Country Maiden: Fields and Fortune

220, Knocking (2nd update)

Li Hengyi readily agreed.

Xie Zhinuan also asked him to lend her some people to purchase bamboo mats, bamboo pillow rests, and thin quilts, planning to buy two sets of ready-made clothes per person.

Before the restaurant had even opened, Xie Zhinuan had already spent four thousand taels of silver.

Once these people were taken on, she had them bathe, wash their hair, and then had a doctor take their pulses and check their health, consume anti-parasite medicine, and those with illnesses were treated promptly.

She also met with members of the Xuan Family, Luo Family, and Zhao Family, who had come to sell their properties and shops.

Li Hengyi did not meet with them; Xie Zhinuan spoke with them for a while before going to see the properties and shops.

The locations were not particularly good, but neither were they bad; most importantly, they were close to her own house.

As for the price, naturally, they were cheap.

Xie Zhinuan bought a shop with a kitchen in the backyard, intending to use it to sell braised meat.

“Miss Xie, won’t you look further?” Old Master Zhao asked.

He, too, hoped to sell a manor or shop to Xie Zhinuan, to foster a closer relationship.

“Let’s look at more!”

In the end, she bought two more shops, which were virtually half-given as gifts, causing Xie Zhinuan some embarrassment.

With the three shops, Xie Zhinuan planned to sell braised meat first, as this business was much easier to manage. From those she had bought, she selected a few young, strong, and clean individuals.

Looking at the dozen or so people in front of her.

After being clothed in new outfits and groomed, they indeed looked much more spirited.

Xie Zhinuan felt pleased and nodded slightly, “You all do look quite good!”

“You have all been carefully selected by me. You must work hard and not be lazy. As for the benefits, I don’t need to say more. When you’ve been with me longer, you’ll know what kind of person I am. And the same goes for you – no playing tricks. If you obey orders, I’m naturally a kind-hearted and good master. But if you attempt to deceive or betray me, rest assured, I have ways to deal with you!”

“People, after all, should reciprocate kindness. If you serve me wholeheartedly, I’m not blind or insensitive. In short, let’s encourage each other!”

The servants promptly agreed.

In that era, houses in the county town all had wells, firstly for the convenience of water use; and secondly, in case of fire, to have water for extinguishing it.

Xie Zhinuan poured a basin of spiritual spring water into each of the three wells, observing some changes in the water quality.

She also bought several thousand pounds of radishes, had them thoroughly washed, chopped into thick chunks, and laid out to dry.

She went to buy spices, some of which needed to be roasted before grinding into powder.

The people she had bought, without saying more, were impeccable in their work.

Fed well and not subjected to beatings, no longer needing to roam or live a vagrant life, they were settling down, and eager to show their worth in front of Xie Zhinuan. They worked with great diligence in hopes of being taken under her wing for future tasks.

The several thousand pounds of radishes were processed in a single day, spread out on various sifters and drying mats.

“Miss, what are you planning to do with so many radishes?”

“We’re making spicy radishes. Our shop won’t just sell braised meat; we also need to prepare other items, like chili sauce, and start making that too!” Xie Zhinuan spoke earnestly.@@novelbin@@

She was very busy.

She had to direct the work at several shops; there needed to be more stoves as the braising of the meat would be done continuously from morning until evening, requiring several stoves.

The management of the house here also demanded her supervision-not because she feared Wang Liu and the others would be lazy, but some areas required her personal direction.

Her bustling activity kept her coming and going constantly; only at meal times, when she came back to cook, was Li Hengyi able to see her.

He thought Xie Zhinuan would be exhausted, but to his surprise, she was vibrant and full of energy, moving swiftly and with endless drive.

Chapter 221