The income exceeded Hua Zhi's expectations. Given the bitterly cold weather, she had assumed few would venture out, clearly underestimating people's pursuit of good food—not to mention the existence of servants who could run errands.
However, she never imagined that wealthy households would become loyal customers of Green Moss Alley.
"How are the canned goods selling?"
The maids exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison.
"What happened?" Hua Zhi was surprised. She had thought they would sell well, especially since fruits were scarce in the north during this season.
"In the first two days after opening, some people bought them. With the Zhu Family leading the way, everyone assumed it was their business. Later, someone spread the word that it was actually our Hua family's venture, and gradually the business dwindled."
How absurd. Just because the Hua family had fallen out of favor with the Emperor, were people now refusing to consume their products? Hua Zhi stirred the lid of her teacup and asked, "Have similar canned goods appeared in the city?"
"I also suspected someone might be trying to take over the business, so I specifically sent people to check the market. No canned goods were found."
So it was indeed because of the Hua family. As long as no one had set their sights on this profitable venture, it was manageable. Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation were indispensable in any era.
"Is there anything else? Tell me everything."
Aside from Old Madam being angered to the point of collapse, the Hua family had remained relatively stable these days. Keeping the gates closed and staying secluded was a form of humility, and those with any decency wouldn't trouble a household of elderly and young. As for those who wanted to press the issue, they didn't dare act for now.
Bao Xia glanced at her young mistress, unsure whether to bring up a certain matter.
Hua Zhi caught her look. "Speak."
Ying Chun glared at her—why bring up something that would only disturb their mistress?
Bao Xia glared back. This concerned their young mistress, so of course she needed to know.
Tossing her head, Bao Xia said clearly, "Young Mistress, Shen Qi, Young Master Shen, came to request an audience with you, but Old Madam turned him away."
Shen Qi...
Hua Zhi remembered him. He was considered her father's student, well-liked and often guided by her father, so she had met him a few times.
From what she knew, he wasn't an ungrateful person. She had wondered why he never showed up, initially thinking she had misjudged him. But for him to seek an audience while the Hua family was in seclusion didn't seem like the action of someone avoiding trouble.
"Did he leave any message?"
"No, Old Madam didn't even let him enter the residence."
With a household full of women, how could they allow him in? Hua Zhi had no romantic feelings for Shen Qi, but she hoped he retained some respect for her father as his teacher. At the very least, she didn't want her father to think Shen Qi had stood by indifferently. When she mentioned her broken engagement at Yinshan Pass, her father had been genuinely heartbroken—he likely never expected Shen Qi to add insult to injury.
"Bao Xia, if he comes again, you go meet him. Hear what he has to say."
"Yes."
Liu Xiang reported from the doorway, "Young Mistress, Steward Xu requests an audience."
Steward Xu was Xu Jie. As soon as he entered, he knelt down. "This humble servant has failed in his duties. I beg the young lady to punish me."
Xu Jie looked noticeably thinner and much darker. Having invested most of the Hua family's funds into products that weren't selling, his stress was understandable. Hua Zhi didn't blame him—he was just over twenty, with limited life experience.
"Rise and speak.""I'll speak on my knees, I failed in my duty, kneeling makes me feel more at ease."
"Fine, then kneel." Hua Zhi responded readily. "The root of this problem isn't with you. Even if you kneel until your legs break, it won't solve anything."
Xu Jie was clever enough to detect other implications in her words. Not minding being teased at all, he eagerly asked, "Has the young lady found a solution then?"
"There's no need to rush. Winter is still far away. If all else fails, I'll transport these goods further north. Good products will always find buyers."
"Yes, the young lady is right. Our goods are so delicious, there's no reason they wouldn't sell."
Bao Xia poured fresh tea for her young lady and glanced at Xu Jie. "Now that you know, why are you still kneeling? Waiting for the young lady to invite you up?"
Xu Jie promptly stood up, his expression relaxing somewhat. He had genuinely feared these goods would end up as dead stock in his hands. With so much silver invested and the young lady having devoted so much effort, failure would have been a heavy blow to her. Moreover, she had just taken charge of the household and needed to establish her authority.
"The New Year is approaching soon. Although the Hua family is in mourning, necessary preparations must still be made. Steward Xu's legs aren't what they used to be, so assist him more. Draw the required silver from Ying Chun."
"Yes."
After dismissing Xu Jie, Hua Zhi turned to Ying Chun. "How much silver was spent on the funeral arrangements?"
"Not much, about two thousand six hundred taels in total."
"Including the donation to Great Clumsy Temple?"
"Yes, including that one thousand taels. If we hadn't needed to purchase another coffin because the one Old Madam prepared earlier was sealed in the old residence and couldn't be retrieved, the expenses would have been even less." At the mention of Old Madam, the maids' expressions darkened. Ying Chun continued, "We received five thousand nine hundred fifty taels in condolence money. Here's the record book."
This amount far exceeded expectations. Hua Zhi opened the record book. The first name listed was her maternal grandfather, with a substantial amount of one thousand taels.
Hua Zhi pressed her lips together and continued reading. Other relatives by marriage had all contributed one hundred taels each, as if they had coordinated in advance. Chen Sui'an alone offered five hundred taels; no need to ask to know it must have been supplemented by Second Aunt's private savings.
Mu Qing: four hundred taels. Chen Dayi: five hundred taels. The Qin family: eight hundred taels. Flipping further, Hua Zhi's gaze fixed.
Yan Xi: one thousand taels.
Shaoyao: one thousand taels.
Shaoyao was still at Yinshan Pass, so these two thousand taels were clearly all contributed by Lu Xiansheng. She couldn't quite comprehend his intention behind this gesture, but that didn't prevent her from keeping this kindness in her heart.
"Young lady, this Lu Xiansheng..." Ying Chun carefully chose her words, "His wealth doesn't seem like that of a martial arts instructor."
"He isn't really a martial arts instructor to begin with. Whatever other status he holds has nothing to do with us. We need not inquire."
"Yes."
Hua Zhi closed the record book. "I'll keep this. Ying Chun, Nian Qiu, both of you reconcile the accounts together. Report to me only after confirming everything is correct."
"Yes." Accustomed to their young lady's ways, the two maids took their respective account books and went aside to calculate.
"Bao Xia, send someone to notify all branches of the family to gather in the west courtyard in one quarter-hour. I have something to say."
"Yes."
Rubbing her sore thighs, Hua Zhi stood up and slowly made her way out. One quarter-hour should be enough time for her to walk to the west courtyard in the second compound.
She hadn't walked far from her room when Hua Zhi suddenly stopped and pricked up her ears. She wasn't mistaken - faintly coming through was indeed the sound of reading!
"Is there someone at the clan school?"Liu Xiang, who was following by her side, replied, "Yes, the Sixth Young Master took all the young masters to the clan school early this morning."
"Has Mr. Mu arrived?"
"This servant has not heard of Mr. Mu entering the residence."
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