Pastoral Splendor

The sun had just peeked out from behind the clouds, casting soft shadows on the trees in the warm spring. The light and shadow intertwined, and the courtyard of the Prince Yu's Mansion was filled with the fragrance of flowers. Birds chirped incessantly on the branches, hopping up and down, calling to each other and scattering strings of clear, pearl-like sounds.

Xu Yixuan got up early, practiced a set of martial arts with Jian Yifei, and then went back to his room.

Xiuyun and several maids were waiting there. When they saw him come in, they rushed over, some carrying basins of water, some handing him handkerchiefs to wipe his sweat, and others holding clothes and calling out, "Young Master, please change your clothes quickly."

Jian Yifei stood at the door and looked at the maids. She knew that they all wanted to please Xu Yixuan. Xu Yixuan turned fourteen last year. In less than a year, the Princess Consort of Yu would probably be assigning him a wife. Naturally, the maids would be more attentive to him.

Xiuyun was the most beautiful of Xu Yixuan's personal maids, with delicate eyebrows and eyes, and was very pleasing to the eye. She was also exceptionally meticulous and thoughtful in her work, and Princess Yu always regarded her with special favor. Xiuyun also understood that if she was diligent and attentive, perhaps the princess would betroth her to the young master as a concubine in the future. This was a good opportunity for her to climb the social ladder, so she was exceptionally attentive.

Although the woman in this room was of low status, she was the young master's first woman. In wealthy families, a woman in the room, unless she was stupid, could almost reach the position of a concubine. Xiuyun secretly made up her mind that no one could take away her status as a woman in the room.

When Xiuyun first arrived at the villa with Xu Yixuan, she found it quite comfortable. However, she gradually discovered that life there was actually quite pleasant. She no longer had to worry about the Princess Consort appearing in the courtyard from time to time, pointing fingers and criticizing their various shortcomings. The young master was truly the Princess Consort's darling; she doted on him, treating him like a precious gem, spoiling him rotten. Fortunately, the young master hadn't become arrogant and was relatively kind to them, only occasionally throwing a tantrum.

"Go and call all the servants in the courtyard over here." Xu Yixuan washed his face and changed his clothes, then sat down leisurely. Seeing several maids standing beside him, reluctant to leave, he couldn't help but get angry: "Hurry up and go!"

Xiuyun hurriedly led her maids to search for people in a panic. Jian Yifei stepped in: "You want them to go dig up bamboo shoots?"

"Of course, I've already told Miss Xiao that a person should keep their word and not go back on their word." Xu Yixuan glanced smugly at the people who were walking into the hall one after another, and chuckled: "There are so many people in the courtyard, we should make good use of them."

The maids and servants hurried into the hall, standing in a dark row. Xu Yixuan had Xiuyun count the number; about thirty had been found. Xu Yixuan grinned; "Today, all of you will go out and dig bamboo shoots on the mountain behind the house. Each of you must bring back ten catties!"

The thought of digging three hundred catties of bamboo shoots for Miss Xiao every day made Xu Yixuan very happy. He could almost see Yan Ying's big, watery eyes in front of him, and the smile on her lips seemed to be praising her for doing a good job.

"What?" The maids and servants were all surprised and puzzled. "Young Master, why are you digging up so many bamboo shoots?"

"What do you care what I'm doing? Stop babbling and hurry up with your hoes to go up the mountain and dig. You can come back once you've dug up ten jin." Xu Yixuan waved his hand: "Go, go!"

Although the maids and servants came from poor families, they had forgotten how to do farm work after being at the Prince Yu's mansion for so long. When they heard that they were to go up the mountain to dig bamboo shoots, they all hung their heads and were dejected. However, they did not dare to argue with Xu Yixuan and walked out with their heads down and grumbling.

Seeing Xiuyun standing motionless to the side, Xu Yixuan was somewhat annoyed: "Why aren't you moving?"

Xiuyun shrank back in fright: "Shouldn't the young master have someone to serve him?" She always felt that she was different from the other maids, so how could she go up the mountain with that group of people? Looking at Xu Yixuan's face, Xiuyun suddenly felt that she would be better off going up the mountain with that group of people.

"I'm not some delicate girl, why would I need someone to wait on me?" Xu Yixuan slammed his hand on the table, making a loud thud. "Hurry up and go dig up some bamboo shoots, don't be lazy!"

After chasing the group away, Xu Yixuan smiled at Jian Yifei and asked, "Master, shall we go to Yuzhou City?"

Jian Yifei nodded: "Okay."

The master and apprentice, accompanied by several guards, rushed to Ruyi Restaurant. It wasn't lunchtime yet, and the manager, seeing Xu Yixuan, was somewhat fearful but approached with a smile: "Young Master, are you here for breakfast or lunch?"

Xu Yixuan lifted his Shu brocade robe and walked upstairs to a private room in a few steps: "Have your boss come over here."

The shopkeeper looked at Xu Yixuan with a worried expression, thinking to himself, "I wonder if Miss Xiao complained to this young master, and he's unhappy that Ruyi Restaurant didn't buy Miss Xiao's pickled bamboo shoots? But I sent a trusted manager to Xiao Family Village early this morning to buy Miss Xiao's pickled bamboo shoots, and to express my apology, I bought ten jars at once. That's my way of showing my remorse. Does Miss Xiao still feel that it's not enough?"

Regardless, these troublemakers had to be dealt with. He was just a shopkeeper; how could he stand up for his master? The shopkeeper quickly sent a message to his master, Master Li, while explaining to Xu Yixuan with a smile, "Today I sent someone to Xiao Family Village to buy Miss Xiao's pickled bamboo shoots."

"Well done." Xu Yixuan nodded. "How many taels of silver did you buy it for per jar?"

"Three taels." The shopkeeper smiled, his cheeks puffed out like balls. This price was truly high. Pickled bamboo shoots were everywhere in Yuzhou City. If he wanted something cheaper, he could just call someone over and it would only cost him one tael of silver at most.

"Only three taels?" Xu Yixuan was taken aback. "No wonder Miss Xiao's family still lives in that mud-brick house."

The shopkeeper's smile froze instantly... Could it be that Young Master Xu meant that a few jars of pickled bamboo shoots would be enough to provide Miss Xiao with a new house? That seemed far too difficult! He counted on his fingers; they had already bought forty jars of pickled bamboo shoots from Miss Xiao, totaling one hundred and twenty taels of silver—barely enough to build a tiled house. Thinking this, the shopkeeper felt quite aggrieved: "Young Master, Miss Xiao's family might be able to build a large tiled house soon."

Xu Yixuan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "Really? You're not lying to me?"

"How could I dare to lie to the young master? Miss Xiao should have the money for repairing the house, but I don't know if she has any other plans." There are so many people in the Xiao family, who knows what Miss Xiao plans to do with the money? The restaurant is open to do business and make money, it can't be that she's given thirty taels of silver for a jar of wine just to do charity, can it?

As he was deep in thought, he heard a shrill voice from outside: "Your Highness, you have graced Ruyi Restaurant with your presence. I, Li, have arrived late and come to apologize!"

Xu Yixuan looked up and saw two men, one fat and one thin, standing at the entrance to the private room. He recognized the fat man; it was Young Master Lin. Beside him stood an elderly man of about fifty years old, withered and frail, less than half the size of Young Master Lin. The old man smiled amiably: "I am the owner of Ruyi Restaurant, surnamed Li. May I ask what orders Your Highness may have?"

Seeing that Master Li was very polite, Xu Yixuan nodded to him, not wanting to offend someone who was smiling, and said, "I'm here to recommend a signature dish to your restaurant."

Master Li smiled broadly, his wrinkles deepening as he bowed deeply: "The dish that the young master recommended last time sold very well, and our Ruyi Restaurant's business is booming. Now that the young master has come to recommend another signature dish to us, I am truly delighted."

Seeing that Master Li was very polite, Xu Yixuan was pleased and nodded repeatedly: "Good, good. Since you are so sincere, I will tell you. Send your men to Xiaojia Village in the north of the city to find a girl named Xiao Sanhua. She has a very good dish. I just ate it yesterday. It was really wonderful."

Master Li muttered to himself, "Miss Xiao from Xiao Family Village again?" The innkeeper had mentioned her to him before, but he hadn't taken it seriously. It was just a matter of a few taels of silver; Ruyi Restaurant was wealthy and could afford it. But now, hearing Xu Yixuan's words, Master Li's thoughts became more complicated. Was this young master interested in Miss Xiao? Otherwise, why would he be so eager to promote her?

He couldn't afford to neglect the person favored by Prince Xu. What harm would it do to give her money, let alone buy her signature dishes? As long as he could get in touch with Prince Yu's son, his in-laws' promotion would be within reach, and he himself could earn even more. Master Li was secretly delighted and nodded repeatedly: "Please rest assured, Prince Xu, I will definitely pay a visit to this Miss Xiao in person. Today, I will be the host, and I would be honored if Your Highness would do me the honor of ordering a few dishes."

Xu Yixuan glanced at Lin Qinxun, who was standing there dumbfounded, and frowned: "You should learn from your father!"

Lin Qinxun, unconvinced, puffed out his belly and said, "My father is the prefect of Yuzhou, not him!"

Master Li's face flushed red instantly. Everyone says a son-in-law is like half a son, but this Lin Qinxun, relying on his father's position as prefect, completely disregarded him. He had been incredibly tolerant of Lin Qinxun; when his daughter came home crying about Lin Qinxun taking concubines, he had patiently persuaded her to go home—wasn't he just trying to curry favor with his in-laws? Otherwise, how could any family tolerate someone like him, married for only a little over a year and already taking two concubines?

Seeing Lin Qinxun's arrogant demeanor, Jian Yifei became somewhat angry. Even if he wasn't his biological father, he was still an elder. How could he speak so rudely? He stepped forward and grabbed Lin Qinxun's arm: "I've heard that Master Li is your father-in-law. Shouldn't you call him 'father'? Why are you so arrogant?"

Lin Qinxun was held by the arm and couldn't move for a long time. He wanted to shout loudly, but seeing Jian Yifei's dark face, he didn't dare. He could only sullenly shut his voice and call out "Father" to Master Li in a wronged tone.

Master Li was truly pleased with himself. He was considered the richest man in Yuzhou City, and everyone who saw him had to respectfully call him "Master Li." However, he was momentarily blinded by greed and betrothed his beautiful daughter to this pig-like Lin Qinxun. He even made Lin Qinxun invest in the Ruyi Restaurant and send him money every month when the bill was settled.

Lin Qinxun spent all that money on women, which made Master Li very unhappy, but what could he do? Who told him to think about consolidating his territory and opening more shops in Yuzhou City, so that the title of the richest household in Yuzhou wouldn't fall into someone else's hands? He never expected that his greed would cost his daughter's happiness, and now it was too late to regret it.

Chapter Fifty-Three: Further Persuasion

Boss Xiao was grinning from ear to ear as he looked at the several snow-white silver ingots.

Thirty taels at a time—this truly surprised him. He shakily reached out, touching the silver ingots repeatedly: "Sanhua, is all this silver ours now?"

Aunt Xiao wiped away her tears and said, "That's right, the manager of that restaurant just delivered it over and said a lot of nice things. I'm so confused, I don't know what's going on!"

Although she had no idea what had happened, having money was a good thing. Aunt Xiao looked at Yan Ying with a happy expression on her face: "San Hua, how much money did you sell in total?"

Yan Ying counted the money in the ledger. Forty jars of pickled bamboo shoots were sold, which brought in 120 taels of silver. Adding the tips from Xu Yixuan and the money from selling the recipes, the total came to almost 150 taels. Five taels were spent on buying the jars, about 10 taels were spent on improving the family's living conditions, and five or six taels were spent on harvesting small bamboo shoots. Now, there were about 128 taels of silver left.

When Xiao Laoda heard that there were 128 taels of silver, he was almost out of breath. Liu Hua quickly ran over to massage his back: "Father, what's wrong? Is there really that much silver? Don't you believe me!"

"I believe you, I believe you." Boss Xiao nodded in a daze. What on earth was going on? In just one month, his family had easily earned more than a hundred taels of silver? Normally, he would work himself to the bone doing odd jobs and could only bring home a maximum of two taels of silver a month. How many odd jobs would he have to do to earn more than a hundred taels of silver?