High-class maid

Chapter 291 The Indifferent Mountain Peach

“That’s right. It was Zhou Da’s concubines who reported him to the authorities this week, saying that he had forcibly taken a woman from the people and embezzled the master’s money. They even produced evidence, so the government had no choice but to take it seriously,” Shen Kun said.

As luck would have it, they heard about this on their second day in Luoyi. Shen Kun immediately presented the land deeds and other documents to prove that he was the owner of Nanshan Hall. Later, following the clues, they found evidence of the Zhou brothers' embezzlement.

"I never imagined that the person who used to cry and beg me not to leave would now be blinded by money." Master Hou sighed, his spirits dampened.

"Master, we have done everything we could. As long as we have a clear conscience, that's enough. This is something the two brothers asked me to bring to you." After comforting him, Steward Cai handed an envelope to Master Hou.

Shen Kun's large eyes widened, and he only saw a yellowed envelope. Master Hou took out a piece of paper, looked at the drawing on it, and both cried and laughed. Finally, he composed himself and handed the drawing to Butler Cai.

"Burn it."

"Burn it? Sir, please reconsider!" the steward advised.

“Burn them. They are not the same people they used to be. What use are portraits of us when we were young?” said Master Hou.

Seeing that he couldn't persuade him, the steward had no choice but to obey orders and take it out to burn.

"I'm sorry you had to see this. I expected my servants to have such thoughts, but I never imagined it would be these two. Perhaps I've been too lenient, which is why my servants have such inappropriate ideas!" said Master Hou.

"It's not your fault, it's just that it's hard to stick to your original intentions. Has Bai Mo's verdict been handed down yet?" Shen Kun didn't want to talk about the Zhou brothers anymore; he was more concerned about the fate of this ingrate.

"He's a cunning fellow. Just half a month ago, the authorities discovered he'd bribed a high-ranking official. Now, with multiple charges against him, he's probably on his way to the frontier," Master Hou said, unwilling to elaborate.

"Alright, I've had the kitchen prepare lunch. You can eat at the manor before you go back."

Shen Kun was unwilling to go against his good intentions. After finishing his meal at the Hou residence, he made an appointment with the Hou master to meet the managers of the medical clinics in the capital in a few days before returning to Jinxiufang to see his daughter.

"Father, you're back? These bolts of fabric are the best-selling items these days. Do you remember which city we bought them in? And our new shop, the decorations were finished a few days ago, and the shelves have been moved in today. Let's go take a look together."

When Shen Xing'er saw Shen Kun return home, she chattered excitedly, fluttering around him like a little butterfly.

Seeing his daughter's happy expression, Shen Kun felt that all the hardship and exhaustion were worth it. He affectionately patted Shen Xing'er's head and continued...

“I remember, I remember. I write down the address every time I buy a piece of fabric. I’ll go find the address.”

"Oh, no need. There's still plenty of fabric in the shop. Let's go look at the new shop first. It'll take a long time to go back and forth, and if we go too late, we'll have to travel home at night," Shen Xing'er said.

The family arrived at the east of the city in a horse-drawn carriage, chatting and laughing. Shen Kun stood at the shop entrance, looking at the four eye-catching characters "Wang's Pickled Vegetables" on the signboard, and felt a surge of emotions.

"You designed all of this?"

Shen Kun walked around the shop with his hands behind his back, while Wang Shi picked up a rag and wiped the shelves again and again, even though the newly made shelves were very clean.

"Yes, but the space was too small, so my daughter's inspiration couldn't be fully expressed. Otherwise, it could have been even more beautiful," Shen Xing'er said proudly.

"Not bad, as expected of my daughter. Are you planning to buy staff or hire employees? When do you plan to open for business?"

“My daughter thinks it’s better to buy people, and it would be best to buy a coachman as well. But my mother is afraid of wasting money and insists on hiring someone. Father, please persuade my mother.”

As expected, Shen Kun asked Wang Shi.

"Why does my wife insist on hiring workers? Aren't you afraid that someone else will learn the recipe?"

“I’ll stay in the shop all day. They’ll just be responsible for picking, washing, chopping, moving things, and delivering goods. I’ll do the rest. Even if others wanted to learn, they wouldn’t have the chance.” Wang had already planned this out.

“No, whose wife works so hard every day? In my opinion, we should buy a few servants. Our family will only get better and better. My wife can just stay at home and look at the accounts and collect money.”

"We've already spent several hundred taels. If we buy people, how much would it cost to buy so many people?" Wang asked hesitantly.

“Mother, if we risk losing our secret recipe just to save a few dozen taels of silver, that would be a huge loss! No one we hire can be as trustworthy as our own servants. If you’re worried about the money, we can hire accountants, deliverymen, and porters, but we absolutely cannot hire anyone for the pickling room in the backyard!”

"Alright, it's your way! Your father and I will go buy servants tomorrow!"

Wang no longer hesitated. Now everything was ready except for the final push, and she didn't want anything to go wrong at the last minute, otherwise all her hard work would be ruined.

“If Mother’s pickled vegetable shop is stable, I plan to open a kiln,” Shen Xing’er dropped a bombshell.

"Why? Isn't the money in the house enough for you to spend? A young lady like you can run a small embroidery shop, why bother with a kiln?" Wang asked, puzzled.

Shen Kun, however, guessed what his daughter was going to do. He remained silent, waiting for her explanation.

“Mother, if the business of this pickled vegetable shop is good, the jars for storing the pickled vegetables will also be a considerable expense. If I open this kiln, wouldn’t that reduce the cost?” Shen Xing’er said.

What she didn't say aloud was that currently only crystal exists in the world, and if she could produce glass, it would definitely be a major source of income in the future! However, the pickled vegetable shop hasn't opened yet, so it's just a thought for her.

"But—" Wang was about to say something more when Shen Kun interrupted her.

"Alright! The kids are all grown up now, they can do whatever they want. Our family isn't without resources! At worst, we can just tell others that I own this kiln!"

"Long live Dad!" Shen Xing'er immediately turned into a little fangirl.

Seeing that she couldn't persuade the father and daughter otherwise, Wang stopped mentioning the matter and then asked Shen Xing'er.

"When will Wen Yang return? Let's reopen when he comes back."

“My daughter received his letter yesterday saying that in about ten days, once we’ve completely tidied up the shop, he should arrive in the capital by then,” Shen Xing’er said.

The family walked around the shop again to make sure there was nothing that needed to be changed before they locked the door and went home to sleep, satisfied.

Get a good rest tonight, you have things to do tomorrow!

The next day, Wang and Shen Kun went to the brokerage to buy a servant. Shen Xing'er, who rarely had time to stay at Jinxiufang, calculated the days. Shouldn't Xiaoshan Tao be on vacation? Why hadn't she come to see her? Should she go to her house to check on her? But she didn't seem to have Xiaoshan Tao's new home address.

Shan Tao, whom Shen Xing'er was thinking about, was indeed on vacation at home. However, she was sitting on a bench, coldly watching the woman in front of her chattering on and on to her mother.