Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

Liu Wenying led the four of them into a secluded, dark alley.

The alley was narrow and deep, with high walls on both sides blocking out the sunlight, making it cool and shady.

Once she was sure no one was following her, Liu Wenying took off her worn-out coarse cloth outer garment.

Inside, she was dressed in a sky-blue silk dress, made from the finest fabric produced by Zhiyun Manor.

She then took out a small brocade pouch from her sleeve, poured out a few gold ingots, and weighed them in her palm.

All four of them were stunned.

"Sister Liu, you..."

Xiao Zhu's eyes widened.

Liu Wenying rolled up the tattered clothes and stuffed them into the bamboo basket in the corner of the wall.

After finishing, she turned around, and there was no trace of the misery and helplessness she had shown in front of the broker.

Her expression was calm, even with a faint smile.

"I not only have silver, but also a farm, so we won't have to worry about making a living in the future."

Granny Tian was the first to realize: "Wenying, you were faking it before?"

Liu Wenying nodded.

"If the brokers are greedy and see me dressed in gold and silver, they'll probably ask for an exorbitant price."

Liu Wenying straightened her sleeves. "I deliberately dressed in shabby clothes and pretended to be desperate, so he would think I was no longer worth exploiting and would be more willing to let me go."

Zizhu stared at her blankly, then smiled and then tears streamed down her face.

"Wenying, you really are... really..."

It's both heartbreaking and admirable.

Liu Wenying distributed the loose silver coins from her purse to the four people.

"Let's go to the inn first to freshen up, change clothes, and have a good meal. Later, I'll take you to the estate."

Ling'er wiped away her tears and nodded emphatically, "Yes! We'll follow Sister Liu!"

The five people looked at each other and smiled, their eyes glistening with tears, but also with a renewed sense of light.

After redeeming Granny Tian and the others, Liu Wenying took them to live in Zhiyun Manor.

Much has been restored in the village; silkworm farmers are raising silkworms, weavers are weaving cloth, and everything is in good order. But new problems have arisen.

With the downfall of the Duke of Yuguo's mansion, the silks from the former Zhiyun Manor were all exclusively supplied to the Duke's mansion.

Now that the government's name is gone, those silks have lost their fixed sales channels and can only be sold to other silk merchants at the market.

But merchants are driven by profit. When they saw the fabric, their eyes lit up, but when they heard it was from Zhiyun Manor, their expressions turned somber.

"It's not that we're trying to drive down the price, it's just that without the backing of the Duke of Yu's name, the value of these silks will naturally drop."

"Look at this brocade. In the past, a single bolt would have cost at least eighty taels of silver, but now it's worth at most fifty taels..."

Liu Wenying didn't argue, but just smiled and agreed, though her heart felt heavy.

If a bolt of fabric costs 30 taels less, then ten bolts would cost 300 taels. If this continues, how will the hundred or so people in Zhiyun Manor be able to support themselves?

Granny Wang understood that those merchants were taking advantage of the situation; without the protection of the government, the silk from Zhiyun Manor had no bargaining power.

If this continues, Zhiyunzhuang will be unable to make ends meet and will inevitably suffer losses sooner or later.

"Master, they've gone too far! It's clearly intentional. How can we swallow this insult?"

Liu Wenying shook her head. "We can't swallow our anger. There's no other way right now. We have to deal with them and try our best to win them over, but we also need to find ways to increase our income."

She had a vague feeling that she couldn't rely solely on selling silk to make a living, otherwise Zhiyun Manor would eventually go out of business.

Liu Wenying also wanted to expand Zhiyun Manor, but as a woman, even with the title bestowed by the late emperor, the merchants did not give her any face.

She always has to find another way out and seek new opportunities in her area of ​​expertise.

Upon returning, Liu Wenying toured the entire Yunzhuang estate, pondering ways to increase revenue.

Fearing that she would fall ill from worry, Granny Wang suggested, "Why don't you go to the hot springs in the back mountain, Master, to relax?"

But as soon as he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Granny Tian.

"Old Wang, are you really getting senile? Wenying is still pregnant, how can she go to a hot spring?"

The two had been friends before, and on the day Granny Tian arrived at the estate, Granny Wang secretly wiped away her tears.

They were like treasures in the village, always bickering whenever they were together.

Granny Wang slapped her forehead. "I've been so busy I'm dizzy! What good am I, just a freeloader eating at the manor..."

"Oh dear, what are you saying..."

Seeing that the two were about to bicker again, Liu Wenying quickly changed the subject, asking, "Is there a hot spring in the village?"

Granny Wang nodded. "Yes, but you were busy when you were the head of the estate. I mentioned it before, but you probably forgot."

Liu Wenying then asked Granny Wang to take her there.

In late spring, the back mountain is lush and green, with birds singing sweetly. Pushing aside the overgrown weeds, you'll find a natural hot spring gushing out, steaming and warm to the touch.

Liu Wenying reached out and touched the spring water. The warmth spread from her fingertips to her whole body, and a thought flashed through her mind.

She recalled that a few days ago, when Lady Pingyang brought An'an to the nursing home, she had casually mentioned that her mother-in-law suffered from rheumatism and that it would be best to find a hot spring resort.

However, the hot springs on the outskirts of Beijing were remote, and there was also unrest caused by displaced people, which greatly troubled the government.

There were also retired officials in the capital, reclusive ladies from high-ranking families, and frail, sickly wives of noblewomen...

These people are not short of money; what they lack is a quiet place where they can recuperate, preserve their privacy, and enjoy some refined pleasures.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to build a high-end nursing home here?

No, it should be called Hot Spring Retreat. The private retreats are built against the mountain and have hot spring water piped into the rooms.

Invite renowned doctors to hold regular consultations, prepare medicinal diets, and hold poetry gatherings, tea parties, and flower arrangement parties on weekdays.

The silk from Zhiyun Manor was perfect for making bedding, curtains, and clothes, and the silkworm weavers and weavers in the manor also had new jobs.

The more Liu Wenying thought about it, the clearer her mind became.

That evening, Liu Wenying explained the blueprint for the Hot Spring Villa in detail, and Xue Bi, Xiao Yiheng, Lu Ye, Granny Tian and others sat around a table.

"The main focus is on hot spring therapy, supplemented by consultations with renowned doctors, with meals tailored to individual ailments, and elegant gatherings and social events to enhance the experience."

As Liu Wenying spoke, she wrote it down on the paper.

"Each person lives in their own room, without disturbing each other. Granny Tian can take care of daily life, and Zizhu will assist with internal affairs."

"I can select caregivers from among the refugees who are of good character, hardworking and honest, and I will personally train them."

After a moment of contemplation, Xue Bi's eyes gradually brightened.

"This method is feasible. The almshouse now houses more than a hundred elderly people and orphans. Although the monthly donations from the Lady of Pingyang are generous, they are ultimately limited."

"If the method Wenying proposed can generate profits, then the money can be used to support the almshouse, thus benefiting both parties."

Xiao Yiheng, though blind, listened intently and nodded slightly.

"Retired officials and women from prominent families in the capital valued privacy and dignity above all else."

"This place is neither too far nor too close to the capital. It has beautiful mountains and clear waters, and hot springs. After proper renovation and construction, it will surely become a health resort that they would love to visit."

Granny Tian and Zizhu readily agreed to do so.

Only Lu Ye remained silent.

He stared at the winding lines on the blueprint, his brow furrowed.

He doesn't understand planning or social interactions, and he can't help with those either.

What could he do for her? It seemed... nothing.

Liu Wenying noticed his disappointment and said gently.

"Brother Lu, the most crucial part of the hot spring resort is something I've thought about and I still need your help with."

Lu Ye raised his eyes: "The most crucial link, I'll step in?"

"Yes, the high-ranking officials and nobles value security the most. The guards from the capital to the manor, the patrols around the manor, the security between the various courtyards... all of these are indispensable to you."

Lu Ye paused for a moment, and the sadness in his eyes faded.

He nodded emphatically: "Don't worry, leave it to me!"

…………