Chapter 16 It had snowed for several days in a row in the pawnshop, and a thick layer of snow had accumulated on the eaves...

After several days of continuous snowfall, a thick layer of snow had accumulated on the eaves. To prevent the snow from freezing and falling and injuring people, several young eunuchs took advantage of the temporary lull in the snow to slowly sweep the snow down with long bamboo poles.

In the coldest days of winter, if you leave your hands outside, they will soon turn red from the cold and become numb and insensitive.

After finally finishing, I heard a noise behind me. I turned around and saw two young eunuchs coming over with a bucket of ginger tea and a basket of porcelain bowls. They smiled and said, "This is a reward from the master. Let you warm your hands."

The ginger tea, which had just been taken off the stove and added brown sugar, felt warm in my hands.

In the main courtyard, Muxue lay on the lambskin felt with her legs curled up, looking out through the glass window.

The snow on the eaves had been almost cleared away, and in the sheltered corner of the wall, a few young eunuchs were drinking tea and chatting.

Mother Zhao, who was sitting on the palace pier, took the opportunity to persuade them: "The princess is so lenient to the servants. How many people would beg for that? It is their blessing to be able to serve the princess."

"Got it," Mu Xue turned around and scooped up the milk tea with a spoon, "Just as you said, I'll buy another 20 people, and give priority to girls."

"I will certainly choose carefully. I will probably need to withdraw two hundred taels of silver."

"Ten taels of silver per person?"

"Yes, according to the regulations of the Ministry of Revenue, the price for each person aged between ten and sixty is ten taels of silver. It fluctuates around two hundred taels." Mother Zhao explained.

Mu Xue was silent for a moment, then sighed slightly: "I see, go ahead and do it."

Mother Zhao followed the order and went out of the house. Snow had started to fall again without her knowing. When she reached the front yard, she happened to meet Aunt Wu who had hurried back.

"Are you back from work?"

"Yes. My husband and I just went to the pawn shop on the orders of our master. There are so many people there during the New Year holidays."

Nanny Wu brushed off the snow on her cloak and said, "Are we going to buy someone?"

"Yes, the princess finally agreed."

"If you ask me, we should have bought some people a long time ago. Maids, servants, runners, and grooms are needed everywhere. Our fourth princess is a great princess, but the number of servants around her is not as large as that of the first wife of the Nalan family."

"The princess meant that we can add more people after we get there. Now we have enough."

"That's fine, but you should be more alert and don't pick people with bad intentions." Nanny Wu reminded, "During the New Year, the traffickers may raise the price, don't listen to them, just pay the price. Some people even give red envelopes to traffickers to serve the princess."

"I know."

The two exchanged a few words and continued with their tasks.

The maid at the gate lifted the thick door curtain, and Nanny Wu bowed her head and went in to greet the princess: "The location of the pawnshop is excellent. The Ministry of Internal Affairs did not fool us. There are many people coming and going in the Imperial Examination Hall next to it."

It refers to the only pawnshop in the princess's dowry.

Mu Xue has carefully counted all her assets these days. Apart from fixed incomes such as salary, silk, and manor rent, the only thing that can generate interest is this Anrong Pawnshop.

In this day and age, for a group of noble ladies, the channels for investment are very narrow, and the most common practice is to lend money and collect interest. Just like Wang Xifeng in "Dream of Red Mansions" often lends money at high interest. However, that is private lending and collecting interest, while the Anrong Pawnshop under Mu Xue's name is a formal official pawnshop endorsed by the court.

Lending money and taking commissions from pawning are all legitimate things, a bit like a bank.

"What do you think of the shopkeeper?" Mu Xue asked.

"It's just our first meeting, and he seems quite steady," said Madam Wu. "My wife asked around and she said that Shopkeeper Hu is very steady, but a little henpecked. Oh, and he has prepared a list of interest-bearing silver for the winter."

She took out a booklet from her felt bag: "A total of 150 taels of interest-bearing silver. As it is the end of the year, business is better."

Mu Xue took the account book and glanced at it. According to this number, the average annual income would be about 600 to 700 taels of silver.

If I can manage this pawnshop business well and open a chain, it should be a good way to make money, Mu Xue thought.

It would be best to find an opportunity to visit it in person.

Mu Xue rolled her eyes and looked at Rong Er: "The weather looks good today. Go to the West Courtyard and ask. Maybe the Prince Consort wants to go for a walk in the street?"

Nanny Wu saw her expression and knew that she wanted to go out for a walk. She smiled and stood up: "I will notify everyone to prepare."

"Don't mobilize a large army, just follow us. There won't be any trouble under the emperor's feet."

Muxue herself also became a little excited. She picked out a red feather gauze cloak with white fox lining, and her complexion looked better.

After changing clothes and going out, I saw Dorji already waiting in the courtyard.

"You are quite active." said Mu Xue.

Dorji laughed heartily: "The princess invited me, if I don't take the initiative, it would be disrespectful."

He stretched out his hand to Muxue. Muxue looked at him and immediately walked forward, pretending not to see him.

Dorji was not annoyed, and followed her with a faint smile.

Because he had specifically ordered to travel light, he did not bring many people with him. Madam Wu, Rong'er, and two guards followed him out the door.

The inner city of the city of Sijiu was where the bannermen lived, but there were many Han people working in shops or setting up stalls, and they had to rush back to their residences in the outer city before curfew.

With New Year's Eve just two days away, there are several Spring Festival couplet stalls on both sides of the street. The stall owners put their hands in their sleeves and shouted to passers-by: "Spring Festival couplets are on sale at a low price, on sale at a low price."

Many shops are closed for the New Year holiday, but some teahouses and restaurants are open.

Mu Xue and the others walked along the yellow soil and found that there was actually nothing worth seeing.

Seeing the disappointed look on the princess' face, Nanny Wu said softly, "It's almost New Year's Eve. Many shops are closed and it's snowing, so many people are staying at home. After the first day of the new year, there will be temple fairs and lantern festivals on the streets, which will be very lively."

"Well, I'll come back and see it later." As soon as Mu Xue finished speaking, Duoerji said, "I'll remember it."

"What do you remember?"

"Let's watch the temple fair and lantern festival together." Dorji said confidently.

Mu Xue rolled her eyes at him and said, "Who wants to accompany you?"

"Of course it's the princess." Dorji came closer, his eyes shining, "Would you please accompany me? I've never been shopping before."

He came so close to beg with such a childish attitude that it was really a bit unfair.

Mu Xue turned her head away from him and said, "It depends on whether I'm in a good mood. Maybe."

As he said this, he walked forward quickly.

Finally, they arrived at the pawnshop street and saw the sign of "Rong'an Pawnshop". Just as they were about to go forward, they heard a woman's roar from inside: "Mr. Hu, did you hide your own money? Why are you hiding? Come out and tell me clearly!"

The guys near the pawnshop all stuck their heads out and watched the fun with great interest.

Mu Xue curiously asked a waiter: "What's going on?"

"The Hedong Lion of Shopkeeper Hu," the clerk said with a smile, "It's okay, she just scares him, I've never seen her really hit him."