I just wrote a love poem, how did that make me so powerful?

Xu Qing didn't ask any more questions and quickly walked towards the front hall.

Just as he reached the door, Zhao Laosi, the manager of Xiao Family Cloth Shop, arrived.

With Xiao Wanjin absent, Xiao Mingyuan found an experienced person to keep things in order.

Although it was still daylight in the front hall, the lights were already on, and several candles illuminated the hall brightly.

Xiao Mingyuan was sitting in the main seat.

A middle-aged man wearing a dark gray silk robe was sitting in the guest seat.

Upon seeing Xu Qing, the man put down his teacup, stood up, and bowed politely to Xu Qing.

"Mr. Xu, I've heard so much about you. My name is Qian Sihai, the second-in-command of Qianji Silk Shop in Fucheng."

Xu Qing returned the greeting, her gaze sweeping across his face...

He was in his forties or fifties, with a thin face, slightly high cheekbones, shrewd and steady eyes, and a slight smile on his lips.

Zhao Laosi also looked at Qian Sihai, and kept looking at him.

He suddenly remembered something: a man in gray had bought twenty bolts of silk from the Xiao family's cloth shop, and the next day, that silk appeared on the beggar's body...

That person was Qian Sihai's manager, standing right in front of him.

"It's...it's you..."

Qian Sihai smiled wryly: "That's right, it was me. I had no choice at the time, I apologize."

Xiao Mingyuan asked in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

Qian Sihai clasped his hands in a fist and explained, "When I went to Xiao's cloth shop to buy silk before, I personally went there."

Xiao Mingyuan was taken aback for a moment, then understood. "So it was Second Master who personally took action. Impressive."

Qian Sihai didn't beat around the bush. He took out a stack of silver notes, placed them on the table, and pushed them in front of Xiao Mingyuan.

The banknotes were all brand new, with signed notes pressed down on them, white paper with black ink, and all had their seals.

Xiao Mingyuan glanced down at the thickness of the silver note, and his eyelids twitched.

"Second Master, what are you doing?"

Xu Qing glanced around and whispered, "Looks like it's payment for that batch of goods from the Chen family, right?"

Qian Sihai nodded, his tone frank and honest. "That's right, the Chen family bought 20,000 taels of goods from me, and the money has been deposited into their account in full."

Xiao Mingyuan frowned and said with some confusion.

"So what do you mean by this? Are you here to show off?"

Qian Sihai shook his head and smiled.

"This is the Qian family's sincerity."

Xiao Mingyuan paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing.

"You mean you intend to give us all these banknotes?"

Qian Sihai nodded.

"That's right, consider this money an apology. The Qian family's methods in competing with the Xiao family's cloth shop for the Chun Hong Courtyard order were not very honorable. Later, their collaboration with the Chen family to counterfeit bras was also a wrong turn. Today, this money is to wipe the slate clean."

Xiao Mingyuan paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, reaching out to grab the stack of silver notes and patting them twice.

"Second Master, you are very generous. We will accept the Qian family's sincerity."

He swiped the banknotes to his own side.

"Second Master, just say what you want to say next."

Qian Sihai glanced back and forth between Xu Qing and Xiao Mingyuan. He didn't feel slighted because the Xiao family had only sent two young men.

"The Qian family wants to acquire the operating rights for Xiao family bras, and to distribute the products in areas not covered by Xiao family's fabric stores or partners. As long as the Xiao family grants authorization, the Qian family can open stores with their own money."

Xiao Mingyuan touched his double chin, somewhat puzzled.

"Second Master, didn't the Qian family also produce counterfeit bras? What if our products end up overlapping in the market?"

Qian Sihai did not answer immediately, but glanced at Xu Qing instead.

Xu Qing sat beside him, a half-smile on her face.

Qian Sihai sighed, his tone quite helpless.

"It seems Mr. Xu has already guessed that the cost of making steel bars in the Qian family's workshop is too high and cannot be reduced. The forging process of hundred-refined steel is complicated and time-consuming, and there are very few craftsmen who can do it well. Rather than struggling, it would be better to directly resell the goods to the Xiao family, where the profit is still considerable and more stable."

Xiao Mingyuan laughed heartily. "So after all that imitation, you've found that ours is more cost-effective."

Xu Qing had already brought this up, but now that Qian Sihai brought it up in person, the effect was different.

Qian Sihai wasn't embarrassed at all, and smiled calmly.

"Those who understand the times are wise."

He paused for a moment, the relaxed smile on his face faded, and his expression became serious.

Seeing this, Xiao Mingyuan knew that he hadn't finished speaking.

"Second Master, is there anything else?"

Qian Sihai nodded and said seriously, "Besides that, the Qian family wants to do something else: we want to supply bra fabric."

Xiao Mingyuan picked up his teacup to drink, but stopped when he heard what he said.

"Bra fabric? That's unnecessary; we don't have that much. The Xiao family has plenty of fabric."

Qian Sihai said solemnly.

"Young Master Xiao probably hasn't considered this. Do you estimate how many people in Daliang can afford it? Once people know about bras, the annual demand won't be small. Even if all the looms in Xiao Family Cloth Shop were used to supply bras, it wouldn't be enough, and besides..."

He slowed his speech and glanced at Xiao Mingyuan.

"How much of the cost of a bra is fabric? Less than 20%. The Xiao family doesn't need to expand the production of looms just for that 20%. It would be better to outsource that part and focus on the core components like the underwire, the design, and the overall sewing. The Qian family may not have much else, but they have plenty of looms."

Xiao Mingyuan held his teacup in mid-air, his gaze turning to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing didn't speak, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Xiao Mingyuan understood what he meant, so he put down his teacup and slowly said.

"I need to discuss this with my father; he's not home right now."

Qian Sihai didn't rush him, but instead added another sentence.

"In addition, the Qian family has a group of excellent embroiderers who are skilled in fine embroidery. If you don't mind, the Qian family can work on the fabric of the bras, such as plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, chrysanthemums, auspicious symbols, happiness, longevity, spring, summer, autumn, and winter, to make a set of four. The individual pieces won't sell for too high a price, but if you want to collect a complete set..."

Qian Sihai was only halfway through his sentence.

Xu Qing clapped his hands and stood up.

He looked at Qian Sihai with a rare expression of surprise in his eyes.

"Second Master, what skillful methods you have!"

He gave a thumbs-up, then sat back down, the surging surprise in his heart slowly subsiding.

The reason I was able to come up with things like bras, glasses, and distilled spirits is because I have experience and knowledge that are hundreds of years ahead of my time.

But the man in front of me, Qian Sihai, is a native silk merchant from the prefectural city.

Relying on his hard-earned business acumen, he came up with the marketing model of collecting sets from later generations, which is no less advanced than his experience of time travel, and is even more remarkable.

Although Xiao Mingyuan didn't understand, seeing Xu Qing's surprised expression, he also clapped his hands in a way that was both incomprehensible and impressive.

"Second Master, your move is indeed impressive. Since you've calculated everything so clearly, I won't say any more. When the Xiao family's cloth shop runs out of fabric, we'll use the Qian family's. You're right, we really didn't plan to expand our loom production specifically for bras. We might have considered it in the past, but now..."

Xiao Mingyuan thought of the things Xu Qing had mentioned before.

So he continued, "We have several other things to do, we can't put all our eggs in one basket."

Qian Sihai seemed to have expected Xiao Mingyuan's reaction. He pulled out a pre-prepared document, unfolded it on the table, and pushed it over.

Xiao Mingyuan glanced at it and handed it to Zhao Laosi, who was standing next to him.

"Fourth Uncle, come and take a look."

Zhao Laosi looked at it carefully three times, and nodded after confirming that it was correct.

Xiao Mingyuan picked up the pen, signed, and pressed his fingerprint.

Qian Sihai put away the receipt, stood up with a happy smile.

"Then I wish us a pleasant cooperation. If the Xiao family has any big business dealings in the future and needs more manpower, please let us know."

Xiao Mingyuan also stood up. "It's a pleasure doing business with you!"

Qian Sihai cupped his hands in greeting and left with his entourage.

After Qian Sihai's figure had completely disappeared, Xiao Mingyuan looked at the 20,000 taels of silver notes on the table one last time.

After confirming that there were no problems, he pushed Xu Qing towards him.

"This money..."

Xu Qing waved her hand, "Just leave the money in the account. Whether it's for bra expansion, glasses, or glass, we need it all, and we can't skimp on a single penny."

Xiao Mingyuan nodded. "Alright, I'll listen to you."

As he spoke, he locked the box.

After finishing his business, Xu Qing got up to say goodbye.

"I'm going to Zhuangyuanlou to see Doctor Li and Yao Yao."

Xiao Mingyuan chuckled and said, "Of course I have to go. I'll arrange the silver notes."

……

Xu Qing rushed to Zhuangyuanlou and went straight to the room where Song Yao was staying.

but……

The room was tidy and organized, the bed was made neatly, and the pot of scallions she used to grow on the windowsill was gone.

An empty teapot sat on the corner of the table, its body still warm.

Xu Qing stood at the door and glanced inside, a bad feeling rising in her heart...

He turned around to ask Su Man, but suddenly his eyes froze and he stood there.