On the Qingming rain, until the end of April, there were still no guests signing orders in Zijinfang. Xiaolan looked very anxious, the embroidery girls became more and more impetuous, and the brush in Guo Xiaoxiao's hand could no longer be calm.

Zijinfang has to raise such a large group of embroidery girls in the embroidery workshop every day, although they have sold themselves to the Guo family, but the food and clothing are still to be borne by the Guo family. These nearly 100-year-old signboards can't just be smashed.

Guo Xiaoxiao invited Yarong and asked, "How much has the embroidery workshop lost in the past two months?" ”

Yarong held the account book: "I used to make at least three thousand taels a month, and I returned it to the guests in February, and I got nothing in March and April. ”

"Still rich?" Guo Xiaoxiao raised his head in surprise.

"Yes." Yarong explained, "When Zijin Fang was in Shudi, he made a profit of at least four thousand taels per month. When business is good, it can reach 5,000 taels a month. After years of accumulation, the embroidery workshop has long been fat like a camel, and now this little wind and waves is only the tip of the iceberg. ”

"No wonder Dad dares not to cut the price." Guo Xiaoxiao smiled, "It turns out that these are not a problem at all for Zijinfang. ”

"That being said." Yarong persuaded, "The eldest lady can't let the situation change, she has to do something." ”

Guo Xiaoxiao nodded: "Wait until I go back and ask Daddy." ”

In the evening, Guo Xiaoxiao and Xiaolan walked back to Guo's mansion, and as soon as they entered the door, they saw Datang running out in a hurry.

"Datang, where are you going?" Xiaolan shouted.

Datang cat leaned over and said, "The old man is sick, and the lady asked me to ask for a doctor." ”

"My dad is sick?" Guo Xiaoxiao was surprised, "Does it matter?" ”

"See for yourself." After Datang finished speaking, he ran out of the door.

Guo Xiaoxiao hurriedly went to Mr. Guo's bedroom, and Mrs. Guo was serving by the bedside.

Guo Xiaoxiao stepped forward and asked softly, "How is Dad?" ”

Mrs. Guo sighed: "Your father was still boxing in the yard, and somehow, he fainted all of a sudden, but it scared me!" ”

"Daddy's body has always been very good, how can this be?"

Mrs. Guo shook her head and did not speak.

Datang invited a doctor, and the doctor stepped forward to check the pulse, looked at his tongue and pupils, and said: "Master Guo is just overworked and nervous, just take some medicine and rest for a few days." ”

"Thank you, doctor." Guo Xiaoxiao said.

Mrs. Guo wiped her tears with a handkerchief: "It's just boxing, how can it be, overworked?" ”

"Maybe it's because my father is getting older, so it's good to take some supplements in the future."

Guo Xiaoxiao asked Datang to send the doctor away, and ordered someone to decoct the medicine. Originally, I wanted to tell Master Guo about Zijinfang, but it was inconvenient to say it like this.

On the second day, Guo Xiaoxiao rushed to Zijinfang, decided to reduce the price, posted a notice, and made a profit of 50 wen for every inch of ready-to-wear.

The embroidery girls were excited, because the price had been reduced to the same price as Linglong Fang, and there should be customers in Zijin Fang. Sure enough, a few days later, three or four guests came to sign the order.

Ziming smiled: "If we knew this was the case, it would be better to reduce the price as soon as possible, so that the previous orders would not run away, and we would not have to be bored for so long." ”

Guo Xiaoxiao checked the accounts at the counter and did not speak.

Xiaolan said with a smile: "The eldest lady has her own plans to do things. ”

Guo Xiaoxiao smiled: "Xiaolan has grown up." ”

Ziming pouted: "Yes, Zijin Fang can't make ends meet, this money is filled by the Guo family after all, and the loss-making business is quite happy!" ”

Xiaolan said: "Not reducing the price is the master's arrangement, and it is not the meaning of the young lady." ”

Ziming said: "Yes, then who does it mean to reduce the price now?" ”

This Zi Ming, seeing that Guo Xiaoxiao was young, and when something happened to him, he knew that he was looking for Yarong and Master Guo, and he didn't have any self-assertion, Zi Ming began to look down on Guo Xiaoxiao's ability, thinking that she was just a daughter and didn't know how to take care of business at all.

Xiaolan said: "Of course, it is the meaning of the eldest lady." ”

"Oh." Ziming sneered, "Do you know that you have to make your own decisions now?" Why did you go before? ”

Guo Xiaoxiao listened and didn't speak, and Yarong came out of the backyard: "You are quite capable of calling the shots, why don't you come to Guanzijinfang." ”

Ziming was so frightened that she immediately lowered her head: "Auntie." ”

"Go to the firewood room in the backyard and watch the fire."

Ziming immediately retreated.

Xiaolan said to Yarong: "Auntie, this Ziming is neither big nor small. ”

Yarong smiled and said, "The eldest lady is not angry, but you are angry?" ”

Xiaolan touched her head in a sneer: "Miss's good temper has been given to them, it's not uncommon, but I am upset for Miss." Last time, Miss asked me to train them, and Ziming refuted me with words. ”

Guo Xiaoxiao made an calculation and said, "I know you want to be angry for me." But your lady has something more important for you to do. ”

"What's the matter?"

"Help me go to the bun shop at the end of the street to buy a pound of meat buns."

"A pound? Have you eaten so much? ”

"If you can't finish eating, take it home."

As soon as Xiaolan heard about the buns, she was also hungry, so she went out. Guo Xiaoxiao continued to check the account book, and by the way, he turned out the account book from a few years ago.

If it weren't for Yarong saying that Zijinfang was profitable, she still wouldn't know that Zijinfang was so rich. Take advantage of your free time, you have to check the accounts.

The Guo family's shops and fields are not many, and Zijin Fang supports half of the Guo family's property.

After the price reduction, the business of Zijinfang quickly rebounded, and it returned to its original state in May. Soon, news came from the market that Linglong Fang had reduced the price again, and the price of ready-to-wear clothes was reduced by another 30 yuan per inch.

Guo Xiaoxiao already has the result in his heart, if it weren't for Guo Qianqian's back, how could Linglongfang repeatedly reduce prices? You must know that it is easy to reduce prices, but it is difficult to increase prices.

Linglongfang did not hesitate to make profits, risked his blood, and clearly did it against Zijinfang, it was clear that someone was at the helm behind him, and he wanted the wind to blow in whichever way he wanted.

After Guo Xiaoxiao checked the accounts, he felt that Zijin Fang was about to order another price reduction with the capital that was fighting against Linglong Fang, but who knew that Master Guo would fall ill again. Guo Xiaoxiao thought to himself, the price reduction is not for a while, so he and Xiaolan went back to Guo's mansion to see Master Guo.

Mrs. Guo still sat on the edge of the bed and washed her face with tears.

"The doctor has prescribed medicine to your father, but it had some effect at first, but it relapsed yesterday, your father's heart rate is irregular, his chest is stuffy, and he can't even eat a few bites."

Guo Xiaoxiao stood aside, he was not a doctor, so he could only be in a hurry.

"Xiaoxiao." Master Guo spoke.

"Daddy." Guo Xiaoxiao lay on the side of the bed.

"I'm afraid Dad won't be able to take it long."

"How so?" Guo Xiaoxiao held Master Guo's hand, "You are obviously very strong, how can you ......?"

"I'm afraid Dad won't be able to stay with you anymore. In the future, Zijin Fang will be handed over to you. ”

"No, no, don't say such things!"

"I know in my body that this is the root of the disease that fell in my early years."

"The root of the disease? What is the root of the disease? Guo Xiaoxiao looked at Mrs. Guo, "Why don't I know?" ”

Mrs. Guo hid her face and wept, refusing to speak.

"You, what are you hiding from me?" Guo Xiaoxiao asked anxiously.

Master Guo was weak and closed his eyes.

Mrs. Guo wiped her tears and said: "Your father has been in business for decades, has worked hard, worked hard every day, and has been conscientious and conscientious. ”

"You, that's not what you said last time!" Guo Xiaoxiao looked up at Mrs. Guo, "It turns out that you all know!" ”

"Your father is afraid that you will be worried, so he won't let me say it." Mrs. Guo kept wiping her tears with a handkerchief, shedding a tear every time she said a word.

Guo Xiaoxiao took a deep breath, held Master Guo's hand tightly, and lowered his head: "Don't do this next time." ”

Master Guo opened his mouth with difficulty and said, "Your father and I are the backers of this family, how can I make you worry?" ”

"You know that you have a problem with your body, you should have been treated earlier, but until now, I don't know how many sins you have suffered."

"Well, it's not a big deal, don't worry." Master Guo waved his hand, "It's just that you won't have your father to back you in the future, you must be able to stand alone in the business field and run Zijin Fang well." In another ten or eight years, the embroidery girls will be replaced, and you must remember to recruit new embroidery girls. ”

"Yes."

"If there is anything I don't understand, just tell Aunt Yarong that she is an old man in Zijinfang, and she will be a good hand in the selection of embroidery girls."

"Don't talk about this, you still have to stay with me for a long time." Guo Xiaoxiao had tears in his eyes, "Without you, I can't make ......"

"You did it." Master Guo touched her head, "Dad believes in you." You have been proud since you were a child, tenacious inside, resolute as a golden stone, over time, you will definitely be the shopkeeper revered by everyone in Zijinfang. ”

"No!" Guo Xiaoxiao shook his head vigorously, "I can't make it, you don't accompany me, I can't make it, I can't make it......"

"Xiaoxiao." Master Guo held her hand, "For the sake of the Guo family, you must succeed!" ”

Guo Xiaoxiao buried his head beside the bed and cried, and the maids and servants couldn't help crying when they saw this.

"Don't cry." Master Guo gently touched his hair, "You are a worry-free child, Zijinfang will be handed over to you, and your father will rest assured." But your sister ......"

Master Guo paused and said: "Your sister has been pampered by me since she was a child, she can't endure any hardship, her temper is arrogant, she can't hide her words, and she is easy to offend people." You have to take care of your sister more and don't let her be bullied. ”

At this time, Guo Xiaoxiao raised his head, looked at Master Guo, and said, "Qianqian...... She didn't look at the Guo family in her heart, she ......"

"She's your sister." Master Guo closed his eyes again, and deliberately didn't let Guo Xiaoxiao finish those words, "You are all children of the Guo family, you must be in the same breath, speak with one voice, and don't let outsiders break up the sisterhood." ”

Guo Xiaoxiao opened his mouth and wanted to speak, but Master Guo said again: "Your sister doesn't have her mother's family as a backer, and her life will be very difficult." Forget about all those unpleasant things, for my sake. ”

Master Guo has said so, what else can she say!

She thought to herself, judging from Master Guo's words, it must have been Guo Qianqian's idea for Linglong Fang and Zijin Fang to grab business, so Master Guo would let her forget about those unpleasant things between sisters.