Chapter 1003: Mrs. Chen Wants to Strive

Mrs. Chen called Gu Dagui, and the couple energetically carried the bamboo boxes filled with vegetables. When Erqing was about to help, Mrs. Chen said, "Hey, don’t bother, we can manage. You’ve been busy caring for Xiao Yu, you deserve a rest."

She turned to Gu Jinli with a smile, "Right, Xiao Yu?"

Mrs. Chen’s smile was so ingratiating that it startled Gu Jinli, "Aunt Da Gui, are you feeling alright?"

She and Brother Qin came back late, delaying the family dinner, yet Mrs. Chen didn’t scold her and even praised her maid. Something felt off.

Brother Cheng ran over hurriedly, alerting Gu Jinli, "Second Sister, Aunt Da Gui has a request for you. She’s been mentioning you for over an hour at home. If you didn’t return soon, our ears would have fallen deaf from her chatter."

Gu Jinli suddenly realized; indeed, there was a request meant for her.

Why bother being polite? She let Mrs. Chen bustle around, setting the table and serving the soup.

After several happy families finished their meal, Gu Jinli continued, "Erqing and Xiao Ji have been working hard too, what about the dishes?"

Futai Building only provided bamboo boxes for takeout; the bowls and chopsticks were from home and needed cleaning.

Mrs. Chen immediately understood, patting Gu Dagui, "Why are you still sitting? After eating such a grand meal, do you plan to sit around like a lord? Hurry up and come wash the dishes with me."

Gu Dagui had no choice, glaring at her before helping clean up the dishes.

Mrs. Cui laughed nearby, whispering to Gu Jinli, "Take it easy, or Aunt Da Gui might drop everything."

Gu Jinli replied, "Don’t worry, Mom. From Aunt Da Gui’s demeanor, she surely has an important request for me. Even if I tire her out until she passes out, she wouldn’t dare get angry."

However, Gu Jinli only had Mrs. Chen wash the dishes and prepare tea for everyone, not tough on her anymore.

Seeing that, Mrs. Chen immediately stated, "Xiao Yu, have you noticed that people in Prefecture City are all fools with money?"

Gu Jinli was shocked by the phrase ’fools with money’: "You actually know this saying?"

Mrs. Chen glared at her, "Why wouldn’t I? Those storytelling masters have all sorts of phrases. When they say a rich young master would pay a tael of silver for an egg, they say he is a fool with money."

She waved her hand, "Stop interrupting, listen to Aunt’s complete story."

Then she explained her idea of opening a shop in Prefecture City to make and sell tofu and bean dreg cakes.

"Although dry tofu is good, its taste can’t compare to fresh tofu. With counties around He’an Prefecture, our tofu can be sold to people from those counties. The leftover bean dregs won’t go to waste either; they can be made into bean dreg cakes, selling at twenty copper coins each. Since the city people haven’t tasted it, they would definitely rush to buy!"

Mrs. Chen spoke excitedly, seemingly picturing city folks tossing silver coins at her, laughing aloud, "Time to get rich!"

Gu Jinli looked at Mrs. Chen, who seemed almost faint from laughter, clicked her tongue: "Twenty copper coins for a bean dreg cake, isn’t that inflating the price fourfold?"

Although city folks are fools with money, you shouldn’t exploit them like that.

Mrs. Chen protested, raising her voice, "How is it too much? Grain is so precious now, I heard from people traffickers in the city that in the Northwest, people are starving to death again. Oh dear, dreadful! Even selling oneself into slavery is unwanted there."

Every winter, Da Rong people come to loot grain. It’s said that without Duke Wei guarding the border for the past few years, they’ve become particularly brazen, resulting in many deaths at the border.

Many families can’t withstand it, hearing the south is a granary with no food shortages or wars, many seek to sell themselves and follow brokers south.

Gu Jinli knew about these affairs; their information from the Northwest has never stopped. That’s why she and Qin San Lang accelerated stockpiling grain, iron goods, medicines, horses, and mules.

"So, selling the bean dreg cakes at twenty copper coins each is truly not expensive." Mrs. Chen added, "It’s known that young masters of wealthy families here don’t eat cheap stuff; sell cheaply and they won’t buy."

Saying they’re indifferent to money and only care about status, but Mrs. Chen thought they were just dumb, truly dumb.

Gu Jinli said, "Opening a shop in the city to sell tofu and bean dreg cakes isn’t easy. What if someone maliciously poisons the tofu?"

Through the years, Mrs. Chen learned a lot from Gu Jinli and immediately replied, "Don’t worry, Aunt won’t be blinded by silver. Fresh tofu would be sold by one household per county, with a contract. Goods must be inspected and verified for issues before signing. After leaving the premises, I won’t acknowledge responsibility for any problem."

She pleaded further, "Xiao Yu, Aunt knows you worry about setting up another tofu workshop, afraid of sabotage. But rest assured, Aunt won’t be consumed by greed and promises to follow your rules strictly. If there’s anything suspicious, I’d rather refuse silver than make that deal."

"Xiao Yu, please promise Aunt. I really want to open a shop in the city, just like you, to earn more silver for our families."

Mrs. Chen expressed sincerely, and Gu Jinli noticed Mrs. Chen indeed longed to open a shop in the city.

However, she didn’t want to agree too hastily. Accepting too quickly would make Mrs. Chen undervalue it. It needed careful thought, making her realize this business won’t come easy.

"Why don’t you write down how you plan to run the shop and show me? Prepare an account book estimating the silver required to open this shop. If I find it feasible, I’ll agree."

Mrs. Chen was stunned: "Write what plan? I can’t read!"

Mrs. Chen felt like Gu Jinli was tricking her, but Gu Jinli said, "Uncle Da Gui knows how to write. Just narrate and let him write it down. Anyway, it’s necessary. If you don’t know the requirements for opening a shop, how can I let you do it in the city? What if you incur a loss? It’s our families’ silver at stake."

Mrs. Chen grudgingly dragged Gu Dagui to their room, urging him to help draft the business plan.

"Selling tofu—what kind of plan is needed? That little Xiao Yu is just too fussy!" Mrs. Chen complained while expressing her thoughts.

Gu Dagui was so confused, he rebuked, "Woman, exactly what do you want me to write? Can you express your business plan before scolding others?"

Mrs. Chen retorted angrily, "Fine, fine, got it. Why yell?"

After the curses, she joined Gu Dagui for a long night, while Zongzheng Ya also couldn’t sleep.

Zongzheng Ya and their task force were busy until midnight before settling.

Later, recalling Qin San Lang and Gu Jinli’s words, she summoned another batch of Shadow Guards, instructing the captain, "Go immediately to check He’an Prefecture Government and Tianfu County Government offices, searching for any registration records of engagement or marriage certificate between Qin San Lang and Gu Family’s daughter."

If it’s a legitimate engagement, there will be an engagement certificate; if married, there should be records. If neither is found in the office, she could claim Qin San Lang and Gu Family’s daughter were involved illicitly.

The Shadow Guard Captain, hearing this, frowned, feeling displeased with the Second Young Lady.

Due to her probing, eight brothers already died, yet she refuses to quit and plans to persist here. What’s driving her?