NFBE Chapter 491 Traveling Companions
Chapter 491 Traveling Companions
Seeing Xiao Huanyan's stubborn expression, Yu Wan suppressed a laugh and nodded seriously:
"Yes, yes, I don't know why, but a gust of wind suddenly blew by. It must have been the wind that blinded me and made me see things wrong."
These words made no sense, and Xiao Huanyan's face flushed as she listened.
She sniffed, and her emotions gradually calmed down.
Looking at the handkerchief in her hand, now soaked with tears, and recalling her earlier outburst, her cheeks flushed slightly. "I've dirtied your handkerchief, I'll make you a new one."
"I'm warning you, Yu Wan, you are not allowed to utter a single word about what happened today!"
"If you dare, dare to tell anyone even a single word... I'll never forgive you!"
Yu Wan almost couldn't suppress her laughter.
She felt a strong urge to tease Xiao Huanyan, but when she thought of the girl's heart-wrenching, tearful appearance, she held back.
He made a shushing gesture, "Don't worry, I'm keeping my mouth shut."
The two had been standing at the entrance of the estate for quite a while. Yu Wan, concerned that Su Qingchan was still waiting for her inside, asked Xiao Huanyan, "Second Miss Xiao, can we go in and talk now?"
Xiao Huanyan's lips moved as if she wanted to refuse, but in the end she didn't say anything.
Yu Wan blinked and stepped inside first.
She took a few steps, tilted her head slightly to look back, and sure enough, saw Xiao Huanyan silently following behind her.
Yu Wan smiled.
Xiao Huanyan is an absolute master of arrogance.
On the way to the main hall, Yu Wan asked seemingly casually, "Miss Xiao, since you yearn for your mother's carefree life, why don't you try to change it?"
"Suppressing yourself like this only makes you feel wronged."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Huanyan, who was following behind, suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She gazed at Yu Wan's retreating figure, her eyes shimmering with a myriad of thoughts.
Over the years, bound by rules and regulations, she had long since become accustomed to suppressing her inner feelings, following the so-called "rules of a noblewoman" like a puppet on a string.
Should it change?
However, in Shengjing, the rules are strict, and powerful families value their reputation extremely.
If she does anything different from ordinary people, she will be regarded as a heretic, despised by others, and her family will be implicated. Does she really have the courage to do that?
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but recall the words Yu Wan had just said.
—Your mother was a brave and extraordinary woman…that took so much courage and fortitude. Compared to living a life of rigid rules and wasting it in a secluded mansion, the first half of her life was truly lived.
Wasting a life, or truly living it...
And what about her? Has she ever truly lived for herself?
Inside the main hall, Su Qingchan had been waiting for a long time.
Upon seeing Yu Wan's figure appear at the door, she quickly got up.
Su Qingchan gave a faint smile, which looked somewhat forced, "Sister Yu."
Yu Wan could tell at a glance that Su Qingchan's smile was forced, and she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Prince Yong has been dead for more than half a year, but Su Qingchan still hasn't recovered.
She couldn't get over it, and Yu Wan completely understood her feelings.
The Su family originally consisted of four people, but now only Su Qingchan remains, all alone.
She had been deceived and humiliated by Prince Yong, and those wounds were etched into her very bones and blood, not so easily forgotten.
But those who left have left, and those who deserved to die have died. Those who are alive should live well and live freely and happily.
This is why she wanted to invite Su Qingchan.
People who have nothing to do all day long will get sick from being idle even if they weren't sick.
But once life becomes fulfilling, there's less time to wallow in sadness, and you'll find yourself more energetic amidst the busyness.
Yu Wan gestured for the two of them to sit down. "I invited you here today to start a workshop with me."
Xiao Huanyan had already heard Yu Wan's explanation at the door, and now she simply picked up her teacup and drank her tea with a calm expression.
She followed along, not to agree to join, but simply to see what sweet talk Yu Wan could come up with to try and persuade her.
And she definitely won't be persuaded by Yu Wan!
Su Qingchan was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, "The workshop?"
She didn't think women couldn't do business in public, but she found it strange that "Sister Yu is now the wife of the Second Grand Secretary, and she owns quite a few shops, including Yu's Hot Pot and Chunshui Pavilion. Why is she still thinking about setting up a workshop?"
Yu Wan smiled slightly, her expression serious: "Qingchan, although my shop is doing well, what I want to do is to find a way out for more women."
Xiao Huanyan's hand holding the teacup suddenly stopped.
To find a way out for more women...?
Yu Wan glanced at Xiao Huanyan out of the corner of her eye, who seemed to be daydreaming but was actually listening very attentively, and couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile.
She continued to explain patiently, “I plan to start a large workshop that mainly recruits women in difficult circumstances and teaches them skills, whether it is embroidery, weaving or other livelihoods, so that they can have a skill to rely on and no longer have to depend on men for a living.”
"Of course, we don't just recruit women; we also recruit people from impoverished backgrounds."
"According to my current plan, the workshop will mainly produce glass and silk. Both of these are rare items, and once they are made, there will definitely be no shortage of buyers."
Su Qingchan nodded thoughtfully, "Sister Yu is very thoughtful. However, setting up a workshop is not an easy task. Choosing a location, recruiting people, and operating the business all require a lot of energy. You also have to deal with all sorts of troubles, and most importantly..."
Su Qingchan paused for a moment, then said softly, "Glass is a rare item. As far as I know, there are no craftsmen in Da Zhao who have mastered this craft. How does Sister Yu know how to make glass?"
Without batting an eye, Yu Wan brought up Yun Shang, "You don't need to worry about that. Yun Shang gave me the recipe for making glass."
"The Vice Minister?" Su Qingchan was surprised and asked, "Where did you find the Vice Minister?"
Yu Wan shook her head, "I don't know. He's very capable and has a wide network of connections. Maybe he got it from some expert."
Hearing her say that, Su Qingchan stopped asking questions.
Xiao Huanyan, standing to the side, didn't see anything wrong with it.
Yun Shang is an unfathomable person. In just two years, he rose from an ordinary student to a second assistant minister. What's so strange about him now just producing a formula for making glass?
Having resolved her questions about glassmaking, Su Qingchan raised new concerns.
She was seriously considering Yu Wan's suggestion, and Yu Wan patiently answered her questions.
Although Xiao Huanyan didn't ask, she listened very attentively and didn't miss a single word.
This conversation lasted for one or two hours.
Yu Wan then took Su Qingchan and Xiao Huanyan to the back of the estate to look at the area.
Gazing at the vast river before her, a gentle breeze swept by, and a glimmer of life finally appeared in Su Qingchan's eyes, which had been as still as an abyss.
She turned her head, met Yu Wan's eyes, smiled slightly, and said softly, "If Sister Yu doesn't mind my meager abilities, I am willing to give my all to help Sister Yu."
She seemed to have found the will to live.
Yu Wan was overjoyed. She turned her head, her eyes sparkling, and looked at Xiao Huanyan expectantly, asking, "Second Miss Xiao, what about you?"
Xiao Huanyan felt uncomfortable under Yu Wan's gaze, so she turned her head away and snorted, "Why are you looking at me like that? I didn't say I was going to agree to your request."