Chapter 207: Chatting Over Tea

Disclaimer: 

1. This is an unofficial translation and no permission has been obtained from the author/ official publisher. It may be taken down if the author/official publisher requests. 

2. This is a fan work and the interpretation represents only the translator’s personal views without any input from the author. 

3. No permission has been granted to use, publish, upload and/or copy this translation to any other site except for Second Life Translations.

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Liu Changgeng and He shi were seated in the position of honor. In their hands, they held the tea their second daughter-in-law had made for them. Liu Lin and Song Yao sat opposite them, while Liu Tao and Liu Sen sat below them. Liu Xu’er, Shi Cheng were behind Liu Shu and Sao Rong. They were the furthest back, closest to the window. 

Everyone had offered their bows, and it was now time for the family to sit together to chat. They talked about everyday matters mostly, mainly to share with Song Yao a bit about their family, to help her adjust to them more quickly. 

Liu Shu was just talking about their newest store. “The textile business is really quite good. There aren’t any off-peak seasons for these items, and there are plenty of customers from the neighbouring villages. During festivals, or when they have any family events, they would come over to buy a chi of cloth here and a chi of cloth there. During those periods, it gets slightly busier…..” He turned and looked at Liu Lin. He smiled and said, “I’ve already arranged most of the details, but now that you’ve got the time, I will hand the store back to you. I will go back to managing my ledgers. Nowadays, there are a lot of accounts to keep track of. I have my hands full with that.”

Liu Lin quickly nodded and said, “Alright, let me handle the rest from here. The first thing I need to do is to find some shop assistants.” 

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Nkw Fld pbaydj cynj, jllrkdt xwx, cwv Nkw Fbw pvkzz dseele yde zssjle yv bkx. “Fldgk, usw alyzzu nyd’v cl ps kezl yzz eyu. Zswa latl ds zsdtla byp vbl vkxl vs bydezl vbl bydeknayqv pvsal. Fkdnl usw esd’v byhl yduvbkdt sd uswa bydep, usw pbswze vyjl shla xydytlxldv sq vbl pvsal. Rv pbswze nsdvkdwl vs xykdvykd kvp nwaaldv xsxldvwx. Zsw nyd xyjl uswa sod elnkpksdp; vblal’p ds dlle vs nblnj kd okvb wp. Jwv usw xwpv xykdvykd vbl rasqkv xyatkd, kv nyddsv elnalypl. Rd qynv, usw pbswze cl vbkdjkdt sq oyup vs kdnalypl rasqkvp ulya cu ulya. Xvblaokpl….” Tl bxrble.&dcpr;

Nkw Fld tzydnle shla yv Tl pbk, yde pyo vbyv pbl oyp ycswv vs prlyj obld Nkw Fbw pxkzle yde nwv bla sqq, “Ywx, Fldgk kp alyzzu hlau kdvlzzktldv. Tl pbswzed’v dltzlnv bkp pvweklp, cwv vbl pvsal dllep vs cl xydytle cu psxlsdl. Tl pbswze byhl bkp sod alprsdpkckzkvklp, svblaokpl, bl prldep yzz eyu rzyukdt yaswde.”

Nkw Ubydttldt yzps dseele bkp blye, “Mbyv’p aktbv. Fldgk kpd’v pxyzz yduxsal – bl dllep vs byhl bkp sod ekalnvksd. Rq bl nyd nsdvkdwl vs rypp vbl lmyxkdyvksdp, bl pbswze vau, cwv kq dsv….” Tl vokpvle vs zssj yv Tl pbk yde pxkzle, “Rv’p dsvbkdt xwnb. Xwa qyxkzu eked’v es vbkp vs clnsxl sqqknkyzp. Jwv bl alyzzu pbswzed’v cl kezl.”

Tl pbk byed’v lhld pyke y osae yv vbkp rskdv, cwv bla bwpcyde yde psd bye vbl pyxl srkdksdp ycswv vbkp. Fbl bye ds svbla nbsknl. Fbl nswze sdzu pktb yde dse. Mbld pbl pyke vs Nkw Fld, “Zsw nyddsv dltzlnv uswa pvweklp! Mbkp ulya’p lmyxkdyvksdp… Gv vbl hlau zlypv, usw pbswze rypp.”

Nkw Fld kxxlekyvlzu bsozle, “Pked’v vblu yzalyeu pyu vbyv kv eked’v xyvvla kq R rypple sa dsv? Ebu kp xwx kdpkpvkdt vbyv R rypp?!”

Tl pbk oyp ycswv vs pyu psxlvbkdt obld Nkw Dw’la pxkzle yde pyke, “Ywx, usw alyzzu pbswzed’v cl ps ydmkswp ycswv vbkp…. Rp kv ps cye qsa Fldgk vs vyjl bkp vkxl vs pvweu? Jwv Fldgk alyzzu eslp dlle psxl alprsdpkckzkvklp vs snnwru bkx. Zsw nyd’v jllr rzyukdt yzz eyu. Nssj yv Hbsdtgbsw yde bkp casvblap – vblu yal vbl pyxl ytl yp usw, cwv vblu yal vbl sdlp awddkdt vbl pvsalp vblpl eyup!”

Usdpkelakdt vbl yzvladyvkhl, Nkw Fld xktbvkzu ralqlaale xydytkdt y pvsal vs clkdt pbwv yv bsxl yzz eyu vs pvweu. Nkw Fld kxxlekyvlzu dseele yde pyke, “Xj, pwal! R okzz xydytl vbl pvsal, vbyv’p ldswtb aktbv? Mblal’p ds rasczlx okvb xydytkdt vbl zkvvzl pvsal, R rasxkpl R osd’v zspl wp xsdlu!”

Ohlausdl zywtble yde Tl pbk nswze sdzu tkhl wr.&dcpr;

Liu Shu smiled and turned to look at Shao Rong, “Shao Rong’s been a quick study. She can write quite a few words now…”

He hadn’t finished when Shao Rong nudged him. Face red, she smiled, “Why are you bringing me up….”

Liu Xu’er giggled and said, “Dage wants to take the chance to praise dasao!”

Everyone laughed and Shao Rong flushed even redder. She turned and wanted to roll her eyes at Liu Shu, but didn’t dare to in front of her in-laws. She could only change the topic and say to Liu Xu’er, “A few days ago you were just asking about how to make jasmine powders. Now that you ersao is here, I think she should know how it’s done. You can ask her.”

Liu Xu’er was reminded. She smiled and said, “That’s right!” Then she turned to Song Yao and said, “Ersao, in a few days, could you teach me and dasao how to make these rouge powders? The ones we made before aren’t too good.”

Song Yao had been sitting there quietly for most of the conversation, listening to everyone else speak. Now that she was called, she quickly nodded and said, “Alright…. I only know the theory of it – I’ve never done it personally. We can experiment.”

“Great.” Liu Xu’er said. 

He shi was again reminded. She asked Liu Xu’er about the preparation of her dowry. There were some items that had to be hand embroidered by Liu Xu’er, while others, like the bedding, had to be hand sewn. Liu Xu’er nodded her head – everything was prepared. Because her marriage had been arranged early, these things had all been made well in advance.

Shi Cheng sat at her side, drinking the hot tea. His stomach had finally settled somewhat. He really had drank too much last night. Up till now, he hadn’t quite recovered his usual alertness.

Everyone chatted, contributing a sentence here and there as they slowly sipped the tea. Liu Changgeng usually had the habit of smoking his pipe, but had been slowly cutting down on it these past few years. Now he preferred a thick tea. Everyone sampled the tea as they chatted for a few hours. When it was time for lunch, everyone sat down together. Then Liu Lin brought Song Yao to his sishu’s home to visit his grandparents and the rest of the family scattered to do their own tasks. 

Shi Cheng gingerly made his way home to sleep. He slept all the way till the next morning before finally recovering his spirits. He came out, washed up and went to look in on his family’s businesses. 

Along with him was a little manservant called Zhou Cheng. He followed behind while reporting, “The store manager told me yesterday, but I saw that you were busy and so waited till now to let you know – The store manager went to Hanzhong city and the Master said that Madam still hopes for the First Young Master to get married there. He wants to know your opinion?”

Shi Cheng was a bit impatient. He gave an “en” but didn’t say anything else. 

When they got to the jewellery store, he made his way upstairs and sat down. His store manager smiled and came over saying, “Young Master, there’s a piece of business our store has done this morning.”

Shi Cheng uttered an “oh” and lifted his eyebrow.” What business – why does it need to be specially brought to my attention?”

“It’s the Hanlin family. This morning, they sent servants over to instruct us to bring some popular pieces of jewellery over. They kept five or six items – worth a total of about 100 or so taels of silver.”

Shi Cheng jumped out of his seat! He blinked furiously in thought – Liu Lin should have given them 200 taels of silver in betrothal. That was to say, these two wasteful women had already spent more than half of it?! Did they really think that because they got the store, they didn’t need to worry about their daily expenses?!

He shook his head. Shi Cheng then said, “Watch the two pawn shops. If these items make their way to the pawn shops, report it to me immediately.”

“Of course.” The store manager smiled and agreed. Then he said, “The assistant who went to their home said that the two madams really liked a few pieces. They scrutinised them for a long time before finally putting them aside.”

Shi Cheng immediately understood and asked which few pieces they were? The store manager pointed them out and Shi Cheng had a rough understanding of them before nodding his head. Then he thought to himself – the matter had to be quickly shared with Liu Lin. Liu Lin and Song Yao would be returning to her maiden home tomorrow. Who knew what those two women would try to pull, especially since they were already beginning to plot how to get the textile store back in their hands. 

As he thought, he realised there was no rush to head over to Liu Lin now – after all, he would be heading over in the evening to join their meal. Shi Cheng instructed the store manager to bring the store’s ledger over for him to inspect. He wanted to make sure that everything was in order before he got married so that he would be able to enjoy himself for a while after. 

Just as he was looking through them, there were some noisy footsteps from below. Four or five of the shop assistants ran out, and a while later, he heard someone climbing the stairs. Shi Cheng was puzzled, which big customer was here? He turned to look for the store manager but he was nowhere to be found. He was  just wondering if he should have a look when he saw Liu Xu’er walking up. 

Shi Cheng was immediately both surprised and happy. He jumped up and saw that behind Liu Xu’er were her two sisters-in-law. Liu Lin was also present. The store manager was bowing and greeting them. 

Shi Cheng smiled and went over. “I was just wondering why all of them rushed out to greet the guests. I was puzzled that we had someone so important in Feng town?!”

Liu Xu’er also smiled. “I am here on my mother’s orders, to accompany my dasao and ersao to pick out some jewellery. My erge is here as our escort.”

Everyone laughed. Liu Xu’er walked over to Shi Cheng, smiled and said, “How are you? You still seem a bit listless? Should we invite a doctor over?”

Shi Cheng smiled bitterly and said, “It’s fine… I just need to rest for a few more days. I just drank too much that day. How many years has it been since I’ve had that much?”

Liu Lin overheard that. He gave a baffled smile, “How many years…. You make it sound as though you used to drink a lot.”

Shi Cheng gave a sheepish grin, and before directing a pout at Liu Xu’er. He invited everyone to sit down, and called for tea to be served. The store manager had already swiftly arranged their most popular pieces of jewellery on a red salver and brought them over. He invited the women to make their selections. 

Shi Cheng had already dragged Liu Lin to the side and softly shared what the store manager had told him. When Liu Lin heard, he raised his eyebrows and said in an astonished voice, “These two women…. Don’t need to eat?!”

Shi Cheng smiled and continued in a soft voice, “These types of families – the more they decline, the more they are concerned about their face. They’re terrified that others would say that they aren’t as good as others…. Thankfully you took all the good quality silks from the store. Otherwise, they probably won’t bother selling it – they would just take it for themselves.”

Liu Lin was speechless. He shook his head before saying to Shi Cheng, “The discussion from before, what do you plan to do?”

Shi Cheng smiled, “Why so anxious?”

“Can I be calm? I had just started that store when they snatched it from me. I don’t even know how they would ruin it!” Liu Lin shook his head. He turned and looked at Song Yao, then he turned and said  softly, “Song Yao’s dasao, mother – none of them care about Song Yao. I won’t show them any mercy.”

Shi Cheng nodded his head and said, “To make it impossible for them to continue managing the store is actually quite simple. There are a lot of ways, it’s just that it’s not too convenient right now. We don’t have any textile stores – if we did, it would be easy to just outcompete them.”

Liu Lin thought it over before saying, “After Song Yao has had her visit with her maiden family tomorrow, I will make a trip down to Songjiang prefecture and discuss the situation with the workshop owner there. I will ask him to withhold their most popular textiles from the store for now. As for the rest of the workshops, I think that there is only one other workshop that is  suitable for the store. The others are too expensive. I will discuss it with them – if they can, they should avoid offering any stock.”

Shi Cheng nodded his head and said, “Those two workshops would definitely have their own terms. Have you thought about what you would offer them?”

Liu Lin nodded his head, “I would probably have to buy from them exclusively for a few years going forward. We would need it all written down in black and white. That’s nothing – I had planned to do that anyway.” He smiled. 

Shi Cheng also smiled and nodded his head. “Agreeing to that is fine, but you cannot agree to anything else – no deposits or anything like that.”

“That is for sure.” Liu Lin nodded his head. 

After their simple discussion, they both went back to take a seat and watched as the women chose jewellery….