The Lucky Farm Girl-Chapter 55 - Reasons Lady Luo_1
Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Reasons Lady Luo_1
Chapter 55 -55 Reasons Lady Luo_1
Yang Chengning said, without a hint of embarrassment or breathlessness, “I was never cut out for studying; listening to those pedantic scholars drone on all day makes my head spin.”
“I am naturally heathen and cannot bear the constraints of academia,” Yang Chengxuan sheepishly admitted his shortcomings.
Looking past Yang Chengrong towards his other brothers, Yang Mengchen knew that as the eldest brother of the most senior branch, he bore a heavier sense of responsibility. He did not attend the academy in order to take care of the family. “What reasons do you all have?”
“The academy in town is full of officials’ sons and wealthy gentlemen who look down on sons of farmers, often mocking and bullying us. The teachers turn a blind eye; we won’t subject ourselves to such humiliation,” Yang Chengyu said, his lips curling in undisguised disdain.
Xiao Wanxue suddenly interjected, “Chenghong is right, such things indeed happen often in the town academy, and even my father’s efforts to intervene have been fruitless.”
Hearing what Xiao Wanxue had said, Yang Mengchen couldn’t help but frown slightly.
The elders of the Yang family showed looks of worry and sorrow; they felt useless for not only bequeathing their descendants a lowly status but also for being disrespected by others.
“Even if Ninth Sister pays for it, I still won’t go to the academy. Forcing me to go would just be a waste of money because I wouldn’t be able to learn anything,” Yang Chenghong couldn’t help but voice the wish he had long harbored in his heart, “Compared to studying, I am more interested in commerce. Next time you negotiate a deal, Ninth Sister, you must take me with you.”
Raising an eyebrow at Yang Chenghong, a fleeting glint of sharpness passed through Yang Mengchen’s eyes.
In the future, the family’s assets would surely grow, and she had already planned to train one of her brothers to take charge. Since Sixth Brother was eager to engage in business, she would fulfill his wish.
Although everyone else was somewhat surprised that Yang Chenghong actually enjoyed commerce, no one objected.
Seeing his sister turn to look at him, Yang Chengyou and Yang Chengbin said in unison, “Ninth Sister is knowledgeable, we can just learn from you at home. If we take the imperial examination, we will surely pass just the same!”
Yang Mengchen had long noticed that her Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother were particularly interested in learning and were the most intelligent. They learned quickly and well whenever she taught them. She was considering focusing on their training, not to become officials through successful candidacy, but hoping they would possess outstanding literary talent to manage the academy she planned to establish in the future.
However, she did not understand the teaching regulations in this time and space, so her intention was to send her brothers to the academy to gain experience.
Regrettably, each brother had their reasons for a unanimous and firm decision against attending the academy, with Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother even involving her to avoid it.
Never mind, since her brothers were all unwilling, she would no longer insist.
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“We will drop the matter of attending the academy, but from now on, you brothers must study diligently with me,” Yang Mengchen warned with feigned sternness.
All seven brothers nodded in unison, promising to study hard.
Finally, the family agreed to pick up their Wu and Shen family cousins in the afternoon to stay with them at home. After all, they had long heated kang beds in their home, which could accommodate a squeeze.
After breakfast, with the equipment delivered from the Ironworker Shop the day before, Yang Mengchen began pressing vegetable oil.
As the rich aroma of the oil wafted through the air, the entire family was excited and delighted, praising the dishes cooked with vegetable oil.
Yang Mengchen had her brothers deliver a small barrel of vegetable oil to the village chief and Lizheng, as well as her maternal family’s three houses. She also prepared three more barrels to give to Doctor Luo, County Magistrate Xiao, and Drunken Immortal Tavern the next day when they went to town. As for the oil pressing business, she handed it over to Yang Chaowu to manage.
“Ms. Yang, I’ll take all the vegetable oil you have,”
With the tavern’s renovations complete, Nangong Lingfei received the news and came over to attend the opening ceremony. It so happened that Yang Mengchen brought some vegetable oil, and she naturally discovered a commercial opportunity.
“I can’t sell you all of it!” Yang Mengchen said with a smile, “But I can sell it to you at the price of ten taels of silver per jin; moreover, you’ll have to help me purchase rapeseed from other places.”
Uncle Xiao had arranged for the County Office’s people to collect about ten thousand jin of rapeseed and store it in the County Office’s warehouse, but she still felt the quantity was too small.
Seeing Nangong Lingfei’s pupils shrink, before he could say anything, Yang Mengchen continued with prolonged meaning, “This is a new type of oil. Young Master Nangong has also tasted dishes made from it that are even more delicious and healthier than those made with lard. Once it goes to market, it is sure to become extremely popular. If Young Master Nangong thinks the price is too high, no worries, I’ll go find Young Master Luo, who I believe will certainly be very interested.”
“Ten taels per jin it is! But you can only sell the vegetable oil to me!” Nangong Lingfei agreed through gritted teeth, and immediately wrote up a contract.
Thinking that he prided himself as a business prodigy yet always ended up defeated by Ms. Yang, he felt somewhat unwilling but powerless, because each time, the items Ms. Yang brought out were both novel and profitable, and he really couldn’t resist the allure of profit.
Yang Mengchen signed her name on the contract with a beaming smile.
Watching his sister easily persuade Young Master Nangong to sign the contract eagerly, without any bargaining and sitting by her side, Yang Chenghong admired his sister so much that he was thoroughly convinced. He made a secret resolve to diligently learn the art of doing business, determined that one day he would surpass the Nangong family to become the wealthiest in Dong Chu.
After finalizing the details of the tavern’s opening with Nangong Lingfei, Yang Mengchen and her siblings first escorted Xiao Wanxue and her servants back to the County Office, and then proceeded to the Luo family’s sideyard.
Shopkeeper Luo, who had received news of the siblings’ impending arrival, had been waiting at the main gate early. He hurried forward to greet them as they alighted from the carriage.
“When did Shopkeeper Luo return?”
“Yesterday afternoon. It was too late, so I did not inform Ms. Yang. I planned to go find Ms. Yang today, and it just so happens you arrived in town.”
“Have the new employees arrived? Has Young Master Luo replied to my letter?”
“A hundred new employees have already been settled in the pharmaceutical workshop,” Shopkeeper Luo shook his head. “The Young Master did not send a reply to Ms. Yang.”
Yang Mengchen frowned slightly, not understanding why Luo Jingrui hadn’t replied. As she caught sight of Shopkeeper Luo’s hesitant expression, she lightly curved her lips and said, “If there’s something on your mind, Shopkeeper Luo, feel free to speak.”
After hesitating for a moment, Shopkeeper Luo said in a low voice, “Lady Luo and the Third Young Master have come to the sideyard and wish to meet with Ms. Yang. Ms. Yang need not worry; Lady Luo is gentle and accommodating by nature, and though the Third Young Master is a bit impulsive, he is inherently good-hearted. They will not make things difficult for you.”
Yang Chengrong and his two brothers looked at their sister with concern, but Yang Mengchen smiled and signaled to them that everything was fine; the four siblings followed Shopkeeper Luo towards the main house.
“This must be Ms. Yang, right? Truly a delicate beauty, and the three gentlemen are also handsome and distinguished.” As they just entered the main courtyard, a middle-aged woman with a smiling face approached them, “The master, lady, and the three young masters have been waiting in the hall for a long time. Madam and young gentlemen, please follow this servant inside.”
“Thank you, Sister Yuan.” Hearing Shopkeeper Luo’s whisper that the woman was Sister Yuan, the most trusted and relied upon by Lady Luo, the four siblings politely bowed and greeted her.
Sister Yuan nodded subtly to herself, no wonder the master and the Young Master favored the Yang siblings; indeed, they were quite polite and well-mannered.
As they entered the hall, they saw Doctor Luo sitting in the main seat with a face full of loving kindness; Lady Luo was beautiful and fair-skinned, with a kind smile at the corners of her mouth. She wore a light blue dress embroidered with blossoming Mo Lan, which made her whole demeanor seem noble and elegant.
