strictlysupreme Chapter 257 Giving out red envelopes
Chapter 257 Giving out red envelopes
Jingxue had originally planned to go out for a walk tonight to investigate who set the fire.
She suspected it was still Prime Minister Zou's faction. Now that the delegation had left, it was time for her to make that old man suffer.
Ye Muchen has also sent An Yi out to investigate these past two days, but the capital city is quiet and peaceful, with no abnormalities.
The next day, Jingxue brought Runyue and Yingjiu to the shops on West Street. She brought chicken, duck, fish and meat for the shop assistants and asked Yingjiu to deliver them to each shop. She also called several shopkeepers to the general store for a meeting.
The first to arrive was Manager Peng, who greeted the boss with a New Year's greeting.
"Happy New Year! Come and sit down." Lixia and Runyue brought over hot fruit tea.
"Master, did Miss Lixia tell you about what happened at the cloth shop?"
"Huh? What's going on with the cloth shop?" Jingxue asked, puzzled.
As Li Xia poured tea, she said, "Manager Peng, the boss just arrived, and I haven't had a chance to speak yet."
“Oh! Then let me tell you! Master, just before the New Year, my former brother-in-law came to see Qingqing again. Wasn’t the widow’s brother he later found executed? But he still believed that the child in that woman’s belly was a lucky star. Who knew that the child wasn’t his at all,” said Manager Peng.
Jingxue raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
"That woman's child belonged to a gambler on South Street. One time, the gambler came to the woman to ask for money, and my former brother-in-law happened to catch him in the act. That's when he realized that he had been tricked. He divorced the woman and then came back to find Qingqing."
"Qingqing had long since lost interest in him and completely ignored him. Fortunately, he didn't cause a scene this time. Later, he even resorted to a self-inflicted injury, kneeling not far from the cloth shop and begging for Qingqing's forgiveness!"
"This has almost become a sight on the street. Because he doesn't cause trouble, the yamen runners can't do anything about him. Later, I went to pick up Qingqing and the child and took them to the beauty salon. I and Miss Lixia were clearing out the stock there. Now there are hardly any items left in the shop. We took the remaining needles and thread back to the general store here. When the man saw that there was really no hope, he stopped coming."
Manager Peng continued, "Boss, Qingqing's matter has caused you trouble. She was too embarrassed to accept the bi-monthly bonus before the New Year."
"No need for that. Let the mother and her three children stay here for a while. Once Baichuan Academy starts in a few days, we can send the boys there for their early education first. As long as it doesn't bother the guests," Jingxue said.
"Okay, boss, Qingqing's two children are very well-behaved!"
Manager Peng then handed over the account books and banknotes. "Boss, these are the account books for the beauty salon and the cloth shop. Please take a look!"
At this moment, Peng Qingqing also arrived. "Happy New Year, host! I'm late because I've settled the children."
"Happy New Year!" Jingxue looked up at her, then looked at the account book.
The beauty salon sold a lot of beauty cards before the New Year, and the sales of women's hygiene products were also good, bringing in 3,700 taels of silver.
The shopkeepers arrived one after another, with Shopkeeper Wang arriving a little later because he lived the furthest away.
Jingxue quickly reviewed the account books of the various shops. Overall, the fruit and vegetable shop was the best, perhaps because of the Chinese New Year.
After reviewing the accounts, Jingxue said, "Everyone has worked hard this past month!"
"Boss, this is what we should do," the shopkeepers said in unison.
"Our shop will open tomorrow. I'll fill up the warehouses on West Street later. Let's discuss what needs improvement or what ideas you have for your shops."
Manager Cai spoke first, “Boss, our grains sold exceptionally well before the New Year. Some customers asked if we had any grain seeds to sell. Sweet potatoes and potatoes are fine, but we don’t sell corn kernels.”
“I’m going to hand over this grain seed to the imperial court for unified promotion. It’s potatoes and sweet potatoes. You can also tell your customers how to grow them. They need to be very durable, so they can generally be grown successfully,” Jingxue said.
"Master, shall we continue with the previous purchase restriction policy? I feel that the food shortage is getting worse as spring and summer approach!"
Jingxue said, "Let's continue selling according to the original method for now! I'll discuss it with Prince Qin when I have time, and if we need to make changes, we should make them uniformly."
"Yes, boss."
Of the remaining shopkeepers, only Shopkeeper Wang had something to say.
"Boss, our goods are still in short supply. The products are so good that they're almost sold out before they even hit the shelves. Also, because these spiced dried tofu can be stored for a long time, many people buy them and take them to other places. Our production is still too small."
"There's nothing we can do about it. Uncle Lian and the others didn't get a break during the New Year. We can only leave it like this for now. It will be fine once the workshops on the estate are built!" Jingxue said, taking a sip of fruit tea.
"Speaking of building workshops, I have something else to say. After the weather gets warmer, I want to add two floors to the general store, cosmetics store, grain store, and cloth store."
The shopkeepers looked at each other, their faces filled with excitement.
"Boss, that's wonderful!"
"Yes! Our lives are getting better and better!"
Jingxue smiled and said, "Business cannot stop during the construction period. Everyone should make proper arrangements. Also, we must pay attention to safety and ensure that no one is injured during the construction period, whether it is a customer or one of our own people."
Shopkeeper He said, "Boss, shall we set up a stall on the street in front of the shop?"
"Then we'll need to build a temporary shed to provide shade and shelter from the rain," said Manager Wu.
Manager Cai said, "Boss, how about we move our grain shop to the warehouse on the back street for a while? We can't exactly set up shop on the main street to sell our grain here."
“What you all said makes a lot of sense, and your ideas are good. Go back and refine your ideas in detail, taking into account the actual situation of your shops. We still have some time, so we can discuss it together later.” After Jingxue finished speaking, she gestured for Runyue to open the package in her hand.
Jingxue said, "Before the New Year, I was in the palace and didn't come to visit everyone. Fortunately, today is the seventh day of the New Year, and the New Year is not over yet. This is a red envelope for you, twenty taels of silver for each person."
They called them red envelopes, but they were actually made of red fabric, and the shopkeepers were embarrassed to accept them.
"Master, before the New Year, you had Miss Lixia give us all a bi-monthly bonus as well?" Manager Cai said.
Shopkeeper Wu said, "Yes! We'd feel a little guilty accepting another red envelope!"
"Alright, everyone, you've all worked hard! Keep up the good work, and the red envelopes will be even bigger and more plentiful. What are you afraid of losing money?" Jingxue said with a smile.
Li Xia accepted the red envelope first, saying, "Thank you, Miss!"
"Thank you, boss!"
"Okay! Go back now!" Jingxue said, standing up.
"Yes!"
Watching the others leave, Li Xia finally had a chance to talk to Jing Xue alone.
"Miss, I heard from Yueyue that Madam gave birth to a little prince. That's wonderful! I just hope that Master and Madam can regain their freedom soon." Lixia said, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Yes, everything will be alright. I might be even busier in the days to come, and you'll have to work hard at the shop. This is what I bought for you before the New Year." Jingxue said, taking out two pieces of jewelry: a gold bracelet and a silver hairpin. The flowers on the silver hairpin were lifelike.
"Thank you, Miss! It is my honor to be able to share your burden!"
"Then I'll take Leap Moon back first!"
Li Xia said, "Miss, this servant will see you off!"