Chapter 31
Qi Yun had been exceptionally busy these days.
As they approached year-end, though the shop had already submitted its accounts, there were many miscellaneous matters to handle.
Small things like giving employees time off and distributing monthly wages and bonuses could be handled by Manager Song, who was quite capable. But besides these minor details, there were some major matters that Manager Song couldn't decide on his own.
He came to find Qi Yun at regular times every day. Yesterday it was about naming the new wine, today it was about where to select locations for new shops next year, and tomorrow they needed to prepare bribes for the government offices.
All these matters concerned the wine shop's future prospects. Manager Song didn't dare make decisions privately and could only leave them to Qi Yun.
Fortunately, Qi Yun had a plan in mind. Though there were many matters, he didn't find them troublesome. Handling them one by one, though tense, wasn't chaotic, and he could sort things out clearly and comprehensibly.
After finishing today's business, Manager Song breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Qi Yun: "Second Young Master truly has great ability. Without you, these things would probably keep me busy until next year."
Qi Yun was already used to Manager Song's flattery, but unlike Ye Jiao, his wife was always sincere every time, while Manager Song had seven parts sincerity and three parts pretense. Whether his various sighs were genuine or flattery was really hard to distinguish.
It was understandable though. After all, he was the master, so Manager Song naturally had to speak in his favor.
Qi Yun put down his brush and said slowly: "Once the new shop location is decided, you should rest for a while too. Have you prepared everything for New Year?"
Manager Song quickly replied: "All prepared. This year the master was especially generous, giving us managers thirty percent more bonus silver. Our families are preparing very well."
The reason for the thirty percent increase was due to the thirty strings of cash each from Qi Zhao and Qi Yun.
These thirty strings were ultimately paid, not reduced by a single coin.
Actually, according to Qi Yun's thinking, his contributing thirty strings was appropriate. After all, the wine shop had made money, and his elder brother had always helped him in the past, so it was right for him to contribute more this time.
But his elder brother's contribution could be appropriately reduced, since the estate's income was half less than his own. Thirty strings was indeed too much.
But Liu Shi didn't nod in agreement. Once a number was set, it was set, with no room for negotiation.
However, Liu Shi privately told Qi Zhao and Qi Yun that at most twenty strings would actually be used, and the rest would be invested in their estates and shops next year.
Qi Yun hadn't told Ye Jiao about this. He knew his wife didn't care at all where the money was used.
Rather, Qi Zhao needed these words to appease Fang Shi when he returned. Whether it would work or not was unknown, but at least Fang Shi wouldn't have chest pains anymore.
But these were all family matters that Qi Yun wouldn't discuss with Manager Song. He only said: "This was Father and Mother's idea. The family's harvest was good this year, and the shop's income also improved. We should let those under us have a good New Year too."
Hearing this, Manager Song bowed very sincerely: "The master is benevolent."
At this moment, Tie Zi called from the doorway: "Second Young Master, someone has come outside, saying he was sent by a Manager Sun. He left some things and a visiting card and is waiting in the front hall."
Manager Song was slightly startled, while Qi Yun thought briefly and said with an indifferent expression: "Manager Song, it should be the Sun family from the money exchange. Go meet with him. If he gives things, accept them."
"Yes, Second Young Master." Manager Song got up and left. Before long, he returned with two boxes.
Before Manager Song could speak, Qi Yun said: "Is this about the troublemaking incident during the opening?"
Manager Song smiled: "Second Young Master's foresight is like a god's. Exactly so. The man said Manager Sun was extremely angry about this matter, had already sent people to the Cai family, and discovered that the Cai family habitually liked to cause trouble under other people's names. This time was the Sun family's oversight, so he sent someone to deliver an apology."
Qi Yun didn't look at the boxes, instead saying: "Rather than calling it an apology, it's more like coming to recruit us as allies."
Manager Song looked somewhat puzzled: "What does the master mean?"
Qi Yun glanced at Manager Song: "Don't pretend to be confused with me. This tactic works on others, but don't use it on me. I know your capabilities."
Sure enough, the puzzled expression quickly disappeared from Manager Song's face.
Manager Song knew the whole matter from beginning to end and could guess the twists and turns involved.
The troublemakers were from the Cai family. Both sides knew this clearly but had never exposed it, all for the sake of saving face.
Before being certain of completely suppressing the other party, everyone still had to maintain harmony on the surface, following the principle of deliberate confusion.
Now that the Sun family could speak plainly and even send gifts, it could only mean they also had grievances against the Cai family but hadn't been able to act. Now that the opportunity presented itself, with the Cai family having offended Qi Yun, and the Sun family thinking Qi Yun could join them in dealing with the Cai family, they came to show goodwill proactively.
To put it negatively, the Sun family wanted to drag the Qi family into the water with them.
But to put it positively, in this town there were only two wine shops with good sales, the Cai and Qi families. If the Cai family fell, it would be beneficial and harmless to Qi Yun.
Commerce was different from the imperial court. The imperial court emphasized balance. Even if two sides fought like black-eyed chickens, they wouldn't really want to completely destroy the other party, because there was an emperor sitting above. If the other party was finished, oneself would inevitably decline as well. Everyone understood in their hearts that balance was most important.
Commerce was different. If one could eliminate all competitors and monopolize a business, that would be the best thing possible.
The Sun family wanted to drag the Qi family into the water, but didn't Qi Yun also want to borrow the Sun family's money, power, and influence to help himself?
Manager Song had figured out the ins and outs while talking with the Sun family's messenger. He wasn't surprised that Qi Yun would make this choice, since it was the wisest course. What surprised Manager Song was that he had thought for so long to understand it, while Qi Yun had made his decision in the space of a breath.
This made Manager Song regard his Second Young Master even more highly, which led to his earlier performance of playing dumb to serve as a foil for Qi Yun.
Now seeing that Qi Yun didn't like this approach, Manager Song stopped pretending and just smiled: "Second Young Master, should we send a return gift to the Sun family?"
Qi Yun calculated the days in his mind: "We'll talk about it during next year's New Year. Everything needs a proper pretext."
Manager Song bowed his head: "I've noted it."
Only then did Qi Yun have Manager Song open the boxes. Inside were mostly things needed for year-end, generally cloth and brocade fabrics or writing materials, plus a beautiful redwood case.
Tie Zi took out the wooden case and placed it before Qi Yun. Qi Yun unlatched the copper clasp and opened the case, seeing eight beautiful pearl hairpins inside.
Merchants especially liked the number eight, as eight connected to prosperity. Since they were in business, they hoped for prosperous fortune and great luck.
These hairpins were presumably prepared for Liu Shi, Fang Shi, and Ye Jiao.
Qi Yun had no expertise in women's accessories. After just a look, he said: "Take everything to Mother's courtyard and let her decide how to distribute them."
Tie Zi agreed and was about to take the case from the table.
But just then, Qi Yun noticed one hairpin inside.
The other hairpins were either wrapped with gold wire or adorned with kingfisher feathers. Only one was pure white throughout. Though its style was simple, it was clearly made of the finest jade.
"Wait." Qi Yun suddenly stopped Tie Zi and reached out to take that jade hairpin from the case.
Manager Song, being older and more perceptive, immediately said: "Second Young Master, this jade hairpin looks gentle and beautiful, very suitable for Second Young Mistress."
Tie Zi nodded along. Though he didn't understand hairpins, Tie Zi felt that saying good things about Second Young Mistress would make Second Young Master happy.
Sure enough, Qi Yun's expression softened somewhat as he said to Tie Zi: "I'll speak to Mother about this hairpin myself later."
"I understand, Second Young Master."
After Tie Zi left, Manager Song also appropriately took his leave, not wanting to disturb Qi Yun's enjoyment of his couple time.
Qi Yun had originally been sitting composedly, as if calmly seated in his chair, but after both men left, he quickly stood up, put on his fur coat, took his hand warmer, and went home to his own courtyard.
Usually at this time, Ye Jiao would be in the bedroom. She always ate some pastries at the hour of shen, as a snack between lunch and dinner.
But today Dong Shi had come, so the two should be talking in the side room. Qi Yun headed toward the side room.
Just reaching the door, before lifting the curtain, he heard Dong Shi's voice from inside: "Jiao Niang, if you don't eat this almond cheese soon, it will get cold."
Ye Jiao's voice, even through the curtain, still sounded soft: "My husband will be back soon. I'll wait to eat with him."
Qi Yun's heart warmed, but he didn't immediately lift the curtain. Instead, he walked back a few steps, made his footsteps heavier, pretending he had just arrived. After sensing the voices inside had stopped, he entered.
Dong Shi very tactfully greeted him and took her leave. Before leaving, she gave Ye Jiao a meaningful look, telling her to keep that book safe.
But Ye Jiao didn't correctly receive the message. Little Ginseng still didn't understand eye contact communication between people well enough.
She casually placed the book on Qi Yun's bookshelf, then happily carried the almond cheese toward Qi Yun.
Qi Yun took off his fur coat and hung it up, then sat beside Ye Jiao, smiling: "I don't have a sweet tooth anyway. Since you like this almond cheese, just eat it yourself."
Ye Jiao replied seriously: "No, we must eat together."
Qi Yun was somewhat curious: "Why?"
Ye Jiao handed him a spoon: "The small box is already empty. If my husband wanted to buy some, there's no money to buy it. Since I have good things, I naturally should save some for you."
Hearing this, Qi Yun wanted to tell her that once the year-end income was tallied and they deducted the fixed portion for the family, the remainder probably couldn't fit in her small box.
But ultimately Qi Yun didn't say it, instead accepting Ye Jiao's spoon.
He scooped a portion into his mouth. Seeing Ye Jiao motionless, Qi Yun couldn't help asking: "Jiao Niang, why aren't you eating?"
Ye Jiao looked at him, her eyes clear and clean: "There's only one spoon."
Qi Yun looked down at the spoon in his hand and turned to call for someone to bring another.
Who knew that Ye Jiao would point to her own mouth: "You feed me."
This suggestion made Qi Yun's ears turn red, but Ye Jiao was very calm about it.
After all, she didn't mind Qi Yun, and Qi Yun didn't mind her.
On their wedding night, this man had fed her a bowl of water. Little Ginseng, who had no concept of marital matters, naturally took this as one of the reasons why "marriage is wonderful." Since he could feed her water then, feeding her almond cheese now was the same. Little Ginseng was exceptionally calm.
Fortunately, Qi Yun wasn't prudish either. He immediately scooped some almond cheese and brought it to Ye Jiao's lips.
He had originally been watching Ye Jiao eat, but as he watched, Qi Yun looked away, not daring to watch anymore, then routinely despised himself for having a head full of random thoughts.
So they took turns, spoon by spoon, sharing a bowl of almond cheese, embodying the meaning of sharing good fortune together.
After finishing the almond cheese, Ye Jiao smiled and pulled him to see two newly blooming medicinal plants, also to have Qi Yun regularly walk around the medicinal flowers, which was good for his health.
Qi Yun looked at their clasped hands, a smile playing at his lips.
Jiao Niang did everything for him, and what he could do for Ye Jiao was to earn a family fortune for her.
His health was unpredictable. Who knew when he might be gone? Even if he couldn't protect her for life, he had to give her a lifetime of prosperity.
His Jiao Niang should live a life of wealth and happiness.
But while walking around the courtyard, Qi Yun never found the right moment to give the hairpin.
Though he didn't have scholarly pretentiousness, he always wanted to create a good atmosphere before giving gifts. But their conversation topics were either "Little Shi Tou wet the bed again today" or "those little hens all dislike bald Little Black now." Qi Yun kept the hairpin in his chest, but really couldn't find the right moment to give it.
Just then, Nanny Liu came to relay Liu Shi's message: "Second Young Mistress, tomorrow Madam is going to the temple to pray for blessings. Would Second Young Mistress like to go together?"