Chapter 787: Earning Money for Security

Jingzhe resumed his studies at the Imperial College.

Lu Zhaozhao was able to quietly nurture her pregnancy at home.

The hands of time constantly slid forward, and soon it was the twelfth lunar month.

After the twelfth lunar month comes the New Year, and the entire Tong Huaqiong’s family began to get busy.

They not only had to prepare for the New Year but also for Gu Taohua’s dowry.

Indeed, Shengjing City is deserving of its status as the capital; the New Year’s atmosphere spread from the beginning of winter, and every household started preparing for the New Year starting in the twelfth lunar month.

As a result, business in the shops became especially lively as the twelfth lunar month rolled in.

Taohua Dessert’s daily pastry orders were in short supply, and Jufu Supermarket was crowded with people every day; these two businesses became the hottest shopping spots in Shengjing for the New Year.

Taohua Dessert and Jufu Supermarket virtually became the viral stores of Shengjing.

Tong Huaqiong looked at the endless stream of customers and pondered how to turn the products of her store into an essential New Year tradition.

Just like in later generations, where one must visit certain pastry shops for New Year cake, and certain shops for yuanxiao...

Taohua Dessert’s pastries and Jufu’s clothing, shoes, socks, and couplets will also become a traditional part of Shengjing’s New Year.

In the future, when talking about the New Year, surely it wouldn’t be complete without pastries from Taohua Dessert and shopping for New Year’s goods at Jufu.

To achieve this, Tong Huaqiong put considerable effort into marketing.

This was always her strength.

Since she was the public grandmother of the Grand Prince, it was a promotional angle that should be utilized.

Taohua Dessert featured cakes favored by the Grand Prince, and Jufu had the Emperor inscribe words for them at the request of the Grand Prince. This kind of marketing attracted even more business.

Everybody wanted to taste the pastries that won the Grand Prince’s favor.

Everyone wanted to share in the Emperor’s blessings.

"Master, Young Madam Gao has arrived," Su Qing said upon entering, "She’s waiting in the front hall, saying she’s come to express her gratitude to you and the young lady for saving her life."

The case file concerning Su Qing’s brother had already been retrieved by the Ministry of Justice, and as the case was being reopened, Su Qing had been smiling more recently, and her steps were lighter.

Tong Huaqiong was contemplating which Young Madam Gao it might be; thanks to Su Qing’s elaboration, she realized it was Lu Yiner.

Previously, Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua had rescued Lu Yiner from Su Chengji in an alley. Gao Ming and his mother, Mrs. Bai, had already come to express gratitude, but Lu Yiner hadn’t come yet because she had been frightened and developed a high fever.

Tong Huaqiong had also sent several remedies for Lu Yiner with Gao Ming.

Lu Yiner was sitting and chatting with Gu Taohua. Upon seeing Tong Huaqiong, she bowed respectfully.

Tong Huaqiong assisted her up.

"You look in good spirits," Tong Huaqiong remarked, observing Lu Yiner’s complexion.

Lu Yiner smiled and said, "Thanks to the remedies you gave me."

Tong Huaqiong could tell Lu Yiner was keen on establishing good relations.

Previously, she felt some animosity towards Lu Yiner, but knowing she was being forced by the Lu Family and suffered the consequences, if she now wished to befriend them and was willing, Tong Huaqiong didn’t mind her frequent visits.

"Aunt Tong, Taohua, I have an unworthy request," Lu Yiner mustered the courage to say.

Tong Huaqiong inquired, "What is it you wish to ask? We have just come to Shengjing City and have shallow roots; we might not be able to help."

Tong Huaqiong laid out the harsh words beforehand.

If Lu Yiner’s request was for promoting Gao Ming, it should be best to forget it.

Even though their family had intricate ties with the Grand Prince, Su Chengmin was her son-in-law, they couldn’t interfere with the transfer orders of the Imperial Guard.

If it was borrowing money, they could go to the Tong Family’s Store for low-interest loans.

After all, they were not yet at the level of mutual assistance with Lu Yiner.

As for helping her in the alleyway, it was purely by chance. If Tong Huaqiong encountered any woman being harassed by a lecher in public, she would have assisted, not just Lu Yiner.

Hearing Tong Huaqiong speak this way, Lu Yiner knew she was misunderstood.

She knew Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua were straightforward people and didn’t need to guess their thoughts like when communicating with the Lu Family, so she opened up directly: "At home, only Gao Ming has a monthly salary, and although he earns enough, my parents, brother, and sister are coming to Shengjing in a few days. My brother is talented in study; Gao Ming suggested that my brother stay in Shengjing to study while he supports us. I think it’s improper for my parents’ family to rely on the Gao Family; I can’t even stand straight myself. So I thought about seeking a position in Aunt Tong’s store..."

It’s not just about feeling inferior because her parents’ family relied on the Gao Family; more importantly, Lu Yiner genuinely wished to step out of the grand residence.

She had often observed Gu Taohua near Jufu and Taohua Dessert, after hearing that Su Chengmin was fond of Gu Taohua.

Originally, she thought she would dislike Gu Taohua.

However, she was captivated by Gu Taohua’s boldness in business.

She deeply admired Gu Taohua’s ability to step out and earn money.

The entire Gu Family had many members who could step out and earn, not just Gu Taohua: Chen Sufang, Liu Yueer, and Gu Baishuang were busy in the shops, while Lu Zhaozhao even controlled half of the Lu Family’s stores.

Tong Huaqiong, needless to say, as the head of the Tong Family’s Store, single-handedly established the Tong’s Trading House’s commercial empire.

The Tong Family’s shops not only employed Tong Family women but also other female clerks and pastry chefs. Rumor has it that Tong Huaqiong established a Weaving Workshop in Shengjing, attracting many poor girls to come apply.

She never imagined that women could live in such a way.

Suddenly, Lu Yiner found life in the Su Mansion tiresome.

Her mother, when young, was also capable, collecting herbs in the mountains and working in the fields; half of the family’s income was earned by her mother, making it instrumental for Su Shihang to leave Su Family Village, study in the county, and strive for success in Shengjing.

Her mother could have been like Aunt Tong, taking a different path from Uncle.

But since arriving at the Su Mansion, she lowered herself in every way possible; even so, Su Shihang and Old Mrs. Su never respected her.

She also thought of Yao Family’s eldest daughter-in-law, Lian Hengruo, who, like Tong Huaqiong, came from Ning City and hailed from a merchant family.

Initially, Madame Yao looked down upon her background, but Lian Hengruo could run a store and earn money; financial independence gave her confidence, and now, at the Old Lady’s behest, most of the Yao Family’s fortune was entrusted to Lian Hengruo.

Because Lian Hengruo drove the Yao Mansion to profitability, she walked around with an air of confidence, and even when taking a concubine along, nobody dared speak a word.

Lu Yiner aspired to be like Tong Huaqiong, desired to emulate Gu Taohua, yearned to earn her own silver.

She also wanted to learn from Lian Hengruo by securing herself with wealth.

This way, whether assisting her family or supporting her brother’s studies, she’d have the confidence to do so.

Tong Huaqiong looked at Lu Yiner with surprise.

She really hadn’t expected the delicate Lu Yiner to even think about working in her shop.

"Aunt Tong, I genuinely want to earn money; I’m willing to work diligently," Lu Yiner said. "Before coming to Shengjing, I used to work in the fields with my father and help my mother cook and embroider. After arriving at the Su Mansion, I had to learn and do everything."

Tong Huaqiong asked Lu Yiner, "Besides farming and cooking, what else can you do?"

Farming and cooking skills were not used in their shop.

Lu Yiner thought for a moment, her eyes lighting up as she said, "I can keep accounts. Aunt Tong, when I say I can keep accounts, I don’t mean just counting how much food the family consumed; I can understand ledger books, and spot any incorrect entries at a glance. It’s not boasting; I’ve had a knack for accounting since childhood. Every autumn when our village sold grain, I could calculate prices in a single breath. After coming to Shengjing, learning to read at the Su Mansion has made my bookkeeping even faster."

Tong Huaqiong pondered that accounting was indeed a good skill.

Whether in modern enterprises or in ancient stores, finance was indispensable.

Through financial records, profit and loss points of a store could be identified, and precise calculations for business costs and investment directions could be made.

Lu Yiner, seeing Tong Huaqiong silent, feared she didn’t believe her, and said, "Aunt Tong, if you don’t believe me, you can test me."