Outside the Yudai Bridge residence, the coachman crouched beside the carriage, carefully peering inside. Yet, he saw none of the men—only a servant boy scurrying back and forth.
“Miss, when are you moving in? It’s been so dull living here alone since the gentlemen left,” Jin Ge’er said.
“With her maternal grandparents’ home nearby, wouldn’t it be a pity not to stay there?” the maid teased with a smile. “Why not come with us to the Zhou family? It’s lively with more people around.”
Jin Ge’er quickly shook his head.
“Then I’ll just keep an eye on the house for you, Miss,” he said.
“Just don’t lose yourself while you’re at it,” the maid joked.
In the courtyard, two people were chatting and laughing when Cheng Jiao-niang walked out from inside.
“Go hire a carriage,” she said. “We’ll go take a look at the shop.”
The maid quickly responded, “Yes.”
At the street corner by the bridge, there were people renting horses and carriages. Soon, the maid rented one and brought it over.
“Drive the carriage inside and wait here. Miss is going out for a bit,” she instructed the Zhou family’s coachman.
The Zhou family’s coachman stared blankly as he watched the maid help Cheng Jiao-niang into the other carriage.
“If we already have a carriage, why isn’t Miss using it?” he couldn’t help but ask, turning to the servant boy beside him.
“You’re just no good at driving a carriage,” Jin Ge’er said, pursing his lips.
The carriage swayed gently as it moved along the street. The New Year was coming to an end, but the signs of spring had yet to arrive.
“Miss, look over here,” the maid said, pointing out the bustling street scenes through the carriage window for Cheng Jiao-niang. “You haven’t had the chance to explore the capital yet. When shall we go out for a stroll?”
Cheng Jiao-niang glanced outside. Shops, pedestrians, and streetscapes passed by one after another.
The bustling crowds and lively scenes appeared both unfamiliar and vaguely familiar.
“Oh, Miss, look—that’s Young Master Han,” the maid whispered as she leaned closer to the window, pointing outside through the thin curtain.
Cheng Jiao-niang looked in the direction indicated. Approaching from the opposite side of the street were four or five scholars, some older, some younger. However, their expressions seemed somewhat downcast.
The carriage swayed gently as they passed each other and continued on their separate ways.
“Miss, does Young Master Han seem unhappy?” the maid asked, withdrawing her gaze.
“When you’re away from home, such things are unavoidable,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
The maid pursed her lips in a smile and answered, “Yes,” before sitting up straight.
When the carriage came to a stop, everyone inside hurried to help unload.
“Sister is here!” Xu Bangchui called out as he saw the maid jump off the carriage first. “Come and have a look—what do you think?”
Sister?
These men have a sister?
Li Dashao, who had come out from the back, looked over in surprise. He saw a lady step down from the carriage, her hood not yet pulled up, revealing her flowing black hair and jade-like face. Startled, he quickly lowered his head and stepped aside to avoid her, retreating to the corner.
Only after the lively group had gone inside did he dare to reemerge.
“Dashao, are you leaving?” Xu Maoxiu asked.
Li Dashao quickly replied, “Yes.”
Although the shop hadn’t opened yet, Li Dashao came every day to tidy up the kitchen and get familiar with the tools.
“Take these rice, flour, and vegetables back with you,” Xu Maoxiu said, pointing to the food piled up in the hall.
“No need, no need, Boss. We’ve still got some of what we took earlier,” Li Dashao quickly waved his hand, offering his thanks with a bow.
Xu Maoxiu nodded and didn’t say anything further.
Watching him turn and go inside, Li Dashao straightened up, glancing through the wide-open door.
The lady’s figure turned and ascended the stairs.
There were people following her, both in front and behind, creating a lively scene.
“… Is this arrangement okay? How about placing this here?”
The chaotic voices weren’t coming from afar.
Rather than an introduction, it sounded more like a consultation.
Could it be that these men’s shop arrangements were being consulted with this lady?
Li Dashao was momentarily stunned when a voice called out to him from the road.
“Dashao, are you heading back to the city?”
Li Dashao quickly looked over and saw a neighbor driving an ox-cart.
“Yes, yes,” he replied hurriedly, quickly running over to the neighbor.
On the second floor, Cheng Jiao-niang withdrew her gaze from the window.
“Looks good,” she said.
Behind her, Xu Maoxiu and the others let out a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lifted off their shoulders.
“The silverware we need has already been prepared, and the wines are selected from the three best shops in the capital: Chunniang, Yujing, and Bixie.”
After sitting down in the private room, the other brothers went about their tasks, while Fan Jianglin and Xu Maoxiu stayed behind to discuss the details.
“It’s cost quite a bit,” Fan Jianglin couldn’t help but add.
“The more we spend, the more we earn,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied. “After all, real gold must be exchanged with silver; there’s no shortcut.”
“Indeed, you’re right,” Fan Jianglin chuckled. “The drinks for the main hall are also settled. We ordered from the official wine shop in the west of the city, and even the lees were included.”
“These things I don’t understand. Did you manage to find the manager I asked for?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
Xu Maoxiu nodded.
“Aside from Li Dashao, there was also an old manager from Drunken Phoenix Pavilion who was driven out. He was an experienced hand,” he said. “I went with Li Dashao to speak with him and persuaded him to agree to come. Since his home is far, he plans to arrive after the New Year. I expect he will be here in a few days.”
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.
“Once the person is here, let him take charge,” she said. “Treat people with sincerity. Different industries are like different mountains. We’ll do what we can, and let him handle the business.”
Xu Maoxiu smiled.
“Don’t worry, Sister. We will certainly ensure the shop is well taken care of for you and won’t meddle in things,” he said.
“It’s not my shop, it’s our shop,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied. “I’m providing the money, and you brothers are offering your efforts, plus you’ll need to deal with the external matters.”
The profits from this shop were to be divided into three parts. Fan Jianglin felt it was too much, but Xu Maoxiu convinced them to accept it.
“Sister isn’t someone who seeks to profit excessively,” he said.
“But spending so much money to take over this shop, isn’t it to make money?” Xu Bangchui asked, confused. “For what? Is it for that cook, or for that Young Master Han who suddenly appeared out of nowhere?”
Xu Maoxiu looked at Cheng Jiao-niang, who had already left in her carriage, and didn’t respond.
Who knows? But, she will do whatever she wants, and it seems like she can achieve whatever she sets her mind to. Life is enough as it is. Why even ask what for?
As Cheng Jiao-niang’s carriage left, Li Dashao was just entering the city gates.
Kuiyuan Residence was not a large inn, and Li Dashao, who rarely came to the city, was unfamiliar with it. Fortunately, he was quick-witted and had asked the maid how to get there. He had asked along the way and managed to find his way.
After the New Year, the number of travelers had increased, and the inn was no longer as quiet as it had been during the holidays.
When Li Dashao entered, Han Yuanchao didn’t recognize him at first. It wasn’t until Li Dashao stammered and explained that Han Yuanchao remembered him.
“This sort of small matter is nothing to mention,” Han Yuanchao said, shaking his head and smiling.
In front of the scholar, who was also his benefactor, Li Dashao was quite excited.
Already a man of few words, he was now even more tongue-tied. After repeatedly thanking him, he shyly pushed the document forward.
“What’s this?” Han Yuanchao asked, surprised.
Li Dashao stammered as he explained the situation, but Han Yuanchao and his two companions were still confused.
“So you’re saying they haven’t paid you for half a year and are making up for it with this stake in the business?” one companion asked. “You’re not being scammed, are you?”
“No, no,” Li Dashao quickly waved his hand. “Master Xu isn’t that kind of person. He’s also hired a manager, who is a friend of mine. The shop has already been set up, and even though I haven’t been paid yet, I can take food and drink home every day. My family won’t starve. Besides, what could they scam me out of? I don’t have anything.”
Han Yuanchao and his companions exchanged glances and laughed.
Well, it didn’t sound like a scam. It actually sounded more like a kind deed.
“That’s fine. Take this with you; I can’t accept it,” Han Yuanchao said, returning the document.
Li Dashao was extremely reluctant to accept it and didn’t know what to say. In the end, he simply kowtowed.
“Benefactor, if it weren’t for you, I’d be dead by now. How could I take care of my family?” he said, choked with emotion.
“Seeing him so fearful, if you don’t accept it, it would be a wrong,” one companion finally advised.
Han Yuanchao had no choice but to accept it. Li Dashao, having fulfilled his wish, felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He thanked them repeatedly and left joyfully.
“How is this to be understood? A small effort in passing, and it brings a share of the profits?” Han Yuanchao laughed. “Going to the capital just to pick up a small eatery? What a surprise.”
His companion laughed heartily and took the document. Glancing at “Tai Ping Residence,”
The name wasn’t anything special, nor was the location. They had been there before, and if it weren’t for the occasional good fortune and a long-term accumulation of customers, it would just be a roadside shop that would probably close down within a year or so.
Moreover, it was only a one-share profit.
What could one share really bring?
“I would rather trade all my wealth for the chance to hear Master Jiangzhou give a lecture,” he sighed, handing the document to Han Yuanchao with a face full of regret.
Mentioning this, Han Yuanchao’s smile faded, replaced by a hint of sorrow.
“We didn’t have the opportunity. Then we shall study hard on our own behind closed doors,” he said, lifting his robe to sit down, and began to read a book.
The document was casually placed inside the book, and he flipped to the next page.
