Chapter 199 The Task Assigned by Youshi

Xia Chunyu's eyes widened: "Then it must be 20%. It's rare that Second Aunt asked for it herself, so there's no need to be polite to her."

"Aren't you worried about the risks?" Ye Jiayao sneered.

"If someone else proposed it, I certainly wouldn't believe it easily. I would have to go to Shanxi and see it with my own eyes before I could make a decision. But I absolutely trust my second aunt. You don't know the ability of my second uncle-in-law. Don't look at him smiling all day long, his business mind is first-class, no worse than yours. In fact, their Pan family really became prosperous in the hands of my second uncle." Xia Chunyu mentioned his second uncle, naturally revealing his admiration.

"Do you know why the relationship between Third Aunt and Second Aunt is so strained? Third Aunt has always wanted Second Aunt to help her get rich, but Second Aunt ignored her."

Ye Jiayao had some doubts in her heart: "I know that opening a coal mine is very profitable. If the coal mine is of excellent quality as Second Aunt said, then it goes without saying. I just can't understand why Second Aunt didn't ask Mother to invest in it? Instead, she gave such a good opportunity to us."

Xia Chunyu smiled with a carefree look, "You don't understand this, do you? For a large coal mine like this, there are bound to be many people who are jealous. There are many rich people in Shanxi, and each of them has their own network of connections. If there is no one with status who can suppress the situation, it would be a sin to hold a treasure pot. Second aunt can of course ask our parents. The status of Jing'an Marquis is still very intimidating, but if our parents participate in the shares, then Third Uncle and Third Aunt will also grumble and want to get involved. Second aunt might as well give the benefits to us. After all, I am also the future heir of Jing'an Marquis Mansion, so I still have some weight, and it can also save Third Aunt's family from trouble."

"But the most important thing is that Second Aunt likes you." Xia Chunyu stretched out his hand and scratched the tip of her nose: "Yaoyao, you are my God of Wealth!"

Ye Jiayao opened her mouth and tried to bite his hand, but he quickly pulled back and missed, laughing: "Lucky dog."

"You're the dog. You're a big black dog, a big black dog that matches your big black horse." Ye Jiayao pounced over to tickle him, and he pulled her into his arms, kneading her, and said, "You're getting more and more enthusiastic. I like it."

"Bah, you're so enthusiastic." Ye Jiayao grabbed his hand and said, "I'm talking to you about serious matters. Be serious."

Xia Chunyu suppressed his laughter and looked at her with sparkling eyes: "You talk, I listen."

Ye Jiayao broke free from his arms, sat up straight, straightened her clothes, and said, "Since you are also optimistic, then we will take 20%. However, I only have 250,000 yuan available at hand. Second Aunt said that 50,000 yuan is considered one share, and 20% is 20 shares, which is 1 million yuan. You can find a way to raise the remaining 750,000 yuan."

"Isn't that easy? I can borrow some money from Zhao Qixuan. However, he and Susu are planning border trade, which is also a business with high capital. Fortunately, Tianshangju has good profits. We can pay back a little every month, and it will be paid off in half a year at most. So, you still have to work hard." Xia Chunyu said with a smile.

Ye Jiayao couldn't help rolling her eyes. You really treat me as a money-making machine! I'm not a Yang Bailao. I won't do anything that doesn't make money.

"You know how hard I work. Well, I'll get a bigger share of the coal mine's profits. I'll take 70% and you'll get 30%."

Xia Chunyu raised his eyebrows and said, "Look at you, it's boring to say that! What do you mean by seven for you and three for me? We are husband and wife, husband and wife are one, what's yours is mine, and what's mine is yours."

Whoever is one with you, what's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine, that's pretty much it. Ye Jiayao thought.

"Don't talk nonsense to me. Don't forget our agreement. There are only two years and six months left. Who can guarantee what the situation will be like by then?" Ye Jiayao said.

Xia Chunyu nodded in understanding: "Okay, then let's stick to the old rules, fifty-fifty."

Ye Jiayao almost spit on his face. Who was it that said husband and wife are one, yours is mine and mine is yours? In the blink of an eye, it became 50-50. How smart!

Ye Jiayao gritted her teeth and said, "Fifty-fifty, let's sign a document."

Xia Chunyu wanted to laugh when he saw her angry look. This silly girl, so impatient.

Ye Jiayao went to draft a document and asked Xia Chunyu to put his fingerprints on it. Xia Chunyu sneered, "Why put fingerprints on it? Just sign it. It's late at night and you have to wash your hands again."

"No, what if you say I imitated your handwriting?" Ye Jiayao refused.

Xia Chunyu exaggeratedly asked, "Am I such a person?"

"People change." Ye Jiayao took his hand, dipped it in ink and pressed her fingerprint on the contract. Only then did she let go with satisfaction and put the document in the safe. When she opened the safe, she deliberately covered it so that he couldn't see it.

Xia Chunyu laughed in silence. That broken iron box could stop others, but it could also stop him? Call Uncle Jiang and it will be done in a few minutes.

"Hey, don't tell anyone about this, to avoid making others jealous." Xia Chunyu warned.

"I know. Do I need to be told this? I know better than you that wealth should not be shown off." Ye Jiayao said without turning her head.

After finishing all these, it was already past midnight and the two went to bed.

The next day, Xia Chunyu went to see his second uncle to learn about the coal mine, and then went to find Zhao Qixuan. When Zhao Qixuan heard that it was an urgent need and had to be paid off within five months, he immediately gave him 750,000 taels without hesitation.

As soon as the money was taken out, Ye Jiayao suddenly felt that she was poor. Damn, she had to live frugally and tighten her belt in the future. Fortunately, Manager Bai and his team had cleared up the accounts and found that Manager Lu and his nephew had embezzled nearly 50,000 taels of silver. This was only what could be found on the account. Xia Chunyu was not polite to them at all. They either had to give it all up or be sent to the authorities.

Manager Lu had no choice but to hand over the shop he had bought and all the gold bars and silver ingots he had hidden. After some calculation, he had 38,000 taels of silver. The rest had been squandered, and even if he was skinned alive, he could not get anything back.

Xia Chunyu spared him because he had four children and two elderly people to support, and told them to get out of Jinling and never appear in front of him again.

Ye Jiayao took the remaining 38,000 taels of silver. Although the food and clothing expenses were all paid by the public, Chunyu had to entertain people outside and pay favors from all over the place. Moreover, the New Year was coming soon, and gifts had to be given for the New Year! The public would not pay for this, and there was also the cost of sowing next spring. It was a headache just thinking about it. Well, if it was not enough, she would take out her private savings. At worst, she still had a full warehouse of dowry! Can a living person be suffocated to death?
Chunfeng finally went to the Dali Temple to take up the post. Liuli was unhappy for a few days because of this. Zhou instigated her, saying that this must be Ye Jiayao's idea and that she just couldn't bear to see the two of you living better than her. Liuli hated Ye Jiayao even more.

In addition, the second aunt returned to Taiyuan, and no one was openly helping Ye Jiayao. Zhou, the vanguard and clown, jumped even more happily.

When facing Zhou's provocation, Ye Jiayao just took it as a way to cultivate her self-cultivation. She simply turned a deaf ear, turned a blind eye and ignored it. In fact, it was also an effective means of counterattack. If the other party really went too far, You would step forward to stop it.

In the blink of an eye, it was December, and as the year was coming to an end, Ye Jiayao rented a shop next to Tianshangju and opened a pastry shop, specializing in making all kinds of exquisite cakes and ice cream. She asked Jiang Yue to be in charge, and Zhong Xiang would come to help when he was free.

This small pastry shop actually made considerable profits. Giving cakes as gifts became a fashion, and many wealthy ladies flocked to it.

Ye Jiayao couldn't stop smiling as she watched the skyrocketing profits every day. The sarcasm from Zhou and Liuli were all empty talk, and making money was the most important thing.

That day, You called Ye Jiayao over and handed her a list: "Take a look at this. These are the noble families or those who are on good terms with our family. They need to give New Year gifts. What gifts did they give in previous years? This year, they can't be any worse. From now on, these things will be handed over to you."

Ye Jiayao became serious, realizing that Youshi was teaching her how to be the mistress of the marquis's mansion, and began to read it carefully.

The list is extremely detailed, listing those who are family friends and should be treated specially, those with vested interests and should not be underestimated, as well as what Mrs. So-and-so likes, what Mr. So-and-so hobbies, and what So-and-so is superstitious about.

This small list reflects Yu's experience in interpersonal relationships and social interactions over the years.

"First, learn to write a gift list and let me see it." Yu said.

Ye Jiayao felt that it was not easy to be the head of the family. Just preparing gifts for each family was very particular. They could not be too vulgar or too bad, and they had to please the family. It was not something that could be dealt with casually.

"Yes." Ye Jiayao agreed, but she felt a lot of pressure. This year, Youshi was just testing her. If these tasks really fell on her in the future, it would be a real headache.

"Also, the first month of the new year is the Queen Mother's seventieth birthday. The Emperor wants to make a big fuss for her. I haven't decided what to give her yet, so you should think about it too."

As soon as one problem is solved, another one comes up.

"Yes……"

After receiving the task, Ye Jiayao lay on the low table on the couch and thought hard.

Seeing her sad face, Xia Chunyu couldn't help but be curious: "What's wrong with you today? You look so worried? Is the cake shop business not doing well?"

Ye Jiayao rolled her eyes and said coquettishly, "Chun Yu, my mother has assigned me a very difficult task. Please help me think of a solution!"

Xia Chunyu had no choice but to put down the document and walked over: "What is it?"

Ye Jiayao pushed the list over: "Look, there are dozens of families here, all of whom need to give gifts for the New Year. My mother asked me to draw up a gift list, and my head is about to explode."

Xia Chunyu said casually, "What's the trouble? Just give the same thing you gave last year."

"Can you be a little sincere? If it were so simple, would mother let me do it? You don't want mother to be disappointed in me, do you?" Ye Jiayao said with a pout.

Xia Chunyu thought about it for a moment and said, "That's true, but I'm not good at this kind of thing either."

"Two cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang. If they think together, they will win." Ye Jiayao was determined to get him involved.

Xia Chunyu sneered: "Three cobblers, right? There's still one missing!"

(End of this chapter)