Chapter 29
Thirty strings... thirty strings!
Fang Shi had originally been staring at the precious chrysanthemum called Snow Sea, thinking in her heart that she had gotten such a pot of flowers for free. Her luck today was really good. But after hearing Liu Shi's words, Fang Shi suddenly heard buzzing in her ears.
She stared at Liu Shi with wide eyes, having a belly full of things to say, which finally boiled down to one sentence: "Mother, how could it possibly be thirty strings..."
Ye Jiao had no concept of money, but seeing Fang Shi's reaction, she also knew thirty strings was no small amount.
Converting it in her mind, one fur coat cost one and a half taels, which was one string and five qian. Thirty strings could buy twenty fur coats.
It really seemed like quite a lot.
Liu Shi seemed to have anticipated Fang Shi's question and wasn't in a hurry. She first picked up her teacup for a sip, but just as it touched her lips, she put it down and said to Nanny Liu: "It's gotten a bit cold. Go change it for some hot tea."
Nanny Liu understood in her heart that Liu Shi was about to discipline Fang Shi.
Originally this kind of scene didn't require avoiding Nanny Liu. She was Liu Shi's dowry servant, and Liu Shi never hid anything from her in private. But Nanny Liu understood that Liu Shi was deliberately giving Fang Shi face by sending her away.
Nanny Liu immediately took the teapot and left, but didn't go to get hot water. Instead, she went to sit in the nearby tea room with Little Su, who was warming her hands by the small clay brazier, and even broke off a piece of sweet potato to roast and share with her.
In the room, only the mother-in-law and two daughters-in-law remained, plus Little Shi Tou, who was playing with Ye Jiao's hands in confusion.
Liu Shi knew Fang Shi's temperament and wasn't surprised by the current scene at all.
Liu Shi had just intended to use this pot of Snow Sea to put her at ease, but who would have thought Fang Shi still couldn't handle things properly.
Turning the prayer beads in her hands, Liu Shi spoke: "This ledger records it clearly. Second Son's wine shop had good business this month. Though the other shops haven't shown much improvement, just the wine shop's income alone was 652 strings. Rounding off the odd amount, half a percent is thirty strings. According to what was said before, Elder Son's family should follow suit and contribute the same."
Liu Shi only gave a rough explanation without going into specifics. After reciting sutras and worshipping Buddha, she had become accustomed to maintaining a calm expression, so nothing unusual could be seen on her face.
Naturally, no one noticed Liu Shi's momentary surprise just now.
Actually, before getting the ledger, Liu Shi knew Qi Yun's shop was prosperous, but exactly how prosperous, Liu Shi couldn't be sure.
Father Qi had always cherished her, discussing both household and external matters with her. But Father Qi wasn't very clear about Qi Yun's actual capabilities either. After the old couple discussed it, they felt that Second Son could make money, but how much money he could make was still uncertain.
Fang Shi thought Qi Yun wouldn't earn more than Qi Zhao. After all, they had just reported accounts before, and at that time the wine shop's 100 strings in two months was already quite a lot. Now it was only one month's time, how much more could it be?
Liu Shi should have thought the same way, but Father Qi told him that whether Second Son earned a lot or not was unknown, but at least it wouldn't be little.
This made Liu Shi agree to Fang Shi's plan. She also had the intention of disciplining Fang Shi, letting her learn a lesson and remember it, so she wouldn't always be so petty in the future.
But when the ledger was actually in her hands, Liu Shi felt her eyelids twitching.
652 strings, this was 652 strings!
Excluding the previous eleven months' surplus, Qi Yun's income for this one month alone was over 400 strings!
Liu Shi had looked at the ledger for so long because she wanted to figure out where her Second Son had gotten so much money.
Looking carefully, she found that besides the money from selling wine, Qi Yun had also signed several large orders with restaurants, and would stably provide them with Jade Liquid Wine next year, guaranteeing to provide two of them with wine of even higher quality than Jade Liquid Wine.
Restaurants were different from ordinary shops serving common people. Whatever went into restaurants, the prices would at least double.
With several contracts signed, silver flowed in like water.
How Qi Yun had managed to connect the Qi family wine shop with restaurants, Liu Shi didn't know. She only knew that her prayers to Buddha had been answered, and her Second Son was indeed destined for great success!
But Liu Shi maintained an exceptionally calm appearance, looking at the stunned Fang Shi: "This money is indeed quite a lot, but the excess will be used to repair estates and build shops next year. It won't be wasted, and you won't suffer any loss."
Actually, Liu Shi's words were already quite polite and preserved Fang Shi's dignity, but Fang Shi usually liked to be the standout leader. Being forcibly choked with such a breath made her chest ache.
Not suffering a loss? She was clearly suffering a huge loss!
Even though she knew she couldn't contradict her mother-in-law, Fang Shi still said in a muffled voice: "Mother, thirty strings is really quite a lot. Could it be reduced somewhat?" As she spoke, Fang Shi's eyes also looked toward Ye Jiao, hoping she would help speak for her.
Though Little Ginseng had only recently become human, she always remembered that in Liu Shi's presence she should listen to Liu Shi, and when she returned home she should listen to her husband. Meeting Fang Shi's gaze, Ye Jiao said softly: "Elder Sister-in-law, why don't you go discuss it with Elder Brother?"
How could discussing it after going back lead to anything good?
Fang Shi knew Qi Zhao's temperament. If he was asked to contribute, he would definitely contribute, and might even feel that contributing thirty strings each with his younger brother was taking advantage of his brother. If she brought this matter to him, he was capable of turning thirty strings into sixty strings!
Pursing her lips, Fang Shi looked toward Liu Shi again. Before she could speak, she heard Liu Shi say: "Tomorrow you can just bring the silver. Elder Son and Second Son will tell you about the rest. Don't spend your days thinking about this and that. It's better to listen more to what your own husbands say and think more carefully. I'm a bit tired. You should go back first. Be careful on the road, the ground is slippery from the fresh snow."
Fang Shi knew there was no room for negotiation. Even though she had a belly full of words, she didn't dare to keep nagging Liu Shi. She only thought about going back to try making a fuss with Qi Zhao to see if there might be another solution.
But Fang Shi's heart was also guilty, full of regret.
If only she had just followed Mother's suggestion of each contributing one in twenty! Why did she have to compete with Second Brother!
If they had each contributed their own share, it would only be fifteen strings, which wouldn't have mattered. Now it had doubled!
They could afford it, but comparing before and after, she had dug a pit for herself and then desperately squeezed her head in, trying to jump into it. It was simply cutting flesh from Fang Shi's heart.
But Fang Shi couldn't have an outburst in front of Liu Shi. Moreover, those words just now were already Liu Shi's rare harsh words. Fang Shi knew they were directed at her, so she didn't dare say more. She could only swallow her anger, hold Little Shi Tou, try to maintain a smile, and take her leave.
Usually after Fang Shi left, Ye Jiao would stay to learn makeup with Nanny Liu, but this time Little Ginseng didn't remain. Instead, she said to Liu Shi: "Mother, you rest. I'll leave first."
Liu Shi's claim of being tired was just an excuse, but seeing the genuine concern on Ye Jiao's face, she knew her second daughter-in-law was pure-hearted. She didn't plan to expose her polite words, smiling at her: "Good, go back. Be careful on the road."
Ye Jiao called Little Su back, put on her cloak, and left Liu Shi's courtyard without taking her hand warmer.
Little Ginseng left the courtyard gate, thinking about the plum blossom cakes Qi Yun had mentioned earlier that should taste very good, so she prepared to go look at the snowy scenery Qi Yun had described.
By coincidence, on the way there she saw Qi Zhao and Qi Yun walking toward her.
Though Qi Zhao had to pay double the money, he didn't show the slightest sign of distress. It must be said that Fang Shi understood her husband extremely well. Qi Zhao never cared about money, and likewise wouldn't feel that his wife had tricked him.
Even though this matter was indeed Fang Shi digging her own pit and jumping into it, Qi Zhao still wouldn't really despise her.
Some things could be taught slowly. Hopefully the silver lost today could make her more broad-minded, which would make the expense worthwhile. Qi Zhao always found particularly considerate reasons for Fang Shi.
The greatest virtue of the Qi family men was probably their exceptional fondness for their own wives.
At this moment, he was discussing this with Qi Yun. Seeing Ye Jiao in her red cloak, Qi Zhao didn't approach but greeted Ye Jiao from a distance, then left.
There were still many matters to handle at the estate. Qi Zhao needed to go there early to manage things, so he walked away quickly.
Qi Yun quickly walked to Ye Jiao's side, reached out, and touched Ye Jiao's face with the back of his hand warmed by the hand warmer: "How did you come here? Are you cold?"
Ye Jiao tilted her head, pressing her face against Qi Yun's hand, smiling: "Didn't you say plum blossoms look beautiful after snow? I came to see how beautiful they are."
Qi Yun curved his lips, lowered his hand, and grasped Ye Jiao's hand from inside her cloak, holding it in his palm and giving it a squeeze: "Since I have nothing else to do, I'll go with you."
Behind him, Tie Zi silently looked at Qi Yun. Second Young Master, didn't you just say you wanted to go discuss matters with Manager Song and Manager Dong...
But looking at the enthusiastic Ye Jiao, Tie Zi wisely swallowed these words back.
Second Young Master was always right. What business did he have interfering?
Qi Yun pulled Ye Jiao toward the nearby garden. As soon as they passed through the moon gate, they saw the expanse of pure white dotted with spots of bright red.
Ye Jiao had thought she had seen enough brilliant plum blossoms, but when she saw the plum blossoms in this garden, she realized that even though they were all plum trees, they could look completely different.
This garden had obviously been specially designed and arranged. The positions of the plum trees were well-spaced, round tables and stone stools were covered with white snow, and there was a frame standing there, though its purpose wasn't clear.
But just the plum blossoms alone had already captured all of Ye Jiao's attention.
The plum blossoms were bright red, blooming proudly, with dots of white snow decorating them. Not only did this not overshadow the plum blossoms' splendor, but it made the flowers appear even more brilliant.
Previously, Little Ginseng had seen plum trees that mostly grew wild, showing no particular elegance, but carefully cultivated plum trees had a completely different charm.
Where exactly this charm lay, Ye Jiao couldn't say, but it was beautiful scenery that could be recognized at a glance.
Ye Jiao lifted her skirt and walked forward through the snow until she reached under the plum tree. She looked up for a long time, then suddenly her face showed some dejection.
Qi Yun found this strange. He had brought Ye Jiao here intending to make her happy, but who knew that after arriving, Ye Jiao had been happy for a while, then suddenly pouted as if sulking.
Tightening his grip on Ye Jiao's hand, Qi Yun asked softly: "What's wrong?"
Ye Jiao looked up at him, pursing her lips: "I've been studying reading and writing for so long, but I always feel I haven't learned well."
"Writing can be practiced slowly, there's no hurry." Qi Yun thought she was dejected about her round, plump handwriting, and thinking of this, the man couldn't help but curve his lips.
Speaking of which, it was strange. Ye Jiao learned everything quickly. Even medical classics and pharmaceutical texts that Qi Yun felt ordinary people couldn't possibly understand, she could remember clearly without error after he read them just a few times, more cleverly than many scholarly students.
Yet when it came to writing, Ye Jiao just couldn't practice it well.
Her characters were always round and plump, looking cute, and they got cuter the more she practiced.
If her previous writing looked like it was half-lying down, now it was completely prostrate, unable to get up at all.
Qi Yun didn't think there was anything wrong with this. As long as his wife was happy, the writing could look like anything. Round writing was quite cute too.
But Ye Jiao's dejection wasn't about this.
No, she should say that turning her writing into balls wasn't her intention either, but clearly Ye Jiao wasn't upset about practicing writing now.
She pointed at the plum tree in front of her somewhat dejectedly: "I've looked for so long, but besides saying it looks good, I can't describe anything else."
Other people spoke in eloquent phrases, but all that came out of Little Ginseng's head besides "looks good" was "pretty," without half another word coming to mind.
Hearing this, Qi Yun finally couldn't hold back and laughed while holding Ye Jiao.
His Jiao Niang always had ways to make everything particularly interesting and lively. She really was a treasure.
Ye Jiao thought he was making fun of her and was about to speak, but heard the man say: "Why do you want to praise flowers? We're going to cut them down later to make pastries for you to eat anyway. No matter how much you praise them now, it won't compare to saying 'really fragrant' when facing the pastries later."
Qi Yun had figured out Ye Jiao's temperament. She was a wife who loved eating and sleeping. Any flowers or plants couldn't compare to a plate of pastries in making her happy.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Ye Jiao immediately threw away her small frustration and looked at Qi Yun with bright eyes: "Great! Didn't you say you brought things? Let's pick plum blossoms now."
The man touched her forehead hair, had her put her hands back inside her cloak, tightened her cloak for her, and likewise tightened his fur coat, then turned to get scissors and a bamboo basket from Tie Zi.
But when Qi Yun was ready to return with the items, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He saw Ye Jiao in her crimson cloak standing under the plum tree, head raised, her pale white hand extending from the cloak to gently touch the plum blossoms on the branch with her pristine fingertips.
Sensing Qi Yun's gaze, Ye Jiao turned to look at him and smiled brilliantly.
Jiao Niang said she couldn't describe beautiful scenery, but Qi Yun felt that despite all the books he had read, he couldn't find a single sentence to describe everything he was seeing now.
Qi Yun suddenly felt that his fur coat was really warm. Otherwise, why did he feel so hot right now?
Everything was perfect and peaceful.
But at this moment, a sudden and jarring sound rang out in the previously quiet garden.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
A rooster's crow, the morning call that should only sound at dawn, was now ringing out inappropriately.
In the Qi family, there were many chickens, but only one rooster.
Ye Jiao looked at Qi Yun with some confusion, while Qi Yun smiled at her, but when he turned aside to avoid Ye Jiao's view, his grip on the scissors tightened, his eyes cold and indifferent.
At this moment, Little Su, who saw everything, suddenly felt that her Little Black was probably about to become chicken soup and bid farewell to this world...