Compared to the bloodshed unfolding in the capital, the atmosphere on the manor could only be described as pleasant.

Hua Zhi came out of the building — noticeably warmer inside than out — in excellent spirits. Things had gone better than she had anticipated. The first attempt had produced no errors at all. The spore cultures had developed well, and the nutrient substrate had been prepared correctly.

Several elderly men, their faces deeply weathered and lined with age, followed behind her. There was a certain awkwardness to their manner, but their expressions betrayed undeniable happiness. They had carried out their work according to the young miss’s instructions and had even been given her assurance at the outset that they would not be blamed if things went wrong. Even so, when it genuinely succeeded, they felt a great wave of relief wash over them — they had proved worthy of the trust the young miss had placed in them, and worthy of the considerable wages she had been paying.

Hua Zhi settled in the main room, and the old farmers, having received leave to do so, perched carefully on the edges of their stools. When the maidservant came to serve tea, they hurried to stand and accept their cups with both hands and a respectful bow, allowed themselves no more than a slight touch of the rim to their lips, then set their cups down and resumed their careful seats.

This was a hierarchy of rank that had rooted itself in their hearts over decades. It was not something Hua Zhi could reshape with a word or two. She simply proceeded as though she had not noticed, and turned to the matter at hand. “When watering, care must be taken — do not apply too much. The temperature within the building must also be kept steady. The weather is still cold, so the stoves need to remain lit and maintained at the level I specified. All of you have been doing this very well; it should continue exactly as it is.”

One of the old farmers answered in his plain, unhurried manner, “Yes. We will give our full effort.”

“If any problems arise, you may let the steward know — he will take every concern seriously. Or naturally, you may tell me now.”

The old men exchanged a look. The one who had spoken before said, with a slight stammer, “If the young miss will permit — based on our experience, this kind of thing tends to draw insects. We have picked up a few methods over the years, but we worry they may not be enough…”

“You’ve reminded me of something important. I’ll look into a solution when I return.”

The old farmer was visibly pleased to have his words received and noted by the young miss. He smiled and rubbed the back of his head with an open, unassuming grin. The others each spoke in turn as well, sharing what they knew — useful or otherwise — and Hua Zhi listened carefully to every one of them, assuring each that she would address what they raised. For men who had spent their entire lives at the very bottom of the social order, this made them both glad and quietly resolute: they would apply themselves with every ounce of care they possessed to looking after these things, whatever these things ultimately turned out to be.

The maidservants exchanged small, knowing glances, all quietly amused. The young miss was playing her part beautifully. Several of the matters they had raised had already been resolved — the insect-repellent preparation had been brought with them, given to them in advance by Shao Yao. But watching those farmers now, one could see this approach had been exactly right. Had the young miss not noticed how those old men looked as though they wanted to cut out their own hearts for her?

There was still so much for them to learn.

After the old farmers had withdrawn, Liu Xiang, who had been waiting by the door for some time, came in to report. “Young miss — Wu Da and the others have arrived.”

“Bring them in.”

Hua Zhi finished her tea and looked at the group that entered. They had remained on the manor to guard the other property all this time. Having been away from the familiar stability of the Hua household’s main residence, they had taken on something of the bearing that was proper to a guard — a sharper, steadier look about them.

“Your servants pay their respects to the young miss.”

“Rise.” Hua Zhi gestured lightly. “I called you here because I would like you to dig out a number of cellars on this side of the property.”

When he had first heard that the young miss was summoning them to the other manor, Wu Da had already formed a guess, and now that it was confirmed, he could not help wondering what she intended to use the cellars for this time.

“I heard you even found yourself an old master to study under for two months before the new year?”

This was something already known to those above, and Wu Da did not conceal it. “Yes. I had some knowledge before, but it was only half-formed. I did not feel confident that I could handle any problems that came up with the underground room on my own.”

The underground room held a great many preserved jars. If something had gone wrong, the loss would have been considerable — and bringing in an outsider to repair it would have been equally unsuitable.

Hua Zhi liked people who could think for themselves and found solutions. She nodded in approval. “That was thoughtful of you.”

“I would not dare accept such praise from the young miss. It was simply what I ought to have done.” Whether it was the financial consideration she had shown them or the matter of Chen Liang — they all had wholehearted respect for the young miss.

“These cellars will serve a different purpose from the other one. By the way — has the ground thawed by now?”

Wu Da considered what his master had told him, then nodded. “It should be close enough.”

“Good. Then I’ll leave this in your hands.”

Wu Da answered readily, then asked, “How many will the young miss require? And are there any particular conditions to be met?”

“As many as can be dug. As for conditions…” Mushrooms preferred cool, damp, and dark environments. “The requirements are not as strict as the other place. In the hot months, even a few ice basins will be sufficient rather than anything elaborate. Pay close attention to the matter of safety, and feel free to consult the old hands on the manor for guidance.”

“Understood, young miss.” The business was evidently a different kind of venture from the workshop — Wu Da felt a surge of energy. He was a Hua family man, and the Hua family’s fortunes were his own fortunes. The young miss had never let any of them down.

“Tang Yong.”

“Your servant is here.” A man of exceptional height and rather handsome features stepped over the threshold and responded respectfully.

Tang Yong had originally been in service to the second branch. He was not a man of many words, but he was meticulous and reliable in his work. The second master of that branch had never particularly valued him, yet after discreet investigation by the maidservants, he had been chosen to serve as steward of the new workshop. He had proved worthy of the choice — carrying out everything Hua Zhi had entrusted to him with flawless precision — and now he answered to Hua Zhi alone.

“Arrange lodgings for Wu Da and his group. The work they will be doing is demanding — their meals must include meat at every sitting.”

“Yes.”

“Come back to see me in a little while. I have instructions for you.”

“Yes.”

Wu Da and the others followed Tang Yong out, each quietly resolving to redouble their efforts.

Tang Yong returned promptly. Hua Zhi handed him a list. “The first thirty names are from Hua family branches brought in from outside. The last ten are drawn from our own household. They should arrive here in roughly ten days. From then on, they will all be under your charge. There is no need to divide them into ‘yours’ and ‘mine’ — handle everything with fairness. Even if you cannot distribute everything in perfect equal measure, do not let the imbalance be so obvious that others can read it at a glance. Making those thirty forget where they came from and give their whole effort over to working for me — that is what will prove your ability.”

“Yes, your servant understands what must be done.”

Hua Zhi gave a slight nod. “Keep your eyes open. Watch for anyone who takes advantage from the inside while causing harm without.”

“Yes.”

“One more thing — treat the old men I’ve brought in with respect. There are things you know that they do not, but there are equally things they know that you do not. What we are depending on right now is precisely that body of knowledge and skill they carry. You will need to manage that balance well. But do not let generosity tip into spoiling them — we are not in the business of turning gratitude into grievance.”

Tang Yong acknowledged this with care, and glanced mentally toward the rooms filled with their mixture of soil and various other substances, thinking it seemed unlikely to require this many hands to tend.

“If you have questions, ask them.”

“Yes.” Tang Yong knew the young miss was an open-minded mistress, and so he put his question forward directly. “The manor currently has close to twenty people. With forty more coming, that will be sixty in total. Your servant finds himself wondering whether that number will truly be needed.”

“It will.” This was a venture she intended to build into something significant. Once everyone had learned their work properly, she planned to expand the operation considerably further — though there was no need to explain all of this to Tang Yong.

Satisfied with the clear answer, Tang Yong asked nothing further. Seeing that the young miss had no additional instructions, he excused himself and left.