The next day was Laba, and Luo Ran didn't go anywhere. He was preparing for the New Year with Manager Wan and Aunt Wang. This was the first time since she got married that she had organized an entire mansion as the mistress of the mansion.
It took half the morning just to receive the various stewards, and this did not include the stewards of her trousseau shop.
Fu Jinan looked at her frown and said to Youqing, who was beating her shoulders, "I'll do it."
Just as he was about to stand up, Luo Ran refused: "No, you've been sitting with me all morning, and you have a lot to do over there, so go and get busy. Besides, I'll have to look at the list of New Year's gifts later."
It means: I don’t have time to fool around with you.
Fu Jinan felt a little aggrieved. He just wanted to relax her muscles and bones. Forget it, he did still have some worrying things over there, and he left after telling her a few words not to overwork herself.
As soon as he left, Chunyu came in and whispered: "Madam, the Fourth Madam sent someone to send a message and said she is waiting for your letter."
"So urgent?"
Youqing frowned and said, "This fourth lady seems to have finally caught you and is afraid of missing you."
Luo Ran lowered his eyes and smiled, and said to Chun Yu: "If you go and reply, just say that I'm busy these two days and can't spare the time. I'll go find her when I'm free."
Chunyu responded and was about to leave when she heard Youqing ask: "Madam, if you really like that luminous pearl, what if the Fourth Madam sells it to someone else?"
Luo Ran said nothing.
Ma was so anxious in the room that Fu Shikun couldn't help but said: "Okay, you've been spinning all morning, and I'm almost dizzy because of you."
After hearing this, Ma stopped talking, sat down, and asked worriedly: "Do you think she can buy it?"
Fu Shikun took a sip of tea and said slowly: "Forget it if you don't want to buy it. Are you afraid of throwing such a good thing into your hands?"
When she mentioned this, Ma became very angry: "You also said that such a shabby bead has been included in my dowry. You said at first that you would be able to take action in a few days, but now it's better. It's been three months. It's already happened. It’s the Chinese New Year, and I haven’t bought a lot of things yet!”
Fu Shiheng glanced at her: "Who do you blame? You are not too greedy. Someone offered two thousand five hundred taels, but you didn't sell it!"
Ma's momentum obviously weakened. After thinking about it, he said confidently: "Who knew you were so unprofitable recently? Isn't this just to sell more money? It's not easy to get such a good thing. How can I only earn five hundred taels?" It’s not such a loss!”
Fu Shikun said: "Towards the end of the year, when the vassal king comes to Beijing, everyone is watching strictly. Many mansions are afraid of causing trouble and dare not move. It will be fine after the New Year."
Ma had no choice but to nod.
At this time, the little girl who went to deliver the message came back. After hearing this, Ma's face suddenly darkened and said, "What does she mean? Are you teasing me?"
Fu Shikun suddenly said: "Not necessarily."
Ma's eyes lit up: "Then what do you mean? Could it be that she wants to lower the price?"
Fu Shikun has been dealing with the housekeepers and wives all year round, and he has a flexible mind. After thinking about it for a while, he made a rough guess and said: "Don't worry, she will decide on this night pearl!"
Ma was surprised: "Why do you say that?"
Fu Shikun smiled mysteriously: "Just wait."
Sure enough, after a few days, things in Luo Ran's house were almost busy, and he met with the stewards of various shops and Zhuangzi. The stewards reported this year's income and talked about their plans for the next year.
Those shops that sell jewelry and rouge have good profits, and the shopkeepers' faces are bright, and their backs are straight when they talk, and they speak with confidence. For example, the jewelry shop Linglongtang, the rouge shop Anxiang Pavilion, and the Yuxiangzhai selling preserves, during the holidays, money flows in like water.
However, when it was the turn of the shopkeeper of a silk and satin shop, his aura was obviously much lower.
Luo Ran noticed him from the beginning. From the moment he entered, he followed everyone, sat in the corner, and was the last one to speak.
When he finished speaking, Shopkeeper Xu of Linglongtang laughed loudest: "Hahaha, Shopkeeper Huang, everyone knows that clothes and materials are best sold during the Chinese New Year, why are you still holding a golden beg for food? ?”
It is true that the income of the silk and satin shop is too pitiful. Two months of incense is not as good as the price of a piece of jewelry in his Linglongtang.
Luo Ran looked up at Shopkeeper Huang.
Shopkeeper Huang is about forty years old, not too tall, and very thin. Compared with Shopkeeper Xu, who has a big belly, he seems to be less than half of Shopkeeper Xu's weight. As the shopkeeper of a silk and satin shop, he was wearing the most ordinary gray gown. He didn't look like a merchant at all, but more like a scholar. Except for those shrewd eyes.
Luo Ran thought carefully about why the business of the silk and satin shop was not good.
It was just that the shop was too small and there was no good source of goods. At first, she had people transport some from the south of the Yangtze River. Unfortunately, the water surface in the capital was too wide, and a small pebble did not make any waves.
At that time, she also had other ideas, so she put them aside for the time being.
At this time, hearing shopkeeper Xu's undisguised contempt, Huang Jie showed no embarrassment on his face. He just lowered his head and bowed to Luo Ran: "This small businessman is not doing well, please punish me from the county boss."
no excuse.
Luo Ran nodded: "I have passed by that silk and satin shop several times. The shop is too small and the location is a bit remote. There are many blacksmith shops around. Selling silk and satin there is a loss for you. You have been able to persist for so many years, although there is not much profit. , but it won’t result in a loss, which is really rare.”
When she said this, I didn't know whether she meant it or not, but she glanced at Shopkeeper Xu.
Shopkeeper Xu's face froze. Everyone knew that his Linglong Hall had the best location and a spacious and regular shop. It only started to get better after the county lord returned to Beijing. It looked prosperous before, but every year at the end of the year, calculations were often done. He was unable to make ends meet, and of course he knew the reasons why.
Fortunately, the county boss ignored the past grievances and did not kick him out. After getting rid of the cancer of the second wife, the business of the shop got better and better day by day. Especially in the past year, Luo Ran personally drew the appearance of his jewelry and hired craftsmen again. Although it is not the best jewelry shop in Beijing, it is still one of the best on that street.
Without shopkeeper Xu's gun and stick, and seeing his boss' understanding, Huang Jie unconsciously said a few more words: "Thank you so much for the county shirt. I'll think of a solution when I get back..."
Before he could finish speaking, Luo Ran raised his hand to interrupt and said, "It's not urgent. We'll talk about it later."
After everyone had nothing to do, Luo Ran left Huang Jie alone. He didn't say the reason first, but said in a homely manner: "Shopkeeper Huang came to the Luo family with my mother as a dowry. My mother left early. After so many years. Thank you for sticking with me and guarding this shop. I would like to thank you on behalf of my mother."
When Huang Jie heard this, his face lost the calmness it had just shown, but he did not panic. He just lowered his head in a sad and complicated manner: "The Shen family is kind to me. I am ashamed of my wife. County Lord, you have resigned me." That’s what it should be.”
