MTL - My Stepmother is Soft and Charming-Chapter 218 Less but better
“I still have a few shops and businesses in my hands, but they all look useless now, so I have to ask Shopkeeper Song to come with me to see if they can be sold or exchanged, so that I can help you get an idea.”
Song Xian has been operating in Sui'an City for many years and knows a lot about the shops everywhere.
So I didn’t refuse, I just nodded and agreed.
Then he followed his sister-in-law Liu to inspect the neighborhoods in Sui'an City.
Speaking of which, my sister-in-law Mrs. Liu has eight shops she brought from her parents' family, and twenty-four shops inherited from her mother-in-law Gu. Therefore, including the six shops given by Du Jingyi, the total is thirty. Eight rooms.
There are hundreds of acres of fertile farmland and a small village on the outskirts of the city, and these are all the family properties of my sister-in-law Liu.
Song Xian followed her from place to place, first looking at the location, then at the specific business of the shop, then at the shopkeeper and clerk, and finally looking at the shop's account books.
Every time he went to a place and stayed for only a moment, he knew it in his mind.
After struggling like this for a long time, the two of them returned to Rongan Silver Building.
As soon as he entered the backyard, Song Xianxu didn't say much and started analyzing.
"Only one of the rouge shops and the book shop of Madam Madam can be saved. The rest should be sold off. Firstly, the people in charge are incompetent, and if we continue like this, we will only lose more and more money. Secondly, There are too many businesses of all kinds but not the best, which not only wastes time but also consumes energy.”
"Business is something that can be said to be simple or difficult. If you are just starting to do business like the young lady, I think you should concentrate on doing one or two things well."
The advice given by Song Xian is actually similar to what Du Jingyi said.
Sister-in-law Liu also knew in her heart that the business was not going to work, but she was still a little worried about selling it for more than 90%.
"I understand what Shopkeeper Song means. It's just that not all of these shops were brought by my mother-in-law. Some of them were left by my mother-in-law. Many shopkeepers are old people. What will they do if the shops are sold? Woolen cloth?"
Most of the shops left by Mrs. Gu were in good locations and their shopkeepers and clerks were loyal.
Just because I didn’t take advantage of the business opportunities, I gradually fell into decline.
Taking a ready-made clothing store as an example, it originally made a profit of 10,000 liang a year. However, because the styles were not updated in time and the materials were not as innovative as other stores, the business gradually declined.
The shopkeeper has worked very hard to maintain a profit of one thousand taels now, so it is useless to stay.
Even before she had thought about it, she saw that Song Xian had already thought of a countermeasure in advance.
"If the young lady is worried about the aftermath, why not leave it to me. Based on the length of time the shopkeepers have been in the shop, one more year will give them an extra portion of the severance pay. If this arrangement continues, it will probably not matter. A few people will refute it.”
After hearing this, Mrs. Liu, the sister-in-law, and Mother Ou looked at each other. Such an idea did not seem to offend the old people, so she nodded in agreement.
“In that case, let’s do what Shopkeeper Song said. First, we should send the information about the sold shop to the Merchant and Goods Department for filing, and then we can make arrangements.”
“Well, follow the orders of the eldest young lady.”
Subsequently, they discussed and organized all these shops. Nine out of ten people would be dismissed, and only a few could stay.
But he didn’t work in the original shop. Instead, he first came to Rongan Silver Building to work. Shopkeeper Song had to train him carefully before he could arrange to work in another shop.
He was doing these things in an orderly manner, while his sister-in-law Liu looked on with admiration in her eyes.
For many years, she had not been in charge of a household, so she stayed in the one-third of an acre of land in Dongyuan and took care of her two children as they grew up.
Apart from Mother Ou beside her, the people she trusts most are Butler He and Aunt Dou. At this time, for some reason, Shopkeeper Song seemed to have a natural ability to convince others, so that she could safely hand over these matters.
Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but smile.
After everything was arranged, the sky became a little dark.
The wind and snow on the road have gradually become lighter than in the cold winter months.
She gained a lot from her trip.
I organized and planned my family property as quickly as possible, so I felt a little more certain and confident about the future on my way back than when I came here.
And Mother Ou next to sister-in-law Liu's face was also full of excitement at this moment.
“Shopkeeper Song seems to be young, but he is so experienced in doing things. With such a talent and shop, Madam Sixth Young Master gave it away as soon as she said so. She really has good intentions.”
If Du Jingyi hadn't been pregnant and it was very windy and snowy outside, I'm afraid she would have gone to help her sister-in-law Liu on inspections.
But due to the current situation, we can only arrange for shopkeeper Song to do this.
In Mother Ou's mind, she originally thought that she was just a shopkeeper, and at most he would be more alert in doing things, but she didn't expect that there was no humility of a slave in this shopkeeper.
Every time he gave advice to his wife, he did not shy away from the host's situation. He always highlighted the key points and gave straightforward solutions.
Hence, Mother Oll had a very good impression of him.
"Shopkeeper Song is a person who can do practical things. Since my brother and sister sent him to me as an errand, I can't let him underestimate me. Although I am not as powerful as my brothers and sisters, I thought that if I work harder, I can always save some wealth for Ping'er."
At that time, mother and son will be able to live a smooth life, and they will no longer have to worry about it.
"That's what Madam said. Young Master Ping seems to be much more lively now than before. The life of our big house will definitely be back to the past, no, better than before."
“That’s what mom said!”
Even though she is an orphan and a widower, her elder sister-in-law, Ms. Liu, does not want to be left behind.
She doesn't need the pity of others, she just wants to force herself and her son to come to the world.
Chariots and horses drove all the way towards the General's Mansion accompanied by the sound of people and excitement, and their good life was just about to show its new buds like the coming spring.
On the day when the snow melted, a happy event ushered in the East Palace.
The lady of the Zong family entered the East Palace in a four-carrying soft sedan, carrying sixty-eight pieces of dowry and wearing a pink gown, and officially became the crown prince's concubine.
I heard that she is a special favor when she enters the palace. It seems that this lady from the Zong family is someone who will take advantage of the opportunity to cause trouble.
In fact, given her status, if she wanted to compete for the position of concubine, she would have a chance.
Naihe was born two years late, and the four concubine positions were already occupied, so she had no choice but to play second fiddle to others.
However, she was sensible. Once she entered the East Palace, she not only won the prince's favor, but also curried favor with the prince's concubine. Therefore, although she was a good lady, others did not have to make things difficult for her.
