Chapter 18: Chapter 20 Miss, It's Time for You to Open for Business!
Leaving Mrs. Gu's side, Qin Liuxi returned to her room with Qi Huang. As soon as she entered, her face fell. In just a few days, so many frustrating matters had arisen.
"I don't seem to see any increase in the number of servants. Didn't Uncle Li bring any lads over?" Qin Liuxi poured herself a cup of tea and gulped it down to moisten her throat before she asked Qi Huang.
Qi Huang replied, "Your orders were clear; how could they not be followed? The boys did come, but Madam only agreed to hire a wet nurse and two coarse servant women."
Qin Liuxi was startled: "Two?"
Qi Huang nodded and explained, "Aunt Li still oversees the kitchen. The two robust women handle miscellaneous chores and laundry. As for Xiao Xue'er, Lady has moved her to the inner courtyard, preparing her to be a maid, but she's not dedicated to serving a specific person."
Seeing Qin Liuxi frown, Qi Huang reminded her, "Miss, the Qin family is not what it used to be. It's no longer the official family of the past. When the property was confiscated, we didn't bring out any valuables. We need to use Silver for everything. How could Madam afford to surround herself with servants like before? Even today's meal, as you saw, without Silver, we can only tighten our belts. Otherwise, would Second Madam and the others kick up such a fuss?"
Qin Liuxi gave her a sidelong glance: "I feel like you're hinting at something."
Qi Huang said unflinchingly, "There's hardly any Silver left in the accounts. I expect Uncle Li will soon come seeking you out to discuss this matter."
Meaning, it's time for you to start doing business!
Qin Liuxi's scalp tightened. Hardly any Silver left - did this mean she could no longer afford to slack off?
"That's impossible. What about the Silver Coin I saved before? You kept track of it, right?" She had saved a small fortune before; it couldn't be gone so soon.
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Qi Huang magically produced an account book and a small abacus and began to calculate. "Allow this servant to remind you, your laziness and refusal to take on work or even hide away, aren't proper. You occasionally purchase medicine ingredients from Changsheng Hall. I remember you bought a Century-old ginseng last month, oh, it went into the medicine, which was given to Mr. Zhong of West Street. You charged him five taels of Silver, but that ginseng cost two thousand taels."
Qin Liuxi's lips twitched, slightly guiltily she said, "Do I actually give things away for free?"
Qi Huang chuckled, her smile plainly suggesting that not only do you do it, but you do it often!
Her young mistress, though seemingly world-weary and indifferent, had the softest heart. She healed and saved people based on mood, fate, and karma. If someone was utterly wicked, she wouldn't save them for all the Gold in the world and would even wish them an early death. But for those poor and kind-hearted, she not only saved them altruistically but would often do so even at her own expense.
Thus, even if she had accumulated some Silver Coin in the past, she couldn't withstand her generosity; she was truly too lenient with her wealth.
And with such extravagance coupled with her idleness, a fortune would soon be squandered despite having plenty.
Qin Liuxi touched her nose and asked, "How much Silver is left in the accounts now?"
Qi Huang flipped through the account book and answered, "There are a thousand taels left. Oh, Chen Pi mentioned that Changsheng Hall has received a new batch of medicine, among which is the Wind Spirit Flower you've long been seeking."
Qin Liuxi's eyes lit up.
Seeing her sparkling eyes, Qi Huang mercilessly doused her enthusiasm, "Miss, we're out of Silver."
Qin Liuxi waved her hand dismissively, "Understood, understood. After the twin's third-day washing ceremony at Third Aunt's tomorrow, we'll make a trip to the Daoist Temple. Also, send Chen Pi to Changsheng Hall to ask Shopkeeper Qian to reserve the Wind Spirit Flower for us."
Qi Huang nodded, about to speak when a familiar voice of Mrs. Wang came from outside.
"Is Xixi inside?"