Chapter 112: Worth Quite a Bit, Right?

Qiao Mai smiled and left, Lu Shopkeeper found Wang, and they had just finished a meal, so they were strolling back and forth in the courtyard to aid digestion.

"Sir, I'm sorry; I didn't teach my daughter properly, nor did I stop them; it was my negligence."

"I don't blame you, nor her; she is being simplistic. It's just that I, an old man, no longer wish to take on students—age has made me lazy. Yet I must let her understand the principles: people must learn gratitude. Qiao Niang is grateful you saved her and is especially kind to your family, but that doesn't mean you can trample over her to cross the river. Some matters should first seek her opinion, understand?"

"Yes, yes, sir, that's what you said."

"Even the best of sisters must observe propriety; they cannot overstep their place."

"I have taken your teaching, sir!"

"Although I met you later in life, I still have some connection with Mayor Qian. I know both of your affairs. Once your second daughter is married, the old fool in his family will be fairly settled; you should marry her to him. It's been delayed for so many years; you should understand his feelings toward you. All these years he's guarded you, yet he doesn't even have a servant girl by his side; his heart is evident."

Lu Shopkeeper's face flushed, "I will consider it!"

"Go ahead!"

"A scholar can only claim ten mu of land; your family has sixty-five mu."

"It's a tasty snack; if you're uneasy, you can help her make it. Once the shop gets on track, you can let go. Remember not to set the price too low; even a snack can earn big money. What do you think of me?"

Both were very confident in Qiao Mai; in fact, Qiao Mai now has a space Platform business, and no longer cares how much money she makes in reality.

"Look, it's really sprouting! Oh my, this girl is truly capable; even at this time, she can still grow vegetables."

Moreover, she pickles those vegetables because she wants to eat them herself.

She also made some pickled vegetables, dried some vegetables in the sun; all are delicious when eaten in winter.

The Qiao Family's charcoal supplies were ample; early on the household had a charcoal fire, heating the kang.

To prevent the large jars from cracking in the cold, she had people wrap each big jar with a blanket, covering them tightly.

The Qiao girl spent a lot of silver on her daughter's marriage, and she never expressed it, feeling it was excessive herself.

Lu Sanniang twitched her nose, "Heaven itself could never find a woman as good as you."

"Do you think this girl can sell all those pickled vegetables?"

They were all custom-made at a Ready-to-wear Puzi in the County Town, even the Wang elderly couple and the Lu family members had them.

"Hehe, what's this recipe?"

When Lu Shopkeeper entered, she was stitching the Embroidery Work needle by needle.

"In the end, I want him to get me a scholar or recommended scholar title, so I can put my land under his name; that way I won't have to pay taxes. Every year, tax officials come twice a season, which drives me crazy. Moreover, I've been supporting them for so long, I should at least collect some rent."

"That's right; once the pickling is done, we can also taste it."

"Hmph, if someone is petty, they'd surely think Qiao Niang said something out there."

All the Qiao Family's cotton clothes have been distributed; each person gets two sets—servants wear the servant sets, masters wear the master sets.

"Truly perceptive, not bad; after the New Year, continue living here."

"Just take it; if I had regarded you as outsiders, I wouldn't have let your whole family live here from the beginning."

"Hehe"

"That's why we need him to aim higher; a recommended scholar is almost enough."

"I wrote a plan; you bought two shops for Xin'er, right? Renting them out a year doesn't bring much silver. Give this to her, let her hire a few people, run the business herself. As long as she follows the instructions and sells, she'll surely earn a good amount in a year."

"Sister, you're here, sit quickly."

"Let's go take a look."

"No need to make a fuss; the flowers in our warm house bloom just as well in winter. Still, this girl coming up with this method is really impressive, though I wonder how it will fare when the cold sets in."

The two of them took the servant girl and the old woman to the back, entered the warm greenhouse; an old woman was watering, and they looked down.

When Lu Shopkeeper left, Wang's Lady pursed her mouth, "It's truly rare not to scold anyone."

"The matchmakers are about to trample our doorstep to pieces."

"Haha, talking with you is truly delightful!"

At the end of October, the weather turned cold; outside it felt like a huge pot of water about to freeze.

She no longer went out to continue pickling; at this moment she was watching Ling'er playing on the floor inside, with Yuehong and Yuexia beside her.

"You don't want him to become an official, do you?"

The jade bracelet comes as a single piece, making a perfect pair; she gave one to the sister and kept one for herself. She took out one, wrapped it in a cloth bag, and went to find Qiao Mai.

Qiao Mai ran her hand over the jade bracelet, "The water quality is good; it's worth quite a bit, right?"

Lu Sanniang went over and pinched Ling'er's little face, "You're so busy, raising the child so well; truly remarkable."

"Yes, sir!"

Lu Sanniang seized Qiao Mai's hand and directly slipped the bracelet from her bosom onto her wrist.

She then took a box from the cabinet; it contained a pair of jade bracelets that Mayor Qian had given her, which she had never dared to wear.

"Yes, will your husband have a dowry next year?"

"You still know? This morning you shouldn't have said those things; just refuse outright. Saying so much makes it seem like they're staying here, and Qiao Niang feels embarrassed to speak up."

Qiao Mai smiled, "Why look for me? I'm already annoyed. In the twelfth month, I'll give you a screen, two garments, let you sell them at a good price; Ruyi isn't small either, it's time to talk about the in-laws, right?"

Qiao Mai suddenly remembered something, turned, and took a sheet of paper from the drawer on the cabinet, handing it to Lu Shopkeeper.

"Aren't you also the one holding up a family alone, raising Xin'er and Ruyi so well?"

Fresh vegetables, dried vegetables, pickled sauces, fermented vegetables, each has its own flavor, that's all.

"What are you saying? If sisters don't even trust each other this little, why live together?"

"It must be so; everything the girl makes is so tasty you want to bite your tongue off."

"Indeed, our family enjoys good food, drink, and lodging at your place without spending a cent; isn't it because you're afraid we won't spend any money, and you'll have to drive us away after the New Year?"

"Just wear it."

After all, she can grow vegetables in winter, and she can also obtain those rare fruits and such exotic items.

"If Lu Sanniang truly thinks that way, Mayor Qian's affection for her was all in vain."

"Sure, trust her—can you think of any snack she makes that doesn't sell?"

It's getting cold now, and her pickling venture has already stopped.

"Old man, let's go check the garden behind us; the seeds were sown several days ago and should be sprouting."

Lu Sanniang licked her lips, "Alright, I thank you for Xin'er."

"That child is sincere; Feng Yinshi got married, and his family may no longer fund his studies. Knowing Xin'er's dowry, they'll definitely make her support it. Sitting on a mountain of wealth isn't right; I hope this prescription can help her."

Pickled cabbage dumplings, stewed ribs are all tasty; drinking porridge with kimchi is more refreshing than eating salty vegetables; spicy cabbage is also good; mixing it with rice makes a very delicious dish.

Lu Shopkeeper held the clothes feeling uneasy; to be honest, since moving to Jixiang Yuan in August, she hasn't spent a single cent.

"Why would I scold them? That's just looking for trouble for Qiao Niang."

"Yo, did you come especially to bribe me?"

"Hmm, no rush. If your son‑in‑law passes the provincial exam, Ruyi's future in‑laws will rise to a higher level."

Lu Shopkeeper's hand trembled as she held the prescription, "Tell me about yourself; I'll give you a bracelet, you give me the prescription; this favor won't be repaid yet."

Doing these is nothing more than finding a source for her money, and also giving a provenance to things taken from the void.

"Anyway, she has a way to deal with it."

"If he wants to be, let him; I won't stop him. We're a sham couple, remember?"

Lu Sanniang pursed her lips, "Wang Jiaru's Wang Jiaru's Servant Girl, I think he's actually a good person; you could be a real couple, you know?"

"We'll discuss this later; I have no intention now, and there are several children at home to support."

"A good man must be taken early, or else he'll be snatched away by someone else."

(End of chapter)