Chapter 198: Chapter 197 Letters Chapter 198: Chapter 197 Letters “Madam, I understand,” said Young Master Tang, knowing that as the young Master grows day by day, his own ideas were enlarging and perhaps in the future, this Young Master might beco the one leading the household.
The next day, setting aside other affairs, Young Master Tang took his n to the instrunt-making workshop.
The workshop was not in New County, and for this task, the destination was quite far, deep within Zhou City.
The journey was lengthy; a round trip in one day was unlikely, so he had prepared to spend the night in the city.
Accompanied by guards, Young Master Tang rode to the city, a move known to all in the Tang Family.
News had already spread that the household intended to invite Mr. Instrunt and had also asked the workshop to produce additional instrunts.
The young lads and ladies of the Tang family and all the children might soon possess their own instrunts.
This news was delightful. The tasks ordered by the household were of course premium, and purchasing such instrunts privately could be more costly.
The household’s commission might result in a slight deduction from their annual profit share, but relative to this, the benefits provided by the family brought them greater joy.
Madam Tang also prepared a letter for her family along with the honey sent by the Ye family and packed fresh fruits picked from the Ye family’s fields, a daily routine for the Tang household’s buyers to gather vegetables and fruits before dawn and deliver them to the residence.
The journey to the Imperial Capital took a day, and after arranging this, all she could do was wait for news.
As dusk fell and the gates of the Imperial Capital were about to close, a carriage and several riders arrived, their faces weary from the long journey.
Carrying a letter from Madam, the gifts in the carriage, along with a Tang family steward, who was the manager included as part of Madam Tang’s dowry, they were indeed workers coming from the Zhao residence.
This group, containing the inside of the city, needed to travel far to reach the Zhao residence, and it was already late into the night. So shops were closing while others were just starting to see brisk business.
The inner city of the Imperial Capital was bustling, but these people could not hasten their journey; tired and hungry, they slowly walked towards the Zhao residence.
Occasionally, they saw ladies calling out to custors from outside so shops, and music floated from others.
Those who understood knew that such lively night scenes, filled with songs and laughter, were not ordinary business establishnts, but entertainnt venues.
Even shops that were closed illuminated their fronts with lanterns, and so restaurants were just starting dinner service.
The aroma from the restaurants exacerbated the hunger of the group, who had only rested briefly for water and dry rations to maintain their pace throughout the day.
Missing their ti ant they wouldn’t make it through the city gates, potentially ruining their mission.
Another hour passed before the group finally reached the gates of the Zhao residence, by which ti both n and horses were famished and exhausted.
It was now past dinner ti, and the gates of the Zhao residence were already closed.
The steward and the guards dismounted. The steward, most familiar with this place, led the way, as the other guards did not recognize it. He went forward to knock on the door.
Only a mont later, two n ca out to open the door, the Protectors of the gate.
When they saw the steward along with the guards and a carriage, they recognized the steward who had led the delivery of gifts each year.
“Uncle Zhao, why so late?”
“Hmm, we’ve traveled all day to get here. Have soone promptly assist with bringing in the carriage and horses. There are gifts on the carriage from Madam Tang.”
After the housekeeper spoke, the guard who opened the door called his brothers to help unload the horses and the items from the carriage.
The housekeeper asked these guards to take those guards to find sothing to eat and a place to stay.
He also needed to et with the master overnight to deliver a letter before going to eat and find a place to stay.
The housekeeper sought out the housekeeper of this family, the older sister of Madam Tang, who was of middle age and firmly in control of the household.
The children of Mrs. Zhao of the Zhao family were already married and had their own children.
The couple had just finished their al and had returned to their room to prepare for bed. It was sumr and felt rather hot, so they had placed ice in the room to cool down.
“Old Master, Madam, soone outside requests an audience,” a maid ca in to report.
“Who is it? It’s so late, is it a family mber or a guest?” Mr. Zhao asked.
“It’s the accompanying housekeeper of Granny Zhao, who has traveled all day to get here, and has brought Granny’s gifts. There are guards, maids, and old won who have already moved the fruits, vegetables, and gifts inside, and so have also carried fruits and gifts into our courtyard.”
Hearing it was Granny’s housekeeper, Mrs. Zhao smiled and said, “Please bring them in quickly, and prepare fine wine to entertain our guests from afar.”
The couple walked together to the living room to receive the guests and t the dust-covered housekeeper.
The housekeeper had just entered the living room, where a maid served him tea and pastries. He drank a cup of tea and ate a pastry to quench his thirst and fill his stomach.
“Steward Zhao, what brings you here on Granny’s behalf? Oh, you should have found a place to eat and stay first. It wouldn’t be too late to see us tomorrow,” Mrs. Zhao politely said, appreciative of the respect they had always received from Granny.
It was also because, over the past year, they had regularly received honey from them, and in the last six months, fruits and vegetables as well, which tasted many tis better than what they could buy locally.
That honey allowed their won to nourish their skin, and it helped the elderly, middle-aged, and those with minor ailnts or constipation; drinking it made so of their minor issues disappear.
Being better than spending money on doctors and dicine, the fruits and vegetables they sent each ti were delicious and made them very happy; these were the good things they often couldn’t buy.
The hosts of the Zhao family entered the living room, where Steward Zhao stood up, bowed, and greeted them.
“Sit… You must be tired and hungry, right? The Madam has already instructed soone to bring you food and wine. Go eat first; we can talk tomorrow,” Old Master Zhao said.
Old Master Zhao was quite fond of his sister, and since this was her steward, he was naturally courteous.
“Old Master, Madam, I’ve just had a pastry and filled my stomach a bit. After I report to you and the Madam, I can get this matter resolved quickly and we can all rest easier. Here is a letter from the young lady,” the housekeeper spoke.
The housekeeper took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to Mr. Zhao.
Mr. Zhao knew that his sister’s surna was Lee and there must be so other matter. He read the letter first; apart from usual greetings, it also asked for their help with a matter, but he felt it was better for the Madam to handle it.
“Madam, please take a look at the letter!”
“Old Master, you can make the decision,” Mrs. Zhao said while taking the letter, but she glanced at the content anyway.
“It would be better if you handle this matter, Madam,” Mr. Zhao said.
Reviews
All reviews (0)