Chapter 261 Things Are Getting Better
"Have all the embroiderers and dyers hired by Guangji Prefecture been arranged?"
"The accommodations have been prepared, and the contracts have all been signed. However, two of them have family matters to attend to and said they will be arriving later. The eldest young master has also made time for them."
"The new dyeing vats have been prepared, but since it is winter now, some raw materials are not available. We will have to wait until spring and summer."
The steward handed a thin piece of paper to Hua Nanzhi.
"Okay, let's prioritize procuring what we can get our hands on first."
Hua Nanzhi opened the accounts in her hands, calculating each item and comparing it with the inventory of the warehouse that was burned down.
The more Hua Nanzhi calculated, the more disheartened she became.
After a while, she said, "The old man has been burning incense and praying to Buddha in his own yard these days."
The butler hesitated for a moment, then said, "Yes..."
"Since you like worshipping Buddha so much, let's send it to the temple."
"this……"
The butler looked somewhat troubled: "I'm afraid the master won't agree."
Hua Nanzhi fiddled with the abacus, completely unaffected: "Then let's send the old man and the great-grandfather away together."
"Ah...what if Second Master asks..."
Hua Nanzhi looked up at him and said, "Then send him to Second Master's courtyard so that he can support him and fulfill his filial duties. Now that the family has been divided, the money they squeezed out of him back then is more than enough to support his father."
Should we keep Xie Shan around, just in case he burns down the warehouse again?
She's not like Xie Boyu, indecisive and hesitant.
The butler nodded: "Understood."
"Where is the young master? Where did he go?"
The steward said, "The young master said he wants to hire two tutors at the dyeing and weaving garden to teach the children of the dyers and embroiderers."
Hua Nanzhi paused, then smiled faintly and said, "That's right. Once the news spreads that children who come to work at our Xie family's weaving and dyeing garden can attend the Xie family's school for free, it will definitely attract many craftsmen."
"People work hard all their lives, all for the sake of their descendants' success."
"Xu Chuan's idea is good, but have you found the teacher?"
"We have already invited two people. The young master has arranged for someone to build a house outside the weaving and dyeing garden today."
"The young master wants to choose a good location, which cannot be too far from the weaving and dyeing garden, but also cannot be too close."
"Yes, the dyeing garden has many poisonous plants, Xuchuan's idea makes sense."
In the blink of an eye, half a month has passed since Hua Nanzhi took over the Xie family's business.
The closed textile and dyeing workshop reopened, and the embroiderers and artisans were brought in from other places by the Xie family at her request.
The best embroiderers in Suzhou Prefecture have all been poached by Jixia Manor and Xiecui Workshop, but that doesn't mean there aren't skilled embroiderers in other places.
Although it's difficult, the business has resumed operations and will eventually recover in time.
When Hua Nanzhi returned home from Xie's shop, Jiang Wansu was standing in front of Qianxiang Courtyard waiting for Xie Xuchuan.
Upon seeing the person, she quickly and softly called out "Mother".
Perhaps because she had taken over the business, her mind was no longer solely focused on the trivial matters of her children and grandchildren. When Hua Nanzhi saw Jiang Wansu, she was no longer as resistant as before.
In her heart, she was content as long as Xie Xuchuan was happy.
"Why are you standing here? It's so cold."
"Waiting for the order to come to Chuan."
Jiang Wansu placed the hot water bottle in Hua Nanzhi's hand, saying, "Mother has been busy all day, let her warm up first."
"You've been much better since you moved to Qianxiang Courtyard. Have you been waking up in the middle of the night any more often?"
There aren't any more.
She was much better, mainly because Qianxiang Courtyard was much larger than Tiqi Courtyard, and Hua Nanzhi had arranged for two more maids to come over.
After Zi Tang was sent away, she saw Zi Tang less and less after coming to Qianxiang Courtyard, which naturally made her feel much better.
Moreover, during this period of recovery after her miscarriage, Xie Xuchuan treated her with gentleness and care, and she rarely even thought of Cui Yulin anymore.
She thought that perhaps living like this from now on wouldn't be so bad.
With the loss of her child with Yulin, she lost her ambition.
Since women cannot show their faces in public, if she has children with Xie Xuchuan in the future, everything in the Xie family will naturally belong to their children.
Thinking this way, other thoughts faded away.
She and Xie Xuchuan are now trying to be an ordinary couple, just like any other couple. She has gotten used to it when the night is quiet.
There's nothing wrong with it.
Xie Xuchuan's treatment of her was enough.
Thinking of this, Jiang Wansu said, "Mother, yesterday I saw that Xu Chuan loved the taro pastries made by the cook in your courtyard. Today I was thinking of going to her to learn how to make them so that I can make them for Xu Chuan in the future."
"Won't it be too tiring?"
Jiang Wansu shook her head, a faint smile on her face: "It's good to find something to do. I originally wanted to make a dress for Xuchuan. When I was a young lady, I did a pretty good job with needle and thread, but now my eyesight isn't very good, and Xuchuan won't let me touch needles and thread anymore."
"So I thought, why not learn some cooking skills to pass the time?"
“That’s great. I’ll have the cook come to Qianxiang Courtyard in a bit, and she can go back after you’ve learned how to cook.”
Seeing that Jiang Wan was determined to get out of her self-pity, Hua Nanzhi said, "Xu Chuan has hired two teachers for the craftsmen's children at the dyeing and weaving garden. If you have nothing to do, you can go to the school to keep the children company. If you'd like, you can also teach the girls their first lessons."
"This isn't difficult; you can easily read the Thousand Character Classic and the Hundred Family Surnames."
Jiang Wansu was startled: "Mother, I can't do it. There are too many craftsmen in the weaving and dyeing garden. It's not suitable for me."
Hua Nanzhi sighed and didn't force the issue.
Wasn't she the same way back then?
But at this moment, she couldn't help but think of Shen Yuanzhu, and a slight unease would rise in her heart.
"Then forget it, do what you want."
Jiang Wansu tugged at her sleeve, seeing Hua Nanzhi's loving expression, and hesitated before asking, "Mother, may I let Zitang also go to the weaving and dyeing garden to work?"
"What, is she not taking good care of you?"
"no."
Jiang Wansu hurriedly shook her head: "Zitang treats me well, and Mother has seen it too. It's just that Xueqing is in the weaving and dyeing garden, and she misses my sister every day, so I can't keep her by my side."
“Now that I have Caihuan and my mother by my side, I thought it would be better to let the two sisters stay together, so they can keep each other company.”
Hua Nanzhi thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "That's fine too. You're familiar with her sisters, and understanding the work in the weaving and dyeing garden will be beneficial to you in the future."
"After all, everything the Xie family owns will belong to you and Xu Chuan from now on."
"I'll have the person in charge arrange it. You can have her go tomorrow."
"Thank you, Mother."
Jiang Wansu breathed a sigh of relief and looked up with a sweet smile.
"Mother……"
When Xie Xuchuan returned, he saw the two of them standing at the entrance of Qianxiang Courtyard.
"Why are you all standing here in the wind? Let's go inside together."
Hua Nanzhi said, "I won't go. Your father has been researching dyeing formulas at home these past few days. He said yesterday that he has some ideas, and I was thinking of going to ask him."
During this period, the atmosphere between Hua Nanzhi and Xie Boyu has improved considerably.
The two stopped being at odds and were able to talk to each other politely for a while.
Xie Boyu had no interest in business and buried himself in ancient books trying to figure out prescriptions, which actually led him to find some useful information.
After business improved, Xie Boyu's illness got much better. Although he had experienced setbacks, everything was finally getting better. Hua Nanzhi pulled her cloak tighter and patted Xie Xuchuan's arm.
She smiled kindly, her heart filled with joy, "Wansu has been waiting for you for a long time, go back now..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
