Hua Xiaomai couldn’t contain her joy, bustlingly welcoming the couple inside and offering them a room in the Zhenwei Garden that was seldom used. She laughed and asked them to speak up if they faced any inconvenience or had any needs. After so thought, she pulled Great Saint Sun aside and earnestly gave him a few instructions.
"We’ve picked a lucky day to open up. According to the fortune-teller, the fourth day of the second month is the best, and I’m going to need your help to make a few trips and invite more villagers to join in the excitent. After all, even though we plan to sell our sauces to the Provincial City, there’s no reason to let go of the local and County business if we can keep it in our hands," she said.
She walked thoughtfully, slowly adding, "Hmm, and one more thing, I might not be able to co to the Sauce Garden every day. At most, I’ll be here a bit more often on the sauce-making days. For the routine tasks, I’ll need you to take care of them. You’re Yu Huai’s brother, and you grew up with my brother-in-law, so if I can’t trust you, I really don’t know who else I can trust."
Great Saint Sun slapped his chest and laughed heartily, "Sister, rest assured, let alone the fact I’ll be hanging around Zhenwei Garden all the ti, even if it’s just for Brother Yu Huai and Brother Taihe’s sake, I’ll make sure to take good care of this place for you. I can’t promise how much money I’ll help the garden make, but ensuring peace and order here is without a doubt!"
As he spoke, he too lowered his head in thought, then added, "Sister, what do you think, does the Sauce Garden still need to hire an Accountant?"
"Oh dear!" Hua Xiaomai smacked her forehead, suddenly realizing, "Look at my mory! I’ve been feeling that I’ve left sothing undone these past few days and couldn’t for the life of rember what it was—it’s this! Exactly, we should hire an Accountant as soon as possible."
She and her sister Erniang had opened the small restaurant as a joint venture, and as family with good relations, they hadn’t needed to be too precise with the finances. However, the profit earned by Zhenwei Garden needed to be divided among three parties, and having an Accountant would ensure the books were kept properly, avoiding disputes in the future.
"This is a matter involving money, so I don’t feel right recomnding soone for you. It’s best if you’re a bit more careful yourself," Great Saint Sun said earnestly, "Otherwise, if you aren’t careful and end up bringing a thief into the fold, the trouble will be endless!"
Seeing that Hua Xiaomai agreed, he looked at her complexion with a tsk, "Sister, it’s not my place to say, but you really do look pale! Managing both the restaurant and the Sauce Garden must be quite the strain, eh? Ah, you should take so rest when it’s appropriate to do so. Money can’t be earned all at once. If you ruin your health, the loss won’t be worth the gain, and you’ll have regrets!"
Hua Xiaomai herself felt quite fatigued lately and smiled faintly in response, "I know, and no matter what, I have to get through this period. Once Zhenwei Garden opens and the first batch of sauce is in the jars, I’ll be able to relax a bit...but right now, I can only tough it out—Great Saint, thanks for your concern."
Great Saint Sun waved his hand, indicating it was no big deal, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then they each went about their business without further ntion.
A few days passed, and the end of the month was near. Pan Ping’an returned from a trip to the Provincial City with a list for Hua Xiaomai, detailing the six or seven types of sauces most commonly used by the major restaurants and eateries.
With this list, the Sauce Garden could avoid aimlessly stumbling around at its opening and could target its products precisely. Hua Xiaomai hadn’t expected him to go to such efforts, compiling such a thorough list. Even though she usually regarded him purely as a business partner without much affection, she sincerely thanked him, invited him for a al at the small restaurant, and then took the list to Mr. and Mrs. Lei to discuss it with them in detail.
Thus, it was another day of non-stop activity. When she finally returned to the ng Family’s compound in the evening, she felt almost like she was floating as she walked, with her legs feeling as if they were filled with lead, giving her pains with every movent. She barely managed to drag herself into the courtyard and into the bathhouse. As she washed up, her eyelids fought to stay open, and by the ti she entered her room, she couldn’t even light the lamp before collapsing onto her bed. She wrapped herself in a blanket in a haphazard fashion and imdiately fell into a deep sleep.
Indeed, she was fortunate that old Lady ng had been in a good mood lately and hadn’t caused her any more troubles, which might have truly been the end of her!
She didn’t know how long she’d slept when the deep haze of slumber seed to be pierced by a small disturbance—a vague commotion nearby seed incessant, thumping repeatedly and pouring into her ears.
Hua Xiaomai barely had the energy to open her eyes. She rolled over in bed, wanting to ignore everything and just continue sleeping. However, the noise persisted with patience, the knocking sounds non-stop, like an old monk striking a wooden fish in the temple, rhythmic and relentless, preventing her peace of mind.
She sighed deeply, forcing her eyelids open with her fingers, only to see complete darkness outside the window.
It was at this mont she realized—those thumping sounds were actually soone knocking at the door!
In the dead of the night, who would be...
Not wanting to disturb old Lady ng on such a cold night, with no other choice, she wrapped herself in a coat and got out of bed. Shivering, she ran into the courtyard and stood at the door, pressing her hands firmly on the bolt, biting her lip, "Who’s there?"
From outside ca a response, seemingly tinged with a hint of laughter, calm and deep, "Xiaomai."
Hua Xiaomai’s bleary eyes instantly widened. Without any second thoughts, she pulled the door open, located the shoulders of the person outside, and with a forceful leap, threw herself into his arms.(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to vote for it with a recomndation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian to read.)
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