Chapter 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, Iāve 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. āSo, itās 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.ā
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 didnāt want to make secret enemies before they had even gotten their footing.
"Itās nothing. General Deng has a good reputation, and since heās stationed at the border, he wonāt 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. Theyāve tidied up the courtyard so perfectly. We must give them a reward."
"They do deserve a reward. Itās been hard on them lately. Donāt 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, "Thatās a good thing. Who would ever complain about having too few hands? The maids are getting older, too. Iāve already asked them, and none of them want to buy back their indentures.
So I was thinking, why donāt 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, letās arrange something for Tianbao as well. Let him settle down with a family, and then he can become a steward!"
"What? Arenāt 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 Tianbaoās service, so she didnāt quite understand.
"Back in the small county, it didnāt matter. But here in Shangjing, Tianbao isnāt clever enough. Iām afraid he wonāt be able to handle unexpected situations." Ancient Wen Heng didnāt deny Hong Tianbaoās loyalty, but the problem was his earnestness. Sometimes, having someone too honest by your side isnāt a good thing.
Jin Qianqian asked, "Do you have anyone in mind?"
Ancient Wen Heng replied, "Zhongfuās son, Jiang Milie, is quite clever. And then there are the boys we brought over before. Do you remember Ming Feng?"
"Ah, āFeng, Qing, Yue, Langā?" 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 heās also been very diligent in his studies with the tutor and Master Wu these past few years. Iāll 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, Iām 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, "Donāt 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, weāve just arrived here, and I donāt 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. "Youāve worked so hard these past few years, busy with everything inside and out."
Jin Qianqian looked up at him. "Havenāt you been shouldering it all with me? How can you say itās been hard?
Besides, Iām 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, sheād come to see them as just a paper contract that gave the masterās family peace of mind.
Ancient Wen Heng knew the past two years hadnāt 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 Hengās 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, weād probably be left with nothing."
"Thatās why my husband is so braā"
"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? Donāt you need to be attending the Master?"
"Dad, the Master doesnāt want me to serve him anymore."
Hong Da was alarmed. "You little scoundrel, what did you do wrong?
Youāre coming with me to kneel before the Master right now. Whatever you did, youāre going to admit it."
Hong Tianbao felt deeply wronged. "I didnāt do anything! Iāve been following the Master in and out every day. Itās 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. āAt least heās still being given duties. That means he probably wonāt be sold off.ā
It wasnāt easy to find such a kind master. The household was well-ordered, without all the infighting. And seeing the Gu familyās fortunes rising, the old servants like them who had followed the Master and Madam from the beginning had a head start. He certainly didnāt want to change masters.
"Serving the Madam is great, too! Look at the people sheās trained. Isnāt every single one of them capable of holding their own?
Iām more worried that you, you blockhead, wonāt be able to keep up with the people who serve the Madam."
Hong Tianbao said, "Thatās exactly what Iām afraid of. Iām not very good with numbers or reading. Iām scared Iāll mess up my tasks under the Madam."
Hong Da slapped him on the back. "Then youād better study hard. I reckon thatās exactly why the Master replaced you.
Where are we? This is the capital, right under the Emperorās nose! A person like you who doesnāt 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 Iāll have less to worry about."
Hong Tianbao blushed and said shyly, "Dad, thereās one more thing. The Madam asked me to ask you if youāve privately picked out a prospective daughter-in-law for me."
Hong Daās 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 thatās true, then youāve really hit the jackpot! Every one of those girls is exceptional."
Hong Tianbaoās face turned even redder. "Dad, what are you saying? The Madam only told me to ask. She didnāt say any of that. Donāt you go ruining the reputations of my big sisters!"