizong is a man who gets things done!

  She thought for a moment and said, "Yesterday, Manager Bai took over the lease and silver for the 500 mu of sloping land. You must have known about this matter. If I let you manage the sloping land at Lord Chen's place, do you have confidence that you can fully take over in ten years?"

  "Milady, I feel that I have done something wrong..." his voice was filled with trepidation.

  Eleventh daughter said, "It's precisely because you're so capable that I want you to take charge of the slope land. You should know, this kind of fruit tree is a technical job. Although you're older now, you still have three sons. If you master Mr. Chen's skills, it will be beneficial for a long time to come. Even though ten years may seem like a long time, one can't eat hot tangyuan in haste."

  Wan Yizong immediately understood and knelt on the ground, saying: "Don't worry, madam. If I can't even handle this small matter properly, then it would have been pointless for me to move all the way from Jiangnan."

  The eleventh girl nodded in satisfaction and said, "I've asked around, for a long worker like you, the monthly salary is only seven or eight taels of silver. Even if it's higher, it's just five taels of silver, plus two or three taels of silver for the second and third shifts. In a year, that's only fifteen or sixteen taels of silver. With a wife at home, life is too hard. After you leave, there's no need to discuss this with Lord Chen again. I'll give you an additional ten taels of silver every year."

  Wan Yizong was overjoyed and repeatedly kowtowed to Eleventh Sister.

  The Eleventh Young Lady had Green Cloud help him up and asked his three sons: ".... have you ever settled a marriage?"

  Wan Yizong's eyes dimmed and he said: "There are hardships at home, no time to bother with these things!"

  Eleventh girl nodded slightly and said: "Director Bai and Mr. Chen have agreed to hand over the land on November 16th, you will go there at that time. But I still have some things here that need personal help, so leave Da Xian behind to help me out. You can go to Po Di on December 20th."

  Wan Yizong nodded naturally and said "yes". Shier Niang spoke a few more words to him, sending him away, and called for Chang Jiuhai.

  During this time, he had been staying in the house on Goldfish Lane with them, and he had long been nervous. At this moment, when Eleventh Sister called him over, he looked very uneasy. After paying his respects to Eleventh Sister, he stood timidly at the door of the house.

  At eleven he asked him: "I have a house and an estate in Yanjing, are you willing to go to the estate or help me take care of the house?"

  Changjiu River knew that Wanyi Zong had been helping Shiyiniang all along. Since the slope land was rented out, only Shatian was left in her hands, and Shiyiniang must have wanted to let Wanyi Zong manage Shatian after all, as Shatian was her own industry, while the slope land was rented to others. He had long since given up hope, so his response was very obedient: "It's all right, it's all right. Just give your orders, madam."

  "Then help me take care of that piece of sandy land!" Eleventh Sister said with a smile, "When the time comes, plant some peanuts, melons and whatnot. You have two sons to help you, it shouldn't be too difficult!"

  Changjiu River stared at Shiyimao in shock.

  He naturally wanted to go to the countryside, not to mention anything else, raise two chickens, collect some eggs, and have children who also had a festive atmosphere when they lost their teeth. It's not like managing a house, although it's easy. But apart from wages, there is no external income.

  Changjiu River was born in fear of this difference, he hesitated and flew away, hurriedly kneeling down to kowtow to the Eleventh Mother.

  Eleventh Girl told him to go find Director Bai and ask about the method of planting in sandy land - Chang Jiuhu was also a master at planting paddy fields, but not too familiar with this aspect.

  He left with a smile all over his face.

  Eleventh Sister called Liu Yuanrui again: "Can you help me take a look at the house in Jinyu Alley?"

  Inconcealable delight overflowed from his eyes and eyebrows.

  Before she came, her husband had instructed her to fight for the job of managing the mansion. The prime minister's gatekeeper was an eighth-grade official, and what he said was the benefit of serving closely. If they went to the countryside, the mountains were high and the emperor was far away, and even the lady couldn't recognize a face, let alone the ladies-in-waiting who had stayed in the inner mansion to do chores. If any of them were favored by the lady and took over their jobs, it was also possible to replace them. Although living in the mansion was not as free as in the countryside, this was Yanjing, where his wife often went out for a walk, and even an ordinary embroidered shoe pad could be sold for a penny. They could open up a small piece of land behind the mansion to grow vegetables, embroider flowers to sell, and supplement their family expenses. If they got familiar with their neighbors, they could also help others with weddings and funerals, and their annual income would be quite considerable...

  He repeatedly replied "yes".

  "Then you go tell your wife. If she agrees, starting tomorrow, you and the young master of the Wan family will work together to clean up the house. If she doesn't agree, I'll give you another task."

  Liu Yuanrui was stunned.

  Whose master is sent on an errand and asks such a question?

  But he didn't dare say anything, only knowing to lower his head and say: "Madam's direct orders, our family's daughter-in-law will definitely obey."

  Such a clever woman, how could she not have her own abacus?

  The eleventh girl smiled and said, "She can grow vegetables or fruit trees in my mansion, but she must not destroy the current scenery, pull out all the flowers and grass I have planted now, and smell a strong odor of dung as soon as she enters the door. As for going outside to receive red and white happy events, it is not allowed to use the name of Yongping Hou Mansion."

  Liu Yuanrui broke out in a cold sweat. He felt as if Shiyi Niang had overheard his private conversation with his wife... yet every word was true, and he was originally honest, now even more flustered and only able to respond with "yes".

  Eleventh daughter, let him go back down.

  He called a few people over two days later and told them each about their division of labor.

  The other three had already received the news and discussed it with their families, all of whom were satisfied and did not object. In fact, they were afraid that Eleven would change her mind. Only Jiang Bing-shan was dissatisfied, having been assigned to another, even more desolate house by Eleven. He didn't dare say anything in front of Eleven, but secretly instigated the other three to ask Eleven to reassign them. However, none of them listened to him, and they all moved to their respective places as instructed by Eleven. As everyone began to settle into their new homes, Jiang Bing-shan was left alone, unable to stir up any trouble, and temporarily calmed down. He became determined to open a perfume shop and spent every day wandering around the area where he planned to set up his business.

  Eleventh girl is not afraid that these people are not obedient to her management, possibly making everyone have a satisfactory ending, doing things with more motivation than forcing them, and doing better.

  Amber couldn't help but worry: "......Could it be that she really didn't succeed in asking the Fifth Madam for that shop?"

  "Nature cannot speak." Eleventh Lady frowned, "I dislike bullying the weak, how can we use such means to squeeze others out. Besides, even if there are such means, think about it, Yanjing has hidden dragons and crouching tigers, yet there are only two perfume shops, I'm afraid there's more to this than meets the eye. Why must we stir up big trouble for a few pieces of silver? Let's wait until Second Lady returns, see if there's another way around this before deciding."

  In fact, Shiyi Niang suspected that this perfume shop was related to Er Furen.

  Making perfume isn't a high-tech thing, but if you want to mass-produce it and have a shelf life, that's a tough problem that not just anyone can solve...