Time Travel: The Noble Family
Chapter 395 - 138: Trust

Chapter 395: Chapter 138: Trust

After this incident, Ruo Lan’s attitude towards Yueyao had greatly improved. It wasn’t about whether the formula could make money, but rather Yueyao’s attitude towards the Ma Family. Yueyao’s actions showed that she truly wished well for the Ma Family.

Yueyao also felt the change in Ruo Lan’s attitude towards her, and she was overjoyed by this change. Relationships between people are like this, interests can bind people temporarily, but for lasting relationships, sincerity is essential.

Zhuang Ruolan asked Yueyao with a smile, "Did you encounter any problems when managing your mother’s dowry?" Back then, when she managed such dowries, she had faced many challenges. Yueyao would definitely have had a tough time.

Yueyao shook her head and said, "I haven’t been in good health, and haven’t met with the Shopkeepers or the Farmstead by the end of the year. Cousin-in-law, I’m thinking of selling a few shops when the opportunity arises, and afterwards, just live off the rent. The rental income from the shops and the profits from the farmland are enough to ensure that Tingzheng and I never have to worry about food and clothing, and I won’t need to rack my brains doing things I dislike."

Zhuang Ruolan smiled and asked, "Are a few shops not doing well?"

Yueyao shook her head, "It’s not that they’re not doing well. I heard from Nanny Deng that the shops are doing rather well. It’s just that I’m not interested in doing business, and it’s troublesome. If things go wrong, you could end up losing money. I think it’s safer to live off the rents." Running a business is really troublesome, dealing with inventory, sales, and having to guard against crafty shopkeepers—too many messy issues. Just thinking about it gave Yueyao a headache, not to mention handling it herself. To Yueyao, it would be better to spend that time reading more books.

Ruo Lan was startled, then smiled and said, "That’s not a bad idea, but there’s no rush to sell the shops. Tell me about the locations of these shops, and when I’m feeling better, I’ll keep an eye out for you and introduce you to some good options."

Yueyao told Ruo Lan about the locations of the shops: "The other shops are just leased out for rent; only these two are actively doing business. I don’t understand business, nor do I have the energy to manage it. Renting them out is the easiest."

It was then that Ruo Lan understood why Yueyao didn’t want to do business; just the annual rent from the shops was about eight thousand taels, not including the farmland. Even if they divided the family assets in the future, these dowries alone would ensure a lifetime of prosperity.

Ruo Lan was somewhat surprised that her aunt’s dowry was so substantial. Although she wasn’t sure of the specifics, just from the shops, it was clear that her aunt’s dowry was even more generous than her mother’s—truly a grand gesture.

Now Zhuang Ruolan also finally understood why Yueyao was so indifferent to money; she simply didn’t lack it: "There’s no hurry. If you want to sell the shops, you need at least to know whether they are currently profitable or losing money. Selling them rashly could lead to losses. Those shopkeepers, once uncontrolled, tend to act recklessly." Although Yueyao was wealthy, Zhuang Ruolan felt that it shouldn’t allow Yueyao to be the foolish benefactor. That money could be better used for donations to the temple, also accumulating blessings for herself.

Yueyao was never worried about this issue, but she was grateful for Zhuang Ruolan’s advice: "I’ll listen to my cousin-in-law."

Cai Yi brought in some hot tea.

Yueyao stood up, smiling, and said, "Cousin-in-law, where is cousin?" She needed to pass on a letter through her cousin. It wasn’t that she couldn’t give it to her uncle, but Yueyao was afraid her uncle would ask too many questions she couldn’t handle. On the contrary, her cousin was easy to speak with.

Ruo Lan smiled and said, "Your cousin has gone to a classmate’s house, he won’t be back so soon."

Yueyao didn’t say anything further. As they were talking, they heard Loo Ying arriving. Yueyao stood up and, looking at Loo Ying entering the room, smiled and said, "Cousin, you look really beautiful today."

Loo Ying had styled her hair in a Fallen Horse Hairbun, adorned with a Gold Step-Shake, a Beeswax Stone Bead Flower in her hair, and dangling a pair of Red Gold with Purple Crystal Pendants from her ears. She wore a water-red jacket embroidered with gold-threaded butterflies, a multicolored jacket over it, and an emerald-colored long skirt with scattered flowers underneath.

Previously, Loo Ying was not good at dressing up, always flashy with gold and silver, making her seem like a nouveau riche. This time, her attire was radiantly stunning. It is said that beauty is 30% features and 70% grooming; now Loo Ying also became a pretty young woman.

Delighted by Yueyao’s compliment, Loo Ying responded, "Cousin, you flatter me, but in fact, you are much more beautiful than I am." This statement was truthful. Loo Ying’s appearance at best was average, but Yueyao was a genuine beauty, although still young and not yet fully grown, she was definitely going to be a stunner.

Listening to Loo Ying’s response, Cai Yi could only sigh internally. The young lady had hired someone to teach Loo Ying, hoping to correct her, but to no avail! Even in praising someone, she should not do it in such a manner; she couldn’t even talk properly.