The Farm Girl's Charismatic Fortune-Chapter 84 - 82: Sincerely Benefiting Two Hundred and Fifty Taels!

Chapter 84: Chapter 82: Sincerely Benefiting Two Hundred and Fifty Taels!

Master Liu smiled as he answered his daughter’s question, "Last time Ruo Chuan brought me some food, and mentioned that you all have started using moveable-type printing, which makes copying books quite fast. The other day, I took my students to the county town to attend a poetry meeting and happened to meet a few old friends, so I casually inquired if their academies were looking to buy books, and then I secured three orders for you. It’s not much, just a total of one thousand sets of the Four Books and Five Classics, and nine hundred copies of the ’Thousand Character Classic’, three hundred sets for each academy, to be delivered before the academies break for the end of the year. The price for us to copy is 60 wen per book, and that’s what I told them."

"Dad, thank you!" Madam Liu was deeply moved.

She knew her father well, possessing the noble character of a scholar, yet with a thin skin; he’d once flatly refused his eldest daughter’s mother-in-law’s insinuations to recommend his students to shop at her grocery store.

It was unexpected that he would stick his neck out to approach other academies for her.

He must have felt very embarrassed at that moment.

Ruo Shui also understood Master Liu well, and felt endlessly guilty.

His father-in-law had helped them so much over the years, always worried about Xuanbao’s health.

In the past, he frequently sought physicians for Xuanbao, and if he found the physician, he paid the consultation fees himself.

Master Liu waved his hand away, "Why so formal with dad? For me, it was just a matter of speaking! Those academies are in the neighboring county, not too far away, and one could make a roundtrip in a day. I’ve written down their addresses and will give them to you later."

He trusted his son-in-law to handle the matter and, because Ruo Shui’s calligraphy was exquisite, making the copied texts pleasing to the eye, it’s why he agreed to ask.

Xuanbao’s big, bright eyes shone with admiration, "Grandfather, you’re amazing!"

Meeting his granddaughter’s adoring gaze, Master Liu felt an instant swell of pride, and decided to attend more poetry meetings in the future, to help his son-in-law get more book copying jobs.

Face? What’s that compared to the admiration of his granddaughter?

At dinner, Master Liu frowned upon seeing so many dishes, "Did this tableful of food cost quite a bit?"

Though copying books had earned them some money, they shouldn’t be so extravagant.

Ruo Shui shook his head, "It wasn’t much, Tianxiang Tower’s Shopkeeper only charged us one tael of silver, and some dishes were complimentary."

Master Liu glared at him, "Now you’ve learned to lie with eyes wide open, huh? That half a lamb and one roast chicken would cost more than one tael at other restaurants!"

Ruo Xuan hurried to clarify for her father, "It’s true, Tianxiang Tower’s Shopkeeper knows Brother Xuanyuan. He originally didn’t even want to take our silver because Brother Xuanyuan had given him instructions. Dad insisted on paying, otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken it."

Granddaughters never lie, so Master Liu believed her. He curiously asked, "Who is Brother Xuanyuan?"

Madam Liu simply explained, "He’s the young master of Bogu Pavilion; Xuanbao had previously taken a liking to a Dingmen Stone there, planning to buy it, but it turned out to be the shop’s treasure... Then, one thing led to another, and we got to know the young master of Bogu Pavilion. That little master is extraordinarily handsome, just beautiful! I wish I could have a son that handsome, my son looks too much like his dad and can’t compare to that child!"

Madam Liu couldn’t help but add those last remarks.

Ruo Shui’s mouth twitched; those last two remarks were really unnecessary!

In his mind, Master Liu couldn’t help but speculate; Xuanyuan was a surname reserved for royalty, and Tianxiang Tower was said to have associations with the Zhenguo Duke Residence.

Could that Master Xuanyuan be a member of the imperial family?

Master Liu merely speculated and didn’t give any specific instruction to the children. He said, "The shopkeeper took a little bit of silver as a token; you should not buy from them to give to me again. It’s not good to always take advantage of others."

Ruo Shui knew well, and felt embarrassed to go again.

While one family enjoyed a harmonious meal, on the other side, Yang Qiqi was crying and making a fuss to eat roast lamb ribs from Tianxiang Tower, and nothing could console her. Hen Lan, not wanting to be outdone by Master Liu, declared in a voice loud enough to ensure the neighbors could hear, "Come on, grandfather will take Qiqi to Tianxiang Tower to eat roast lamb ribs."

Yang Qixiang was a bit reluctant since he would eventually have to foot the bill, but considering that Tianxiang Tower did not take reservations and it would be impossible to get a table, he smiled and said, "Good, let’s go to Tianxiang Tower for roast lamb ribs."

The family passed by Master Liu’s yard with their noses in the air.

The aroma wafting out from inside caught Yang Qiqi’s attention, and she glanced at the table, seeing a roast chicken, and said, "I want roast lamb ribs, roast chicken, and that, that..."

"Good, good, good... Everyone, eat!" Master He said loudly as he looked at the people in the room.

In the room, Ruo Xuan and the others didn’t even glance at his family. Madam Liu talked about purchasing land and planning to build a house, and also mentioned how Xuanbao discovered that Zizania was edible and her dream about water disasters had saved the entire county’s people, earning her a reward of two hundred taels and a mansion from the County Magistrate.

This made Master Liu so happy that he immediately took out a jar of wine that had been stored for many years, wanting to have a couple of drinks with Ruo Shui!

Madam Liu tried to stop him, reminding him that his health hadn’t been as good in the past two years and the doctor had advised him against drinking.

Master Liu waved his hand: "Being rewarded by the Imperial Court is something that many people dream of but never achieve. This is something that glorifies our ancestors, a rare opportunity in life! Father is happy, I’ll just drink one cup to celebrate!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu also felt it was indeed a rare occasion in life, so she let them go ahead.

*

Master He and his company arrived at Tianxiang Tower, where Yang Qixiang originally thought there would be no seats available. Unexpectedly, they were in luck as someone had just canceled their reservation, freeing up a table, and so they successfully made their way in.

When it was time to order, Yang Qiqi said: "I want roasted lamb chops, roasted chicken, and also, that, that..."

She couldn’t remember the names of the other dishes.

The waiter, puzzled, wondered: what exactly is "that, that"?

Master He, not wanting to be outdone by Master Liu, asked: "Today, was there a man in ragged clothes who came here to take away dishes like roasted lamb chops and roasted chicken?"

Once Master He mentioned it, the waiter knew, as the shopkeeper had warned everyone recently to recognize Ruo Shui’s family, to treat them well, to not offend them at any costs, and to invite them to the Qian character courtyard in the back if they came to dine.

"Are you referring to Elder Ruo?"

"Yes, exactly, him. Whatever dishes he ordered, give me one of each! And also add your most famous dish!"

He planned to go back and boast thoroughly in front of Master Liu!

Yang Qixiang’s lips twitched, and his heart bled!

Adding their most famous dish would cost over a hundred taels, right?

He stealthily kicked Hen Lan.

Hen Lan had never been to Tianxiang Tower but had heard it was expensive. In a hurry, he said, "Father, we have so many dishes, we can’t finish them all. Let’s just add a soup. A fish head with tofu soup!"

This was a common household soup, so it should not be expensive.

Master He, only thinking about outdoing Master Liu and considering that having a soup would be okay, said: "Then, let’s have a soup."

"Alright, dear customers, please wait a moment!" frёeωebɳovel.com

The dishes were quickly served, and the four of them ate with extra satisfaction.

When it was time to settle the bill after a satisfying meal, Master He praised: "The dishes of Tianxiang Tower truly are exceptional!"

The shopkeeper smiled and said: "The dishes at our Tianxiang Tower are set by the former head of the Imperial Kitchen, naturally extraordinary. The total is two hundred and fifty taels!"

Master He’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted from shock!

He, a master who earned a salary of five taels of silver a month, hadn’t saved up to two hundred and fifty taels in his whole life!

Hen Lan turned pale!

Yang Qixiang’s face was ashen, for he did not carry that much money on him!