That day, the medicine shop on East Street sent a servant to deliver the account book, and Shen Liyue asked him to come in.
The servant respectfully presented the account book to Chen Liyue with both hands, lowered his eyes and said:
"My dear Miss, our shopkeeper sent me to tell the boss that all this year's accounts are here. He will have me deliver the old books tomorrow once he finishes them. The shopkeeper of the jewelry store on West Street has asked me to deliver a new batch of jewelry to you. He says the jewelry is of excellent quality and the styles are the latest. Please pick out a few that you like, but feel free to send any that you don't like. The shopkeeper of Yuelai Tower invites you to come and have some friends over if you have time. He has also served a new batch of dishes. If you are not available, I have asked you to pass on a message and have them delivered to your house."
After listening to this, Shen Liyue's eyes lit up, and she smiled and said to Lian Dong: "Look, this is quite clear and refreshing."
Then he turned to the servant and said, "What's your name? How old are you?"
The servant then looked up and said with a smile, "In reply to my master: My surname is Bai, and everyone calls me Gou'er. I am seventeen years old this year."
Chen Liyue was speechless. How could such a smart person be called Gou'er? She felt really wronged, so she said, "Are you a clerk in the medicine shop?"
"I am a slave."
Chen Liyue asked, "Let me ask you, you're a shop assistant in a herbal medicine shop, yet you're delivering messages for so many shop owners. Was that your idea, or your shop owner's?"
Gou'er thought Shen Liyue was going to blame him for being nosy, so he quickly apologized and knelt down to Shen Liyue.
"My master, I am the one who is being nosy. Considering that there are so many shops, I was afraid that all of them would come to report and disturb the young lady's peace. So my boss sent me to pass on the message, and I took the initiative to ask around. I have reported back to those who wanted to bring a message." As he spoke, he kowtowed to Shen Liyue.
Shen Liyue then smiled and said: “It’s not that I’m nosy, you are quite clever, but if you go and ask questions, will they all trust you and pass on the message to you?”
Gou'er heard that Chen Liyue's tone was softer, so he smiled and said, "The herbal medicine shop does business from all over the world. People eat all kinds of grains, so it's inevitable that they won't get sick. I have seen everyone in the shop on weekdays, so I have become familiar with them."
Shen Liyue knew that this dog was probably not only familiar to her, but was also smart.
So he asked him, "How much silver do you earn per month in the pharmacy now?"
The dog scratched his head in embarrassment. "According to the quota, it's one or two taels, but our shopkeeper is kind-hearted and knows that I have an old mother to support. If a noble person gives me a few more coins, he will give them to me."
Chen Liyue nodded. "I have an idea. I'd like you to come work for me and pay you five taels of silver a month. Would you be willing?"
Gou'er kowtowed to Shen Liyue hurriedly: "The slave is willing, but..."
"The lady asked you to come and work for her because she thinks highly of you, and you're not happy about it?" Lian Dong couldn't help but speak from the side.
Gou'er said hurriedly, "It's not that I don't want to. It's just that my shopkeeper has always taken good care of me. Logically, he is grateful to me. Now that I have found a good partner, I have to leave him. I feel..."
Shen Liyue thought to herself that this dog was grateful and repaying kindness, which was a good thing.
"That's all right. I'll pick out a better one for your boss later. Go back and tell him it was my idea."
After hearing this, Gou'er kowtowed to express his gratitude. Shen Liyue then said, "Since you're following me, don't call me Gou'er anymore. I'll decide to change your name. Are you willing?"
The dog was unwilling and agreed immediately.
"Since your last name is Bai, from now on you should be called Baishan. Cypress and fir trees are hard and evergreen."
"Everything is up to the master."
On the day of the Hairpin Flower Banquet, Shen Liyue was still asleep when she was dragged out of bed by Lian Dong and Yu Zhou.
The two of them took a long time to dress up Shen Liyue, and said that Fang's mother had instructed that she must dress beautifully and appropriately today.
After finishing her makeup, Lian Dong looked at the "masterpiece" in front of her and felt very satisfied.
"Miss is so beautiful." Lian Dong admired from the bottom of his heart.
Even the usually quiet fishing boats joined in the discussion.
Shen Liyue looked at herself in the mirror and was very satisfied, but when she thought about her engagement with the Fang family, she couldn't help but feel worried.
Many young ladies from aristocratic families came today. At first glance, they were all very beautiful.
As soon as they arrived at the garden, Chen Lijiao said that she wanted to go for a walk with He Yinxue. Chen's mother wanted to bring Chen Liyue out to have a look. Although the Fang family had an engagement with the Shen family, they had no intention of proposing marriage. Chen's mother wanted to make other plans for Chen Liyue.
Hearing that the two wanted to go shopping by themselves, Mother Shen had no intention of stopping them. She waved her hand and let them go, but gave them a special warning.
"It's fine to stroll around the garden, but don't go to the north courtyard. There are only outsiders there. If you bump into them, it won't be a joke."
Shen Lijiao quickly agreed and pulled He Yinxue to leave.
Chen Liyue winked at the fishing boat beside her, and the fishing boat understood and quietly followed them while they were not paying attention.
Lian Dong and Yu Zhou were sent by Jiang's uncle from her maternal side to protect her. Both of them have some skills and are quite strong.
Just now in the carriage, Chen Liyue saw He Yinxue's uneasy look and felt a little suspicious. Now Chen Lijiao said that she wanted to go for a walk by herself and took He Yinxue with her. Chen Liyue became cautious and asked Yuzhou to follow.
Sure enough, after walking a few steps, Shen Lijiao said to He Yinxue:
"Finally, I'm away from Chen Liyue. Seeing her every day just makes me feel unlucky."
He Yinxue's eyes turned slightly, "Sister, there's no need to be like this. It can't be helped. Who told the eldest wife to be favored by the old lady?"
Chen Lijiao rolled her eyes at He Yinxue and said, "So what if she's the eldest wife? I just can't stand her like that. Isn't she just relying on the Jiang family's wealth?"
"It was my mother who asked the Madam to bring us here today. Otherwise, the Madam would have brought Chen Liyue with her. Isn't this partiality?"
Speaking of this, Shen Lijiao seemed to have thought of something, “I heard that the Shen family and the Fang family still have an engagement.”
Seeing Shen Lijiao mention the Fang family, He Yinxue bit her lip.
But she didn't dare let Chen Lijiao see it, and said with a fake smile: "If that's the case, it's really a great thing. With a family like the Fang family, the eldest lady will only enjoy happiness if she marries there."
Chen Lijiao is only one year younger than Chen Liyue. Now that she sees that Chen Liyue has such a marriage, she is naturally jealous.
It was fine on normal days, but after hearing what He Yinxue said today, she became even more indignant.
Why does she, Shen Liyue, have such a good marriage?
Chen Lijiao murmured, "I wish there was some way to ruin her marriage."
Seeing that Shen Lijiao had taken the bait, He Yinxue smiled and whispered in Shen Lijiao's ear, "I have a way to make this marriage negotiation fail."
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