Spoiled and mad critic of powerful ministers

No sooner had Pei Zhihui left than she ordered her men to seal off the backyard where the distillation equipment was stored.

Pages of contracts filled with clauses were slapped on the table, the ink still wet, exuding an undeniable air of authority and ruthlessness.

Only Shen Huaide, Shen Song, and the three assistants who were involved in the distillation process were in the room.

"Everyone, this 're-steaming method' is the foundation for our Shen family's future livelihood, and it is also a piece of fat meat in the eyes of others."

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word carried immense weight: "If even half a word is leaked, not only will we lose our money, but our entire family will likely lose our heads."

Chunxing and two other men shuddered, the image of that scarred face and cold eyes from last night resurfacing in their minds.

Without saying a word, they grabbed pens and pressed their fingerprints onto the contract paper.

"Don't worry, young lady, this plan is a secret!"

Shen Huaide and Shen Song followed suit, signing their names and affixing their fingerprints.

After dealing with the core secrets, the next step was to reorganize the workforce.

Shen Qiongju summoned the tenants who were waiting outside. There were more than a dozen of them, dressed in rags, but with eager eyes.

In these years of war and disaster, to have a job that provides food and pay is like having one's ancestors' graves emitting auspicious smoke.

Shen Qiongju didn't rush to speak, but simply had two baskets of beans brought out, one basket of soybeans and one basket of black beans, and mixed them together.

"After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, sort and separate the items; keep the larger ones and let the smaller ones go."

The simple and direct selection process not only tests eyesight and speed, but also composure.

Soon, the results became clear.

Seven or eight men and women who were quick and efficient and worked diligently were kept on and signed long-term contracts.

As for the rest, Shen Qiongju didn't directly kick them out, either for being lazy, cunning, or clumsy.

"The distillery needs to be expanded, and we need people to do the heavy lifting like chopping wood, carrying water, and transporting slag."

She pointed to the foreman next to her, "You're paid by the hour. You get paid for each hour of work you do. Meals aren't included."

They provided a way to survive, but also divided people into different classes.

Those who weren't selected complained, but seeing the real copper coins, they all obediently went to do the hard work.

A combination of kindness and strictness, resulting in a well-organized process.

Shen Qiongju rubbed her throbbing temples, preparing to get up and go back to her room to pack her things.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a thin, dark figure standing at the base of the courtyard wall.

He was a teenager.

His clothes were so thin they looked like paper, and his skin, blue and bruised from the cold, was visible through the tattered fabric. He didn't say a word; he just stood there stiffly.

His eyes, however, were frighteningly bright as he stared at Shen Qiongju.

Shen Qiongju paused.

It was Zhang Yan, the child of the deceased tenant farmer.

Originally, he was to serve as Pei Zhihui's page, partly to appease the tenants' anger and partly to give them hope that the tenants could also have a good future and stop causing trouble.

Pei Zhihui left in a hurry in the early morning and probably forgot about this.

Shen Qiongju had a sudden thought and waved her hand.

The boy didn't move, a hoarse groan escaping his throat: "Do you still want me?"

Shen Qiongju smiled, "Of course, but you're not qualified yet. You need to learn from me how to be a good pageboy first, and then you can follow that young master in the future."

"And by the way, I'll teach you how to be my little spy," Shen Qiongju added in her mind.

Shen Qiongju handed over the pastries, "Eat up, and come with me when you're full."

The boy hesitated for a moment, then reached out, grabbed the pastry, and stuffed it into his mouth; he had clearly been hungry for a long time.

After he finished eating, Shen Qiongju turned around and said, "Go wash up and change your clothes first. From now on, you'll follow me and start by learning to read."

Since Pei Zhihui forgot to pick it up, she would keep this fine knife for him for now.

If trained properly, they can be a help to her in the future.

Zhang Yan stared blankly at her retreating figure, wiping the crumbs from the corner of his mouth. For the first time, a glimmer of light flashed in his gloomy eyes.

.

Shen Qiongju, along with Zhang Yan, who had been washed clean and changed into an old cotton-padded coat, boarded the mule cart back to the city.

Leaning against the car wall, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier as the car swayed.

She was so tired these past few days that once the tension in her mind eased, sleepiness washed over her like a tidal wave.

She vaguely thought that once she got back to the Pei family, she would sleep soundly until the end and not see anyone.

However, the mule cart had just passed the entrance to Shenjia Village and had not yet reached the official road.

A horse-drawn carriage stumbled and rushed towards them from a distance.

The carriage was being driven extremely fast, and the carriage was shaking violently.

"Whoa—!"

The coachman pulled hard on the reins, and the carriage came to a stop less than three feet away from Shen Qiongju's mule cart.

Dust flew everywhere.

A figure rolled off the car.

He was Pei Zhong, a former servant of the Pei family.

His hair was disheveled, and there was a bright red handprint on his face. He had lost one shoe and was in a sorry state.

"Young Madam! Young Madam!"

Pei Zhong knelt down with a thud, his cries shattering the winter's tranquility.

Shen Qiongju suddenly woke up, lifted the carriage curtain, and an ominous premonition exploded in her heart.

"What happened?"

Pei Zhong was out of breath, pointing in the direction of the county town, his whole body trembling.

"The officials from the Ministry of Justice...brought in with their constables!"

"They say the land deed to our house is problematic; it was something that slipped through the net during the initial raid, and now they want to take it back and confiscate it!"

"The masters of the Pei family have all been driven out; what are we going to do?"

Shen Qiongju frowned. This house was all that the Pei family had left to shelter them from the wind and rain.

"How is my aunt?" she asked anxiously.

"During the argument, the eldest aunt suffered a headache and fainted. Young Master Zhiyan took the eldest aunt to the pharmacy."

Shen Qiongju's face turned pale. She instructed Shen Song, "Drive the carriage and take me to the Pei family first."

.

In front of the Pei family's old residence in Wuxian County.

The usually quiet alley was now crowded with onlookers.

Pointing and whispering.

The once-red, peeling gate was wide open, and several servants dressed in black robes were throwing furniture out of the house as if they were carrying garbage.

"Bang!"

A broken table with one leg fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Next came a few chairs, several old trunks, and even pots and pans.

The snow was a mess.

"Stop! You bunch of robbers! Stop right now!"

Liu was holding a door bolt tightly in her hand, blocking the entrance to the main room.

She always paid attention to her demeanor and never lost face in front of others.

But now, her forehead was scraped open, and blood was seeping down her cheek, making her look ferocious and miserable.

"Madam Pei, why are you doing this to yourself?"

At the bottom of the steps stood an official in a green robe, holding a hand warmer, looking impatient.

This is the head of the official affairs office in Wu County, surnamed Liu.

"This house was originally government property. When your Pei family was convicted, this house was among those to be seized. The land deed has already been taken over by the government."

Chief Liu gave a forced smile, "The higher-ups are investigating old accounts and reclaiming properties. I'm just following orders. If you continue to cause trouble, don't blame me for charging you with obstructing official business!"