Chapter 128: Liu Liang’s Identity
As soon as Steward Qin heard that she had come, he hurried forward to greet her.
“Miss, you have come. As for the plaque—”
“I know. In a little while, I will have Liu Liang bring over the imperial calligraphy. Just have someone copy it and make the plaque.”
“Good, good. I have already found the right man—the most famous mounting Master in Jingling City. He will certainly make the plaque flawless.”
Mu Yunyao could not help smiling.
“I naturally trust your judgment.”
Only then did Steward Qin realize that he had been a little too eager, and he gave a sheepish chuckle.
“Miss, now that we have His Majesty’s plaque, the number of people coming to reserve seats has suddenly doubled. They are already booking a month in advance. And early this morning, several merchants came to place orders for tea leaves. It is only that our tea garden is too small; we cannot supply enough.”
His tone was full of regret. Watching people come to the door bearing silver in both hands, yet being unable to take it from them, truly made his heart ache.
“Our tea garden may be small, but all of Jiangnan is vast. We can purchase fresh leaves elsewhere and roast them ourselves. In places where transport is inconvenient, we can send over masters who already know how to roast tea, rent a courtyard, hang up the signboard of Bu Xian Lou, and business will come more easily. In the future, once Bu Xian Lou grows larger and opens tea houses elsewhere, those places can also serve as supports. Is that not the best of both worlds?”
Steward Qin froze, then slapped his forehead.
“Is my brain made of wood or something? Such a simple principle, and I did not think of it. Miss must be laughing at me.”
“You simply did not think of it in the moment, that is all. But if we are to expand elsewhere, everything must be considered carefully in advance. The people we send out must also be reliable. Once the distance grows greater, trouble becomes easier to breed. Bu Xian Lou hangs the plaque bestowed by His Majesty, after all. The quality of the tea must remain consistent from beginning to end. Even in other places, strict quality control must be kept. We must not smash our own signboard.”
“Yes. I will select very carefully. Please rest assured, Miss. The account books will also be sent over on time, and your share will be settled punctually.”
Mu Yunyao laughed softly.
“That would naturally be best. In the future, I can simply sit at home while money falls from the sky.”
Steward Qin hurried off to make arrangements. Mu Yunyao then called Liu Liang over and told him to investigate the matter of the beggar children outside the garden gate.
Jin Lan could not help but ask,
“Miss, why are you interested in those people?”
Beggars of that sort could be found anywhere, after all. Xiling in the capital was the same, and Jingling City was no exception.
“They simply seem somewhat interesting to me. If they can be of use, then I can both open a path of survival for them and, without much effort, find people I may be able to use. That would kill two birds with one stone.”
“Miss means to use those beggar children?”
Jin Lan could not help feeling worried.
“Although there are certainly good people among beggars, many of them have already developed fixed habits. They think only of receiving alms. Even if you give them work to do, they will loaf and shirk. I fear they may not be fit for real use.”
“For now, I am only taking a look. Even if they truly can be used, they would still need to be selected carefully.”
Now that Bu Xian Lou had gradually stabilized and Ni Yun Fang would soon reopen and bring in gold by the bucket, it was time to find ways to cultivate people of her own. Later, when she opened embroidery houses and tea houses elsewhere, she would need them.
Mu Yunyao handed the matter over to Liu Liang and went off without worry to occupy herself with other business. By evening, Liu Liang returned to report.
“Master, I have already found the place where the beggar child you mentioned is staying. He, together with the young girl who spoke to you today, both come from the Charity Hall.”
Mu Yunyao was somewhat surprised.
“The Charity Hall?”
“Yes. It is a place that specifically shelters the old and the young in Jingling City who have no one to depend on. The young girl is called Cai Qing, and the child who spoke to you is called Nan’er. They only began coming to the gate these past few days. That Cai Qing also once studied embroidery, but only halfway through. A child in the Charity Hall happened to fall ill, so she went back to care for him, and that interrupted her training.”
“That is rather interesting. Let us simply watch for now.”
“Master, do you need people? I have already recruited some men under me. If you have use for them, you need only give the order.”
Mu Yunyao was slightly surprised. After giving Liu Liang the silver earlier, she had more or less let the matter go and never asked further. She had not expected that in such a short time, he would already have gathered people who could be used.
“Can they be trusted?”
“They can.”
Liu Liang nodded.
Seeing how certain he looked, Mu Yunyao suddenly asked,
“Liu Liang, come to think of it, I still do not know what your real name is, or what you used to do before. ”
That she trusted Liu Liang’s character came in part from her previous life, when she had seen him stay by Jin Wang’s side and remain loyal to him from beginning to end. But in truth, whether in the past or now, she knew absolutely nothing about his earlier life.
Liu Liang stiffened all over and suddenly dropped to one knee before her.
“I do not remember. But Master may rest assured—Liu Liang will never betray you.”
Seeing such a drastic reaction from him, what had only been a casual question now gave rise to deeper thought in Mu Yunyao’s mind. The gaze with which she looked at Liu Liang grew sharply cool.
“If I did not trust you, I would never have handed over my entire fortune and my life into your keeping. Rise. If you do not wish to speak of it, then so be it. Why must you make up such talk as not remembering?”
Liu Liang remained kneeling on the ground, stubborn and unyielding.
Mu Yunyao frowned, and at once a trace of anger rose in her heart.
“What is this? Will you not even listen to my command?”
Liu Liang immediately raised his head, panic flashing in his eyes.
“Master, I did not mean it that way. It is only...”
“That is enough. If one employs a person, one does not doubt him; if one doubts a person, one does not employ him. You have followed me long enough now. If I did not trust you, I would already have driven you away. I asked only casually, yet you react like this and only make it seem as though you truly do have something to hide.”
Liu Liang had never been good with words, and hearing Mu Yunyao speak like this only left him even less able to answer.
Looking at him standing there like a wooden block, Mu Yunyao laughed helplessly in her heart. She had long known what sort of person he was, so why get angry with him?
“Get up. If you do not wish to speak, then I will not ask. Since you already have useful people under you, then help keep an eye on Steward Qin’s movements. In a few days’ time, he will likely begin sending people elsewhere to buy fresh leaves and roast tea. I need to know at least some of what is happening. I cannot simply leave everything entirely to him.”
Though she and Yue Wang were cooperating for now, there was no guarantee they would not turn against one another one day. It never hurt to be on guard.
“Yes, Master.”
“Tell your men to be careful. Better that they watch loosely than let themselves be discovered.”
“Please rest assured, Master. I will definitely instruct them well.”
“Very well. You may go.”
Once Liu Liang had left, Mu Yunyao raised her head and thought quietly for a while before her brows slowly eased.
For now, Liu Liang still seemed trustworthy. She could only hope he would remain so.
Early the next morning, when Mu Yunyao went to Jinxiu Garden again, she remembered the child at the gate and deliberately took a detour to pass by the main entrance.
Sure enough, the child called Nan’er was there. The moment he saw her, awkwardness appeared on his face.
“Greetings, Miss.”
“Your elder sister is not here today. Would you like to come into the garden with me and have some pastries?”
Seeing how thin and frail he was, and yet how clear and bright his eyes remained, Mu Yunyao felt a faint liking for him.
At once, Nan’er’s eyes lit up. Yet after hesitating a moment, he shook his head.
“Many thanks, Miss, but Elder Sister says one should not accept a gift without merit. I have not done anything for Miss, so I cannot eat your food.”
One should not accept a gift without merit?
This child was rather interesting indeed.
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this kid is soooo cute!!!
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