The Fu Household brothers waited eight or nine days without receiving a reply from Jin Shanyao. Fu Congzhao wanted to ask her about it, but Fu Congheng stopped him, saying that perhaps Lord Lu wasn't that important to Miss Jin.
The capital city, the Lu Residence.
Fu Congheng stood before the desk. "My lord, Miss Jin hasn't replied."
Lu Chi thought he had misheard, and after a moment asked, "Could you send me a message?"
Fu Congheng shook his head.
Lu Chi felt as if he had fallen into a bottomless pit, his hands clenching involuntarily. "What about Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci? Did they write to me?"
Fu Congheng shook his head.
" Qing He and Qing Yang, you should at least write me a couple of words, right?"
Fu Congheng shook his head, thinking that the master must be overestimating himself. Apart from Miss Jin asking about his official position, no one else in the Meng Household had inquired about the master.
Lu Chi stared at Fu Congheng's head, thinking he was seeing things, because all he saw was a head shake.
A silence fell over the air.
When Lu Chi was sold, he was arrogant and resentful. In addition, Jin Shanyao was his first master, and he couldn't adjust to the new status immediately, so he spoke disrespectfully. However, given Jin Shanyao's personality, she wouldn't take such a small matter to heart.
Besides, he was Jin Shanyao's man. Lu Chi felt a tightness in his chest, as if he had been abandoned. "Has anything changed at home?"
Fu Congheng didn't react for a moment, unsure which family Lu Chi was referring to, and guessed, " The Meng Household is doing well, my family is doing fine too, your family..."
"Alright... let's talk about the Anzhi Hall."
Fu Congheng finally understood what he wanted to hear. "My lord, Anzhi Hall has bought two mountains, two shops, and built two estates in Qingzhou Prefecture."
With dozens of servants, they were already considered the wealthiest family in Qingzhou Prefecture.
Lu Chi suddenly looked up, "She has dozens of servants?"
Fu Congheng nodded. So what if such a large family business has dozens of servants? Is there any need to make a fuss? Lu Chi waved his hand, signaling Fu Congheng to leave.
He took a wooden box from under the table, staring intently at the burned indenture inside. He was no longer his master's only male servant.
Jin Shanyao knew nothing of what was happening in the capital; she was checking the accounts with her two children.
Qin Baitang and Wu Yong sat in the side room drinking tea.
Next door, the abacus clattered incessantly, and seven or eight accountants were huddled among a pile of ledgers, so busy that they didn't even look up or open their eyes.
Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci checked the ledgers they had verified, their expressions serious, their little hands moving rapidly on the abacus.
Lin Mo and Lin Yue, the siblings, were responsible for sorting and arranging the calculated ledgers on the bookshelf.
In the side room, Qin Baitang and Wu Yong remained silent. They were both aware of each other's presence, but this was their first formal meeting.
Wu Yong, "Is Shopkeeper Qin's Lush Mountain as big as Hat Mountain?"
Qin Baitang, holding a teacup, smiled and said, "A barren mountain can't compare to the grandeur of Hat Mountain. Oh, by the way, how's the medicinal herb yield on Hat Mountain this year?"
"So-so... but the ginseng and lingzhi mushrooms are growing quite well."
"That's good, otherwise I wouldn't be able to deliver the orders I secured..."
Wu Yong's smile froze slightly. At that moment, Madam Qin walked in carrying a tray. " Anzhi and the others haven't come out yet?"
Qin Baitang laughed, "Checking accounts isn't that fast, what are you doing?"
Madam Qin thought to herself, "Don't you know what I'm doing? Why ask?" But seeing that there were other people in the room, she smiled and said, "Ginger milk curd; the two children are clamoring for some."
She glanced next door and said, "It's been almost a whole day, I wonder if the two kids are hungry?"
Wu Yong glanced at Qin Baitang and smiled, "Is your wife very familiar with the master's family?"
"It's alright, it's just that Anzhi keeps asking me to bring her over, saying she misses Grandma Qin."
Wu Yong smiled but didn't say anything.
Before long, the door opened, and the accountants came out one by one. Jin Shanyao took the account book from Lin Yue's hand, "You can all go and rest now."
Lin Yue and Lin Mo left the study, and Madam Qin came in carrying ginger milk curd. "Why do you have to finish everything in one go? Don't you care about your health?"
Meng Anzhi sniffed the air and said decisively, " Grandma Qin... you made ginger milk curd."
Madam Qin laughed heartily, "Yes, didn't Anzhi say she wanted to eat it? Come and try it."
Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci leaned over, holding the steaming bowl, and sipped a spoonful of hot milk. "Mmm, delicious... This bite feels like all the fatigue has vanished."
Madam Qin laughed heartily, amused by her. "You two little devils," she said, then sighed, picking up the ginger milk curd and placing it next to Jin Shanyao. "They're just children, don't push them too hard."
Jin Shanyao smiled and said, "I know... Auntie Qin, you shouldn't go back. Stay in the city for the New Year, and I'll make dumplings for you."
Madam Qin glared at her reproachfully, "Are you reluctant to part with me, or are you reluctant to part with my cooking skills?"
Meng Anci and said, "Of course I can't bear to part with Grandma Qin."
"You little rascals... Come on, Grandma Qin will take you to make dumplings."
Madam Qin left with her two children.
Jin Shanyao called Qin Baitang over and handed him five hundred taels of silver. " Old Qin, you've worked hard this year."
Qin Baitang held the silver notes in his hand, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Boss, I'm just a doctor, my job is to treat patients and trade medicinal herbs. What's so hard about that?"
In the past, he had to bear all the risks himself, whether he made a profit or a loss. Now, he made five hundred taels without incurring any costs, which is much more than his own shop. What more could he ask for?
Jin Shanyao patted Qin Baitang on the shoulder, "Work hard and try to earn even more next year. Old Qin, you know me, I only trust you."
Qin Baitang felt a little awkward, "I thought that since you had Wu Yong, you..."
"So what? No matter who else I have, none of them can surpass you," Jin Shanyao gently scolded. " Old Qin, no one can replace you in my heart. Remember, I can't live without you."
Qin Baitang was moved to tears. "Boss, don't worry, I will not leave you." He thought he was going to be replaced by Wu Yong, but he was wrong.
After seeing Qin Baitang off, Jin Shanyao and called for Wu Yong.
" Old Wu, you've worked hard this year."
Wu Yong: "Master, this is what this servant should do."
Jin Shanyao head displeased, "What do you mean by 'servant'? I won't allow you to talk about yourself like that. The whole estate has been in good order this year, all thanks to you."
She took Wu Yong's hand, placed the small cloth bag in his palm, and said in a gentle yet firm tone, "Take this and buy something you want, but you're not allowed to buy alcohol, understand?"
Wu Yong's palms were numb from being hit with silver, and he estimated there were at least several dozen taels. "Thank you, Master... Alcohol is forbidden on the estate, how could I dare to violate that?"
Jin Shanyao in satisfaction, saw Wu Yong off, and when she came out again, she found that the Qin Household couple had already left.
Meng Anzhi placed the dumplings on the table. " Grandma Qin wanted to say goodbye, but seeing you were busy, she didn't want to disturb you."
Jin Shanyao, smelling the aroma of dumplings, asked in confusion, "Why didn't she stay to eat with us?"
"We're in a hurry, and the road might be difficult to walk on after sunset," Meng Anzhi placed the bowls and plates in front of Jin Shanyao. "Auntie, weren't we supposed to give red envelopes to everyone in the village? Why were they given to Steward Wu alone?"
Jin Shanyao took a bite of a dumpling, her eyes brightening slightly. "The red envelopes need to be sent, but there are specific rules about how to send them."
Meng Anci had been silent all along, suddenly looked up. "Auntie wants to tell Wu Yong that we've all seen his efforts, right?"
"That's right." Jin Shanyao approvingly. "Then think about it again, why do we have to make such a big fuss when giving red envelopes to other people?"
Meng Anzhi, "Let everyone know that the master is kind and will not let anyone down."
Meng Anci added, "Of course I did the good deed of winning people's hearts myself."
If Wu Yong were to distribute the gifts, everyone would only remember his good deeds, and over time, the people in the village would only listen to him.
If Wu Yong deceives his superiors and subordinates, will this estate still be our estate?
Suddenly, as Jin Shanyao, I felt a sense of gratification, like my little one was growing up.