In fact, if Ma Xianglan had not come to Wei Jixian, her income would easily exceed this amount if she only played the piano and held a few poetry gatherings every month.

But she doesn't come to play the piano for the money.

She told the money-hungry maid to stop making noise and add a wick to the glass lamp.

When the carriage became brighter, Ma Xianglan sat up straight, breathed a sigh of relief, and took out the poem paper given by Zhao Hao from her sleeve.

Seeing that this was a poem called "Caisangzi", Ma Xianglan gently opened her red lips and recited in a low voice:

"Who is singing the sad song of Yuefu? The wind is howling, the rain is howling, the lamp is burning out, and another night has passed.

I don’t know what’s on my mind? I’m bored when I’m awake, I’m bored when I’m drunk, and I’ve never been to Xieqiao in my dreams…”

As she read on, Ma Xianglan unknowingly began to shed tears, and her tears dripped onto the letter, wetting the word "desolate".

She hurriedly raised the poem paper, crying and carefully blowing away her tears. But when she saw the handwriting of Mr. Zhao on it, she inevitably ruined it...

The sad Ma Xianglan burst into tears.

This frightened the maid, and she quickly took out her handkerchief to wipe Ma Xianglan's tears, while asking, "Why are you crying even harder this time?"

"I thought Mr. Zhao would not be interested in getting close to a prostitute like me," Ma Xianglan sobbed as she wiped her tears, "How could I have been wrong? I was so wrong. He is actually the person in the world who understands me the most and cares for me the most... He's just cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and not good at speaking..."

~~

"A-choo..."

The taste is very fresh, and the word spring is in the elegant room.

Zhao Hao sneezed again, and quickly covered his nose with a handkerchief, and said to Chef Wang who was called in:

"It's been hot and cold lately, so be careful not to catch a cold."

"Yes, Boss." Chef Wang nodded in response. Although Zhao Hao didn't show up often, he saw the shopkeeper and several shareholders admire him when they mentioned this young man. How could he dare to slack off in front of the boss?

"The harvest this month is good. Old Wang should be credited for the first merit." Zhao Hao smiled and took out a plate of silver ingots from the silver box, pushed it in front of him and said, "Five taels is this month's wages, and fifty taels is this month's reward."

"Oh my, this is too much..." Chef Wang was so surprised that he couldn't close his mouth. He was originally the chef of Fangde Restaurant, which was located by the Qinhuai River at that time, and he only earned this much a year. He came to Caijia Lane purely to repay Fangde's kindness in the past, and he even quarreled with his wife for this.

But I never expected that I could earn a year's worth of money in just one month! Now let's see how that old woman can behave.

"This was agreed upon at the beginning. How can you refuse to pay your debts just because you made too much money?" Zhao Hao pointed to the account book on the table and said, "The account is here. If you are not sure, you can check it yourself."

"Master, I'm sorry, I'll pay you whatever you say." Chef Wang said in a show of loyalty, "If I'm still suspicious, am I still a human being?"

"Okay, go call Chef Liu." Zhao Hao nodded with satisfaction. Chef Wang hurriedly put the silver carefully in his arms and went downstairs, thanking him profusely.

Another chef, Liu, also received 55 taels.

Then came the two kitchen helpers and four waiters, each of whom received twelve taels of silver. This was enough to cover their wages for half a year of hard work elsewhere, so they were all overjoyed and vowed to work hard for their boss until death...

"You don't have to work your life off, just do your best." Zhao Hao enjoyed everyone's gratitude, and did not forget to show his kindness. He smiled and sent each guy to the door.

~~

Wu Yu and his wife came in together. They looked at the four ingots of five taels and four ingots of one tael, a total of twenty-four taels of silver, on the table, but they refused to take any.

"Master, you helped us get eighty taels last time, and we have been eating and staying at your place for the past month. We haven't spent a penny. How can we ask for more money from you?" Tang Si Ya said anxiously, "If you give us more money, we won't be able to stay here any longer."

"Let's put it this way. Didn't you work day and night in the store? Didn't I not pay you a penny during the previous month of renovation?" Zhao Hao smiled and shook his head, "As the saying goes, a man without integrity cannot stand, and this is even more true for business. Once the rules are established, they must be strictly enforced. Do you want me to break my promise?"

"This..." How could the couple win over Zhao Hao? They were immediately speechless.

"Take it. If we earn more this month, we will get more. If there is no business next month, then we will just get a little more wages." Zhao Hao waved his hand generously and said, "It's getting late. Go back and rest. You still have to work for me tomorrow."

"Then listen to the young master." Si Ya wanted to refuse, but heard Wu Yu say in a low voice.

She no longer insisted and asked her husband to keep the money. The couple bowed to Zhao Hao and left.

When they were in the restaurant, the couple could still hold themselves together, but as soon as they returned to their rented courtyard, they finally couldn't help but burst into joy.

"What do you think? I was right to leave Tangjiaxu, wasn't I?" Si Ya took out the silver from Wu Yu's arms and put it away carefully while saying proudly, "I told you that I was a lucky charm for my husband, but you didn't believe me."

"But it was me who met Master Zhao?" Wu Yu sat cross-legged on the bed, looking puzzled, "If you want to be prosperous, it should be me who makes you prosperous."

Si Ya was speechless, so she rushed over and twisted him, saying, "You stupid monk, you won't give way to others."

"I didn't, don't... stop..." The couple laughed and made a scene in the bedroom, the lamp sparkled, and they didn't want to tell anyone else about it.

~~

After sending away the satisfied cooks and waiters, only a group of shareholders were left in the restaurant.

Of course, Zhao Jin is now a seventh-rank imperial censor, so he will naturally not attend.

However, Zhao Hao had already instructed Gao Wu to send his share of the money over.

The table was piled high with silver ingots, making it impossible to look directly at them under the bright light.

Fang De stood aside and reported the accounts to the shareholders: "…Give Miss Ma two hundred taels for tea and water, pay workers and bonuses a total of two hundred and six taels, and keep two hundred and thirty-four taels for next month's expenses. In the end, the net profit is one thousand six hundred taels."

"I've never seen so much money in my life." Yu Jia swallowed hard.

"It's a pity that you can only get half." Zhao Hao smiled and took out eighty-one taels of silver and gave it to Captain Yu.

"Thank you, Boss. Thank you, Boss." Yu Jiachang said contentedly, "This half of the shares is basically a reward from the young master! If I knew I could get so much in a month, I would never take it even if I was beaten to death."

"If you don't want it, just give it to me. I don't think it's too much." Old Man Gao joked with him.

"That won't do. You got much more than me, and you still want to take advantage of me..." Yu Jiachang hugged the silver and said with a happy smile, "The fortune teller said that the old man will be rich and prosperous in his later years. It turns out that it is due to you, young master."

"Hahaha..." Everyone laughed and the atmosphere was full of joy.

Old Man Gao and Fang De each held 20% of the shares and received 324 taels of silver each.

With this move, Old Man Gao earned back the money he spent on buying the blacksmith shop.

Fang De was only three months away from paying off his debts... He originally thought that he would never be able to pay off that debt in his lifetime.

The remaining eight hundred and ten taels is Mr. Zhao’s income for this month.

ps. The second update is here, please vote for recommendation and collect it~~~~~