allonlinenovel Chapter 494 Trouble
Chapter 494 Trouble
The bronze incense burner in the study was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Amidst the rising smoke, Xiao Tengtian paused, his hand holding the empty bowl still.
He looked up at Xiao Huanyan.
She noticed that her fingertips, which were gripping the hem of her skirt, were turning slightly white, but she maintained a calm demeanor and her eyes held a hint of stubbornness.
Seeing this, Xiao Tengtian felt as if he were seeing his wife who had passed away many years ago.
"Why do you want to go into business? Is your family short of money?" Xiao Tengtian gently placed the bowl on the table, the porcelain bottom touching the sandalwood tabletop with a soft sound. "If Madam You mistreats you, just tell your father."
Lady You was Xiao Tengtian's second wife.
Xiao Huanyan quickly shook her head, "No, Father, don't misunderstand, Mother is very good to me."
“Since it’s not about money,” Xiao Tengtian said gently, “you still have to give your father a reason.”
“I know you’ve always had your own ideas, but women doing business… isn’t a good thing. Why are you doing it?”
"I don't want to be confined to the inner quarters after marriage." Xiao Huanyan gripped her skirt tightly, her voice soft. "My mother always taught me to do what I wanted. I didn't know what I wanted to do before, so I just listened to my father. But now..."
She took a deep breath. "My daughter wants to go into business with Yu Wan."
“She told me that she set up the workshop not just for money, but to give some women who had reached a dead end a way to survive, so that they would not have to live at the mercy of others.”
Xiao Huanyan spent the whole night thinking about what Yu Wan had said to her.
Those people are blinded by outdated ideas and don't understand your mother's aspirations. Now, I want to start a business, create a workshop, so that women can earn their own way through their own abilities and not be confined to the inner quarters. This is exactly the same as your mother's pursuit of freedom; both are about breaking free from constraints.
Break free from constraints.
She didn't actually know if she wanted to go into business, but Yu Wan's words moved her. Since her mother's death, she had lived a law-abiding life and dared not overstep the bounds.
But after having this thought, she suddenly felt a sense of relief.
“Father.” Xiao Huanyan composed herself and looked at Xiao Tengtian. “I want to give it a try.”
Xiao Tengtian looked into his daughter's eyes and clearly saw the stubbornness in her eyes.
Xiao Tengtian remained silent for a while, then said, "You've always been decisive. Even if I forbid you from doing it, you probably won't give up. Never mind."
"I'll talk to the accountant at home and tell you to learn how to read the ledgers from him first. If you learn well, I'll agree to your request."
Xiao Huanyan was overjoyed that her father agreed so easily, "Thank you, Father!"
Xiao Tengtian's face hardened. "But let me make this clear from the start: if you can't learn how to read the ledgers, you'd better give up on that idea and stay home obediently."
“You’re not young anymore, so I’ll have your mother find you a good husband.”
Xiao Huanyan didn't hear the second half of Xiao Tengtian's sentence; she only remembered the first half and was overjoyed. "Father, don't worry, I will definitely learn it!"
Xiao Huanyan left with a happy expression, unaware that Xiao Tengtian's face instantly turned ugly after she left.
A woman going into business... that's truly absurd.
However, he knew his daughter well; looking at account books was tedious and boring, and Xiao Huanyan would definitely give up on that alone.
Yu Wan knew nothing about what had happened to the Xiao family; she was busy contacting craftsmen to build the workshop.
She had many novel ideas, so she had to discuss them with the craftsmen herself. Therefore, she went to the manor outside the city every day after breakfast.
After five busy days, she received a letter from Xiao Huanyan.
Xiao Huanyan said that her father had agreed.
The letter didn't say much, but Yu Wan could tell Xiao Huanyan's joy from its brief contents.
She was right about him.
Yu Wan chuckled as she clutched the letter, then casually rolled up the blueprints and tucked them into her waistband before continuing to discuss the workshop's construction details with the craftsmen.
On the other side, the Xiao family.
Uncle Zhou, the old accountant of the Xiao family, looked at the second young lady who was carefully looking at the account book, his eyes full of surprise.
Xiao Huanyan didn't notice the surprise in Uncle Zhou's eyes. Holding the account book in her hand, she said without looking up, "Uncle Zhou, why is the price of this batch of Yun brocade that the silk shop received last month 20% higher than usual?"
Uncle Zhou leaned over for a look, intending to test Xiao Huanyan, and asked, "What do you think, Second Miss?"
Xiao Huanyan thought for a moment, "Last month, there was heavy rain in Lingzhou, and a lot of raw silk got moldy. That's probably why Yun brocade went up in price, right?"
Uncle Zhou smiled and said, "That's right. I didn't expect the Second Miss to be interested in these things."
Xiao Huanyan pursed her lips.
It was only when she looked at the account books these past few days that she realized how much she usually paid attention to these trivial matters.
She seems to have a real talent for business.
Thinking that her father had agreed to let her go into business with Yu Wan, Xiao Huanyan felt an uncontrollable joy.
She has almost finished reviewing the household's account books, and she can start looking for suitable craftsmen tomorrow.
Just then, a voice rang out from outside the door; it was a maidservant from Madam You's side.
"Second Miss, Madam requests your presence."
Xiao Huanyan looked up upon hearing this, somewhat surprised, "What does Mother want with me?"
Why would Madam You seek her out at this time?
The maid shook her head and bowed respectfully, saying, "This servant does not know; the Second Miss will know once she arrives."
Xiao Huanyan could only put down the account book for the time being, told Uncle Zhou that she would be back soon, and then went to Madam You's courtyard.
Upon entering the room, she saw Madam You beckoning to her, "Yan'er, come, sit down next to me."
Xiao Huanyan curtsied, hesitated for a moment, and then sat down next to Madam You.
"What does Mother want with me?"
Madam You picked up her teacup, took a sip, and then slowly asked, "I heard from your father that you want to open a workshop with the Second Grand Secretary's wife?"
Before Xiao Huanyan could answer, Madam You smiled helplessly: "You really are a handful. At your age, you should be thinking about what husband to marry, not what a young lady like you is doing messing around with a workshop. Your father spoils you, but your mother can't just watch you make a fool of yourself..."
Xiao Huanyan was not surprised that Madam You would say these things to her.
She pursed her lips, raised her eyes, and retorted to Madam You, "Mother, I don't want to get married yet."
"Right now, all I want to do is help Yu Wan get the workshop up and running."
Upon hearing this, Madam You's expression instantly turned sour.
She slammed her teacup heavily on the table: "Don't be ridiculous."
“Your father has always spoiled you, but I can’t let you go out and show your face in public. Otherwise, what will others say about me? They will say that I, as your mother, have not raised you well.”
“I’m not being unreasonable.” Xiao Huanyan suddenly stood up. “I just want to do what I want to do. Mother, my father has already agreed to this, so please don’t interfere.”
Madam You seemed surprised that Xiao Huanyan would speak to her so forcefully. Suddenly, she clutched her chest, her fingertips trembling as she grabbed Xiao Huanyan's wrist: "Yan'er, how can you speak to your mother like that?"
Xiao Huanyan frowned upon seeing Madam You's expression.
Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly heard footsteps at the door.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Xiao Tengtian step across the threshold. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Madam You suddenly clutch her chest and collapse onto the cushion.
"Master, I was merely trying to persuade Yan'er to settle down, but she talked back to me. I can't control this daughter anymore..."