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墨書 Inktalez
Liu Qingxi turned his gaze towards Yang Yichen. The boy cleared his throat lightly, and the girl’s adoring Starry Eyes seemed to him the greatest motivation: "Don't worry!"
Among the horses in sight, he quickly identified which one was the best.
"This one will do. It's not too old and quite strong; it's just right."
Liu Qingxi followed Yang Yichen's advice and decisively purchased that steed, also ordering a custom carriage. With that, Liu Qingxi finally had a proper means of transportation.
Although there were a few oxen before, they were slow to move and had primarily served as companions during labor in the fields, so Liu Qingxi didn't use them much.
"Let's go!" By this time, it was already afternoon, just when Liu Qingyan was supposed to be off from school.
Now Master Zhu's classroom was much more organized than before. At that moment, the door swung open, and the children filed out in an orderly manner.
It turned out that since the earthquake, Master Zhu had come to deeply understand the importance of rules and order. Since then, the children would line up when school ended; they couldn't crowd together. This was not only for maintaining order but also so they could react quickly and escape in case of an emergency.
Over the past six months, Liu Qingyan had grown taller and gained weight while wearing thick cotton clothes. Compared to his previous lively self, he had experienced many ups and downs and matured considerably.
He walked over with steady steps: "Sister, you're here! We’re on break now until school starts next year."
Liu Qingxi patted the boy who had grown taller than her chin: "Yes, let's go home!"
Once inside, she noticed that Yang Yichen was already on the carriage. Liu Qingyan was quite fond of this older brother: "Brother Yang, I hope you'll guide me during the holiday."
His hands were clasped in a serious manner, no longer like before when he would pull at adults' hands playfully.
"Sure, no problem." Yang Yichen was naturally happy to assist this future brother-in-law.
The carriage moved forward slowly. Today, Liu Qingxi returned home with a full load—bringing back servants and a brand-new carriage.
With so many new additions to the household at once, they would face different situations in the future.
As soon as they entered the village, Liu Qingxi found himself once again under scrutiny. At the Ten Li Pu intersection, a crowd awaited eagerly.
Seeing them obedient, they immediately surrounded her. "Qingxi, how did your family suddenly get so many people?"
"Yes, yes, that's a lot of strong labor. How much food will that take?"
After all, in their eyes, it was already difficult enough to feed themselves. Liu Qingxi didn't farm, and having so many strong laborers would surely lead to poverty.
In that brief moment, they were completely convinced by Liu Qingxi and willingly chose to follow her.
"Boss, I want these few people, and I need to pick two more kitchen helpers." As things became busier, along with the guards, cooking would naturally require more hands.
The Pawnbroker was overjoyed; this was a big client. Just by opening her mouth for so many people, it was equivalent to several businesses.
He quickly led a few people to another group. Compared to the men from earlier, the women had disheveled hair and cowered in the corner. One of them caught Liu Qingxi's attention.
Unlike the other women who looked at her with hope, this one wore a face of despair, her heart seemingly extinguished, cradling a four or five-year-old girl in her arms.
"What about this one?"
"Oh, sister, she's been here for quite some time. It's pitiful to bring that child along. Who would want a servant with a child? I couldn't bear to see them separated, so I decided to keep them for now."
From the Pawnbroker's account, Liu Qingxi learned that this woman was unfortunate. After many years of marriage and only having one daughter, she had become tiresome to her husband's family over time. Her husband was useless, her mother-in-law strict, and despite her strong temperament and resistance, how could one woman stand against an entire clan? On a stormy night, she was sold here.
"I thought she was pitiful and decided to keep her. Who knew she would come with a child? It's been nearly two months now." To be honest, after so many years in the pawnbroker business and dealing with human trafficking, his heart had naturally hardened.
But then again, when those fierce men dragged her over, the timid gaze of the girl in her arms resembled that of his own daughter when she was young. That’s how he ended up keeping her.
And what was the result? He had invited trouble upon himself. But now that the person was here, he couldn't just throw her away. It was rare for him to do a good deed; he might as well see it through.
The woman did not refute the Pawnbroker's words but instead looked at him with gratitude. Liu Qingxi's fondness for the old man instantly increased; it was rare for someone to harbor good intentions.
Perhaps she was one of the few who listened to the old man's tale of his tragic fate. Suddenly, a glimmer of desire appeared in the woman's eyes:
"Sister, please buy me. I can do any kind of work. And my daughter—she doesn't eat much at her age; in a couple of years, she'll be able to work too."
For such a long time, no one had bought her, and she was afraid of exhausting the last bit of kindness from the Pawnbroker.
"Alright, let's take her, and add this one too." Liu Qingxi pointed to a woman among the crowd. Although her clothes were tattered and had turned white, they were clean, and her fingernails were spotless.
"Great, you two hurry up and get ready. From now on, this lady will be your master."
There were six Guards, two Cooks, and the first girl they brought along, making a total of nine people.
"Are there any suitable shops in town?" Liu Qingxi had recently counted her silver coins. Together with Yang Yichen, they had earned over four thousand taels from the restaurant business. Adding in the profits from building houses, she had nearly five thousand taels in total.
After deducting the expenses from the earthquake and the investments made during the construction of the restaurant, she still had two thousand taels left.
As a young woman, she was not well-versed in farming from her past life. Rather than buying farmland, it would be simpler and more convenient to purchase a few shops and rent them out for income.
"Sister, there are a few shops available. I’m not sure if they meet your requirements; shall we go take a look?"
It was still early; Liu Qingxi was picking up Liu Qingyan for a break, so they had enough time until the afternoon.
"Alright then, let these few people wait here while we go check out the shops."
From her conversation with the Pawnbroker, Liu Qingxi learned that his surname was Huang and that he had spent his whole life in the pawnbroking business.
He led Liu Qingxi to see three shops in total. Overall, they were quite similar; one was located near the bustling market while the other two were more secluded but each had a courtyard, making them suitable for any type of business.
Especially in tranquil areas, selling tea leaves, books, or crafts would be very appropriate.
"Uncle Huang, how much are these shops?" As they walked along, Liu Qingxi had become familiar with Huang the Tooth Merchant and their way of addressing each other changed.
" Miss Liu, if you want them, I can give you the lowest price. The one in the busy area is three hundred taels; the other two are two hundred fifty taels each."
After hearing this, Liu Qingxi felt it was indeed a fair price; there was no need to panic.
"How about this? I'll take all three. I also need your help to find some people willing to rent these shops out. Don’t worry; I won’t let you work for nothing."
"Hey, Miss Liu, whatever you say, it's all on me. I will definitely make you satisfied."
In the end, the total came to eight hundred taels of silver. Six Guards received fifteen taels each, and two Cooks got eight taels each. The girl was considered a gift, so Huang the Tooth Merchant received a neat sum of nine hundred taels of silver.
The contract was signed on the spot. As for the transfer procedures, Huang the Tooth Merchant took care of them. He had been in this business for many years and had dealt with government officials frequently, making it easier to resolve such matters.
Liu Qingxi also paid an additional twenty taels of silver as a handling fee for the transfer.
A smile spread across Huang the Tooth Merchant's wrinkled face as he respectfully saw Liu Qingxi out: " Miss Liu, if you need anything next time, do come again."
Stepping out of the shop, Liu Qingxi glanced back at the group behind her. A cold wind blew, causing them to shiver in their tattered clothes.
Frowning, she noticed that their cotton clothing had long since hardened and provided no warmth. The winter in Linyi was particularly harsh; without proper insulation, it was not uncommon for people to freeze to death.
"Let's go buy some fabric and cotton."
Boss Fang, who often dealt with Liu Qingxi, was momentarily taken aback by the group behind her but quickly recovered: " Miss Liu, your family business is getting bigger! What do you need this time?"
"Boss Fang, please pick out warm cotton clothes for everyone, and also get some fabric for each of them. We need twenty pounds of cotton so we can make a few more outfits at home."
"Alright, Miss Liu, just wait a moment; it will be ready soon."
Boss Fang turned around efficiently and soon returned with several sets of cotton clothing: " Miss Liu, how about these? The sizes should fit well; they are all comfortable cotton clothes and not too expensive."
Since Liu Qingxi often bought clothes here, she trusted Boss Fang. Besides fabric and cotton, his shop also had a selection of ready-made garments. However, most people in this era were poor and typically did not buy ready-made clothes.
Most would purchase fabric to make their own at home, making someone like Liu Qingxi quite rare.
Fortunately for Boss Fang, he had just a few dozen sets in stock; otherwise, he would have missed out on a significant sale.
However, there was one drawback to his clothing: the styles were too simple—diagonal buttoned cotton jackets and pants in common dark blue or black colors without any embellishments. But for those struggling in poverty, these were perhaps the best clothes they had ever worn. Just like that, Liu Qingxi casually bought them for the group, leaving them feeling...
Uncertain about their feelings inside, they experienced a warm sensation flowing gently through their hearts—a long-lost warmth that felt ticklish.
"You all go ahead and try on the clothes first. If they fit, take them home and wash up properly. The remaining fabric, you two can help with," Liu Qingxi instructed the two cooks.
The group trembled as they received the clothes prepared by Boss Fang. Their rough hands gently glided over the soft fabric, instantly warming their hearts.
Once the clothes were ready, it was nearing noon. "Chunyu, Summer Lotus, you two take them home first, boil some hot water for them to wash up, and then arrange for them to stay in the backyard. Here are five taels of silver; take them to buy some daily necessities, like basins and bathing tubs, and then hire an Ox Cart to go back.
I'll wait to pick up the young master when he gets off from school; you two handle everything for now."
The two maids felt a sense of responsibility and were in high spirits, naturally agreeing without any objections.
Thus, they split into two groups and took action.
With the troublesome group leaving, Yang Yichen finally had some private space with Liu Qingxi. It was time for a meal, so they decided to go to Chenxi Tavern, a restaurant named after one character from each of their names, which had become a landmark in Biqi Town.
Even from a distance, one could see the towering tavern that left a profound impression on visitors. More and more people came drawn by its reputation.
Some even visited just to see Chenxi Tavern, regardless of whether it was their intended destination.
Liu Qingxi and Yang Yichen sat in the bamboo hall on the second floor, observing the business situation. From morning till night, the tavern was bustling with customers—some came out of curiosity while others found themselves unable to resist returning to Chenxi Tavern.
The Theatrical Troupe on stage showcased impressive singing skills and graceful dancing that attracted more and more patrons.
The current scene was both unexpected yet anticipated.
"Qingxi, our revenue is substantial; it's all thanks to your efforts," Yang Yichen said with narrowed eyes, unable to help but admire the girl's talent.
From an exterior perspective, the grand yet exquisitely designed tavern drew customers in. Inside was a continuous stream of dining and entertainment along with captivating performances that changed daily.
If one could possess both beauty and talent yet still not succeed, then what kind of person would?
Yang Yichen's words made Liu Qingxi raise her eyebrows slightly; what did that count for? There would be even greater achievements in the future.
Her bright face and strong heart gradually dispelled the darkness deep within her.
He seemed to be completely immersed in love, paying attention to everything about her at all times.
Just as Yang Yichen was lost in thought, Li, the Innkeeper, personally knocked on the door while carrying dishes specially prepared by the kitchen: "Young Master, Miss, enjoy your meal. This is a new dish the chef has been experimenting with these past few days; please give it a try."
"Li, the Innkeeper, you can go about your business; there's no need to mind us."
The meal was simple, consisting of two dishes and a soup, accompanied by a beautifully arranged plate of snacks that were both nutritious and healthy. Notably, one of the soups had a faint herbal aroma.
Yang Yichen extended his long, slender hand and gently served a bowl of soup for Liu Qingxi: "How about trying this? I specifically invited a Herbal Cuisine Master; this is one of his specialties. It's gentle and nourishing, particularly good for the body."
Liu Qingxi picked up the snow-white spoon and took a light sip. Immediately, the refreshing taste combined with the subtle fragrance of the herbs spread across her palate, soothing and delightful.
"Not bad; this master is truly impressive." Despite having tasted many delicacies and experiencing even more in her past life, she had never had such perfectly balanced soup before.
If the herbal flavor were any stronger, it would be overwhelming; if any weaker, it would be bland. The perfect blend paired with its beautiful light brown color resembled a piece of craftsmanship, exuding elegance in every detail.
"It would be even better if there were more varieties. We could ask this master to prepare different types of medicinal dishes tailored to individual constitutions for health maintenance. What do you think?"
After all, different constitutions require various medicinal dishes that can change dramatically; perhaps even a slight difference could yield entirely different results.
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