The next day, Gan Cai’er returned to the Gan residence and relayed the news she had heard from Zhu Xiaoxiao to Wei Yulan.
When Gan Cai’er arrived home, Wei Yulan was in her room reviewing account books, calculating the profits from various shops. Upon hearing her daughter’s purpose, Wei Yulan set down her abacus.
“If officials from Jingdu come down, Dànzhōu Fǔ is sure to be bustling, with no shortage of gatherings and banquets. Seizing this opportunity to meet people and make an appearance is indeed a good idea.”
“In that case, I’ll write to my sisters in Dànzhōu Fǔ and have them find a way to get you an invitation to a major banquet.”
“Alright, you can go home and wait.”
“Mother, is that all?!”
Gan Cai’er widened her eyes, peering at Wei Yulan. The latter’s overly casual attitude made Gan Cai’er uneasy.
Officials from the Hanlin Academy were close advisors to the emperor, favorites in the imperial court! To meet them even once, one had to fight tooth and nail for the chance. How could her mother make it sound so effortless, as if a single word would suffice?
Why did it feel so unreliable?
“Hah, did you think it would be difficult?” Wei Yulan glanced sideways. “The grander the banquet, the more it requires song and dance for entertainment, especially when it’s a gathering of those literati.”
“Those self-proclaimed lofty talents are mostly hypocrites, their minds filled with debauchery. They frequent brothels and pleasure quarters more often than not.”
“Don’t worry. Although I’ve been away from Dànzhōu Fǔ for many years, my connections are still intact. A mere invitation is nothing to worry about.”
With that, Wei Yulan waved impatiently, shooing Gan Cai’er away. Today, she still had a stack of account books to review and no time to chat idly with her daughter.
After hearing Wei Yulan’s explanation, Gan Cai’er felt reassured. With her mind at ease, her mood lifted. She wandered around the room, glancing here and there. Seeing Wei Yulan buried in the account books and ignoring her, a sudden thought struck her.
“Mother, I want to learn how to do business too,” Gan Cai’er said, leaning closer to Wei Yulan with a flattering tone.
“You? No.” Wei Yulan didn’t even lift her eyelids.
“Why can’t I?” Gan Cai’er protested.
“You lack sense.”
“Mother!!!” Gan Cai’er grew annoyed, grabbing Wei Yulan’s hand.
Wei Yulan, troubled by her antics, looked up helplessly. “Why on earth do you suddenly want to do business? Your dowry alone is enough for the Lan family to live on for two generations. Wouldn’t it be better for you to just be the Lan family’s Young Mistress peacefully?”
“No!” Gan Cai’er shook her head firmly.
“The Lan family’s foundation is too weak. If we rely solely on my dowry, we’ll eventually exhaust it. I must learn some means of generating wealth.”
Gan Cai’er was terrified of poverty. She never wanted to relive the destitute, hungry, and cold days of her past life. In this lifetime, she was determined to hold onto money tightly.
“Besides, Mother is so capable. Shouldn’t I, as your daughter, strive to be just as good? Otherwise, wouldn’t people laugh at us?” Gan Cai’er smiled ingratiatingly.
Though Gan Cai’er was flattering her mother, her words were not without merit.
The Gan family’s rise to become the wealthiest in Qingshui Town, owning seven or eight out of ten businesses in the town, was due to Wei Yulan, not Gan Maoguo.
Gan Maoguo was an honest and straightforward businessman who relied on integrity and loyalty. Before Wei Yulan married into the family, the Gan family’s business was thriving but far from dominating Qingshui Town.
Having spent over a decade in the world of entertainment, Wei Yulan had long honed her skills in social grace and diplomacy, accumulating an extensive network of connections. Her approach to business was swift and decisive.
Since marrying Gan Maoguo, the Gan family’s business had skyrocketed like a rocket. In less than three years, the Gan family became the wealthiest in Qingshui Town, a status they maintained to this day.
Hearing Gan Cai’er’s sweet words, Wei Yulan couldn’t help but chuckle. She set down the account book in her hand, ruffled Gan Cai’er’s hair, and said with a smile, “You, with that silver tongue of yours, always know how to make people happy.”
“You’ve never had a sense of money since you were little, spending it like water. You’re too straightforward, with a spoiled temper and unable to tolerate even the slightest grievance. You’re hardly cut out for business.”
“However, if you just want to make money, you don’t necessarily have to run a business yourself.”
As soon as Wei Yulan finished speaking, a pair of delicate hands rested on her shoulders, diligently massaging her. She followed the hands upward and saw Gan Cai’er looking at her with eager attentiveness.
Wei Yulan sighed inwardly, thinking that young girls truly grow up once they marry. Even someone as carefree as Gan Cai’er was now considering and planning for the future.
Ah, just how poor is the Lan family? If she had known this earlier, she wouldn’t have taught her that flawed method, letting her marry into the Lan family.
“If you’re truly serious, find some time to come over. I’ll start by teaching you how to read account books.”
Gan Cai’er happily agreed. Since her Rebirth, two major worries had finally been settled.
Meanwhile, at the Lan Residence
Zhang Li entered the study holding a letter.
“Young Master, a letter has arrived from Jingdu.”
Lan Tingzhou reached out to take the letter, pulled out the paper, and read it twice. Then, he raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled.
“Zhang Bo, Qingning is coming to Danzhou.”
“Young Master Lu is coming? That’s wonderful news,” Zhang Li said joyfully.
“Yes, Senior Official Lu from the Hanlin Academy is coming to Danzhou for an inspection, and Qingning is accompanying him,” Lan Tingzhou explained.
“It’s been over ten years since we parted in Jingdu. Time truly flies,” Zhang Li couldn’t help but sigh. “Young Master, when will Young Master Lu arrive? This old servant will prepare fine wine and dishes to welcome him.”
“No need,” Lan Tingzhou shook his head.
“Qingning is here this time to ensure Senior Official Lu’s safety. Wherever Senior Official Lu goes, he will be there. He likely won’t have time to come to Qingshui Town.”
“Does Young Master mean you will go to Dànzhōu Fǔ?”
Lan Tingzhou remained silent, as if in tacit agreement.
Zhang Li paused, as if thinking of something, and cautiously asked, “The fastest trip from Qingshui Town to Dànzhōu Fǔ takes a day, and with the round trip… How should we explain this to the Young Mistress?”
Hearing Zhang Li mention Gan Cai’er, Lan Tingzhou couldn’t help but frown, feeling a headache coming on.
Lan Tingzhou and Lu Qingning shared a special relationship that could not easily be revealed to others. Their correspondence was handled only by the most reliable messengers.
Before marriage, he might have found a way to make excuses, but after marriage, given Gan Cai’er’s tendency to keep a close watch on him, even a day’s absence would likely cause her to search everywhere for him, making a scene for all to see.
Lan Tingzhou rubbed his forehead.
“Perhaps, Young Master, you could take the Young Mistress with you?” Zhang Li tentatively suggested.
He added cheerfully, “After all, since your marriage, you haven’t taken the Young Mistress out for a trip. Going together to Dànzhōu Fǔ would be quite fitting.”
Lan Tingzhou glanced at Zhang Li. Just how many benefits had he received from Gan Cai’er to speak up for her like this? One must know that Zhang Li was a loyal servant of the Lan family, having followed him all the way from Jingdu to this place.
Seeing Lan Tingzhou’s gaze sweep over him indifferently, Zhang Li immediately fell silent.
Wasn’t he just thinking of the young master? The old madam was too strict in her discipline, and the young master and Young Mistress didn’t have the demeanor a newlywed couple should have at all.
A newlywed outing?
Lan Tingzhou slowly rubbed his fingers against the tabletop, his eyes slightly lowered. It wasn’t entirely impossible.