Inside the tea house, Shen Huaizhou saw Song Ci and couldn't help but claim credit.
"Little Sister, what do you think of how I handled this?"
Song Ci put down her teacup and laughed: "Eldest Brother, this time it's all thanks to you. Otherwise, I would have been ruined by the Zhao family."
"Don't worry, I've already sent that old man Zhao to prison, letting him taste what it's like to be schemed by his own daughter."
"Eldest Brother, aren't you afraid the Zhao family will bite back?"
Shen Huaizhou snorted coldly.
"Afraid of what? With my status, even if I gave them the guts, they wouldn't dare provoke me."
Behind Shen Huaizhou stood the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion, the top tier of the aristocratic circle.
How could he be afraid of commoners like the Zhao family?
Song Ci steered the conversation to the main topic.
"Let's talk business, Eldest Brother. Take a look at this..."
"Little Sister, you want to start a newspaper?"
"Yes. I believe information can always spread in any era, and newspapers can also generate revenue. More importantly, before Mom became a full-time housewife, she was an editor at the Oriental Times. She knows how to run a newspaper."
Song Ci had finally found a way out and naturally hoped the whole family would join forces.
Shen Huaizhou had no objections.
Although Song Ci was the youngest in the family, she was still highly educated and capable, excelling in academics since childhood.
After starting work, she stood out and became the chief expert at the hospital.
Shen Huaizhou and his brothers didn't like studying and had always called Song Ci "little teacher" since they were young, so they were used to listening to her.
Cai Tingshu got the news and rushed over. After reading the plan, she nodded repeatedly.
"Starting a newspaper is a great idea. Let's all three invest and work together."
Cai Tingshu thought deeper: with their current identities, if they could get first-hand information, they would be much safer.
They could also build an information network, and the attached value would be immeasurable.
Song Ci offered two shops as bases.
Cai Tingshu shook her head.
"Not good. That mother of yours is not an easy person."
Listening to Mom's account, Song Ci learned that before Madam Fang married, she was merely a concubine's daughter in her family, not favored, but quite resourceful. Her marriage to Marquis Yong'an was schemed by her from her own legitimate elder sister.
She even forced the legitimate mother to grudgingly acknowledge the marriage, adopting Madam Fang under her own name, allowing Madam Fang to marry into the Marquis's Mansion with glory and become the matriarch.
Impressive.
Song Ci was astonished. No wonder Song Qianqian was so competitive. Was it inherited?
Cai Tingshu said: "Why don't you sell the shops to me? The shops are all filled with Madam Fang's people; they can't stay. I'll send someone with the deed to kick them out, so you don't have to dirty your hands. Even if there's a ruckus, I'll take the blame. Madam Fang won't be able to cause much trouble. I'll deposit the silver in a bank for you; when you need it, take the token and withdraw it."
Her mother was thinking of her in every way, so Song Ci naturally had no objections.
Now they had a location; they still needed to recruit staff.
For workshop workers, Song Ci suggested buying people. A death contract was much more secure than signing a contract.
Although she didn't like the feudal system, as a member of the privileged class, not using her power was foolish.
For managers, each of the three parties would assign one, cooperating and balancing each other, which was beneficial for management.
Song Ci assigned Amber.
The little maid was very loyal. In the previous life, to seek justice for the original body by lodging a complaint, she was beaten to death by Song Qianqian.
In this life, she would protect this girl.
Shen Huaizhou arranged a male manager, convenient for running errands outside.
Cai Tingshu arranged a wet nurse to manage the inner courtyard.
The three would co-manage.
Cai Tingshu contributed a paper mill as an investment, convenient for future newspaper printing.
Shen Huaizhou also gave two shop fronts, both in busy areas, enough to sell newspapers and assign staff.
Song Ci saw that both of them were thinking of her in every way and felt warmth in her heart.
After arranging the managers, the next was the editor-in-chief.
Given her current identity, Cai Tingshu was not suitable to appear in public, so she could only work behind the scenes. They still needed to hire someone, preferably a scholar.
Someone influential.
Shen Huaizhou had a candidate in mind. He was a metropolitan graduate named Li Ji'an, who had been stripped of his official title due to imperial examination fraud.
Imperial examination fraud is like an abscess in any era. Anyone who touches it dies.
Li Ji'an was unlucky; he was implicated by a fellow townsman and became cannon fodder.
Being cannon fodder herself, Song Ci felt some sympathy for this man.
She initially wanted to entrust this matter to her elder brother, but Shen Huaizhou had a bad reputation. He might scare the person away before even meeting him.
In the end, Song Ci had to go with her elder brother.
Cai Tingshu raised her teacup: "May you succeed immediately. I'll wait for your good news."
"Cheers."
The two of them drank their tea in one gulp, then turned and boarded the carriage.
On the way, Song Ci flipped through Li Ji'an's information.
Li Ji'an had been stripped of his official title, his lands and properties confiscated, and the wealthy households registered under his name had fled one after another.
His relatives drew a clear line with him, as if he were a plague god.
His parents couldn't bear the blow and died one after another, leaving only Li Ji'an, his wife, and a pair of children.
Without any income, Li Ji'an soon moved from the bustling East Lin Street to the impoverished Cat Ear Alley.
He lived in dire straits.
Fortunately, his wife was skilled in embroidery, and by selling her embroidery and dowry, she barely managed to keep them fed and clothed.
But blessings never come in pairs, and misfortunes never come singly.
Lady Li worked day and night and soon fell ill.
At this time, Li Ji'an was already worrying about making a living. With his wife sick, he could only do odd jobs to barely support the family.
Looking at the empty rice jar, he couldn't help sighing.
A rapid knock sounded at the door.
"Master Li, there's a distinguished guest looking for you..."
"Distinguished guest? What distinguished guest?" Li Ji'an smiled bitterly: "Young man, don't mock me."
"They're just outside the alley. It's a carriage pulled by four horses. Go quickly and see..."
Before Li Ji'an could go out, he ran into the arriving Song Ci and Shen Huaizhou.
Shen Huaizhou cupped his hands in greeting.
"Are you Brother Ji'an?"
"And you are?"
Seeing their elegant clothes, Li Ji'an quickly invited them into the house.
Song Ci looked around the room. It was divided into two by a partition, cleanly kept but small and cramped.
They say scholars love books as much as life itself, but in Li Ji'an's house, there wasn't a single book in sight.
Because of Li Ji'an's matter, three generations of the Li family were barred from taking the imperial examinations. Perhaps they didn't want to see books anymore.
Song Ci looked at Li Ji'an. He was wearing only a lined jacket full of patches. It was already winter, and he didn't even have a decent cotton-padded jacket.
Two children shyly hid behind Li Ji'an.
Song Ci asked Amber to give the children some pastries. After exchanging pleasantries, she stated the purpose of her visit.
Li Ji'an was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.
The hand holding the contract was trembling. He could hardly believe that someone was willing to employ him.
"You two, what virtue or ability do I, Li, possess to deserve your favor?"
"Mr. Li, there's no need to be modest. Life spans decades, with ups and downs. There's always an opportunity. Seize it well, and you'll have a chance to rise."
Li Ji'an smiled bitterly: "I am no longer a Juren scholar, Miss Song. Please just call me by my name to avoid criticism."
"Mr. Li, a mule or a horse, you have to take it out for a run. Do well, and I can guarantee you won't worry about food or clothing. Do poorly, and I can still ensure you won't have to worry about making a living."
"I'll sign."
"Wait!"
A harsh shout came from outside the door. Gu Mingyuan, holding an oil-paper package, rushed in hurriedly and blocked in front of Li Ji'an.
His gaze at Shen Huaizhou and Song Ci was quite unfriendly.
"What are you doing here? Forcing Ji'an to do something?"
Shen Huaizhou scoffed: "None of your business."
Song Ci looked at Gu Mingyuan, also full of question marks.
Did these two know each other?
What a small world!
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