Chapter 94
With someone to look after the child, the house is warmer and more comfortable than the shop. In the shop, she never lets the child out of her sight, and the backyard is a bit cold.
She woke up early, and before Wen Shi was awake, she was already sitting up.
"Should I bring the kids to deliver your lunch?"
Wen Shi looked at his wife gently and reached out his long arm to tuck the stray hairs behind her ears.
Yingxiang was reluctant to leave her warm and cozy bed, but she wanted the silver coins even more. Struggling, she got up anyway.
"No need, someone will cook. You stay home and take good care of the child. Read some books when you have time, and I'll be back tonight."
Needless to say, the security in the capital was excellent, and Yingxiang couldn't possibly come back in the middle of the night. She would head home as it got dark, as she didn't stay at the shop.
After getting dressed, Yingxiang bent down and kissed Wen Shi's thin lips before walking outside.
Watching his wife's retreating figure, Wen Shi's eyes were filled with a deep smile. He wouldn't continue sleeping. Before the child woke up, he prepared the meal first, and then copied the book.
In the next room, the child was sleeping soundly, showing no signs of waking up. Yingxiang kissed him before going out.
Every day, an old woman cooks all three meals at the shop. She's a good cook and used to cook at other places. They were sold into servitude, and life wasn't easy for them.
The current employer is quite good. Although the indenture is in the hands of Granny Yang, everyone tacitly acknowledges that Yingxiang has become the new master.
They all knew that two years later, their indentures would be handed over to Yingxiang, their new master, at which point the cooperation between Granny Yang and Yingxiang would come to a complete end.
Despite the biting wind and swirling snowflakes, everyone was in high spirits in the backyard.
You know, practice makes perfect. This time there was a crying scene. At first, some people's crying was not natural, but when they put themselves in the role and thought about their own tragic life story, they burst into tears. Their performance was incredibly vivid.
Yingxiang witnessed this scene but said nothing.
It would be best if she could exceed the target. She doesn't have the resources to do charity right now. If she can really earn a lot in the next two years, she will give these people their freedom a year after she gets the indenture.
We'll see how they perform now, but of course, she won't say that right now; it's not the right time.
With the New Year approaching, more and more customers are coming to drink tea. Yingxiang thought long and hard and then added another notice.
There will be a full show on New Year's Eve, and an additional show on the third day of the Lunar New Year. If you miss the third day, there will be another show on the seventh day. After the seventh day, there will be another show on the tenth day, and a final show on the Lantern Festival. Then, the New Year will be over.
"Shopkeeper, you really know how to do business."
Granny Yang admired Yingxiang somewhat, and looking at the red background and black characters at the door, she couldn't be happier.
She had previously worried about what would happen if Yingxiang couldn't make that much money with these people, but now it seems she had worried unnecessarily.
"A good show is worth watching, so prepare well."
"Yes, yes."
Before we knew it, it was the 26th of the lunar year.
In the county town
The Wen family was also wondering whether to go back home for the New Year. Old Man Wen struggled with the decision for a long time, but finally decided to go back.
"Let's go back. We still need to offer incense and sweep the tombs of our ancestors next Qingming Festival. I wonder when Xiao Wu will be able to come back?"
After Old Man Wen finished speaking, the fourth son immediately chimed in, "It will definitely be next year, but right now our family is completely healed."
"Yes, it's all thanks to the third brother; business is much better than before."
Business was good, and money was made. Although he couldn't accept gifts, he could earn money through his own labor, which was respectable and honorable.
"Father, can we go to the capital after the New Year the year after next?"
"We'll listen to the third brother when the time comes."
"The third brother will definitely lead us."
Wen Erge was very certain about this.
After giving birth, Ma focused all her attention on the child. Before she knew it, the child was over seven months old. She took care of the child every day with all her heart and soul, while Liu remained the same.
"Once our third brother and sister-in-law have established themselves in the capital, we will also go there."
Yuqin spoke with great anticipation. She had even planned to send her son to study in the capital. She reasoned that it wouldn't make a difference if he went to school in the capital, as the schools there were definitely better than those in the county.
"We'll be busy all day tomorrow. Second brother, remember to go and buy New Year's goods. We'll go home the day after tomorrow."
No one had any objections, so the matter was settled. As for the Wen family, Old Man Wen didn't care. After Wen Shiliu arrived in the capital, Wen Chuanzong dared not say anything more.
He is currently studying diligently, hoping to become an official after passing the imperial examination.
Xiuyu kept a close eye on the two children, and Amian focused on taking care of her own children. For the past six months, their lives have been relatively peaceful and uneventful.
On New Year's Eve, Yingxiang planned to go an hour early, and of course, she would have New Year's Eve dinner with her husband and son.
"Shall I come and help you with the child?"
"No, you all stay home and rest well. There are quite a few guests tonight, but I can handle them. There's also Granny Yang."
"I'll be back tomorrow morning, and then we'll have a good New Year celebration."
Yingxiang is not at ease about collecting the debt right now and wants to do it herself. This whole show will last for nearly two hours, and everything that needs to be prepared is ready.
Even if Wen Shi went with the children, he might not be able to help. The shop was crowded, and they probably wouldn't like the environment. The storyteller in the front hall was too noisy on weekdays, and Wen Leqian would cover his ears in the backyard, looking very unhappy. He preferred quiet.
There was nothing we could do before, but now that we have a choice, we should try to make him happy.
"Then we'll wait for you. Come back soon, and I'll make dumplings tomorrow morning."
Yingxiang nodded, and the father and son watched her leave. Wenshi glanced at his son sitting to the side.
“Your mother is now completely focused on her career. After the New Year, you should also study hard.”
After saying that, he patted his son's head. He was a strict father, but of course, as long as his son behaved well, he wouldn't scold him. He was usually quite gentle.
The little guy nodded and then smiled.
"Get dressed."
"Tomorrow, Dad will dress you in new clothes."
Before the New Year, Yingxiang bought two new sets of clothes for her child, two sets for herself, and a new cotton robe for Wenshi. These were the family's new clothes for the New Year.
She originally wanted to buy two outfits for Wen Shi, but he said one was enough and asked her to buy one for herself.
Yingxiang felt that two sets were enough. She already had quite a few clothes, and her closet was almost full, so she didn't buy any more. She couldn't wear them all even if she didn't wear the same thing every day.
teahouse
Granny Yang arrived early; she had even started doing makeup for these people, and the stage had been set up yesterday.
In the kitchen, two large pots of steaming hot tea had been brewed and poured into teapots. Not only that, the fried meat was also ready, wrapped in oil paper, and the pastries were all neatly arranged.
We just waited for the appointed time for the customers to come and make their purchases.
Yingxiang was on high alert; she was ready.
Every year on Lunar New Year's Eve, countless people reunite with their families. This year, the promotion of welcoming incense was in place, and even though it was snowing lightly, most of those who had seen the play before came today.
Yingxiang saw several familiar faces and quickly invited everyone inside.
Granny Yang was in charge of entertaining everyone, serving tea and water. The front hall was already set up, and the earlier you arrived, the closer your seat would be to the front. Everyone was looking forward to watching the play.
The woman who had previously taken her three children to the theater invited her whole family this time.
“Sir, your child is still small, why don’t you hold him in your arms?”
More and more people arrived, and the first five rows were already full, leaving only three rows. There was still a queue at the door to pay. This time, Yingxiang didn't count the coins; they collected money by weight.
The weight of each copper coin is fixed, and there is no overcharging, which greatly speeds up the process.
The time hadn't come yet, and the actors were all waiting to go on stage. The front hall was already full of guests. When Granny Yang saw some of the smaller children, she had her family members hold them, and in this way, a few seats were made available.
The child sitting in the back couldn't see anything, so Granny Yang had her family lift him up and hold him on their shoulders, and everyone waited to watch the show.
There are so many guests that there isn't enough room. If you arrive too late, I'm sorry, you'll have to wait until later.
During the Lunar New Year, everyone was in a good mood and there were no conflicts. After Yingxiang closed the door, several candles were lit in the hall. She also specially lit a lampstand to make it bright. There were also a few charcoal braziers in the corner. Before long, the room was warm and cozy.
Some who felt hot had already taken off their outer cloaks.
Yingxiang had watched the play a hundred times, so she wasn't that interested anymore. She sat at the counter, focused on counting money, wondering how much she could earn that night.
Having a weight makes things much more convenient; at least she doesn't have to count the coins one by one anymore.
She went to a money exchange and found that silver coins were mostly exchanged by weight. She took out a large box that she had prepared in advance and began to pour copper coins into it.
"One hundred coins, two hundred coins, three hundred coins."
Yingxiang was very focused and attentive. Granny Yang went back and forth to greet the customers in the shop. She was all smiles. The play started and everyone stared at the stage without moving, watching the actors perform with great enthusiasm. Everyone was focused and didn't want to miss anything. Even the three- or five-year-old children didn't make a fuss and just watched the stage intently.
This play is quite melodramatic and thrilling, full of love, hate, and grudges, but it will definitely have a happy ending. The ancients valued family reunions, and if it doesn't make people happy, they might not come back to watch it again.
An hour later, Yingxiang sat at the counter and weighed the items again, almost bursting out laughing.
Tonight, with the addition of snacks like pastries and fried meat, she can earn ten taels of silver. The prices of fried meat and pastries are higher than outside, but people who bring children usually buy them for their kids. You know, there are several more shows to come, and she has already advertised them, so there will definitely be more people coming, maybe even more than tonight.
The boxes were filled with heavy copper coins, and Yingxiang felt incredibly pleased with herself.
She calculated that if she could earn five taels of silver a day this year, she would reach her goal by the end of the year. There would definitely be some discrepancies, but not too much. Of course, it would be better if she could earn more.
Five taels a day, thirty days a month, that's one hundred and fifty taels. Twelve months a year, one hundred and fifty multiplied by twelve, that's one thousand eight hundred taels.
As long as she can maintain her composure, by the end of the year, after deducting all costs, she will have a guaranteed profit of 500 taels of silver. Over two years, that will amount to 1,000 taels of silver, which is no small sum. After that, the indentures of these people will also be in her hands.
Previously, when there was a storyteller present, the audience would receive at least two or three ounces of music, but if there was a performance, the audience would receive even more, like today, when the audience doubled.
Yingxiang felt incredibly happy thinking about the future.
Of course, she can't stop. After this play, she has to start preparing for the next one before the Lantern Festival. Once the Lantern Festival is over, she has to continue the intensive rehearsals.
Based on the feedback, she will raise her price appropriately, because actors can't film a show every day; they also need rest.
Moreover, if you don't innovate, you'll get tired of the old stuff.
The next show will be staged after the New Year. The first show will be free, but afterwards it will cost fifty copper coins, which everyone is already used to.
However, we can't perform too many shows, at most two, to keep things fresh and attract a steady stream of customers.
The next morning, Yingxiang watched the guests leave satisfied, some with red eyes, but she didn't say anything.
After tidying up, she arranged for everyone to rest and then hurried home.
"Are you going out?"
As soon as I got home, I saw Wen Shi holding the child's hand.
"Yes, let's go play."
The little guy glanced at his mother, then looked at Wen Shi.
"I'm tired, I want to take a nap. You go with him, but come back soon."
Wen Shi nodded, told Yingxiang to remember to eat the dumplings in the pot, and then took the child out.
It's impossible for a child of this age to stay home every day.
After the two left, Yingxiang went back to her room and silently recited the sign-in instructions. In recent years, she had not been able to sign in on time every day as before. Sometimes she was too busy and forgot, and sometimes there were too many people and she could not do so.
The next second, she was stunned.
"The check-in system is upgrading. Please wait a moment, host."
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