Chapter 799: with translation of chapter title

Chen Wuji brought out Zhang Lao, finally managing to suppress Xiao Yuji's doubts.

"Husband, I'm afraid I can't handle this alone; please let Hongdou and You Wei help me!" Xiao Yuji rubbed her head, looking resentfully at Chen Wuji as she said.

Some people, at night, feel neither pain nor affection, yet their strikes have no restraint.

Forehead ached.

Chen Wuji glanced, then rubbed Xiao Yuji's forehead with his hand, asking, "Are you really too busy, or is there another reason?"

Xiao Yuji is now a pure-rich lady, and the one who makes the most money in the household.

Last year, relying on woolen clothing, she earned over four hundred thousand taels of silver.

Only half a year has passed this year, and that figure has already been exceeded.

The woolen clothing produced in her workshop is deeply favored by nomadic peoples and ordinary northern folk.

However, limited by the wool's inherent smell and clothing style, she has not yet won over the wealthiest group, who look down on it.

"There might also be other reasons; these businesses… can no longer be considered solely mine." Xiao Yuji said, "I always keep everything in my own hands; although my sisters haven't said anything, I feel uneasy about it."

Chen Wuji guessed there must be some such reason, saying, "This was originally a muddled account; when you have time, sort it out yourself, then settle other matters after it's clear."

Before Xiao Yuji entered this household, her family's business was already quite sizable.

Chen Wuji then provided the tanning and garment-making methods for wool; at that time they discussed profit-sharing cooperation, and the accounts remained clear. But later, Xiao Yuji was lured onto Chen Wuji's bed by Qin Zhanhong's coaxing and deceit, after which these matters began to become chaotic.

"Husband, there's nothing to calculate; I belong to you, and those businesses naturally belong to you too. You know my father—he doesn't care about money at all." Xiao Yuji glanced at her own father, "Even if I left him some silver, he'd likely toss it into some corner to eat dust, then forget it completely, actually benefiting others."

Xiao Zong nodded repeatedly, "Commander, there really isn't anything to calculate; this originally had nothing to do with me. Yu Ji's little shop, if not for the methods you gave, Commander, would surely not have grown this large."

Chen Wuji shook his head, "Some things still need to be figured clearly; we can't leave a muddled account."

"'Commander, I don't want it; even if you beat me to death, I still wouldn't.' Xiao Zong, who had been somewhat drowsy, instantly woke up, shaking his head like a rattle-drum, 'There's too much silver; to me it's a burden, I still need to figure out how to spend it.'"

"Last month, to prevent the silver from taking up space and hindering my movements, I had all the servants in the mansion drink five rounds of wine; there was still a large surplus. So I went out in the middle of the night, picked a few households of struggling commoners, and threw the silver into their courtyards."

Chen Wuji's mouth twitched slightly, "Your monthly salary doesn't seem that high, does it?"

"'Sometimes when I go back, I slip some into his money chest.' Xiao Yuji said wistfully."

"'Husband, you don't know, my father is……'"

"'I really don't know how to put it; the servants in his household probably take most of his silver. He keeps his silver in a fixed place—just that money chest—and whenever the servants clean the room, they know where the silver is.'"

"'Seeing so much silver, even an honest person would likely be tempted. Today take one tael, tomorrow two taels; my father wouldn't notice. I've been forced to change servants repeatedly, losing count, but his habit won't change, so this can't be stopped.'"

"'No choice; I might as well lay it out plainly now. I'll keep just those two servants in the mansion, each month letting them take the silver in front of me. If I ever catch them growing a third hand, I'll kill them—for now it's working okay.'"

Chen Wuji: ……

"'Husband, my father only has this one daughter; his estate will all be mine in the future, so there's no need to be so precise about the workshop.' Xiao Yuji said, 'Forget it; I've given him silver, and later he'll surely not know where it went.'"

"'Forget it; if that's the case, then handle it yourself.' Chen Wuji said, 'Or you could split off a portion as your own enterprise, separate from the family, belonging solely to you.'"

Xiao Yuji immediately shook her head, "Husband, I'm already busy enough; if I split off another business, I'd have no time to manage it. Besides, as the saying goes, marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog—I still keep a little private stash… I couldn't do that."

"This won't work, that won't work either; it truly leaves Chen Wuji helpless."

According to his habit, he truly dislikes leaving muddled accounts.

But what Xiao Yuji said also makes some sense.

As for Xiao Zong, he's also an unconventional sort who likes strange talents, yet he only has this one daughter like Xiao Yuji; it seems he can only try to compensate Xiao Zong elsewhere.

"'Since you have such concerns, let's do this: let You Wei go help you!' Chen Wuji thought and said, 'Hongdou has a steady nature; she's more suited to running the tavern.'"

"'Besides, San Niang recently has had the idea of expanding the Jade Lady Restaurant to all of Nan Jun and even farther; you should know this better than I. The two of you can coordinate, letting the merchant caravans handle site selection and so on.'"

"'I'll obey your orders, Husband; You Wei's lively nature really is more suited to help me.' Xiao Yuji's expression visibly relaxed."

"'Regarding the tavern, I've also discussed it with my elder sister; it's roughly what you said, Husband. We've decided to first gradually open in the major cities of Nan Jun, then head north to Yaozhou and south to San Guan Jun.'"

Chen Wuji sipped his tea, "You can deliberate on these matters yourselves, but don't take steps too large."

"'Right now the world's situation is turbulent and intensifying; business is business, but safety must come first—choose more peaceful cities, don't recklessly rush into war zones.'"

"'I understand!'"

Chen Wuji gave a faint hum.

The women in the household now each have their own endeavors; when busy, they are in no way inferior to him.

Over a year and a half, each person has undergone tremendous change.

The only thing that hasn't changed much is probably this old manor, and the hearts of those inside it.

"'Qiushui, find a room for Mister Xiao and let him sleep.' Chen Wuji gave an order, 'Everyone else, give me a hand; today we'll have an outdoor barbecue.'"

"'Yes!'"

Xiao Yuji washed her hands, then furtively crept up to Chen Wuji's side, "Husband, a couple of days ago I inadvertently overheard Qiushui and Xiao Lv chatting privately; it seems they're sleeping together."