Chapter 417: Chapter 418: The Cao Family’s Affairs

Jin Qianqian still didn’t take what Hu Dong had said seriously. It wasn’t until the next day, after the young masters of the Cao Family completed their assessment and once again made their intentions clear, that she finally began to give it some serious thought.

To her surprise, the very next day, the madam currently managing the Cao household—Minister Cao’s eldest daughter-in-law—sent over her calling card and came to visit.

She was the madam of the house, nearly fifty years of age, but the wrinkles on her face suggested she was somewhat different from the pampered ladies of other prominent families.

When she reached out and took both of Jin Qianqian’s hands in hers, Jin Qianqian could feel the thick calluses on her palms.

But then she remembered the woman was also from a military family, and it all made sense. ’It seems she hasn’t let her training slide one bit over the years.’

The moment she saw Jin Qianqian, Mrs. Cao Li, whose name was Li Xiangyun, took her hands and showered her with compliments.

The praise was so effusive that Jin Qianqian began to question herself. ’When did I become so perfect?’

Once they were seated in the main hall, her guest got straight to the point, in a manner as frank as her personality. "It’s all thanks to you, Mrs. Gu, for taking care of our boys and allowing them to learn a thing or two.

You have no idea. Ever since those rascals stopped hanging around the house, it’s been so much more peaceful for me.

Not only has our old patriarch lost his temper less, but the number of arguments in the household has also dropped significantly.

I’ve been meaning to come and express my gratitude for a while now, but I was always tied up with one thing or another."

Jin Qianqian had seen the assessment yesterday and knew they were genuinely putting their hearts into learning. Although their performance varied, the fact that these young masters from an official family could work as shop assistants without causing a single incident was a testament to the Cao Family’s excellent upbringing.

Jin Qianqian quickly responded with polite words of her own, adding her praise for the young men, which delighted Li Xiangyun.

’Indeed,’ she thought. ’Praising someone’s children is always the right move.’ It was the perfect way to break the ice.

The two madams, despite their significant age difference, found they had much in common as they continued to chat.

Once they had both had a pleasant chat, Li Xiangyun’s tone shifted. "After this period of study, the boys have grown quite attached to your shop and are reluctant to leave."

"I don’t mean to sit here and cry poverty, but in truth, managing this household is no easy task."

"The entire estate is currently supported by the old general’s meager salary. With so many children in the family, after covering necessary expenses, we don’t have monthly silver allowances like other households."

Noticing a subtle flicker in Jin Qianqian’s gaze, Li Xiangyun gave a self-deprecating smile. "There are rumors everywhere that the generals who followed the late Emperor to build this empire all made a massive fortune."

"I can’t speak for the others, but our old general is far too principled. Even the spoils of war the late Emperor granted him were all used to provide for his soldiers in later campaigns."

"As he puts it, he’s already gotten the better end of the deal just by surviving. Those who died on the battlefield shouldn’t have their sacrifice be for nothing."

At this, Li Xiangyun took out a handkerchief and dabbed the corner of her eye. "My own father was one of his deputy generals. When he died on the battlefield, my mother heard the terrible news and died from the shock, taking her unborn child with her."

"I was just a child then. Some of my clansmen were willing to take me in, but only on the condition that they would absorb all of my family’s assets."

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"My grandmother refused and brought me to the general’s door for help. Without a second thought, he welcomed my grandmother and me into his home. To put my grandmother’s mind at ease, he immediately drew up a marriage contract for me and his son."

Jin Qianqian was filled with admiration. ’I admit I could never do something like that,’ she thought. "The general is a good man, and a fine commander."

"Sigh, I’m getting old. I can’t help but ramble on." Li Xiangyun took a sip of her tea. "The children in our family have been influenced by him since they were young, so they don’t care much for worldly possessions."

"Don’t be fooled by everyone calling them ’young master’ this and ’young master’ that. Our children are not the least bit pampered. They handle all matters, big or small, on their own."

"We were going about it all wrong before, forcing them to study, forcing them to practice martial arts, but in the end, they accomplished nothing."

"Fortunately, my father-in-law showed great judgment this time in seeking help from Mr. Gu and yourself. Now, they’ve more or less learned some skills they can rely on."

"For them, it’s as if they’ve finally found their calling."

"I know my request might put you in a difficult position, but for the sake of those boys, I’ve swallowed my pride and come to you anyway."

Hearing this, Jin Qianqian guessed what was coming. "But our shop is rather small. I’m afraid we might not be able to..."

"There’s no need to be so formal," she interjected. "Speak with conscience, live by your skills, and act with integrity—that’s what we believe. If they can support themselves with their own abilities, they can make a place for themselves in this world."

"Today, I’ve come not only to thank you for your guidance but also to shamelessly ask if you would let them continue to work in your shop."

"Of course, if you feel they aren’t performing well in any way, you are completely free to refuse."

Jin Qianqian was speechless. ’As expected of someone from a military family. In just this short conversation, she’s already employed several tactics.’

"Madam Cao, you’re being too formal. Since you’ve been so open with me, I won’t hide anything from you either."

"I’m sure they mentioned it when they returned yesterday, but I had Manager Hu conduct an evaluation based on their performance and an arithmetic test."

"To be honest, they’ve been very diligent this whole time. In some cases, they’ve handled matters even better than our own shopkeepers."

Jin Qianqian was speaking from the heart. Even if they hadn’t learned much, their worldly perspective was on a different level. Just by standing in the shop, their sheer presence could outshine anyone else.

Li Xiangyun didn’t interrupt, listening quietly. "Honestly, I’d be sad to see so many capable helpers leave the shop all at once."

"There’s just one thing I don’t understand. Your family must have its own shops, so why not place them there? I’m sure with their skills, they could manage your own businesses very well."

A complicated expression crossed Li Xiangyun’s face, but she explained, "The family’s communal property only consists of agricultural manors, not many shops. Those were bestowed by the late Emperor, seeing my father-in-law’s hardships, and they barely generate enough to cover the household’s expenses."

"There are shops in the family, but those are all part of the daughters-in-laws’ dowries. We brought it up yesterday, but my father-in-law made it clear long ago that the men of the Cao Family are not to entertain any ideas about them. He won’t even permit them to be involved."

At this point, she found a new subject for her complaints. "We daughters-in-law don’t even mind, but he insists on abiding by the rigid rules he himself set down long ago."

"I mean, really, everything we have now will eventually go to the Cao descendants anyway. Why must he draw such a clear line between it all?"

’Upright and pedantic,’ Jin Qianqian thought, unable to stop herself from giving Madam Cao a sympathetic look. ’Managing a household like that must be incredibly difficult.’

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