They kowtowed a few times.

Lu Yuan’s family rose to their feet.

They went to the side, took some incense sticks, and lit them. Then, one by one, they offered the incense to the ancestors of Lu Yuan’s family.

Song Meiqin and Zhao Qiao’er were especially devout. After placing the incense with both hands, they bowed again.

Not like Lu Yuan, who just stuck the incense in with one hand and walked away.

After offering the incense, Lu Yuan walked out of the ancestral hall and glanced at the villagers of Shige Village.

He couldn’t be bothered to deal with them.

The old steward at his side came forward and said,

"The cooks have started preparing a meal at your home."

Lu Yuan nodded and led everyone home.

After being away for a few months, the house had gathered a layer of dust. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

’Knowing my wives’ personalities, they’ll definitely want to clean all this up.’

But today was the first day of the Lunar New Year, a day for not using brooms.

They’d have to endure it, no matter how uncomfortable it felt.

Everyone had lunch at the house, and after eating, they took the carriage back.

They didn’t stay long in Shige Village.

They returned around five or six in the evening. After escorting Lu Yuan’s family’s ancestral tablets to the ancestral hall, they had a small meal and went to bed early.

They hadn’t slept the day before and had spent the entire day traveling, so they were exhausted.

...

「The next morning.」

Everyone woke up early this morning.

After all, they had gone to bed early last night.

So naturally, they woke up early. It was just past four, and the sky was still dark, but everyone was already awake.

Of course, even though they were awake, no one got out of bed.

That was one of the perks of living in the same room: it was lively.

There was no rush to get up in the morning. First, they just snuggled and chatted.

They could even chat from bed to bed.

They talked until past six in the morning before finally getting up to eat.

There was nothing much to do today. After breakfast, Aunt Zhao called for a game of mahjong.

But Lu Yuan was already getting dressed and said,

"You all find something else to do. I have to go out."

Aunt Zhao was in high spirits. Just a moment ago in bed, she was muttering about how Song Meiqin had won several taels of silver from her recently.

She had to win it back today.

With Lu Yuan about to leave, how could she let him go?

Aunt Zhao immediately raised an eyebrow and said,

"It’s the New Year, and the sun isn’t even up. What are you so busy with now?

Just stay home."

Lu Yuan, however, finished dressing, walked to the main entrance, put on a dog-skin hat, and grinned.

"The factory outside the city is almost ready. I’m going to check on it today.

If there are no issues, we’ll need to start hiring workers on the fourth day of the New Year."

Hearing this, Song Meiqin, who was beside him, blinked her eyes and quickly said,

"Okay, okay, okay! The factory is important. Go on, hurry~

What mahjong? Business is more important."

Song Meiqin didn’t know if Zhao Qiao’er was anxious or not.

But she certainly was.

After all, according to the proper order of things...

Zhao Qiao’er had to come first, and only then would it be her turn.

Beside her, Zhao Qiao’er blinked, looking like she wanted to say something.

But she only parted her full, sensual red lips and said nothing.

Zhao Qiao’er was anxious too.

Even more so.

Then, Lu Yuan headed out into the darkness.

Zhao Qiao’er was actually the most anxious of all.

’After all, my sweetheart is just a stubborn little donkey.’

’He’s so dead set on getting that factory up and running.’

’Otherwise, he’d feel like he was losing face, like he was marrying into my family.’

’If the factory doesn’t work out, then... then what am I supposed to do?’

’Do I have to just keep waiting with him?’

Although she was anxious, watching Song Meiqin nearby, Zhao Qiao’er couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow and tease,

"Look at you, getting all antsy. If you’re that worried, why don’t you just go with him?"

Song Meiqin, naturally, wouldn’t let that slide. She immediately shot back with a raised eyebrow,

"Right, you’re not anxious.

You’re not anxious, but you’re already dripping wet!"

Song Meiqin’s words truly made Zhao Qiao’er blush furiously.

She shot up, about to cover Song Meiqin’s mouth.

Meanwhile, Su Liyan, who was reading and practicing her calligraphy, turned her head with a curious expression to look at the two bickering women and said:

"What’s dripping wet?"

Song Meiqin giggled, raised an eyebrow, and said,

"Where else could it be?

Of course, her p—"

Before she could finish, Zhao Qiao’er, who was now beet-red, caught up and clamped a hand over her mouth.

Zhao Qiao’er, her face flushed, glared shyly at Song Meiqin and exclaimed,

"You’re asking for it!!"

...

Lu Yuan, for his part, had no idea what was happening at home after he left.

He was currently in a carriage with the old steward, heading to the factory outside the city.

On the morning of the second day of the New Year, the streets were nothing like they had been the day before.

There was hardly anyone on the roads. People visiting relatives usually didn’t start until eight or nine in the morning.

For now, everyone was holed up at home.

The road was clear, and the carriage galloped ahead.

Soon, they arrived at the factory outside the city.

Lu Yuan had visited the factory several times in the days leading up to the New Year.

He hadn’t found any major problems, but he was here today for one last inspection.

If everything was fine, he could post the hiring notice today.

It was perfect timing. Tomorrow, people from the city would generally be visiting their maternal homes.

Once today’s notice was posted, these people returning to their maternal homes would talk about it in their villages, and the news would spread throughout all of Taiping City within a day.

Lu Yuan led the old steward inside for a thorough tour.

The factory buildings, employee dormitories, cafeteria, and warehouses had all been constructed according to Lu Yuan’s specifications.

There were three large factory buildings. Each one contained a large workshop, an assembly room, and a shipping room.

Lu Yuan did a quick calculation for the first batch of hires.

These three large factory buildings could accommodate over three thousand workers without any problem.

However, he didn’t plan on hiring that many people in the initial phase.

He would expand slowly later on.

Eight hundred to a thousand people would be enough to start.

"Are the shops in the Provincial City all set up?"

Lu Yuan finally arrived at the factory manager’s office, sat down, and asked.

The old steward immediately nodded and replied,

"They’re all ready. And not just the ones in the Provincial City.

The shops in the neighboring Dongchang City, Linqing City, and several counties like Qingping are also ready."

The shops in these cities were all existing properties they had purchased, so they only needed some minor renovations to be ready.