13. The Prime Minister's Tool Man Step-wife (13)
Luo Changqing took the information, flipped through it, and then frowned and asked, "That's all?"
"Yes, all the young talents who have not yet been engaged and are suitable for the young lady's status are here. As for the others,
Either his status is low or he already has a fiancée." Shu Qi replied, it turned out that he was looking for a fiancé for Luo Yaqing.
Luo Changqing looked at the so-called young talents listed above and was not very satisfied. He threw the information on the table and said: "Exclude all those who have concubines with each other."
"This...men who have reached the age of getting married, even if they don't have concubines, it is very common to have maids who live with them...I am afraid that few of them can truly keep themselves clean." Shu Qi said in embarrassment.
Luo Yaqing is almost sixteen years old. There are very few girls at her age who are not yet engaged. Many girls are already married or even have children.
Men of the same age as her are either married or engaged, especially those with high status and good looks and talents. Such talents have been targeted for a long time. Luo Changqing is only now looking for them for his daughter. It is already a bit late.
Luo Changqing didn't expect that it would be so difficult to find a perfect son-in-law, but he regretted not making a decision for his daughter earlier: "I delayed Qing'er."
"How can I blame you, sir? I am also kind-hearted and want to keep the young lady at home for a few more years." Shu Qi comforted him. He is the person who knows Luo Changqing best.
Luo Changqing loves his daughter very much and wants to give her the best in everything. He is reluctant to let her marry someone else at a young age to serve her husband and in-laws, so he keeps his daughter until now.
"Well, this matter can't be rushed. I still have to search carefully. I don't believe that there are really no young talents who match Qing'er." Luo Changqing said.
Xu Shichu didn't know that her cheap husband was worrying about her daughter's wedding. She had prepared a lot for the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet. In addition to learning etiquette and rules, preparing clothes and jewelry for attending, she also had to pay attention to her own business.
After Zuixiangge's business got on track, she expanded the bookstore and renovated it into two areas. One area was filled with books to buy; the other area was turned into a reading room.
She did not do business according to the common bookstore model of this era, but transformed it into a modern bookstore that integrates book selling, renting and reading.
The books in the bookstore can be sold, rented, or not sold or rented, but can be loaned to guests for reading in the reading room according to the price.
Selling, of course, means selling books conventionally; and renting books, as long as you pay enough deposit, you can rent the books home, and you can read or copy them as you like; borrowing, as long as you pay ten cents, you can read them in the bookstore.
A whole day's worth of books, and half a day's worth of reading for five cents.
In this era, due to reasons such as paper, pen, ink, and printing technology, the price of books was not cheap. Except for wealthy scholars, those from poor families could not afford to buy a few books a year. Therefore, borrowing and renting books allowed many children from poor families to live openly.
Reading a book can be done for a whole day for just a few pennies. It is really worth it. If you are worried that you will not remember it after reading it, you can also pay a deposit to rent the book home and copy it. This way, even including pen, ink and paper, it is better than buying a book.
New books are much cheaper.
This novel bookstore model made the readers in the capital surprised for a long time, thinking that there was some trap waiting for them. But after some brave readers tried it and were not tricked, they became really happy.
This novel bookstore called "Houji Bookstore" soon became popular among scholars in the capital. In addition to the poor children who are not rich, even the rich men who don't care about the price of books are willing to come here to read books.
Firstly, it is spacious and bright here, which is much more comfortable than a dark and lonely study room at home. Secondly, reading here has an atmosphere. When you have questions, you can discuss and exchange ideas with your book friends at any time and brainstorm.
Scholars are all aware of etiquette, integrity, and respect for face. Xu Shichu is not worried about any troubles that may arise from this business model. She also prepared tea and snacks in the store. Of course, this requires money. After all, she is not doing charity.
So unexpectedly, the income from tea and snacks every day was actually more than the income from borrowing, which surprised Xu Shichu.
After finishing the business affairs, the Mid-Autumn Festival was also here. Xu Shichu dressed up according to the advice of his tutor, and followed Luo Changqing out.
Luo Rui and Luo Yaqing followed behind. Xu Shichu could feel their lingering gazes on him, especially Luo Rui's. He couldn't hide the shocked expression when he saw Xu Shichu for the first time.
Cover it up.
When she arrived at the door, Xu Shichu got into her own carriage. As soon as she sat down, she breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't help it. The clothes she wore were too grand, and the jewelry on her head was also very expensive. She had to be careful when walking.
Not an easy thing.
"Zhichun, Zhixia, hurry up and make me a cup of milk tea to moisten my throat." Xu Shichu ordered.
"But Madam, isn't it inconvenient in the palace to drink too much tea?" Zhichun reminded tactfully.
"Don't worry, the palace is not a den of wolves and tigers, so what's the inconvenience?" Xu Shichu said nonchalantly. After all, she is the prime minister's wife. If you have any plots, you can't find her, right?
"Just in case, madam, it's better to drink less. You can have some snacks," Zhixia said.
"Okay, okay, you are really a little housekeeper." Xu Shichu smiled helplessly, picked up the red bean cake on the small table and ate it.
As soon as the pastry entered his mouth, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, and then a tall figure got in.
"Master? Say hello to the master!" Zhichun and Zhixia were startled and hurriedly put down their work to salute Luo Changqing.
But Xu Shichu just raised his eyelids and glanced at him and said, "Why did the Prime Minister get on my carriage?"
"I have something to tell you." Luo Changqing didn't care when Xu Shichu didn't salute him. He sat down unceremoniously on the other side of the small table and faced Xu Shichu face to face.
"Continue making milk tea." Xu Shichu raised his chin, indicating to the two maids not to worry about Luo Changqing.
Zhichun and Zhixia hesitated for a while, but soon started working according to Xu Shichu's instructions. After all, Xu Shichu was their master.
Making milk tea is really a very simple task. The water is boiled and a small stove is kept burning. The milk is kept frozen with ice. Even the pearls in the milk tea are made into cute little crystal balls. The tea leaves are soaked in boiling water and filtered out.
Pour in the milk and add the small pearl balls and stir, and the ancient version of pearl milk tea is ready.
Luo Changqing remained silent the whole time, just watching the two maids making this novel and weird milk tea.
Xu Shichu picked up the tea cup and felt Luo Changqing's gaze fixed on his milk tea. He hesitated and asked, "You want to drink it too?"
Chapter completed!