Chapter 42: Dong Sheng and Xia Mei

Chapter 42: Dong Sheng and Xia Mei

West Street, West City.

Xi Ke Lai Grocery Store.

The Imperial City was bustling, with the east side home to the nobility, the north side housing the Imperial City, and the south and west sides where ordinary people lived.

Xi Ke Lai Grocery Store was located on the main street in the west of the city, bustling with customers every day, making it a very successful business.

"Miss!"

Lu Lingyun's carriage entered the back courtyard of Xi Ke Lai Grocery Store discreetly. As soon as she stepped out, a girl dressed in an apron and sleeves, looking neat and capable, rushed over excitedly.

It was Zhiran, Lu Lingyun's trusted maid.

"How are you adapting to life outside?" Lu Lingyun looked at Zhiran, feeling genuinely pleased.

"Everything is fine except I miss seeing you, Miss." Zhiran said, her voice filled with excitement.

Seeing her rosy complexion and vibrant spirit, Lu Lingyun was delighted. Zhiran's demeanor had changed significantly since leaving the mansion; she was more capable, energetic, and composed.

This was the capable manager she had been grooming.

In this lifetime, she did not need to pave the way for Li Wenxun as she had done in her previous life, sacrificing herself to nurture his growth. This time, she married into the Marquisate, entering a vast and prosperous new world.

In such a place, she no longer needed to sacrifice herself to climb up; she could simply stretch out and absorb ample sunlight to grow stronger.

Internally, she would firmly establish her roots in the Marquisate, controlling it completely. Externally, she could leverage all available resources to expand her own enterprises.

Everything that could be hers would be hers.

Currently, Lu Lingyun owned three shops: a restaurant, a silk and cloth store, and Xi Ke Lai Grocery Store. Each shop generated a monthly revenue of over three hundred taels, totaling nearly one thousand taels per month.

Additionally, she had five estates with over twenty tenant farmers, yielding an annual income of around three thousand taels.

These were all private earnings, separate from the Marquisate's finances.

"Miss, we used all our available funds to purchase charcoal. We bought ten thousand carts of charcoal for a total of nine thousand one hundred and seventy taels, filling four warehouses here."

Zhiran reported excitedly to Lu Lingyun. It was now almost November, and the price of charcoal was rising rapidly. Fortunately, they had purchased early, at less than one tael per cart, which had now risen to one and a half taels.

"Very good."

Lu Lingyun inspected the four warehouses.

In the cold winter months, the price of charcoal could rise to two taels per cart, and this year, it might even reach five taels per cart, with a shortage. Her stockpile of ten thousand carts would ensure a significant profit.

After reviewing the accounts and verifying the numbers, she instructed Zhiran about the necessary measures for preventing dampness and fire in the warehouses.

To her surprise, Zhiran had already taken care of everything. The charcoal was neatly stacked, and all precautions against dampness and fire were in place.

"You've really improved a lot, little one." Lu Lingyun pinched Zhiran's face affectionately.

Blushing with pride, Zhiran said, "Of course, I can't let you down, Miss."

"I'll have to give you a good reward during the New Year."

Zhiran was thrilled. Being praised by Lu Lingyun and making her proud was enough to satisfy her. She then thought of something and said, "By the way, Miss, there's someone I want to introduce to you."

"Who?"

"Dong Sheng! Xia Mei! Come here!" Zhiran called out to the front yard.

Soon, a thirteen-year-old lean boy led an eight-year-old girl out.

Both were young and thin but looked spirited, wearing rough clothes with bright eyes.

"Do you recognize them, Miss?" Zhiran asked mysteriously.

"Now that you mention it, they do look familiar." Lu Lingyun observed them, and they looked at her with gratitude in their eyes.

"Where have I seen them before?"

"It was the day you returned from your visit to the in-laws. You saw them selling themselves to bury their mother!" Zhiran explained.

Lu Lingyun immediately remembered. On that day, she had given them some money when returning with Cheng Yunshuo.

"Ah, it's you."

"Thank you, kind Miss."

"Thank you, kind Miss."

The two children knelt down before Lu Lingyun.

"Miss, it was quite a coincidence. When I went to buy charcoal for you, I met them again. Dong Sheng helped me negotiate the price. Normally, one cart of charcoal costs one tael, but he got it down to almost one tael less. They're both very capable."

Lu Lingyun smiled gently. "Stand up, both of you."

Dong Sheng helped Xia Mei stand up, and Zhiran continued, "Also, Miss, the surveillance on the Luo family was done by Dong Sheng. He followed the Luo family servant to the location outside the city."

"So it was you!" Lu Lingyun exclaimed, surprised and impressed by the thirteen-year-old Dong Sheng. "You did an excellent job."

"Thank you for your praise, it's nothing much." Dong Sheng spoke calmly, showing no particular excitement. For someone so young, he was remarkably composed and reserved.

Lu Lingyun was even more pleased with him.

Her gaze fell on the little girl beside Dong Sheng. "Do you go by Xia Mei?"

"Yes, Miss."

"How old are you this year?"

"Eight." Xia Mei was still quite young, and her voice carried a hint of shyness, but her eyes were clear and she did not flinch when looking at Lu Lingyun.

Lu Lingyun reached out to touch her head. "I want to take you with me. Would you be willing to come back to the marquisate with me and serve by my side?"

Upon hearing this, both Zhiran and Dong Sheng next to her were pleasantly surprised.

Especially Zhiran—returning to serve by the mistress’s side was an incredible opportunity.

Xia Mei looked at her brother, who nodded earnestly at her.

Lu Lingyun was the consort of the marquisate’s heir. Her sister was just an orphan; their parents were gone, and it wasn't easy for him to take care of her. If Xia Mei could follow Lu Lingyun, it would be a great fortune for her.

In the future, at the very least, she would become a senior maid in the marquisate. Whether she continued serving there or if Lu Lingyun arranged a good marriage for her, these were opportunities they could never have dreamed of.

Under her brother's encouraging gaze, Xia Mei hesitated for a moment before saying, "I am willing."

"Very good." Lu Lingyun smiled warmly, deciding to keep Xia Mei by her side.

She then gave Dong Sheng some additional rewards and asked him to continue monitoring the Luo family's activities. Dong Sheng readily agreed.

This time, it was different from before. He would work even harder for Lu Lingyun because his sister was now by her side, making them truly part of Lu Lingyun's household.

Lu Lingyun then walked around the grocery shop a bit more, gave some other instructions, and left with her entourage.