Blossom in Adversity

C132. Conducting Business with Dignity.

Chapter 132: Conducting Business with Dignity

Essentially, Hua Zhi was a businesswoman. As soon as she learned about the situation, she made a decisive decision to implement a strategy of scarcity marketing. She supplied a limited quantity daily, closed when sold out, and kept the market in an unsaturated state. Since the product was consumable, the demand increased day by day.

Watched the business that was about to boom.

Calculating with an abacus, Nian Qiu softly exhaled and briskly brought the account book to Miss's front. "Miss, it's all calculated."

Looking at the figures, a slight smile tugged at Hua Zhi's lips. She knew she made the right choice to partner with Yunlai Restaurant. Apart from the price, which was appealing, who would have thought that the cost of a jar of twelve taels of silver didn't exceed three taels?

This was because she bought better porcelain jars to elevate the class. If she requested less, two taels of silver would have sufficed.

Liu Xiang reported at the door, "Miss, Fourth Lady is here."

"Please, quickly." Hua Zhi stood up to greet her at the door. Wu shi came in from outside, exuding a cold air. "Stay away from me."

Hua Zhi had no choice but to return to her original position as she watched her aunt stave off the cold before taking a seat opposite her. "It seems it's going to snow again; it's terribly cold."

"Winter is the time for snowfall." Hua Zhi pushed the teacup towards her. "Drink it to warm your stomach."

Not one to stand on ceremony, Wu shi drank half a cup in one go. "Did you call me here for something?"

Ying Chun brought forth three thousand-liang silver notes and placed them in front of Fourth Aunt Meeting her surprised gaze, Hua Zhi smiled. "This isn't for you. I need you to visit the other three families, give them this silver, and tell them I have important plans for the silver after the New Year. They can only use this amount to purchase some items to celebrate the New Year for now."

Wu shi furrowed her brows slightly. "Everyone has a habit of hoarding silver. Just because we kept them doesn't mean they didn't."

"Theirs is theirs, and it's unrelated to what we give them. If our branch completely ignores them, it will create rifts in the family."

Wu shi nodded. "Alright, I understand. I'll deliver it to them shortly."

As Wu shi safely stored the silver notes, Hua Zhi remarked, "The inner courtyard seems quite peaceful recently."

"How could it not be peaceful? You've regained the silver, and the young ladies from each family have started taking charge. Everyone has benefited." Wu shi chuckled. "However, some people might have objections when the silver is distributed. After all, the workshops were funded by contributions from each family, so everyone has a share in it."

"I haven't touched the silver from the canned goods. The three thousand liang is counted as the profit from Green Moss Alley. The profits from the canned goods won't be distributed for now; I need to use the money to make more money."

"I will convey your message to them."

Hua Zhi smiled, "I want you to help me bear more responsibilities in the inner courtyard, Aunt. You know my mother's character; she is unreliable. It's up to you to help balance the relationship between you sisters-in-law. After the New Year, I'll be busy with another matter and can't be distracted."

"There shouldn't be any issues in the inner courtyard. The third aunt respects you now, and you handle matters fairly. You've treated the second branch's daughter like legitimate daughter, so they won't cause any trouble at this time."

"That's good." Hua Zhi nodded. "And there's another matter, Aunt. I need you to discreetly find out something from my Second Aunt."

Wu shi was taken aback, "Do you want her to return to the Yang family?"

"On the contrary, I want to know if my Second Aunt has considered divorce."

Wu shi's expression was complex. She was surprised by her niece's boldness. Not everyone had her courage. After a moment of thought, she tactfully said, "Whether she divorces or not doesn't matter. The important thing is to keep her away from the Yang family's mess."

"It does matter. As long as Yang Qi is a member of the Hua family by marriage, he will have the Hua family's support to connect with people who have ties to the Hua family."

Wu shi wasn't Zhu Shi, but she understood the influence of the Hua family among scholars. It didn't take much thought to understand what Zhi'er meant. When she thought of her younger sister-in-law being beaten, her heart skipped a beat.

She nodded, "I'll discreetly find out."

"Also, inform Third Aunt that whatever each branch has, Second Aunt will have it in the future. Any possessions of the Hua family's descendants will not be lacking for Sui'an."

Wu shi held Hua Zhi's hand tightly, nodded emphatically. What she liked most about Zhi'er was her presence – she was so impressive that people couldn't help but listen to her and naturally follow her decisions.

*

Thinking that she hadn't had a proper conversation with her mother since her grandmother passed, Hua Zhi went to her mother's courtyard since she didn't have many tasks at hand.

Zhu Shi took a heated towel from Lin Mama to cover her daughter's hands, muttering softly, "Why come in this cold weather? If there's something to discuss, send a maid instead."

"I think it wouldn't be right to have a maid accompany Mom instead of me." Hua Zhi helped her mother sit by the fireplace, looking at her mother's noticeably thinner cheeks with a sigh in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face. She touched the pale blue fabric in the basket beside her and asked, "Is this for father?"

"He doesn't need this kind of fabric right now; it's for you." Zhu Shi picked it up and compared it, "You haven't grown taller, so the size should fit."

"...Mom, I know you're saying I'm short."

Zhu Shi chuckled and scolded her with a playful look, "As if I would find you short."

"It sounds like it."

Zhu Shi playfully patted her arm and put the fabric back, "It's strange; neither family has anyone short, but you just didn't grow taller. Even Bai Lin has taller than you."

"Mom, you don't understand; it's about the essence." As the shortest among the younger generation of both the Zhu and Hua families, Hua Zhi had her own frustrations. She wondered if her soul was too strong, affecting even her height.

In her previous life, she was only one meter fifty-six, often having to wear high heels to match. Online photos even showed a group of tall people surrounding her as the short one.

In this life, she was slightly taller than in her previous life, but geographically speaking, the Capital was in the north. Among her sisters, the younger ones were all taller than her, making her the shortest among her peers and elders.

"You make a good point, that's why our Zhi'er is so capable." Zhu Shi couldn't help but smile. She thought Zhi'er didn't care about this, but it turned out she did.

Hua Zhi treated it as a friendly banter and laughed along with her mother, filling the room with laughter that hadn't been heard for many days.

"I know you don't like managing things; I'll have Fourth Aunt look after the matters in the inner courtyard. You should spend more time visiting Second Aunt. Second Uncle has been exiled, leaving her with no support in the mansion. She must be feeling lost and lonely."

Zhu Shi nodded, "You're right. In the past, Old Master's Third Concubine accompanied her, but now that Second Daughter is back, she is probably focusing all her attention on her daughter. I'll make sure to visit her more often in the future. I may not be able to help with other things, but this is something I can do."

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