Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

A few days after the first day of the Lunar New Year, Luo Yan arrived with New Year's gifts. Every time Luo Yan arrived, the guards would tacitly hide.

"Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!" Luo Yan had changed into a white long robe, its pristine white color perfectly matching his name. It accentuated his elegant demeanor and added a touch of untainted purity. He wore a maroon cloak over his robe, which complemented the festive atmosphere. His hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin, with a few stray strands falling casually across his forehead, adding to his gentle and refined air.

As expected of a renowned young master in the capital, Yun Chu couldn't help but admire.

"Spring is coming soon, and the court will be issuing some new decrees," Luo Yan said, sipping his tea. Since Luo Yan took charge of the case involving the envoys for the peace talks in the Northern Regions, he has become more than just an official in the Bureau of Medicine. Now, His Majesty has appointed him as the acting Minister of Revenue, which is indeed a case of the capable being given more responsibilities.

"Oh? What about?" Yun Chu asked curiously.

"The national treasury is currently strained. Although the peace talks in the Northern Region have been temporarily suspended and a ceasefire has been reached, there is an urgent need to replenish the national treasury's financial resources. Therefore, His Majesty has decided to implement the Commercial Decree."

It seems that Luo Yan, the newly appointed acting minister of the Ministry of Revenue, has a daunting task ahead.

"A commercial decree?"

"Yes, we should support the development of small vendors, remove all restrictions, break the monopoly forces that dominate a region, and create a scene where vendors flourish everywhere. With more vendors, funds will circulate, and tax revenue will increase." Luo Yan said excitedly, as if he were painting a beautiful blueprint before his eyes. His eyes shone with an unusual light, which was an infinite longing for the future and a firm belief.

Yes, although the national treasury was strained during those two years in her previous life, there was little turmoil, making it a favorable time for development. Two years later, Dongchi invaded, and if she remembered correctly, Gu Ruoxiao led the troops to victory, but the Great Jin suffered considerable losses. Three years later, the Emperor passed away, the Eighth Prince ascended the throne, and six months later, Gu Chengjie led troops to force the emperor to abdicate. If things proceeded as planned, Yun Chu would have less than two years to accumulate wealth, and then take Nan Rao and the others to live in seclusion in the mountains to avoid further trouble. She pondered this carefully, but as for what happened to others, she truly couldn't and wouldn't be able to control them anymore.

"Do you have any thoughts?" Luo Yan asked with a smile, looking at Yun Chu who was in a daze.

"Huh?" Yun Chu asked in surprise.

"Do you want to do something?" he asked.

"You don't mind women doing business?" Yun Chu couldn't help but ask.

“You’re different. You’re talented, and besides, do you think I’m such a pedantic person?” Luo Yan laughed. “Anyway, if you have any ideas, just tell me. I’m in the Ministry of Revenue now, so I’m well-informed.”

"Okay," Yun Chu said with a genuine smile.

Having pondered all day without finding a solution, Yun Chu lay sprawled on a bamboo chair in the courtyard, basking in the sun. In her youth, she had traveled far and wide, seeing many peddlers, carrying their wares on shoulder poles and rattles, walking through streets and alleys—it all looked like a difficult life. This Qingfeng Courtyard was mostly inhabited by women; what could they possibly do?

"Sister Nanrao, I want to eat more of today's lava pastry."

"Okay, plenty!"

Yun Chu knew without turning around that Feng Xing had come to visit again.

"Snacks?" That seems like a good option, but it's too tiring for the cook, and besides, it's hard to say if they'll be popular with outsiders.

"Miss, I embroidered a new purse for you, would you like to see it?" Zhu Ling brought over the embroidered item, and there were several other newly embroidered handkerchiefs in the basket.

"Could embroidery be a way out?" Yun Chu pondered, flipping through the embroidered handkerchief.

"Here you go, Zhuling. This is the chain you mentioned breaking a couple of days ago. I've fixed it for you, and I also made an earring out of this broken jade." Xu Li handed a package to Zhuling.

"Thank you, Brother Xu Li, you're so capable." Zhu Ling took the jewelry. "It's been repaired to look brand new, and it saved me money. I'll cook you something delicious tonight."

"What is this?" Yun Chu asked curiously, taking it to examine it closely.

"This is a stone chain with crystals and agate on it. The chain was broken, so Xu Li helped me add agate and string it back together. These are earrings made of jade scraps. Can you tell? Jade is valuable, but scraps of jade are worthless!" Zhu Ling said proudly.

"So a piece of broken jade can be made into a pair of earrings?" Yun Chu asked.

“Not only that, Miss, if I’m really sure, we could make at least three sets,” Xu Li replied.

"You have this skill too," Yun Chu praised.

"I used to be a carpenter, and after mining a lot, I would find some unusual stones. I would polish them and make small things for Ping An to play with. I got good at it after making them a lot," Xu Li explained shyly.

"Yes, my brother is really good at making stones. Look, this is a whistle my brother made for me out of a cow horn!" Ping An said proudly.

Yun Chu took the whistle and examined it closely. The whistle had a warm, rustic color, with the unique texture and luster of ox horn. Through meticulous cutting, grinding, and polishing, the edges of the whistle were smooth and rounded. "It's really well made," Yun Chu couldn't help but sigh. Perhaps this was a viable path.

After dinner that night, Yun Chu called a family meeting with the five of them, and they looked at each other in bewilderment.

Yun Chu coughed lightly and said, "Now the six of us will be living together in this courtyard. But we have no income, and if we continue like this, we will just be sitting around eating our savings away. So we have to earn money."

Everyone was stunned when they heard this. In the past, they received monthly allowances from the manor, but now that they were living on their own, they really had no source of income.

“I know that, I’ll go to the dock and carry sandbags.” Xu Li was the first to react.

"I...I..." Zhu Ling wanted to say, but didn't know what she could do.

Nan Rao remained the most composed, asking, "Miss, what do you wish to do?"

“I have a few ideas for you to consider. One is to sell food. The food in Nanrao is getting better and better, but it would be too tiring. Another is to sell jewelry, such as purses, embroidered handkerchiefs, bracelets and earrings.”

“Miss, I’m not afraid of getting tired,” Nan Rao said.

"The jewelry and embroidery, which ones were they this afternoon?" Zhu Ling asked.

“I’m afraid of getting tired.” Yun Chu patted Nan Rao. “Yes, those ornaments and embroidered handkerchiefs, although those high-ranking officials and nobles don’t care about them, many ordinary people can afford them. Don’t underestimate them because they are small in price. As more people buy them, the quantity will increase.”

"Miss wants to do both?" Mo Han, who had been silent all along, asked pointedly.

"Yes, because doing business doesn't guarantee success, and you can't put all your eggs in one basket. So I want to try both. I want to ask for your opinions, since we're all in this together, sharing the good times and the bad."

When Yun Chu asked for everyone's opinions, the other five were stunned. Their young lady really treated them all like family. Their hearts suddenly warmed.

"No matter what you do, Miss, I will support you!" Nan Rao said with a smile.

"Me too, me too!" everyone shouted.

"Okay, then let's work hard together to make money and live a good life!" Six hands clasped together.