Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 75 Kneeling Down to Beg for the First Slot (3)
"You little wretch, you come here and don’t even bring a jug of wine?" Uncle Ma scowled with his mustache puckered and then immediately switched to a fawning expression, "You see, Xuxu, now I’m addicted to your wine; you can’t just leave me hanging." While he spoke, he tugged at Feng Xuxu’s sleeve, attempting to look pitiful. His speed in changing faces was comparable to that of a chameleon.
Feng Xuxu couldn’t help but chuckle, "How could I forget Uncle Ma? Look, this time I’ve brought you a whole jar." Feng Xuxu took a bundle down from the horse’s back, revealing an unmistakably sealed jar within.
Uncle Ma strode forward, snatched the jar from Feng Xuxu’s hands, and, unable to wait, took a big gulp. After finishing, he laughed heartily and carried the jar back to his quarters.
It wasn’t until Feng Xuxu and Uncle Ma had shared a pot of tea that Feng Liu finally arrived with the ox cart. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
"Uncle Ma, I have several recipes here, all of which use chili peppers," Feng Xuxu said as she took out the meticulously prepared recipes from her wide sleeves, detailing the methods for each dish.
Feng Liu and a few workers from the tavern were weighing goods in the backyard: a total of four hundred and sixty-nine pounds. At five hundred wen a pound, the total came to two hundred thirty-four taels and five hundred wen. With ten recipes at one hundred taels each, the total was one thousand taels. However, when Feng Xuxu settled the account, she received one thousand two hundred fifty taels. The extra fifteen taels and five hundred wen were said to be deducted from the next pepper shipment.
Uncle Ma, looking at the recipes, went to the kitchen and had the chef try to cook them, leaving Feng Xuxu to instruct on the side. By the time the chef learned how to prepare them and she had her fill of tasting them, she bid Uncle Ma farewell and rode back home.
When Feng Xuxu got home in the afternoon, she thought for a moment before having Xia Lian summon the butler: "Butler, go and arrange to buy some jars later; ones that can hold about ten pounds each will do. The more the better, and the quicker the better."
With a puzzled look, the butler asked, "Miss, what do we need so many jars for?"
"The long beans in the fields will be ripe soon, and I plan to pickle some sour beans," Feng Xuxu said, her eyebrow knit with concentration as she spoke to the butler. She paused, then added, "As we have a shortage of house servants, you might as well buy some more while you’re at it, and then find people to arrange for the removal of the chili peppers from the cave, dry them and store them in the warehouse," Feng Xuxu instructed the butler in one breath.
The butler stood silently listening; seeing Feng Xuxu had nothing more to say, he bowed and turned to leave.
The butler was extremely efficient in carrying out tasks, and by evening when Feng Xuxu saw him again, he was followed by about forty people, mostly men, among them a woman who appeared older but exuded a noticeable aura of dignity. As Feng Xuxu approached this woman and circled her with a discerning gaze, she asked sharply, "What is your name, and what did you do before?"
"Replying to the Miss, my name is Shuhua, and I previously worked as a nursemaid in the Ministry House," Shuhua replied, hands clasped at her right waist with a knee bent in a deep bow. Observing Shuhua, Feng Xuxu instantly understood the butler’s intention for buying this woman. Seeing that Shuhua was still in her bowed position, Feng Xuxu stepped forward, lifted the nursemaid’s hand and said, "I’ll have to trouble you to teach me and the few girls around me in the future."
Upon hearing the young lady’s words, Shuhua performed another half bow and said with her head bowed and in a disciplined tone, "Miss, this is my duty. I will definitely not let you down."
Feng Xuxu nodded at her words, indicating Shuhua could get up. Feng Xuxu then turned to face the crowd and said succinctly, "I won’t say much more. Do your jobs well, follow the rules, be loyal to Zhongxin Estate, and the estate will not forget you. If you dare to betray, I’ll make you understand what it means not to be able to live, nor to die." Her stern gaze swept over everyone. Afterwards, the butler began a lengthy harangue.
