NOVPUBChapter 85: Chapter 086 Making Money_1
Chapter 85 -086 Making Money_1
Yuqin’s eyes lit up as she took the hairpin and examined it over and over, then playfully slapped Huyi, chiding, “How annoying, hiding such a treasure, why only bring it out now?”
“The master just rewarded me with it, and I thought of giving it to you right away,” Huyi replied with a smile, his hand already becoming restless, wandering all over.
Having benefited from the situation, Yuqin naturally let him do as he wished, and the two of them flirted a bit before immediately rolling off together.
Yuqin, although a maidservant of the Wu Family, was only a third-class servant responsible for the most menial tasks. When she had been sold into service, she had signed a contract for life, meaning she had to spend her whole life with the Wu Family. She had once hoped to climb the social ladder by getting into the young master’s bed, but her looks were nothing special, and though the young master was not dedicated to serious pursuits, he wasn’t one to consort with maidservants either, so she never got the chance. Moreover, her monthly wages were a mere ten coins.
She was tasked with the hardest work but received the least pay, which left her far from satisfied. Eventually, unable to bear the loneliness, she began to fool around with the male servants, receiving perks afterward and feeling like she hit two birds with one stone. Most of the male servants in the Wu Family knew that to sleep with Yuqin, all they needed was to bring silver.
Recently, she had encountered Qiao Yuanshan, and he too was keeping her with silver, wasn’t he?
Because they had prepared two meals for both the start and end of the fish pond project last time, they now had some experience. She had invited some of the village daughters-in-law and sisters-in-law to help without any fuss.
After the workers had their meal marking the start of construction, they began building the new house. Muniang didn’t know much about this line of work, but seeing that the foreman, Zeng Gang, was a good man, she felt reassured. Moreover, Mrs. Du had introduced him, so he certainly wouldn’t be a disappointment. She left the construction in Zeng Gang’s hands, only needing to review and verify the material purchase ledgers herself.
It was already late afternoon. Although it wasn’t summer yet, the craftsmen had been working hard all day and were dripping with sweat. Muniang specifically boiled a large pot of hawthorn water, which she then cooled down in fresh cold water before delivering it to them.
“You’ve all worked hard today, have something to drink to quench your thirst,” Muniang called out.
Hearing this, the craftsmen, indeed thirsty, set down their work to drink. They expected nothing more than plain cold water, so they were surprised to find it was actually sour and sweet. Delighted, they exclaimed, “What’s this? It’s cool and sour, really thirst-quenching!”
Muniang smiled, “It’s nothing special, just hawthorn water made from wild hawthorns picked from the mountain. It’s the best drink for summer, quenches thirst, and reduces heat. If you like it, I can bring this to you every day.”
“So hawthorn can be used like this? I heard recently that Dongxing Building in the town serves candied haw on a stick, which is made from hawthorn. I didn’t expect hawthorn could make such good stuff.”
Listening to them discuss candied haw, Muniang just smiled and didn’t say much, instead urging everyone to drink more.
Zeng Gang joked, “You really spoil us too much. Wherever we work, just some cold water is enough, but you go out of your way to boil such a big pot of hawthorn water, and even the meal at the start of work was so rich. You’re practically compelling us to work our hardest, aren’t you?”
“Isn’t that right? I feed and drink you all well, so you’d better build me a good house. Otherwise, for the meal at the end of work, I might just serve anything I can find,” Muniang said with a laugh.
The craftsmen quickly responded, “No way, Lady. When the time comes, we’ll definitely make the house beautiful. The meal at the end of the project surely must be lavish!”
“Off you go, back to work. You haven’t finished the job and you’re already thinking about the end-of-work meal!” Zeng Gang playfully booted one of the craftsmen. The kick was gentle, obviously a common jest between them.
The craftsman finished his bowl of hawthorn water with a grin and went to Muniang to ask for another.
Everyone was chatting and laughing when Li Qinghe arrived, her smile bright and cheerful, “Why is it so lively here?”
“Why are you here?” Muniang said with a smile.
“I actually came to look for you. I didn’t see you at home, and Mrs. Fang said you had come here, so I followed,” she explained.
“I just finished up what I was doing here, let’s go back together,” Muniang said, her hawthorn drink having been snatched up by everyone else, she was now ready to leave.
After saying a word to the craftsmen, Muniang directly took hold of Qinghe’s hand and walked away.
Zeng Gang stared blankly at Li Qinghe’s retreating figure, appearing somewhat dazed, until one of the craftsmen who had been joking with Zeng Gang earlier teased, “What are you staring at? She’s already gone! Have you taken a fancy to her?”
Zeng Gang snapped back to reality, cursed the man jokingly, but his eyes couldn’t help returning to that figure a few more times.
“I heard from my third sister-in-law that you’ve been busy learning embroidery lately, let me see how your work is coming along?” Qinghe said with a smile.
Muniang replied with playful annoyance, “Don’t make fun of me. My skills are hardly presentable. It’s only because Erliang insisted that I made it for him.”
At these words, Qinghe’s expression turned a shade darker, envy clear in her eyes as she looked at Muniang, “You and Erliang have such a good relationship, your days must be filled with joy.”
Sensing that something was amiss with Qinghe’s mood, Muniang quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Is Qiao Yuanzhen not treating you well?”
Qinghe forced a smile, “Nothing’s wrong. We just live our days together uneventfully. It’s just that his attitude towards me isn’t any warmer than towards others. In his heart, my worth is probably just my dowry of a hundred Silver.”
“Qinghe, when you chose this path, you should have anticipated this situation. I’ve told you before, if you can’t bear it anymore, you always have someone to turn to. Your brother cares for you deeply,” Muniang said earnestly.
Yet Qinghe shook her head, “I’m just venting to you because you understand me. To be by his side is enough for me. One shouldn’t be too greedy, right? Besides, when I’m bored, I can come and find you.”
Muniang sighed. Qinghe’s stubbornness was something she wasn’t sure was good or bad.
Before long, a month had passed. The construction of Muniang’s house was still underway while Qiao Yuanshan’s had already been completed. Mrs. Ji was in high spirits, moving in on the same day, radiantly happy, and even planning to hold a housewarming celebration the next day. Naturally, this had nothing to do with Muniang; Mrs. Ji didn’t feel generous enough to invite Muniang to the meal.
Nevertheless, Muniang watched the festivities at the main house with an indifferent eye, surmising that Qiao Yuanshan’s secrets hadn’t been revealed yet. But as they say, the truth can’t be covered up forever. She didn’t bother to meddle—she would watch the drama unfold when the time came.
On this day, Madam Liu arrived in high spirits, and upon seeing Muniang, she exclaimed excitedly, “Muniang, those patterns you drew for me last time are really wonderful!”
Seeing Madam Liu, usually so composed, showing such delight, Muniang guessed that she must have made a tidy sum and laughed, “Slow down, Auntie, did you make some money?”
