Lu Changxuan listened to the report with an unchanged expression, while Qin Feifei also learned the news but didn’t have such a pleasant demeanor. However, she cultivated her character and naturally wouldn’t easily show annoyance.
After the head manager withdrew, Lu Changxuan returned to the back courtyard. Qin Feifei said: “Husband, Seventh Sister’s actions are inappropriate. Although there are now women who show their faces in public to do business, Seventh Sister’s status is different from ordinary women. Moreover, I still have several unmarried sisters. If outsiders knew that the daughters of the Qin household only know how to do business, they would surely look down on the Qin family’s women. Furthermore, with Second Sister’s incident as precedent, doing business inevitably requires dealing with outside men… Second Sister… if it weren’t for that, how could she have… sigh…”
The latter words were spoken vaguely, but Lu Changxuan naturally understood. If Qin Yaoyao hadn’t originally shown her face in public and had contact with men, how could she later have developed improper relations with men?
Lu Changxuan said: “With Seventh Sister making such a big move, father-in-law and mother-in-law naturally know about it. Neither you nor I are in a position to discipline her. Wife, you should stay home and take good care of your pregnancy. You needn’t worry about other matters—your husband will handle everything!”
Hearing this, Qin Feifei smiled charmingly: “I naturally know that husband handles everything! Husband, what virtue and ability do I possess to have husband’s companionship?”
Lu Changxuan was tender and affectionate: “Feifei, you’re so beautiful and intelligent, of course you deserve my wholehearted devotion.”
Qin Feifei stroked her belly and smiled smugly.
Getting rid of Qin Yaoyao and marrying Lu Changxuan was indeed the most correct decision.
The two strolled in the garden, and Qin Feifei spoke of a new poem she had recently composed. Lu Changxuan praised repeatedly: “Feifei, you truly have an orchid heart and fragrant nature.”
Qin Feifei’s eyes sparkled with flowing glances, her smile alluring as she affectionately took Lu Changxuan’s arm: “Husband, how could I have husband’s talent?”
Lu Changxuan pinched her nose—he loved Qin Feifei’s charming and graceful manner. How could Qin Yaoyao compare to even half of Qin Feifei?
From time to time, their intimate whispers and affectionate laughter could be heard in the garden.
…
Lu Changxuan guessed correctly. Qin Yongtao and Xu Shi naturally already knew that the Lu family’s business had plummeted, but they couldn’t do anything to Qin Shuying.
She had merely opened a shop. If she wanted to lower prices, she was only doing what any merchant in the world might do.
By year’s end, the Lu household’s brown sugar business had fallen even further. Even some old customers had abandoned them, while Qin Shuying’s shop quickly introduced various promotions and new attractions, drawing more customers and dealing the Lu household an even more devastating blow.
Near New Year, Qin Shuying’s shop actually launched sweet, cool red granulated sugar. This sugar’s quality was obviously superior to brown sugar, and sales could be described as skyrocketing. It immediately surpassed all the brown sugar in the capital. Since the Lu household’s brown sugar shop was neighboring Qin Shuying’s shop, it suffered the worst losses and directly became completely ignored.
Brown sugar had always been the backbone of all the Lu household’s shops, accounting for half of the Lu household’s annual income.
The Great Zhou’s concept of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants was deeply ingrained. Officials mostly disdained commerce and looked down on merchants. Therefore, even when noble families had businesses, rarely did the head of the family personally manage them—either family servants or hired managers handled affairs, or else the matriarch managed them. Previously, the Lu household’s businesses were all managed by Qin Yaoyao, now replaced by Qin Feifei.
Qin Feifei was forced to adopt price reduction sales methods, but faced with red granulated sugar’s absolute superiority, this proved completely ineffective. In merely one month, the Lu household’s brown sugar shop couldn’t sell a single pound of sugar. The manager was frantic with worry—continuing like this, the Lu household’s brown sugar shop could only close down.
Even before the first lunar month ended, Xu Shi immediately brought this matter to the table. So during casual conversation after everyone paid respects to Old Madam, Xu Shi said to Old Madam: “Old Madam, your daughter-in-law has a matter, but doesn’t know whether it’s appropriate to tell you.”
Qin Shuying’s hands massaging Old Madam paused, sneering inwardly. Finally couldn’t restrain herself?
Old Madam glanced at Xu Shi and said blandly: “What matter makes you so troubled?”
Xu Shi truly appeared especially troubled, looking at Qin Shuying then at Old Madam, sighing and hesitating to speak. Finally gritting her teeth, she said: “Old Madam, it’s not that daughter-in-law is spreading gossip, but this matter is truly significant. As the managing matriarch of the Qin household, if I don’t inform Old Madam and trouble arises later, I’d have no way to explain to Old Madam.”
Old Madam said unhurriedly: “Since that’s the case, why be evasive?”
Xu Shi felt annoyed and impatient, but Qin Yongtao’s words still rang in her ears: “You’re the managing matriarch of the Qin household, you’re the aunt—how can you not even control a little girl? Think about what I once told you regarding how mother rose from a common woman supporting the family to today’s noble status?”
These words were both dissatisfaction and reminder. Reminding her that as managing matriarch, she had countless methods to deal with Qin Shuying while leaving Shuying unable to retaliate, but regardless of how, she couldn’t sink to vulgarity and thus displease Old Madam. Nor could she give others ammunition or leave a bad impression.
Remembering Qin Yongtao’s words, Xu Shi’s thoughts turned, and she changed her tone: “Yes, Old Madam. Daughter-in-law truly fears outsiders mocking the Qin household for lacking rules, so I dare not fail to tell you. It’s like this—Seventh Miss opened a brown sugar shop in the twelfth month. Now outside there are rumors saying Seventh Miss stops at nothing for money and even shares rooms with outside men, which sounds very unseemly. Daughter-in-law thinks that Seventh Miss is ultimately an unmarried young lady. Continuing like this would damage Seventh Miss’s reputation, and Fifth Miss, Sixth Miss, and Eighth Miss are also approaching their coming-of-age ceremonies. If word spreads, it would also be bad for them and might affect their future marriage prospects.”
Hearing these words that combined reason and emotion, Qin Shuying couldn’t help but look at Xu Shi with new eyes. After repeated setbacks, Xu Shi had finally returned to the proper path! Clearly fearing that Qin Shuying would squeeze out the Lu household’s business, but Xu Shi didn’t mention this at all, only making an issue of Qin Shuying’s reputation—truly leaving no room for criticism.
Old Madam’s expression remained bland, and Zou Shi also remained silent.
Zou Shi was honest and decent by nature, but not stupid—on the contrary, quite intelligent. She had been sisters-in-law with Xu Shi for nearly twenty years and knew exactly what kind of person Xu Shi was. She also knew clearly what her own status was and how she should act.
If this were the former Qin Shuying, she would have died of shame and indignation long ago! Any ordinary young lady would have no face to remain. Now, she was completely indifferent to such words, but since Xu Shi wanted to put on a show, she would naturally play along.
Qin Shuying’s eyes immediately reddened, tears ready to fall, saying: “Niece only discusses business with the managers.”
Xu Shi sighed and said: “Seventh Miss, when Third Brother’s business was entrusted to you, I was already uneasy, fearing exactly this kind of troublesome situation. But I didn’t dare speak then, afraid you’d misunderstand and think I had improper intentions. No matter how worried I was, I didn’t dare say a word. But now, with you sharing rooms with outside men and rumors flying everywhere, what should I do? How can I face your deceased parents?”