Chapter 315
Chapter 315
Among them, Ji Yan’an’s eldest sister-in-law, Liu Huan, agreed at once.
She also invested a sum of silver.
She could tell that the textile workshop was sure to make money. Jiang Yunsui might be small, but she was not short of funds. Even if she had been, she could easily have gone to Ji Yan’an. She had approached the women partly to give them something to do and pass the time, and partly to let them earn some money too.
She was a generous Little Mushroom.
Liu Huan was actually quite touched by it.
How could someone so tiny be so thoughtful?
Of the others, Eldest Aunt invested some money, but she would not take part in managing the business. As the eldest daughter-in-law of the Ji Family, she needed to stay home and keep Old Madam Ji company.
Second Aunt had no instinct for business. She thought Jiang Yunsui was merely fooling around. What could such a young child possibly accomplish?
Afraid of losing money, she did not invest at all.
Youngest Aunt was interested, however. She invested money and agreed to help manage the workshop.
Then there were the three Ji daughters who had been cast off and sent home by their husbands. By now, they had emerged somewhat from their grief, and Liu Huan persuaded them to join too.
“You spend all day sitting in your rooms, so of course your thoughts run wild. You might as well keep busy with us. If you’re busy, you won’t think about those faithless men.”
In the end, the three were persuaded and joined the enterprise.
That evening, Ji Yang came to see Jiang Yunsui in secret, hugging a small box.
“Little Aunt.”
“What are you doing here?”
The two girls went into the room and climbed onto the bed to talk.
“I… I want to support you too.”
She held out her little box.
“This is the silver I’ve saved. Some of it came from Great-Grandmother. You can have it all.”
Jiang Yunsui opened the box. Inside were tiny golden melon seeds, peanuts, and other trinkets, along with silver and banknotes.
They counted it together. In all, it came to five hundred and thirty taels.
Jiang Yunsui returned the extra thirty taels, then took out another five hundred taels of her own silver and placed it in the box.
“Consider these five hundred taels a loan from your Little Aunt.”
She thumped her chest, looking every inch the bold benefactor.
“Don’t worry. We’ll definitely make money. If we don’t, I’ll pay you back.”
Ji Yang shook her head. “You don’t have to. I trust you, Little Aunt.”
Deeply moved, Jiang Yunsui threw her arms around her.
“Stick with your Little Aunt, and I’ll make you rich!”
In truth, Ji Yang envied Jiang Yunsui greatly. She was so young, yet she was already earning her own money and knew how to do so many things.
Ji Yang, on the other hand, was still being pressed to study by her grandmother. If she went out to play for even a short while, her grandmother would lecture her at length when she returned.
“I should go back. If Grandmother finds out I came to see you this late, she’ll lecture me again.”
Jiang Yunsui murmured agreement and saw her to the door.
Ji Yang had a maid with her, so there was nothing to fear on the way back.
“Good night!”
Jiang Yunsui shook her little head.
Second Aunt did not like her. Hmph… then she did not have to like Second Aunt either.
When Ji Yang returned, she happened to hear her grandmother speaking with Great-Grandmother.
Curious, she pressed herself to the door and listened for a while.
From inside came her grandmother’s dissatisfied voice.
“Mother, you all indulge that Jiang Yunsui far too much. You gave her so much silver for that textile workshop. What can a child younger than Yangyang possibly accomplish? Does she really think running a business is that easy? If you ask me, the Ji Family should control the weaving business.”
Old Madam Ji calmly sipped her tea.
At those words, she gave a cold laugh. “You certainly dare to dream. What, were you born with eyes only to pretend you can’t see? From selecting the materials to designing the loom, that little girl you speak of did it all herself. At your age, you’re still coveting what belongs to a young child. Have you no shame?”
Second Aunt retorted, “Weren’t those sheep raised in our Ji Family Army camp? And didn’t she have Yan’an’s craftsmen build the loom? All she did was move her lips. I also heard Yan’an gave her the land for the workshop.”
“Yangyang is his own niece, yet he treats an outsider so well. That vast piece of land is worth a fortune, and he simply handed it to an outsider for nothing.”
Old Madam Ji said, “She earned it!”
“Mind your own affairs. How Yan’an treats Yunsui is his business. Even I, his own grandmother, have no objection, yet you insist on meddling.
“I am old and cannot keep all of you in line for much longer, but let me offer you one warning. Yan’an is not nearly as easygoing as you imagine. For my sake, he treats you decently enough. But once I am gone, if you still cannot tell right from wrong and provoke him, you can wait to be sent back to your parents’ home.”
Second Aunt tried to say more, but Old Madam Ji lost patience and ordered an elderly maid to escort her out.
After Second Aunt left, Nanny Li brought Ji Yang inside.
Ji Yang’s eyes were red. Tears pooled in them, but she had not cried.
“Come here to Great-Grandmother, Yangyang.”
Ji Yang went to her, and the tears finally spilled free.
“Great-Grandmother, Grandmother… she…”
She wanted to say that her grandmother was wrong. But she was her grandmother’s granddaughter and had to be filial. How could she speak ill of an elder?
Besides, her grandmother truly did treat her well.
“I know. I know everything.”
Old Madam Ji wiped away her tears.
“You can tell right from wrong, and you haven’t allowed your grandmother to influence your character. That is very good.”
“Before your grandmother married your grandfather, she was the daughter of a concubine. Among the great and powerful households of the Capital City, how many inner households ever lived in harmony? When she was young, her father’s principal wife and her older legitimate sister oppressed her. She was never allowed to keep any silver, and when the family hired a tutor, only the legitimate daughters were taught. None of the concubine-born children, male or female, received any instruction.
“That is why grasping at small gains and longing for a good education became obsessions in her heart. But they are unhealthy obsessions. Clinging too tightly to them will only harm her and those around her in the end.”
“Pay no mind to what your grandmother says about training you to be a proper noble lady so you can marry into a powerful family. If people want to live well, they must rely on themselves.”
“Just listen and agree with her aloud. I brought you to study at my side because I did not want her stubborn ideas to affect you. Come learn from me more often. You can also go to Little Yunsui. That girl has a mind of her own, and she is a good child.”
Ji Yang wiped her tears and nodded.
“Yes, Great-Grandmother. I understand.”
“Go to sleep. All you need to do now is grow up well.”
After Ji Yang left, Old Madam Ji sighed.
“Yangyang is a good child. These old bones of mine won’t be able to keep them in line much longer. I only hope that by spending more time with Little Yunsui, Yangyang will learn how to take care of herself.”
The older maid beside her massaged her shoulders. “Old Madam, you’re in excellent health. Don’t say such disheartening things. You still have to watch Young Master Yan’an grow up and marry.”
Old Madam Ji smiled. “Now that I know the poison is gone and he can live to adulthood, that is enough.”
It was only a pity that the boy was fated to have no children.
Ji Yan’an had already told Old Madam Ji about his physical condition.
Though she regretted it, the fact that he could now grow to adulthood was already the best possible outcome.