Shaoyao didn't ask any more questions. She pushed the medicine box aside and followed Fudong who was setting the table.
Hua Zhi found it funny and led the person to sit down. She picked up the chopsticks and picked up a spring roll for her. This spring roll was specially made for guests. As a wounded patient, she could only eat light porridge today.
Shaoyao ate without even looking up, and when she was done she asked, "Can I have lunch here?"
"Of course." Hua Zhi really liked Shaoyao's straightforward personality and tried to respond to her as simply and directly as possible.
"I'll make some arrangements, you are free to do as you please."
"Can I go?"
Hua Zhi smiled and said, "You can go anywhere. There is no place in the manor that cannot be shown to others."
Shaoyao happily put on her veil and followed. She had no memories before the age of nine, and had been living with men all year round. The only women she knew were members of the royal family. On ordinary days, she didn't even have time to hide from them, so how could she approach them to talk
Strictly speaking, Hua Zhi was the first person she met alone.
Shaoyao was very excited and wanted to stay with this friend, as if things would be better this way.
The front yard was crowded with people. Liu Jiang and his sister were also there. They stood in the corner and stretched their necks to look at the Moon Gate.
After witnessing everything that night, Liu Juan's gratitude towards the elder girl leapt to admiration. Her originally confused mind suddenly seemed to open up, and she made up her mind to go to the elder girl and serve her wholeheartedly like Sister Fudong, and also hoped to be protected by the elder girl in the same way.
Being a good citizen is certainly better than being a slave, but if she serves a young lady, she is willing to become a slave.
Although Liu Jiang admired the elder girl from the bottom of his heart, he was unwilling to let his sister do the work of serving others. However, his sister, who had always been obedient, was determined this time. He failed to convince his sister, but he was almost convinced by her.
"Here she comes." Liu Juan exclaimed excitedly. This was the first time she had seen the older girl since that night, and she seemed to have recovered a little.
Hua Zhi was helped by Bao Xia to sit down on the armchair in the corridor. Just as she was about to ask someone to bring another chair, she saw Shaoyao had already run to bring it and sat down next to her obediently. She looked so obedient that just looking at her made people feel soft-hearted and want to treat her well from the bottom of their hearts.
Hua Zhi concealed all emotions in her eyes and looked at the more than 40 people in the yard.
Although her face and lips were still pale, that faint but oppressive gaze made the servant, who thought he had seen the world from his master and was somewhat disapproving of Hua Zhi being the head of the family, break out in cold sweats, as if everything he was thinking was seen through by that one glance.
People like Xu Ying who are worried about the eldest girl can rest assured. Even if the eldest girl is injured, she is not like a sick cat. No one should underestimate her!
The yard was silent.
After being shocked enough, Hua Zhi slowly spoke, "I asked Butler Xu for people because I was planning to build a workshop on this farm. Since it's a workshop, I asked you to come here to work in the workshop. If anyone is unwilling, I won't blame you. I have other things for you to do."
Everyone looked at each other, and those who really didn't want to do it didn't want to be the first to do it.
"Liu Qi, are you willing to be the manager of this workshop?"
Liu Qi was stunned for a moment when his name was suddenly called, then he immediately stood up and saluted, "Yes, I am willing."
Liu Qi has been serving the old master since he entered the mansion. When the old master was sentenced to exile, he also wanted to go to the place of exile. It was the old master who did not allow him, so he had to stay. Without a backbone, he had no idea what to do day by day.
Since the Hua family is now headed by the eldest daughter, he is naturally willing to obey orders.
"Many of you have worked for the masters of your families before, so your abilities are naturally not bad. If there weren't so few people available at home, I wouldn't have used a butcher knife to kill a nut. After this busy period, I will inevitably need you to do other things. If you really feel that you can't do it, report it to Liu Qi, and I won't make it difficult for you."
Hua Zhi's words were not entirely meant to appease these people. It was also her fault that she was injured and did not explain clearly. Most of the work in the workshop she was going to open would be done by more meticulous women. The people chosen by Butler Xu were half male and half female. Not to mention the servants, even the maids and servants all looked smart and capable. It was indeed a waste of their talents to do such small jobs here.
She should have made it clearer and asked Butler Xu to send people from her mother and grandmother's rooms instead of the current situation. But now she can't move and can only finish the work first.
Hua Zhi stood up, making herself look more powerful. "Let me be frank. I am not as kind as my grandmother. Don't think that I can be easily fooled just because I am young. I will not treat you badly. I also hope that you will think about the Hua family and maintain their stability. If anyone wants to test the law, I will not show mercy. Of course, I will not treat you unfairly. During your time in the workshop, your monthly salary will be double the usual amount."
After the sweet treat and the big stick were given, everyone's faces lit up. They originally felt that they had some face in the mansion and were unwilling to do this kind of work, but now they are relaxed. It's the same work in the mansion as it is here. Although it may be a little more tiring, the monthly salary is doubled! It's worth it!
Taking in the expressions of the crowd, Hua Zhi scolded them a few more words and then let everyone else leave, leaving only Liu Qi.
"Wu Da, has the cellar been dug?"
"Yes, it has been dug, but it is still a little damp at the moment. It should be fine after leaving it for another day."
Hua Zhi nodded and looked at Liu Qi, "Arrange the maids and servants to live in the backyard, and the servants to live in the back house. The front yard will be used as a workshop temporarily. You can use the extra things in the house if you can use them, and clear a room to store the unused ones. Don't put extra things in the room. We don't have time to build a new workshop, so this is the only way to make do for now."
"yes."
"Since the workshop has been handed over to you, you are in charge of all arrangements. If anyone relies on his status and refuses to obey orders, just report to me. Also, peaches are easy to spoil, so they need to be put in the cellar immediately after being picked from the tree."
Liu Qi responded and quickly thought about it in his mind. Now that he had things to do, he was in better spirits than before.
Shaoyao sat on the side and watched things being arranged one by one. She inexplicably felt that her good friend looked very much like the prince at this moment. The posture and the relaxed look were so similar.
"Are you a little bored?" After sending Liu Qi away, Hua Zhi no longer forced herself and sat down with the help of Bao Xia. Seeing Shaoyao's dazed look, she asked with a smile.
Shaoyao shook her head, "No, you are very good."
"No one is born with these abilities." Hua Zhi smiled and drank half a cup of tea from Fu Dong's hand. She felt her strength returning and motioned to Bao Xia to help her up. "I'll perform a magic trick for you when we get back."
Shaoyao nodded repeatedly, and the veil created ripples.
After returning to the house to rest for a while, Hua Zhi asked someone to bring in a bucket of water and two basins, large and small. "All of you go out and close the door."
Bao Xia and the others filed out, and after closing the door, they stood guard at the door with Nian Qiu on the left and right, "Everyone, stay away."
Although I don't know what the young lady is going to do, it is extremely important that even they don't know it, and it would be best if others don't hear a word of it.
PS: From the last book to this one, I often see girls saying that Kong Kong's writing is very good and looks comfortable. This is why Kong Kong spends so much time revising his writing. Many times, what he is revising is not the content, but the sentences. I hope that my readers can read my novels smoothly in one breath without any sense of sluggishness. Unfortunately, my writing skills are limited and there is still a lot of room for improvement.
One more thing, I’m not really satisfied with this chapter, but I really can’t do anything about it, so I’ll just have to make do with it.