Free Web NovelChapter 275: Chapter 276: Arrival in the Capital
By the time everyone was settled, the sky had already darkened.
Only then did Ancient Wen Heng summon the guard, Xiao Mao. "Do you know which family it was?"
"Master, I’ve found out everything. They are the female relatives from the First-class General Mansion of the Southwest Border. The young man who caused trouble before is just a guard in their service."
Ancient Wen Heng tapped his fingers on the table. ’So, it’s the First-class General Mansion, a family that wields significant military power. And they were female relatives, which explains why no one came out to deal with it when a mere guard caused a commotion.’
He waved his hand, dismissing Xiao Mao, then turned and walked into the rear courtyard.
"Did you find out everything?" Jin Qianqian was also waiting by the table. She didn’t want to make secret enemies before they had even gotten their footing.
"It’s nothing. General Deng has a good reputation, and since he’s stationed at the border, he won’t go out of his way to make trouble for us over such a minor incident." Ancient Wen Heng now felt an even more urgent need to raise his own status.
In Shangjing, a city teeming with nobles, being a mere scholar was not nearly enough.
Jin Qianqian looked at the familiar house and furnishings, changing the subject. "Housekeeper Fu and Nanny Ou are getting more and more capable. They’ve tidied up the courtyard so perfectly. We must give them a reward."
"They do deserve a reward. It’s been hard on them lately. Don’t you feel like everyone serving you now is working with all their might, afraid of being outdone by the others?" The thought made Ancient Wen Heng chuckle. The children they had taken in a few years ago had all been brought over this time. Perhaps that gave the others a sense of competition, making them all the more eager.
Jin Qianqian said, "That’s a good thing. Who would ever complain about having too few hands? The maids are getting older, too. I’ve already asked them, and none of them want to buy back their indentures.
So I was thinking, why don’t we arrange marriages for them internally? We can have the nannies put in a little effort and play matchmaker."
Ancient Wen Heng naturally had no objection. "When the time comes, let’s arrange something for Tianbao as well. Let him settle down with a family, and then he can become a steward!"
"What? Aren’t you used to him serving you? Why are you thinking of replacing him?" Jin Qianqian was a little surprised. From what she had seen, he seemed quite comfortable with Hong Tianbao’s service, so she didn’t quite understand.
"Back in the small county, it didn’t matter. But here in Shangjing, Tianbao isn’t clever enough. I’m afraid he won’t be able to handle unexpected situations." Ancient Wen Heng didn’t deny Hong Tianbao’s loyalty, but the problem was his earnestness. Sometimes, having someone too honest by your side isn’t a good thing.
Jin Qianqian asked, "Do you have anyone in mind?"
Ancient Wen Heng replied, "Zhongfu’s son, Jiang Milie, is quite clever. And then there are the boys we brought over before. Do you remember Ming Feng?"
"Ah, ’Feng, Qing, Yue, Lang’?" Jin Qianqian vaguely remembered the four boys had been named according to that pattern.
"Ming Feng is the oldest of the four. Not only is he steady, but he’s also been very diligent in his studies with the tutor and Master Wu these past few years. I’ll have him and Mili serve by my side for a while and see how they do." Ancient Wen Heng had already made his plans. He had trained these people precisely so they could step up when needed.
Jin Qianqian said, "In that case, I’m planning to open two more shops here. Have Tianbao come to me tomorrow. There are some things he can take over."
Ancient Wen Heng asked, "Don’t we already have two?"
Jin Qianqian grinned, showing her teeth. "Shangjing is so big; two storefronts are not enough.
I need to build up more of a family fortune for our two sons.
Besides, we’ve just arrived here, and I don’t know many people. I have plenty of energy to focus on getting the shops set up first."
Ancient Wen Heng walked over and started massaging her shoulders. "You’ve worked so hard these past few years, busy with everything inside and out."
Jin Qianqian looked up at him. "Haven’t you been shouldering it all with me? How can you say it’s been hard?
Besides, I’m quite used to this ancient lifestyle now. I have more and more capable people working for me. Even if I wanted to be lazy, they would push me forward."
At first, she might have felt a sense of guilt about the indentures, but after these past two years, she’d come to see them as just a paper contract that gave the master’s family peace of mind.
Ancient Wen Heng knew the past two years hadn’t been as peaceful as Jin Qianqian made them out to be. "Has anyone been causing trouble at the shops recently?"
"Let them!" Jin Qianqian no longer felt the same urgency she did when she first encountered such situations. "Anyway, if someone starts trouble, I just have my people say nothing and report it directly to the authorities.
Besides, with the title of Imperial Merchant personally bestowed by the Holy Emperor, even those with ill intentions have to think twice."
The truly well-informed families, even if they coveted the annual income from the soap, could only suppress their greed and hold back.
The ones who dared to cause trouble openly were just street thugs and ruffians.
Ancient Wen Heng’s hands began to wander. "So, you see, you have to give some to get some. Even though we gave up the formula for glass, it allowed us to better protect the soap workshop.
Otherwise, with our current status, we’d probably be left with nothing."
"That’s why my husband is so bra—" freewёbnoνel.com
"Brave...?"
"..."
***
Hong Tianbao went to the stables to find Hong Da, a long look on his face.
Hong Da said, "Why have you come running here at this hour? Don’t you need to be attending the Master?"
"Dad, the Master doesn’t want me to serve him anymore."
Hong Da was alarmed. "You little scoundrel, what did you do wrong?
You’re coming with me to kneel before the Master right now. Whatever you did, you’re going to admit it."
Hong Tianbao felt deeply wronged. "I didn’t do anything! I’ve been following the Master in and out every day. It’s just that early this morning, he told me to go find the Madam, and that she would be arranging my duties from now on."
Hong Da quietly breathed a sigh of relief. ’At least he’s still being given duties. That means he probably won’t be sold off.’
It wasn’t easy to find such a kind master. The household was well-ordered, without all the infighting. And seeing the Gu family’s fortunes rising, the old servants like them who had followed the Master and Madam from the beginning had a head start. He certainly didn’t want to change masters.
"Serving the Madam is great, too! Look at the people she’s trained. Isn’t every single one of them capable of holding their own?
I’m more worried that you, you blockhead, won’t be able to keep up with the people who serve the Madam."
Hong Tianbao said, "That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. I’m not very good with numbers or reading. I’m scared I’ll mess up my tasks under the Madam."
Hong Da slapped him on the back. "Then you’d better study hard. I reckon that’s exactly why the Master replaced you. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Where are we? This is the capital, right under the Emperor’s nose! A person like you who doesn’t know anything would only embarrass the Master if you followed him around.
This is for the best. You just focus on serving the Madam, and I’ll have less to worry about."
Hong Tianbao blushed and said shyly, "Dad, there’s one more thing. The Madam asked me to ask you if you’ve privately picked out a prospective daughter-in-law for me."
Hong Da’s face lit up with pleasant surprise. "No, definitely not! Is the Madam thinking of matching you with one of the senior maids in the house?
Goodness, if that’s true, then you’ve really hit the jackpot! Every one of those girls is exceptional."
Hong Tianbao’s face turned even redder. "Dad, what are you saying? The Madam only told me to ask. She didn’t say any of that. Don’t you go ruining the reputations of my big sisters!"
