mtl008 Chapter 207
Chapter 207
Ye Yunniang decided not to go out and to hide at home for a while.At home, she spent time with Yuanyuan and taught Shushu needlework.
Seeing Zhou Yunluo studying, Shushu wanted to learn too.
Cai Damei had no time, so Ye Yunniang used her free time to teach Shushu.
She taught her how to thread a needle and practice sewing with scraps of cloth... just as Cai Damei had taught Ye Yunniang when she was a child.
When Zhou Yunluo heard that Shushu was learning needlework from Ye Yunniang, she also ran to the Jiang family and said she wanted to join them.
Though she claimed she was there to learn, once Zhou Yunluo arrived, she just took Shushu running around to play.
Faced with Ye Yunniang's urging, Zhou Yunluo argued with perfect assurance.
She was a titled princess, and Prince Jing's Mansion had plenty of properties. She was not short of money to spend.
Her mother had passed down her excellent aptitude to her.
Zhou Yunluo had practiced martial arts since childhood. With her current skills, fighting three or four grown men alone was not a problem.
"Learning needlework will help you manage a household and please your future husband." To Zhou Yunluo, these words were nothing but nonsense.
Manage the household? What were housekeepers for, then? She only needed to manage the housekeeper.
Please her husband? What a joke. Her husband should be the one pleasing her.
If Zhou Yunluo's husband dared to fool around outside, it just meant he hadn't been beaten enough.
A few more beatings, and their marriage would surely be harmonious.
"Well said, Sister!" Cai Shuyi clapped her hands.
Zhou Yunluo tilted her chin up, looking very proud.
"What happy things are you talking about? Tell me, let me hear it too," Tong Tiemei walked over.
"Auntie, we were talking about..."
Zhou Yunluo suddenly covered Cai Shuyi's mouth.
"We were saying how beautiful the flowers in the garden are. Come on, Shushu, let Sister take you to see them." Zhou Yunluo scooped Cai Shuyi up into her arms and ran toward the garden. At the same time, she didn't forget to shoot Ye Yunniang a look, signaling her to stop her mother.
Tong Tiemei watched the retreating figures of her daughter and niece and shook her head.
Did they really think her ears were just for decoration? She had heard everything they said.
"Yunniang greets the Princess Consort," Ye Yunniang stepped forward and curtsied.
Tong Tiemei reached out to help Ye Yunniang up and presented her with a generous gift.
Ye Yunniang was puzzled. "Princess Consort, what is the meaning of this?"
"I always thought I was a good mother. I thought I taught Xiao Mo very well."
Saying this, Tong Tiemei became a little emotional. She had never imagined that the matter between her and Bao Shao would bring such deep hurt to Tong Mo.
Ye Yunniang handed her a handkerchief.
Tong Tiemei took it and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Yunniang, thank you for awakening Xiao Mo," Tong Tiemei thanked her sincerely.
Ye Yunniang accepted Tong Tiemei's gratitude, but declined the generous gift.
She didn't feel she had done anything special.
"I even feel this is too little," Tong Tiemei insisted that Ye Yunniang take it.
"How about the Princess Consort exchanges this for silver for me instead?" Ye Yunniang suggested.
"Are you short on silver?" Tong Tiemei began calculating the silver she had on hand.
Ye Yunniang was not short on silver; she just thought about what she wanted to do.
Ye Yunniang had been pondering what kind of work she should pursue.
Just now, Zhou Yunluo had said that with her good family background and strong abilities, she didn't need to learn needlework to add to her perfection.
Ye Yunniang thought of her own childhood.
When Ye Yunniang was young, she wanted to learn, but her stepmother wouldn't let her. It was Cai Damei who paid to hire an embroiderer to teach her.
Ye Yunniang cherished the opportunity and studied hard.
Because of her excellent embroidery skills, Ye Yunniang's life in her maiden home had been a bit easier.
Even after going to Jiangcheng and entering the Jiang Manor, embroidery had brought Ye Yunniang benefits.
Putting herself in others' shoes, Ye Yunniang thought about opening a learning place to teach girls needlework, much like running an academy.
It would give helpless girls a skill to rely on, making their future lives a bit easier.
"Your idea is very good," Tong Tiemei agreed. She had traveled to many places in her youth and knew how difficult life was for girls from poor families.
"Ye Yunniang, let's do something big."
"Big?"
"Yes. Not just teaching needlework, but also teaching them culinary arts, weaving, accounting, medicine..."
Ye Yunniang followed Tong Tiemei's words and imagined the academy.
"No, that would require too much money and personnel."
What Ye Yunniang had in mind was simply buying a small courtyard and finding one or two embroiderers willing to teach.
They would select a dozen or so dexterous girls at a time and teach them needlework.
The expenses wouldn't be large, and her money could last a long time.
"We need to find a helper."
"A helper?"
"Zhong Zhaoli."
Ye Yunniang hesitated. She really didn't want to have any more contact with Zhong Zhaoli and Tong Mo; she was afraid of those two.
Tong Tiemei saw Ye Yunniang's concern and assured her.
She had already spoken with Jiang Mingzhe and Ye Yunniang.
They would handle their own relationship matters themselves and would not be allowed to involve Ye Yunniang again.
Speaking of this, Tong Tiemei added one more thing.
"I told Zhaoli not to give in and agree to Xiao Mo too easily. She must test Xiao Mo and vent the anger in her heart."
Ye Yunniang nodded in agreement.
After Tong Tiemei finished talking about Tong Mo, she brought up Bao Min.
Bao Min was returning to Jiangcheng.
When Cai Damei returned home in the evening, Ye Yunniang told her about Bao Min returning to Jiangcheng.
"I know." Bao Min had come to see Cai Damei before he left.
"Madam, do I still have a chance?"
"No." Cai Damei answered decisively. She had given Bao Min a chance, but he hadn't cherished it.
Now, their relationship was limited solely to Shushu.
Bao Min was not surprised by Cai Damei's answer.
He recalled Jiang Mingzhe's words.
"Bao Min, you cannot calculate feelings. You will regret it."
"I won't." At that time, relying on his calculations, Bao Min had held Cai Damei in his arms.
He believed that calculation could win him everything.
Only now did he understand that calculation could win him a moment, but not a lifetime.
Unfortunately, Bao Min understood too late.
"Madam, I will wait for you in Jiangcheng."
When Bao Min left, only Tong Mo went to see him off.
"Xiao Mo, your young uncle will teach you one last thing. Towards the person you like, you must not deceive them; you must treat true heart with true heart."
Tong Mo looked at Bao Min, who now had white hair at his temples, and nodded vigorously.
"I will. Take care, Uncle."
Bao Min took the bundle from Tong Mo's hands and got into the carriage.
Tong Mo took a step forward. "Uncle, Aunt and Shushu are in the capital. If you stay, maybe there's still a chance?"
"Madam wouldn't want to see me."
"But if you go to Jiangcheng, you'll never see Aunt again."
"No. Your aunt will definitely return to Jiangcheng."
Li Jun and Li Min were in Jiangcheng. Cai Damei would definitely go back to accompany them.
On the day Bao Min left, Cai Damei was standing at the entrance of Xiaocaiji, announcing to the crowd that Xiaocaiji was officially open for business.
To attract customers for the new store opening, Cai Damei organized quite a few promotional activities.
First, for the first three days of opening, there was a 20 percent discount regardless of how much was purchased.
Second, for every 100 copper coins spent on side dishes, customers received a bamboo stick branded with the Xiaocaiji mark. Presenting this stick on their next visit would give them a 10-copper coin discount.
Finally, bringing a new customer to buy would grant another 20 percent discount on top of the initial 20 percent discount, meaning the side dishes would be 36 percent off.
This combination of promotions attracted many passersby into the shop.
After tasting the samples, they found the flavors quite good. Many people made purchases.
It was cold, and there weren't many vegetables available in winter.
Xiaocaiji's side dishes tasted great and came in a wide variety, so many people bought them by the jar to take home.
There were also those who brought relatives, friends, and neighbors to buy in order to enjoy the deep discount.
"The ideas you gave your grandmother are truly brilliant." Ye Yunniang praised Li An, feeling it would be a pity if he didn't go into business.
"Grandma said that once we make money, she'll have a set of golden needles forged for me."