Manager Min gave some instructions to the waiters and the chef, then came over to chat with Manager Qian.
Because they had a common acquaintance, Tai Jiye, the two of them did not feel unfamiliar with each other. After talking about the customs and interesting stories of the southern prefectures, they talked about the good weather and good harvests in the north, which was very lively.
After a while, the Tai family arrived.
Tai Jiye and Tai Yongan had lived and eaten together with Manager Qian and had experienced many ups and downs together. They were both very happy not to see each other for a long time.
"Brother Qian, it's been a long time since we last met! How was your journey?" Tai Jiye hugged Manager Qian and patted each other's backs vigorously.
Tai Yongan also asked, "Uncle Qian, Uncle Zhao, and the others, are they coming with us this time?"
"They're coming, they're coming!" Manager Qian quickly responded with a smile, "They're guarding the goods in the rented warehouse west of the city. If you miss them, just go over and play."
"Okay!" Tai Yongan immediately responded loudly, turned around and ran to the west of the city.
Yang Lihua rarely went to the city and planned to tidy up the new yard for her sons. Seeing that her eldest son was about to run to find an old friend empty-handed, she quickly pulled him aside and stuffed two pieces of silver into his hand.
"Buy some food and drinks and have some fun with everyone. But no drinking allowed. Come back for lunch at noon!"
"I got it, Mom!" Tai Yongan chuckled, put the silver in his pocket and ran away.
Manager Qian was greeting Mr. Tai and the others. He saw the scene clearly out of the corner of his eye and couldn't help but praise it in his heart.
No wonder Tai Yongan is reckless but acts in a dignified and upright manner. This is because he was well taught by his family!
Tai Yongning still had to go to the Wu family to study, and the old man also had to find a middleman to sign the lease, so soon, everyone left Tai Jiye to greet Manager Qian, and then said goodbye.
The middlemen are engaged in the business of buying and selling, and they earn hard-earned money to make a living.
The Tai family's carriage sent Tai Yongning away, and as soon as he turned back to the back alley, he saw the middleman waiting there.
The middleman opened the yard, handed over the keys, collected the rent, signed the deed, and left neatly.
Zhuzhu ran around the yard curiously, and the old man followed behind to protect his granddaughter because he was afraid that she would fall into the well.
After Zhuzhu had had enough of the novelty, he said, "Boss, you two stay busy here. I'll take Zhuzhu to see Banxian'er. Otherwise, she'll just cause trouble and delay your work if she stays here!"
The fat girl was jumping to pick some fruit from a shrub in the corner. When she heard this, she suddenly turned her head around. Her big eyes were full of disbelief, and the word "betrayal" was written all over her face.
Grandpa doesn’t like Zhuzhu anymore!
Grandpa dislikes Zhuzhu!
The old man quickly hugged his precious granddaughter and quickly stopped the imminent "heavy rain".
"Oh, Grandpa was wrong! Grandpa wanted to eat the glutinous rice balls from the shop on the corner, but he was worried that your parents wouldn't agree, so he used our Zhuzhu as a raft! Zhuzhu, be quiet, don't be angry, let's go eat together, Grandpa will buy you the ones with sweet osmanthus filling!"
The fat girl's big eyes really lit up, and the tears that were brewing in her eyes quickly retreated.
"Okay, Grandpa will take Zhuzhu out, and Zhuzhu won't stay to make trouble!"
The old man secretly wiped his sweat, turned around, waved to his son and daughter-in-law, and went out.
Tai Jizu couldn't help laughing and whispered, "Our father has been powerful all his life, but now that he's old, he's actually been subdued by his little granddaughter! When we were little, it took a long time to see our father, and he never even offered to hug us!"
Yang Lihua, busy getting a rag to tidy up the house, jokingly replied, "How can that be the same? This is a generational relationship! When I was young, I suffered hardships to support my family, so I had no time to care for my children. Now that I'm old and comfortable, I have the free time and am closer to my children."
"Besides, Zhuzhu is also very popular. Not only in our family, but also in the housekeeper Min, Madam Min, and Madam Wu. They all love her very much."
"That's true!" Tai Jizu smiled and looked very proud.
As the couple talked, they cleaned the yard and went to buy daily necessities such as rice, flour, grain, oil, sauce and vinegar.
At this time, Tai Jiye brought a maid over.
The old woman's surname was Chen. She was in her forties, slightly plump, and wore a navy blue dress. Perhaps because it had been washed too often, the color had faded a bit, but it was still clean.
Her hair was neatly tied up in a bun, and her nails were spotless. Most importantly, her eyes were clear and her expression was kind.
Yang Lihua was very satisfied. After a few simple greetings with her, she asked her to cook lunch. Regardless of whether she was needed in the end or not, her work would not be in vain.
The old woman quickly rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen to busy herself, and Yang Lihua helped to light the fire.
Tai Jiye, impatient for lunch, said to Tai Jizu, "Brother, when Dad comes back, please tell him for me. I'm going to find money to have lunch with the manager, and then I have to go to other merchants to inspect their goods this afternoon. If it works out, I can get tea, candied fruits, and the like without going south, and then go straight to the grasslands to exchange them for cashmere! It would save me more than a month!"
Tai Jizu didn't understand business matters, but since his brother was happy, he naturally supported him.
"Okay, go ahead and do your work. I'll talk to Dad when he comes back."
Tai Jiye left in a hurry immediately, but soon the old man came back with his fat granddaughter on his neck.
The grandparents and grandchildren ate the dumplings. Zhuzhu was holding a sugar man in her hand, and she smiled so hard that her little white teeth showed off in rows as she ran out to bask in the sun!
The family gathered under the eaves and chatted for a few minutes, and then Mrs. Chen prepared the meal.
She steamed snow-white rice, made a dish of braised pork with potatoes, a dish of minced meat with tofu, and a dish of choy sum with garlic sauce, and added blanched wild vegetables dipped in egg sauce.
Everyone in the Tai family tried the food. They couldn’t say it was extremely delicious, but it was certainly good, at least better than most women’s cooking.
Yang Lihua immediately decided to keep her, and guaranteed her one dinner every day, one meat and one vegetable, plus laundry and housekeeping, with a monthly salary of 300 wen.
Mrs. Chen bowed repeatedly, very happy, and kept promising to take good care of Yongning.
She worked in a pastry shop, preparing lunch and dinner for five or six people, and doing laundry, for a monthly wage of only 500 wen.
Now that the Tai family is paying such generous wages for just a little work, she can't be negligent no matter what.
After seeing off Mrs. Chen, the family had a good meal.
After dinner, Yang Lihua coaxed Zhuzhu to take a nap, and the old man took Tai Jizu to stack firewood.
There weren't many branches and firewood brought from home, but they were enough to cook for five or six days.
Tai Jizu plans to bring over fifteen more trucks tomorrow to at least cover one month's expenses.
When Zhuzhu woke up rubbing her eyes, the sun was already setting.
Yang Lihua was thinking about visiting Mrs. Wu, so she prepared a round fan and put it in a box, then took Zhuzhu to pick up Yongning and Yongfeng.
Life at home has been better recently, but Yang Lihua still worries when it comes to giving gifts.
Because the families I am good friends with are all wealthy and have everything they need.
Even if the Tai family spent all their money on a lavish gift, the other party might not appreciate it. So, she could only do her best.
Regardless of the value of the item, if the thought behind it is there, it will never be looked down upon. Furthermore, even Madam Min praised her embroidery skills, so Madam Wu would surely be pleased too...
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