"This matter needs to be considered carefully. The family currently doesn't have much silver for the second brother to marry another. Mrs. Zhang is domineering and tricky, but from Mother's perspective, she doesn't intend to discard her unless..."
At this point Li Qingmu suddenly paused, his expression slightly peculiar.
Long Yue was quite clever and immediately guessed what he left unsaid. She looked up and asked him, "Do you mind? This would mean I'm taking someone else's place."
Long Yue wanted to drive Mrs. Zhang out of the Li family without resistance. Unless she held the reins of the Li family, but if she did, where would that leave mother-in-law Mrs. Li Zhou?
The mother-in-law would certainly make a fuss then, and the Li family members would side with her. So, what about Li Qingmu? What should he do as a son? This matter would definitely put him in a tough spot.
Li Qingmu was silent for a while and said, "My wife means well for the family, I, as your husband, do not mind."
In fact, Li Qingmu felt a small thrill of joy in his heart. His wife actually cared about his feelings, a consideration that was never there before.
Ever since waking up from the fight with the Zhang family's daughter-in-law, his wife had changed, changed so much that he didn't recognize her, yet he was quite pleased with this transformation.
He was very happy, and instinctively tightened his embrace on Long Yue, and then...
The next morning, Long Yue rubbed her aching waist, looked at the basket with seven or eight already embroidered handkerchiefs, and wondered whether to go to the county town today to sell the handkerchiefs for money and then get some tonic from the clinic?
Being tormented by that scoundrel every day, her petite body couldn't take it!
"Yue'er, going to the county town?"
The man's pleasant and refreshing voice came from outside, and Long Yue shivered suddenly; now, when she heard this man's particularly gentle voice, her legs would go weak!
"Yes!
She gritted her teeth and got up briskly.
This time she still rode on Chai Tieniu's cart, but today there was an unfamiliar young girl on the cart, looking about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a round face and a sweet appearance.
"This is my younger sister, named Qiao'er, quickly call her Third Aunt."
"Hello, Third Aunt!"
Chai Qiao'er was about the same age as Long Yue, but since Long Yue was married, she had to call her sister-in-law.
"Your sister is really sweet."
"Hehe, indeed, my sister is wonderful, and our parents adore her too..."
Chai Tieniu was beaming when he talked about his sister, showing that he was a very responsible brother.
Long Yue was thinking about making money. Her previous life was one of destitution due to her sister's schemes, and before she died, she concluded: to live, one needs money and power.
With money, one could connect with the powerful and gain power; likewise, power requires money to smooth the path and build connections. The two are complementary and indispensable.
In her previous life, Li Qingmu truly rose to prominence more than a year later, when the Xiliang Country launched a massive invasion in Xinan. The region was ablaze with wars, and many officials wanted to resign and be transferred to other places. Coincidentally, at that time he was demoted due to the second sister-in-law's matter and exchanged positions with an official with some connections.
Li Qingmu was forced to the borders as a logistics officer, personally at the frontline, which was extremely dangerous, but under those circumstances, he made a meritorious contribution! A significant one!
Long Yue didn't know exactly what he did at the frontier due to her limited access to information, but one fact was confirmed: at that time, he achieved a great success by repelling the hundred thousand troops assembled by the Xiliang Country.
The Emperor was greatly pleased, and directly transferred him to the Capital City...
Her husband was indeed impressive, but that would be more than a year later. During this period she couldn't just eat and wait for death.
She needed to earn money, lots of money, to pave the way for her husband's career, and then head back to the Capital City to settle scores with her Bai Lianhua sister!
Li Qingmu noticed his young wife was somewhat in a daze, with her brows furrowed. Although he didn't know why she was like this, he habitually pulled her closer.
"Hmm?"
Long Yue snapped back to reality and looked up at the man.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about money-making," she said, taking out the embroidered handkerchiefs from the basket and handing them to him, "Look, if we can find a couple more sisters skilled in embroidery, we can open a shop of our own, expanding the business."
"Li Family's Sister-in-law, I can do a bit of embroidery work too..."
Chai Qiao'er timidly mumbled on the side, looking a bit shy.
Long Yue's eyes lit up with delight and she asked, "You can?"
"Um… it's not very good…"
"That doesn't matter, as long as you have the basics, everything else can be learned!"
Few ordinary families have women skilled in embroidery, but ladies from prominent families like Long Yue actually do, and their skills are usually more sophisticated than those from common families. The problem is, no lady from a prominent family would idly sell her own embroideries for money unless she was in a desperate situation like Long Yue.
Even among the fallen, there are some who hold their dignity high and are unwilling to do such things.
Long Yue noticed the needle marks on Chai Qiao'er's small hands and knew she was telling the truth.
Chai Qiao'er also turned her eyes toward Long Yue. Seeing those exquisite embroidery pieces, she couldn't help but exclaim, "So skillful, Sister-in-law has such skillful hands, the embroidery is too beautiful! If it were me, I wouldn't be able to do it in a million years!"
There was a hint of dejection in her brows, and Long Yue laughed, "Do you want to learn from Sister-in-law?"
"Ah?" Chai Qiao'er lifted her head, her bright eyes showing excitement, biting her red lips as she asked, "Can I?"
"Of course, you can. Why not? As long as you're willing to learn!"
"Okay, um… Brother…"
Chai Qiao'er gave her brother a somewhat fearful glance.
Chai Tieniu scratched his head, looking awkward, "Won't that trouble Third Aunt, this… isn't it improper…"
"What trouble? I like Qiao'er very much at first glance, if she wants to learn, I'll be happy to teach her carefully!"
Long Yue only promised to teach carefully and did not say she'd reveal all her secrets. Chai Da's character could be trusted, but she couldn't guarantee that his sister's character was good. If she taught her everything and ended up betrayed, well, that would be a shame.
Chai Tieniu couldn't grasp the subtleties in Long Yue's words. He was simply overjoyed hearing she would teach his sister embroidery. Such skill is expensive to learn at the Music Bureau, something their ordinary family couldn't afford!
"Thank you, Li Family's Sister-in-law."
Chai Qiao'er showed a sweet smile on her round face and looked very obedient.
Upon arriving at the county town, Chai Da took his sister to sell prey and some melons and fruits their family grew. Long Yue and Li Qingmu went to the art gallery to sell paintings and calligraphy, then headed to the "Jinxiu" fabric shop.
The fabric shop not only sold fabrics but also finished items, like these embroidered handkerchiefs.
After going inside, Long Yue looked for the woman in red, who was introducing a new batch of goods to two customers when she saw Long Yue come in, instructing a servant to attend to her.
"I want to see your manager."
"Oh dear, miss, you see our manager is busy right now, if you have any issues, you can talk to me..."
"No need, I'll wait for her!"
Long Yue shook her head, interrupting the servant's eager hospitality. She was confident in her embroidery skills and wanted to discuss directly with the manager.
"Who is looking for me?"
Shortly, the woman in red came over, having just concluded a sale and in good spirits, her face wore a smile as she spoke.