Chapter 273: Next year, I will bring my great aunt home

Madam Zhuang's facial expression didn't change; she gently rubbed Jiang Yunchu's cheek.

You don't need to watch my expression; I'm not angry.

Seeing the little girl's inquisitive gaze, Madam Zhuang laughed and cried at once; having lived to this age, what is there she can't let go of?

The better a person is, the more she should feel at ease.

Hearing your description, I can't wait to meet this person.

Madam Zhuang smiled cheerfully, already showing a hint of anticipation on her face.

What kind of hero could make this spirited lass praise him so highly?

But...

Jiang Yunchu's words suddenly trailed off.

What's wrong?" Madam Zhuang wondered, puzzled, how did it suddenly take a turn?

But my second aunt isn't thoughtful, doesn't act coquettish, and can't manage a shop.

She recalled her great aunt's complaints and couldn't help laughing.

Looks like there's something funny again." Madam Zhuang smiled, wearing an expectant look.

After my second aunt married, she threw her dowry shop entirely to my great aunt, letting the great aunt help manage it...

And she also said...

She lightly coughed twice, imitating her second aunt's voice.

Anyway, I don't understand; if I keep it I'll lose money, so I might as well give it to my older sister-in-law—losing is fine.

After she said that, everyone in the room burst out laughing.

Even Han Bing, seeing Jiang Yunchu's smiling face like a flower, felt a hint of warmth in his eyes.

Really?" After Madam Zhuang finished laughing, she couldn't help confirming.

That's a shop, that's a dowry—how could that big-hearted girl think that way?

Jiang Yunchu nodded, 'These were told to me by my great aunt; they're definitely not wrong.'

Upon hearing that, Madam Zhuang couldn't help laughing.

With such a mother-in-law and such sisters-in-law, how could they not get along?

Miaomiao isn't a troublemaker; though she's been clever and mischievous since childhood, liking to tease people, it's always others who provoke her first. When not provoked, she's a soft, cute cat; only when provoked does she reveal her sharp claws.

My great uncle appears gentle and jade-like, occasionally a bit blunt, with no ill intent.

In the courtyard, there's only my great aunt as the lady of the house—no concubines, no mistresses, nothing else.

The two sisters who married into Jiangnan have surely been seen by the maternal grandmother, and there are four children afterward.

Zi Wei is gentle and tranquil, giving off an air of detachment from worldly affairs, seeming indifferent to everything, yet she knows everything in her heart.

As for Nai Xin, she has a pair of eyes that can see through mist, always able to perceive the essence behind appearances; she's very clever.

Kang Wen...

He likes martial arts; his greatest goal is to go onto the battlefield and become a vanguard soldier.

Kang Wu is skilled at scheming; his goal is to stabilize the court, to be everyone's rear support—when he's there, they are there.

When speaking of the children, Jiang Yunchu's eyes unconsciously fill with a smile that cannot be erased, her gaze sparkling with light.

Even more so than when she speaks of her uncles and aunts, her feelings grow deeper.

Hide?

Possible.

But Jiang Yunchu doesn't want to hide, especially before these two elders; they merely miss their own children.

Yun chu, thank you.

Elder Master Zhuang sighed, his gaze at Jiang Yunchu also very gentle, the usual gentleness of an elder toward juniors.

Yun chu shook her head, 'Isn't this what I should be doing?'

I can't guarantee anything, but if...

Next year, I will bring my great aunt home.

She lifted her head; if there were something afterward, she didn't elaborate, and also couldn't say.

If she walks out of the maze, if she can carve out a patch of sky here, she will bring her great aunt home.

Good, having your words, we are content.

Elder Master Zhuang smiled, his smile reaching his eyes, with no concealed emotions.

Jiang Yunchu shook her head, 'I will accomplish it.'

Outside the house, two people crouched under a tree, one holding a blade of grass in his hand, both watching the courtyard gate.

Just a moment ago we were laughing loudly; why aren't we laughing now?

You're asking me?" Zhuang Wei helplessly twitched the corner of his mouth, too lazy to bother with him.

But inwardly he was also puzzled, wondering what was said; it's already been an hour, why hasn't he come out yet?

Four people were in the room, but only three were constantly chatting, asking and answering, getting along harmoniously.

Your Lustrous Jade Soap—I've seen it; it's a good thing.

Nowadays, all the great clans are researching the formula, but so far none have succeeded, of course including our Zhuang Clan.

Elder Master Zhuang, on the other hand, is a very frank person.

Jiang Yunchu pursed her lips and smiled; this thing looks simple, but it has extremely high demands for proportion, motion, and heat control.

Wanting to research the formula oneself and actually succeed is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

This time I came, I also wanted to open a workshop.

When talking about business, Jiang Yunchu becomes much more serious; no longer like a child, she sits upright, her entire demeanor changes, carrying a faint aura of authority.

"Oh?"

Elder Master Zhuang's eyes lit up, and his opinion of Jiang Yunchu rose a few notches.

"I now need to accumulate the foundation of Jiangnan, and under another pretext, as a merchant, take over Jingdu." Jiang Yunchu's eyes narrowed as she lightly spoke of her plan.

She cannot speak of the current imperial court situation.

However, the ideas in her mind can be spoken of: buying land to plant flowers, buying land to plant fruit, buying manors to stockpile grain, and undertaking two workshops.

"Skincare products?"

Madam Zhuang listened and listened, hearing many fresh terms; after thinking it over, she could still grasp the meaning, but what exactly are these skincare products?

"We women naturally care about our appearance; I plan to create a series of medicinal cosmetics, floral cosmetics, and decorative cosmetics."

"However, it's still just a prototype; it needs to be gradually perfected bit by bit."

Throughout history, what kind of money is the easiest to earn?

That must be women's money; women love beauty, not for others, but for themselves.

A woman beautifies herself to please others; it would be better if she only pleased herself.

"How interesting." Madam Zhuang smiled; the Zhuang Clan also has a rouge and powder workshop, but it is not the clan's main focus.

The Zhuang Clan's main focus is cloth and finished garments.

The Zhuang Clan's cloth is presented as tribute every year.

Very few have such an honor.

"The Zhuang Clan has a rouge and powder workshop; its people are the clan's elders. If you can't find a place, just take it over directly."

"If you use the people, I'll let you keep them, and I'll directly give you the indenture contracts."

"If you don't want them, the Zhuang Clan has other workshop arrangements, and you needn't worry."

Elder Master Zhuang thought: in this place, finding a workshop is not easy either; the people here are skilled in business, and the workshops here—finding a suitable one requires great effort.

Moreover, the Zhuang Clan never relied on rouge and powder; those workshops are in a half-dead state, so it would be better to give them to Yun chu, saving her time.