Too high to reach

Chapter 169 With Master and Servant
Manager Zhao mentioned: "We'll get married at the end of the year."

Mo Yi didn't get a good night's sleep.

When he saw Granny Zhao again, she didn't mention the matter. He wanted to ask, but he couldn't bring himself to ask.

So he stopped worrying about it and continued to focus on his great undertaking.

The Ji sisters are quite reliable.

A few days later, the food was ready, and Ji Yunqiu came again.

Mo Yi carefully inspected the items and was quite satisfied.

Ji Dahua said, "It could have been done faster, but we sisters discussed how to do it better, which caused the delay. Here's what we were thinking..." She told Mo Yi about the results of her discussion.

Mo Yi thought it sounded good too.

So the two sides talked for a long time about various details.

When the contract was finally signed, the eldest sister of the Ji family smiled broadly at the wages Mo Yi gave her, which meant she was satisfied.

Mo Yi said that the Ji sisters couldn't read, so Ji Yunqiu could sign on behalf of her eight older sisters.

She felt that by securing this contract with Ji Yunqiu, she had essentially secured the contracts with his eight older sisters.

It wasn't that she was scheming; it's just that... these women probably have no concept of contracts or keeping promises. Don't be fooled by their current agreeable promises; once they have more work and earn more money, especially once they know their selling price, there's no guarantee they won't change their minds.

At that point, with eight people, each arguing and saying one thing, it would be unbearable.

Let's use Ji Yunqiu's future to restrain them.

After the contract was signed, there was no rush to start work.

First, they hired a middleman to rent a small courtyard near the Ji family's house. The house was quite new and only needed a little cleaning. The key was to renovate it, adding a fire wall to the work area so that in winter, a fire could be lit outside the wall, ensuring that people could reach inside to work while keeping the house clean.

The materials used to make things are mostly the finest silk, and sometimes even gold, silver, pearls, and finished products.

If you leave it indoors, someone needs to watch over it.

We simply don't have enough staff, so we can't keep up with the pace.

There's some unease about buying directly from someone.

Just as she was worrying, Xiangzhi approached her, hesitantly saying, "Miss, Xiangzhi wants to go work for Li Qi..."

"What can you do there?" Mo Yi asked curiously.

Xiangzhi blushed.

"You...have taken a liking to Li Qi?"

Xiangzhi nodded.

Mo Yi was stunned. After asking in detail, she understood: In the past few days, Song Jiaxing had been in the shop all day and couldn't do these errands.

Sometimes, Mo Yi would send Xiangzhi to deliver things, pass on messages, or collect money.

Over time, she and Li Qi actually fell for each other...

This was the first time Mo Yi had encountered something like this, and she didn't know what to do...

Xiangzhi is one year older than Moyi, seventeen. Generally speaking, maids get married later, eighteen or nineteen is normal.

"Xiangzhi, Li Qi has a problem with his leg."

“Miss, Xiangzhi knows.” Xiangzhi was quite calm. “Xiangzhi has no parents or brothers, is not good-looking, and has no talent.”

My family has increased my monthly allowance, but I haven't saved much. Even if I save for another two years, and my daughter kindly adds some money when I get married... I still won't be able to marry very well.

"I originally planned to go to the Prince's mansion with my sister. But if Xiangzhi goes, I'm afraid her only virtue is loyalty; she won't be able to help you much else. Xiangzhi seems to be quite comfortable with the older sisters that Granny Zhao gave you."

So, I thought marrying Li Qi would be a good thing. Although his legs are bad, he's capable and even better looking than me. He earns a lot of money and has no bad habits. Besides, he's an orphan, all alone, so he'd definitely know how to care for people. The two of us together could make a good life.”

That's true... Where there's a pragmatic master, there's a pragmatic maid.

"You'd better think this through. His leg can't be cured. If you're willing now but want to leave him later, I won't stand for it!"

“Don’t worry, young lady, I’ve thought it all through. Li Qi said that we two will work for you. He’ll use the money he saves to buy land and then rent it out. With the rest of his savings, he’ll buy a small courtyard. In the future… if we have a son, he can serve the son you and the prince have.”

"...You've only been there a few times, how come you've already mentioned this?!" Mo Yi could hardly believe it.

Xiangzhi also blushed and covered her face.

"...That works too. Go to the small courtyard and take over the work for the Song family's daughter-in-law. You'll get a monthly allowance. I'll give her a red envelope when she gets married."

"Yes! Thank you, young lady!" Xiangzhi replied happily.

That's good too, it allows us to transfer Old Lady Song and Song's wife to the south of the city.

The Song family had a son and a daughter, who were brought home and first played with their eldest nephew…

The manpower can be allocated for the time being...

...That day, Hongyan brought Moyi an invitation, "The prince said he might not have time to go, and would like you to go instead."

"The Liu family? This is..."

"The Liu family. Grand Secretary Liu was a man of action; before being promoted to Grand Secretary, he was always busy traveling around, and the Emperor greatly valued him. When he got older and could no longer travel, he stayed in court as Grand Secretary. His son is Lord Liu Yue..."

"He inherited his mantle?" Mo Yi asked casually.

"No, not at all." Hongyan laughed for a long time: "When he was young, Lord Liu Yue was a well-known playboy in the capital. Since the Grand Secretary was away from home most of the year, he was pampered by Madam Liu. He really knew how to have fun; there was nothing he couldn't do!"

No one expected that after marriage, he would be henpecked! His wife's name was Hu Jingmei, and the two were childhood sweethearts with a very deep bond. They had two sons and a daughter. Their eldest son, Liu Jian, their second son, Liu Nian, and their daughter, Liu Siwan, were twins, a boy and a girl.

Although Lord Liu's performance in the Censorate was not particularly outstanding, he was not to be underestimated because he had Grand Secretary Liu in his family.

Grand Secretary Liu is highly capable, but also has a fiery temper, and he can't do anything about this son. This is the Grand Secretary's birthday banquet, and the Prince has prepared a gift, which he wants you to deliver.

"Will the prince's...concubines go?" Mo Yi asked somewhat awkwardly.

Last time, on the occasion of Old Madam Zhao's birthday, it was Consort Feng who delivered the gift on behalf of the Prince's Mansion.

“None of the concubines are going, so you’re going by yourself. The Prince… values ​​you very much!” Hongyan said with a smile.

"So this time, I'm going alone again?" Mo Yi still remembered that during the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, Princess Wenfang had mocked them for not having a parent to accompany them.

"His Highness sent you, so you don't need to pay attention to anyone's gossip!" Hongyan pouted.

……

Zhao Mama didn't come that day; Hongyan accompanied Moyi and Moyuan instead.

Originally, since Granny Zhao wasn't going, Mo Yi hadn't planned to invite Mo Yuan.

But she has her own friends now, and a few days ago someone wrote to her asking if she was going.

And there's Zhang Debao too!
I've already gotten her an invitation; she can go by herself even without me!
Simply...

With Master Jiang's measurements in hand, her clothes would be delivered regularly.

You can only wear it once when visiting someone's home; you can't wear it again the next time you go out.

How can you waste so much material and labor?!
So, some of them were given to Mo Yuan.

Mo Yuan asked Liu to alter it so it would look brand new, and now she's wearing it beautifully.

Although the Liu family's house is not ornately decorated, the Grand Secretary is very knowledgeable.

Therefore, the orientation and layout are particularly comfortable.

The garden was filled with the unusual stones and plants he had brought back. Under the eaves, there were two particularly large parrots with colorful feathers that could talk, and they were quite noisy…

Mo Yi was taken directly to the back hall to see Madam Liu. After everyone exchanged greetings, they presented the prince's gifts.

This was the first time that Madam Liu had seen Mo Yi. She was very polite, exchanged a few pleasantries, and introduced the Liu family members present.

Thus, Mo Yi saw the Lady Liu, Hu Jingmei, whom Hongyan had mentioned.

She should be in her thirties, but she looks like she's in her early twenties.

Her skin was incredibly white, even whiter than Mo Wen's.

However, Mo Wen's condition is healthy, while Hu's is extremely weak...

She wore a green brocade robe with a hundred birds, the fabric both bright and heavy. Her hair was slicked back and adorned with an imperial green hairpin. She was serene... just like a lady in an ancient painting.

His eyes were somewhat innocent, and his expression was somewhat naive.

She speaks slowly and softly. Her beauty is even more delicate and alluring than Mo Yuan's.

I also felt she was a bit nonchalant...

As for her looks, she wasn't particularly beautiful, but she had a strong, assertive personality. I wonder what that spoiled brat from the Liu family was afraid of about her.

Hu Jingmei nodded and greeted the Mo sisters politely, but showed no intention of getting to know them better.

Her daughter, Liu Siwan, stood beside her.

She was a girl in her early teens, with bright eyes and white teeth. She wore a beige dress and a pearl-embroidered hair ornament. Her neck was held high and her back was straight; she looked like a proud little girl.

She was much more expressive than Hu Shi. Seeing the Mo sisters for the first time, she was curious and smiled sweetly.

Mo Yi and Mo Yuan both had good eyesight. After exchanging a few pleasantries, their gazes simultaneously fell on the person next to Liu Siwan.

She was a girl of fourteen or fifteen, a true beauty! If only she weren't dressed as a maid...

Just as she was lost in thought, she was pulled back by Old Madam Liu, "Miss Mo, go back and tell the Prince that I, on behalf of the Grand Secretary, thank the Prince."

After a few more casual remarks, he added, "There are quite a few chrysanthemums in the garden, many of which were brought back from outside by the Grand Secretary. They are not commonly seen. Miss Mo can go and take a look."

(End of this chapter)