Chapter 758: Doing Business
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
In the blink of an eye, it was November.
Yu Youyao settled down in the Xie Residence. She was far away from the troubles in the capital and the rules of the Yu Residence. Her days in the Xie Residence were undoubtedly leisurely and carefree.
The only thing was that after coming to Quanzhou, the number of times she had seen Yin Huaixi could be counted on one hand. Moreover, every time, there were elders present. Due to etiquette, she did not even have a chance to talk to him alone.
She also knew that this was because of the distance between men and women.
In her spare time, Yu Youyao sent letters to her good friends from the Yu Residence and the Yu Clan, as well as from the capital. She also sent them some specialties from Quanzhou.
She lived in seclusion all day. Madam Wang was worried that she would be bored staying at home. “We have a few good shops in Quanzhou. Do you want to go out and shop?”
Yu Youyao was stunned for a moment.
Madam Wang looked embarrassed. She remembered that Yu Youyao was a daughter of an official and had even been conferred the title of County Head of Shaoyi. How could she casually go out and show her face?
An official’s family was not like a merchant’s family. They had more farmland and were more dignified. They had fewer businesses, and they were all handed over to the loyal servants of the family to manage. Usually, they only needed to show up in the residence.
Madam Wang hurriedly said, “l see that you’ve been in Quanzhou for a while. It’s not good for you to stay at home all the time. It’s good for your health to take a walk.”
Only then did Yu Youyao realize what was going on. She smiled and said, “It’s good to take a look at the shops and relax. The shops in Quanzhou are all managed by Eldest Aunt. In the past, I sat back and enjoyed the fruits of her labor. Now that I’m in Quanzhou, I naturally have to go over and take a look. It’s not good to continue troubling Eldest Aunt.”
Her mother had married into the capital from afar, and most of the businesses under her name had been repurposed by the Xie family in the capital, including shops, manors, fields, forests, and so on.
On the other hand, there were not many businesses in Quanzhou.
When Madam Wang heard this, she felt that it was appropriate. She held her hand and said, “There are a total of seven shops. Three of them are cosmetics shops that your mother built herself back then. The other four shops sell rare items on merchant ships. Moreover, the things that are popular in the capital are all old shops. It doesn’t take much effort. I just have to take some time to look at the accounts. There’s nothing to work on. I’m just worried that you’ll be bored staying at home all day. With something to do, you’ll feel more at ease.”
However, Yu Youyao knew that the profits of these seven shops were very considerable. They were all saved directly in the bank and the accounts were sent to her every quarter.
It was obvious that someone had put in a lot of effort to take care of them.
You can only truly know someone after going through the ups and downs of life with them. The Xie family was a big family, so they wouldn’t be greedy for the low profits of seven shops. However, after more than ten years, they have been managing other people’s shops diligently. It was obvious how sincere they were.
“Thank you, Aunt.” Yu Youyao was very touched. “Grandmother bought a courtyard for me in Quanzhou when she was alive and hired the clan’s uncles and aunts to take care of it. Cousin and Fourth Brother live there. It’s rare for me to go out today, so I want to go over and take a look.”
Madam Wang hurriedly said, “The Yu Residence has arranged for someone to take care of you in Quanzhou. This is also a good thing. In the future, when you’re free, it won’t hurt to go over more often.”
Yu Youyao returned to her room and changed into a lotus-colored dress. The color was simple and elegant.
Chun Xiao took out a squirrel fur cloak that reached her waist. Yu Youyao couldn’t help but think that it would be winter in the capital every year when October came.ln November, it was already cold.
The family would have already started setting up the fireplace and charcoal steamer.
She was afraid of the cold. Every winter, she felt that life was difficult and wished she could eat, drink, and poop in bed.
The climate in Quanzhou was warmer. In November, she was only wearing a thin jacket and did not feel cold.
Madam Wang first brought Yu Youyao to look at the shops and explained everything to her carefully. She even brought her to check the operations, purchases, and profits of the shop.
They were all business matters. They were a little different from the accounts and household management matters that Yu Youyao had learned in the Yu Residence.
Yu Youyao listened with interest.
Seeing that she was interested, Madam Wang taught her how to do business.
Then, she said, “The Lin family is also one of the top wealthy families in
Quanzhou. Their main business is the medicinal herbs and spices business.
The spices and medicinal herbs needed in your shop are from the Lin family.
Some of the Lin family’s small business is handed over to Miss Lin to manage. Coincidentally, a batch of spices and medicinal herbs is going to enter your shop. If you’re interested, I’ll arrange for you to meet Miss Lin another day. How about I leave this discussion to you?”
There was no one in the room who knew her well. As women, it was appropriate for them to discuss business together and broaden their horizons. Now that Little Yao’er had come to Quanzhou, she had to get to know some people of the same age. In the future, it would be more lively when she made more friends.
Madam Wang mentioned some more details about the Lin family.
Yu Youyao’s heart skipped a beat. She held Madam Wangs arm and wheedled, “This is the first time I will be talking about business. Eldest Aunt, teach me more.”
The Lin family’s medicinal herbs source was very stable. To be able to expand their business, they needed their own medicinal plantation and supply channels.
The North did not lack money and food, but medicinal herbs and spices were controlled by the Imperial Court. During peaceful times, they still had to be prepared, and during the disaster, they had to be controlled more strictly.
Medicinal herbs were rare resources. Many medicinal herbs had special sources, and there were also special suppliers. They had passed through countless people along the way who were almost impossible to identify.
There were many merchants in the country who dealt in medicinal herbs, but because medicinal herbs were rare and resources were strictly managed by the Imperial Court, the relationships behind them were also complicated.
Even if an escort company appeared, it would not be safe.
She also had medicinal herbs shops under her name, but they were all small- scale.
Yu Youyao couldn’t help but ask about the Lin family. “Miss Lin doesn’t have brothers?”
Although Quanzhou was open-minded, if there were brothers in the family, they wouldn’t let their daughters do business in public.
Madam Wang said meaningfully, “Master Lin’s first wife, Madam Yan, is from the Yan family in Yizhou, Shuchuan (Chengdu). The Yan family’s family background is similar to the Lin family’s and they’re also in the medicinal herbs business. They have their own medicinal plantation manor. Master Lin and his first wife only have one daughter. The family has taken in a few concubines and given birth to a few sons of concubines. However, her daughter was very smart. Since she was young, she helped the family look at the accounts.’
In just a short sentence, Yu Youyao could tell what was going on.
The Great Zhou Dynasty had a medicinal herb production area. Fujian was the medicinal herb production area of Jiangnan Dao, and Shuchuan was the medicinal area of Sichuan. The medicinal herbs produced in each area were different.
Through the marriage between the Lin family and the Yan family, they reached a win-win situation.
Madam Yan did not have any children, but she had a powerful maiden family. How could she watch helplessly as a concubine’s son climbed over her head and abused his power?
Quanzhou was an important place for trade. It was open-minded, and merchants valued mutual interest and courtesy.
As a woman, Miss Lin had the support of Mother Yan and the Yan family. As long as the Lin family did not want to give up on a cooperation with Madam Yan, Jiang and Chuan’s medicinal herbs, they would not give up on Miss Lin.
In the future, even the business dealings between the Lin family and Madam Yan would have to go through Miss Lin..
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