Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 903 - 901_1

Chapter 903: Chapter 901_1

Shangguan Xuanyi did not talk much at the dinner table, he just quietly served food to Xiao’er and ate quietly.

Jingrui instead asked Master Zhu about their purpose for visiting here and whether there’s anything they needed help with.

In fact, the reason Zhu Yan and Master Zhu came over was because of Jingrui’s position as Magistrate here. Without any unforeseen circumstances, a Magistrate’s term would last for at least four years, or eight if reelected.

They would likely become a married couple next year, with a high likelihood of Zhu Yan following Jingrui in his official duties. So, Boss Zhu brought Zhu Yan over this time to set up some businesses as her dowry, considering she might stay here for eight years after all.

The Zhu family had initially prepared her dowry in Shengping County and the Imperial Capital, but they didn’t have any shops or villas here, hence Boss Zhu brought her here for the setup.

Having their future son-in-law serving as the Magistrate here made it more convenient to operate businesses locally. At the very least, no one would dare to oppress them!

Xiao’er agreed with their plan after hearing about it.

A woman who stays at home to take care of her husband and raise children might eventually lose her passion for life over time.

Zhu Yan did have a good business sense though. Xiao’er felt rather reassured about leaving the Marquis Shengping’s family businesses in her hands as the saying goes ’eldest sister-in-law is like mother’.

After all, Jingrui would need a lot of silver for his official duties. Xiao’er always reminded him to use his own personal money for income generation. Having a wife who knows how to earns silver would be ideal for them as a couple.

Xiao’er encouraged Jinghao and Yun’er to use their private money to invest in businesses as well.

Although they did possess properties, the Marquis Shengping Mansion belonged to the entire family, not a single individual. When the time comes for the siblings to start their own families, the family assets would have to be divided among them.

When Xiao’er got married, she took three-tenths of the profits from all the shops as her dowry. Originally, Shen Chengyao and Mrs. Liu planned to give her half. After all, the family fortune of Marquis Shengping could be said to be built up by Xiao’er alone.

However, she declined to take as much, allowing Shen Chengyao and Jingrui to expand their business across the nation with the spare funds.

Furthermore, she was capable enough to start a business on her own – keeping what ought to belong to her maternal family. But everyone insisted that since she had established those shops and managed them most of the time, she should get more shares.

Finally, after repeated refusals, Shen Chengyao gave her three-tenths as her dowry, while the other siblings each received a tenth.

Jingrui and the others had no objections, as even a tenth of the profits each year was considerable.

They could also use the silver to make further investments.

Without Xiao’er’s contributions, none of them would have the comfortable lives they have today.

Now, every year, the family’s assets continued to grow, but as there were many siblings, if they wanted to leave more for their descendants, they still had to increase income and save money, continuing to earn silver.

"Sister Yan, what kind of shop are you planning to open here? Do you need any help?"

"I plan to engage in the silk trade, looking for a place to set up a weaving mill, and also buy several villas to plant mulberry trees and raise silkworms." Zhu Yan was straightforward about her plans.

Xiao’er was surprised when she heard this, realizing she had forgotten something!

How could she forget the renowned mulberry-fish pond from her previous life!

The mulberry leaves fed the silkworms, the silkworms formed silk and produced waste that fed the fish, and the excrement from the fish along with the waste from the silkworms could be used as fertilizers for the mulberry trees.

Indeed, with ’rich mulberry, strong silkworms, fat fish, fertile deposit, good base, plentiful cocoons’, such an arrangement seemed perfect!

Operating a mulberry fish pond not only promoted the development of silk farming and breeding fish businesses, but also drove the development of silk spinning and other processing trade.

Once the mulberry fish pond became successful, it meant providing more job opportunities for the locals.

Earning money while also making contributions to her elder brother’s political achievements, it was a win-win! Upon this thought, Xiao’er couldn’t help but reveal a bright smile, her eyes sparkling, "Raising silkworms is a good idea. I’ll teach you how to breed the best silkworms tomorrow!"

Zhu Yan, looking at Xiao’er’s smile, was almost lost in it. She regrouped and nodded with a smile, "Alright."

Xiao’er was known for her talents. The things she taught must be out of the ordinary. Each shop opened by the Marquis Shengping’s mansion was a source of great wealth, making money every day. Who wouldn’t know this? Zhu Yan became optimistic upon this thought.

Xiao’er asked Zhu Yan about some other recent developments, and they had a pleasant talk at the dinner table.

Unconsciously, she had eaten all the dishes Shangguan Xuanyi picked for her, leaving herself completely full.

Xiao’er originally planned to save some room for stinky tofu, but now she couldn’t eat any more of it.

She would have to wait until she felt less full to eat again.

Shangguan Xuanyi noticed Xiao’er’s gaze shifting towards the food basket not far away on the shelf. The corners of his mouth lifted up, his mood quite gratified.

Fang Wanping sat in the private room, feeling distracted. She was waiting to see the scene where Xiao’er and the others couldn’t pay the bill after their meal.

Fang Wanping had instructed Xiao Ling to secretly watch. When they finished the meal, she would let her know.

They took quite a long time to have this meal, and other customers started to leave the restaurant one after another.

Little Ling, captivated by the aroma of the dishes, was already starving!

After waiting for a long while without seeing her maid return, Fang Wanping got up herself and walked out, finding Xiao Ling who was hiding behind a pillar watching downstairs. "What’s the status? What dishes did they order? Are they done eating?"

"Miss, they haven’t finished eating yet," Xiao Ling turned her head back and replied.

Fang Wanping looked down and noticed that the leftover dishes on the table were indeed the best dishes from the Four Seasons Restaurant. Humph! Reckless to the end!

When her gaze shifted, she saw Shangguan Xuanyi and Jingrui, and she couldn’t look away.

Who were those two men? They were nobler and more energetic than the young master brothers she had met before, and incredibly handsome!

They were even more remarkable than her cousin in the Imperial City!

How could those two merchant’s daughters know such outstanding men?

Jingrui felt a hot gaze from upstairs. He looked up.

Fang Wanping saw Jingrui looking up and quickly hid herself, holding her breath.

Jingrui noticed the figures of the two women and withdrew his gaze. These days, there were many men and women who surreptitiously observed them.

After a while, Fang Wanping leaned over again to peek downstairs. She immediately noticed the food basket on the rack, and couldn’t help but curve her lips. She whispered a few words to Xiao Ling’s ear, Xiao Ling nodded her head, and ran off.

She wondered what kind of expression these elegant gentlemen would have if they knew that the two beautiful girls in front of them loved to eat such a vulgar thing as stinky tofu.

Xiao Ling came to the head of the restaurant and shouted loudly, "Boss, what’s happening with your restaurant today? Why do I always vaguely smell a stench?"

Xiao Ling’s voice was quite loud. The few tables of people remaining in the main hall who hadn’t finished eating all looked over after hearing her words.