Chapter 199: The imperial lord indeed took a dislike to Lu Yuan and wanted to give Lu Yuan one

This matter was thus decided.

There are two shops at home; tomorrow Lu Yuan will go to the Workshop Market Management Office.

Tell them to take back one of the shops.

It won't be rented out next month.

Then have Liu Shoucai do the renovation for me.

Prepare this month, open for business next month.

As for the shop's business style, it could actually be turned into a made-to-order model.

Just put a few sample items inside the house first.

Just new styles, good-looking types of clothing.

When someone comes in to buy, if they like a style they say so, then we measure the customer's size on the spot and then make it.

Lu Yuan didn't want his wife's shop to become that kind of low-margin, high-volume store where anyone, person or dog, could come buy clothes.

Such a low-margin, high-volume store would tire his wife out.

It's really unnecessary.

To be frank, Lu Yuan just sees this as a big fun toy to make his wife happy.

He also doesn't expect the shop to earn him much money.

Lu Yuan will have plenty of money in the future.

He basically doesn't care how much money one shop can earn him.

Just let his wife run it for fun, rather than staying idle at home.

After all, if his wife doesn't work outside in the future, staying home would just mean busy with laundry, cooking, and such.

In seven or eight years, or ten plus years, she'd probably end up like the other aunties in the courtyard.

That's not good.

Going out to be a shopkeeper would also help improve himself.

Anyway, the shop isn't tiring, and there's no need to worry about stocking inventory.

Besides, the shop is his own, so there's no rent or other costs.

Lu Yuan just thought of it as finding a proper place for his wife to idle away.

Of course, the workers at the Threshing Machine Factory are also very idle.

But the problem is, although the Threshing Machine Factory is idle, you still have to clock in to work every day, so only Sunday is free.

But running one's own shop is different.

What if we get up at eight or nine in the morning, have lunch, then open the door?

On any day we don't feel like going out, we can just rest at home without needing to ask anyone for leave!

Moreover, as of now, my wife's drafts of these clothes are really not bad~

My wife still has a bit of talent.

Who knows, she might even come up with something noteworthy~

And right now, there are still seven or eight days until next month's payday.

Just wait until my wife finishes these seven or eight days, then come home to rest.

After settling this matter, Su Liyan got off her husband and went to bring him his meal.

Lu Yuan glanced at his wife's drafts, felt inspired, and also drew a few.

When the meal was brought up, Lu Yuan and his wife then ate.

It's already quite late.

It's already eight-thirty at night.

The people in the Siheyuan were also planning to wash their feet and go to bed.

And at that moment, Lu Yuan and Su Liyan heard a clang-clang sound from outside.

Soon after, they heard Pang Kaige shouting somewhere.

Kicking up a fuss again?

Pang Kaige's temper is really getting worse and worse; he starts a fuss every few days.

The key is, right? Before, when they kicked up a fuss, you could still blame Yulan Meizi for not knowing how to do things.

But now it's long been different from before.

Yulan Meizi can do any job now, and doesn't slack off.

How come they're still kicking up a fuss every day?

Su Liyan, who was a bit scared by the noise, leaned into her husband's embrace and turned to look toward Pang Kaige's house, saying:

"Kaige brother's temper has recently been not so good…"

Lu Yuan nodded but didn't say anything.

What's wrong with his temper?

He's deliberately looking for trouble.

But before, when he looked for trouble, it was at most a small quarrel.

But why is the noise so loud today?

What exactly did Yulan Meizi do to provoke Pang Kaige?

And from the noise, it sounds like Yulan Meizi's voice has also gotten louder.

Lu Yuan and Su Liyan didn't plan to go out and look, but the commotion from Pang Kaige's house kept getting louder.

The other residents in the courtyard all came out wearing their clothes.

Those who heard the commotion in the middle courtyard called those in the front courtyard; in a moment, the back courtyard was packed with people.

Lu Yuan usually loves to watch the excitement; whenever there's some excitement somewhere, he can really skip his meals and just go watch the fun first.

But today, Lu Yuan isn't just missing his wife, is he?

He thought about finishing his meal and then hurrying to bed to sleep.

But, Lu Yuan can't just ignore these things.

Well, the onlookers have all been summoned.

"Oh dear, Lu Yuan, why aren't you coming out yet?"

Sun Erniang knocked on the window and said:

Lu Yuan, meanwhile, raised the half steamed bun in his hand and said:

"I'm just having a meal."

Sun Erniang hurriedly called out:

"What are you still eating for? Hurry up and come out—the couple's started arguing, and the three elders in the courtyard are going to settle things; you need to come out and say a few words too."

Hearing this, Lu Yuan pursed his lips and said, "Well, who made us Lord Lu?"

With the couple in the courtyard having gotten into this situation, shouldn't we, Lord Lu, also come out to have a look?

Immediately, Lu Yuan put down his chopsticks and the steamed bun in his hand and walked out.

Is the quarrel quite serious?

As soon as Lu Yuan opened the door, the back courtyard was already packed with people.

Wang Yulan and Pang Kaige were still arguing.

I didn't quite catch what was being said inside the house earlier, but now I understand.

It seems to be about getting Pang Kaige to go to the hospital for a check-up.

This time, Wang Yulan's fuss is also big.

After all, no matter how you say it, Wang Yulan spent the first twenty years of her life as a young lady who lived in luxury.

She still has a bit of that young lady's temper.

Before this, serving Pang Kaige was just her duty as a wife; when Pang Kaige occasionally scolded her or snapped at her, Wang Yulan would just put up with it.

But having a child is a major matter.

This isn't something that can be settled by Pang Kaige just baring his teeth and grinning.

This matter is similar to what Lu Yuan had thought before; Wang Yulan wants Pang Kaige to go to the hospital for a check-up as well.

How could Pang Kaige possibly be willing to do something so embarrassing?

Well, the two of them started arguing at home.

But this time, Wang Yulan couldn't hold back either; raising her voice, she drew everyone in the courtyard over.

As soon as Lu Yuan came out, everyone seeing him immediately made way.

Although everyone thinks that Lu Yuan, this baron, is useless—just that the Imperial Court gives him an extra two hundred coins each year.

But a lord is a lord; there's still a difference between him and us ordinary folk.

Like the three elders in the courtyard, they are indeed the three managers chosen by the residents themselves.

But this sort of thing is only recognized by the people in the courtyard; if it really were to go outside—for example, if the matter blew up and the government offices got involved—

Then the officials wouldn't listen to what those three elders say; they'd have to listen to what Lu Yuan says.

Who made Lu Yuan a lord?

Lu Yuan walked to the front of the crowd and saw at that moment the three elders sitting around a table, while Wang Yulan and Pang Kaige stood before those three elders.

Wow, this feels a bit like a government office hearing a case.

Lu Yuan had just steadied himself and hadn't said anything yet when a coat was draped over his shoulders from behind.

Lu Yuan turned his head and saw his wife standing right beside him, her soft little hand gripping his.

"First elder, do you think I'm wrong about this? There's nothing shameful about it; getting checked up isn't a big deal, and if there's a problem, treating it early is better, isn't it?"

Wang Yulan, her eyes red and voice choked with tears, looked at the first elder and said:

However, Wang Yulan hadn't finished speaking when Pang Kaige gritted his teeth and shouted:

"What could possibly be wrong with me? We've only just gotten married—there are plenty of couples who've been married two or three years and still have no children."

"It's only been a few months—what's the rush?!"

"Don't you know I'm busy outside every day? When I come home I don't even attend to anyone—I just grumble about these trivial matters!"

The two of them argued back and forth in front of everyone.

Finally, the three elders also hurriedly stepped forward to speak.

For such household matters, the three elders' way of handling things has always been to compromise.

They just said that when Pang Kaige has free time, he should go get checked out.

After saying that, the three elders actually glanced at Lu Yuan again.

If things were normal, Lu Yuan would definitely have to come out and say a few words.

But…

Lu Yuan knew Pang Kaige's specific situation.

So, Lu Yuan couldn't be bothered to say anything.

Well then, to speak frankly…

Lu Yuan was still thinking…

During this time, Wang Yulan had better not really be pregnant!

After all, Lu Yuan had already figured out that if Pang Kaige were to dump Wang Yulan in the future, he intended to match Wang Yulan up with Kou Yang.

By that time, if Yulanmeizi gets pregnant.

That would be a lot of trouble.

By then Pang Kaige will have gone over to that little trollop, smug enough to have a child.

Even if the child follows Pang Kaige, having such a stepmother will make life hard.

If Yulanmeizi were to bring it herself.

Could Lu Yuan still have Kou Yang raise Pang Kaige's child?

This is really unfair to Kou Yang.

Kou Yang is an honest person; Lu Yuan must not bully honest people!

So, that's how it will be.

However, Pang Kaige is off somewhere tinkering with who knows what, looking quite full of himself.

Having been scolded by the three elders before, even if he was still dissatisfied, he could only nod at the time, and then...

But now Pang Kaige has grown horns.

Seeing that the three elders in the courtyard also wanted him to look into it, he immediately went back inside, put on his coat, grabbed a small bag, and left straight away.

He didn't stay in the courtyard.

This scene had the people in the courtyard clicking their tongues repeatedly.

Lu Yuan glanced for a moment, then led his wife back home.

Looking at how things are, it won't be long before Pang Kaige divorces Yulanmeizi.

After returning home, Su Liyan heated the foot-washing water, brought it to the bedside, knelt down, and washed Lu Yuan's feet.

Lu Yuan meanwhile sat on the bedside with a small notebook, looking at the gift list his wife had recorded today.

There are quite a few people.

But among them, there aren't any names of high officials.

Although Lu Yuan doesn't really get involved in court affairs, he still knows the names of some ministers and vice ministers.

After all, he's been at Gu Qingwan's side every day for the past two months, so it's hard not to hear.

It's also possible that these people sent someone to deliver them.

Lu Yuan will not directly give this list to Gu Qingwan.

As the saying goes, 'don't strike a smiling face'; after all, they came bearing gifts.

Lu Yuan certainly wouldn't stoop to that.

But he still wants Su Liyan to say something, so that these people won't come to his home.

After Lu Yuan and his wife finished washing up, they immediately drew the curtains and turned off the light.

Then.

Gallop forth, whip in hand!

……

Seven days later.

Another grand court assembly.

Gu Qingwan, wearing the imperial robes, was seated in the Hall of Great Peace.

During these seven days, another major event occurred.

Little Green Mountain discovered a spirit power ore deposit.

Given the Great Zhou Dynasty's current technology, it is still unable to fully survey the situation.

But the spirit power ore here at Little Green Mountain yields a daily output of spirit power cores equal to that of the two largest spirit power mines of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Before Little Green Mountain, the Great Zhou Dynasty had a total of two spirit power mines.

One is located in the far north of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The other is in an eastern coastal province.

Besides these, the Great Zhou Dynasty has no other spirit power mines.

And now the spirit power ore at Little Green Mountain has output comparable to those two mines.

This is absolutely a great joy.

It is a great joy that can be mentioned in the same breath as the railway!

After all, given the Great Zhou Dynasty's current situation, all major heavy industry and its drive come from spirit power cores.

Of course, a steam engine has now appeared as well.

But this steam train is also made by the heavy industry driven by spirit power cores.

These spirit power cores are indeed precious.

If the steam engine is considered the future, then for now we still need to rely on spirit power cores.

"Now, whether it's the steam train or the spirit power ore of Little Green Mountain, this is heaven's blessing upon our Great Zhou."

"Surely, in the near future, under the Emperor's leadership, the Great Zhou Dynasty will surely enjoy prosperity and peace, with phoenixes leading their chicks."

The Ministry of Rites officials below have already been speaking auspicious words.

Gu Qingwan, seated upon the imperial throne, had little expression on her face; what she was thinking was, 'What heaven's blessing upon our Great Zhou?'

It is clearly Lu Yuan who blesses our Great Zhou.

After the Ministry of Rites officials had spoken a few auspicious phrases, they continued to talk about such auspicious events, wondering whether they should create an auspicious sign to announce to the world.

This is not just about boasting of great achievements.

These things are also meant to increase the happiness of the Great Zhou Dynasty's people.

After all, within this week the Great Zhou Dynasty has both a train and spirit power ore.

Once these things are spoken of, all the people under heaven will surely look forward to the future.

All of this is necessary.

After thinking a bit, Gu Qingwan said:

「This matter naturally should be announced to the world, but as for auspicious signs, forget it—previous dynasties fabricated so many auspicious signs, yet the people no longer believe them.

"Why bother doing something that everyone knows is fake?"

So-called auspicious sign fabrication, for example, a stone tablet suddenly appears on some mountain, inscribed with how the Great Zhou Dynasty will be.

And the current emperor is likewise...

Gu Qingwan really dislikes this kind of deceitful fabrication.

Afterward, Gu Qingwan then said:

"As for auspicious signs, from now on we shouldn't mention them again."

"Officials, if you have matters, present them; if not, retire from court."

Today Lu Yuan took Su Liyan to the Threshing Machine Factory to handle paperwork; from now on Su Liyan won't go to work.

To celebrate this, Lu Yuan's family will set out a table at noon.

It's already past nine in the morning; if we leave court early, tidy up here, we can still get there early to help cook.

Just as Gu Qingwan was about to retire from court.

Gu Qingwan suddenly remembered something, then said:

"Besides, a few days ago when the train was invented, that very night someone ran to Lu Yuan's home to give a gift—did that happen?"

And after Gu Qingwan finished speaking.

The cabinet officials all felt delighted.

Here they come!!

This imperial lord indeed has taken a dislike to Lu Yuan; he's about to give Lu Yuan a show of force!!

Thanks to Old Brother Keze for a 500 and an 834 book-coin reward, thank you very much~

Thanks to A Quan, book friend 202211 Old Brother for a 100 book-coin reward, thank you very much~

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(End of chapter)