The distance between the Old Madam's courtyard and Rosebush Courtyard was, but one incense stick. Today, however, Fang Mama felt the road was longer than usual.
After returning to their courtyard, Yuxi dismissed all the servants, bringing only Fang Mama into her room.
Fang Mama then took hold of Yuxi's hand while crying out, "Miss, what will happen to you should this old servant leave?" Her husband had died early. The relatives who lived in Ning jia, don't know what happened or where they are now. Leaving the Han Fu, Fang Mama did not know what she could do. For the future, Fang Mama was worried and distraught.
Yuxi had thought about it. If Fang Mama were to leave the Fu, then she might have a hard time. After all, people fear the emptiness of doing nothing. Therefore, Yuxi is ready to make plans for Fang Mama. When people have something to do, the time goes by faster. Just as she was experiencing that emptiness in her past life, she had embroidery to passed the time. Yuxi held Fang Mama's hand before speaking, "Mama, Old Madam wants to release you, maybe that is a good thing for us."
Fang Mama dully asked, "Miss, what do you mean? You said it is a good thing to leave?"
Yuxi whispered, "Mama, you know that I am in a tight situation. Once you are released, you can open a shop outside. If you do, my financial situation will improve and I will have an easier time inside the Fu."
Fang Mama didn't know what to say. "Miss, don't say that we have the money to open a shop; even if there is money, what can this servant do?" She didn't know the first thing about operating a shop.
Yuxi laid out her plan. "Mama does not remember, but you can make steamed buns¹ and dumplings², right? You can make money by opening a steamed bun stall." Though making money is not easy, but for Fang Mama, it was just right. If you have something to do, you won't have time to think about things.
Fang Mama smiled bitterly. "Miss, how does a business like that do well?"
"Mama, your steamed buns and dumplings are so delicious, they'll make money. I have confidence in you, Fang Mama." After a pause, Yuxi said, "Once outside, Mama can make money for me. Then in the future, I have an income. Hence, I do not have to worry about not being able to reward the servants."
Fang Mama was impressed with Yuxi's plan. "But what if this servant can't manage to make money?" Leaving was a foregone conclusion so being able to help the Young Miss was a good thing, hitting two birds with one stone. Only, she was worried that she would lose money.
Smiling, Yuxi said, "We are only opening a small steamed bun stall, it won't cost much. Beside, I believe in your cooking. Mama, you should have confidence in yourself."
Though Fang Mama had confidence in her cooking, she had no confidence in doing business. After all, she never had to manage a business. But she understood that this plan of Yuxi's was the right one for her.
After waiting for Yuxi to leave, the Old Madam turned to Luo Mama. "What happened?" Just now, though Luo Mama had not reported everything, Yuxi did not openly expressed her grievances to the Old Madam.
"During the interrogation, it came out that the contaminated things were given by an old servant of Concubine Rong. As for why Concubine Rong tried to harm the Fourth Miss, the servant Moyun was not clear."
The Old Madam continued to turn the prayers beads in her hand. Although there was not much evidence, it was still obvious that Concubine Rong had a hand in this situation.
"What excuses did that servant give?" If it is only for money, that servant would not obey Concubine Rong. The reason is simple; once it is found out that a servant was plotting against a master, than not only that servant, but their whole family would be executed.
Luo Mama whispered, "Moyun and Xue Guan's youngest son had a beginning and an end." The so-called 'beginning and end' was of course a private love affair. But the servants was the master's property. Without the consent of the master, to have an affair. And more so, Moyun was still a close servant of Yuxi. This has become a serious matter. The reputation of a Young Miss is soiled, death would not be enough.
The prayer beads stopped moving. "Sell that to the mines." Having a private affair, plotting to harm to the master; an immediate death would be too cheap.
Luo Mama face remained impassive. After the Old Madam stopped speaking, she carefully opened her mouth to asked, "Old Madam, how to deal with the son of Xue Ming?"
The Old Madam calmly ordered, "let them go to Zhuangzi." Xue Guan's mother, Xue Ming, was the Old Madam's wet nurse so she was benevolent toward him. But that had let him get a big head. Daring to break the rules, to look the other way for his son; can only impose punishment.
Qiu-shi heard that the Old Madam had punished Xue Guan and was surprised. "What happened?"
Xue-jia was the Old Madam's confident. If it was not a big deal, the Old Madam would not send them to Zhuangzi village.
Li Mama shook her head. "In the early morning, the Fourth Miss had send a tied up servant to the Old Madam. This matter should be related to Xue-jia."
Qiu-shi did not understand. "Even if that servant did something, it still should not involved Xue-jia!"
In the midst of questions, Liu Yin walked and reported, "Concubine Rong was recently confined to her courtyard by Old Madam."
Qiu-shi became more and more aware that something odd had happened. Obviously, the matter can't be separated from Yuxi. "In the end, what happened?"
Well, speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao will appear³. While speaking about the matter of Yuxi, a servant girl reported that she had come. Yuxi came to talk about Fang Mama starting a business, but they did not know a thing about managing a shop so had came to consult with her Great Aunt who was more familiar with it.
When Qiu-shi saw Yuxi, she asked, "Yuxi, why did you send Moyun to the Old Madam's courtyard this morning?"
So Yuxi narrated the tales that occurred so far, of how Moyun was reaping her own karma. "Aunt also know my temper. Even if Moyun made a mistake, I will scold her at most. But just because she was scolded a few times, she would take up such a poisonous method? That is too much, so to say."
Now Qiu-shi knew the reason why the Old Madam had confined Concubine Rong. "That poisonous woman." Such a heavy hand, not even letting off a 4-year old child.
Yuxi agrees that Concubine Rong is a poisonous woman, but she still hope to get rid of this poisonous woman.
Qiu-shi can guess that Concubine Rong wanted to harm Ning-shi, but she did not dare tell Yuxi. She only softly asked, "What did you come over for?"
Yuxi told her about Fang Mama starting a shop.
Qiu-shi was quiet for a moment before speaking, "It is not easy to open a shop, Yuxi."
"Aunt, I understand that opening a shop is not easy, but I'm not starting a shop to make money. I only wish to find something for Fang Mama. Ning-jia is gone and Fang Mama is being released. But where can she go? These are small things. What I'm afraid of is that once Fang Mama leaves, she will think too much and harm her body." After a pause, Yuxi continued, "Aunt, opening a shop is to find something for Fang Mama to do, so that she will not think too much."
"Is this your idea or Fang Mama's idea?" If it was Yuxi's, then this child had a big heart.
"It's my own thoughts. Fang Mama also agree with me. Aunt, I don't know the first thing about opening a shop. I hope Aunt can help me start."
Qiu-shi listened and felt it was interesting. Smiling, she started to explain to Yuxi, "There are many things to considered when opening a shop. For example, where will it be located? The scale of business is large and you have to think about those in the same business..."
After listening, Yuxi carefully considered it. "Aunt, the shop should not be too big. Also, the rent in the West and East is so expensive. This won't do."
Qiu-shi smiled upon hearing Yuxi's respond. "Aunt didn't know that Yuxi knew so much. You've considered the important things very well. The area of the West and East is very expensive, a year rent cost at least a thousand gold. The steamed bun shop should not begin there." If they opened shop there, afraid won't be able to make rent.
"Where does Aunt think is the most appropriate?"
Qiu-shi thought for a moment. "The area of the South is more a ordinary neighborhood. The people are not as rich as the West, but they are not poor. As long as the steamed buns are delicious, there should be no worries of no customers. I think you can open a steamed bun shop in the South." The shop is small and the rent is not too expensive. If not done well, there shouldn't be too much loss. If done well, there is time later to expand and scale up.
TL Notes:
1. Steamed Buns
2. Dumplings
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