Chapter 46
Days passed slowly. After the Lantern Festival, it was time to get busy again.
The wine shop added more staff to handle the increasing number of buyers, and the medicine shop that was originally going to be expanded also became lively. Combining two shops into one sounded simple, but there were quite a few things to manage in the process.
Not only did they need to connect the courtyards, but they also had to make arrangements in the front storefronts. The medicine cabinets and medicine boxes that had been prepared earlier all needed to be moved to new positions.
Each medicinal material was precious, each with its own characteristics. Neither preparation nor preservation could be completed simply, so the internal layout also required considerable effort.
Since Qi Yun had decided to expand the medicine shop, he naturally wouldn't handle it carelessly. He hired people to control every detail. Medicine shop manager Fang Li, like Manager Song, came to the Qi family almost every day to see Qi Yun and report on progress.
Just after finishing breakfast today, Tie Zi came to say: "Manager Fang is already waiting for Young Master in the study."
Qi Yun was picking up food for Ye Jiao and said indifferently upon hearing this: "Let him sit for a while. I'll go shortly. Have someone remember to serve tea."
"Yes, Young Master."
After Tie Zi left, Ye Jiao tugged on Qi Yun's sleeve: "Why does he always come to find you so early?"
Usually Ye Jiao wouldn't interfere with Qi Yun's business matters. First, she knew nothing about such things. Second, Ye Jiao had complete trust in Qi Yun. She always felt her husband could do anything well, and her worrying would be useless anyway. It was better to live her own comfortable days.
But this Manager Fang always came to find Qi Yun so early, often arriving before Qi Yun had finished eating.
Ye Jiao was particularly concerned about Qi Yun's health and always watched him eat breakfast properly.
However, this later evolved into Qi Yun picking up food for her. What was supposed to be Ye Jiao accompanying Qi Yun had now become Qi Yun accompanying her.
Of course, both enjoyed this, one never eating enough and the other never seeing enough. It could be considered harmonious.
Now hearing that Fang Li had come to the door again, Ye Jiao wasn't exactly dissatisfied, just somewhat worried about disturbing Qi Yun's breakfast.
Qi Yun picked up another piece of tender bamboo shoot for her, his voice gentle: "Fang Li is different from Manager Song. Manager Song is older, very shrewd, and knows when to do what. He's always clear about everything. But Fang Li is younger and somewhat rigid and inflexible in character, so he knows less about social graces."
Ye Jiao had met Fang Li several times. He was a thin, gentle man wearing scholarly robes. He didn't look like a businessman but had a scholarly air about him.
Looking at Fang Li's appearance, you could tell he was straightforward and wouldn't bend. Paired with Dong Shi's enthusiastic and spirited temperament, they complemented each other.
But Ye Jiao was somewhat curious: "Husband, you could tell him about it. Wouldn't it be fine if he changed?"
Qi Yun's lips curved slightly, his voice gentle: "It would be easy to change him. I just need to not go now and leave him hanging for half a day. But he manages the medicine shop, and now is a busy time that can't be delayed. Besides, I don't plan to change his temperament. Not understanding social graces isn't a big deal. What I want is exactly this kind of straightforward, unbending character. The medicine shop deals with matters of life and death and can't be careless. This way is good for him."
Qi Yun always explained things clearly to Ye Jiao, and she understood clearly too. She said no more and instead peeled a hard-boiled egg for Qi Yun: "Husband, eat this."
Seeing Ye Jiao caring for him, Qi Yun's expression became gentle as he used his chopsticks to cut the hard-boiled egg in half.
With a piece of pagoda vegetable on the yolk, the man picked up the egg while asking: "Why did you think to peel an egg for me?" Usually Ye Jiao was most impatient with peeling eggshells, and this task was often done by Qi Yun.
Ye Jiao smiled as she watched him put the egg in his mouth and answered softly: "Husband, you said that hard-boiled eggs are the most nutritious. You worked hard last night, so naturally you need to nourish yourself."
Qi Yun: ...
Upon hearing this, Qi Yun suddenly felt the mouthful couldn't go up or down. He finally managed to swallow it but coughed several times and drank some tea before settling down.
The finally-composed Qi Yun met Ye Jiao's surprised gaze and said somewhat helplessly: "Jiao Niang, please give me advance warning before saying such things in the future."
Little Ginseng didn't find anything strange about it. Recently Qi Yun had been busy with many things, and yesterday he finally had half a day to rest. When Ye Jiao saw him with his robes open after bathing, passion stirred and she clung to him for a round, even tearing his clothes. It was natural that her husband would be tired.
But since Qi Yun said she couldn't speak casually, she obediently remembered it, but still urged Qi Yun to eat the remaining half of the hard-boiled egg.
After finishing breakfast, Qi Yun prepared to go out. Ye Jiao stood on her tiptoes to peck his cheek, then stood at the door watching Qi Yun leave. She calculated the time in her mind, put on her cloak, picked up a flower pot, and followed him out.
Although Qi Yun hadn't shown the high fever that came after being over-nourished during this period, Ye Jiao remained cautious and careful.
Previously during the day, Ye Jiao would either go to Mother Liu's place for a visit or stay in her room to practice calligraphy and read books. But now she would occasionally walk around the garden just to be able to see Qi Yun in the study from afar, afraid that her husband might suddenly have problems when she wasn't around.
She wouldn't go in, fearing it would affect Qi Yun's work, but Ye Jiao wouldn't stay too far away either. She often followed with Stone Sprout Grass after Qi Yun left, both giving Stone Sprout Grass some sun and watching over her husband.
Qi Yun was unaware of these things. If he hadn't remembered that he left an account book in his room and gone back for it, he probably would have continued in ignorance.
Ye Jiao also hadn't expected Qi Yun to return. When the two of them faced each other, one standing in the corridor outside the study and the other standing in the garden, they suddenly fell silent.
Qi Yun opened his mouth and asked slowly: "Jiao Niang, why did you come out so early?"
Ye Jiao blinked and answered softly: "I was somewhat worried, so I came to check on you."
Qi Yun actually didn't know why Ye Jiao was suddenly so nervous about him, but seeing his wife's concern for him made anyone's heart feel warm.
He walked over and placed his hand warmer in Ye Jiao's hands, his voice carrying laughter: "I'm fine, Jiao Niang needn't worry. How about this: from now on I'll conduct business in the small room in our courtyard. I'll use this study when the weather warms up. Is that alright?"
Usually the small room was used for receiving guests. Qi Yun had moved to the study to avoid disturbing Ye Jiao's peace during the day. Moving back now was to accommodate his wife's concern for him.
Ye Jiao was naturally happy about this and nodded at him, but she put the hand warmer back in Qi Yun's hands: "Husband, you keep it. I'm not afraid of the cold."
Qi Yun didn't refuse and took it back.
At this moment, clear children's laughter came from the distance.
Ye Jiao turned around and saw Fang carrying Little Shi Tou while strolling in the garden.
Although Little Shi Tou was young, he had sharp eyes. Ye Jiao was wearing a bright red cloak that was particularly recognizable. He clapped his hands and called out: "Second Aunt!"
Hearing this, Ye Jiao's face also lit up with a smile.
Putting down Stone Sprout Grass, Ye Jiao walked over and touched Little Shi Tou's face: "Shi Tou is so good." Then she greeted Fang, who also smiled and nodded.
Little Shi Tou hadn't seen much of Ye Jiao recently, so naturally he became clingy upon seeing her. He reached out toward Ye Jiao: "Second Aunt, hold me!"
Ye Jiao glanced at Fang, and seeing her calmly hand over Little Shi Tou, Ye Jiao didn't refuse. She directly pulled the little one into her cloak and teased him: "Why does Shi Tou want auntie to hold him?"
Little Shi Tou looked up and said: "Outside cold cold, Second Aunt warm, and fragrant too."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yun's face darkened, and he immediately wanted to lift him out of his wife's arms and stuff him back to Fang.
But Ye Jiao had her back to Qi Yun and couldn't see his changing expressions. Hearing this, she held Shi Tou even tighter and said with a smile: "Shi Tou is so good. This is close to my courtyard, and we have hot meat wontons ready. Come eat some." She looked up at Fang as she spoke.
Fang had just come from Mother Liu's place and had nothing else to do at the moment, so she smiled: "Then I'll trouble younger sister-in-law. Shi Tou, quickly thank auntie."
Shi Tou said clearly: "Thank you, Second Aunt!"
"Shi Tou is so good."
Ye Jiao had Little Su pick up Stone Sprout Grass and follow her, while she smiled at Qi Yun and left carrying Shi Tou.
Qi Yun stood in the corridor with an indifferent expression, not knowing what he was thinking.
Little Su, having followed Ye Jiao for this period and seen many such expressions from Qi Yun, was afraid of being an eyesore here. She carefully picked up Stone Sprout Grass and hurried to follow Ye Jiao, not daring to delay for even a moment.
That evening, Little Shi Tou received a copy of the "Three Character Classic" that Second Young Master Qi had sent over, which greatly surprised Fang.
Qi Zhao was delighted about this: "Second Brother is really thoughtful. Our Shi Tou is gradually growing up. He'll be two after New Year, and we can start teaching him to recognize characters and memorize books. Nowadays scholars are still more valued, so our Shi Tou can't fall behind."
Fang, being a scholar's daughter, naturally valued reading and literacy above all else.
Originally she had been worried that Qi Zhao wouldn't want the child to suffer the hardship of studying so early. Now seeing Qi Zhao agree, Fang also smiled: "I can handle the elementary education myself. Our Shi Tou will definitely be top scholar material in the future."
Qi Zhao was also very confident. After all, Shi Tou was currently his only son. Who wouldn't want their son to become a dragon?
Meanwhile, Little Shi Tou, lying on the bed chewing his hand, looked at his parents and showed a pure and brilliant smile.