Chapter 111

Chapter 113 Discussion (Part 2)

Eleven Miss, upon hearing that Third Madam wanted to partner with her in business, looked surprised: "What kind of business is this? So profitable?"

Third Madam smiled mysteriously: "You'll know when the time comes."

Seeing that Third Madam was unwilling to reveal more, Eleven Miss looked very troubled: "But I have no capital!"

"How could you have no capital!" Third Madam's eyes lit up, "Didn't you have a dowry of twenty thousand taels of silver?"

Eleven Miss sighed: "Mother said I'm too young to need so much money. It's all been converted into estates, courtyards, and jewelry."

Third Madam laughed: "What's so difficult about that? Just pawn the jewelry and redeem it when you've made a profit."

Eleven Miss couldn't help but sneer to herself.

If she were really a fourteen-year-old girl in need of money, she might have fallen into this trap!

"This, this doesn't seem right!" Her eyes widened, as if she had never heard of such a thing before, "If others find out, they might think that Lord Xu is shortchanging us..."

"If you don't tell, and I don't tell, who else would know?"

Eleven Miss smiled to herself secretly.

If this really succeeds, it will probably be you, Gan Shi, who will spill the beans!

She couldn't help but become more cautious.

Third Madam seemed very eager. The only thing that could make her a target was her title as "Lady of Yongping Marquis." Could this matter have a significant connection to Lord Xu?

"Third Sister-in-law, let me think about it!" She looked flustered and helpless.

Third Madam, thinking that she had never experienced such things before, considered it normal for her to be indecisive. She smiled and said: "Then you must reply to me quickly. I'm in urgent need of money. If you're not interested, I'll have to ask Fifth Sister-in-law. You know, opportunities like this are rare."

Eleven Miss nodded nervously: "I understand."

She looked up and noticed Sister Autumn Silk.

She noticed that she had been keeping her eyes downcast.

She felt a stir in her heart. She remembered that when Third Madam had asked Dongqing to avoid her due to "incompatible zodiac signs," Sister Autumn Silk had also behaved like this.

Eleven Miss nodded slightly.

Third Madam pressed her a few more times to "hurry up," then stood up to leave.

Binju, with slightly flushed cheeks, hurried out from the east chamber and led Eleven Miss to sit on the large kang by the window in the east chamber.

Amber and Dongqing stood side by side, laughing behind their hands.

"What's going on?" Eleven Miss, seeing their expressions, asked in surprise.

Binju's eyes lit up: "Madam, fifty taels. Your monthly allowance, fifty taels."

Eleven Miss was also surprised.

Thinking that with this money, she could do many things, a smile spread across her face: "So much!"

Amber laughed: "Madam, we can finally relax."

Binju nodded repeatedly: "With the fifty taels of silver that Dongqing returned, we now have one hundred and four taels and six qian. Next month on the fifteenth, we will receive another fifty taels, bringing our total to one hundred and fifty-four taels and six qian. By the end of the year, there will be another fifty taels..." She counted on her fingers, somewhat like counting chickens before they hatch.

Eleven Miss couldn't help but laugh: "That's six hundred taels a year, twelve hundred taels in two years, and six thousand taels in ten years..."

"Yes, yes!" Binju nodded.

Everyone laughed.

The mood turned lively and cheerful.

Dongqing served tea to Eleven Miss: "Now everything is fine; we no longer need to worry."

"Not so fast," Amber cut in, "It might just be money in one hand and out the other."

Binju, who never liked Amber, retorted: "Hospitality and gifts all come from the common fund. Madam might chip in a little extra. How much money can she get?"

Amber glanced at Binju and said, "Last time when the fifth and sixth masters went to Shanxi, Madam gave fifty taels of silver and two Duan inkstones. I noticed the third wife's expression, as if it was only natural to give that much. The fourth aunt sent ten taels of silver, and the third wife was very grateful. Madam isn't the same as before; being too frugal isn't just a joke—it could earn her a reputation for being stingy!"

Binju was momentarily speechless.

The atmosphere in the room became heavy.

"Alright, alright," Eleven Miss encouraged everyone with a smile, "Trees are dead, but we're alive. Are we really going to stress over such a small amount of money?"

"Yes, yes," Dongqing hurriedly chimed in with a smile, "Think about it—we used to live on two taels a month, and now we have good days ahead."

Binju smiled, a little embarrassed.

Amber also smiled.

Seeing the atmosphere lighten, Eleven Miss stood up with a smile: "Let's go to the garden and check out the conservatory."

Since the fifth wife lived in the back garden, all the maids and older women from various quarters, regardless of their zodiac signs, voluntarily avoided the area. It was late autumn, and the back garden was very quiet.

Eleven Miss and Amber walked a while before spotting two older women pushing small carts. Amber quickly went up to ask for directions to the conservatory. Although the two older women did not recognize Eleven Miss, seeing her in such fine clothes, they nervously pointed toward Lijing Pavilion: "It's right next to there."

Amber thanked them, and sure enough, behind Lijing Pavilion, they found a massive glass conservatory. Inside, the plants were lush.

"This must have cost a fortune!" Amber stood outside the conservatory, staring at the glass in astonishment.

Eleven Miss was also surprised.

She hadn't expected the conservatory at the Xu family's residence to be so grand.

She felt a thrill of excitement.

Eleven Miss wanted to open a shop selling perfumed waters.

This way, she'd have no shortage of raw materials for experiments. If she could actually extract perfumed waters, she'd also master large-scale flower cultivation.

As they were looking around, a woman emerged from the conservatory and, seeing Eleven Miss, she was startled: "Fourth Mistress!"

Eleven Miss turned toward the sound.

It was Shi Mama, who served the fifth wife. She cradled a pot of purple phalaenopsis.

"Shi Mama," Eleven Miss smiled, "Is the fifth sister-in-law redecorating the house?"

Nanny Shi glanced at the orchid in her hands and smiled, "Yes!"

A woman emerged from behind Nanny Shi, who quickly said to her, "Jiting's wife, this is Lady Fourth."

Jiting's wife, just over thirty, was stout and wore a coarse cloth gown, holding a small flower hoe. Upon hearing that the person before her was Lady Fourth, she immediately became flustered, her face turning red, unsure of what to do.

Nanny Shi hurriedly explained to Miss Eleven with a smile, "She hasn't seen much of the world, Lady Fourth, please don't mind her." Then she turned to Jiting's wife, "Hurry and pay your respects to Lady Fourth."

Only then did Jiting's wife drop her hoe and kneel to kowtow to Miss Eleven.

Hupo quickly stepped forward to help Jiting's wife up, "No need to be nervous, sister-in-law. Our lady has come specifically to see."

Jiting's wife mumbled for a while without making any coherent sounds.

Miss Eleven then smiled at Nanny Shi, "You go ahead with your work! Don't keep Fifth Lady waiting. I'll just take a look around to see what's growing here."

Nanny Shi bid farewell to Miss Eleven with a smile, and Miss Eleven, led by Jiting's wife, entered the greenhouse.

Hupo stayed to chat with Jiting's wife.

Seeing Miss Eleven's gentle demeanor, Jiting's wife gradually relaxed. She told Hupo that her husband, Jiting, was in charge of the Xu family's greenhouse. Since the greenhouse was in the back garden, to avoid any impropriety, he only came in the early morning, and the rest of the time, the greenhouse was looked after by her and a few other sisters-in-law and nieces-in-law. As they spoke, Miss Eleven noticed the figures of several women among the greenery and flowers, and Jiting's wife quickly called them over to pay their respects to Miss Eleven.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Miss Eleven let everyone disperse and continued to tour the greenhouse with Jiting's wife.

Fragrant orchids, elegant camellias, charming apricot blossoms... everything was there, but only two or three pots of each type.

She was somewhat disappointed—it was clear that this greenhouse was solely for decorating the Xu family's home.

"Can we grow some jasmine flowers?" Jiting's wife quickly responded, "Yes!"

"What about ten acres?"

Jiting's wife's face immediately flushed, "We've never grown that much... only about ten pots before."

"If Jiting were to grow ten acres, could he manage to keep them thriving?"

"I'll have to ask my husband about that."

It was an honest answer.

Since they were in the back garden, it would be impolite not to greet Lady Dan of Danyang.

Miss Eleven nodded and went with Hupo to see Fifth Lady.

Fifth Lady indeed called out, "Fourth Sister-in-law, you've finally arrived?"

Miss Eleven just smiled.

Fifth Lady quickly had tea served.

The two sat and talked for a long time, and seeing that it was almost noon, they went together to see the elder madam.

Hearing that Miss Eleven had visited the greenhouse, the elder madam smiled, "Are you thinking of wearing flowers?"

Miss Eleven then told the elder madam about her idea of making scented dew. "...I've read about it in books before, but I'm not sure if it can be done."

The elder madam was supportive, "That's great! Then we won't have to buy from outside anymore, we can just ask Miss Eleven for it." Her tone carried a hint of indulgence, clearly treating it as just a hobby of Miss Eleven's.

Miss Eleven was already very grateful for this.

Upon hearing this, the Fifth Sister-in-law immediately exclaimed, "I'll help Fourth Sister-in-law."

"You, just take care of yourself, that's help enough," the elder madam said with a smile, patting the Fifth Sister-in-law's hand.

Zhenjie whispered to Eleven Miss, "Like Second Aunt, making incense ourselves?"

Eleven Miss didn't know that Second Sister-in-law could make incense and laughed, "Really? Second Sister-in-law can make incense?"

Zhenjie nodded, "We use the incense made by Second Sister-in-law during our New Year celebrations."

Eleven Miss's thoughts raced.

How could I have forgotten about her?

I should find a good time to talk with Second Sister-in-law; perhaps she has some very mature techniques...

Luo Zhenxing and the eldest daughter-in-law arrived as agreed. Eleven Miss had already mentioned this to the elder madam. After greeting the elder madam, they sat in the hall waiting for Lu Yonggui.

At around 2:30 in the afternoon, Madam Tao led Lu Yonggui in.

He looked to be in his mid-thirties, of medium height, with slightly dark skin, bright eyes, and a steady demeanor. Eleven Miss immediately felt a good impression of him.

After greeting everyone, he explained, "We have a medicinal herb shop at the West Gate. July and August are the peak times for collecting medicinal herbs, so I couldn't make it here sooner."

Luo Zhenxing and Eleven Miss exchanged glances, both unaware that Eldest Miss had a medicinal herb shop.

Lu Yonggui, with a slightly serious expression, handed a blue cloth bundle to Eleven Miss, "These are the account books I've managed for the eldest young lady over the past ten years."

Amber stepped forward to take it.

Lu Yonggui quickly whispered a reminder, "It's quite heavy, miss, be careful."

Amber smiled slightly, "Thank you, Manager Lu." She indeed put some effort into carrying the bundle and then placed it on the black lacquered square table between Luo Zhenxing and Eleven Miss.