With the matter of whether or not to pay respects to the elders of the Chen family settled, Xiao Yunying recalled her casual conversation with the maid on the way and, with a desire to learn, asked Chen Yuanyao for advice.

"Yuan Yao, I have a question for you. On the way from the kitchen just now, I told your maid Lian Yin that she was very good and that I would praise her in front of you. Why did her expression change? Did my words cause her to misunderstand something?"

She didn't think she had said or done anything wrong and really couldn't understand it.

Chen Yuanyao quickly realized the reason and explained to her, "If you were in someone else's house, and you privately praised that maid to the master, it would be a subtle way of asking the master for her back."

This kind of thing usually happens around spoiled young men. If they take a fancy to a maid who is pretty, they will use this method to secretly ask for her.

After all, it's asking someone for a person. If the host gives them, that's fine. If the host doesn't want to give them, you can use other excuses to avoid it, so that neither side loses face or develops a grudge.

Xiao Yunying suddenly realized, and her thoughts raced as she understood the hidden meaning in Chen Yuanyao's words and tone. She awkwardly replied:

"No wonder Lian Yin looked unwell. I didn't think of that and scared the young lady."

Chen Yuanyao said, "Sister Yunying has never experienced these things in the mansion, so naturally she wouldn't know. Lianyin grew up with me since childhood, and I can't bear to give her to you. If Sister Yunying needs someone to serve her, I can give you a few other maids."

Xiao Yunying hurriedly waved her hand: "No need, no need, I don't need anyone to serve me. After I leave, you can talk to Lian Yin and tell her it's all a misunderstanding and not to take it to heart."

As a modern person who had never experienced such a place, she really didn't understand the intricacies of this mansion.

Even if she needed people, she could buy them herself; she didn't need to ask Chen Yuanyao for them.

Chen Yuancheng said, "When you need to buy servants to help you manage the vegetable garden in a while, you can also buy a few maids and old women to do rough work. With a large group of men living together, there will always be someone to help with cooking and mending clothes."

Xiao Yunying nodded and said, "I know. In a few days, I will have houses built and then buy people to live in."

Chen Yuancheng took a sip of tea: "Should I find some servants for you right now and have the steward train them in manners so that you can take them back with you once the house is built, so that the reliable and capable ones aren't all snatched up by others first?"

Xiao Yunying trusted Chen Yuancheng's ability to select and train servants: "Okay, I want honest, hardworking, and capable people who can endure hardship. Oh, and they also need to be meticulous. Let's start with ten people. As for the money..."

Before Xiao Yunying could finish speaking, Chen Yuancheng gently interrupted her: "Don't rush for the money. We'll talk about it when you come to pick up the person. Right now, a strong young man costs at most ten taels of silver. You can afford that."

Hearing his teasing tone, Xiao Yunying shrugged and said, "Alright, you decide. If I run out of money and can't give it to you first, you'll have to owe me."

Chen Yuanxuan, who had been eating with his head down, sat up straight and asked, "Do you need money?"

Xiao Yunying decided to tease him: "You're missing out, you're missing out on so much."

Chen Yuanxuan took it seriously and thought it over carefully before saying, "Hmm... I probably still have a few hundred taels of silver notes. Why don't you take them and use them first?"

If that's not enough, he'll have to ask his mother for more.

Xiao Yunying felt relieved, thinking that her kindness to the chubby boy hadn't been in vain: "I appreciate your kindness, but it's not necessary. I've already figured out how to earn a small amount of money in a short time."

Chen Yuancheng asked, "What do you want to do?"

Xiao Yunying was a little embarrassed: "The strawberries and melons in our greenhouse are ripe. I'd like you to help me connect with wealthy families and sell these two kinds of fruit."

The weather is still cold, and vegetables and fruits are scarce in this season, so they can definitely fetch a good price.

Of course, it can still only be sold to wealthy families; ordinary people absolutely cannot afford it.

Melons are fine, but strawberries are delicate fruits that can't be stored for long. They can't be bumped or bruised, and you can easily break the skin and flesh if you squeeze them with a little force. They can't be frozen or heated, so they can't be transported to other cities for sale and can only be sold locally.

She's not a professional fruit or vegetable farmer. The strawberries and melons she grows in the greenhouse taste alright, with a strong fruity flavor, but they're too small and don't look very appealing.

But her supermarket had both kinds of fruit: big, red strawberries and big, round melons. Just looking at them was enough to whet one's appetite.

As long as you keep it a secret from your parents and do a little sleight of hand, you can easily make a small fortune from these two fruits.

Chen Yuancheng agreed: "Okay, whenever you start picking fruit, just have the driver who went to pick up the vegetables bring it back with you."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work."

"It's no trouble at all. I also really like these two kinds of fruit. Just don't forget to bring me some to try."

Upon hearing this, siblings Chen Yuanyao and Chen Yuanxuan immediately spoke up, afraid that Xiao Yunying would forget about them.

"Sister Yunying, there's me too, there's me too."

"Don't forget me, I want to eat too."

Xiao Yunying smiled and said, "Didn't I bring you some before? Don't worry, I've never forgotten to bring you any new food. I can't forget you guys."

This was the first time she had sold these two kinds of fruit. Because she didn't want to sell them too cheaply, but was also worried that she would price them too high, she discussed it with Chen Yuancheng and asked him to consider the pricing after the fruit arrived.

Xiao Yunying was quite at ease about this matter; Chen Yuancheng definitely understood the purchasing power of the world's wealthy people better than she did.

After finishing their business and having eaten most of their breakfast, Xiao Yunying walked to the door and looked at the sky outside.

It was rather gloomy, as if the weather was about to change.

Luo Yang walked up to her without her noticing and said, "Mother, let's go back early. It looks like it's going to snow."

Xiao Yunying agreed, saying, "The weather isn't very good."

Knowing that Xiao Yunying would not stay another night, Chen Yuancheng immediately instructed Ling Qi to prepare a carriage.

Ling Qi acted quickly, having the coachman prepare the carriage and wait at the gate. The Chen siblings escorted Xiao Yunying to the gate, and Chen Yuancheng said to her:

"The weather is not good, so I won't keep you any longer, lest the wind and snow make the mountain road difficult to travel later."

Xiao Yunying helped each child into the car: "Don't forget to say a few good words for me in front of your parents and grandmother. I stayed at your house for one night and didn't pay my respects to the elders. Although there was a reason for it, it was still somewhat impolite."

Chen Yuancheng said, "Don't worry."

The maid behind Chen Yuanyao stepped forward and handed over two small jars. She said from the side, "Sister Yunying, I heard from Lianyin that you are very interested in these two kinds of honey. I had someone bring two jars over. You can take them home and eat them. They are good for making pastries or for drinking with water."

Xiao Yunying was quite interested in both kinds of nectar, and took them and put them into the carriage: "Then I won't be polite."

She then thanked Lian Yin for handing her the jar of honey.

This made Lian Yin blush, and she said softly, "Miss Xiao, you're too kind."

Then he quickly retreated behind Chen Yuanyao, keeping his head down and no longer looking at her.

Xiao Yunying shut her mouth, unsure of what to say.

Well, it looks like I've scared Lian Yin again.