The next day, after washing up and preparing for breakfast, Zhao Jiaqi learned that the people invited to dinner last night had not left.
They had chatted all night in the prince's manor, and now they were full of energy, as if they had been injected with chicken blood.
Outside the prince's manor, carriages one after another slowly drove away, heading straight for the trade city.
Sixi and Dazhuang, driving the ox cart, crawled along like turtles. Even children on the roadside ran faster than the cart, making Pingting, inside the carriage, anxious.
She lifted the carriage curtain and shouted at the person driving: "The ox cart is faster than your carriage, can you slow down!"
Sixi and Dazhuang looked back at the princess, who had stuck her head out of the carriage window, and said, "Slowing down is safer. The princess and the princess consort are both pregnant, so we can't rush!"
Xiao Jiu also felt that driving slowly was good. She tugged at the princess's sleeve: "Princess, you haven't enjoyed the scenery here. It's good to slow down and look at the scenery. Why is the princess in such a hurry!"
Pingting glared at Xiao Jiu, then turned to Zhao Jiaqi and pouted: "Sister-in-law..."
"Xiao Jiu is right, just be patient. If you have nothing else to do, think about how to do the wine shop business that Fan Lao Er mentioned, and where to start."
Looking at the ledger, she didn't even raise her head and directly threw a few words to Pingting.
"Selling wine? He'd better drink it himself!" Pingting said as she sat down, but her mind was also racing.
There were brewers, and there were wineries. She could just place an order with her sister-in-law. Then she would find a reliable steward and accountant, and it would be done.
Thinking this way, it seemed quite simple, but when they arrived at the trade city, she realized that she had underestimated it.
"Have you all seen the trade city clearly? Each street sells different goods. Write down the shops you want to rent with your names. We will compile the list later, and then I will issue you the keys after signing the contract."
As soon as Fan Zehao finished speaking, everyone dispersed to find the street where they wanted to sell their goods. Pingting, upon hearing this, straightened her belly and was about to go find a shop, but was grabbed by Zhao Jiaqi.
"What are you rushing around for? You're almost seven months pregnant and still running around."
Pingting looked at everyone rushing towards the shops and stomped her feet anxiously: "Oh, sister-in-law, I just want to find a good spot for my silly husband. Don't... don't pull me."
She was so focused on Fan Xudong that she didn't care about her own condition. Fan Lao Er had indeed found a good wife.
"Alright, he has already chosen his shop. Just put your mind at ease. I will take you there when I'm done."
As his sister-in-law, if she didn't take care of her own brother's matters, others would likely laugh.
Only then did Pingting realize that her sister-in-law had already made plans for them. The two pregnant women couldn't embrace, so she could only smile foolishly and shake Zhao Jiaqi's wide sleeves, chuckling: "Sister-in-law is so kind!"
She gave her a sisterly warmth. Besides her mother, only her sister-in-law treated her with sincerity, even her father couldn't compare.
"Stop grinning, it's creepy. While you have time, think about what other businesses you two want to add."
In the morning, everyone had chosen their shops, and then someone delivered the list of their chosen shops.
The shops varied in size and location, and the rent was also different. For the entire afternoon, Zhao Jiaqi was busy calculating accounts for everyone.
As evening approached, everyone received their keys and were ready to make a grand debut.
"Princess consort, we will return tonight and have the servants deliver the rent to the manor, striving to have all our sources of goods sorted out by the opening day."
"We await your good news. We also wish your businesses prosperity and great fortune."
"We echo the princess consort's good wishes, and wish our businesses steady progress and abundant wealth."
After some mutual flattery, they all got into their carriages and left. Time was money now, and there was no room for carelessness.
On the way home, Zhao Jiaqi changed the driver and had Li Chuang drive. Li Sisi and Zhao Jiaqi rode in the same carriage.
Pingting, however, rode back to the manor in a carriage with Fan Lao Er.
"You are the only ones who chose to do the glass business. How confident are you about this venture?"
When Zhao Jiaqi received the list of shops chosen by each household this morning, she was quite surprised to see that Li Chuang had chosen glass. However, since he had chosen it, she couldn't interfere.
She was uncertain about this matter, so on the way back to the manor, she called the brother and sister to ride in the same carriage to inquire about the situation.
Li Sisi held Zhao Jiaqi's hand and smiled softly, her warmth like a spring breeze.
"Sister, my elder brother and I made this choice after careful consideration. Firstly, because this glass is a specialty of our Yun Kingdom. Secondly, Elder Brother Gao said that there is a glass workshop in our inner city, and the price is very fair. The key is that we don't have to spend effort to transport goods from afar, so we chose this business."
Zhao Jiaqi frowned: "Elder Brother Gao?"
This person had a peculiar idea, but it was also a risky one.
Glass is fragile and expensive. If a few pieces were accidentally broken, it would be equivalent to a day's work being wasted. People who do this kind of work must be meticulous.
Zhao Jiaqi frowned, thinking that the person who gave this advice likely understood Li Sisi very well.
"Elder Brother Gao? How have I never heard you mention him!"
Li Sisi's face instantly turned red, she pursed her lips and lowered her eyes slightly: "It's Elder Brother Gao Wenbin. I met him that day when I went to deliver a message to Madam Li, and we chatted casually. Elder Brother Gao gave me advice!"
Gao Wenbin!
This person actually meddled in other people's affairs?
She hadn't realized it. He was usually so cold and aloof, yet he couldn't take his eyes off a beautiful woman. He was quite capable.
"Alright, as long as you've thought it through, go ahead. If you lack funds, I can help you."
Li Sisi nodded repeatedly, looking quite shy but not at all hesitant, and said directly: "We are short on money and want to borrow some from you, sister. But we will pay interest, we won't use it for free."
"You want to pay me interest? What do you think I am? If you're going to be so distant, then go to the bank. I don't have that here."
Seeing that her sister-in-law was angry, she quickly pouted and said, "Sister, I was wrong, I was wrong, okay? I won't borrow from outsiders, I'll borrow from you."
Seeing that she no longer mentioned interest, Zhao Jiaqi finally smiled happily: "That's more like it."
Back at the manor, Zhao Jiaqi took out a ten-thousand-tael silver note and handed it to Li Sisi: "Take this silver note first and open your shop. The business in the first month probably won't be too good, but later I think there won't be much of a problem. I'm not in a hurry to use this money. You can repay it when you have extra money!"
Holding the silver notes, Li Sisi felt as if she were holding something weighing a thousand pounds. Her sister-in-law had helped her selflessly.
From the village, to the capital, and then to this place, whenever she was in trouble, her sister-in-law always extended a helping hand. She felt she could never repay this kindness.
"Si Si will always remember sister's kindness. If sister ever needs me, I would give my life without hesitation."
Zhao Jiaqi squeezed her little face and was quite moved by her words, saying, "What nonsense are you talking about? Hurry back, your brother is waiting outside."
Li Sisi tucked the silver notes into her chest, gave her a shy smile, and said, "Sister, I'll be going now. I'll repay you as soon as I have money."
Her sister-in-law kindly lent them money for emergencies. If she had money and didn't repay it, what kind of person would she be!