Chapter 86 - Absolutely Perfect ◇

◎In Memory of the "Deceased Husband" Hua Ji ◇

Before the New Year, Yu Lian finalized the collaboration with the Li family, who were one of the wealthiest merchants in the county. They had ample resources, and under this arrangement, goods would be produced by Yu Lian's workshop while the Li family would open shops to sell them. This was akin to a modern franchise model, where apart from purchasing the products, they would also pay a brand franchise fee. The shop decoration, sales approach, and staff uniforms would all follow Yu Lian's specifications. After the Li family opened their store, she sent experienced employees to the new shop for a month of "training."

At first, Lady Li was naturally against such a complex and costly arrangement. Her husband looked down on small businesses, but she saw great potential in this venture. She secretly dipped into her personal funds to make this deal, considering it her own private business, which made her more cautious.

Initially, she wanted to buy the jar recipe at a high price, but Yu Lian declined. If she used underhanded methods, it might have been possible, but after investigating the family's background, Lady Li realized that although they once belonged to an aristocratic house that her merchant family could only aspire to, they had committed treason and offended the current emperor. What chance did they have of redemption?

However, Yu Lian cryptically hinted at something, leaning close to Lady Li with a smile and whispering, "According to logic, traitors should face the death penalty and the annihilation of their entire clan. Can you guess why the emperor only executed my husband and let the rest go lightly?"

Having read the original plot, Yu Lian knew the inside story. The current emperor was a hypocritical pretender who valued his reputation above all else. He hadn't executed the entire family because, on one hand, there was a tradition of amnesty for all when a new emperor ascended (serious crimes could be commuted to exile three thousand miles away, depending on the emperor's whim). On the other hand, Hua Ji had taken full responsibility, knowing that the emperor only feared him. His death left behind vulnerable elders, women, and children who posed no threat, so for the sake of his image as a benevolent ruler, the emperor wouldn't publicly harm them.

Satisfied with humiliating his nemesis and avenging himself, the family became stepping stones for the emperor's reputation. Although he later sent assassins after them when they returned to the countryside, he stopped once the plot was exposed.

That's how they managed to survive.

But Lady Li was unaware of these details. As a wealthy merchant family, they had money but lacked connections and power. The noble houses of the capital were beyond their wildest dreams, so how could they know the intricacies of the situation?

With Yu Lian's remark, she pondered further and found that it was indeed true. Why hadn't the emperor executed them for such a heinous crime of clan annihilation? Could it be that this family still held some unknown trump cards? Or perhaps the emperor still harbored a sense of mercy towards them? She had heard that the East Yuan Marquis once served not only as a trusted aide to the previous emperor but also as a martial arts instructor for the princes, effectively acting as a mentor to the current emperor. Was it possible that the emperor was still influenced by their past relationship?

Yu Lian's subsequent words utterly quashed Lady Li's notion of forcefully seizing the item, firmly resolving not to offend this family lightly.

She spoke softly, "How do you find the Rouge Lady from the Capital's Mist and Cloud Pavilion? I've heard it's a new product, exclusively crafted for the imperial concubines and noble ladies. Unfortunately, despite my mother being the legitimate third lady of the Wei Duke's residence, she could only secure a few boxes. If you find them satisfactory, I'll write to her later, asking her to spare one for you."

Lady Li was greatly startled and taken aback, her eyes flashing with astonishment as she cast a glance at Yu Lian. She managed to compose herself with great effort, and from that point on, whatever Yu Lian said, she nodded in agreement, not once uttering a single word of dissent.

Upon Yu Lian's departure, she angrily slapped the table and instructed someone to investigate Yu Lian's background.

It turns out that she is the legitimate youngest daughter of the Wei Duke's residence in the capital city. She comes from a genuine noble family; even their lowest servants hold higher status than our merchant household.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Li drew a sharp breath, relieved that she hadn't gone too far. Initially, she intended to approach them with courtesy before resorting to force. If she had truly offended them, despite her current situation living in the countryside with her husband's family, her own family's influence was not something they could afford to provoke. An angry missive back to the capital could easily result in their downfall with just a word from them.

She had been so focused on investigating their background that she overlooked the one person they couldn't afford to cross. Who would have thought that a distinguished lady from a duke's mansion would follow a family convicted of grave crimes to the countryside? She privately seethed with frustration. With such a background, why wouldn't she stay in the capital and enjoy a life of luxury? Why come to the countryside and cause trouble? Her identity alone was enough to deter anyone from offending her.

Within two days, Mrs. Li personally visited with gifts to finalize the collaboration details. She was exceedingly courteous, especially towards Yu Lian, not daring to show any airs as a wealthy merchant. In her estimation, it was unclear what connection this family might have with the emperor, but one thing was certain: Yu Lian, the young lady of the Duke's house, was someone they could not afford to anger.

Yu Lian signed with a warm smile, discussing the specifics with Mrs. Li, and then politely saw her off, leaving Mrs. Li feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the honor.

The elder lady was curious and asked Yu Lian why Madam Li was being so courteous.

Yu Lian blinked and replied with four words: "Pretending to be powerful through association."

She knew that her parents had already separated from the Wei Duke's household and were not favored at home. Her father, moreover, had suffered setbacks in his career for half his life and held a minor, powerless position. But how could a merchant from a small county ten thousand miles away from the capital know all this?

All she needed them to know was that Yu Lian was the daughter of the Duke's household, someone they couldn't afford to offend. That was sufficient.

Moreover, as Madam Li spread the word about Yu Lian's background and her status as someone not to be trifled with, news would inevitably reach every corner of the local business community. Yu Lian was confident that no one would dare to attempt any malicious schemes or snatch her formulas.

Indeed, those who had secretly harbored intentions to seize the formulas or cause trouble soon vanished without a trace within a few days. Some even sent gifts to her doorstep, hoping to establish connections with the esteemed Miss Yu Lian.

Yu Lian accepted all gifts without hesitation. Would it make sense to refuse presents delivered to her door? It would seem odd and weak if she didn't accept them, which would contradict her image as a "noble lady."

Upon hearing about Yu Lian from Madam Li, the wife of the county magistrate also considered sending gifts. After all, the county magistrate was a low-ranking official with little background, slightly corrupt but without avenues for advancement. He was stuck in this small place due to his limitations. His knowledge about Yu Lian was similar to Madam Li's. However, after much deliberation, the magistrate decided against it, not allowing his wife to openly seek an alliance. After all, while Yu Lian's background was impressive, her husband's family still carried the stigma of treason. It would be unwise to associate with them, only to potentially incur guilt when the emperor decided to settle old scores.

By raising the banner of her family's influence and establishing herself as an untouchable noble lady, Yu Lian aimed to facilitate her business endeavors, with no ulterior motives. As a gesture of appeasement, Madam Li opened five shops at once - one in the county, two in the towns beneath it, and the remaining three in the bustling provincial capital.

Yu Lian entrusted Hua Sanduo with full responsibility, as she lacked the capital to expand her business. The franchising model was perfectly suited for her. Hua Sanduo traveled around with his assistants, assisting the Li family in opening their shops and even managed to place a few young men and women from Shangyixi Village as apprentices under the guise of training.

With the opening of these five stores, the demand for canned goods skyrocketed by several fold. In response, Yu Lian constructed a new workshop in the village and expanded production. Before the spring plowing, the men of Shangyixi Village contributed to the construction of the new factory, while women and children from every household became the main workforce in the workshop. From cleaning ingredients to cooking, canning, heating, and packaging, they followed a streamlined assembly line process. Each production line had different tasks, significantly boosting output and barely meeting the increased demand.

On New Year's Eve, the day before the Lunar New Year, the workshop ceased operations, and the shops temporarily closed. Yu Lian called all the workers and assistants, including Hua Sanduo, to her courtyard. There, she distributed New Year's red envelopes and paid them their monthly wages.

For those who had not worked a full month, their pay was calculated based on the number of days worked.

The twins, fond of excitement, begged to help their sister read out the names. They had started their education with Little Master and, with some prior foundation and the smart, studious presence of their younger sister, Little Guo'er, they had learned to read quite quickly.

Yu Lian handed them the register, and they stood upfront, reading each name aloud. As the children's innocent voices echoed, the villagers, whose names were called, happily came forward to receive their wages. If someone received a larger sum, envious glances were inevitably cast, wishing they were the ones receiving the money.

Yu Lian separated the money into two parts. The first was a fixed New Year's bonus, similar to the annual bonuses given by companies in her previous life. Each worker received twenty copper coins in their red envelope.

One should not underestimate these twenty coins; considering the entire village's workforce, it amounted to a substantial sum. Normally, a family would not spend ten or twenty coins in a month. Thus, the villagers were overjoyed and even surprised, hardly believing Yu Lian's generosity in giving them extra money without any strings attached.

Such a benefit was unparalleled anywhere else.

The second part was the workers' wages, which were neatly strung together and made a delightful jingling sound when handed over. The melody was music to their ears.

The villagers held their red envelopes and wages in one hand, beaming with joy, their smiles stretching so wide that their eyes nearly disappeared.

The twins stood at the front. The elder one recited a portion, and his younger brother, Hua Xing, eager to join in, tugged at the book, trying to snatch it from his sibling. Little Guo'er discreetly poked her second brother, whispering, "Guo'er wants to read too."

As a result, the three children took turns reading, as if they had been given a cherished task, reciting loudly and enthusiastically.

The villagers were not paying attention to the performance; they only thought that these children from the capital were remarkable, being able to read so many characters at such a young age. Some began to ponder whether the closure of the village school might have been a mistake. Should they reopen it? Or should they send their own children to learn from Hua Tianqu?

When it came to the managers – Hua Dashu's wife, the shop manager Hua Sanduo, and the security captain Zhu Ying – their red envelopes and wages were the largest. The villagers watched enviously as the trio held shimmering chunks of silver.

Zhu Ying was a skilled martial artist, and no one could replace him in that role; this was understandable. However, Hua Sanduo had always been seen as a lazy young man by the villagers. How did he manage to earn so much silver? And Hua Dashu's wife, though diligent, was just an ordinary woman without any special skills. How had she become a manager?

The workers in the factory felt a mix of envy and silent competition towards them. They vowed to work harder next year, hoping to take their places and earn such a fortune themselves.

Observing everything, Yu Lian smiled after distributing the wages, saying, "Next year, when the new workshop is built, we will expand our production. As long as you work hard, we'll all earn silver together!"

Her words were simple, but the last sentence resonated deeply with everyone. 'Earning silver together' was a more powerful motivator than any incentive!

In response, the villagers eagerly echoed, "We'll earn silver together!"

"We'll work hard, indeed!"

Following this, Yu Lian outlined the workshop's production for the past year, or rather, the past few months, and laid out plans for the upcoming year. This gave the villagers a clear understanding of what would be produced next year and how much, allowing them to return home with peace of mind, knowing they could participate in spring plowing after the New Year and continue working to earn silver.

The villagers left their meeting content and well-informed. Most of them held a high opinion of their employer, Yu Lian. To them, no one was more capable than Miss Lian, regardless of gender – even men couldn't surpass her!

Even Second Uncle privately marveled at his wife, acknowledging that despite his age, he was far from her level. He had always had a high regard for the eldest daughter-in-law of the Mu family, often praising her to his wife. However, after more than half a year of interaction, his admiration had only grown. She was, after all, from a noble family, possessing the courage to share both joy and hardship with the Mu family. How could she lack skills and abilities?

On New Year's Eve, the Hua family gathered together for a lively and bountiful feast. The menu included some local specialties from Upper Village as well as dishes that were staples during their annual celebrations in the capital city, such as Grandma's homemade crystal pork trotters and sweet and sour carp.

There was originally also a dessert called Nine-Layer Cake, which their grandson Hua Ji had once adored, and Grandma would make it for him every year. But this year, the thought of it flashed through her mind only briefly before she let it go. It was crucial for the family to move on from their past shadows and look forward, not dwelling on past sorrows. As for Hua'er... let him rest in peace.

The festive dinner was filled with laughter, even the usually stern Hua Zhan's face softened with smiles. The three children chattered away, while Mrs. Chen gently encouraged them to enjoy their meal. Grandma's loving reminders and advice added warmth that surpassed the candlelight on the table.

This year, there was a young man, Zhu Ying, sitting at the table. Grandma treated him like a younger member of the family, giving him a red envelope with money to put under his pillow after the meal. She didn't forget the three children or her favorite granddaughter-in-law, Yu Lian, also giving each of them a red envelope.

Hua Zhan and Mrs. Chen also contributed, spending all the silver they received from their daughter-in-law, yet they were overjoyed.

As the family had completed their New Year's vigil well into the late hours of the night, Yu Lian found herself alone in her chamber. She carefully placed each red envelope she had received from her grandmother and in-laws beneath her pillow. Draped in the white cloak sent by her mother, she stood by the window, gently lifting her gaze to the starry heavens above.

In the blink of an eye, she had been living in this ancient world for nearly a year.

In that year, she had staged an emotional drama to leave home and find a cohabiting family and roommate. Now, when she looked back honestly, her grandmother and parents had treated her well. Part of it was due to their affection for Hua Ji, loving her by association, as well as their feelings of guilt and gratitude. However, it could not be denied that she had truly become a part of this family, inseparable from them. Even without the existence of Hua Ji, her grandmother would still be her grandmother, and her parents would still be her parents. The three children relied on and admired her deeply. Although the twins were mischievous and somewhat disobedient, they never genuinely got angry when she teased them. Instead, they would pout and whine, tattling to their elders, just like any genuine younger siblings would.

With these thoughts in mind, she gazed at the bright moon hanging high in the sky and smiled gently. Hua Ji, though we were not fated to be together, I have borrowed your name, and your family has become mine. From now on, rest assured and reincarnate; I will take good care of them.

With this thought, she lifted her handkerchief to gently press against the inexplicably moist corners of her eyes. A gust of wind blew, piercingly cold, causing her to sniffle. Yet, instead of closing the window, she turned around, fetched the wine she had concealed in a cabinet earlier, and sat by the window. There, she braved the chilly breeze while sipping her drink alone, in deep contemplation.

Halfway through a jug of wine, a gentle buzz of intoxication began to set in. Amidst the chilly breeze and bright moonlight, she found herself in a state of blurred consciousness, half drunk and half sober. Suddenly, her mood lifted, and she fetched paper and brush, composing a poem on the table as a tribute to her "deceased husband," Hua Ji.

She wished him peace in his next life, and thanked him for the misfortune that provided her an excuse for shelter. Indeed, he was an exceptional man.

One could imagine the male lead, receiving the "nice guy" card while his heart ached with profound emotion: My wife truly loves me, sob sob sob!

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