Chapter 144: You Thought of Everything Thoroughly

It's almost the end of the month, Shopkeeper Niu merged the two neighboring shops, and the left side all became Qiao Ji Snack Shop; the space instantly doubled, becoming more spacious, and even the shop interior now has tables and chairs, arranged very elegantly.

Outside, it expanded outward, extending northward by more than double, so it can accommodate even more customers.

The four shops on the south side also started getting inquiries, but because the price was a bit higher, no deal was reached.

Qiao Mai is not flustered; a shop rents for Five Taels of Silver per month, only sixty taels a year, four shops just over two hundred taels, she doesn't lack that money.

Some people only see tenants as that amount of money, and she disdainfully refuses to be their landlady.

Coincidentally, she also has other plans.

On May 26, the Lu and Qin families arranged a Betrothal; Qiao Mai was invited, but only as a witness.

Because she has to attend Miss Wang's wedding in September, Ruyi's wedding was scheduled for the following spring, on March 21.

The day after the Betrothal, she sent her bridal adornments over.

Shopkeeper Lu, seeing that she sent such valuable items, felt embarrassed to say what came next.

Qiao Mai asked Shopkeeper Tong, and learned that Liu Hai was doing well there, handling the work of two or three people by himself, and they were planning to give him a higher wage.

She smiled without saying much; letting them work was just to keep an eye on them, to see their character, and later, to help them become rich.

Currently, Ruxin's business only serves the County Town and Fucheng, and the Liangpi Puzi in Tianshui Town could be handed over to the Liu Family, paired with oil‑crisp baked biscuits; the great rich wouldn't dare, the modest rich can't escape.

Pointing at the few barren acres of the Liu Family, one could never build a fortune in a lifetime; one must do trade to succeed.

This is the true purpose of Spiritual Energy, to spur vitality!

After successfully opening one shop, she feels at ease to open another.

Originally, strawberry seeds need to be pre‑germinated, otherwise sprouting takes a long time, but she has Linghe Water in hand, so the process is simplified: she places sesame‑sized seeds into the heated bed, waters them with diluted Linghe Water, and within two days they sprout, with a germination rate of ninety‑nine percent.

"I don't care about other towns; what about the ten around our town?"

She was already in a bad mood, and being alone made it even worse.

"Having fled disaster, they naturally brought all their belongings; they can't keep asking others for relief forever, can they?"

If they dare do that, she'll send them straight back to Liushutun.

During dinner, Town Mayor Qian and Shopkeeper Lu both came over.

"That's over ten thousand jin, right?"

"Yes!"

Shopkeeper Lu moved back, and Liu Ye naturally went with him; now the Embroidery Work can be handled, and Shopkeeper Lu also started paying her wages, two hundred wen per month.

The clear path pointed out by her master, she must follow, otherwise she would waste her master's sincere intention.

Qiao Mai left, and Shopkeeper Lu wiped a few tears; she felt she had repaid the girl's kindness.

"Ugh, why am I getting angry? It's like I'm a steamed bun, getting angry at the slightest thing. I already gave the bridal adornments, there are many things at home, the fields are being sowed with seeds."

"Y-you're not angry?"

"No need, I covered your share."

"Hmm!"

"Mayor, is something wrong?"

Shopkeeper Lu pursed his lips, "My Lu family has no fields, but I'll donate One Hundred Taels of Silver; you can use it to buy grain, okay?"

"Just in time, my tenant farmers have just delivered grain; after paying the grain tax, there are still ten thousand jin left, a few thousand jin remained from last year, the old grain was taken away, how about I allocate five thousand jin of fresh grain?"

"Planting grain or vegetables doesn't make money; I want to avoid the hassle, so let's plant… five acres of strawberries."

An old woman, after hearing that, put down her things and went straight to the kitchen.

Yuan Jiaqi set down his things, changed into work clothes, and went to the back.

"Thanks, no need for that much; just give me last year's old grain, my family will add a bit, and I'll raise some from the town's wealthy households, that'll be enough."

"Strawberries are hard to transport; they used to be sold wholesale. This time we'll grow them ourselves. By this winter, after planting an acre of strawberries, by year‑end they can sell for Ten Taels of Silver per jin. As for rain, when they grow, I'll set up racks, and when it rains we can cover them."

"No imperial decree, who would dare open the granaries to release grain? That would be a capital crime."

"As long as your family lives well, I'm so happy I can barely contain it."

She kept watching over her shop; many merchants came and went, and after a few introductions to eat there, the business would improve within two days.

Now Lu Ruxin has placed her life's focus on her Liangpi Puzi; she wants to open shops elsewhere, and with the support of Town Mayor Qian and Shopkeeper Lu, she goes out almost daily, buying shops, hiring people, and teaching them recipes.

"Indeed,"

"If that's not enough for you to say, the Qiao Family fully supports you, Mayor."

Qiao Mai sat down on a chair at the side to rest, and Yuan Jiaqi carefully placed the seeds into the dug holes, then covered them with soil.

"The imperial court only sent relief grain to the south; we in the north have none."

"Hmm, after all I'm not an orthodox teacher; they teach students with certain experience, knowing each student's strengths and weaknesses. You would learn more there than with me."

"Even teachers differ from each other."

"You thought of everything thoroughly."

"Hmm, what insights have you gained this month at the Academy?"

"Hmm, now more disaster refugees are coming from the south, my grain supplies are dwindling; how much grain do you have left, could you share some with me?"

"Ruyi also married out from my place; they're people who know each other's backgrounds, so there's no need for a grand ceremony."

"What would you like for lunch? Shall I have the kitchen prepare it?"

"As for the rent, it's fine to pay it after the shop earns money first."

"How much do you need?"

"Honored master,"

"Sure, what's the matter? I can't stop you from returning to your own home, is there anything else?"

"Each teacher has his own unique perspective; with many students, when answering questions, even if some are wrong, they are very innovative, benefiting the students greatly."

"Living at the Qiao Family is far more comfortable than at her own home; she also wishes so, but Ruxin is at home, and as the mother she must stay with her."

"Qiao Niang?"

Don't say that just because the house is hers you can avoid paying rent; no way!

"Fine, as long as you're not angry."

"I don't need you to pay; the donation was my own goodwill, what does it have to do with you?"

"Oh, Strawberry is too delicate and pricey; summer always brings rain."

One mu of land, one day's time, we planted everything and watered it; indeed, many hands make light work.

"The Yamen doesn't intervene?"

His heart involuntarily thumped loudly again, his face flushed, and he hurriedly lowered his head to continue his work, not daring to look her in the eye.

"Girl, I... I think I'll stay at my place from now on, not move again; what do you think?"

"I'll do it!"

"It's so hot; shall we have cold noodles?"

"That's natural; your daughter-in-law is sowing seeds in the backyard, go help her, the whole family is being taken care of by her."

"Yo, you're back?"

"What do you plan to plant on these five mu?"

Yuan Jiaqi looked at the neatly dressed Qiao Mai, whose hair was tied high into a bun adorned with a beautiful hair ornament, a pair of white pearl earrings on her ears, fair skin, and an aura of heroism.

As soon as they arrived home, they first went to pay respects to the old gentleman.

Seeing her sowing seeds with a midwife, and the children watering with tools, he hurried over and took the work from her hands.

"Alright, this is your daughter who is getting married; you make the decision."

Yuan Jiaqi returns once a month; during a holiday he tidied up for the ceremony, and at the city gate rode a horse‑drawn carriage back.

"When it comes to studying, I'm not as good as you; in making money, you're not as good as me."

Qiao Mai took a few sips of water, rested briefly, then grabbed some more seeds and sowed them side by side with him in the field.

The two of them, upon meeting, shouldered the work again; Qiao Mai shook her head, "Sister Lu, what brings you here?"

"How long has it been since you stopped giving me Embroidery Goods? I came to ask."

"Your family already has five Embroidery Ladies, yet you keep thinking about my Embroidery Goods?"

"It's because your things are good."

(End of chapter)