Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Proposing a Big Deal Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Proposing a Big Deal Jinrong believed his judgnt to be correct, and he asked Qi Younian, “Is it because your family lacks capital that you have turned a perfectly good business into what it is now?”
Qi Younian paused and didn’t know how to answer Jinrong’s question. It was an obvious fact, wasn’t it? The food concocted by his granddaughter was definitely fit for the table. Haven’t you seen how many dishes Great Crane House, that large restaurant, orders from our little shop every day?
It was precisely because of the lack of capital that they had turned the little shop’s business into such an embarrassnt.
Jinrong, seeing Qi Younian’s hesitant appearance, knew his estimate was not far off, and turned to the cold-faced Jiang Yifan, saying, “Sixth Master, I really can’t bear to watch a perfectly good business be ruined by your family. So, I’m willing to lend your family so silver. Take over the two stores next door, spruce them up a bit, and make a good go of it. What do you think?”
Qi Younian’s eyes widened in shock, staring blankly at Jinrong. What was this situation? His Highness Prince Yu was taking the initiative to lend silver to his family; was it because of Ye Zi’s original status?
He slowly shifted his gaze towards Jiang Yifan, the forr husband of Ye Zi. Nanny Jin said that Lord Jiang’s family background was not bad, considered to be a prestigious clan in the area. And at that mont, Lord Jiang was giving him and his granddaughter the cold shoulder with an icy face and silence, making it clear that he had no regard for Qi Younian’s family.
This this this… How was he supposed to respond?
Jinrong glanced at Jiang Yifan and said to Qi Younian, “Old man, don’t overthink it. Actually, it’s nothing much—just a small amount of money. Using a little money to help a business with potential, and watch it grow… I am still more than happy to see that happen.”
Jiang Yifan turned his face away, no longer looking at him. He never expected that a re visit out of curiosity would lead to such thoughts in Jinrong’s mind.
He often heard Jinrong complain that the imperial city was like a gilded cage masking a prison, unaware of how many vivid and brilliant human natures it had smothered.
Therefore, Jiang Yifan knew what Jinrong was planning—it was nothing more than enjoying the spectacle without fear of the stage being too high. Ye Xinyan seed very different from when she was in the capital city now, with much more diverse thoughts and wisdom. Even her personality had changed a lot, fascinating Jinrong.
Compared to Jinrong’s curiosity, a little silver was nothing. If such a trifling amount of silver could help raise Ye Xinyan up and one day return to the capital in triumph, wouldn’t it be gratifying to see the noble and prestigious officials, ladies, and noble daughters in the capital gape in astonishnt?
This way, it would also indirectly tell those of high status that the opulent and dignified scenes of the imperial city had buried the talents of many of the intelligent and able.
As Qi Younian was still hesitating about whether to discuss with Ye Xinyan, Jinrong commanded Hongzhi, “Go, help Lady Qi watch the shop and call her in to discuss this matter.”
Hongzhi said in surprise, “I am not familiar with the matters of the shop; I’m afraid I might delay the Old Master Qi’s business.”
After pondering for a mont, Jinrong then asked, “I saw your granddaughter teaching the younger one to write when I ca in earlier, didn’t I?”
Upon ntioning this, Qi Younian put aside his tangled emotions for a mont and said with pride, “Indeed, in a few days, my grandson will be five years old and can be sent to school for enlightennt next year. Ye Zi said that while the business at ho is not busy, she might as well teach Xiao Jiajia a few words and numbers that could be useful in the business. The child is curious and interested, so he learns quickly, and at the very least, he can establish so basics in strokes.”
Jinrong nodded, “So, Qi Jiaer is quite familiar with the miscellaneous affairs of the shop?”
Qi Younian hesitated and then nodded. Was he to let Xiao Jiajia help Hongzhi watch the shop?
Indeed, Jinrong said to Hongzhi, “You go ahead and swap with Lady Qi. I reckon there won’t be any trouble at the shop during this short ti. If there is, just ask the elder’s grandson for advice, and learn how to manage a shop.”
“…Oh,” Hongzhi nearly wanted to cry. Isn’t this kind of humiliating? To have him, a grown man, learn how to manage a shop from a child not even three feet tall?
When Ye Xinyan entered with her head full of questions and heard Jinrong explain the intention to lend money, she didn’t understand why Jinrong would help her expand the shop.
But what does his rationale matter? Investing is ultimately a positive thing. The snack shop is a small business indeed, one that surely doesn’t require the personal attention of His Highness Prince Yu. Although the shop’s developnt hadn’t followed Ye Xinyan’s initial expectations, its daily inco was not bad at all.
What troubled Ye Xinyan now was sothing else.
Ye Xinyan was currently distressed over a shortage of a certain ingredient for the shop, and Jinrong’s arrival was like tily rain coming from a cloudless sky.
Ye Xinyan paid her respects to Jinrong and said, “Sixth Master, the shop’s business is quite satisfactory, and currently, it doesn’t have the capacity to expand. Moreover, even if we wanted to grow such a small business, given our current resources, there’s only so much we could do. If Sixth Master is interested in investing, perhaps you might consider other projects.”
“Other projects,” Jinrong said, “Oh, since the snack shop is a small business, the project Lady Qi suggests must surely be a significant business. Let’s hear what Lady Qi proposes.”
This woman, who left the capital, was truly no ordinary person, actually deeming the small snack shop business too minor and attempting to persuade him to invest in sothing else. But… she, Ye Xinyan, had also seen wealth and prosperity before. Shouldn’t she know what kind of business is considered significant for a prince like him?
Ye Xinyan left the capital at the end of last year, weathering nurous hardships, and finally gained a reputation she could openly disclose this February. Furthermore, in less than half a year, she not only started a small breakfast stall but also opened a profitable snack shop, successfully marketing her snacks to the largest tavern in the county town.
Even with the one hundred taels of silver borrowed from Jiang Yifan, achieving all these wasn’t easy. And now, Miss Ye seed to find the snack shop’s business too small.
Jinrong raised an eyebrow at Ye Xinyan. What really is a big business? Could it be comparable to the business of Duke An’s Family that could bring her back to the capital in glory?
Ye Xinyan ignored the taunt in Jinrong’s voice and rely smiled, saying, “Of course, it’s not so big business, but it would be much larger than the snack shop’s. “She paused, then added, “This investnt might not yield much profit in the short term, but the long-term benefits could be quite astonishing. It would be greatly advantageous for both Sixth Master and Lord Jiang.”
This was the first ti Ye Xinyan officially ntioned Jiang Yifan, a man she had previously acted as if did not exist.
The original Ye Xinyan had indeed handled things poorly; no wonder Jiang Yifan hadn’t shown her a friendly face. Even so, Ye Xinyan didn’t feel she had wronged Jiang Yifan in any way or needed to grovel for past mistakes. The past, even that of the original owner, was regrettable and dwelling on it proved fruitless.
Since Jiang Yifan had been cold to her, and Ye Xinyan didn’t quite know who he thought he was, she naturally didn’t want to confront an arrogantly haughty face as if it were worth a fortune. Knowing she was disliked, Ye Xinyan wisely kept her distance.
Now, Ye Xinyan’s ntion of Jiang Yifan was out of necessity, since he was the Master County Magistrate of Qingyuan County after all, but that was all there was to it.
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