Spoiled and mad critic of powerful ministers

Pei Zhihui set the departure date for two days later.

As dawn broke, a carriage was already parked in front of the Pei family's old residence.

Pei Junlan originally planned to have Pei An accompany her to the prefectural city to prepare for the exam.

Pei An is calm and reliable, and as an elder in the family, he is the most trustworthy person to take care of Pei Zhihui.

But it just so happened to be a coincidence.

Pei Zhiyan is also about to set off to the escort agency to learn kung fu. After the New Year, the escort agency sent a letter urging him to hurry over. The boy is not young anymore, and his physical development is almost complete. The sooner he learns, the better.

However, the veteran wasn't in the county; he had to go to a long-established security escort agency in the next county.

Pei Junlan was really worried about this mischievous boy, fearing that he might cause some trouble on the way, so she sent Pei An, who was by Pei Zhihui's side, to escort him all the way.

In fact, Pei Ping had always been by Pei Zhiyan's side taking care of him, but this kid was just as bad as Pei Zhiyan.

These two brothers go out and have fun, and they won't come home for dinner unless someone calls them, which really makes me worry.

Shen Qiongju stood under the eaves, holding a handkerchief in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed.

Pei Zhihui's medication couldn't be stopped, and her body still needed recuperation. Without a caring person by her side, she felt uneasy.

Suddenly, a slender yet upright figure flashed through my mind.

"Call Zhang Yan here."

Shen Qiongju turned to instruct Granny Liu behind her.

Before long, a boy strode into the courtyard. In the few months since they last met, Zhang Yan had grown taller.

Although he was still wearing coarse cloth clothes, they were washed until they were white and clean.

That face, which was originally covered in mud and filled with hostility, has now been softened by the air of books, but the sharpness between his brows is still impossible to hide.

"Greetings, young mistress."

Zhang Yan bowed respectfully, his movements still somewhat stiff, but he was already showing some semblance of proper etiquette.

Shen Qiongju looked him up and down and nodded in satisfaction.

"How's your character recognition going these past few months at the academy?"

"Replying to the young mistress, I have thoroughly studied the Thousand Character Classic and can understand seven or eight parts of ordinary letters."

Zhang Yan lowered his eyes, his voice was not loud, but it conveyed a sense of composure.

She is intelligent.

Shen Qiongju smiled and pointed to Pei Zhihui, who was directing the servants to move the book boxes.

"Starting today, you no longer need to go to the academy. You will go with Second Master to the prefectural city and serve as his page."

Zhang Yan suddenly raised his head, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes, followed by ecstasy.

"This humble servant...this humble servant will do everything in his power to protect Second Master!"

Zhang Yan knelt down with a thud and kowtowed heavily.

Hearing the noise, Pei Zhihui turned around.

His cool, clear eyes fell on Zhang Yan, and he narrowed them slightly.

He remembered this boy. Back on the estate, the wolf cub who dared to fight the steward to save his father.

"Did my sister-in-law find me a page who can't even read properly?"

Pei Zhihui walked over and looked at Shen Qiongju with a half-smile.

"I already know quite a few characters, so I'm more than capable of handling things by your side."

Shen Qiongju helped him put the bundle on the carriage and said in a low voice, "Although this child lacks some knowledge, he is resilient and grateful. Most importantly, he has a fierce streak."

"When you go to the prefectural city, you'll be surrounded by scholars, but some unsavory things are bound to happen. With him around, I can feel more at ease."

Seeing the concern in her eyes, Pei Zhihui's initial resistance vanished instantly.

He turned to look at Zhang Yan, who was kneeling on the ground.

The boy's back was ramrod straight, like a spear.

Get up.

Pei Zhihui said calmly, "Since your sister-in-law has asked you to come with me, then you should follow me well from now on. If you do well, I won't treat you unfairly."

"yes!"

Zhang Yan stood up, silently walked behind Pei Zhihui, and took the scroll from his hands.

His posture was even more respectable than Pei Ping's.

After seeing Pei Zhihui off, Shen Qiongju felt a weight lifted from her heart, but the other half was immediately filled with complicated matters.

Shen Song had already harnessed another carriage and was waiting at the door.

"Let's go to Shenjia Village."

Shen Qiongju turned and got into the car, acting swiftly and decisively.

The expansion of the Shenjia Village distillery is currently the top priority.

The carriage sped along, and by the time it arrived at Shenjia Village, the sun was already high in the sky.

From afar, the deafening shouts from the construction site could be heard.

It was early spring. Shen Huaifeng, dressed in shorts and with a towel around his neck, was standing in front of a huge pit, giving instructions.

"The foundation needs to be deep! If the cellar leaks, all our wine will be ruined!"

His shout was full of energy.

"father!"

Shen Qiongju got out of the car and called out.

Shen Huaifeng turned around and saw that it was his daughter. His face broke into a wide smile.

"Qiongju is here! Come and see, the foundation for the new distillery is finished. At this rate, the roof beams will be up by the beginning of next month!"

Looking at the bustling scene before her, Shen Qiongju felt a surge of excitement.

But she didn't forget the important matter.

"Father, what about the newly made distillation equipment? Has the coppersmith delivered it?"

"It's here! It's locked in the backyard storeroom!"

Shen Huaifeng led her to the backyard. "That coppersmith is quite skilled; he made everything according to your blueprints. But I still feel that the pipes are a bit too thin."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qiongju quickened her pace.

Upon arriving at the warehouse, several enormous bronze pots and condenser coils were placed in the center, gleaming with the distinctive luster of metal.

Ignoring the dirt, she squatted down, took a ruler, and measured bit by bit, then reached out to touch the solder joint at the interface.

This still is the core of the first distillation. If it is not properly sealed, not only will the alcohol taste wrong, but it can also easily explode and injure people.

"Here, and here too."

Shen Qiongju pointed to several joints, her face serious. "The welds aren't tight enough. The coppersmith has to redo them. Father, this is our lifeline; we can't be careless."

Upon hearing this, Shen Huaifeng immediately stopped smiling and nodded solemnly.

"Don't worry, Father will send someone to fetch the coppersmith right away. He won't pay you until it's fixed!"

After checking the equipment, Shen Qiongju immediately checked the raw material inventory with Shen Huaifeng. It wasn't until sunset that she dragged her tired body back to the carriage.

Leaning against the car wall, she only felt aches and pains in her back and waist.

"Miss, why don't you go home and rest for a while?"

Shen Song, who was driving the carriage ahead, said with concern.

"No more rest."

Shen Qiongju rubbed her throbbing temples and pulled a stack of blueprints from her sleeve. "Back to the city. Master Lu is still waiting at the shop."

Those are the interior design plans for the Fucheng branch. The placement of every carving and every window must be decided tonight.

This busy period lasted until dawn and dusk.