Chapter 318: Maternal Aunt

"Thank you, great-uncle." Jiang Yunchu looked at Zhuang Yan, not rising, but her voice was full of respect.

Zhuang Yan laughed heartily; for a child who was always strong, being able to say those thanks was enough.

"I don't care how you are in Jingdu, I don't care if you are a daughter of the Jiang Clan, I don't care if you are the Princess Consort; in Zhuang City, here, you are a child of the Zhuang Clan."

"Yun chu, you were originally just a child."

"Great-uncle doesn't know what you bear, nor how many secrets you have; the Zhuang Clan stands behind you, not because of Miaomiao, but simply because you are Jiang Yunchu."

"Because it's you, the Zhuang Clan is willing to be bound together with you."

Zhuang Yan didn't say the final words, but all the expressed meaning was already clear.

"When Yun chu did not go down to Jiangnan this time, the Zhuang Clan had already made a decision; their own children naturally should be pampered and protected by themselves."

"I..."

For a moment, she seemed to have lost her voice; her throat was hoarse, with an inexplicable sob.

She, how fortunate she is!

"All right, I've already said what needed to be said."

"But..."

"Lustrous Jade Soap, you need to give the Zhuang Clan a larger share..."

Zhuang Yan wore a mournful face; he was nearly being urged to death day by day. Those shop managers and stewards, who used to be extremely respectful to him, now each day seemed ready to raise their eyebrows and glare, as if they were about to rebel.

But with all the output shares in Yun chu's workshop, what could he do?

Seeing her great-uncle's appearance, Jiang Yunchu pressed her lips and smiled; she knew he was afraid of embarrassing her and used this way to defuse the awkwardness.

"Share... I'm afraid it can't be increased..."

At home talk of feelings, in business talk of business.

The pressure in Jingdu is enormous; although output has been increased severalfold and purchase quantities limited, it still can't cope with the fundamental shortage of supply.

Moreover, Lustrous Jade Soap is originally a formula of the Regent Prince's Manor; suddenly coming from Jiangnan into the capital, it has already attracted some people's attention.

They may have suspicions, but they cannot find any evidence.

Furthermore, with the protection of Zhuang City, relying on the relationship between the Zhuang Clan and the Regent Prince's Manor, sharing the formula is not impossible.

Moreover, although this workshop was bought by her, outwardly it has always been the Zhuang Clan's workshop.

"Furthermore, I am testing people's hearts with Lustrous Jade Soap; in two months a new product will be launched, output of Lustrous Jade Soap will be reduced, and the pressure will also ease." Jiang Yunchu said candidly; the plan had long been prepared, and she was satisfied with every aspect of the workshop, thinking she could now relax.

Whether it be people or the workshop, she could now relax.

"New product? Like Lustrous Jade Soap?" Zhuang Yan widened his eyes; he had heard from the second brother that Yun chu had something new here, and he hadn't expected it to be real.

He had no idea that this new thing was not that new thing!

"It is also used for washing hands and face, but with added skincare ingredients, better for the skin, carrying a light fragrance."

"In appearance, it is also more beautiful."

After seeing the flower field, she had already given the new designs to Zhang Lao San; it was worth celebrating that Ze also took a set of drawings away, but whether he could actually make something for herself, she didn't know.

One must say, since Ze settled in the Wang Fu, he has been unseen all day; even I, considering myself part of the Wang Fu, have never encountered that person.

They have always stayed out of each other's affairs; as long as they don't cause trouble for the Wang Fu, she pretends not to know.

But...

I always feel that Jiang Wen Fu and Ze are quite similar.

When I first saw Jiang Wen Fu, I felt a sense of familiarity; later Ze came to get the drawings, and I confirmed where that feeling of familiarity came from.

Their eyebrows and eyes bear some resemblance.

"I am actually quite looking forward to it; then I will press down on the people below, but if you are short of staff here, shall I arrange some for you?"

"Don't overthink it; I'll give you the deed of sale, mainly because the pressure is too great."

Yun chu's workshop and the Zhuang Clan's workshop are naturally different, but the Zhuang Clan never thought of prying into Yun chu's formula; it's just that there are too few people, output is low, the shop's goods can't meet demand, and the pressure is too great.

The people below are each about to rebel; the pressure can be imagined.

"Let me think; I won't add people for now, but I need loyal people."

As for people, she really has a headache.

She needs loyal people; most importantly, Jingdu also needs loyal people.

And the merchant guilds in Jingdu are all controlled by scheming individuals; finding reliable people for her is extremely difficult.

Simply put, she wants to bring a batch of people from Jiangnan into the capital.

Act covertly.

"What are your demands?" Zhuang Yan asked.

"Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty!"

The three loyalties indicate that gender and age are unrestricted; as long as one is loyal.

Zhuang Yan's eyes deepened; loyalty—how easy is that to speak of?

"I'll try to find them."

"Yun chu, you need to cultivate your own people."

It's not that the Zhuang Clan can't provide, but after all there is some separation; the Zhuang Clan mixing in would not be good in the long run.

Rather than that, it's better for Yun chu to cultivate her own people; only then will they be truly loyal to her.

Jiang Yunchu shook her head: "My current situation is difficult."

She travels back and forth between the two places; on the road it takes nearly half a month, Jingdu affairs need handling, the children need care, and on the Jiangnan side she must oversee the workshop and the growth of the crops.

Although Zhuang City has Han Bing, there are still many inconvenient places.

This conversation, for Jiang Yunchu, broke some balances and also let her decide to let go and act.

"Go home."

Suddenly Jiang Yunchu stood up, then went to the workshop and took a few white porcelain boxes. The boxes were palm-sized, very thin, very thin, with no colored paintings or patterns on them—just simple white porcelain boxes, showing no distinctive features.

「What is this? 」

Seeing her careful appearance, Zhuang Yan couldn't restrain curiosity.

Jiang Yunchu blinked, then burst out laughing, 「This is my secret to making a fortune。」

「Making a fortune? 」

「Secret? 」

He understood each word, but put together, how could he not understand?

However…

Soon, the doubts were cleared.

After finishing dinner, Jiang Yunchu stood up, looked at Zhuang Yan and Zhuang Wei, and said, 「I've been in the Zhuang Mansion for so long that, aside from seeing the two aunts on the first day, I haven't seen them again。」

「I know this is because of my identity; the two uncles deliberately arranged it, fearing that my identity would be leaked。」

「Also afraid I would overthink things, and later become estranged from the Zhuang Clan。」

「However…」

「We should meet after all; today I brought the workshop's new product and invite the two aunts to try it out—how does that sound？」

She is not a foolish person; having seen them once, ever since she has been in the Zhuang Mansion she has never seen the two aunts again, not even the children of the eldest and second uncles.

How could she not know what's going on?

「All right, Yun chu wants to meet, then let's meet. 」 Madam Zhuang looked at Yun chu with relief and gently patted her hand.

They also feared the child would overthink; since she wants to meet, let's just meet.

Those two daughters-in-law are sensible people, always doting on Miaomiao; they had long wanted to meet Yun chu, but never expected Yun chu to be the one to bring it up.