The next morning, Yingchun lifted the curtain as usual, and was startled when she saw the young lady's red and swollen eyes. She hurriedly moved closer and asked, "What's wrong with your eyes? Are you feeling uncomfortable? Is there anything else that hurts? Baoxia, Baoxia, go get Doctor Chu, no, go get Miss Shaoyao, quickly."
Bao Xia came in with some water. Upon hearing this, she quickly quickened her pace and put the water aside. She ran over to take a look and turned around to run out. Hua Zhi called her and said, "It's okay. I had a dream and woke up early. Get ready for some clothes."
As she spoke, Hua Zhi threw off the quilt and got out of bed. Not only did she wake up early, she had been awake for a long time. Maybe it was because she released all the pressure in her heart by crying, but her whole body felt light.
"Miss, you really have nothing uncomfortable?"
"If I'm not feeling well, I'm not going to hold on. It's nothing. If you're worried, Shaoyao will come today and ask her to check on me. By the way, is the room ready? The child will be here today."
"I'm ready." Yingchun winked at Baoxia who was about to say something. Baoxia pursed her lips and went to get her clothes.
She helped the young lady to put on her clothes, Baoxia went to help her wash up, Yingchun went to make the bed, and when she folded the quilt and went to arrange the pillow, her hand paused, she turned around to look at the young lady, and touched the entire pillow. The young lady had never been used to sleeping on a jade pillow, and for many years she had always made a soft pillow according to the young lady's requirements, but when she touched it now, she found that half of it was wet.
Miss ... crying
Thinking of this, Yingchun's nose felt sore and she wished she could cry. She rubbed her nose hard and continued to make the bed.
After the young lady went to the front yard to work, she returned to the house and changed her pillow. She secretly told her sisters about her discovery. They all looked at each other, wondering what had happened to the young lady.
Nian Qiu said softly, "Pretend you don't know. The young lady didn't say anything because she didn't want us to know."
"I thought so too, so I pretended I didn't notice anything in front of the young lady." Yingchun exhaled and patted her face, "Nianqiu, take the account book to the young lady for review. If there is no problem, the account book for last month will be sealed."
"good."
When Nian Qiu entered the study room with the account book, he saw the young lady handing her name card to Butler Xu, "No need to say anything, just come back after you get the reply."
"yes."
Nian Qiu bowed his knees to the old butler who was leaving and stepped aside to show respect.
The old butler smiled and nodded. It seemed as if he had overcome a hard time after his illness. Now his body was strong again and he walked with a breeze. Although he had handed over some things to Li De, he personally did everything the young lady asked him to do.
"Miss, are you free now? Let me show you the account book."
Hua Zhi looked at the things she had written down on the paper about what she needed to do today, turned the paper over and weighed it down with a paperweight, then took the account book and started reading.
The business in Green Moss Lane is very good and is getting better and better. It has now become a famous specialty in Beijing, just like Quan Moude's roast duck. People from other places must come to try it. Moreover, this place is not like Quan Moude which has only one signboard. There are 24 shops and dozens of snacks. You can always find one that suits your taste. It looks like a small business and its style is completely different from vegetarian food, but it is the most profitable business she has now.
Hua Zhi was happy at the thought that the profit would increase significantly once Lilai Lane opened. Well, probably no one would be unhappy.
"Every family is short of money now, so send one thousand taels of silver to each family." After a pause, Hua Zhi continued, "Give some to the two aunts as well, as a token of my filial piety. There is no need to give some to my aunt, as she won't accept it."
Nian Qiu agreed with a smile, saying that she didn't give it to her little aunt, but if she gave it to her third aunt, wouldn't it be the same as giving it to her? The third aunt only had this one daughter, so how could she watch her suffer
As she was talking, Liu Xiang came in and reported, "Miss, Miss Qin and her husband are here."
Hua Zhi had expected the two to come, and had instructed the servants to invite them in directly if they came. At this time, she was waiting behind Liu Xiang.
"Please come in." Hua Zhi whispered a few more words to Nian Qiu, who responded by bowing and walking out. When he passed by Hua Qin and his wife, he did not forget to greet them politely.
Cai Jieming was a little excited. There were so many noble families in the capital who wanted to get in but were not able to, but he was able to get in easily because of his wife's relationship. Although he had no bad intentions, he felt a little proud.
But when he actually met the person, looked at this study which could only be considered simple in an ordinary family, looked at the piles of files on the desk, looked at the master and maid who handled things calmly, he inexplicably became gloomy.
Following the madam's greeting, Cai Jieming looked at the young lady who came out from behind the desk and led them to sit aside. Suddenly, he understood why among so many famous girls in the capital, she was the only one who acted out of line but was not disliked by the young men from noble families.
"I think my cousin has already told me the reason why I asked my brother-in-law to come here."
"Yes." Cai Zhiming put aside those thoughts and looked serious. "I have heard that the eldest girl is good at business. This proposal is more like a benefit to my Cai family than a business partnership. If it is for such a small matter, there is really no need to do this."
After a pause, Cai Zhiming smiled bitterly again, "But I have to say that the proposal from the eldest lady is very tempting. Even though I feel that I shouldn't, I still came."
"But for me, giving away some of the profits will make my cousin who is married live a happy life, and it can make the Cai family maintain goodwill towards the Hua family, which is a good deal."
Cai Zhiming opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. He couldn't help but look at his wife. Is the lady always so... so straightforward when speaking
Hua Qin covered her mouth and smiled, but was smart enough not to speak to help him out. As a married woman who wanted to contribute to her parents' home, she would naturally like the relationship between her husband's family and her parents' family to be closer. Moreover, as her cousin said, it would be worthwhile if the profits could make her live a good life. Even in other families, few people could do this for a married woman.
Seeing the harmonious relationship between the two, Hua Zhi smiled more, "You don't need to feel too stressed. Since you are benefiting, there will always be a time when I can use you. I will feel more at ease if this business can be protected by the Cai family."
Cai Zhiming was still a little entangled, "Even if I don't get some benefits, it's what I deserve..."
From the small to the big, seeing Cai Zhiming and Hua Zhi who were obviously moved but still trying hard to resist the temptation, they had a better impression of the Cai family. It is rare for a noble family to be like this, because they put integrity first and never forget their principles when facing profit.
"I would rather give more than receive benefits for free. I am grateful to the Cai family for helping the Hua family in this situation and for helping the girls of the Hua family to get married. If I can't give back, I am worried that my cousin will have a hard time in her husband's family. It doesn't make sense to always ask for benefits from her parents' family. So, brother-in-law, just accept it and think of it as thinking about my wife. It's not free. The Cai family needs to pay for it."
Cai Zhiming looked at his wife, and Hua Qin nodded slightly to him. Cai Zhiming, who was already very excited, gave up and the matter was settled.
PS: The word "slave" was widely used during the Qing Dynasty. "Slave" is a self-proclaimed term that can be used by both male and female servants. In many dynasties, servants could actually refer to themselves as "I". It was not necessary to use "old slave" or "slave". There is also a certain degree of controversy in this regard, so Kong Kong used the self-proclaimed term "small" for servants in this book.