Chapter 236: Everyone's Been Working Hard Today

Anyway, this time Shopkeeper Niu set the prices not low, but they were reasonable; even the worst roasted pumpkin seeds among the nuts sold for a hundred wen per jin.

Even so, buyers still lined up to purchase.

There were only those items in total; once sold out they're gone, and you don't know when you'll be able to eat them again.

For a foodie, being able to get a rare delicacy is better than anything else, enough for them to brag about for a lifetime.

As for the Qian Family, they were worrying now; today's dishes were all prepared by the chefs of Ji Restaurant, and the color, aroma, and taste were beyond praise.

Why did several tables barely move? It would be a waste to throw them away.

The steward reported to Mayor Qian; Lao Qian was currently offering a toast.

"Do not touch the food on the tables; when most of the guests have left, call the poor families outside and the beggars, and let them finish the leftovers."

"Yes, Wang Laoyezi!"

At noon, Qiao Mai and Grandmother hadn't returned to Jixiang Yuan, and they took two bowls of instant noodles from Liu Hai to eat.

"It won't happen; the more delicate a person is, the weaker their health, while the poorer the more resilient they are."

"Is it this much?"

The first time they go out, it should be about the same; otherwise Wang Laoyezi wouldn't have let them go, as he never fights a battle without certainty.

"Even selling kidneys is not allowed; we have enough manpower in my family, no need for workers!"

The old woman guarding the door had a blue patch and a purple patch on her face; she had been beaten once a year.

"I told you, Lao Qian wouldn't waste those meals; Grandmother, look quickly?"

"Hmm? Madam, just say it directly; we're now husband and wife."

"Take a look?"

When Mayor Qian saw the items in the box, he inhaled sharply, "Is this something Qiao Niang sent you?"

"No, I'm going too!"

"Sell oneself?"

That made the workers in the surrounding shops extremely envious, each one eager to sell themselves into servitude at Jixiang Yuan and become workers for the Qiao Family.

Jin Mama had mentioned to herself that she would buy a long zither for the child.

"Mm, mm!"

It was Grandmother's first time eating in front of Qiao Ji Snack Puzi, and she felt very fresh and delighted.

"Fine, let's leave it at that; if she has any trouble in the future, I will risk my life to protect her completely."

Shopkeeper Niu and his crew didn't even have lunch; seeing the stock depleted, the diners sighed and left, and Qiao Mai had Shopkeeper Niu withdraw silver from the Account Book, sending the workers to Liu Hai, each buying a large bowl of liangpi and enough oil‑crisped baked pancakes.

Tomorrow Wang Laoyezi won't return, and the day after tomorrow they are scheduled to return, but it's unknown how the Fengyun brothers performed in the exam.

At that moment, Qian Steward, accompanied by guards, called out some people outside; they were poor families dressed in patched clothes, as well as beggars.

But the servants of the Qiao Family were different; as long as they worked diligently for their master, when they grew old, given the master's character, they would surely be given a deed to return home.

"I'll go take a look; you stay at home, okay?"

"Done; from today onward, the two of us will eat, and after half a year, then, whatever."

"What for?"

It was a perfect idle moment; she flashed into the space and searched the Platform for a long zither.

Qiao Mai had been sitting in front of the shop all along; before the back bell even rang, the dozens of crates of goods that had been moved over were all sold out, and even the original stock in the shop was nearly gone.

"If you didn't tell her, you can't blame her for not coming; I've stationed people over there, and they'll inform us at the first sign of trouble, so you needn't worry."

Mayor Qian sprang up, and Lu San-niang's face looked quite ill; on this day of great joy, she chose this moment to add obstruction.

Servants marrying free citizens produce children who are free citizens; even so, no poor family would marry a servant.

"Hey, you still want to block it, right?"

"Is that so?"

"It's just that Ruxin didn't come today, and I feel a bit displeased."

"It's just a bit unclean; there are many people today, and we don't know whether the newcomers are ill. If these people eat, could it cause trouble?"

"Today everyone has worked hard; each person receives a reward of Five Taels of Silver."

Everyone looks down on servants and thinks selling oneself is disgraceful, but look at the servants of Jixiang Yuan: they have three meals a day with vegetables and meat, their monthly silver is more than other families', and they receive occasional rewards, living better than even the rich.

They not only coveted the Qiao Family's male servants, but also didn't spare Yuehong and Yuexia who attend Ling'er, and even the old woman wasn't left untouched.

"Lao Qian?"

Upon hearing this, the workers all laughed, "If you don't marry a wife now, even if you want to, you have to ask our master; if he permits, you can marry, if not, you'll stay a bachelor forever, haha!"

Lu San-niang's face flushed red; she turned to the pillow side, took out a box, and opened it in front of Mayor Qian.

Upon arriving in Fucheng, they headed straight for Lu Ruxin's residence; this girl had learned from Qiao Mai, and the plaque read Xin Yuan.

"So, you worker, are you marrying a wife or not?"

"What an attitude!"

Some people even came into the shop to inquire, "Shopkeeper Niu, are you still looking for staff?"

"The weather is getting hotter, and the food must be fresh!"

Qiao Mai stood up, hands behind her back, and returned to Jixiang Yuan; when the workers in the shop heard that the master was rewarding each person Five Taels of Silver, they all shouted loudly, and those unaware thought a rebellion was about to start.

"Can I sell myself into servitude at your house?"

"Qiao sister, did you give that medicine?"

Shopkeeper Niu gave the workers silver to go buy, and he came to Qiao Mai holding the Account Book.

The silver saved at the main family can later be used to buy houses and land, which is a hundred times stronger than ordinary families.

After eating, she sat for a while longer, then returned to Jixiang Yuan to rest.

"He is indeed an old fox!"

Seeing the guests coming out of the Qian Family, they all ran to our shop, and inside we could no longer accommodate so many people; the buyers queued all the way outside.

"Master, today we brought in more than six thousand taels of silver, you know?"

"Sir, over in Fucheng, Miss Ruxin was beaten!"

Qiao Mai said with some puzzlement, "The Wine banquet that Town Mayor Qian arranged was excellent, why is nobody eating it?"

"Hey, thank you, Master!"

"Exactly, the goods are all sold out; after they eat, I'll have to make them hurry to restock."

At Town Mayor Qian's place, the guests all left, and the dishes on each table were cleared away by the impoverished families and beggars.

Lu San-niang changed into a new outfit, accompanying him while eating.

"That's a whole table of food."

Qiao Mai naturally wouldn't know; after being out all day, she just wanted to rest properly when she got back home.

"Rest assured!"

"This woman is truly something; she wouldn't even in death owe anyone a favor. It's just that she gave her a few silver notes, and that was because she gave my elder brother and me the medicine money."

At that moment, a young servant, panting heavily, ran to the doorway.

"Don't mistake it for a joke; the speaker says it without intent, but the listener takes it seriously."

"Some families can't get over it, some have, and they're mulling over this."

The old lady gave her a glance, "Aren't they all just thinking about the things from your shop? A Wine banquet like this, wealthy families aren't keen on."

"Hmm!"

The two changed into ordinary clothes and hurriedly rode a carriage to Fucheng.

Thinking of the treatment of Qiao Family's servants, some people are moved; why fear marrying a servant? As long as life is good and no longer suffering, that's enough.

As for Ling'er, ever since she followed Jin Mama, she has become more courteous, studies diligently, and handles needlework with poise.

"What about your lady?"

According to the Great Ming Law, when servants marry servants, their children are also servants.

Qiao Mai sighed, "Isn't it that they eat everything and work constantly? Fine, let them eat if they want."

"They were dragged to the Prefectural Office."

"Tell me exactly what's going on."

"I, a servant, am not very clear; I only know that the man who is close with the lady—his wife came to our house and beat our lady, claiming she had set some condition, but the lady didn't accept, so that wife dragged our lady to the Prefectural Office, saying she would sue our lady for an unmediated illicit union."

The old woman spoke softer and softer, and Town Mayor Qian's expression turned very unpleasant.

(End of Chapter)