Chapter 712 Aunt, Her Surname is Also Zhao [4k words per update, please vote! Thanks to my friend "Honey Princess" for the generous donation]
I walked out of the Jiangzhou lobby.
Ouyang Rong felt as if a heavy burden had been temporarily lifted.
Walking feels light and carefree.
Ever since he took over the position of acting governor of Jiangzhou with the official title of Sima of Jiangzhou, he has always felt like a heavy weight was pressing on his heart and his shoulders felt a little heavy.
It wasn't like Wang Caozhi said, that he carried the weight of "one city and thirteen counties of Jiangzhou" on his shoulders, or that he became the Jiangzhou weightlifting champion.
It's not that there's nothing to do, but rather that there are just too many things to do, and there's always something to do every day.
Although he could go home to rest on time every day and there was no physical work involved, he still had many things on his mind when he got home: the Xunyang Grottoes, the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, the Jiangzhou Main Hall, and Princess Anhui's side.
Every morning when I open my eyes, there are important things to do, and my mind is constantly preoccupied with them, so I can't really rest.
Be prepared at any time for Yan Liulang, Wang Caozhi, Pei Shisan Niang and others to suddenly come to report urgent matters.
Not to mention that a while ago, he was going to the quiet little courtyard by Xingzi Lake every day to have meals with the embroiderer.
Over time, you may not feel physically tired, but you will feel mentally exhausted.
In short, it's mentally taxing.
In this situation, having to ask Ouyang Rong to carefully guess the thoughts of Xie Lingjiang, Xiu Niang, Zhen Shuyuan, and Rong Zhen was truly baffling.
But as we all know, a man's energy is limited, unless he has several women in his family, in which case it's unlimited—well, I mean all sorts of troubles.
After the embroiderer was exposed last time, a chaotic scene unfolded inside and outside the quiet courtyard.
He had to coax everyone, big and small, old and young.
Therefore, the matter that Xie Lingjiang repeatedly urged him to attend to has been scheduled for today.
Ouyang Rong boarded the carriage and let out a long breath.
I turned my head and glanced at a food box placed on the seat next to me.
He reached out and touched the box, opened it a crack, and peeked inside.
A faint mist of ice wafted out from the gap at the opening of the box, bringing a touch of coolness to Ouyang Rong's fingertips.
Finely crushed ice is piled up in the box as if it were free, and the outside is wrapped with insulation materials such as fresh straw, rice husks, and leaves.
A large bowl of chilled mung bean soup was preserved perfectly.
"Young master, where are we going?"
“Where else can we go? Home.” Ouyang Rong nodded seriously: “Going home during the holidays is only natural.”
Ali: ...
In truth, Ali wanted to say that his young master had too many places to go; the number of addresses he frequented was so numerous that he couldn't even remember them all. Ali even occasionally suspected that his young master might have other female companions with whom he, as the coachman, had made secret meetings without his knowledge.
"Yes, young master."
From the back door of Jiangzhou Hall, the carriage slowly drove out, heading towards the mansion in Huaiye Lane.
It was around 5 p.m. in the afternoon, and there were quite a few pedestrians on the street, including many unfamiliar visitors from out of town.
These were all wealthy believers who had come from all over Jiangzhou, intending to visit the Donglin Buddha after the celebration ceremony.
Some of them were simply there to attend the victory celebration; they were local gentry from various counties within Jiangzhou who had received invitations from the government.
Following the collapse of the Xingzi Lake Buddha, Xunyang City, which had been quiet for a long time, has become bustling and prosperous again.
Inside the slightly bumpy carriage, Ouyang Rong withdrew his gaze and lowered the curtain.
He placed the floral cloth bundle that Aqing had sent him aside and closed his eyes to rest.
A crisp sound of a wooden fish drum rang in his ears at just the right moment, reminding Ouyang Rong.
Taking advantage of the break, Ouyang Rong entered the Pagoda of Merit.
[Merit: 7208]
Looking at the shimmering cyan-gold characters above the small wooden fish, he looked somewhat surprised.
The price has risen quite a bit these past few days; last time I checked, it was less than 6,500 merit points.
In addition to the long-tail effect of merit growth provided by the construction of the Zheyi Canal, Xingzifang low-rent housing, and Donglin Buddha, there was another peak in merit growth that occurred after Ouyang Rong taught Pei Shisan Niang how to make ice with saltpeter and transported it to Xunyang Prince's Mansion.
After much thought, Ouyang Rong suspected that the source was either a new recipe for making ice, a new recipe for chilled mung bean soup, or both.
Although they are not necessities for survival, these two items have significantly improved the quality of life for people in this era.
It's said that you can't talk about ice with summer insects, but now it's okay, we can talk about ice, and we can help summer insects cool down too.
No wonder Pei Shisan Niang was so cautious the other day, asking the gods... no, asking her own young master, whether he had told anyone else about the magic recipe for making ice with saltpeter.
The beautiful woman was overjoyed after receiving Ouyang Rong's "no" answer.
Despite being a still-attractive young woman, she acted like a charming young lady, playfully kneeling to massage his legs, and softly instructing Ouyang Rong never, ever to teach this recipe to anyone else, as it was currently only known to her...
Ouyang Rong didn't care and readily agreed.
He didn't have the time to talk to others.
In fact, Ouyang Rong was aware of Pei Shisan Niang's cunning intentions, but he didn't care.
This merchant woman had a keen business sense and naturally understood the principle of scarcity leading to value, coupled with the power of monopoly.
The newly established ice-making business was under her strict control at every stage of ice production. The same was true for the several cave workshops that mass-produced saltpeter; they were all closely monitored, as if she wanted to make them her family's exclusive recipe.
Judging from how much Pei Shisan Niang values this craft, the profits it can generate are probably greater than the land in Xingzi Fang. It's a very high-quality industry, in a sense like panning for gold...
Of course, Pei Shisan Niang was probably happier than just that. It wasn't just about the profits, but also about being able to outshine Wang Caozhi, who was not in Xunyang City and not by the young master's side, and had just missed this golden business opportunity.
It's no wonder that Pei Shisan Niang and Wang Caozhi didn't get along at first sight. It wasn't just a dispute over who came first and who was closer to Ouyang Rong, but rather who was more favored and more likely to get opportunities and good fortune first.
Because both of them are wealthy merchants, each with a well-functioning and efficient business team that can meet Ouyang Rong's needs, they are more likely to benefit from being closely associated with him. After all, even a little bit of money from a big shot is enough to feed his subordinates. Most importantly, big shots don't care and don't haggle like small people.
Therefore, they could each replace the other and monopolize the "brother-in-law" or "young master".
When you dislike someone, don't doubt that they dislike you too.
Pei Shisan Niang wholeheartedly agreed.
Just thinking about how Wang Caozhi would be devastated if he found out that she had taken away a "golden goose" when he returned... made Pei Shisan Niang smile and feel refreshed.
Ouyang Rong didn't care much about these things. As for the infighting among his subordinates right under his nose, as long as it was within his planned framework and was benign, he was fine with it.
At that moment, he was only concerned with how much ice Pei Shisan Niang could supply to the Xunyang Prince's Mansion for storage in the ice cellar.
This is the matter that Ouyang Rong values most right now.
The effects of this saltpeter ice-making method are only just beginning to emerge, and it is still a long way from being scaled up.
Whether it can ultimately help Pei Shisan Niang cultivate a leading business that is famous throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty and monopolizes the industry is still a long way off; it will be quite a hassle for Pei Shisan Niang to manage.
However, this incident made Pei Shisan Niang even more loyal and even reverent.
Even the deepest faith and the greatest loyalty need some interests to maintain them. Humans are naturally inclined to admire the strong and want to stand on the side of the strong and the victors, even if they think they are the victors, rather than knowing that their side is bound to lose. Unless it involves sacrifice, this is called seeking advantage and avoiding harm.
"Is the young master a god?"
Thinking back to those words the beautiful woman had uttered in a daze that day, Ouyang Rong couldn't help but chuckle.
I glanced again at the still silent Blessing Bell.
Ouyang Rong touched the round little wooden fish and pondered for a moment.
The merits of over 7,200 were enough for him to use the Shangqing Secret Arts to summon the gods twice, and there were still 1,200 merits left over.
I couldn't think of how to use it for a moment...
However, soon after, as if he had thought of something, Ouyang Rong covered his mouth and coughed, then withdrew from the Pagoda of Merit.
Inside the carriage, on a cushioned seat, Ouyang Rong, having reopened his eyes, stroked his chin and muttered in a barely audible voice:
"More than 1,200 strokes... I hope the embroiderer can handle it. Last time she cried towards the end, even though she used to write that she was good at enduring pain and had been used to suffering since childhood..."
He was lost in thought for a while.
Until the carriage he was sitting in suddenly stopped.
The sound of the brakes brought Ouyang Rong back to his senses.
"Young master, we've arrived home."
"Um."
Ouyang Rong straightened his clothes, picked up a floral cloth bundle and a thermal food box and got off the bus.
Before entering, he suddenly realized that it had been a long time since he had been intimate with the embroiderer.
The accumulated merits are overflowing.
One important reason was that he and the embroiderer had a three-day restraint agreement.
Another reason is the series of events that happened a few days ago, such as the incident where Junior Sister and Lady Rong discovered the Embroiderer, and his stay at the secluded Shuangfengjian for ten days.
These matters dampened their spirits, and for a moment they tacitly avoided going down that road.
Which route should we take?
Of course, it is the way of the Yue woman slaying the evil dragon and the virtuous man delivering merit.
...
When Ouyang Rong entered, Zhen Shuyuan was leading her maids on an inspection of the inner courtyard.
That's right, it's about inspecting the territory.
Although the house in Huaiye Lane was small and exquisite, not very big, as the housewife, managing the inner quarters and displaying authority, she needed to wander around the house with her maids and tidy up anything she didn't like.
It's the same principle as street urchins who wander around all day. If you don't walk around a few times, how will others know it's your territory? One of the most unfortunate shortcomings of humans is that, unlike lions or cats and dogs, we can't mark our territory by urinating.
When Zhen Shuyuan saw Ouyang Rong return, she was somewhat surprised:
"Hey, it's rare to see my beloved before sunset. What's going on today? Did the sun rise in the west?"
Ouyang Rong looked somewhat embarrassed:
"Auntie, what are you saying? I've taken three days off to spend quality time with you."
After hearing this, Zhen Shuyuan's first action was to turn her body to look behind Ouyang Rong and carefully examine something.
"What are you looking at, Auntie?"
Ouyang Rong also turned around curiously to look behind him.
But there was no one there.
He heard Zhen Shuyuan say seriously, "I want to see if my lord has finished entertaining all the ladies, otherwise how could it be my turn? According to my observation, I should be the fourth or fifth in the order of the ladies my lord accompanies. It will be nighttime by then, and I definitely won't be able to get a turn before sunset."
Ouyang Rong: ...
"Hmph, brat."
Zhen Shuyuan snorted coldly and glanced at Ouyang Rong, whose face was slightly embarrassed.
However, as his most beloved nephew, the only pillar and sole heir of the family, and a true relative with whom he depended on each other for survival, Zhen Shuyuan would never truly blame Ouyang Rong. She gave him a verbal reprimand, and the beautiful woman in her flowing dress, in a cheerful mood, ordered her maid to hand Ouyang Rong a washcloth, took his dusty coat, and ushered him into the main hall for tea and rest.
After vigorously wiping his face, Ouyang Rong dismissed all the maids, leaving only him and Zhen Shuyuan in the main hall.
Ouyang Rong placed the floral-patterned bundle and the insulated food box he had brought back on the table and handed them over.
"What's this?"
With a hint of curiosity in her expression, Zhen Shuyuan first went to open the floral bundle.
Ouyang Rong said softly, "It was sent by Aqing through someone else to celebrate your birthday, Aunt."
Zhen Shuyuan smiled broadly, but she hadn't completely untied the bundle yet and didn't know what the gift inside was.
"Good, good, good. Ah Qing's love wasn't wasted, and Tanlang didn't mistake his sworn sister. The first time I saw her two years ago, I thought she was pleasing to the eye. She's filial and grateful, just like her brother..."
When Zhen Shuyuan got to this point, she noticed a change in Ouyang Rong's expression. Realizing she had mentioned something she shouldn't have, she immediately shut up.
After a short while, she changed the subject.
“I like this shawl. Ah Qing’s craftsmanship is really good… By the way, what’s in this box looks like food.”
Ouyang Rong saw Zhen Shuyuan take out a stack of bright red gauze shawls from her bundle, unfold them with satisfaction, and try them on on the spot. After fiddling with them for a while, the beautiful woman in the silk dress turned her gaze to the insulated lacquer box next to her.
"This is called chilled mung bean soup. It's made by boiling mung beans and then freezing them..."
Ouyang Rong gave a brief introduction, opened the box, and brought out a bowl of soup.
Zhen Shuyuan picked up a silver spoon, lowered her eyes, and asked, "Who gave this to me?"
"The one who made the soup was..."
Ouyang Rong spoke slowly, glancing sideways at Zhen Shuyuan's expression. Only after she had scooped up a spoonful and tasted it did he say:
"It's the friend who sent the pastries last time."
"Delivering pastries? Those mung bean cakes?"
"Um."
Zhen Shuyuan suddenly put down her spoon: "I can't eat cold food these days, so I definitely can't eat this cold food. Take it away."
Ouyang Rong took the spoon, wiped it with his handkerchief, scooped up a mouthful and put it in his mouth, saying somewhat indistinctly, "Well, it's Aunt's birthday in a few days, and I'm planning to invite her over and bring some pastries..."
Zhen Shuyuan interrupted, "No need, we have plenty of pastries at home, and Wei Lai can make them too, so let's not trouble outsiders."
Ouyang Rong emphasized, "My nephew wants to eat this, he loves to eat it, and only she can make it."
She said bluntly, "You go and talk to Wanwan."
Ouyang Rong nodded: "I've told you."
Zhen Shuyuan, who had initially snorted coldly, immediately frowned and looked Ouyang Rong up and down.
"You've come prepared, haven't you? What's her name? What's her identity?" She waved her hand. "Stop being so secretive about her being a friend. Who is she? What's her family background? It can't be that Lady Rongzhen, can it? She looks too young, like a little girl. Can she even have a baby...?"
Ouyang Rong interrupted, "It wasn't her."
Upon seeing this, Zhen Shuyuan noticed her nephew sitting upright, looking straight ahead, and asking with a serious expression:
"Does Auntie still remember that ice-white jade hairpin?"
Zhen Shuyuan casually replied, "You're talking nonsense, boy. How could I forget the things Sister Zhao left behind? I even gave them to you myself..."
Before she could speak, she heard Ouyang Rong nod slightly and say something that stunned her:
"I gave it to her."
"you……"
After he paused slightly, Zhen Shuyuan continued:
“It was originally hers, and she also has the surname Zhao.”
...
——————
(PS: Sorry for the late update, there will be another update around 5 AM!)
Double update again today, please vote with monthly tickets!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
