Marrying a White Snake Wife is Super Cool-Chapter 89 - 78: If Your Brother-in-Law Says One Plus One Equals Three, You Have to Believe Him! Got It
Zhao Qiao’er wrapped an arm around her sister, marveling to herself. ’My sweetheart is always so thoughtful.’
He always moved people when they least expected it.
"Tha—"
Song Meiqin parted her red lips, just as she was about to speak.
But Lu Yuan cut her off with a wave of his hand.
"We’re all family here. No need for such formalities.
Have you all eaten? If not, go ahead. I had a bowl of lamb soup on my way back, so I’m skipping dinner."
As he spoke, Lu Yuan took out a charcoal pencil and some paper.
He bent over the table and began to draw with intense focus.
"Aunt, I need to withdraw some money."
Lu Yuan said, his head still bowed over his drawing.
Zhao Qiao’er had wanted to tease Lu Yuan, to tell him that the three women of the house had been waiting for him, starving, before they would even start eating. She was going to forbid him from eating out next time.
But seeing how serious he was, she simply said:
"You don’t need to ask me about that.
I’ve told you several times, just go to the bookkeeper and ask for it."
Lu Yuan looked up at Aunt Zhao and smiled.
"This time it’s a lot. At least ten thousand taels. I’ll need your written approval to open the vault.
I want to set up a factory outside the city."
A factory?
Zhao Qiao’er wasn’t concerned about why Lu Yuan needed so much money. She was just curious.
"What’s a factory?"
Lu Yuan thought for a moment before explaining seriously:
"It’s like a workshop, just a really big one.
I plan to manufacture some things to sell.
The Spirit Stone Mine isn’t a long-term solution. The Court could take it back at any moment.
I want to use the next few years, before the mine is taken back, to get something else going.
Otherwise, once the Spirit Stone income is gone, this whole big family of ours will fall apart."
Zhao Qiao’er understood what Lu Yuan was saying.
Simply put, he wanted to start a business.
’But starting a business is never that simple.’
The Zhao Family had been laying the groundwork for years, investing in trading companies, textile shops, and all sorts of other ventures.
They were quite profitable, yes.
But the money they brought in was hardly enough to support this large family.
After all, the people the Zhao Family supported were no ordinary folk.
They were supporting Travelers!
The monthly stipend for one of them was worlds away from the meager wages of an ordinary city dweller.
To support these Travelers, you needed an incredibly lucrative source of income, like the Spirit Stone Mine.
’What kind of business could possibly make enough money to support so many Travelers?’
Still, Zhao Qiao’er had always trusted her sweetheart.
So, Zhao Qiao’er nodded gracefully.
"Do whatever you want. Go tell the bookkeeper that from now on, you don’t need my approval to open the vault. Your word is enough."
Zhao Qiao’er’s unconditional trust made Lu Yuan break into a wide grin.
"How can I just open the vault whenever I say so?
It would make me look like the master of the house."
But Zhao Qiao’er just gave Lu Yuan a coquettish eye-roll.
"You will be, soon enough~"
A little over an hour later, Lu Yuan finished his drawings. The three women were still eating, taking their time.
The three women ate slowly, taking tiny, delicate bites.
Unlike Lu Yuan, who could devour nearly half a steamed bun in a single bite.
Lu Yuan stood up, ready to go find the old butler.
But as he passed the dining table, his eyes fell on his wife, who was nibbling delicately at her food.
He immediately reached out and tore a leg off the roasted chicken on the table.
"Open up. Take a big bite."
Lu Yuan held the large drumstick in front of his wife with a wide grin.
Su Liyan froze, her face flushing as she reached out to take it from him.
But Lu Yuan playfully pulled the drumstick away, raising an eyebrow.
"Nope. I’m feeding you. Open up."
Su Liyan glanced at the other two women, who were watching with amused smiles, then back at her man.
Finally, mortified, she parted her lips.
Once he had placed the drumstick in his wife’s mouth, Lu Yuan laughed, threw on a coat, and headed out.
Zhao Qiao’er, startled, called out anxiously:
"Hey!
Where are you going at this hour?"
The last time he’d gone out at night had left Zhao Qiao’er with a bit of trauma.
But Lu Yuan didn’t even turn his head as he replied:
"Stop asking so many questions!
Can’t you see I just threw on a coat? How far could I go?!
I’ll be back in a bit. Keep prying, and I’ll have to teach you a lesson!"
Hearing Lu Yuan’s words, Zhao Qiao’er blushed and sat back down with an indignant "Hmph."
"My, aren’t we getting cocky.
Always threatening to ’teach us a lesson’~"
Beside her, Song Meiqin commented drily between bites,
"What’s wrong?
Is that big ol’ butt of yours itching for a spanking again?"
Zhao Qiao’er: "???"
"You crazy bitch, can’t even eating shut that mouth of yours!"
...
Lu Yuan reached the front courtyard and found the old butler, who had just returned.
Lu Yuan handed him the drawings.
"Build it exactly according to these drawings.
Are the building materials ready?"
The old butler took the drawings from Lu Yuan, nodding as he looked them over.
"Rest assured, Young Master Nephew. Several of the largest brickyards and lumberyards in Taiping City belong to our family.
We won’t be short on building materials. I’ve already sent men to transport them to the vacant lot."
Lu Yuan nodded.
"If you don’t have enough workers, go look for them at the East City Gate.
They’re cheap and work hard. Besides, it’ll give them a way to earn a living.
Otherwise, they’ll freeze to death at the East City Gate once the snow starts this winter."
The old butler acknowledged the order, sighing to himself at what a benevolent man his Young Master Nephew was.
After looking through the drawings, the old butler stared at Lu Yuan, utterly stunned.
"Young Master Nephew... you... you drew these just now? After you got back??"
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and grinned.
"What do you think? Impressive, right?
Now go get it done. Try to have it finished before the New Year."
