Seeing that he spoke first, Liu Runming couldn't fall behind when it came to making money. He quickly said, "Nephew, you're truly quick-witted, saying all that I wanted to. How about you add me? Good things should be shared by everyone, and it'll be an extra pair of hands!"
"That's exactly what I wanted to say. Adding one more person seems acceptable!"
Seeing a business opportunity, everyone scrambled to get involved!
Zhao Jiaqi also wanted to cooperate with them!
It was just that this time, the cooperation method was slightly different!
"I understand everyone's intentions, and that's why I asked you to stay for dinner!" Zhao Jiaqi finished, and everyone leaned in, sat up straight, and looked at her in unison.
Seeing that no one spoke, she continued, "This time, I'll provide the technology, and you'll open the shops. I only want twenty percent of the profits. As for how the shops are run, I'll only offer some suggestions. Whether you use them or not is entirely up to you, and I won't manage the shop's business. What do you think?"
When they heard that the madam would only provide the technology and not manage the shop's business, how could they find fault with it? The three of them nodded repeatedly, "Okay, but isn't twenty percent a bit too little? How about we add another ten percent?"
Zhao Jiaqi smiled and shook her head, "Just twenty percent. No matter how many branches you open, I want twenty percent in each branch!"
She wasn't greedy. With twenty percent in each shop, if they opened shops in every prefecture and county, the more shops there were, the more they would earn. The key was that she wouldn't need to provide manpower or worry, and she could earn money just by lying at home. Why wouldn't she do it!
Thinking of the dessert shop, she remembered Sisi. This girl had been acting crazy since she married Gao Wenbin, taking her child everywhere to play.
Xiao Ce, consumed by love, was drilling soldiers in the camp, making the soldiers suffer. According to her husband, he was now solely focused on the military camp and didn't care about matters of men and women at all.
As for his parents urging him to return to the capital, he turned a deaf ear, completely abandoning his position as the heir apparent. It was said that his mother was so angry that she fell ill because of it.
In the afternoon, Zhao Jiaqi brought out the recipes and production methods for the pastries they had eaten at noon.
This was something she had planned long ago, and she was just waiting for an opportunity. Now that the time, place, and people were right, it was time to start her own career.
She generously shared a total of fifteen varieties with the three of them.
Zhao Jiaqi said, "My intention in tying you all together for business is very clear: I don't want disputes in the inner city. The three of you hold significant influence in the inner city, and I don't want another Ji Shiyi to emerge. I hope you can understand my intentions. The road ahead is long and distant, and we have enough time. All in all, it's better than having one more enemy. Don't you think so!"
"That's the idea. The three families will definitely not cause trouble over trivial matters. Please rest assured, Madam. Making money is more important these days!"
After Meng Yang finished speaking, the other two nodded in silence.
The existing conflicts between the three families were unexpectedly interrupted by Zhao Jiaqi's dinner party and business proposal.
At dinner, Fan Zehao learned of his wife's actions. He was initially surprised why she didn't do it herself, but then he thought that a person only had so much energy and couldn't manage everything, not to mention the worry!
His wife was truly clever!
"You're cooperating with those three families, are they willing? I heard that these three families fought fiercely over a piece of land, to the point of blushing and getting angry, almost resorting to violence!"
Zhao Jiaqi paused while eating. She turned her head to look at her husband, "Really? But they didn't say so, and they were quite willing to cooperate!"
She genuinely had no idea about this. If she had known... well, she probably would have tried to get them to reconcile.
The inner city would be their territory in the future. If this place wasn't peaceful, they would have many things to worry about!
For future development, it was best to make plans early!
Wang Zhaodi overheard their conversation clearly and asked, "Sister-in-law, if the three families really cooperate, I wouldn't dare say they could rival a nation, but at least they could support a camp of soldiers. Aren't you afraid they might rebel?"
Zhao Jiaqi shook her head, "I'm not afraid at all."
"Firstly, my cooperation with them is for future entry into their other businesses. This way, from the monthly share I receive, I can know how much they earn each year. Although I take less, I can monitor the flow of their money. If there's a large, unaccounted-for expenditure, I'll know. If they truly dare to rebel, I will completely crush them!"
Her words were quite clear, but Wang Zhaodi still had some doubts.
She asked, "Sister-in-law, but the banks are controlled by the Liu family. How would they possibly let you see their account books? What if they show you fake accounts! Or what if they put the money in their own homes?"
The sister-in-law's questions hit the mark. Zhao Jiaqi felt that her sister-in-law's intelligence had improved significantly!
She asked Fan Zehao, who was eating noodles, and smiled, "Husband, what do you think!"
"I am still the Emperor now. If I issue an imperial decree warning everyone that from now on, banks will be managed by the royal family, and those who privately open banks will have their nine generations exterminated. Wife, do you think my method is good?"
Anyway, the imperial court hadn't issued a decree yet, so he could still play the big-tailed wolf and borrow power from the tiger for once!
Zhao Jiaqi gave him a thumbs-up. As expected, he was her own husband; it was legitimate. He knew her thoughts.
She said, "Not bad. Banks must be managed by the state from now on. If we need to investigate corrupt officials, we can find clues from the accounts. Of course, unless they hide the money at home or elsewhere!"
Fan Zehao continued, "If there's a large flow of money, by following its destination, we can find out what those people have done, right, wife?"
"Precisely!"
Wang Zhaodi finally understood why her sister-in-law had done this. She truly admired her sister-in-law's intellect; she was incredibly smart!
The next day, Fan Zehao sent a letter to the capital and then had Huangfu Xu and Huangfu Xian, who were roaming freely, bound and brought back to issue the final notification!
Facing their confused gazes, Fan Zehao said, "I have abdicated and become the Supreme Emperor. The throne in the capital, I have passed it to you, Prince Xian. Whether you accept it or not, this position is yours. From today onwards, you two will be bound and will relieve yourselves in the carriage. My people will escort you back to the capital safely and quickly. From now on, the affairs of the capital have nothing to do with me. Farewell!"
After Fan Zehao finished speaking, he waved his hand. The special leader led a group of special soldiers to escort the two away.