All that busyness, and in the end Hua Zhi stayed at the estate for a full month. Her wound had healed completely — those who did not know the truth could not detect even the faintest sign that she had ever been injured.

She went down to the cellars one final time. Bao Xia, now practiced at it, opened a crock and spooned out a portion, handing it to the young miss.

Hua Zhi ate a small piece, took a sip of the juice, and nodded in satisfaction. “Keep this standard up.”

“Understood.” Bao Xia smiled in acknowledgment. Not only the young miss’s personal attendants — every worker in the workshop received a serving each day. Having tasted it for themselves, those who had worried the preserves might not keep well or might not taste good were put at ease. When winter came and fresh fruit was scarce, these would sell without any effort at all.

She then went to look once more at the cellars packed full of golden-yellow peaches, and Hua Zhi felt something in her heart fill with the same kind of satisfaction — like a vessel finally full.

The air carried a deepening touch of autumn. The daytime temperature was still rather warm, and standing in the sunlight, the chill quickly dispersed.

Hua Zhi looked toward Bao Xia and said quietly: “Begin stepping back from the workshop matters. Liu Qi and Liu Jiang are both capable — things will not go wrong. Xu Jie should arrive in another four or five days at most. Teach the workers how to handle the tangerines, then come back.”

Bao Xia acknowledged the instruction softly. She had no wish to leave the young miss’s side, but she would not disobey the young miss’s command.

“If Shao Yao comes, tell her to find me at the Hua family residence.”

“Understood.”

The workshop workers knew the young miss was leaving that day. As the group emerged from the moon gate, their hands did not stop moving — but their eyes kept drifting in that direction.

Hua Zhi paid no mind to their small show of feeling. She turned to Liu Qi and Liu Jiang waiting before her and said: “Keep the workshop in good order. If anything comes up, come and find me at the Hua residence.”

“Understood.”

The workshop was now divided into inner and outer sections. Liu Qi was the inner manager, overseeing the most essential steps in the rear courtyard.

Hua Zhi had signed an indefinite service contract with Liu Jiang, making him the outer manager in charge of the workers in the front courtyard.

Those doing the rough work — washing and peeling — had been selected from among the tenant farmers. Though Hua Zhi had set strict rules, the wages she paid were high enough to offset any complaints, and the workers were all diligent, dreading the thought of doing something wrong and displeasing the household, which would mean losing this position.

Liu Jiang had always been well-liked, and he was clever besides. He had adapted quickly to the role of manager and settled into it comfortably. But before he could enjoy it for more than a few days, word came that the young miss was returning to the city, and his heart sank with worry again.

The Hua family ran a strict household. He feared his younger sister would have a hard time there. Then the thought that even seeing her would become difficult only made the ache in his chest grow heavier.

Liu Juan also felt a soreness gnawing at her, and dared not look at her brother. She kept her head low, staring at the tips of her shoes. When she saw the young miss finish her instructions and begin to walk out, she instinctively moved to follow.

Fu Dong beside her gently held Liu Juan’s arm and murmured: “Go and say goodbye to your brother. Do not keep the young miss waiting too long.”

Liu Juan looked up with a flash of delight, bit her lip, and gave several quick nods.

In the carriage, Nian Qiu spoke quietly: “Although Liu Jiang is only overseeing rough work, someone determined enough could easily piece together the later steps. He has only signed a five-year service contract. Your servant cannot stop worrying, no matter how she thinks about it.”

“Nian Qiu — a capable manager should also have the generosity to accommodate people.”

“Young Miss…”

“I am not saying you have done poorly. Do not be in a hurry.” Hua Zhi leaned back against the soft cushions. “Spending years confined within the inner quarters, one sees only the stretch of sky directly overhead and contends for only what falls within sight. That you would guard against someone who is an outsider is perfectly natural. But Nian Qiu — if we only keep our eyes fixed on these small things, how will the Hua family ever rise again?”

Nian Qiu moved to kneel and beg forgiveness, but Hua Zhi patted the seat beside her, gesturing for her to sit, and continued at an unhurried pace: “I chose to use him. If he truly turns out to be ungrateful, the fault lies first with my own poor judgment of people. But if he does manage to work out this profitable method and goes off to set up independently or defect to another, what awaits him will not be a smooth road — without any effort on my part, he will pay a steep price. This is a venture that brings in money, yes — but it is also a hot potato. An ordinary commoner cannot hold it.”

“Your servant was too slow-witted.”

“You simply care too much, and the desire for gain and loss weighs too heavily on you. It is merely a means of making money. If it is gone, think of another — that is all. As for other things, I may not be particularly skilled, but the knack for making money is something I was born with.” Watching Liu Juan come running out from the gate, dabbing at her eyes, Hua Zhi smiled. “And besides, things may well never come to that point at all.”

Liu Xiang tapped lightly on the side of the carriage. “Young Miss, we may depart.”

“Let us go.”

She had left without making any elaborate arrangements and had stayed away for a full month. Hua Zhi had only felt at ease remaining at the estate to recover because she knew Grandmother was at home keeping things in order. The moment she stepped through the front door, without even changing her clothes, she went first to Grandmother’s room to offer her apologies.

“It is good that you are back. How are things at the workshop?” The Old Madam smiled from where she reclined against the cushions on her daybed, though her eyes held a trace of scrutiny. She did not believe there was no particular reason behind Hua Zhi’s staying at the estate for so long. Even just for the sake of the workshop, it would not have required such a length of time — the brief time she had spent with her granddaughter was enough to see that the girl was not someone who acted without purpose.

Hua Zhi appeared not to notice, and replied with a warm and easy smile: “If you were to visit the estate, Grandmother, you might not recognize it — so full of life and bustle it has become. I brought some of the finished preserves back — let me offer you a taste of something new.”

Fu Dong came in carrying a bowl. Nestled in clear, luminous juice were several pieces of golden-yellow peach, and a faint fragrance of fruit drifted out as one drew close.

Hua Zhi personally attended to her grandmother as the Old Madam slowly chewed a piece. She nodded. “Not bad at all — not too soft, not too firm either. Old people and children should both enjoy eating this.”

Hua Zhi smiled. “When taken straight from the ice cellar, it is even better. Right now, with fruit in season, one does not feel it so much — but once winter sets in and there is barely any fresh fruit to be found in the market, these will be in great demand.”

“You make a good point. The winters in the capital are long; they would sell well for quite some time. If they stop selling here, one could take them north — the winters there last even longer.” The smile on the Old Madam’s face gradually faded. In speaking of long winters, what could be longer than the winters at the extreme north — the place of exile?

“The winters there are far colder than in the capital. I wonder if the Old Master will be able to endure it.”

“Of course he will. Grandfather has always been a man of strong, well-tempered constitution. His body is far sounder than any of us younger generations.”

“True — the Old Master is in excellent health, and your father and brothers will be looking after him. There is certainly nothing to worry about.” The smile returned to the Old Madam’s face at last. “You have worked hard all this time. Go and pay your respects to your mother, then go home and rest properly for a day. You must not wear your body down.”

“Yes, I will follow your words.” Hua Zhi rose and was just about to take her leave when she suddenly remembered — the day she had left for the estate, Grandmother had also been going to the Shen family to formally withdraw her betrothal. She quickly asked, “Grandmother, the matter with the Shen family…”

The Old Madam smiled and nodded. “Just as you wished.”

What she had wished — and how much more besides. Hua Zhi’s face broke into a radiant smile. But however it had all come about, the ability to shed that shackle was cause for happiness. Not having to share a husband with other women was truly wonderful — and playing the role of the virtuous first wife for an entire lifetime was by no means an easy performance.

“The betrothal gifts were all confiscated along with everything else. I gave them a promissory note — they will be repaid gradually in time. It is all money that ought to be returned.”

“Yes. It ought to be returned.”