With Shao Yao no longer appearing each morning as she had before, rushing in just in time for breakfast, Hua Zhi had barely registered the change when Fu Dong was already feeling the absence keenly.
Bao Xia, suppressing her laughter, relayed the story to lighten the young miss’s mood: “Fu Dong made too much breakfast first thing this morning — I even reminded her at the time. Then she made too much again at midday. In the afternoon, Nian Qiu reminded her once more. And still, she made too much for the evening meal. She says she is going to carve the words into her own forehead tomorrow so she will not forget again.”
Hua Zhi laughed. “It is quite rare to catch her making mistakes.”
“It really is — getting her to slip up just once takes some doing.” Bao Xia handed the cooled tea to the young miss. “Young Miss, is the wound still hurting?”
“Not anymore. It is a bit itchy.”
“Try to bear it and do not scratch. Miss Shao Yao said that when a wound is healing, it will itch — and that means your wound is mending. Miss Shao Yao’s medicine really does work wonderfully.” Bao Xia paused, then sighed with barely concealed amusement. “Really, just listen to me — your servant has started to miss Miss Shao Yao herself.”
A person with that kind of character — anyone who had spent time with her would be fond of her, surely. Hua Zhi lowered her head and drank a few sips of tea, and in the evening’s lingering glow, an inexplicable feeling arose — as if the days were peaceful and all was well.
“How are things going at the workshop?”
“Everything is going well. Just as you said, the work is not difficult, and people pick it up quickly. The more they do it, the faster they get. Though today some of those from the smaller households that Liu Yuming paid deposits to have already started sending fruit over — once the volume grows larger, I fear the workers will not be enough to handle it.”
“That is my oversight — I failed to think things through carefully enough.” In her previous life she had managed a large company and always focused on the broad view. This was her first time running a small workshop, and she had not accounted for the friction that would arise from applying the methods of one era to another entirely different one. She had been careless.
She reflected for a moment, then said: “Here is what we shall do — have everyone make room and clear out the west side rooms, moving anything extra out. Then go and find Liu Qi, and have him bring the workers to move the things from the front courtyard rooms into the rear. Start the cooking step in the rear courtyard — once processed, the jars go directly into the rear cellars. Tell Wu San and his men to hurry. The rear courtyard needs at least four more cellars dug out.”
“Young Miss, but this is where you reside…”
“No need to stand on ceremony.” Hua Zhi shook her head. “The space is only so large. By the time Xu Jie returns with the tangerines, there will not even be enough room in the front courtyard just to store the fruit. So things must move quickly — ideally, the peaches should all be processed before he returns with the tangerines.”
“That many peaches.” Bao Xia’s head ached. She had rather liked eating them once — but after these past few days, she could barely bring herself to look at one.
“Where is Nian Qiu?”
Nian Qiu heard her name and came out from inside, account books still in hand. “Young Miss, your servant is here.”
“Make another trip back — ask Grandmother to select some dexterous, quick-handed maids and servant women to come here. Peaches are manageable enough, but when the tangerines arrive, each segment will need to have its fibers carefully removed — it is far more labor-intensive. While you are at it, bring another batch of crocks, and tell Ying Chun that the crocks need to be purchased without delay. We cannot have the fruit prepared and then have nothing to store it in.”
“Understood. Your servant will head back first thing tomorrow morning.” Nian Qiu acknowledged the instructions, then looked down at the account book, her expression troubled. “Young Miss, the silver we have on hand is running low.”
“How much is left?”
“Aside from what you said must never be touched, there are six hundred and forty taels remaining. Once we finish paying the fruit growers, very little will be left.”
Hua Zhi rubbed her temples. “When you go back, ask Steward Xu whether the house has been sold yet. If not, drop the asking price a little further.”
“Understood.”
Hua Zhi, who had never once worried about money in either of her lifetimes, felt no particular urgency now. To her, making money had never been a difficult matter. Even without thinking of other means, as long as she could hold on for these two months, once winter arrived the preserved fruit she had made would sell for a handsome sum.
Still — she was not completely resigned to letting things drift.
Thoughts of this and that turned over in her mind as she watched the last trace of light fade from the horizon, stars beginning to glimmer above. Her heart was at peace.
It is different, she thought. Bailin would not become Hua Linqi. That tearful mother of hers could never become Ms. Xu. And she — she was no longer Hua Linzhi.
Nian Qiu returned that same evening with good news. “Steward Xu says the house was sold just a few days ago. The buyer was very straightforward — did not haggle a single penny. The Old Madam suspects it may have been an old acquaintance of the late Master, someone wishing to leave a good impression. But when the paperwork was handled, the buyer only sent a steward — no one could find out which family it was. So for now we can only keep this in mind and look into it later.”
Hua Zhi was not surprised. Her grandfather had many old associates, and even more scholars who had benefited from his guidance. There would certainly be those who dared not openly associate with the Hua family yet were willing to offer quiet assistance. “How much did it sell for?”
“Three thousand five hundred taels. Steward Xu says he had the property appraised — it is in a good location and a good neighborhood. Three thousand five hundred was quoted with room to negotiate downward, yet unexpectedly the buyer did not press for a lower price.”
Hua Zhi had originally estimated around two thousand seven or eight hundred taels, so this figure was a pleasant surprise.
Nian Qiu continued: “The Old Madam, upon learning that I had returned to the residence specifically for this errand, summoned me to see her. She said she would hold the bank draft for now and hand it to the young miss once you return to the residence.”
“That is fine — I had no intention of using that money here to begin with. The silver we have on hand now should be sufficient. As for Ying Chun — how many crocks did you bring back this time?”
“Two thousand. Ying Chun says she has placed an order at another location for five thousand more, which will be sent directly to the estate in a couple of days.”
“Tell Liu Qi about this when you have a moment, and have him inspect the goods carefully when they arrive. Substandard pieces are not to be accepted.”
“Understood.”
The rear courtyard grew busier with people, gradually taking on a feeling of bustling energy. Not wanting those working to feel uncomfortable, Hua Zhi spent most of her time inside her rooms.
Resting with soups and broths, along with good medicine to aid her — her recovery was swift, and her color visibly improved day by day.
“Young Miss, Miss Shao Yao has sent medicine.” Liu Xiang came in quickly to report. With Bao Xia busy in the front courtyard and Fu Dong devoted to carefully preparing food for the young miss, Nian Qiu at Hua Zhi’s side was frequently occupied with the accounts. So Hua Zhi had elevated Liu Xiang to a senior maid’s allowance and assigned her to personal attendance. No reason had been stated, but everyone understood — it was the young miss’s reward for Liu Xiang’s loyalty.
Hua Zhi sat up straight. “Where is the person?”
“In the front courtyard. A man came. Miss Shao Yao also had him bring a few words: she will not be able to come for a while. The medicine in the blue porcelain bottle should be used first, then the green one when that is finished. After applying the medicine, wait roughly a quarter-hour, then apply the scar-fading ointment — using it at that point gives the best results.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
Hua Zhi could not help but think a little more on it. Shao Yao was a physician — the only reason she could not come was that someone had been wounded. It seemed that in every era it was the same: there were always those who walked forward through the darkness.
“Go and see what Fu Dong has prepared. Have her pick out something suitable to pack up and send back with Shao Yao’s man. And pass along a message for me — if it is convenient, could she send more ice over.”
“Understood.”
With so many eyes around, Hua Zhi did not want anyone to know she could produce ice. An interest that large — even if Grandmother found out, she might not be able to sit still. Better to keep it well concealed.