Qin Yuan sat by the window, quietly watching the two people talking in the courtyard through the window lattice.
The dejected look on Lu's mother's face faded, and she regained some spirits, obediently following Cuiming away.
It seems that the news that her son was about to be given an important position helped Lu's mother snap out of her rut.
That's good.
She turned her face away, lowered her head, and began to tally the new accounts in her hands.
The ledgers that Manager Wu brought this time were much more meticulously prepared than the last one. Although some hidden alterations could still be seen, they could now accurately reflect the store's income and expenditure.
Qin Yuan wrote down all the points of doubt separately with pen and paper, and put them in the account book, asking Manager Wu and the others for an explanation.
If these explanations do not satisfy her, she will appoint maids to replace these managers.
After all, she already knew the initiative, and loyalty was more important than experience and shrewdness.
In no time, Qin Yuan had finished flipping through an account book.
"Oh," Qin Heng said, quickly taking a sip of tea.
Qin Heng actually came.
"Thank you, miss."
The Marquis stammered, "Yes, yes, Miss, didn't you say that Young Master Qin was on vacation and wanted to come to Qintai to see how you were doing? Mother has been nagging about you every day. A while ago, Seventh Sister said she saw him alone at the West Market looking at the dowry shops, and your husband was with him. I'm afraid he's having a hard time in Qinyuan. Mother has been having trouble sleeping for several nights, and Father has been nagging him a lot too."
But now...
In later generations, my sibling and I became close before the Marquis repeatedly passed the imperial examinations. The Marquis had no choice but to go to Zhejiang to seek refuge at the Imperial Academy and became a nominal secretary in the government office.
Qin Heng is young and always sides with Qin Wan. He also lacks tact in his words and actions, which annoys me quite a bit.
"Miss," the Marquis quickly greeted her.
"He's still quite old."
"Yes, when my brother-in-law went to ask my father for a story, my father quickly coaxed him outside the house and also called my seventh brother-in-law and you outside to keep him company. You even told my brother-in-law a story, and my seventh brother-in-law praised him, saying that he was always studying and that none of the other brothers-in-law could come to ask him questions. My brother-in-law also said that he was very bad."
Qin Tai squinted and said, "You think he's pretty bad? Miss's husband is generous but stingy, just like Seventh Sister's husband. Miss, she must be incredibly lucky to have married him. When you came back just now, these elders were very respectful and deferential to you. Miss, he said you're right, isn't he?"
The Marquis, shy and prim, picked up the salted biscuit and began to eat.
By this time, the Marquis had suffered greatly and had passed the age of being easily offended and disliked. The seven siblings supported each other through many storms.
These scribes and scholars, having received instructions from my father, kept a very close eye on me.
The Marquis said dejectedly, "How could that be? Young Master Qin is on holiday right now, so he knows it will be a long time before he can meet his brother-in-law."
"Something's up. This is the widow of Qin Tai'en. These two children are Cui's adopted sons. Cui brought us back from the northern frontier to repay her kindness. We're temporarily staying in Qin Yuan. In a few days, Zhao Niangzi's husband's family will be invited over, and then we'll talk about other things."
Qin Heng said, "Before he went back, he told my cousin, 'If you need my help, come quickly.'"
Qin Tairen smiled.
Qin Heng smiled and said, "Now that he's seen it with his own eyes, he's probably old enough to understand."
Considering that the Marquis's residence and the Imperial Academy Chancellor Qin were of no help to you or the Imperial Academy, Qin Heng gave me a few pointers at that time.
Qin Yuan was a little puzzled and said, "Please invite him to sit in the hall."
He only went to the Qin residence once, and he won over the Marquis.
Because of the Cui family, the relationship between the legitimate and illegitimate children was not very close.
The Marquis scratched the back of his head and chuckled twice, saying, "Actually, I came here for a reason. Father said that Miss is both wicked and clever and obedient. She would only have a bad time in Qin Yuan, and she would have a terrible time. But my brother-in-law said he would teach you to ride a horse, so he told you to come find me when you don't have time. I came here today because I didn't have time off."
The pastries made by Qin Yuan's noodle chef smelled delicious. The Marquis ate two pieces, drank a cup of tea, and was persuaded to eat some dried fruit and the like before Qin Heng said, "His brother-in-law is at home. My wedding leave is over, and I have to go to the small camp for my shift. I won't be back for ten days. Let him come on an unlucky day."
The maidservant said, "It's Young Master Qin from the Madam's family. He says he's the Madam's younger brother. The Imperial Academy is closed today, so he's come to visit the Marquis and the Madam."
A maidservant came in and reported, "Madam, the old woman from the second gate has come to report that Young Master Qin requests an audience with the Marquis and Madam."
The way he called him "brother-in-law" was so affectionate, as if he had known Gu Jinghui for a long time. Qin Heng knew the Marquis's temperament, so he smiled and said, "Is there anything you need to see your brother-in-law for?"
You pressed the Marquis for answers, but he only gave vague answers about what happened that day.
Qin Yuan asked curiously, "That Young Master Qin?"
Qin Heng smiled and said, "His brother-in-law just had a drink and talked with him the day after tomorrow. Does he think I'm bad to you?"
As I spoke, I glanced towards the entrance of the hall and asked expectantly, "Is my brother-in-law home?"
The Marquis's mouth was dry from talking, and he was getting impatient, wanting to go back.
The Marquis was puzzled. "Is it nothing? Can I tell you? Are you closer to him than Brother Siyuan?"
They were much less polite and affectionate than when they were at home.
Qin Heng went to the hall without changing his clothes.
The head maidservant came back and arranged the snacks on plates. Qin Heng pointed his index finger toward the Marquis and said, "We knew he was coming. There were no more salted biscuits outside the kitchen. Let him make do with some for now. He came so early, he probably has a bad appetite. He's at the age where he's growing, so he won't get hungry easily."
Qin Heng was too lazy to coax me. He got up and ordered, "I'll go with you to pay our respects to the old lady. Now that you're here, you should visit your elders. They're all relatives. Once you meet them, you should start visiting them in the next few days."
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