My younger sister insisted on marrying me and made me the Marquis' wife.

Chapter 343 I Don’t Plan to Be Poor All My Life
She smiled and said, "Okay, I'll also give you two big winter melons, which are guaranteed to be sweet and delicious, as well as lotus roots from our yard, and maybe some beautiful lanterns. What else do you want?"

Xiaodong thought for a while, shook his feet, and said, "I don't want anything anymore. I'll tell you when I think of something. There's still a lot of time left."

Qin Yuan asked Cui Ming to take out the picture album she had collected a few days ago and give it to Xiaodong.

"These are all teaching how to draw flowers and plants. There are also imitations of famous artists' paintings of flowers, plants and insects. You can take them back and have a look. If you want to wait for the Sixth Master, you can just take a pen and paper and draw for a while. I'll have someone ask about the Sixth Master's movements. If you want to wait for the Marquis, I heard that he has guests in front and I don't know when they will leave. If you just want to talk to me, I'll have someone get some food and you can sit here and help me deal with some chores."

Xiaodong took it and said with a smile: "Then I'll eat for a while, Master is still waiting for me in Renhe Hall, Senior Sister, you don't have to accompany me if you are busy."

His dark eyes were filled with a sly and happy smile, and he looked very comfortable and relaxed.

Qin Yuan said, "I have a lot of delicious food here, please don't eat so much that you can't walk."

Xiaodong said: "Then Senior Sister, please ask Butler Cao to prepare a car for me and take me back."

"Haha," Hongye couldn't help laughing and told the maid outside, "Go, get two bowls of yogurt with more winter melon cubes and honey. Also, get some soft and sticky snacks, and the fruits that were sent from the south a few days ago. Just take two of each."

Xiaodong chanted Amitabha while listening, and when Hongye finished, Xiaodong said, "Sister Hongye, you are so kind."

Qin Yuan couldn't help laughing when she saw him acting funny.

Xiaodong is very able to enjoy himself. He has been an orphan since childhood and grew up with Doctor Li, but he still feels sorry for others who have lost their mothers. He wonders how they have managed to get through all these years at such a young age.

Qin Yuan couldn't help but want to love him more.

Cui Ming saw this and said, "Miss, I'll ask the sewing room to prepare clothes, hats, shoes and socks for Doctor Li and Xiaodong to wear during the festival. They will be ready before the festival."

Qin Yuan was very appreciative: "Your arrangement is very good. When there are many things to do, there are always some unexpected things."

Cui Ming smiled and said, "I'll ask the kitchen to make some eight-treasure pumpkin rice and some snacks for Xiaodong to take back to honor Doctor Li. They can be left for a day."

"You go and make the arrangements."

Qin Yuan glanced at Xiaodong who was sitting on the chair with his mouth full, walked to the desk, picked up the pen, dipped it in ink, wrote a few words and put it down again.

Since it is going to be used as a competition platform in the Imperial College, it must be carefully polished.

Qin Yuan wrote and stopped from time to time, occasionally saying a few words to Xiaodong.

Hongye asked: "Young lady said before that she would call Shen Changle over, and now she is here."

Xiaodong asked: "Should I avoid it?"

Qin Yuan said: "No need, they are just trivial matters, just don't tell anyone."

Xiaodong just sat on the chair without moving.

Qin Yuan asked Shen Changle to come in. Shen Changle was a little surprised when he saw Xiaodong, but he didn't show it at all. He greeted Xiaodong and asked, "Madam, do you want to talk about the poetry collection?"

Qin Yuan asked back: "Why do you say that?"

Shen Changle said, "The Marquis ordered someone to give me 1,000 taels of silver, saying that it would be used as a prize for the competition, but I don't know yet." Qin Yuan knew that he was just talking, and he must have already made a plan in his mind, so he asked, "Are you worried that the silver is not enough?"

"Of course not," Shen Changle said quickly, "I just think it's too much. One hundred taels of silver is enough. The rest can be spent on engraving. The Yuyuantan Poetry Collection uses the illustrations of Sixth Master and the painter. Although it is a bit troublesome, it looks exquisite and beautiful, far better than its peers. Scholars like to collect them, and some will buy them for girls in the boudoir to appreciate. I think the extra money is better spent on engraving."

Literati like elegant things, and ladies in the boudoir like exquisite things. Shen Changle is indeed exquisite. Qin Yuan said, "If it's up to you, even if you don't spend a penny, students will be unable to resist coming to compete. There is a prize, and it will be more exciting."

Shen Changle said: "If that's the case, it would be better to set an elegant prize, such as a writing brush, ink, paper, or inkstone, or a jade pendant, ornaments, etc."

Qin Yuan said, "That's right. Since you are setting up the competition in the name of Sixth Master, you can also use the spices from Ranxiangju. Scholars like elegant names, and these are also suitable for their status as prizes."

Shen Changle smiled and said, "Then I will arrange it this way. It will be more interesting if we arrange it this way."

Qin Yuan said: "You make the decision. If it doesn't go as expected, you can act accordingly."

A smile appeared on Shen Changle's round and gentle face, and he said, "Madam, you trust me so much. I will definitely find a way to do it well and will never embarrass you."

Qin Yuan said: "Your ability to do things is here, why shouldn't I trust you, just do it, if you are unsure, come and ask me."

Shen Changle said, "Ever since I followed my master to the Marquis' Mansion, my luck has turned and I have been valued by my masters. I always think that I am really lucky in this life to have met my master."

Qin Yuan said, "You have ambition and ability. You are the most useful one among my companions. Okay, Shen Changle, stop sighing. Go back today and collect all the rumors that have been spread. Someone will do this in the future. Tell Gu Shiliu and Gu Shiba about it when you meet them."

Shen Changle was stunned for a moment and said, "Yes."

Qin Yuan said: "If you have nothing to say, then go ahead and get busy."

Shen Changle asked: "Master, don't you want to see the account book of the poetry collection?"

Qin Yuan said: "Don't worry, wait until you get it working."

The implication was that Shen Changle would be given some time to maneuver and that he would not be bothered too much with money, which was considered quite generous and trusting.

Shen Changle left more loyal than when he came.

Xiaodong was very puzzled and asked, "Sister, are you going to print a new collection of poems? Are Mr. Gu Liu's poetry collections selling well? Um, are Mr. Gu Liu's paintings selling well too?"

Doctor Li kept telling him that Mr. Gu Liu was a spendthrift, and that only a rich young man could do such a thing.

Unexpectedly, my senior sister was going to print a new collection of poems, and from what Shen Changle said, it seemed to be selling well.

"Didn't I say that when you can draw commonly used medical cases, I will print them for you? Is this just talk? Shen Changle is now in charge of my dowry shop in the West Market. Last time, I printed a collection of poems for the Sixth Master. Seeing that it sold well, I plan to do a bigger one. When you can draw well, my dowry shop may have become a well-known bookstore. Just wait for me to print medical books for you."

Xiaodong was shocked: "Senior sister, are you considering this so far?"

"Of course not. When doing things, you should think long-term and be cautious. Haven't you heard that eating well and drinking well will not make you poor? Don't plan to be poor all your life. Xiaodong, you have to work hard."

Xiaodong suddenly couldn't eat anymore.