NFBE Chapter 489 Invitation
Chapter 489 Invitation
With the workshop's location settled, the next step was to raise funds to build the factory.
According to Yu Wan's plan, she wanted to build a large workshop. Building such a workshop would cost a lot of money, and Yu Wan felt that she couldn't handle it all by herself.
So she thought long and hard, and then had Xizhu write two visiting cards, which she sent out separately.
Xiao family.
When Xiao Huanyan received the invitation sent by Yu Wan, she still felt a sense of unreality.
In just six months, Shengjing City underwent several changes, and Yu Wan's poor scholar husband, who came from a humble background, was transformed into the most trusted minister by the new emperor.
Several months passed, and Xiao Huanyan still felt that this was unreal.
The elders of the Xiao family had previously learned that she had some connection with Yu Wan, and had repeatedly hinted that she should take the initiative to interact with Yu Wan more.
But Xiao Huanyan did not agree.
Her pride and arrogance prevented her from fawning over Yu Wan.
So she never expected that instead of trying to curry favor with Yu Wan, Yu Wan would take the initiative to send her an invitation.
Xiao Huanyan stared blankly at the invitation for a long time, so long that the maidservant serving her was worried that something might have happened to her.
"Young lady, are you alright?"
Xiao Huanyan snapped out of her daze and gently shook her head. "I'm fine."
She looked at the post in her hand again.
The delicate handwriting above invited her to meet at a manor on the outskirts of the city the next day.
If we're going to meet, why do we have to meet at the manor outside the city?
Xiao Huanyan was filled with doubt.
When the two first met, she looked down on Yu Wan because of her family background, and her words were full of sarcasm.
Now that times have changed and Yu Wan's status is no longer what it used to be, she really couldn't figure out the intention behind Yu Wan's invitation.
Could it be that Yu Wan wants to take revenge on her?
Seeing that she had fallen silent again, the maidservant asked cautiously, "Miss, the people from the Second Minister's residence are still waiting outside. Should we go and give him a reply?"
Xiao Huanyan bit her lower lip, her mind in turmoil.
She was worried that Yu Wan might retaliate if she went; but what if Yu Wan really wanted to see her? If she didn't go, wouldn't she seem petty? And if her elders found out that she had refused to go, she would probably be scolded for a long time.
After thinking for a long time, Xiao Huanyan finally made up her mind and said to the maid, "Reply to the letter and say that I will be there on time tomorrow."
The maid breathed a sigh of relief when she finally spoke and took her leave.
Xiao Huanyan got up and walked to the window, looking at the courtyard outside, secretly wondering why Yu Wan had come to find her.
Did Yu Wan ask her to meet him to humiliate her, or was there something important they needed to discuss?
This question was answered when Xiao Huanyan saw the other women who appeared at the manor.
After arriving at the manor, Xiao Huanyan met Su Qingchan... and Princess Tianyin, Wang Wanshu.
Xiao Huanyan could understand why Su Qingchan would appear here, but she found it very puzzling that Princess Tianyin would appear here.
Could it be that Yu Wan also has a good relationship with Princess Tianyin?
Just as Xiao Huanyan was wondering, another carriage stopped outside the manor. Xiao Huanyan sensed something and looked up.
As expected, it was Yu Wan who stepped out of the carriage.
Yu Wan looked up and saw Xiao Huanyan and Su Qingchan. A bright smile immediately appeared on her face. She was about to greet them when she saw the figure walking out from behind the door, and the words she was about to say stopped in her tracks.
Wang Wanshu? What's she doing here?!
Yu Wan felt like a groundhog screaming inside her.
Ever since Wang Wanshu tried to take her place in the bridal sedan chair and was sent back to Prince Chen's residence, Yu Wan has never seen Wang Wanshu again.
At that time, Prince Chen and Yun Shang were plotting to seize the throne. Perhaps worried that Wang Wanshu might cause trouble and distract him, Prince Chen kept a close eye on Wang Wanshu.
Yu Wan only heard Yun Shang mention once that Prince Chen only allowed Wang Wanshu to walk around in the backyard of Prince Chen's mansion, and no one else was allowed to go there.
So Wang Wanshu was practically invisible during this time, and Yu Wan had almost forgotten about her.
Wang Wanshu's appearance here now, could it be that she's being manipulated by the plot again?
Yu Wan was a little flustered.
The atmosphere was somewhat silent for a while.
Xiao Huanyan didn't know Yu Wan's purpose in inviting her, so she didn't dare to speak easily.
After experiencing many things, Su Qingchan became increasingly sullen and rarely spoke.
Yu Wan was so shocked by Wang Wanshu's appearance that she momentarily forgot what to say.
After a long silence, Wang Wanshu was the first to speak.
"Madam Yu Yun!"
A blush crept onto Wang Wanshu's delicate and beautiful face. She seemed a little embarrassed and avoided looking Yu Wan in the eye as she spoke, "I heard you're short of money to open a workshop..."
As she spoke, she gestured for Qiaobi to come forward.
"Here is my savings from over the years, it's all for you."
Qiaobi was holding a wooden box. After hesitating for a moment, she suddenly shoved the box into Xizhu's hands, who was standing next to Yu Wan.
Xizhu didn't react in time and instinctively hugged the wooden box.
Across from her, Wang Wanshu, seeing that the box had already been given away, as if afraid of being rejected, pulled Qiaobi along and quickly got into the carriage.
By the time Yu Wan realized what was happening, she heard Wang Wanshu anxiously urging the driver, "Back to the city."
Yu Wan: "..."
What's going on here now?
Xizhu, holding the wooden box, also looked bewildered. "Master, what does Princess Tianyin mean by this?"
Yu Wan was even more confused than Xi Zhu. She hesitated for a moment before opening the wooden box in Xi Zhu's arms.
Inside were some gold, silver and banknotes. There wasn't much gold and silver, but there was a thick stack of banknotes.
Ever since Wang Wanshu returned to Shengjing, she has been acting strangely. Yu Wan looked at the box of money and couldn't figure it out, so she could only suppress her doubts and stop thinking about it for the time being.
She told Xizhu to put the wooden box away and return it to Wang Wanshu when they returned to the city.
Then he turned to look at Su Qingchan and Xiao Huanyan.
"Miss Xiao, Miss Su, let's go inside and talk."
Su Qingchan nodded gently, and without asking any questions, stepped into the manor.
Xiao Huanyan didn't move, staring at Yu Wan with a scrutinizing gaze, and asked, "What brings you here?"
Xiao Huanyan knew that, given Yu Wan's current status, she should address her as "the Second Assistant's wife" and be more respectful to her.
But for some reason, Xiao Huanyan felt that these words were too hot to handle.
Yu Wan seemed completely unperturbed, smiling broadly, "Miss Xiao, don't rush, come inside with me first."
"What exactly are you up to?" Xiao Huanyan frowned. "If you don't tell me, I'm going back."
Yu Wan felt somewhat helpless upon seeing this.
Having interacted with Xiao Huanyan a few times, she could tell that this Miss Xiao was actually an impatient person.
Yu Wan could only say sincerely, "Miss Xiao, to be honest, I would like to invite you to invest in my workshop."
"A workshop?" Xiao Huanyan raised an eyebrow slightly, a look of understanding flashing in her eyes. "The workshop that Princess Tianyin mentioned earlier?"
"You want to invite me to partner with you in business?"
Yu Wan nodded and patiently explained, "I plan to build a large workshop that integrates glassmaking and silk weaving. Nowadays, the people of Shengjing City are struggling to make a living. Once the workshop is completed, it will provide them with a livelihood and also revitalize the economy."
"However, this workshop requires a huge amount of capital and involves many complex matters, which I cannot handle alone. Therefore, I would like to invite you and Miss Su to participate together."
Xiao Huanyan looked at Yu Wan with an incredulous expression. "You've got the wrong person, haven't you? I'm not short of money, why would I need to do business in public like you?"
Perhaps realizing that her words were a bit harsh, Xiao Huanyan added, "I know nothing about business and don't have any extra money to help you."