Chapter 165: Xiao Xiao Arrives with a Letter

  After October is November, New Year's Day is in sight, and it's time to start preparing for the Spring Festival goods.

  Pang De Bao arrived at the end of October. As soon as he arrived, he started going out early and returning late every day to visit tea shops and tea houses... In just one month's time, he had a thorough understanding of the operation, characteristics, and target customers of all the tea shops and tea houses in Kyoto.

  Shen Muqing was very impressed with Pang Debao's ability to handle things and his speed, and unconsciously had a certain respect for him.

  Two days later, Zhou Bing returned.

  Shen Muqing introduced them to each other.

  There was a hint of vigilance in Zhou Bing's eyes.

  Pang Debo was nonchalant and exchanged a few pleasantries with Zhou before taking his leave.

  Shen Mu Qing let Ying Fen send Pang De Bao out and asked about Zhou Bing's account situation.

  "...it's not entirely his fault, Chen Gongzi took over at a time when Master was in trouble, and some expenses have increased significantly." Zhou Bing commented fairly on the results of the audit, "...plus Chen Gongzi is not good at managing the business, it has deteriorated a lot compared to before...of course, there are also some unreasonable silver expenditures."

  What is called "unreasonable expenditure" is actually being put into Chen family brothers' own pockets!

  Shen Mu smiled lightly and said, "Wait a bit and I'll tell Chen Niang the truth. You've been working hard for this period of time, go back and take a good rest for a few days, I'll arrange another task for you later."

  "Yes," Zhou replied respectfully, but he didn't rush to leave. Instead, he hesitated and said, "Miss, I think I'll go back to the tea shop."

  It's Ponderosa, I thought I'd change to a bigger boss!

  Shen Mu Qing smiled and said: "Pang De Bao is just here to help out. You can rest for a few days, it's not too late to go to the Wen Tea House again."

  Zhou Bing smiled and said, "Running a silk shop is my old line of work, running a tea shop is not. This time I went to Jiangnan, only then did I feel that age is catching up with me. Miss, I can even be an apprentice in the tea shop..."

  This week's program is all about variety shows.

  "Are you afraid I'll give you to Chen's wife?"

  "Miss is a crystal-hearted person!"

  "You don't have to pretend in front of me." Shen Muqing's expression was calm, "Even if you go to Jiangnan, it will be after the spring opens. Take advantage of Pang Debao coming over to help, pay attention and learn from him properly. This is a lifelong skill."

  Zhou Bing nodded and responded vaguely.

  "However, if Aunt Chen really wants you to help out, you can choose not to go yourself, but an apprentice must be brought along. You should also take this opportunity to think carefully about whether there's a suitable candidate."

  "Rest assured, madam, I will choose someone who is both capable and trustworthy."

  He probably thought he could take advantage of this opportunity to overthrow Chen Yiniang...

  Shen Mu Qing didn't bother explaining and just said a few words to him before pouring tea.

  The next day, Chen Yiniang indeed came to find Shen Muqing, wanting Shen Muqing to lend Zhou Bing to her.

  Shen Muqing neither agreed nor refused, but just said that with the New Year approaching, they would talk about it after the holiday.

  Aunt Chen walked away with some disappointment.

  Later, he even blew a pillow wind and let Shen Zhen come out to help mediate.

  Shen Zhen couldn't help but let out a sigh: "If Pang De Bao could stay and not leave, and Zhou Bing went to help your aunt again, that would be the best of both worlds!"

  Shen Muqing knew he was still regretting his relationship with Xiao Sa, so he could only smile and comfort her: "Can't always rely on others for everything!"

  Shen Zhen shook his head and changed the subject: "When is Jing Shu coming?"

  Shen Muqing cooperated with Shen Zhen and changed the subject: "It's said that they will set off on the sixth day of the first month, and should arrive by the beginning of the second month."

  "She has a scholarly temperament, you'll have to tidy up the Green Bower Villa by the garden for her to move in, and replace all the curtains, screens, and window gauze..."

  "Don't worry!" Shen Muqing said with a smile, "I've spent some time with her before, and I have some idea of her temperament. I've already had the house repainted, it's as white as snow, and all the extra furniture has been moved out, leaving only a lacquered bed from the previous dynasty, a large wooden desk made of huanghuali wood, and two taishi chairs..."

  The two of them said that, Shen Zhen never mentioned Zhou Bing's matter again, but Shen Muqing began to carefully select a qualified person for Chen Yiniang.

  ******

  Before long, it was Laba Festival.

  Shen Muqing personally went to the kitchen to cook Laba porridge, and Tingyu Xuan didn't distinguish between nobles and commoners. Everyone gathered around a round table and had a lively time together.

  In the evening, Pang Debao brought a woman carrying a crimson woolen package to pay respects to Shen Muqing.

  "Master Seventh's New Year gift has been delivered to the account room. Zheng Mama is here specifically to pay her respects and wish you well!"

  It was said that the woman's surname was Zheng, and Shen Muqing couldn't help but take a closer look at her.

  Thirty-seven or eight years old, with black hair combed back and tied into a bun, fair skin, solemn expression, and unhurried movements.

  Shen Mu Qing politely invited Zheng Mama to sit down and have some tea.

  Zheng's mother thanked him and then respectfully gave Shen Muqing a deep bow, only half sitting on the embroidered stool beside her.

  "Auntie, our young master has asked me to come and pay my respects to you." She smiled as she spoke, "And he also asked me to bring some things for Auntie." As she said this, she pulled out a black lacquer box with gold trim from her woolen bag and handed it to Yingfen.

  The British hastily retreated.

  "Thanks for your hard work, Mom!" Shen Muqing said with a smile.

  Ying took out a water-red purse and handed it to Zheng Mama.

  Zheng's mother quickly got up and took over the bundle, thanking Shen Muqing for his reward.

  He also said: "Our young master at home also asked me to ask Auntie for one more thing..." As he spoke, he glanced at the servants in the house.

  Is it really a difficult thing just because of the word "ask"?

  Shen Mu Qing thought for a moment, then dismissed the attendants by her side.

  Zheng's mother smiled and pulled out a letter and a pair of half-new, half-old black round-toed thousand-layer-soled cloth shoes from the woolen bag to hand over to her.

  "Shen Mu Qing stared at the shoes in shock: 'This is...'"

  "I don't know specifically." Zheng's mother smiled, "This letter and this pair of shoes were given to me by the young master when I came, and he also instructed me to ask you, madam, to accept them."

  What's going on, making it so mysterious?

  Shen Mu Qing took over the letter and shoes with a puzzled expression.

  She had not yet opened the letter when Zheng's mother stood up: "Auntie, I'll take my leave!" She explained, "I was entrusted by our family's eldest lady to go to Gansu to see Young Master. Since there is no one capable by Young Master's side, she specially sent me to deliver some things to you and pay her respects - I still have to hurry back to Lincheng."

  It's less than 20 days until Chinese New Year...

  Shen Mu Qing also didn't want to keep her, so she called Ying Fen and asked her to send Zheng Mama out.

  Zheng's mother made a big bow to Shen Muqing and then retreated with Ying Fen.

  Shen Mu Qing opened the letter.

  After a few formulaic greetings, Xiao Sa complained to her that the needlework of Gansu Province was poor and the shoes they made would fall apart after only a few days. She had refused his request to introduce him to a local woman who could make shoes for him, but now he didn't even have a pair of shoes that fit properly. He asked her to use the cloth shoes she had brought with her as a model to make several pairs of shoes for him, and by the 15th, he would have friends going to Gansu to visit him. He told Shen Muqing to give the finished shoes to Pang Debao, who would bring them to Gansu for his friends.

  Shen Mu Qing stared at the pair of shoes on the kang, completely unable to conceal her astonishment.

  When Ying burst in, she saw a pair of men's cloth shoes scattered in the middle of the room, and Shen Mu was walking around the house in circles, muttering to himself.

  ******

  In the black lacquer box with gold trim were two thick arms of ginseng, and what was sent to the account room was several large baskets of sweet melons from Gansu. Shen Zhen was very interested, not only distributing them to friends such as Yuan Yu and Mr. Min, but also specially instructing someone to hang them in a bamboo basket under the eaves, waiting for Shi Jingyu's arrival to entertain her.

  Ying Fan picked up the round-mouthed cloth shoes brought by Xiao Xiao and held them in her arms, saying softly: "Auntie, if you don't have time, we'll help do it! Anyway, there aren't many needlework tasks at home."

  Shen Mu Qing gazed at the watermelon in the crystal plate, lost in thought for a while.

  Bite the hand that feeds you, and slap the face that pats you. Now you're biting and slapping... consider it payment for these things!

  She pouted and nodded slightly.

  Ying hastily handed the shoes to Mingxia. From then on, Mingxia and Liu Chun, the best needleworkers in the house, did nothing but paste fabric, weave bottoms, embroider shoe uppers... At night, they even lit lamps for overtime work.

  "Could it be that our family's oil isn't bought with money?"

  Everyone ignored her and continued doing what they were doing.

  Ming Xia and several others finished making sixteen pairs of shoes before the 15th of the first month. Ying Fen wrapped the shoes in a large piece of red satin cloth and gave them to Pang Debao to send away - asking him to pass them on to Xiao Sa's friends to take to Gansu.

  Shen Mu let out a sigh of relief, thinking that this matter was finally over.

  Who knows, Ming Xia brought the remaining spring with her hands not leaving the needle, continuing to make shoes, and said: "Xiao Gongzi is a person who walks in all directions, if this shoe can be worn for a month it's good enough, now start making a few more pairs, when someone goes to Gansu, take them along."

  Didn't he wear shoes before?

  Shen Muqing was secretly worried in her heart.

  Are we supposed to be responsible for making shoes for him for his whole life?

  ******

  Shi Jingyu arrived on February 4th. Before that, Shen Zhen had kept people waiting at the dock for six consecutive days.

  She was a slender and delicate woman, with fair skin and a clear face that everyone in her family had. All year round, she wore white silk shirts and skirts made of dark blue satin or Hangzhou silk, looking dignified and serious but lacking in vivacity and beauty.

  Seeing Shen Muqing waiting for her at the gate, she was overjoyed and quickly walked up to grab his hand.

  Shen Muqing was also delighted and pulled her hand, letting Yingfen and Mingxia pay their respects beside her.

  At that time, Jingyu also let the two personal maids who followed her to Kyoto, Moli and Zijing, pay their respects to Shen Muqing.

  Several people knew each other when they were in Nanjing, especially later Shen Muqing followed Shi Jingyu to the tea market, lived and ate together, very close. This time seeing each other again, it's naturally a different kind of closeness.

  Shen Muqing took Shi Jingyu to visit Shen Zhen, while Ying Fen and Ming Xia took Mo Li and Zi Jing to the Green Lotus Temple - Zhou Bai Mu brought his servants to meet them at the dock. Shi Jingyu's wet nurse, Liu Mama, was in charge of checking the luggage and would arrive a little later. Mo Li and Zi Jing had to go ahead and get familiar with the surroundings first.

  Update at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning!

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