Chapter 788: Training at the Pig Farm

Tong Huaqiong smiled.

She asked Taohua to bring over an accounting book for Lu Yiner to review.

Since she was here for a job application, she needed an interview.

Lu Yiner took the book and picked up the abacus on the table, clicking away.

Immersed in work, Lu Yiner showed no sign of delicacy, appearing very capable and confident.

"All done."

Lu Yiner smiled, patting the book.

She told Tong Huaqiong that there were two mistakes in the accounting book.

"Are you sure?" Tong Huaqiong asked.

Lu Yiner raised her head and said, "I’m absolutely not mistaken."

Her sharp little face was filled with pride.

Tong Huaqiong said, "You’ve passed the accounting skills test."

Lu Yiner beamed with joy and asked eagerly, "So can I assist Aunt Tong at work now?"

Tong Huaqiong sighed and said, "Being good at accounting is just the first step. It’s good you want to earn money, but do your mother-in-law and Gao Ming support you? You have to know that many men would rather have their women stay at home than have them exposed to the world doing business; even families on the verge of starvation would rather sell their daughters to wealthy families as servants than let them learn a trade in a shop."

"You’ve only seen that we’ve succeeded in business and earned money, but not the pressure of social gossip we endure. If your mother-in-law and Gao Ming agree to let you work, and if you can withstand outsider gossip, our shop welcomes you."

Through the test earlier, it’s clear that Lu Yiner is indeed a rare talent in accounting.

However, as Tong Huaqiong said, work requires not only skill but also strong pressure resistance and family support.

The Gao Family is not like the Luo Family of Qinghe Bay; Gao Ming and the Bai Family do not treat their daughters-in-law harshly like Luo Fugui and his wife, who could force Chun Ni and Mrs. Cao to work on the pig farm.

She couldn’t possibly encourage Lu Yiner to divorce just because Gao Ming and the Bai Family opposed her working, could she?

Lu Yiner said with a smile, "Aunt Tong, I understand everything you’ve said. I’ve already discussed this with my husband and my mother-in-law before coming. They both said to follow my decision."

Actually, when Gao Ming and Mrs. Bai heard she wanted to work at Tong Huaqiong’s shop, they opposed it.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to see her in public; they just felt she hadn’t enjoyed the good life long enough after marrying Gao Ming and now wanted to earn money for the family.

Both mother and son felt guilty towards Lu Yiner.

Patiently, Lu Yiner explained that Taohua, who was her age, could manage a large shop and had a knack for earning money; even the wife of the Grand Prince’s teacher ran a pig farm. She felt no less competent than others and wanted to showcase her talents and make money in the process.

While Gao Ming hesitated, Mrs. Bai made the decision to support.

Mrs. Bai was moved by Taohua’s ability to manage a large shop and earn money, thinking of her own life, having lost her husband in battle, and being able to raise Gao Ming with help from Mrs. Min and the Mighty General.

Being a widow as well, she thought that if she had been more like Tong Huaqiong, even just setting up a small food stall on the street, life might have been smoother.

But she had always been too concerned about saving face.

Now that her daughter-in-law wanted to follow Tong Huaqiong into business, it was a good thing.

Since Lu Yiner said her family supports her, Tong Huaqiong had no further concerns.

Tong Huaqiong said, "My weaving workshop is under preparation. You can help me manage the workshop later. But since you haven’t run a business before, you can start training with Taohua and Baishuang at Taohua Dessert and Jufu Supermarket first. By rotating through each position, you’ll understand what it’s like to run a business and manage a shop."

Lu Yiner’s eyes lit up, and she rubbed her hands excitedly, saying, "Then I’ll call you Boss and Taohua Young Master in the future."

This was the beginning of her work mode.

"A word of caution: if you can’t endure hardships or don’t comply with shop management, I won’t continue to employ you," Tong Huaqiong said.

Lu Yiner said, "I understand. Don’t worry, Aunt Tong, I can handle any dirty or tough work."

Even promoting a senior maid in the mansion requires evaluation, let alone getting involved in business.

Tong Pandi chimed in, "Don’t speak too soon. Since you’ll be rotating in the shop, shouldn’t you also rotate at my pig farm?"

Normally, at the mention of a pig farm, most would avoid it swiftly, but Lu Yiner said, "Sure, I’ll rotate. Don’t underestimate me, Sister Pandi. I’ve lived in the village until I was twelve, feeding pigs and cleaning pigsties all along."

Tong Pandi said, "I just received over a hundred piglets at the pig farm and urgently need manpower. If you need to hire helpers and buy pig fodder and corn, why don’t you start by helping out at the pig farm?"

Tong Pandi was worried as the pig farm was most shorthanded.

Jufu Supermarket and Taohua Dessert were already established businesses.

The pig farm being a fresh start made it the best place for rigorous training.

Lu Yiner nodded and said, "Alright. I’ll start from the pig farm then."

The pig farm was a good place.

Lu Yiner planned to have her parents open a butcher shop.

She heard that the pork from the pigs raised by Tong Huaqiong in Ning City had a peculiar fragrance and demand for the pork at meat shops collaborating with Tong Huaqiong’s pig farm always exceeded supply.

That way, wouldn’t her parents’ butcher shop be thriving by seizing the opportunity early?

After agreeing upon her work schedule with Tong Pandi, Tong Huaqiong invited her to a meal, and later that evening, Gao Ming personally came to pick her up home.

"My dear, Aunt Tong agreed that I’ll soon be able to learn business skills with her. I can’t start by managing a shop from the get-go, so I’ll first train with Sister Pandi at the pig farm, then move on to Taohua Dessert and Jufu Supermarket. Once I’m thoroughly familiar, I’ll work at the weaving workshop as a steward," an excited Lu Yiner chatted with Gao Ming on the way back.

"Pig farm?"

His wife working at a pig farm?

Seeing her enthusiasm, Gao Ming felt too embarrassed to object.

Lu Yiner said, "Yes, the pig farm, why not? It’s not like I haven’t raised pigs before. Even Sister Pandi, who is married to the Grand Prince’s teacher, raises pigs, so why can’t I? Don’t underestimate pig farming, it’s full of knowledge."

Gao Ming: "..."

What kind of magic does Aunt Tong have, that his wife entered the money-making mindset after just one visit?

...

The next day, the Lin Family sent an invitation to Lin Miss Lin’s wedding to Tong Huaqiong.

Miss Lin is getting married.

It was said that at the beginning of the year, the two most gossiped-about marriages in Shengjing were being widely discussed, one being the marriage of the esteemed Miss Lin and the other was the marriage of Commandery Princess Ming Yue.

One was a noble family’s daughter, the other a royal scion.

Yet both marrying beneath their status aroused much speculation about the reasons.

There are no secrets in the world, and many knew the inside story.

For Tong Huaqiong, the marriages of these two going differently from the last lifetime was hugely beneficial for her and her two sons.

Gu Jingzhe had crossed paths with Commandery Princess Ming Yue, while Gu Dashu had never even met Miss Lin.

Grasping the invitation, Tong Huaqiong promised to attend the wedding.

Especially since the Lin Family entrusted Jufu Supermarket with arranging Miss Lin’s dowry, she wasn’t going to miss it.