Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

The next day, before the city gates were even opened, oxcarts began to gather at the city gates one after another, stretching far back, with more oxcarts constantly trying to squeeze forward. One of them was pointed to by a man on horseback and rejoined the end of the oxcart line.

"Line up properly, don't block the city gate. Form a line, and you... I'm talking to you, ignore everyone else, stand at the back of the line, don't cut in line."

A young man dressed as a servant rode on a horse, directing the oxcarts in a line.

Other people waiting to leave the city gate found this scene strange. What was going on with so many oxcarts leaving the city together?

Several city gate guards in the sentry post also noticed what was happening outside, and came over after putting on their clothes and hats.

Upon seeing the officer with a sword approaching from afar, Steward Qin greeted him with a smile from a distance.

"You led this convoy? What are you doing out of the city?" the city gate officer leading the group asked.

"Sir, I apologize for your inquiries. I am the purchasing manager of the Shen family. I am here on my master's orders to pick up watermelons from the country estate."

"From the Shen family? You look unfamiliar. Are you an imposter?"

"You flatter me, sir. I've only been in charge for a short time and haven't done much work yet, so you look unfamiliar to me." As he spoke, he slipped a silver ingot into the hand of the leading city gate official through his wide sleeve.

"Oh, that explains why I haven't seen you before. Alright, when the city gates open, line up and go out in a row. Don't cause a traffic jam at the gates." The soldier stuffed the silver into his sleeve pocket and earnestly instructed the officer.

"Yes, yes, sir, don't worry." After politely seeing off the city gate officials, he returned to the carriage. The servant who had come up with him couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"Third Brother, you're being too polite to them. Do you think they'd dare stop us from leaving the city on business? They're just some lowly city gate officials. Our Master is a close advisor to the Emperor. Even if we don't give them money, what can they do?" He said this with disdain for the city gate officials.

"What kind of expression is that? Who are we? We are servants of the Shen family, here to serve our master, not for you to use our master's name to bully others and cause trouble for him. Remember, anything that can be settled with a small amount of money is not a big deal. If I had been firm just now, they naturally wouldn't have done anything to us. But firstly, it would have delayed our work, and secondly, it would have damaged our master's reputation. Moreover, if this matter were to reach our master's ears, we would be the ones who suffer the consequences and be punished."

After saying that, she looked at her cousin who was hanging his head and shrinking his neck like a quail and didn't say a word. She couldn't help but pinch the corner of her eye, which was a little tired from sleepiness.

"Did you remember what I said?"

"I remember, Third Brother." Little Quail answered hesitantly when he saw his Third Brother's very serious face.

When the city gates opened, the sight frightened those who were about to enter the city, causing them to hesitate and dare not go in.

"That's the Shen family's caravan heading to the estate to pick up watermelons. Hurry up and move in, don't block the road!" Several city gate guards shouted to the people who dared not enter the city.

Upon hearing that it was the Shen family's oxcart, everyone felt relieved. Who didn't know the Shen family? They were renowned philanthropists in their county.

Once all the caravans had left the city gates, the young servant on horseback checked the list of drivers and the servants brought by the Shen family one by one. After confirming that everything was correct, he delivered the list to the first carriage carrying Steward Qin. He then rode ahead to Zhangjia Village.

Nearly sixty people came today, along with thirty oxcarts, servants, and farmhands. They needed to eat at the Zhang family's house today, so he had to inform them in advance to start preparations. Of course, he couldn't eat for free; he brought thirty taels of silver with him as payment for the meal.

When the horse-riding servant arrived, Zhang Youtie had already gone to the construction site. Only Liu Shi, Aunt Ma, and Liu Xiaocui were at home doing needlework. Xia Yu had taken Shijiu and Daniu to play on the mountain.

The horse-riding servant respectfully explained his identity and the reason for his visit to Madam Liu. After speaking, he presented the money bag with both hands.

Looking at the money bag in front of her, Madam Liu smiled and said to the servant...

"Manager Qin, you're too kind. It's just a meal at home, there's no need for so much money. Please take it back quickly."

"Madam Zhang, please accept the money. If you don't, our Steward Qin will blame me. Besides, there are fifty or sixty of us. If you don't accept it, we won't be able to eat in peace. The brothers who have been here before all say that the food at Master Zhang and Madam's house is delicious. As soon as Steward Qin mentioned coming to our mansion, all the brothers in the mansion were eager to come. They just wanted to have a good meal at Madam's house." He finished speaking and looked at Madam Zhang pitifully.

Aunt Ma, having heard all that was said, smiled and offered some words of advice.

"Madam, this young man looks so pitiful, please accept the money. We'll cook a few more hearty dishes for them to enjoy later."

After thinking for a moment, Liu nodded gently. Seeing her nod, Aunt Ma stepped forward, took the bag of silver, and asked the servant with a smile.

What do you want to eat for lunch?

"Anything is fine. I've heard that the food at Madam's house is delicious, no worse than that at Zuixiaolou."

"What a sweet talker," Aunt Ma joked with the servant boy with a smile, and then, at Liu's instruction, she took him to the construction site to find Zhang Youtie.

Meanwhile, Liu began arranging for people to prepare the meal. The women from the pond were all called over, except for Sister-in-law Zhou and her sister-in-law, Guan Mengshi.

The other two couples were Feng Dahai and Liu Wuni, and Zhang Suozhu and Wang Guixiang. There was also a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Gao Shi and Dongmiao. These two were particularly skilled at weaving; after the New Year, they had already woven several bolts of cloth using the family's cotton. Normally, Liu Shi wouldn't ask them to do cooking. But today, with so many people coming, the food couldn't be prepared immediately. Hearing their mistress call, the two put down their shuttles and hurried over with the others.

Sister-in-law Zhou was in charge of cooking, while her sister-in-law Guan Mengshi and Zhao Mancang's wife Wang Qiqi were in charge of chopping meat and vegetables. Liu Wuni and Wang Guixiang were in charge of washing vegetables, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were in charge of making pancakes.

When Aunt Ma returned, Uncle Ma and Gao Shuanzhu also came back. Zhang Youtie, following the advice of the servant on horseback, asked Uncle Ma to go to town to buy some fresh meat, while Gao Shuanzhu stayed at the house to run errands for Liu Shi if she needed anything. Zhang Youtie took the servant on horseback to Gao Shanqi's house and asked him to notify the villagers who wanted to sell watermelons. However, Zhang Youtie added a condition: the watermelon seedlings had to be purchased from their store; otherwise, it wouldn't work.

Gao Shanqi didn't raise any objections to this; he felt that Zhang Youtie was doing the right thing. "Why should I sell watermelons for you if you didn't buy my seedlings?"