Too high to reach

Chapter 51 Loyal Servant and Helper
In the front study, Mo Ruhai told his elder brother about the matter.

After a brief moment of surprise, Mo Rushan began to complain about why Wang Shi hadn't finalized things sooner.

Then he also felt that the matter was in jeopardy...

Mo Ruhai found absolutely no support or confidence in him!

Dinner was rather unappetizing for everyone.

When they returned to the house, Mo Wen followed and said gently to Mo Yi, "Don't be too sad. There might still be room for things to turn around."

Recently, Mo Yi was feeling down, and she knew that Mo Wen's words didn't actually reflect her true feelings. So she had no interest in arguing with her and simply nodded silently.

"Even if it doesn't work out, your mother will find you another one."

Mo Yi remained silent.

"Your analysis yesterday was quite accurate. We don't even know what kind of life the Marquis's family usually leads. We're completely in the dark. We don't even know if we'll encounter... Well, if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out!"

These well-intentioned words of comfort only made Mo Yi angrier, and she really wanted to snap at them.

But what's the use?

"Thank you for your kind words, sister. I've always understood your good intentions." After saying this, Mo Yi turned and walked away quickly.

Mo Wen watched her leave, then pursed her lips.

"Hey? Fifth Sister, why did you leave? You seem rather bored. Let's chat for a bit!" Mo Yuan arrived.

That night, Mo Yi tossed and turned and couldn't sleep well. The next morning, she went straight to the front.

Looking at her father... he was even worse off than her. He clearly hadn't slept well, looked preoccupied, and had huge dark circles under his eyes. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him and amused at the same time. This couldn't go on. "Dad, we have to go to Li Qi's place."

Mo Ruhai then remembered, "Okay! Let's go now! Oh, the clothes you mentioned last time, I've already prepared them. Take a look..." He pulled out a fur robe from a large bundle beside him, "I must say, with this alteration, it actually looks quite good."

This was his old sheepskin coat; Wang had bought him a new one, so he no longer needed this one. Mo Yi had him take it outside, repair it, and re-stretch the fabric, intending to give it to Li Qi.

Li Qi has a leg disability and rarely moves around. In the dead of winter, he sits indoors working, and sometimes when he's busy, he doesn't even notice when the fire goes out. He gets typhoid fever from the cold.

"Yes, it's pretty good!"

"The steward has already purchased the items on the list you made earlier. Father has them loaded them onto the cart." He went out to give the instructions, and after a while, the cart was loaded.

When Mo Yi came out, he saw a whole cartload of meat, chicken, fish, rice, noodles, oil, salt, soybean paste, pastries, rock sugar, peanuts, melon seeds, vermicelli, and several jars of wine. There was also coarse and fine cotton cloth—a complete and varied array.

Mo Ruhai then asked, "How many red envelopes do you plan to give them this Chinese New Year?"

This mainly refers to Song Qiang and his wife, their three sons, and Li Qi.

"Ten taels for Song Qiang and his wife. The Song family has some, although my eldest uncle and third uncle will make arrangements, he has indeed worked hard over there with his family, so ten taels for Song Qiang and his wife to keep. Ten taels for Song Jiaxing. Fifteen taels for Song Jiafu. Li Qi, a little more... thirty taels!"

"That's quite a lot! They'll definitely have a good New Year!" Mo Ruhai rummaged through the silver in the small house, feeling quite pleased. For so many years, these men had followed him loyally; now, finally, their lives could be a little better.

"Take a few more taels of silver with you, and see if there's anything else we need for the New Year's goods. Just send Song Jiaxing to buy it!"

"Alright!" The father and daughter took the money, got into the carriage, and drove off.

The courtyard where the Song family lived was one that Mo Ruhai had inherited from his own family. It was rented to a long-time tenant who came to Beijing to do business.

In a corner of the backyard, there are a few small, dilapidated houses.

Mo Ruhai left the Song couple's rooms for the tenants, and the Song family used the small rooms. Since Li Qi had been brought from home, this was the only place he could stay for the time being.

His legs were weak, so Song Qiang's family took good care of him.

Mo Ruhai and his daughter also gave the tenants some New Year's gifts, making the tenants feel quite embarrassed, and they hurriedly prepared tea and snacks. They also invited Mo Ruhai to stay in the room to talk and write couplets.

Last time Mo Yi went to the store, she saw that there wasn't much left to buy, so she gave Song Jiafu a day off. The three of them happily carried things inside.

Mo Yi also brought tea leaves, so Song Qiang's family quickly boiled water and made tea.

Li Qi has lived here for two years. He has enough to eat and wear, no one bullies him, and he can earn money by working without leaving home. He's grown up well, gained some weight, and even has become quite handsome.

Seeing Mo Yi arrive, he quickly put down his work. "Miss Mo!" "The New Year is almost here, Brother Li Qi, please take a rest!"

Li Qi smiled sheepishly: "I'm used to this job, I can't stand being idle!"

Mo Yi took out a fur robe and handed it to Li Qi: "Father is bigger than you... but this is also a size too big, not too small. You can pawn it as bedding."

"For me?" Li Qi was so happy that he wanted to touch it... but looking at the new cloth-covered leather robe and his rough and dirty hands, he blushed bright red.

He quickly pulled it back and rubbed it against his body. "Li Qi never thought he would be able to wear leather one day..." Leather goods were something only wealthy families could afford.

"Don't be stingy with wearing it! You can buy new ones when you earn money in the future!"

Li Qi chuckled. He really intended to carefully put it away as soon as the girl left.

After Song Jiafu finished moving his things in, he grinned, revealing his tiger teeth, and said, "Girl, you've moved all your things in! That's quite a lot! We can have a wonderful New Year now!"

Mo Yi said, "What else do we need? Go buy it quickly."

"We have everything we need! You even brought the wine! The landlord also gave us some meat. My mother has been very busy these past few days, rendering lard and making sausages!"

Just then, Mo Ruhai arrived, carrying pastries given to him by the tenant.

Then, everyone was called in, and each person was given a red envelope. The Song family was overjoyed and happily went to count their silver.

Mo Ruhai then said to Li Qi, "Our business has been good this year! This is for you!"

Li Qi nodded gratefully, took the silver, and greedily rummaged around for a while. Then he pulled out a heavy bundle from under the stool.

“Mr. Mo, Li Qi doesn’t have to worry about food or clothing, and he doesn’t need these things. It’s unsettling to leave them like this. Although I know they won’t be lost, I… I’m so pathetic, I always have to take them out to check. It’s too distracting. Why don’t you give them to the master to keep for me? I can ask the master for more when I need them!”

Mo Ruhai thought for a moment: "That works! How much is this?" He opened the package to count the contents!

Mo Yi leaned over to take a look, and after a quick calculation, she realized that Li Qi hadn't spent much of the money they gave him.

They brought him over, telling him that food and lodging would be provided, and he would be paid one tael of silver a month. By the end of the second year, the salary had increased to two taels. This year, business was even better, so the father and daughter raised the salary a little more.

You should know that even the most outstanding chefs outside often only earn ten taels of silver a month!

"Brother Li Qi, you don't spend any money?" Mo Yi exclaimed in surprise.

Li Qi said embarrassedly, "I eat very well on weekdays. As for clothes, I'm short, so the tenants and the Song brothers just give me their old clothes and I wear them. I don't go out much anyway. As long as I don't get sick, I don't need to spend any money!"

Every day, Song Qiang's family brought his meals to his side, washed his clothes, and he received a good amount of money! He never imagined he would live like this before...

He counted them: ninety-five taels! Mo Ruhai laughed heartily, "Alright, I'll take eighty taels. Keep some with you, just in case! I'll deposit it in the silver shop for you. I was originally planning to find a matchmaker for you after the New Year... but things are still a bit unstable here. Once things settle down, you'll have saved up more money, and then you can marry a beautiful woman!"

Li Qi blushed with embarrassment, his eyes shining.

"I'll write you a receipt."

"Sir, no need, no need, Li Qi trusts you!"

“These are two different things. Once it’s finished, we’ll both feel at ease! Also, take a look at this.” When she arrived, Mo Yi saw her father carrying a heavy box, but she didn’t ask what it was.

Li Qi took it and opened it; the items were of varying lengths and thicknesses. "Huh?!"

His eyes lit up—it was a jade carving tool!

This made him happier than if he had been given silver. "Master, this is truly a treasure..."

"Of course it's a treasure, and an expensive one!"

Mo Ruhai over there didn't spend much money on materials, but buying this set of tools was a real rip-off. He hesitated for a long time before finally making the decision…

Mo Yi and Li Qi started chatting about the new information, gesturing and talking non-stop, excited and happy.

Then, she suddenly realized that the distress caused by the marriage had completely disappeared!
It seems that nothing brings more happiness than making money!

The small houses were filled with various aromas and cheerful laughter.

(End of this chapter)