Jinjin said with some guilt: "This ...... It's not that my second mother ignores you...... The location of the cyclamen is so good that it is inevitable that some people will be eyeing me, Amma, if I am there, it will be fine, but I will leave my post...... Shopkeeper Bian may not be able to hold up ......"

Tong nodded: "It's nothing, in fact, the cyclamen earned a lot in the first two years, and there were four or five thousand taels a year, but last year, the whole year was only a thousand silver, and it has long been gone." It's nothing if I really received it, it's just a little sudden, and I haven't heard my in-laws mention it before. ”

Zhenzhen bowed her head and said: "At first, we were the only one, but later others also opened a few businesses, and it was worse." Someone else learned how cyclamen made dim sum...... Shopkeeper Bian once thought about not doing a teahouse and turning to other more lucrative businesses, but I'm not allowed to say it, I'm afraid that my reputation will be ruined......"

Tong was silent, not asking what it would ruin her reputation but a more lucrative business meant, but she had been to that teahouse and understood how good the area was. It has been a few years since my family left Guangzhou, and now the business of foreigners in Guangzhou is becoming more prosperous, and the people who come and go are much more complicated, and it is not as easy as before. A person like Huo Comprador thought of another way to open up the situation in Beijing and no longer defend the south.

Shuning listened to it and thought about it, then asked Zhenzhen: "Sister Ah Yin and Chunxing, what should they do?" Their family co-founded a teahouse with us, if we leave, will they be able to survive? ”

Zhenzhen said: "Erniang has asked them about this, they have earned a lot over the years, Sister Ah Yin is tired, Ah Xin and Chunxing's children are gradually growing up, they plan to buy a piece of land outside the city to farm, or to plant mulberry and silkworms, or to live a quiet life." Ah Xin also wants his son to go to school. ”

Shuning thinks this is not bad. I'm just worried about whether they can live a happy life without a backer. Zhenzhen smiled when she heard this: "Don't worry, they have been doing business for a few years, and the big boss always knows a few and has some friendship." As for money, our dividends are still so generous. How can they be less? Guangzhou, which is not more expensive than everything in the capital, and a hundred taels of silver is enough for their whole family to live comfortably for a year. ”

Shu Ning was relieved when she heard this, and said to Tong: "Eniang." If so, take it. To be honest, Guangzhou is too far away from us now to be easy to control, unless there is someone in our family who is an official there. Moreover, the money earned by the teahouse has greatly decreased in the past two years. It's better to get the money back and find another way. ”

Why doesn't Tong know this truth? Originally, the main reason for participating in the shares was to have a good relationship with the Wudan family. Fight for a good daughter-in-law for your son. Now that his son has married him home, this investment has become one of the ties between the in-laws. The industry in Beijing is quite profitable, and she doesn't feel too sorry for the lack of this income, but Mrs. Wen's approach makes her a little uncomfortable.

However, when she saw the guilt and embarrassment on her daughter-in-law's face, she gradually softened. No matter what, you can't knock over the jade bottle and make the daughter-in-law sandwiched between the two families. So she nodded and said, "It's fine." In fact, there are many restaurants and teahouses in Beijing, so let's let people open a cyclamen in Beijing, so presumably the business is not bad. She turned her head to face Shuning: "Isn't there a restaurant in your house?" ”

Shuning hesitated for a moment and said, "That restaurant business is okay for some years. It's better not to move it for now. But if E-Niang wants to open a cyclamen in Beijing, it is a little difficult. Don't say where the cook is found. We don't have a reliable and experienced person to take care of it, do we? The cyclamen in Guangzhou, we have always just waited for dividends, and we have not intervened at all. ”

This is what Tong Shijue himself has taken for granted. It is impossible for Ah Yin's family to leave their hometown and go north, and they may not be able to find a suitable cook, but Bian Cai is a member of the general's family. Among the servants in his own family, only Gu Quansheng is the best at doing business, but now he is in charge of Fangshandi, SF Grain Store, and he has to ask the operation of Tongzhou Hengfu Duifang, how can he take care of the affairs of Beijing again?

But she had another idea: "Then take the Huo comprador and borrow his ship to do some north-south cargo business." His woman came to me yesterday to ask for an explanation, and said that his family's business is very prosperous now, and we don't want to rob them, but we can make wood or Jiangnan silk embroidery. The families who had been sent south before had some experience. ”

Shuning was silent, and Xiao Liu asked in a low voice: "This kind of business requires a lot of capital, right?" We don't have that family. Tong said: "It's not to make it bigger, when you were doing the dowry for Shu'er before, you all heard that the price difference between these two things in the south and the capital is not a little bit." I've thought about it before, it's just that I'm not in Beijing, and it's inconvenient to get started with the housework of Brother Duan's daughter-in-law. ”

Shuning thinks this is a good idea, although it is a bit risky, but the profit is very lucrative. However, when she saw the uneasiness on Zhenzhen's face on the other side, she suddenly thought that now it is different from before, Tong is far away in Baoding, and she is a married woman, if she really invests in a new industry, the person in charge of management is Zhenzhen. Zhenzhen is now just managing the family's existing real estate, and it is a little difficult, she is different from herself, she is not a person who has been used to housework since she was a child, if she increases her burden again, can she bear it? Looking at Jinjin's slightly thin chin, she hesitated.

After thinking about it, Shuning asked: "How are the grain stores and stacking houses profitable recently?" Pretty smooth, right? Zhenzhen hurriedly replied: "It's going well, the grain store has been doing well, the business has been prosperous, the stack house is a little too busy, Gu Guan just wrote to ask if you want to buy the land next to the stack house and build a few more warehouses." ”

Shuning said to Tong: "Although Eniang's wood and silk business is very profitable, it is also risky, and we have never done it. If you're not in Beijing, I'm not good at taking care of my mother's affairs, and my sister-in-law is too hard to be alone. In fact, our family's grain bank and stacking house are very profitable, it is better to invest more money in it, open more grain store, or make more yards as a stacking house, which is a safe way. ”

Tong Shi was stunned, turned his head to look at Zhenzhen, and Zhenzhen lowered his head a little embarrassed. Tong Shi looked at her carefully a few times and sighed: "Well, let's not worry about the silver, it's better to be safe." According to your sister-in-law's wishes, whether it is the grain store or the stacking house, it will all be handed over to you. If you're really tired, just use the money to buy land. It's always good to have more land. ”

Zhenzhen hurriedly said: "I can do it, please rest assured." After a pause, she glanced at Xiao Liu again: "What about the aunt and the landlord?" Is it just wiped like that? Only then did Tong and Shuning remember that the business of cyclamen was a part of Xiao Liu's land, and Shuning hurriedly apologized to her, saying that she should not forget to ask her what she meant.

Xiao Liu waved his hand and said, "What did you say, it was originally given to me for nothing." I don't understand it, and it's useless to ask me. I've got enough money, and I'll wipe it when I'm done. Tong said: "What is the politeness of the family? I was negligent in this matter, although you have money, it is difficult to do it, and you don't think about Xiaobao's future? That's good. I will pay for him to buy a piece of land, so that your mother and son will have a dependency in the future. ”

Xiao Liu hurriedly refused: "How can this be made?" I have money to buy a property, and I should pay for it. Tong Shi has already made up his mind: "There won't be too many fields like this, but food and clothing are not a problem." Xiaobao called me Eniang. You don't have to talk about it again. Xiao Liu knew that this matter could not be postponed, so he had to thank him again and again, but when he sat down again. The eyes are still very happy.

The four women discussed it for a while, settled on the general rules, and went about their own business. Tong specially left his daughter to gossip with her after saying goodbye. Shu Ning roughly talked about the housekeeping experience in the past few months, especially the gift giving.

Tong couldn't help laughing and said: "It's really a scripture that is difficult to read. If we want to give gifts in our own family, we only need to give them to our relatives and friends, as well as your bosses and colleagues in the officialdom, but you marry into the clan. There are so many more gifts to give. You weren't very good at this kind of personal contact, gift-giving and receiving when you were at home in the past, and it is difficult for you to do this. But what do you mean by buying goods in the off-season? ”

Shuning smiled: "It's just a thought." I was thinking of removing the festival days in the year. It is the most gift-giving around the Halloween Festival, the Thousand Autumn Festival and the New Year's Festival, and the prices in the Jingli are very high at this time. It's better to be optimistic a few months in advance, and buy it back and collect it before the price rises. However, when I discussed it with Tongying later, it was a little difficult to do, because there are always people who have birthdays and get married all year round, and the so-called off-season is actually not so light. ”

She took a sip of tea and continued: "Although I recognize that Huo Comprador can get some discounts, the things he has there are slightly better, and they are worth thousands of taels. If you want him to give up profits every time, he will definitely have ideas. Even if he doesn't care about favors, he owes it, if his family asks me for something in the future, can I still be cheeky and say no? So I can't go to his store every time and I can't make him suffer too much. ”

Tong Shi slightly chucked and asked, "Then what should you do?" This gift can't be given without giving it away, and others think you look down on them. ”

Shuning smiled: "So, I asked the housekeeper to find some workshops or craftsmen with good craftsmanship, and I have already found a glass workshop, a silver building and a jade carving master, and then I will find someone who is good at wood carving, bamboo carving, stone carving, and porcelain...... We are looking for people who have good craftsmanship but are not in good circumstances, and spend some money every month to raise them, and if we find good materials, let them make fine objects, ornaments or stationery. Tongying is good at painting, many people know that the gift book is more fragrant, and others will not say anything, but it can save a lot of money in a year. ”

Tong Shi was a little stunned when he heard this, and after a while, he sighed: "Why didn't I think of it? Shu'er, you've really grown up. That's a good idea. ”

Shuning suddenly felt a little blushing: "Ahem...... It's not ......."

But when it came to giving gifts, she remembered one thing: "E-niang, when I went to Yongwang's Mansion a few days ago, Sifujin asked, saying that his eldest brother was one year old, and you only sent someone to send a few things, but you didn't say anything, I don't know why?" ”

Tong Shi was silent for a while and said: "Now his family is not as good as in the past, he has a king, a wife, a concubine, and children. The fourth elder brother doesn't have to worry about no one to take care of me now, so I won't have much to do. You are a member of the clan, and it doesn't hurt that your brother has known him since childhood. But I'm a foreign official, and my family has a lot of contacts, and it's hard to guarantee that some people won't be used to it. It's just a matter of giving some small gifts. After a pause, she suddenly smiled: "Although it is a thin ceremony, but those clothes are made by me, Jade Guanyin also specially invited the Taoist monks to open the light, and the twelve peace charms were I personally went to the twelve monasteries to ask for land." Although it is thinner, it is very thoughtful. Shu'er, even if some people give fewer gifts, as long as their hearts are enough, they are happy. ”

Shuning nodded yes, but heard some overtones from her mother's words: "Eniang, did you hear something?" Do others have a private relationship with Yongwangfu now? ”

Tong shook his head and said: "It's nothing, it's just that your brother married a wife and had children, and the fourth elder brother came to congratulate a little bit before, and some words were passed to Baoding, and there was a villain who was afraid that the world would not be chaotic and wanted to make trouble." ”

When Shuning heard this, she hurriedly asked what was going on. Tong was repeatedly questioned by her, and finally confided in the truth: "At the beginning of the year, the new Zuo participated in politics, and he was a little jealous of you, Amma, often said some sour words, and always liked to-for-tat. He has some background in the DPRK and China, but I am afraid that he has bad intentions. However, you Ama has been in the Zhili Political Secretary Yamen for a few years, and your political achievements are prominent, and your popularity is good, you can speak well in front of the governor, and you can count the number in the court, he is a sour person, and he can't do anything to your Amma. ”

Having said that, it was still uncomfortable to hear such a person in Shuning's heart: "What is the origin of this person?" Why should you get along with Amma? Tong shook his head and said: "He doesn't want to get along with you, but I'm afraid that he has taken a fancy to the vacated position that will be vacated by Lord Fantai after his term of office expires next year." Right now, in the Yamen of the Chief Minister, the call for your Ama to ascend is the highest, and that person just wants to pull down your Ama and climb up by himself. ”

Shu Ning frowned, just sat in the position of participating in politics, and wanted to plot the official position of political envoy? What's the matter with this man? Suddenly, she thought of a possibility: "Is E-Niang ...... Started again? Just like when I was in Guangzhou? ”

Although she said it secretly, Tong Shi had already understood, and said with a wry smile: "Maybe." To be honest, you, Amma, are a little discouraged, and it seems that you can't escape this anywhere. I'm not afraid to tell you, he has discussed with me that if he can be promoted, he will serve one more term, or when this term is over, he will retire and go home to live a quiet life. ”

Shu Ning was taken aback: "Ama is only in her forties, and she is in the prime of life, so she is old?" Tong sighed: "Why doesn't he want to do more?" But if there is really a resumption of party fighting, it is better to retire and live a peaceful life. We thought about it and it would be better to go home early and pick up our grandchildren. Your sister-in-law's housekeeper is really hard, take care of her for a few more years while I am still in good health, and let her have the opportunity to give your brother a few more children. After that, he glanced at Shuning's stomach: "It would be great if I could have a grandson sooner." ”

Shuning's face flushed.

A few days later, the imperial court really issued an order to summon General Wu Dan back to Beijing to report on his work. Wu Dan's family set off to the north.

At the same time, Chongli's marriage with the daughter of the chief soldier was finally decided. Shuning received a post about the wedding banquet.

(I have something to go out of town tomorrow, and I probably won't be able to come back in the evening, so I'm going to stop for a day, I'm sorry, you don't have to wait for my update tomorrow night.) ）