Chapter 754 - 756: Coming to Ask
Chapter 754: Chapter 756: Coming to Ask
Jin Qianqian didn’t think she had any brilliant ideas. If she ran a discount promotion like she had in Shangjing, this Lady Liang would probably think she harbored ulterior motives and was trying to bankrupt her shops.
Besides, the relationship between their two families wasn’t deep enough for her to risk offending others just to help Lady Liang.
"They say different trades are worlds apart. Miss He, you’ve seen it yourself—I only have a few shops that are truly doing well. I really don’t know much about the inside situation of Lady Liang’s shops, so naturally, I don’t have the ability to offer any guidance.
"Instead of wasting time here with me, you might as well look for someone who can actually help."
Such a blunt refusal made Mrs. Liang He unable to sit still. She had become an Imperial Decree Lady as soon as she entered the Liang Mansion. Now that she had lowered her status to seek help from Jin Qianqian, she hadn’t expected the other woman to put on airs.
"It seems my niece and I came to the wrong place today. Sorry for the disturbance," she said, grabbing the niece beside her. "Let’s go."
Jin Qianqian also stood up and looked at Ming Shi, who was standing nearby. "Ming Shi, see our guests out for me."
Mrs. Liang He was left utterly speechless.
Once back in their carriage, the aunt and niece finally recovered their wits.
"She really just sent us out like that." And she had even made her maid see them out. Mrs. Liang He’s expression grew even uglier.
"Aunt, we are the ones asking for a favor, after all," Xiao Yu said softly. If her aunt had just endured a little longer and hadn’t been so impulsive, they wouldn’t be on their way back to the mansion right now.
Besides, Mrs. Liang He had another goal today: she wanted to bring the soap business back to the He family. If the shops under the He family could handle this business, it would bring good profits for them.
"I just couldn’t stand the sight of her," Mrs. Liang He scoffed. "You heard her tone. It was obvious she had no intention of helping us, so why should we stay there and invite further humiliation?"
"But the wholesale supply of the soap..." He Xiaoyu still felt it was a pity. Before the new year, she had heard that the Hou family had already purchased a batch of goods from the Soap Workshop, which had greatly boosted the business of their shops.
She figured that apart from them, many others would come knocking to ask for a deal.
Yongchang County was only so big, and there were bound to be many people harboring the same thoughts.
After all, it was a daily consumable. Even if it was just sold in a grocery store, it would be an excellent item.
"Hmph. I even went to her door personally, and she still wouldn’t relent. It seems we can only have the Master step in." Even as Mrs. Liang He complained, she felt a headache coming on when she thought about Liang Shi’s personality.
Sure enough, when she returned to the mansion, found him in the study, and brought up the matter, Liang Shi furrowed his brows so tightly they could catch a fly.
"Aren’t you just making trouble out of nothing? Everyone relies on their own abilities in business. If they really had a good method, wouldn’t they use it to make money for themselves?" Liang Shi felt that his young wife was being a bit whimsical. As expected, she was still too young and inexperienced to handle matters.
Seeing the disgust in the old man’s eyes, Mrs. Liang He felt a wave of humiliation. She was in the prime of her youth, yet she had married a half-old man. She was constantly guarded against and despised, yet she had to swallow her anger and keep quiet.
"But she’s too selfish. I even brought Xiao Yu to ask for her help. She didn’t just disrespect me; more importantly, she disrespected you, Master.
"As soon as Gu Wenheng arrived, he took control of everything and ordered the subordinate officials around in circles. Many madams have complained to me long ago that Mr. Gu is too much of a perfectionist, often reprimanding the officials over the slightest things.
"He might have even forgotten that you, the Governor, are still here in Yi Province.
"How long have this couple even been here? They’ve already turned Yongchang County upside down. Will there be any room left for the Liang family in the future?"
Liang Shi also felt a vague sense of displeasure in his heart. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have readily agreed when the other aristocratic families came to his door asking to rent shops.
Which of these century-old aristocratic families didn’t have a few century-old shops under their control? He had figured that no matter how good Jin Qianqian was at doing business, she couldn’t possibly be better than these people.
He hadn’t expected these people to be so useless, getting trounced right from the start.
He heard that the Tianle Restaurant was currently clinging on, half-dead.
On the contrary, the Tianfu Restaurant, which had been repeatedly battered before, had joined forces with the Heavenly Blessing Inn to gather all the passing merchants, and their business was booming.
Especially that Soap Workshop. It had appeared overnight, and even he, the governor, had heard of it.
With its momentum of generating a massive daily income, even he was a bit tempted, let alone others.
"Stop spouting nonsense here. Mr. Gu and I are working together for the welfare of the people in this region.
"If you feel that you can’t manage those shops, I’ll have someone sublet them along with the goods inside.
"You just need to manage the backyard well and take good care of our family’s Feiling."
Having navigated the officialdom for so many years, Liang Shi had long become extremely slick in his dealings.
Gu Wenheng had the Emperor’s favor, and based on that alone, Liang Shi couldn’t easily shake him.
He had been in Yi Province for many years, and there had long been no place for him in Shangjing.
In another two years, he would retire with honors, and his offspring were incompetent. Offending Gu Wenheng at this time would not be a wise move.
"Master..."
"Step down," Liang Shi said, looking at her with a cold face. Mrs. Liang He could only turn and leave.
"The short-sightedness of a woman," Liang Shi muttered. He called the Attendant Student waiting outside the door and summoned a few advisors to discuss matters together.
After receiving several madams in succession, Jin Qianqian knew exactly why everyone was coming.
Whether it was for their own dowry shops or their maiden families, these people all wanted to fight for the right to sell soap.
Jin Qianqian had already promised the soap operations for the entire Yongchang County to Hou Cunjin. She took this opportunity to let everyone know.
This made everyone even more depressed. Truth be told, they really couldn’t compare to the Hou family. After all, who else was willing to marry their legitimate daughter to Mr. Gu’s cousin?
When Hou Cunjin had first formed a marriage alliance with the Gu family, these people had all been watching the drama unfold in secret.
Which legitimate eldest daughter of an aristocratic family wasn’t treated as an absolute treasure? Behind their backs, they had discussed how the Hou family was in decline, willing to sacrifice even a legitimate daughter just to cling to Gu Wenheng.
Now, it seemed the Hou family were the smartest ones.
Following quietly behind, the Hou family had gained tangible benefits without making a fuss. If this business continued long-term, it would be all profit and no loss. By comparison, everyone else had been rather short-sighted.
Mrs. Wu had come over today to watch the show after hearing the rumors. Seeing these people walking out one by one with their heads hung low, she felt incredibly smug.
These people had previously mocked her, saying she had married her niece beneath her station just to curry favor with Jin Qianqian.
But now that they saw the benefits, they were filled with regret.
"Mrs. Gu, please rest assured. I will definitely have my brother manage the business well. He won’t embarrass you." Once the others had left, Mrs. Wu smiled and spoke to Jin Qianqian.
"I trust that Master Hou can handle this well." Jin Qianqian was also somewhat glad she had finalized this matter before the new year. Even though these people had come knocking today, she didn’t end up offending anyone.
"I heard that your niece has been staying by your side, except for returning home during those few days around the New Year?" Jin Qianqian asked, feigning curiosity.