Nian Qiu choked back a sob as she murmured her acknowledgment. She understood — the Sixth Young Master had grown up clinging to the young miss’s side, and the bond between the siblings was no less than that shared with one’s own parents. No one knew better than the servants who attended them just how differently the young miss treated the Sixth Young Master.
The young miss knew everything — she knew about their self-reproach, knew they had wanted to shield her eyes and stop her ears. It was they who had overstepped.
“Rise.” Hua Zhi said only what needed to be said. Their good intentions she had received, yet she could not truly act according to their wishes — the fruit was nearly ready to come off the tree, and there was no time to delay.
Nian Qiu stood, her heart aching as she turned over what the young miss had just said. “Young Miss, the Sixth Young Master would never treat you that way. Even if he were to marry a disagreeable wife in the future, the Old Madam would not allow it — she has given you her word.”
“Bailin would never, of course. But how could I bear to see him caught in the middle, torn in two directions? Even Grandmother, for the sake of keeping peace in the family, could not stand openly and always at my back. Everyone has their own difficulties. When that day truly comes, I shall simply move to a separate residence — if I can truly spend my days in ease and leisure, that would be my joy.”
Hua Zhi genuinely looked forward to that day coming soon. She had long since grown weary of such a busy life. “Help me talk some sense into the others, too. This matter is past.”
“It is we servants who were foolish — and still caused the young miss to worry over it.”
“I am quite willing to worry over you all. Once things have settled, I shall then busy myself finding good marriages for every one of you.”
“Young Miss!”
“All right, all right, I will say no more.” Hua Zhi laughed. “You shall all remain spinsters and keep me company.”
“We would love nothing more!” — that was what they truly hoped for, Nian Qiu thought — but fearing the young miss might genuinely take the matter to heart, she quickly steered the conversation away and reported everything the young miss would want to know.
“As per your instructions, four cellars have already been dug — three in the front courtyard and one in the rear. Wu San is still leading the men to dig more. The first layer inside the cellars has been spread with lime, the second with wood shavings; every measure against water and dampness has been taken as thoroughly as possible. Liu Qi has made all the necessary arrangements — the men will handle the heavy work and the women the detailed tasks. The steamers and other items you had custom-made were delivered first thing this morning and have all been fitted. Firewood was purchased from the tenant farmers; fearing it would not be enough, I asked Liu Jiang to find a few other households to continue sending more.”
Hua Zhi nodded. “Very good.”
Nian Qiu’s expression relaxed somewhat. “Liu Qi had an old farmer come to have a look, and the farmer said some of the earlier-ripening fruit is ready to be picked. He intends to take the workers out to harvest first thing tomorrow morning. However, none of the new equipment you have added is something anyone here has used before — no one knows how to operate it, and he worries about damaging things. He asks whether you might be able to send someone experienced to come and teach them.”
“Those things are quite simple to use. When the peaches are brought back tomorrow, I will make a trip over. He can follow along as I demonstrate once and he will have it.” Her mother, the woman known as Ms. Xu, had always liked to show off her gentle and capable side, occasionally making this or that, and Hua Zhi had watched and learned it all. The only difference was that at home it had been made in small quantities, whereas now the volume was considerably larger — the method itself, however, was the same.
“Understood.”
“Matters that are not pressing need not be reported to me — handle them yourselves.”
“Understood.”
Just then, Liu Xiang came in to report. “Young Miss, Liu Yuming has arrived.”
“The peaches are nearly ready to come off the tree — it is about time he returned.” Hua Zhi sat up, and the two maids quickly stepped forward to help her out of bed.
As Hua Zhi watched Liu Xiang bowing her head and busying herself, she said suddenly: “Liu Xiang — that night… you were thoughtful. I have taken it to heart.”
Liu Xiang looked up, and her eyes immediately reddened. She did not regret what she had done that day, but afterward her heart had been gripped with a lingering fear — she had feared the matter would get out and she would have no face left to show, feared being looked down upon.
Though she had already been comforted by her elder sisters, hearing the young miss say these words still brought her a warm sense of reassurance — and yet also guilt. The reason she had acted as she did was simply because there had been no better choice.
Her mother served the First Madam, her father was the chief steward by the First Master’s side, and her younger brother was the Sixth Young Master’s page boy, who had even managed to learn a few characters under his guidance. Their whole family’s lives and fates were bound to this eldest branch. If anything were to happen to the young miss, she would have no path forward — nor would her family fare any better. But if she sacrificed herself, then even if something truly did befall the young miss, at least her family would not be implicated.
Hua Zhi may well have understood this. But she also knew that human nature, forced out in a moment of crisis, was all the more worthy of trust — and Liu Xiang’s character was already very fine.
The front courtyard was now in a state of considerable disorder, and the rear courtyard housed many people as well. Hua Zhi simply had Liu Yuming come to the rear courtyard to see her.
Liu Yuming only assumed the young miss had fallen ill, which was why her complexion was poor — he did not dare look too long. Standing with a slight bow, he reported: “I have not failed the young miss’s expectations. The silver in my hands was not enough even after I spent every last coin, so I also made arrangements with a number of smaller independent households. In roughly two or three days, people should start sending peaches to the estate.”
“They agreed without a deposit?”
“I concentrated the deposits on the orchards. Though none of the orchards are particularly large, they have considerably more trees compared to individual households. I conducted my business openly — anyone who made a few inquiries could find out the truth of it, so they were all willing to trust me once.”
“Trapping a wolf with bare hands — not bad at all.” Hua Zhi was reasonably satisfied. “You will remain at the estate for the time being and continue overseeing the subsequent matters.”
“Understood.”
“You have worked hard. Go and rest well for a day — there will be plenty more to keep you busy ahead.”
Liu Yuming answered with delight, and the weight hanging over his heart finally lifted. The young miss was planning to use him in the future!
The ice blocks arrived toward evening, personally delivered by Chen Qing — twenty flatbed carts covered with oilcloth. Since that rainfall, the temperature had dropped, and not much had melted along the way.
Hua Zhi had just finished dinner. Upon hearing the news, she wished to go out and receive him in person, but Shao Yao, having eaten too much herself, pressed her back down. “I know him well — I will go.”
Hua Zhi laughed. You were close with him to begin with — it would be stranger if you were not. “Then I will trouble you. Bao Xia, go and tell Liu Qi to have the workers ready — distribute the load evenly across the four cellars.”
“Understood.”
Once the two had left, Hua Zhi said again: “Fu Dong, go and see how many people have come. Send food and drink over to them.”
“Understood. I made quite a good deal of lily and lotus seed soup earlier — it can be put to good use now.” Fu Dong quickened her movements to tidy up, and Liu Juan kept pace with nimble hands, a lightness in her eyes and the corners of her mouth.
Though Chen Qing was surprised by the Hua family’s courtesy, he did not decline. He signaled everyone to accept the refreshments and said to the senior maid who had come to express thanks on their behalf: “My master says — if more ice is needed, simply have Shao Yao send word.”
Bao Xia curtseyed. “Yes. On behalf of the young miss, I thank everyone for their trouble.”
Chen Qing hastily said he would not dare accept such thanks. He had quite a favorable impression of the Hua family’s young miss, and of these loyal and devoted servants of hers as well — his words throughout carried a warmth and ease.
A little later, Hua Zhi had Bao Xia help her to the cellars. The cellars were underground and already cool by nature; with the large blocks of ice added, the cold had intensified considerably. Even having put on an extra layer before descending, she still felt goosebumps rise, and before long she was firmly led back out by Bao Xia.
After taking a look into each of the cellars, Hua Zhi had a clear sense of things. The temperature could not drop any lower — fruit would freeze and spoil if it got too cold.