Help! The Frosty Noble's Son Is in Love With Me!-Chapter 285: Sowing Discord

Qu Fulan did not meet with the merchants personally. It wasn’t that she thought too highly of herself; it was inconvenient to reveal her identity. Otherwise, once they collaborated, people might misuse the status of Young Lady Pei, which wouldn’t be good.

So, she selected a shopkeeper to deal with the merchants on her behalf, following her instructions to negotiate business, while she listened from the next room.

Qu Fulan’s plan wasn’t complicated. The underwear business couldn’t be monopolized. Since the business would be divided sooner or later, why not bring others in to collaborate?

The supply and prices could be negotiated.

The underwear market is vast; one person can’t consume it all. Now, she’s taking orders from nobles to maintain her clientele in this regard, other clientele she cannot currently cater to, so these merchants can consolidate it, take goods from her, reach a cooperative agreement, and achieve mutual benefits.

People in business, especially those who’ve achieved some success, aren’t simple-minded. Previously, various reasons might have led them to overlook underwear, or due to various reasons, they couldn’t handle it temporarily. Now, since there are partners, they can obtain ready-to-wear goods and choose styles freely, it’s naturally a sought-after opportunity.

Business fundamentally involves cooperation to achieve greater profits.

Otherwise, they could produce underwear themselves, but the designs and styles might not be as good as these. Thus, cooperation is better.

On this day, Qu Fulan "met" with many merchants, both large and small, and gained quite a lot.

It was considered fulfilling a wish she’d held.

On another front, some people also reached a favorable agreement.

The Yu Family and Ruan Family exchanged documents, successfully deciding on a betrothal.

Young Master Ruan accompanied his mother to the Yu Mansion for the meeting, while Miss Yu was behind the screen and did not appear. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The last time, she met Young Master Ruan in this manner as well.

Young Master’s character and appearance were both decent, just decent compared to outstanding individuals, but being capable of managing daily life is most important. After all, good looks can’t be eaten; being visually appealing but useless is frustrating.

Everyone understands this reasoning, but Miss Yu still can’t help but remember that person’s figure. If the Pei Family hadn’t had an incident and the marriage wasn’t broken, she would be by his side now, wouldn’t she? He would treat her the same way, right?

Some things can’t be thought about; wanting to remember them cuts like a knife, making one regretful.

There’s no point in dwelling on it; what good is thinking further? There’s no remedy for regret in this world, and now she’s engaged. When she marries Young Master Ruan, she should focus on living well.

Young Master Ruan seemed upright and caring.

Pei Mansion.

"I’m going to find my cousin right now. I want to ask him why he treated Master Lu this way!" Ning Xin suddenly stood up, her anger ready to burst as she was about to leave.

Master Lu, however, stopped her, "Don’t be rash. The Princely Heir’s status is noble. Do you think you can question him easily?"

Ning Xin was stunned for a moment. Truthfully, she dared not question her cousin either. Despite how accommodating her cousin might seem, once you hit his bottom line, he will definitely not forgive you, no matter who you are.

"Then I’ll go ask my cousin’s wife why she doesn’t persuade him, letting him act recklessly."

"Why is your temper still so impulsive? Your lack of progress in chess previously was because of your impatience. I’ve often reminded you in my letters to focus on self-cultivation. How could you forget all this?"

Master Lu wouldn’t hold back in offering guidance to those he favored, not only teaching chess but also human principles.

The opposite is true as well.

"So Master Lu’s grievances are just left as they are?" Ning Xin asked.

"It’s all in the past. Aren’t I fine now? The Princely Heir is young and impulsive, which is inevitable. Luckily, now that the Marquis is back, with his guidance, the Princely Heir will likely improve a lot. I just worry..."

"Worry about what?" Ning Xin asked.

Master Lu furrowed his brow, "Marrying an unworthy wife ruins three generations."

"What do you mean by that, Master Lu?"

"Currently, she’s managing the main household, yet goes out publicly all day. It’s quite improper. With such a rule-breaking daughter-in-law in the house, trouble is bound to happen sooner or later."

...

Ning Xin returned to her mother feeling infuriated, relaying Master Lu’s words incessantly to her.

"How can there be such absurd people? In the past, Master Lu would see some chess games and want to offer pointers, inevitably asking a few questions. What he asked wasn’t anything outrageous, merely about her mentors. To flaunt her intelligence and seem impressive, she wouldn’t even mention her mentor. She just said it was my cousin who taught her, and she learned in less than half a year."

"Did she really take everyone for fools? I, for one, studied chess for many years, starting at three, and at seven, I still had much to learn, requiring Master Lu’s guidance. Half a year?"

"Putting all that aside, originally Master Lu only wanted to taste some pastries she made. She went and complained to my cousin, resulting in him sending Master Lu to a family temple. Isn’t that excessive?"

"Let’s forget those things, they’re past events, and Master Lu doesn’t dwell on them. But as a wife, shouldn’t she be at home honoring her in-laws? Always going out in public; what propriety is there? Indeed, she comes from a minor household. Otherwise, which young woman from a prestigious family would conduct herself this way?"

Mrs. Ning’s first reaction, hearing her daughter’s words, was that Ning Xin exaggerated. Other issues could be discussed, but she couldn’t help asking, "Is your cousin’s wife truly never at home?"

Speaking of which, although Mrs. Ning and Madam Pei were sisters, they were fundamentally different. Madam Pei enjoyed wielding weapons and making appearances outdoors since she was young, despite numerous reprimands from her parents she never changed. Ultimately, they had to let her have her way.

After experiencing a failed education with one daughter, the family was stricter with Mrs. Ning’s upbringing, ensuring she learned all proper virtues, so now Mrs. Ning is the typical matron.

Thus, she raised her daughter as a model woman. If not, Ning Xin wouldn’t have such an impulsive nature openly displayed.

"Why would I deceive you, mother? Just have a look. When I returned, I asked if she went out early in the morning." Ning Xin huffed, "And who knows what Mrs. Pei is thinking, allowing her daughter-in-law to cause such trouble."

"Alright, regardless, this is ultimately your Mrs. Pei’s family matter, not yours to discuss." Mrs. Ning disapproved of Qu Fulan’s actions but didn’t forget her status; the setting is Pei Mansion, not Ning Mansion.

Despite her words, Mrs. Ning would still give her sister some well-intentioned reminders.

Qu Fulan returned home at dusk; Pei Ji’an hadn’t returned yet. After dinner, she began to listen to the stewardess report on the household affairs and receive countersigns and such.

She called this "company meetings," but unlike others who hold morning meetings, her timing was dusk, and everyone knew her routine.

Before she married, she thought household trivialities would hinder her career, yet she found it was manageable.

Perhaps following her boss’s lead, seeing her boss visit the company sparingly, without the company ever failing, she realized the importance of management, of identifying talent so they can work efficiently.

Managing the household now, she implements a company management system. It’s not like she doesn’t pay them; once they are paid, they should work. Is it her job to fret over every matter? Wouldn’t that make them reliant?

Unfortunately, such execution of the system is advanced and greatly tests one’s abilities; just looking at Ren Hua shows she can’t balance both sides like Qu Fulan does.

Unable to do so, she focuses on household matters, leaving business to shopkeepers, thereby losing many potential deals.

Yet, ironically, Pei Mansion people praised her, saying she’s more sensible than the Princely Heir’s wife.