Lady of Fortune, Jiao Niang

Chapter 13

Although autumn rain wasn't anything unusual, this torrential downpour still caught many people off guard.

Generally, academies would have holidays on the first and fifteenth of each month, but Qi Ming's academy was stricter, only giving a few days off on the first, with students required to study hard at the academy all other times.

Qi Ming, who was originally supposed to return, stayed at the academy waiting for the heavy rain to pass before coming back, while Qi Yun also stayed at the estate with Father Qi to keep watch.

But Qi Yun didn't stop his plans to renovate the wine shop. Manager Song came at fixed times every day, arriving early in the morning and leaving before lunch, continuing through wind and rain for many days.

However, they no longer went to the study, but often talked in the small room instead.

Manager Song's mood improved day by day. Even the pouring rain couldn't wash away his joy. In contrast, Qi Yun appeared very calm, regularly taking his medicine and resting, which greatly comforted the doctor who came for regular check-ups.

Actually, the former Qi Yun could hardly be called an obedient patient. He would take prescribed medicine sometimes and skip it other times. During consultations, he most often asked how much longer he could live, all of which gave the doctor a great sense of defeat.

Now it was different. Qi Yun's health was slowly improving, and he no longer mentioned life and death casually. His attitude was exceptionally proper, so naturally the doctor was happy for him.

At the same time, the doctor was also happy for himself. If Qi Yun could gradually get better, the consultation fees the doctor could receive would be substantially more than before.

Of course, saving lives was a doctor's primary duty, but doctors were also human. Since they were human, they had to eat, and naturally he wouldn't refuse more silver.

The little ginseng watched Qi Yun recuperate every day. As for what he wanted to do with the shops by calling Manager Song, Ye Jiao never even asked.

After the rain cleared and the weather turned fine, Ye Jiao resumed her daily visits to Liu Shi's place. When she returned, Manager Song had usually already left.

Each autumn rain brought cooler weather. Taking advantage of the good sunshine after the heavy rain, Liu Shi told Fang Shi and Ye Jiao to bring out winter clothes to air them, preparing to put them on.

This day, Qi Yun brought up something: "Jiao Niang, I mentioned before about teaching you to read."

Ye Jiao was eating an apple at the moment. Hearing this, she immediately nodded and asked excitedly: "Should we start right now?"

Originally, Qi Yun just didn't want Ye Jiao to feel bored. Since he himself couldn't embroider or arrange flowers, after thinking it over, he remembered that Ye Jiao had previously said she wanted to learn reading and writing.

Previously, the first book Qi Ming learned was taught by Qi Yun. Now that Qi Ming could take the imperial examinations, Qi Yun felt he could also teach his own wife.

But Qi Yun didn't know whether Ye Jiao's earlier statement about wanting to learn reading was to make him happy or was sincere. Now seeing Ye Jiao agree so readily, he knew his little wife had a heart devoted to learning.

This made Qi Yun smile. He had Tie Zi and Little Su bring several books from the study. Ye Jiao excitedly began learning to read again.

Unlike ordinary children's education, Ye Jiao learned characters very quickly. Often after Qi Yun read something to her once, Ye Jiao could recognize the general meaning. The characters she had used before had only changed in writing style, with meanings roughly the same. What she needed to do was match them one by one.

But after studying for nearly ten days, Ye Jiao discovered that compared to Qi Yun's exquisite calligraphy, her own writing looked exceptionally ugly...

The little ginseng defended herself internally. This wasn't her fault. Before she had only leaves, now she had hands, which were much harder to control than leaves!

Ye Jiao, accustomed to writing with leaves, now when she picked up a brush, unconsciously wrote characters in a round shape.

Her husband wrote characters that were horizontal and vertical.

Her own characters looked like big rice balls...

Shaking the large characters she had just written, Ye Jiao studied them and suddenly noticed Qi Yun's expression looked somewhat strange.

As if holding something back, trying hard to press down the corners of his mouth, even his earlobes were a bit red.

Ye Jiao looked at him curiously: "Husband, are you feeling unwell?"

Qi Yun waved his hand, indicating he was fine, his voice gentle: "Nothing wrong, Jiao Niang. Didn't you always want to read medical texts? I just had Little Su fetch some. They're on the second shelf of the right bookcase in the study. Go get them and I'll explain them to you."

Hearing this, Ye Jiao immediately got up and walked toward the door.

But suddenly there came a low laugh from behind. Ye Jiao turned around somewhat bewildered, but found Qi Yun sitting on the soft couch looking composed, as if nothing had happened. Sensing Ye Jiao's gaze, the man even asked her gently: "What's wrong?"

Ye Jiao blinked, thinking she must have heard wrong, and smiled: "Nothing." Then she opened the door and called Little Su to go to the study together.

Qi Yun in the room put on his outer garment and stood up, walking around the charcoal brazier in the middle of the room to pick up the large characters Ye Jiao had written.

Ugly, truly ugly, soft and limp, the whole character looked like it was lying on the ground too lazy to get up.

If his third brother had written such characters, Qi Yun would probably have hit his knuckles with a ruler.

But when Ye Jiao wrote them, Qi Yun saw some childish charm in them.

Looking longer, he even found this unconscious circle-drawing style of writing quite cute.

He had held back his laughter earlier to avoid hurting Ye Jiao's eagerness to learn. Now that Ye Jiao wasn't here, Qi Yun no longer held back, smiled, and laughed out loud.

He had truly married a treasure.

But on the way to the study, Ye Jiao encountered Manager Song.

It was already evening, and usually Manager Song came in the morning. He wouldn't be here at this time. Now seeing him, Ye Jiao stopped and smiled: "Manager Song, are you looking for my husband?"

Manager Song cupped his hands toward Ye Jiao, his voice somewhat breathless: "Greet... greetings, Second Young Mistress. Do you know where Second Young Master is now?"

Ye Jiao thought he had been running and hurriedly said: "Don't worry, Manager Song. My husband is in the courtyard. You can wait in the small room." Then Ye Jiao turned to Little Su: "Take Manager Song there, remember to serve hot tea, let Manager Song catch his breath. I'll go call my husband."

But Manager Song wasn't breathless from running, but from excitement.

He didn't follow Little Su, but handed the account book from his chest to Ye Jiao, saying quietly: "Second Young Mistress, I won't go find Young Master. Please give this to Second Young Master, and help me pass along a message."

Ye Jiao blinked. During these days, she had often helped Manager Song deliver things to Qi Yun. She reached out to take the account book: "Go ahead."

"Just tell Second Young Master that we're about to strike it rich!"

Ye Jiao didn't quite understand what this meant, but she remembered it in her heart.

When she went back to tell Qi Yun, she saw the man show a smile, flipping through the account book while saying softly: "Manager Song is truly easy to satisfy."

Ye Jiao was somewhat curious: "Husband, what does 'strike it rich' mean?"

Qi Yun pinched her earlobe, smiling without answering.

In a flash, a month passed. On the first day of the month, Qi Ming finally got his holiday and sent word that he would return that evening.

Liu Shi missed her youngest son greatly. Due to the previous torrential rain, Qi Ming hadn't been home for nearly two months. Liu Shi prepared a table full of dishes waiting for his return.

Actually, these things could have been done by giving orders to others, but Liu Shi always felt that without doing something herself, the waiting time was particularly difficult to endure.

Ye Jiao helped her busily going in and out, helping pass plates and bowls, and took the opportunity to observe the cooking process, maintaining an expression of amazement throughout.

So that's how those delicious dishes were made. Ye Jiao was suddenly filled with goodwill toward the family's cook.

Seeing this, Fang Shi handed Little Shi Tou to Nanny Liu to hold and went to help herself.

When the three women finally rested, Father Qi also returned home with Qi Zhao.

Following them back were several managers. Only then did Liu Shi remember that besides being her youngest son's academy holiday, today was also the family's bimonthly account settlement day.

She didn't go forward, just had Nanny Liu serve them tea, while she took the two daughters-in-law to sit in the left room beside the main hall.

A plate of peach pastries sat on the table. Ye Jiao looked at Liu Shi, and seeing Liu Shi nod at her, she reached out to take one and eat it. Fang Shi, afraid of gaining weight, resisted and didn't move.

The left room was only separated from the main hall by a door. Now with the door open, the voices from the main hall could be heard clearly.

Several managers took their seats, but their expressions were quite different.

The most pleased were the managers from the estates, as usual the estates brought in the most income.

The Qi family was the largest wealthy household and the biggest landowner within ten miles, having lived comfortably for many years by making money from land.

Sure enough, as soon as the managers entered, the estate manager said with a smile: "Master, this year's harvest is good. Eldest Young Master has been keeping a close watch these days. The heavy rain didn't cause the tenant farmers much loss. Seven granaries, three are full."

Ye Jiao ate her peach pastry. She didn't know what having three full granaries meant, but Fang Shi knew clearly. Selling this grain would bring in at least 50 strings of cash in income.

This made Fang Shi immediately straighten her back, her smile showing undisguised pride.

The estate was managed by Qi Zhao, so naturally Fang Shi was happy.

Father Qi also showed a smile but didn't speak, instead turning to look at the remaining managers.

These managers oversaw various things like the Qi family's orchards, medicine gardens, medicine shops, and wine shops, but none of them spoke. They all silently cursed the estate manager for being so arrogant.

He had set such a high standard. When they spoke their numbers later, wouldn't it be embarrassing if theirs weren't even a fraction of his?

They were still exchanging glances, hoping someone else would step forward first to take this burden for everyone.

Just then, Manager Song slowly stood up.

The other managers weren't surprised that he was willing to take the lead.

The wine shop was one of the better money-makers besides the estates. Usually every two months it could earn 20 to 30 strings of cash. While it couldn't compare to the 50 strings, it wasn't too embarrassing.

Manager Song was getting on in years, with more wrinkles on his face than even Father Qi, but he looked radiant now, speaking with full confidence: "Master, I've brought the wine shop's account book." He then handed over the account book.

Father Qi didn't look at it, just asked: "How's the income?"

Manager Song seemed to bow modestly, but his voice couldn't hide his pride: "Over 100 strings of cash."

"Clang."

Ye Jiao, holding her peach pastry, looked somewhat surprised at the teacup Fang Shi had accidentally knocked over, then the little ginseng quickly patted her hands with a handkerchief and picked up Little Shi Tou, who had been startled by Fang Shi.

But Liu Shi had no reaction to these things, instead looking toward the main hall in amazement.

One hundred strings of cash?

In broad daylight, was Manager Song dreaming!