From the start, when opening "Tian Xia Liang Cang," Su Xiao Qi wasn't aiming for profit.
Her spatial dimension could produce grain, though its layout would not be upgraded further.
However, the yield per mu of grain in her space had been steadily increasing.
Coupled with the expansion of their supply sources, they now had ample inventory, so there was no worry about stock issues.
Su Xiao Qi had already established a fixed operating procedure.
She would go to a residence she had purchased near Tian Xia Liang Cang at a set time.
Discreetly, she would transport the grain from her spatial dimension, avoiding everyone's notice.
Then, she would notify He Qiu Lei to send people to retrieve it.
This method allowed her to extract grain from her space without anyone knowing, and it was highly effective.
Su Xiao Qi took a brief look at the ledger; having a general understanding, she put it down.
She remembered that her primary purpose today was not to collect money but to distribute welfare benefits to her affiliated shops.
Since everyone had prepared grain in advance, the employees of Tian Xia Liang Cang could also take a break.
However, to prevent any unexpected situations where someone might not have extra grain at home,
Su Xiao Qi required them to arrange for one person to be on duty.
The on-duty personnel would rotate among the staff.
On the day of duty, their monthly salary would be tripled.
Upon hearing this, everyone became excited.
Before the holiday even began, they were already looking forward to being on duty.
Their bonuses and benefits also included an extra two months' salary, plus a gift box exclusively produced by her.
This naturally earned her the unanimous praise of all employees.
They all felt that working here was far better than working anywhere else.
Su Xiao Qi smiled and encouraged them, "Keep up the good work next year. The better the shops, the better everyone will be."
Everyone responded in unison, their voices so loud they almost shook the shop's roof.
Leaving Tian Xia Liang Cang, Su Xiao Qi went to Chen Jin Ji.
This time, she saw Du Yi Yi.
"Sister Xiao Qi, oh, brother-in-law, you're here too," Du Yi Yi called out from the doorway as she saw them from afar.
Su Xiao Qi smiled and walked towards her, seeing Shen Ming Zhu inside as well. She smiled at her and asked what they were doing.
Du Yi Yi said, "Ming Zhu and I are organizing the duty roster for everyone."
Chen Jin Ji was different from other shops.
During the New Year greetings, people would visit others bringing pastries.
Many people couldn't make them themselves, so they naturally had to buy them.
The pastries from Chen Jin Ji were delicious and impressive.
Therefore, Chen Jin Ji could not enjoy the benefit of a seven-day holiday during the New Year.
However, Su Xiao Qi would not shortchange them.
They would still have the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month and the first day of the New Year off.
From the second day to the seventh, everyone who came to work would receive triple their monthly salary.
After giving them time off, the three of them sat down to go over the accounts.
Chen Jin Ji had the highest turnover among all the shops.
Since its opening, it had already generated two hundred thousand taels.
After deducting labor, materials, and all expenses, the net profit was a hundred thousand taels.
Su Xiao Qi remarked that she hadn't expected Chen Jin Ji, the smallest shop she had opened, to be so popular.
This was inseparable from the efforts of Du Yi Yi, who managed it initially, and later Xiao Xi Que and Shen Ming Zhu who took over.
Especially Shen Ming Zhu, although she joined later, she had a talent for making food.
As soon as Su Xiao Qi shared any ideas with her, they were immediately put into practice.
And the taste of the finished products was quite close to what Su Xiao Qi envisioned.
Su Xiao Qi greatly admired this about her.
They were already preparing to open a branch store.
Once the store opened, it would still be entirely managed by Shen Ming Zhu.
Of course, with her current status as an official's daughter, she wouldn't have to be as publicly visible as before; she could simply strategize from behind the scenes.
With these words, everyone agreed.
They began to look forward to the prosperous prospects of the coming year.
The hundred thousand taels of silver were also easily divided.
Each person received thirty thousand taels, and the remaining ten thousand taels were given to Chen Jin Niang.
Although she wasn't present, they were using her shop's name.
And when Shen Ming Zhu sometimes had questions that Su Xiao Qi was too busy to answer, she would write to Chen Jin Niang for advice.
Therefore, giving her a ten percent share of the profits was not excessive.
Leaving Chen Jin Ji, Su Xiao Qi's carriage was already laden with pastry boxes.
Before leaving, Shen Yun reminded Shen Ming Zhu to return to the mansion soon.
Du Yi Yi then told Su Xiao Qi to return to the Duke's Mansion on the second day.
On that day, she and her mother would also be visiting her maiden home, so they could spend time together.
Su Xiao Qi smiled and agreed.
There were still several shops to visit, and Su Xiao Qi was tired.
Seeing her like this, Shen Yun advised her not to go, suggesting that Zhang Yu could represent her in distributing the welfare benefits.
Many of the shops were organized by He Qiu Lei. To involve Su Xiao Qi, he had given her a share in each shop.
He had also used her connection to the Grand Princess's mansion, bringing the Grand Princess into the fold.
However, Su Xiao Qi did not frequently visit those shops and generally did not put much effort into them.
So, she followed Shen Yun's advice and made a selection, prioritizing the supermarket where Xiao Yi worked.
She decided not to visit the others.
Upon arriving at the supermarket, she was truly astonished.
Because it was the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month.
With the New Year's Eve tomorrow, many people were shopping at the shops.
The supermarket, with its complete range of items, allowed people to purchase all their needs in one trip, making it very convenient.
Coupled with the good quality of the goods and reasonable prices, many people were willing to come.
They were willing to travel long distances.
Su Xiao Qi looked from outside, hesitating whether to disturb Xiao Yi.
She then saw Xiao Yi walking out to greet her.
He had been standing at the entrance watching.
He had spotted Su Xiao Qi's carriage from afar.
He quickly hurried over, revealing a row of white teeth and greeting her, "Xiao Qi..."
Before he finished speaking, he saw Shen Yun sitting beside Su Xiao Qi. He immediately changed his address, "Uh, Madam."
Hearing this address and Xiao Yi's stiff transition, Su Xiao Qi paused for a moment. Just as she was about to correct him, her eyes involuntarily turned to Shen Yun.
How could she feel that Shen Yun had done something behind her back?
Xiao Yi had never addressed her like this before.
However, Xiao Yi was different from Xiao Xi Que and Du Yi Yi.
It was fine if the address changed.
As long as their feelings for each other remained unchanged, that was what mattered.
However, this made Su Xiao Qi lose the desire to go in and take a look.
She leaned against the carriage wall, beckoned Zhang Yu forward, and asked her to take Xiao Yi to the carriage at the back to move the welfare gifts for the supermarket employees, and then to review the accounts.
The supermarket's business was second only to Chen Jin Ji, with a net profit of eighty thousand taels.
This shop was simpler.
It was a partnership between her and Du Yi Yi.
They had agreed from the start.
They would split the profits equally.
Although He Qiu Lei had helped, Su Xiao Qi had calculated his wages.
Later, when Xiao Yi took over the management, Su Xiao Qi originally intended to give him two shares from her own stake.
But upon hearing this, Du Yi Yi insisted on giving him one share as well.
So, now Su Xiao Qi and Du Yi Yi each held four shares, and Xiao Yi held two shares.
After this round of visits, Su Xiao Qi had earned over a hundred thousand taels.
Fortunately, everyone had converted their earnings into banknotes from the officially established bank, as per her suggestion.
Otherwise, how could she have taken it all back?
Moreover, carrying money chests during the New Year would have been too ostentatious.
Sitting in a row and finishing their snacks, Su Xiao Qi was truly ready to go home this time.
No matter how many shops were left.
Anyway, she had plenty of gift boxes prepared, and they could distribute them according to the headcount.
Xiao Yi would be responsible for arranging the supermarket staff himself.
He was now also a shareholder, and Su Xiao Qi was too lazy to worry about these matters.
However, she wasn't sure if it was her imagination.
She always felt that behind Xiao Yi's smiling face, there was a hidden doubt she couldn't quite understand.
And ever since he saw Shen Yun, whenever he spoke to her, he would subtly glance at Shen Yun.
She didn't know what he was trying to do, as if he had something to say to her but couldn't bring himself to say it.
Considering that Xiao Yi had always been reliable, Su Xiao Qi dismissed it as her overthinking.
But on the carriage ride back, she mentioned Xiao Yi's change to Shen Yun.
Shen Yun said, "You're not mistaken. Xiao Yi was acting strangely today."
What Su Xiao Qi could notice, he certainly wouldn't miss.
Furthermore, while Su Xiao Qi was dealing with the supermarket's accounts, he had been sitting silently, which made it easier for him to observe everyone around him.
He clearly told Su Xiao Qi that Xiao Yi was acting strangely; besides glancing at him occasionally, he also kept looking towards the backyard.
There might be something or someone hidden there that shouldn't be seen!