Chapter Forty-Six: Partners

When Lin Miao Miao asked Mrs. Zhao to plant grass on the vacant land, Mrs. Zhao felt it was a pity. Why waste good farmland on wild grass? Lin Miao Miao only smiled, saying nothing. Mrs. Zhao was a true country woman with her own opinions about livestock.

That spring, Lin Miao Miao bought ten lambs, which had already grown considerably. Every day, Lin Miao Miao took a small handmade comb and began brushing the sheep’s wool. Each time, she collected a generous amount of wool. Mrs. Zhao couldn’t understand why Lin Miao Miao bothered—wasn’t sheep’s wool just a useless thing?

But when Lin Miao Miao discovered that this dynasty knew nothing of sweaters, her eyes sparkled. She felt herself a true inventor. Back in her third year of university, when the nation was struck by an epidemic, Lin Miao Miao had to stay home for a whole year. Bored out of her mind, she began to pay attention to her pet golden retriever, who shed copiously during the changing seasons.

Learning from internet bloggers, Lin Miao Miao tried making a sweater for her dog out of its own hair, buying materials online and setting out to craft a sweater for her beloved Fortune. She collected plenty of hair, washed and dried it, spun it into yarn, and knitted a sweater—an endeavor that took her the whole winter.

Through this, Lin Miao Miao learned to spin yarn, then to knit sweaters, scarves, and woolen trousers. Don’t ask her why—she was simply too bored at home. The epidemic had hit so suddenly, and with nothing to do, Lin Miao Miao, once disinterested in housework, became quite fond of it. She transformed from someone who couldn't knit a scarf into someone who could, a process watered by time and repeated failures before success blossomed.

Though winter had passed, the spring mornings and evenings remained chilly. Li Yanhe was busy as usual, and Lin Miao Miao thought she could knit him a vest to keep him warmer. She persevered in brushing the sheep, and soon had enough wool. Recently, she’d been busy spinning yarn. Li Yanhe, seeing her at work, was puzzled.

One night, Li Yanhe returned home to find Lin Miao Miao measuring her own chest with her hands. He looked at her quizzically. Lin Miao Miao handed him the unfinished vest. “It’s still not that warm,” she told him, “so I’m knitting you a vest. You can wear it underneath—not noticeable, but it’ll keep you warm.”

Li Yanhe repeated her words in surprise, “A vest?” Lin Miao Miao nodded, then ignored him.

After two days of tireless effort, Lin Miao Miao finished the vest and, quite proud, gave it to Li Yanhe. He touched the vest, admiring its unique pattern, but wondered how he was supposed to wear it.

Dark Seven and the others watched Lin Miao Miao with bewilderment. She suddenly recalled that Li Yanhe didn’t have autumn undergarments, so that evening, she had Cuiliu make him one. Lin Miao Miao wasn’t skilled at sewing, so she directed Cuiliu, whose craftsmanship was excellent. Lin Miao Miao described her ideas, and Cuiliu brought them to life.

Women of this era all knew needlework, but Lin Miao Miao, though unable to sew clothes or do needlework, could knit sweaters! She handed Li Yanhe the modified autumn undergarments and said, “Put them on, let me see.”

Li Yanhe didn’t lift his head and said, “I can’t.”

Before he could finish, Lin Miao Miao interrupted, “What do you mean you can’t? You’re old enough—are you afraid I’ll take advantage of you?”

Li Yanhe sighed, “That’s not what I mean. Men and women shouldn’t be so intimate, you…”

Lin Miao Miao rolled her eyes, “Intimate? Aren’t I your wife? Put them on, let me see if they look good.”

Unable to win the argument, Li Yanhe sighed and returned to his room to put on the undergarments she’d made. His trousers remained loose, but the top was snug at the chest. Lin Miao Miao had chosen a soft, stretchy fabric, yet Li Yanhe felt a bit awkward in it.

When he emerged, Lin Miao Miao handed him the vest. As soon as he put it on, warmth flooded his chest. His eyes instantly brightened. “This vest is really warm,” he told Lin Miao Miao.

She had gone to the dye shop to learn how to dye fabric, spun the yarn, and dyed it the same blue as Li Yanhe’s usual clothing. He liked dark colors, and Lin Miao Miao, having learned tie-dyeing from many bloggers, knew well how to dye yarn.

Li Yanhe was very fond of the deep blue vest. Lin Miao Miao told him, “I’ll knit you two more. You can wear them to work and stay warm.”

“Xiao Miao Miao, what keeps you warm?” Just as she finished speaking, someone appeared at the door—it was Li Zheng.

Li Zheng eyed Li Yanhe’s blue vest with curiosity. The vest was deep blue, adorned with unique patterns, very attractive. Li Yanhe wore Lin Miao Miao’s improved autumn undergarments, which in ancient times would be called innerwear. Li Zheng stroked his chin, looking at the vest, and said to Li Yanhe, “Take it off, let me try it.”

Li Yanhe glanced coldly at Li Zheng, who immediately understood that Li Yanhe refused. Yet that night, Li Zheng used some unknown method, so the next morning Li Yanhe discovered his vest was gone.

Li Zheng wore Li Yanhe’s vest and strolled around him. Li Yanhe’s face was ashen, while Lin Miao Miao smiled and smoothed things over.

After wearing the vest, Li Zheng found it very warm, and the improved innerwear didn’t hinder movement at all. As a cunning merchant, he saw the business opportunity. Lin Miao Miao shot him a glare, and Li Zheng returned the vest to Li Yanhe.

After breakfast, Li Yanhe went to work as usual. Li Zheng, holding his fan, said to Lin Miao Miao, “Little girl, you’re not very fair. You opened a hotpot restaurant with Yanhe and didn’t even tell me.”

Lin Miao Miao perked up at his words and said, “I’m selling hotpot soup base now; we can still do business together.”

She suddenly recalled the franchise stores from her previous life. She could let Huiyi have several franchise stores, expanding her interests and earning more.

Lin Miao Miao smiled at Li Zheng, who felt she resembled a little fox, clearly scheming—though not overly cunning, she had a way of making people yield.

Li Zheng arched his brows and asked, “What other business?”

Lin Miao Miao replied, “You can open a store called Huiyi, but you must write ‘franchise’ underneath.”

“A franchise means you pay me a fee each year, and I supply the hotpot soup base and recipes. If I launch new products, I’ll inform you. So you only need to pay a little each year.”

Li Zheng asked, “Share profits, like before?”

Lin Miao Miao shook her head. “Mr. Li, you are capable. Now there’s a hotpot shop in the capital, but if you open another, the business will be diluted.”

Li Zheng nodded, and Lin Miao Miao continued, “But the bustling areas aren’t limited to the capital. There are other places where we haven’t opened hotpot shops!”

Li Zheng’s eyes darkened. “So?”

Lin Miao Miao smiled, “You can develop new markets, open hotpot shops in prosperous areas. If those places have special tastes, you can tell me.”

“For example, if people there like sweet flavors, I can improve the soup base for you. That way, you can expand.”

“And when you open new markets, each year you just pay me the fee for the signboard.”

Li Zheng asked, “How much is the signboard fee?”

Lin Miao Miao replied, “Only a hundred taels a year—just for the signboard. No matter how many hotpot shops you open, you only pay a hundred taels annually.”

Li Zheng stroked his chin, “A hundred taels is no small matter.”

Lin Miao Miao nodded, “It’s not, but if you develop new markets, I’ll have to research new soup bases for you.”

Li Zheng looked at her, and Lin Miao Miao added, “Of course, all your soup base must be sourced from me.”

Li Zheng inwardly cursed her as a shrewd merchant. In that moment, he truly felt she was a little fox, full of clever tricks.

He lowered his gaze, “That’s acceptable.”

Lin Miao Miao smiled at him, “With your abilities, you can open new hotpot shops. Prices and menu are up to you, tailored to local conditions.”

She glanced at Li Zheng, noting his silence. Her investor’s quietness made her a bit uneasy.

So she pressed on, “You handle all operations; only the soup base comes from me. Naturally, we need fixed prices for business.”

“That means the soup base price is fixed—no matter the region. But the dish prices aren’t, nor the meat. Add some snacks, and you’re bound to earn a fortune.”