Before leaving, Qin Baitang checked all the account books of Lush Mountain with Jin Shanyao and only then set off.
Before leaving, he gave Tao Yunshan another piece of advice. "The most important thing in business is to be steady. Don't buy medicinal herbs you're unsure about, don't buy urgent goods, and don't buy out-of-season herbs. If you cultivate Lush Mountain well, the profits won't be bad."
Now that Anzhi Hall is growing bigger and bigger, the four or five managers are all keeping an eye on each other. You are young and inexperienced, so you are easily caught out. Think twice before you act. If you are unsure, ask the boss. Don't be afraid... just ask if you need to."
Tao Yunshan nodded, "Master, don't worry, I won't let you down." He had always heard that his master's business was booming, but he had never had the chance to come and visit.
He was truly shocked after taking a trip to the prefectural city. He wanted to work hard... save more money, ask his master for a favor, redeem himself as soon as possible, and become a free manager like Qin Baitang.
Everyone has their own little schemes, but they all share the same goal: to work hard and make Anzhi Hall better and better.
After the busy farming season, Jin Shanyao and Meng Anzhi finally didn't have to wander around the mountains anymore, and their days became more leisurely.
That day, Jin Shanyao stood outside the Anzhi Hall in the sun as usual, listening to the footsteps of people coming and going on the street, the footsteps sounding near and far...
Jin Shanyao pricked up her ears; the faint breath beside her stopped, and the footsteps disappeared.
She opened one eye and glanced to her side, catching a glimpse of half a head. She moved closer to the person. " Chen Maimiao... are you here for a follow-up appointment?"
Startled by the sudden voice, Chen Maimiao turned around abruptly. " Shopkeeper Jin... I'm just resting here for a bit, I'll be leaving soon."
Jin Shanyao a faint "oh," then returned to her original spot and continued basking in the sun.
Time passed slowly, and Chen Maimiao's legs began to ache from standing.
She secretly glanced at Jin Shanyao, and only when she saw that Jin Shanyao wasn't paying attention did she dare to sit down quietly, leaning her back against the wall, feeling much more relaxed.
The warm sun shone on me, making me feel cozy, and before long I drifted off to sleep.
Just as she was fast asleep, she suddenly felt a strange sensation on her cheek.
She jolted awake, met a pair of lewd eyes, and screamed in terror, "Get away... get away from me..."
The Boss Zheng, stumbled a step after being pushed, but he wasn't angry. Instead, he laughed, "Fourth sister-in-law, are you still half asleep? You don't even recognize your eldest brother? Come on, this isn't a place to sleep. I'll take you home."
Chen Maimiao's face turned deathly pale. She shrank back desperately, her back pressed against the wall. "I... I have something to do, brother, you go back first..."
"Oh? Then I'll wait with you." Boss Zheng said with a grin, about to sit down next to her.
Before his buttocks even touched the ground, he was shoved hard on the back of the head.
Boss Zheng's temper flared up, and he turned to look, only to see Jin Shanyao halfway out of the window, smiling brightly. " Five Hundred Wen, are you here to see me?"
Boss Zheng shrank back, his anger instantly vanishing.
He swallowed hard, stood up awkwardly, dusted off his clothes, and walked into the street as if nothing had happened, grabbing a passerby at random.
"Hey bro, haven't seen you in days! Where have you been making your fortune lately?"
The passerby asked, puzzled, "Who are you? Do we know each other?"
The two Boss Zheng, put their arms around each other's shoulders and half-pushed, half-led them away, saying, "Don't you recognize us? We were playing dice together the other day, don't you remember?"
"I never gamble! Who are you anyway?!"
The sounds of their argument gradually faded into the distance.
Jin Shanyao her gaze, glanced at the still-shaken Chen Maimiao, said nothing, and shrank back into the Anzhi Hall.
" Xiaosi... move a chair outside."
Zhou Xiaosi said "Oh," put down the herbs he was holding, and grabbed a cushion as he moved a chair. " Madam Chen... please sit here and wait."
Chen Maimiao waved her hand hastily, "No, no, I'll be leaving in a bit."
"It's alright... It's not good for the baby if you sit on the ground while you're pregnant," Zhou Xiaosi said, having deliberately placed a chair next to the window. Chen Maimiao only realized how close she was to Jin Shanyao after sitting down.
She could see him with just a slight turn of her head. Chen Maimiao's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. Had Shopkeeper Jin noticed something? Otherwise, why would he have his servant bring her a chair?
She nervously clutched the hem of her clothes, wanting to go home... but her in-laws weren't home today. The couple thought about it all night before deciding to sit at the entrance of the Anzhi Hall.
Shopkeeper Jin is a good person; as long as it's her territory, she'll never be bullied. Once her husband finishes work, they can go home together.
Thinking this, the sunlight in front of me was blocked, and Zhou Xiaosi came over with hot water, "I see your lips are a little dry..."
Chen Maimiao became even more uncomfortable, "Brother... I'm not thirsty."
"If you don't drink it, the baby in your belly will need to."
Chen Maimiao swallowed hard, glancing down at her still-flat stomach, and reluctantly accepted the teacup. "Thank you, sir."
The rim of the teacup was scalding hot, and it felt warm in her hands. She took a small sip, and her eyes lit up. "It's sweet..." She subconsciously glanced at Jin Shanyao.
Finding that Shopkeeper Jin wasn't even looking at her, Chen Maimiao grew a little bolder. She hadn't had sweet soup in a long time; her husband's family had little land and paid taxes on all their annual harvest.
I finally saved up some money, and it all went to buying her medicine and trying to conceive her; it's all gone now...
Now that she's pregnant, the elders in her family are overjoyed. They used to save the eggs they would buy from the city for her to eat alone.
Chen Maimiao stared blankly at her teacup until the sun went down, when Zheng Laosi finally rushed over carrying a shoulder pole.
" Maimiao... you must be hungry after waiting so long, I bought you some steamed buns."
Zheng Laosi took out a paper packet from his pocket and stuffed it into Chen Maimiao's hand. Seeing that she was hesitant to eat, he urged, "Eat... why aren't you eating? It smells so good!"
Chen Maimiao chuckled, opened the oil paper package, and held the bun to Zheng Laosi's mouth, "You eat..."
"What am I, a grown man, going to eat this? It's not filling at all. I'll go back and eat cornbread."
Chen Maimiao thought for a moment, then wrapped the buns up. "I won't eat them either. Why take them home to eat with my parents?"
"Don't... They're already criticizing me for not making enough money, if they see me buying steamed buns they'll start nagging again. Just eat here... We'll go back after you're done."
Chen Maimiao didn't refuse anymore, and started eating the bun. After a couple of bites, she tried to feed Zheng Laosi, but Zheng Laosi refused, saying, "You eat... I don't like stuffed foods."
Chen Maimiao smiled as she ate her steamed bun with gusto. After finishing, she wiped her mouth and said, "Let's go... let's go home."
"Hey..." Zheng Laosi chuckled twice, took Chen Maimiao's hand and walked back. After the two had gone far away, Zhou Xiaosi came out to pack his things.
Seeing that he had only just closed the window, Shopkeeper Wang chuckled, " Xiaosi... Anzhi Hall doesn't have many Celestial Person, why are you only closing now?"
"Master was engrossed in his book, so he's a little late... Shopkeeper Wang didn't close the shop either, did he?"
Shopkeeper Wang laughed out loud, "My business is small-scale; it's all about patience..."
Zhou Xiaosi smiled but didn't speak. He sealed the window panels and closed the shop door. "Master... everything's ready."
Jin Shanyao indifferently, "Has Anci returned?"
"Not yet... Shall I go greet them?"
"No need... You've had a long day, eat and get some rest."
"Alright... then I'll go to the backyard first, Master. Call me if you need anything."