Chapter 281: Did Not Agree to His Taking a Share

Honestly, this was Qiao Mai's doing; even if she's idle, cleaning up people like this along the way counts as removing a menace for the people.

Don't underestimate the pests; the common folk are even smaller, they can't even provoke such Playboys, they only end up being the victims.

With pests like these, how could the emperor possibly send the Golden Dragon Guard to handle them? So, she, being idle and restless, decided to step in and deal with them.

She decided that whenever she has nothing to do, she'll travel like this, enjoying scenery, witnessing the myriad of life, and crucially removing threats for the people—a win on several fronts.

Along the way, she killed wave after wave of thugs and hooligans—what a thrill.

When she was near home, she packed away the winter dates, hired a carriage, and sent herself home.

She left in June and returned in October, gone for several months, which worried Shopkeeper Niu to death, because the warehouse stock was nearly sold out; if the Master didn't return, there would be nothing left to sell.

He now just gathers some ingredients, lets the workers make them; the truly good stuff is all provided by the Master.

Seeing the Master return, Shopkeeper Niu burst into tears.

"Master, why did you only just come back? Everything's sold out."

Jin Mama smiled, "Of course, I am your teacher, specifically responsible for teaching you; wherever you are, I am there."

Both of them were scheming for themselves, really nice; Qiao Mai snorted coldly and ordered Xiao Qing to deal with the two corpses.

The reason, of course, is that she didn't consent to his taking a share.

"Just ignore him."

"Sell it off, lease it, or use it as a warehouse—all fine."

"Mm, what you did is right; in the future when we're not at home, push it if we can, ignore it if we can."

Although the goods are refined rather than abundant, this place is still backward; mass‑producing the same item can cause backlog, nothing can be rushed—take it slowly.

"Ah, going to the capital?"

This means winter has arrived; the pines will still grow at a decent rate. Hopefully the remaining five workshops will all be up and running next year.

He discovered that he was dining with a group of prestigious wealthy families from the county town, and that master sat beside him.

Next year the pine nuts can start being roasted, adding another source of income.

The current overseer of the workshop was promoted by Yuan Jiaqi, and is loyal both to Yuan Jiaqi and to Qiao Mai.

"Yes, Master."

But when he saw Qiao Mai, he seemed to have some words he couldn't bring himself to say.

"With my current position as Xianggong, what could not be spoken of?"

"Master, during the months you were away, the household remained fine; the proprietor of the Yiguan did come to see you once, and I heard that after you went to the capital, you haven't returned."

"Mm, anything else?"

"Yes, when you get to the capital, you can, just like now, have Mother set you up with a shop again."

Qiao Mai looked at the master and disciple's close relationship and nodded appreciatively.

"Yes, proprietor."

She summoned Xiao Qing, and while the frost hadn't set in yet, used the water of Linghe River to irrigate all the Songlin again.

"Let him go somewhere cool to stay; my business is fine on its own, why would he come to make a fuss?"

A Seventh Rank Official entering a First Rank Grand Secretary's workshop, still hoping to make a profit out of nothing—what a bold move.

Qiao Mai quickly rode the winter dates northwest; when she arrived, thick smoke billowed, and some forest rangers were throwing fire onto the burning pines.

"What about our shop?"

"Master, the arsonists are crawling inside, intending to set another fire."

Just as it was finished, Shopkeeper Niu couldn't wait and arrived with ten workers.

She kept a composed face, waved her hand, and all the smoke and flames vanished instantly.

After a short rest, Ling'er and Jin Mama came over happily to see her.

Qiao Mai, now in charge, restocked the warehouse; after only two days of rest, she went to Shexian.

"Move it, then make an account for me to see."

"Sir, Lord Yuan has been promoted, going to the capital as a First Rank Grand Secretary; now we can't offend him any more."

If it weren't for someone behind us, then the people behind him are eyeing the Qiao family's property.

"Hehe, Mr. Jin, would you like to go with me?"

To Qiao Mai's surprise, among those at the table was Qu Guniang's father, whom she had met once at the Qiao family, and she recognized him instantly.

"Yes!"

She also trapped those two arsonists in a space; not hurrying to return, she still had Xiao Qing re‑inspect all the Songlin.

"Alright, you all hurry to prepare; we'll depart in the middle of the twelfth lunar month."

Accompanied by the overseer, Qiao Mai inspected the workshop, made a round, then reviewed the accounts, before riding the winter dates to wander around the surrounding Songlin.

Qiao Mai smiled, "I'm not just scheming; it won't be empty. In a bit I'll bring people to my courtyard to collect the goods."

After confirming no hazards, she went straight into the void.

"I've heard this workshop earned ten thousand taels of silver in the first half of last year; if it continues, that's a considerable income."

"Mother, Mother, why did you go away for such a long time?"

"Never mind, I have authority; behind him at most is the Prince of the State as his in‑law, and behind me is the Second Prince. Together we will cooperate to seize his workshop."

She used a refined violent method to scour the souls of the two, and the one who sent them to commit arson was the County Magistrate's attendant.

"Eh, eh."

"The servant fears he might push from behind; I heard the newly appointed County Magistrate is somewhat greedy."

"The Jiang family came again; I heard the young masters have all gone to the capital and haven't returned. However, Xinghua Village's Yuan Family Village, and Qiao Family in Lihua Village have visited a few times; since you and the master are not home, I didn't even let them through the gate."

"Never mind, do whatever you need to do; before the year ends I'll stay in Tianshui Town, and if anything arises send someone to my house to find me."

The overseer pursed his lips, "Proprietor, the County Magistrate has approached me once; he wishes to take a share in our workshop."

Qiao Mai cradles her in her arms, "We still have to set up a home over there, and also arrange your grandfather and Grandmother. By the way, you got this place ready before the year; at the New Year I'll take you and Mr. Jin there together."

The newly appointed County Magistrate she doesn't know, so she naturally won't go to the Yamen and heads straight to the Zuofang.

"This year's earnings are better than in previous years; perhaps it's out of envy."

Then she flashed through a space, this time using her wings, flew straight to Shexian's Xian Ya, walked around inside, didn't spot the County Magistrate, then went to his residence and still found nothing.

It grew dark before she turned back, but just as she was about to depart, Xiao Qing warned her through the space.

"Master, the pine forest to the northwest appears to be burning?"

Currently only five Zuofangs are running: one producing pine oil, one producing Honghua Oil, one producing lacquer, and two producing Shampoo Paste.

Qiao Mai unleashed two Wind Blades, stunning them, then let Xiao Qing soar aloft, raining water to re‑sprinkle the pine nuts.

So in Shexian's biggest restaurant, she located him,

The household Steward was also waiting nearby, and she briefed Qiao Mai on the family affairs of the past few months.

Shopkeeper Niu wiped away tears, saying that moving this time, crying, is actually a sign of happiness.

Of the remaining five Zuofangs, she intends to use only two to roast pine nuts, and plans to do something else with the other three.

Qiao Mai, her face cold, rushed inside, and from a distance spotted two Shiren wielding flaming oil torches, running while scattering and lighting them.

Qiao Mai went back to the rear yard, freshened up, then filled all her east and west side chambers.

"Indeed, as the pine forest keeps growing, their Zuofangs will continue to expand—now at ten thousand taels, and later a hundred thousand, two hundred thousand taels annually, without end."

"Hmph, we must wrest the Zuofangs, and we won't let go of the pine forest she controls."

"The pine forest is difficult to deal with; I heard that when Lord Yuan was in charge, the procedures were complete, they were reported upward, the silver notes were handed up, and the Prefect also submitted all of these to the court, making it hard to alter."

"Don't worry, it's up to us; after all, we have the Second Prince supporting us."

(End of Chapter)