Chapter 236: Everyone Has Worked Hard Today
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
In any case, the prices set by Shopkeeper Niu were not low, but they were pretty reasonable. Even the lowest-grade roasted pumpkin seeds were sold for one hundred coins per catty.
Despite this, buyers still lined up to make their purchases.
There was only a limited amount of these items. Once they were sold out, there was no telling when they would be available again.
For food enthusiasts, being able to enjoy these rare treats was better than anything else. It would be something they could boast about for a lifetime.
As for the Qian family, they were currently worried. The dishes prepared today were all made by the Jingtai Restaurant’s chefs. They were not only delicious but also beautifully presented.
Why had so few tables been touched? It would be a shame to waste these dishes.
The steward sought Mayor Qian’s approval as he was toasting the guests.
“Don’t touch the food on the tables. Once most guests leave, we’ll invite the poor people and beggars from outside to finish it.”
“Yes, sir!”
Qiao Mai and Old Mistress Wang didn’t return to Lucky Garden for lunch. Instead, they ordered two bowls of instant noodles from Liu Hai.
As they watched the guests leaving Mayor Qian’s house and rushing to their shop, they noticed the shop had become so crowded that people were lining up outside.
Qiao Mai was puzzled and said, “Mayor Qian ordered a great feast, but why isn’t anyone eating it?”
Old Mistress Wang rolled her eyes. “Well, it’s all because they’re eyeing the goods in your shop. Rich families don’t care for such feasts.”
“But there’s so much food on those tables.”
Just then, the steward brought some guards and began calling people from outside. They were all from impoverished families, wearing tattered clothing, and even beggars.
“See, I told you, Old Qian won’t waste that food. Look!”
“He’s a cunning old fox!”
“It’s just that some of them might not be clean. With so many people around today, who knows if they might have diseases?”
“No, the more delicate a person, the weaker their body. The poorer ones tend to have stronger resistance.”
Qiao Mai sighed, “I can’t restrict them. Some may want to eat, so let them.”
“What? Do you want to stop them?”
This was the first time Old Mistress Wang had dined in front of Qiao’s Small Eatery. She found it quite refreshing and enjoyable.
After finishing her meal and sitting for a while, she returned to Lucky Garden to rest.
Qiao Mai sat in front of the shop, and by late afternoon, all the goods she had moved over had been sold out. The shop was nearly empty, and even the items in stock were almost gone.
Shopkeeper Niu and the assistants didn’t have time to eat lunch. Seeing the goods were all sold out and the customers had left, Qiao Mai asked him to take money from the accounts and send the assistants to buy a large bowl of cold noodles and deep-fried sesame cakes from Liu Hai.
Shopkeeper Niu provided the money to the assistants and then approached Qiao Mai with the account book.
“Boss, we’ve made over six thousand taels of silver today.”
“So much?”
“Yes, the goods sold out completely. After having their meal, I’ll ask them to replenish the stock.” “The weather is getting warmer. It’s important to have fresh food.” “Don’t worry.” “Everyone worked hard today. Give each of them five taels of silver.”
“Thank you, Boss!”
Qiao Mai stood up and returned to Lucky Garden while the shop assistants inside the shop burst into cheers upon hearing that each of them would receive five taels of silver.
The surrounding shop assistants couldn’t help but envy them, and many wished they could sell themselves to Lucky Garden and become part of the Qiao family’s staff.
People might disdain serving others or feel it’s beneath them, but when they saw how well the servants of Lucky Garden were treated, they couldn’t help but envy their lives. They received three proper meals a day with meat and vegetables, their monthly wages were higher than those of other families, and they were even given rewards from time to time.
How envious!
Some even inquired, “Shopkeeper Niu, do you need more people here?”
“What for?” “I want to sell myself to your family.”
“Sell yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Even selling your kidneys wouldn’t work. We have enough staff. We don’t need more assistants!”
“Then how about your assistants? Are they getting married or not?”
Upon hearing this, the shop assistants all laughed. “None of us are getting married now. Even if we do, we’ll have to ask our boss for permission. If she allows us to get married, we will; otherwise, we’ll be bachelors forever! ” This was just a joke, but it was taken seriously by some.
Thinking about the treatment of the servants in the Qiao family. some people were indeed tempted. What did it matter if they married a servant as long as they led a good life and were no longer suffering?
Under the Ming Dynasty laws, a servant who married another servant would have children who were also servants.
If a servant married a commoner, their children would be commoners. However, even in the poorest families, they wouldn’t marry their daughters to servants.
But the servants in the Qiao family were different. As long as they worked diligently for their boss, they would be freed and given a deed when they got old.
With the savings they had from their time at their boss’s, they could buy a house and land. This was much better than what regular people could hope for.
Some people were tempted, while others had their minds set on it.
They consider the male servants and even the Qiao family’s maids like Yue Hong and Yue Xia. Some even contemplated marrying the old maids.
Of course, Qiao Mai had no idea. She had spent a day outside and returned home to rest.
Tomorrow, Old Master Wang and the others wouldn’t return, but they would be back the day after. She didn’t know how well Feng’er and Yun’er had performed in the first round.
This was their first time on such a stage, so it should be decent. Otherwise, Old Master Wang wouldn’t have sent them, as he never fought without certainty.
As for Ling’er, she had become more polite and diligent in her studies since following Nanny Jin. She was also learning how to do needlework, doing great with her embroidery.
Nanny Jin had mentioned to Qiao Mai that she should buy a long zither for her daughter.
Since she had some free time, Qiao Mai entered the space and searched for a long zither on the platform.
In the meantime, at Mayor Qian’s place, the guests had left. The dishes at each table had been cleaned up by poor families and beggars.
Lu Sanniang had changed into a new outfit and was having a meal with him.
“Old Qian?”
“Yes? If you have something to say, we’re married now.” “Did Sister Qiao give you that medicine?”
“She did. Starting today, we’ll take it. After six months, we’ll…”
Lu Sanniang’s face reddened, and she reached for a box and showed it to Mayor
Qian.
“Take a look.”
Mayor Qian was taken aback when he saw what was inside the box. “Madam Qiao gave you this?”
“Yes.”
“This woman is quite something. She’s unwilling to owe a debt to anyone. I only gave her a few banknotes, and it’s only because she gave my eldest brother and me the pills for treatment.”
“Let it be. If she has any trouble in the future, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her.”
“Yes.”
“The only thing is that Ruxin didn’t come today. I feel uneasy.”
“It’s because you didn’t tell her. You can’t blame her for not coming. Over there, I have people keeping an eye on her. If anything happens, they’ll notify us. You don’t have to worry.”
At that moment, a young servant gasping for breath arrived at the gate. “Master, Miss Ruxin was beaten in the prefectural city!”
Mayor Qian stood up abruptly, and Lu Sanniang’s face turned grim. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but she was causing trouble.
“I’ll go and take a look. You stay at home, alright?”
“No, I’m going too.”
They changed into regular clothing and quickly boarded a carriage to the prefectural city.
Upon arrival, they went straight to Ruxin’s residence, where a plaque reading “Xin Garden” hung.
The maid guarding the entrance had dark bruises on her face. She had been assaulted numerous times in a whole year.
“Where is your madam?”
“They took her to the prefectural court.”
“Tell me. What happened?”
“I’m not entirely sure. All I know is that the man who had a good relationship with the madam, his wife found our house. She beat up the madam and said she had a condition, but the madam disagree. So that lady dragged our madam to the prefectural court, saying she would accuse our madam of premarital sex or something like that.”
The maid’s voice grew quieter as she spoke, and Mayor Qian’s expression turned dark..
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