Chapter 100

Chapter 100

Seeing the First Lady's face aglow with happiness, Fifth Lady felt her worries ease as she had come to understand over the years that although the First Family didn't have a close relationship with them, they also didn't bear any intention to bully or harm them. "Big Sister, is there something you need to discuss?"

First Lady gestured towards a chair. "Sit down. I called you here today because of Zhenyu. Yun'er, being the eldest sister, has been thinking about her. Recently, she found a suitable match for Zhenyu and wants to know your and Fifth Brother's opinion."

Fifth Lady's eyes lit up, as she had been greatly troubled by her daughter's marriage arrangements recently. "Can you tell me more about the family in question?"

First Lady immediately smiled. "They're from Jiuzhou, Jiangyou Province. The family has been engaged in business for generations and is quite well-off. They have some reputation locally too. The surname is Zhuang, and their young master is nineteen years old."

Madam Five nodded, "Their age is quite compatible. Who else is in their family? What's the family's reputation like?" Madam Five paused, "I know that Yun'er has good taste, so the family she approves of must be decent. I'm just saying, in our merchant families nowadays, many elders arrange concubines for unmarried young masters. It's no laughing matter, but I have some reservations about this."

Madam One suppressed her smile, "There's nothing to laugh at. Not only do you have concerns, but I do as well." Madam One sighed, "It's not just merchant families now; many officials' households in the capital also practice this."

Madam Five fell silent.

Madam One chuckled again, "Don't worry, they don't have such customs. Both his parents are alive, and he's the eldest legitimate son. As for their family's morals, even though they don't have concubines, it's not particularly commendable. But the branch that Young Master Zhuang comes from has a good reputation."

Madam Five was puzzled, "This...?"

Lady Senior: "Let me explain in detail. Lord Zhuang's first wife was named Meng, Madam Meng."

Meng! Almost instinctively, Fifth Lady thought of Meng Die. "Meng?"

Madam Senior nodded and said, "It's the Meng you're thinking of, the younger sister of the Minister of Justice."

Madam Five was even more perplexed. "Isn't everyone in their family, except for Minister Meng, involved in…" Rebellion was a crime that implicated nine generations, and even married daughters could not escape punishment.

Lady Senior: "Not at all. The rebel was the son of a concubine. Master Meng is the legitimate son of the first wife; his birth mother passed away shortly after he was born. Father remarried, but the new wife didn't gain favor. She was oppressed by the rebel's birth mother and only gave birth to a daughter. This new wife had a kind heart and doted on Master Meng, which is why his early years were somewhat better."

Wife Five was astonished. "Sister-in-law knows so much detail."

Lady One chuckled. "You wouldn't know since you're not from the capital. Anyone who's lived here for a while is well aware of this story. Back then, it caused quite a stir – it was a real storm in a teacup. You see, you don't know that Official Meng's biological father had an extreme bias; his favoritism went to ridiculous lengths. When the traitor was caught for corruption, he actually asked Official Meng, who was then serving in the Hanlin Academy, to use his influence and bribe officials on his behalf."

Wife Five was taken aback. "He... He must have been out of his mind."

Lady One spat in disdain. "Out of his mind? No, it was just plain favoritism. He didn't treat Official Meng as his own son. When Official Meng refused to plead for leniency for the traitor, he accused him of being un filial and disrespectful, tarnishing his reputation, and trying to cut off his career path in the bureaucracy."

Wife Five gasped. "He... His heart must be as black as coal to act in such a manner."

Lady First: "Who knows? Despite such pressure, Official Meng didn't yield to favoritism. He relentlessly pursued justice, even rolling and howling at the entrance of the Hanlin Academy. The whole city was abuzz with the news, and eventually, it reached the Emperor's court. The Great Ancestor was still alive then, and he personally demoted the traitor and reprimanded Meng's birth father while praising Meng for his impartiality. That's when the matter was finally settled."

Lady Fifth looked dazed, unable to believe there could be such an absurd father.

Seeing her expression, Lady First chuckled: "If not for everyone in the capital witnessing it themselves back then, no one would have believed such an outrageous tale. But it turned out for the best. After that incident, whatever Meng's birth father said, no one trusted him anymore. They knew he was biased and unreliable – a man who had been scolded by the Great Ancestor himself."

"Deservedly so."

Lady First: "Indeed, he had it coming. After his death, Meng cut all ties with the traitor's family and brought his stepmother to the capital to take care of her as if she were his birth mother. The elderly lady had suffered under her concubine for her entire life but finally enjoyed the blessings of her stepson in her old age. It can be seen as a just reward for her kindness. The Elder Madam Meng I mentioned earlier is the biological daughter of this stepmother, with no connection whatsoever to the traitor's family. Therefore, during the reckoning, they naturally had no part in it."

Madam Meng had two sons, and her younger son had passed the imperial examinations a few years ago, elevating their family's status and separating from the main household. He now served as an official in the local province.

Lady Wu was puzzled. "How could there be anything wrong with the Zhuang family's reputation?"

Lady Wang sighed helplessly. "Don't you see? Given how Lord Meng's own father behaved, treating his legitimate eldest son so unfairly for the sake of a concubine, how could he possibly cherish a daughter born to his second wife? They were, after all, a family of farmers and scholars. Yet, for the sake of paving the way for a son born to a concubine, they married off their rightful heiress to the family that offered the most generous dowry."

Lady Wu was dumbfounded.

Lady Wang let out a long sigh. "Thankfully, those matters are in the past. Young Master Lang's father is Madam Meng's legitimate eldest son, and with Madam Meng's upbringing, the family's integrity is beyond reproach. Moreover, Young Master Lang has already passed the provincial examinations. He's currently studying at the Minister's residence alongside his cousins, preparing for the imperial examinations."

Madam Five paused, "Eldest Sister, this kind of family may seem inconspicuous, but in reality, it's exceptionally good. My husband and I wouldn't even be able to find such a match if we searched with lanterns. But... but with such a fine family, our precious Jade did... did..."

Madam One chuckled, "Don't worry. Since Yun'er dared to mention this matter, she must have told the Meng family about what happened before. They didn't blame Jade for being disrespectful or speaking rashly; instead, they praised her for being a woman of passion and courage, and for knowing right from wrong by refusing to be a concubine. Oh dear, why are you crying?"

Madam Five wiped away her tears while laughing through her joy, "Eldest Sister, I'm happy, so very happy. Thank you, Yun'er, thank her for thinking of our precious Jade."

Madam One replied, "Nonsense, Jade is her sister. It's only natural for her to consider Jade."

In this world, there were not as many "shoulds" as people thought, and Madam Five had learned this lesson bitterly over the years.

Lady Senior: "Don't be overly delighted either. Although the Zhuang family is involved in business, Young Master is an erudite, and if he passes the exams, he will surely hold an official position outside to elevate the family's status. Yun'er has asked her siblings, and they say that the wife of a scholar official should also be literate and able to write official correspondence. If you and Fifth Brother truly have intentions, it would be best to hire a female tutor to teach her now. She has always enjoyed reading, but she hasn't had proper guidance. A dedicated teacher would be beneficial."

Lady Fifth wiped away her tears. "Hiring a female tutor isn't difficult, but how do we present this? The matter isn't settled yet. I...I..."

Lady Senior: "Your concerns are valid. We must wait until we privately match their birthdates before mentioning it. As for the reason, we can say she lacks propriety in speech and needs someone to instruct her. Additionally, Yun'er suggests you consult Zhenyu's wishes, as it is she who will be marrying."

Lady Fifth nodded repeatedly. Upon returning from Lady Senior, she immediately dispatched someone to find Fifth Master. When he heard the news, he was so ecstatic he nearly leaped for joy. This was undoubtedly a gift from heaven, landing directly into his lap.

Fifth Master chuckled heartily. "Didn't I say so? When I took Zhenyu's and the other maids' birthdates to have their horoscopes matched, the fortune-teller mentioned that Zhenyu's destiny is illuminated by the Golden Chariot Star, indicating nobility in her fate."

"Looking at you, all aglow," Lady Five chuckled, unable to conceal her delight.

Upon receiving the news, Wen Zhenyu recalled her encounter with the Meng family during their spring outing. The thought of Meng Die referring to her cousin caused her face to flush, filling her heart with willingness.

Both families, having expressed mutual interest, privately matched their horoscopes to ensure there were no adverse influences. They secretly agreed upon a date for the formal proposal. On the Zhuang family's side, they were considering who would be suitable to act as the matchmaker. Fifth Master, on the other hand, informed Elder Master Wen that he had already found an ideal match for Treasure Jade.

The thought of his granddaughter, who had not only stripped him of his dignity but also trampled on it, left Old Master Wen with a bitter taste in his mouth. He simply waved his hand dismissively upon hearing the news, "You're her father, handle it as you see fit." Resolved to avoid the situation, he decided that on the day the matchmaker arrived, he would go out to meet his friends. Ever since his last bout of anger-induced fainting, his health had significantly declined, and he had been mostly confined to his home for recovery. The pleasant weather now offered a perfect opportunity for him to take a stroll outside.

And then, upon hearing that the matchmaker had arrived, he scrambled back in a frenzy. That blasted Fifth Brother hadn't bothered to mention that the esteemed mediator representing the groom's family was none other than Wu, the Director of the Revenue Department in the Censorate! Just what kind of background did this family proposing marriage possess!

With the marriage arrangement finally settled, Lady Wen let out a long sigh of relief. With such an alliance, her grandfather should no longer be desperate enough to sell his daughter for prosperity.

Though she was angered by Old Master Wen's actions, Lady Wen understood his urgency. The Wen family's fortune had been built on Old Master Wen's daring seafaring ventures; they originally had no solid foundation or backing. In the past, it didn't matter because there weren't many aristocratic princes or noble descendants, and everyone had their share of wealth. Merchants who dared to take risks and navigate the social landscape could flourish.

But with the empire enjoying long periods of peace, the number of privileged offspring increased while lucrative businesses dwindled. Unprotected salt traders like the Wens were now prime targets, like choice morsels that everyone wanted a bite of. No wonder Old Master Wen was so anxious.

With this marriage, it was clear to all that Lady Wen and Meng Die stood together. Anyone seeking to exploit the Wen family would have to first ask if the Marquis House and the Minister of Punishments consented.

Feeling increasingly content, Lady Wen requested some sample correspondence from Meng Die and compiled them into a small chest, which she sent back to the Wen family.

Wen Zhenyu was an avid reader to begin with, and now she truly applied herself with unyielding determination, studying as if her life depended on it. The notoriously strict female tutor softened her demeanor, nodding in approval repeatedly.

At this moment, Fan Hong returned from the front lines. Upon his return, he immediately handed a letter written by Li Ai to Meng Die. "Second Lady, Second Master has recently acquired a few jade figurines and instructed me to bring them for your enjoyment." With a wave of his hand, the young attendant Xiaotao promptly delivered the box in her arms to Meng Die.

Meng Die: "Jade figurines?"

Fan Hong: "They're relatively closer to Hetian."

Meng Die suddenly understood, as Hetian had been renowned since ancient times for its exquisite jade production.

Lu Wei meticulously unveiled each box, revealing a exquisitely crafted jade incense burner, a skillfully made cicada paperweight of unparalleled craftsmanship, a gleaming and lustrous snow lotus ornament, and a phoenix amidst peony hairpin, epitomizing elegance.

Meng Die carefully removes the paperweight from its box and examines it closely. "The craftsmanship on this is truly exquisite; it appears to be carved from a piece of beauty's hairpin material."

Fan Hong smiled and said, "I won't hide it from Second Madam, Second Master doesn't understand these things. He only mentioned that these items look truly exquisite and perhaps Second Madam might take a fancy to them."

Meng Die felt a slight flush on her cheeks. The maidservants giggled discreetly.

Meihong picked up the hairpin. "The color distribution of this Hetian jade is incredibly even and delicate, a true rarity. The artisan's skill is remarkable, carving it into a phoenix wearing peonies according to the natural patterns of the jade. Second Aunt, allow me to help you wear it."

Meng Die remained silent, and Meihong took her silence as consent. She gently removed the cloud-patterned jade hairpin from her head and replaced it with the new one.

Lu Wei observed, "This hairpin suits Second Lady much better."

Hulu glanced at the snow lotus ornament, "This snow lotus is also quite rare, with its pure white petals and vivid green leaves."

Lu Wei smiled, "In my opinion, this incense burner is even more precious. It appears to be made of blood-red sugilite, the finest quality of Hetian jade."

Meng Die inquired, "How is he doing over there? Is everything well?"

Fan Hong: "Second Lady, rest assured. Second Master is doing well on the other side and has won several battles. The war situation is no longer as pressing."

Meng Die: "Good, you may take your leave and rest."

After Fan Hong left, the maidservants' eyes were all fixed on the letter. Meng Die chuckled and opened it, revealing a stack of parchment. A thought struck her, and instead of diving into the content, she quickly scanned each page. With a cursory glance, she indeed found that the letter was divided into ten sections.

Satisfied with this observation, Meng Die then delved into the specifics. Eight of the sections were filled with anecdotes from the military life, while the remaining two described landscapes. Smiling, she finished reading and passed the letter to the maidservants.

Lu Wei and the others eagerly took it, followed by another round of laughter.

When the laughter had subsided, Meng Die called out, "Hua'er."

Hua'er entered, lifting the curtains.

Meng Die said, "Go visit your Nurse Fan's place and ask her to send someone to the manor. First, have Xing Huang open some of the canned goods that have been stored for a while to check their quality; they should come back tomorrow. Second, ask Head Wang to locate that small-time maritime merchant he bought seeds from before, whose name was Ji. If he's in the capital, arrange a meeting with him for tomorrow, so Lu Wei can discuss a business deal with him."

"Hai. I'll go right away."

Lu Wei asked, "Is Second Aunt planning to sell the silk carpets that Xue Qing and the others have recently woven?"

Meng Die nodded. "When Xue Qing returned the other day, she mentioned that all the silk from last year has been woven into tapestries. There are a total of 116 pieces, and we'll keep 16 for ourselves. I plan to sell the remaining 100 to that small sea trader."

Lu Wei raised an eyebrow. "Why choose a small sea trader? Most of them don't have substantial wealth."

Meng Die chuckled. "I didn't intend to sell these rugs at a high price. Currently, Shu brocade and Yun brocade go for twelve taels of silver per bolt. I'll sell our silk tapestries at the same price, twelve taels each. A hundred pieces would amount to only a thousand and two hundred taels. Any sea trader, big or small, should be able to afford that sum."

Lu Wei responded, "Small sea traders might not have connections with genuine nobles in their own countries."

Meng Die smiled mischievously, resembling a cunning little fox. "That's precisely what we want – someone without connections to true nobility."

Lu Wei was astonished.

Meng Die said, "In our Yi Dynasty or abroad, there are only a select few true nobles. Even if we sell the silk carpets to them at exorbitant prices, how much can they actually use? But if the price is reasonable, more affluent households would be able to afford them, and our customer base would expand by tens or even hundreds of times. Even though mulberry silkworm carpets are more durable, they will still wear out. As long as we have a larger customer base, a significant number will be replaced each year."

Lu Wei finally understood. "So you want the small merchants to sell to slightly wealthier households, not to those genuine nobles. But will that work? Historically, it's always been about following what those above like."

Meng Die waved her hand. "I'm guarding against that. Silk carpets are foreign imports for overseas nobles. These imports are something the elite can genuinely control. If one of these nobles takes a liking to the carpet and believes that those of lower rank are unworthy of using it, they could easily issue an order banning local sea merchants from selling silk carpets. Wouldn't that mean we lose a whole customer segment?"

Lu Wei clearly didn't believe it. "There are such people?"

Meng Die's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Why not? Do you really think all those nobles are truly virtuous and wise, humbly seeking advice from others? You're mistaken. At the top, it's cold and lonely; without someone to confide in, they have to keep everything to themselves. It's only natural that bottling up their emotions might lead to issues."

Lu Wei was visibly astonished. "It works like that?"

Meng Die replied, "Indeed. Don't idealize these nobles too much; they're just people with one nose and one mouth like everyone else. When you talk to Xiao Hai tomorrow, make sure you tell him not to overprice our goods. Otherwise, if he has some shady route, our efforts would be for naught. If he helps us successfully with this matter, I'll set aside some special silk carpets for him every year."

Lu Wei suggested, "If we're worried about mistakes, why not entrust it to Tamu and Li Te? They've made a lot of money thanks to us over the years, and when they come to the capital each year, they bring gifts for Second Grandma, showing their gratitude. Entrusting the task to them would surely ensure a smooth outcome."

Meng Die waved her hand. "Many nobles over there are accustomed to exquisite woolen carpets. Tibetan, Ningxia, Xinjiang, and Mongolian rugs are the most popular. There's no need for us to compete with them in that market."

Lu Wei chuckled. "I understand."

In the afternoon, a messenger from Lord Wang's estate delivered a message, stating that Qiu Ji had been arranged to meet. They would convene the following morning at the third hour of the day.

The following morning, Lu Wei readied herself and arrived at the rear gate of the Marquis's residence. There, she boarded the carriage that Nurse Fan had prepared in advance, which carried her straight to the country estate.

Xing Huang, on the other hand, had returned to the Marquis's residence early in the morning by carriage and happened to cross paths with Meng Die, who was coming back from paying her respects in the main quarters. "Second Mistress, what a coincidence, I've just brought back some delicacies."

Tao'er took the food tray from Xing Huang's hands, "Does that mean I can be lazy today?"

Amidst laughter and chatter, they entered the room. Tao'er unpacked the food from the basket. Meng Die seized the opportunity to ask, "How were those sheep livers and the like?"

A pleased expression spread across Xing Huang's face. "Yesterday, I opened two jars, and the food inside wasn't spoiled at all. I tasted it, and surprisingly, the flavor was just as good as when it was freshly cooked."

Meng Die's eyes lit up with excitement. "So it worked? How did you do it?"

Xing Huang explained, "First, I boiled the liver in water with various spices to remove any strong odor. After air-drying the surface, I fried it in oil to expel the moisture inside. Once cooled, I marinated it with different seasonings and soy sauce. After cooking, I placed it immediately into clean porcelain jars, then covered it with a layer of oiled paper. Finally, I sealed the edges with yellow clay."

Meng Die was overjoyed. "That's a brilliant method! Did you add chili peppers to your seasoning?"

Xing Huang chuckled. "Of course it does. Regular chili oil doesn't spoil easily, and I added chili to this batch as well, making it spicy and salty. It won't go bad even if left out for a month, let alone stored in these porcelain jars. Second Aunt, let's eat first."

Only then did Meng Die start her meal. After finishing, she asked, "If we want to make five thousand cans, how long would it take?"

Xing Huang pondered. "This isn't difficult to prepare. There are many women in the village who can help with the production. We could finish five thousand cans within three days at most. The challenge lies in sourcing the ingredients. They all require various animal livers, mainly pork liver with a bit of chicken liver. At least six or seven chicken livers can fit in one can."

Meng Die fell into deep thought. "Do you have any idea how many pigs, chickens, and sheep are slaughtered each day in the capital?"

Xing Huang replied, "I have no clue about that. All I know is that to fill five thousand cans, we'd need at least three thousand pork livers. I can't calculate how many chicken livers we'll need, and I'm not sure about the size of a single sheep liver either."

Meng Die: "With your approach, go back today and discuss with Head Wang how many pig livers and sheep livers we can purchase per day. Also, ask him to cultivate more chili peppers this year for your use in the fall. Mention any other seasonings you might need; if they can be grown, grow them ourselves, otherwise, pre-order them. As for the timing, I plan to send these jars to the front lines, so estimate accordingly."

Xing Huang: "Ah, yes."

Meng Die: "Keep this under wraps for now. When you return tomorrow, first visit Nurse Fan and ask her to contact the pottery family that made the boxes before to order another five thousand ceramic jars."

Xing Huang: "I almost forgot an important matter."

Meng Die raised an eyebrow.

Xing Huang glanced around the room and whispered softly, "Before I returned yesterday, Manager Fan mentioned to me that a few days ago, Jiang Zhuangtou saw them in one of the ponds. Indeed, they're there, but scarce. It took him several days to search through five or six ponds before he spotted just three in different ones."

Meng Die's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That's already great progress. These creatures are usually hard to come by. Otherwise, why would they bother fishing for fish fry every year? Collecting fish eggs is much more convenient."

Xing Huang chuckled. "Jiang Zhuangtou said the same. He mentioned that we need to observe the growth of the fish fry in the ponds over the next few months. If there's a significant increase, then we can be certain it's working."

Meng Die nodded appreciatively. "They've done well. Tomorrow, you should go to Manager Rong's office to withdraw some silver. Let's reward each of them with some coins and also book a banquet at a nice restaurant."

Xing Huang nodded eagerly, agreeing to the plan.