books44 Chapter 85 - A Blow
Chapter 85 - A Blow
As expected, the Li family listened to Li Laosan and chose an inn, but in order to save money, they opted for a dormitory-style room.
"Mother, what does she mean! It's not like we're short of money, why do we have to live in a shared dormitory? Zhu Zi is the eldest son and grandson!" Sister-in-law Li expressed her dissatisfaction by throwing things around.
"Alright, Mom and Dad live in the same place too!" Li Laoda disagreed in his heart. Everyone had been traveling all day, they should at least have a room to wash up. His mother was too stingy!
Li Laosan and his family were speechless, but he had already asked the innkeeper about the bathhouse in town. He would take his family to the bathhouse to relax and unwind after their long journey.
Grandma Li was still complaining about how expensive the inn was. She said it would be better to find a dilapidated temple, which would save a lot of money!
"Alright, if you say another word, go live in that dilapidated temple yourself!" Old Man Li had had enough.
However, my wife is right. Staying at an inn is a bit of a waste. There's no income in the family right now, just spending money without making any. This won't do. We need to urge the third son to find a place to live tomorrow.
Old Li felt that they didn't need to live too well; the whole family could just squeeze in like in the village.
"You nine people want to find two rooms?" The middleman thought he had misheard.
Li Laosan looked up at the sky helplessly. To be honest, he also thought it was outrageous, but it was his mother's strong request, and she said that his father had also agreed.
He was thinking about moving out, but he hadn't yet divided the fifty taels of silver he received from his second brother, so he was a little reluctant to part with it.
And so, the Li family went to see the house, led by the middleman.
After Li Mingyue and her family settled in, they began looking for work in the city.
Early in the morning, she and her parents went their separate ways to find work. Jiqing Prefecture was relatively safe, so Li Mingyue wasn't worried about her safety. But what should she do?
Thinking about their family's meager resources, Li Mingyue sighed.
Farming? They don't have any land now, and she doesn't want her family to become tenant farmers again.
Making snacks? They are farmers and don't have any special cooking skills. The sisters in the group did give them recipes before, but they don't have enough money. Buying things is a big expense. It's true that even a skilled cook can't cook without rice!
Li Mingyue thought that if things didn't work out, she could learn to make tofu like Grandma Liu, but making tofu was too hard work, and she secretly didn't want to live such a hard life again.
Just then, Li Mingyue suddenly saw a silver shop in the distance.
She thought of something and quickly went inside.
"Young lady, what would you like to order?" The clerk at the jewelry store immediately stepped forward to greet her.
"Is your manager here? I'd like to discuss something with him," Li Mingyue said seriously.
The waiter hesitated for a moment, because Li Mingyue's attire didn't resemble that of a wealthy family's young lady. However, seeing that she showed no sign of timidity, the waiter hesitated for a moment before going to report to the manager.
"Young lady, I am Manager Lu of Jinyulou. May I ask what you wish to discuss with me?" Manager Lu sized up Li Mingyue as he came out.
Li Mingyue took a deep breath and said, "Manager Lu, I have an idea, but I don't know if I should say it."
Shopkeeper Lu smiled and said, "Young lady, please speak freely."
Li Mingyue continued, "I've noticed that your store's jewelry styles are rather traditional, lacking novel and unique designs. I have some new designs that, if used in jewelry making, will definitely attract more customers."
Shopkeeper Lu became interested when a plainly dressed girl said she had a new design. His eyes lit up at the thought.
"Miss, may I see the design?"
Li Mingyue was a little embarrassed. How could a country girl like her know how to draw?
Manager Lu, being shrewd, also noticed this and called to his assistant, "Lu An, go and invite Painter Liu over."
Soon after the painter Liu arrived, Li Mingyue described the jewelry to the painter one by one, based on the designs that Liu Mingyue and Lin Liuyi had given her.
As expected of Jin Yu Lou's chief painter, Liu the painter captured everything Li Mingyue had said in just a few strokes. Soon, a set of exquisite necklace, bracelet and earring designs were drawn on the drawing.
After examining the designs carefully, a hint of surprise flashed in Manager Lu's eyes. "These designs are indeed unique. Would you be willing to sell the recipe to us, young lady?"
Li Mingyue was overjoyed and wanted to agree, but then changed her mind, "Of course I'm willing! However, I want a share of the profits."
"Profit sharing?"
"For every set of this jewelry sold, I will receive 30% of the profits," Li Mingyue suggested after a moment's thought.
"Young lady, you're joking. You've only given a verbal description, yet you want 30% of my Jin Yu Lou's profits. Isn't that inappropriate?" Manager Lu shook his head.
“But creativity is the most important thing, isn’t it? Without my explanation, you wouldn’t have any new ideas.” Li Mingyue racked her brains trying to recall what the sisters in the group usually said.
"Miss, allow me to say something, our Jin Yu Lou has no shortage of novel jewelry designs." Manager Lu said proudly, as their Jin Yu Lou was the number one silver shop in Ji Qing Prefecture.
Seeing that Li Mingyue had nothing to say, Manager Lu's eyes lit up. "If you can produce thirty new designs every month, I can give you ten percent."
"One-tenth? Thirty new styles?" Li Mingyue was somewhat resistant.
After all, she didn't actually know how to draw patterns; she learned them from the other women in the group.
"Alright then, shopkeeper, how much silver is the buyout price?"
"If it's a buyout, I can offer fifty taels of silver. What do you think, young lady?" Manager Lu smiled at Li Mingyue.
“Fifty taels? Shopkeeper, can’t you give me more? As you can see, the design is exquisite, and I’m sure the ladies will love it once it’s made.” Li Mingyue argued forcefully.
"Miss Li, you can get fifty taels of silver just by talking. Isn't that enough? Then how about this, I, the shopkeeper, add another ten taels, making it sixty taels of silver? What do you think?"
Li Mingyue was already discouraged by what she had been told, so she decided that sixty taels would do.
Holding the silver, Li Mingyue walked out the door, looking at the silver shop with an inscrutable expression.
She wasn't unaware that she was being taken advantage of, but she couldn't choose not to sell; she needed the money.
She clenched her fists and secretly vowed that she would make a lot of money so that the next time she came here, she wouldn't be there to sell patterns, but to buy jewelry in a respectable way.
Not long after she turned and left Jinyulou, she unexpectedly encountered the Li family.
Li Mingyue gave them a disgusted look, turned and left, leaving the Li family members who wanted to greet her speechless.
"That brat didn't even say hello, I think she's gone too far! Third brother, go and bring her back!" Old Lady Li scolded angrily.
"Hey, you can't just do whatever you want in the city!" The middleman was now regretting taking on the job from the Li family; they were just too picky.