Chapter 298 - Chapter 298: The Supporting Female Villain
Chapter 298: The Supporting Female Villain
Translator: CokeZero Editor: Rainystars
Lu Jiao was embarrassed by all the praises. She simply used the knowledge she acquired from the future. She was no inventor!
To avoid awkwardness, Lu Jiao asked Xie Yunjin, “Husband, do you have any recommendations?”
Xie Yunjin smiled ear to ear, “You should leave out a strip of space to construct a living quarter. In the future, lots of foreign businessmen will come to visit these workshops and stores. They will need a nice place to stay and eat. If you can ensure their comfort, they will likely enjoy working with you more.”
Zhao Lingfeng and Lu Jiao nodded in unison. Lu Jiao especially, felt like the realization hit hard, “I knew I missed something. That’s what it was.”
She turned to Zhao Lingfeng, “We can use the piece of land near the entrance to build out an area that will be used to host the businessmen. Beside it, let’s build a big hall that we can use as a meeting room.”
Zhao Lingfeng asked Cheng Xiang, “Did you hear that?”
Cheng Xiang bowed, “Yes, I am going to send orders right away.”
Xie Yunjin suddenly asked Lu Jiao, “Once your businesses start up and running, are you going to require a lot of raw materials? The oil mill you talked about, for example, would require some materials, right?”
Lu Jiao knew right away what Xie Yunjin was thinking. He wanted to help magistrate Hu pull the citizens out of poverty.
Honestly, this was a good opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.
Lu Jiao smiled, “The oil mill will need soybeans, peanuts, canola, sesame, and other ingredients.”
Xie Yunjin nodded to show he understood. Zhao Lingfeng listened to the conversation and understood what they were thinking, “If you’re able to convince the magistrate to encourage citizens to plant these ingredients, we will buy them from the citizens at a fair price.”
Zhao Lingfeng did think about asking magistrate Hu to encourage everyone to farm medicinal herbs. However, after some research and digging, he found out tnat politics were messy m tms district ancl tne magistrate didn’t nolcl any decision power. If he did speak to magistrate Hu privately, all the businessmen in this district would be alerted.
The mighty dragon doesn’t try to strike a serpent. Plus, his master had asked him to be lowkey here and avoid alarming others.
What Zhao Lingfeng was doing now was pulling the strings in the dark to aid his master in the race of becoming the crown prince.
If they overdo it and alarm others, their efforts would’ve gone to waste.
Therefore, in the end, Zhao Lingfeng decided to acquire raw materials from other businesses.
Today, based on what Xie Yunjin was saying, perhaps he could help with this. If Xie Yunjin succeeds in convincing the magistrate, it would be great news for the business.
Xie Yunjin’s eyes darkened a little and he said calmly, “This is an opportunity to achieve a win-win situation. There’s no reason for the three workshops to buy raw materials from another city. Especially since the district is still so poor itself.
He asked Zhao Lingfeng, “If there are people who are willing to farm those, you could offer to pay them a deposit.”
That would help encourage the villagers to take a chance. Zhao Lingfeng gave Lu Jiao a look, who was deep in thought. She decided that was a good idea and nodded, “We can do that.”
Zhao Lingfeng didn’t offer an opinion since Lu Jiao gave it an okay.
The group went to tour the other areas. At times, different people would offer a few suggestions. Cheng Xiang noted them down diligently.
The construction site stretched out several acres and the group never got through it all. Since the construction was only in the foundation stage, there wasn’t much else to see anyway. The group decided to go back.
Zhao Lingfeng suggested inviting the couple out for lunch, but Lu Jiao declined.
“We promised the four little ones to go shopping later. We can’t break promises as adults.”
Zhao Lingfeng only then remembered the four children back at the Lu home. Without thinking, he asked, “Lady Lu, can I bring my daughter, Zhao Yuluo, over to your place to play with the four little ones sometime?”
Perhaps her daughter would grow more respectful after she hung out with the boys. Children loved to mimic others.
Before Lu Jiao could speak, Xie Yunjins’ expression changed and he asked,
“Owner Zhao, you have a daughter?”
He thought that man wasn’t married since he never brought up his wife. Who knew he already had children?
If that was the case, then there was no way Lu Jiao would like him that way.
Xie Yunjin felt anxious now while Zhao Lingfeng was confused. He said to Xie
Yunjin, “That’s right. My daughter is Zhao Yuluo and she’s 5.”
Lu Jiao thought that name sounded familiar somehow. She searched her memory and remembered that there was a supporting villain in the novel, and her name was Zhao Yuluo.
Lu Jiao took some time to recall what happened in the book. Zhao Yuluo was the young lady of the official residence of the marquees of Yongning. She was heavily spoiled by her family and therefore grew more and more unruly. She was evil and because she loved the male protagonist, she did everything in her power to torture the female protagonist. In the end, the protagonists worked together and plotted her death. She ended up getting killed by several beggars, who ran over her with a wagon. Her death was tragic and her father, who was madly saddened by her death, suffered from a stroke.
Lu Jiao looked at Zhao Lingfeng with a strange look.
That meant this Zhao Lingfeng was going to become the head of the marquees of Yongning and his daughter was going to grow up evil and a villain.
Lu Jiao couldn’t help but comment, “Zhao Lingfeng, you shouldn’t spoil your child too much. She’ll grow up twisted that way.”
Zhao Lingfeng was surprised by the comment, “How did you know I spoil my child?”
Lu Jiao froze a little but quickly regathered herself, “Based on your tone just now, I just knew you spoiled your child. You shouldn’t spoil young kids too much. They’ll form bad habits that way and may cause all sorts of trouble once older.”
Zhao Lingfeng knew she was right and sighed.
“I know I’m wrong but I just don’t know what to do with her when she throws a tantrum. ”
Xie Yunjin resonated with that. Every time he wanted to punish the four little ones, he couldn’t find the heart to.
Xie Yunjin expressed, “I’m the same with my kids. Lu Jiao is strict with them. They may be attached to her by her hip but they know very well how much trouble they’d get if they make a mistake.”
Now Zhao Lingfeng wanted to send his kids there even more. He wanted Lu Jiao to teach them a lesson.
“Lady Lu, can I send my daughter over to play with the four little ones?”
Xie Yunjin’s face went dark. Was this man dropping a rock on his own toes?
Lu Jiao didn’t care. She already had four children and what was one more?
“Sure. Tell your people to send her over. However, let me warn you, if she does do something wrong, I’m not going to be kind.”
Zhao Lingfeng gritted his teeth, “if she does something wrong, punish her. I want her to spend some time with you so you could educate her.”
“Then you can send her over.”
Zhao Lingfeng thanked Lu Jiao profusely and promised that he would pay for everything Zhao Yuluo might eat or use..