Too high to reach

Chapter 160 is a fat sheep
After dark, Mo Yi quietly ran to Aunt Yun's room.

"The purse I wore this time was very eye-catching, and many girls liked it."

"Really?" Yunniang found it hard to believe.

She made that purse.

However, the design was drawn by Fifth Sister, and she also provided the materials.

It's not that it looks bad, it's just too colorful!

When the Fifth Sister said she should wear it when attending the birthday banquet, she was worried that people would laugh at her.

In Yunniang's mind, the embroidery sold in the shop that was both elegant and ornate was the best quality.

"At that time, quite a few ladies were indeed wearing those expensive embroidery pieces from the shops. But the ones I wore were loved by all the girls. Many people came over to ask about them, and even those who didn't ask were secretly looking at them."

Therefore, I think targeting these girls is definitely a safe bet.

But... I'm still figuring out how to use it to set up half a shop. This stuff, you know, there's a trick to it. Too little, and it'll be sold out in no time, which doesn't feel right. Too much, and it loses its novelty and won't fetch a high price.

And then there's the matter of the embroiderers… Should we draw up the patterns, make requests, and delegate the work to someone else? Or should we hire a professional embroiderer? It's quite a headache!

“Yunniang doesn’t know this one, but she does know a thing or two about embroidery shops. Back then, besides farmland, my family also had shops in the county…” Her eyes reddened as she said this.

Back then, she was considered a young lady from a wealthy family, served by maids and servants.

But one day, his family was destroyed and he was reduced to this state, even his son was born out of wedlock.

“Back then, my family had more than ten embroiderers. Among them were skilled embroiderers and unskilled embroiderers. Skilled embroiderers were more expensive, so hiring them all would mean less money for us. Besides, some jobs could be done by unskilled embroiderers. It’s better to have a good mix.”

To ensure quality work, sometimes several people work on one item. Once you've finished yours, it's passed to me. The cutters specialize in cutting, the button makers in buttoning, and the embroiderers and pattern makers are also divided into groups, each focusing on their specific task. If, as you said, the finished products are exactly the same, that's probably how they're made!

"Hmm..." Mo Yi pondered, "We also need to divide them into long-term and short-term workers. Long-term workers also need food and lodging... Can the small shop afford to support all these people? Good heavens, there's so much to do!"

“Young lady, you have a familiar clothing store, you can go and ask them, they know more.”

"Oh! Now that you mention it, I remember. I can go ask Master Jiang."

……

Only two days after I returned home, my family received a visiting card.

It is said that the day after tomorrow, Zhang Debao, the young master of the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion, will come to pay a visit.

"The Marquis of Zhongyong's Mansion?" Mo Rushan looked at the post, puzzled.

Although he didn't know who it was, he wasn't as surprised as before when guests from noble or high-ranking families came to his house.

They calmly set it aside and didn't even mention it.

The next day, I casually inquired about it and mentioned it when I came back for dinner.

Mo Yi and Mo Wen didn't know, but Mo Yuan did: "Uncle, I met him a few days ago when Yuan Yuan attended the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet."

"They've come to see you, haven't they?" Madam Liu exclaimed excitedly, "The young master of the Earl's Mansion!"
Upon hearing this, Mo Rusong also became excited, staring at Mo Yuan... That's right!
My two nieces have both found good partners, now it's my turn, Yuanyuan's.

He had never paid this much attention to his daughter before.

Their relationship was neither good nor bad. He didn't have anything nice to give Mo Yuan, nor did he know what to say to her.

Mo Yuan neither relied on him nor got close to him.

Am I going to become the father-in-law of the Earl's son?

Yes, I'm no worse than my second brother. If he can be the prince's father-in-law, so can I.

“Today, I inquired about this place…” Mo Rushan said.

Mo Yuan looked at her uncle with her beautiful eyes.

"His family used to be the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion. The current Earl is said to have been in poor health since childhood, unable to go to the battlefield, and has no merits. Therefore, after his grandfather died, his family was demoted to Earl's mansion."

"The Earl is no longer capable. If Zhang Debao doesn't achieve any more merits, I'm afraid that once his father dies, there will be no title to inherit."

Upon hearing this, Mo Yuan pouted and said, "That won't do! He's not good-looking either."

“Zhang Debao is an only child and is extremely spoiled. I doubt they’ll let him go to the battlefield. Unless there’s a special opportunity…” Mo Rushan shook his head.

"However, because the aunt is shrewd and capable, she is quite wealthy. But, having wealth without official position is not a long-term solution!"

Mo Ruhai nodded: "That's why, if your descendants are no good, leaving behind titles or wealth is useless."

Thinking of Mo Da, and then of Mo Bao. And my precious daughter... I couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

I'll never encounter such a thing!
“If it really is for…our Yuan’er, Third Brother, what do you say…” Mo Rushan asked.

"Uncle, this person won't do!" Mo Yuan said herself.

Mo Rusong said, "Let's not reject it outright... Let's see how it goes, just in case it doesn't turn out well..."

"Couldn't my daughter be better? You've never cared about her since she was little, so don't worry about her now!" These days, Mrs. Liu is incredibly arrogant.

The next day, Zhang Debao actually came.

She wore brand-new clothes and had plenty of expensive items hanging around her neck. Her hair was oiled and meticulously combed.

Four servants followed behind, carrying two boxes of gifts. Just by looking at the packaging, they were clearly extraordinary items.

He stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "I apologize for my abrupt visit. It's because... the kite I gave to Miss Mo caused her some trouble. So, I've come specifically to apologize."

The three Mo brothers, plus Mo Fan, all stared blankly at him.

What kite? What trouble has it caused?

"Presumably, Miss Mo has not told her family about this..." He then recounted the whole story in detail.

It highlights Mo Yuan's humility and politeness, as well as the other girls' arrogance.

"I wonder if Miss Mo Yuan was frightened."

Mo Yuan and Liu Shi were eavesdropping outside the door when the maid who was pouring tea came out and said with shining eyes, "Two large boxes of gifts!"

The mother and daughter couldn't stay still.

Although Mo Yuan didn't fancy Zhang Debao, she still dressed up specially when she knew he was coming.

The main style is that of a gentle, virtuous, and refined young lady.

"Master, my mistress and daughter have arrived!" She told the maid to go in and announce their arrival.

As soon as the mother and daughter appeared, Zhang Debao jumped up, his previous serious demeanor completely gone.

His eyes lit up when he saw Mo Yuan. He stepped forward to thank her deeply, a big, silly grin on his face.

Liu came out excitedly, but her heart sank when she saw the man.

She's so ordinary-looking, and not even that tall. She'd heard that Xu Ke and the Prince were both very tall!
But after glancing at the two full boxes, he still gave a kind smile.

"Young Master Zhang, it really is you? You, what brings you here?"

Mo Yuan's eyes, like those of the fawns in Zhang Debao's deer park, were moist and innocent...

His heart melted instantly, and his voice became incredibly gentle: "Debao was worried that the young lady was frightened by the unruly behavior of those maids, so he came here on purpose..." His face turned red.

Seeing this, Mo Rushan and Mo Ruhai were puzzled. Didn't Mo Yuan not like him? How could this be...?

Mo Rusong secretly concluded: This guy is a fat sheep! Not bad!

He's from a wealthy family and has money! The key thing is... look at his foolish appearance, my daughter can handle him like it's nothing.
So, me... right?
Therefore, his smile was the most genuine.

"With Young Master Zhang's righteous words, how could Mo Yuan be frightened?" Mo Yuan also saw the gift and smiled sweetly.

For a moment, everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts.

Zhang Debao wasn't stupid; he subtly hinted that he was interested in Mo Yuan.

Mo Rushan remained calm and composed, mentioning that his family had been dealing with many matters recently, such as Mo Da's upcoming exam and Mo Fan's visit to the Imperial Guard.

They even indirectly asked Zhang Debao where he was currently employed...

Zhang Debao was left speechless by the question. He was used to being free and didn't like being constrained. If he hadn't come to the Mo family today, he might not have gotten up at all.

No matter what his mother's plans were for him, he just shook his head and said he wouldn't go.

So, I'm truly a nobody now.

Seeing that he was speechless, Mo Rushan politely declined the guest's invitation, saying that he could not accept such a gift without merit, and that the Mo family dared not accept it because it was too valuable.

As a result, the three members of the Mo family's third branch all glared at him.

Zhang Debao knew the other party wasn't interested in him, and he felt both heartbroken and guilty. He insisted on leaving the gift behind, not even taking the box back, and said goodbye somewhat awkwardly.

The three families immediately pounced on it...

"Oh my god!"

A dazzling gold and gemstone hairpin, rouge, an exquisite purse, and the shawl that Mo Yuan tried on last time. Medicinal herbs and tonics…

If you calculate it carefully, it should be over a thousand taels.

"What an idiot!" everyone exclaimed.

“Now it belongs to our third branch, right?” Liu started again.

Zhang Debao rushed home: "Father, Mother! No matter what, please find me a job in the Imperial Guard!"

The couple, Zhongyong and his wife, have a good relationship and are having tea.

"Oh my son! Is what you're saying true?" Uncle Zhongyong exclaimed excitedly.

Mrs. Bo remained calm: "My son is all grown up now, he understands things better. Good son, I'll go find someone right away!"

Zhang Debao smiled happily...

(End of this chapter)