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“At Eight Treasures Pavilion here, I’ve appointed Manager Wei to oversee operations. While Manager Wei is experienced and knowledgeable in managing businesses, he’s not a local here and feels somewhat uncertain. He also believes that Madam Jiang’s innovative ideas would greatly benefit the Eight Treasures Pavilion. Therefore, after discussing it, we would like to invite Madam Jiang to act as a strategic advisor for the Eight Treasures Pavilion. If needed, she can consult with Madam Jiang on various matters.”
“Of course, we can’t let Madam Jiang work in vain. For her contributions to the Eight Treasures Pavilion in the county town, we will allocate her thirty percent of the profits as compensation.”
Jiang Mixia understood the proposal clearly.
Zheng Yuanhe was asking her to serve as a part-time consultant for the Eight Treasures Pavilion.
However, offering her thirty percent of the profits was quite generous for a consulting fee.
It seemed that due to the prosperous business at the Eight Treasures Pavilion in the capital, the Zheng family wished to express their gratitude and provide her with ongoing compensation as a token of appreciation.
Often, knowledge and creativity can indeed yield substantial rewards!
Jiang Mixia felt content and justified with such profits and did not refuse Zheng Yuanhe’s offer too much. She expressed her commitment to wholeheartedly devote herself to the Eight Treasures Pavilion and promised to communicate promptly with Manager Wei if she had any good ideas.
Known for her unique mindset, Zheng Yuanhe was not surprised by Jiang Mixia’s capabilities, which exceeded his expectations. Delighted that she was willing to take on this role, he eagerly nodded in agreement.
After discussing the matter of the Eight Treasures Pavilion, Zheng Yuanhe went on to talk with Jiang Mixia about the bamboo workshop.
Goods sent from the county to the capital by Zheng’s business had been selling well in the capital. While the sales might not compare to the Zheng family’s original grain and medicinal herb business, the steady flow of income over the years had accumulated into a significant personal profit for Zheng Yuanhe.
As autumn approached, the bamboo workshop would typically enter its off-peak season. However, Zheng Yuanhe’s visit this time brought a substantial order for the workshop.
It was a batch of bamboo boxes for packaging medicinal herbs requested by Zheng’s herb shop.
These herbs were destined for the capital city, demanding top-notch quality. Therefore, the boxes used for packing the herbs had to be sturdy, waterproof, finely crafted, and meticulously detailed to reflect the quality and texture of the medicinal herbs they contained.
The craftsmanship at the bamboo workshop was impeccable, with Zheng Yuanhe leaving specific dimensions and quantities needed for the order, which would be executed as per the requirements.
Not an exceptionally unique order, Jiang Mixia had it recorded and incorporated into the daily tasks at the workshop.
Zheng Yuanhe departed in the evening, taking with him many sun-dried long beans, chili sauce-marinated beans, and fresh pickled cucumbers from Jiang Mixia’s home.
Everyone was delighted.
Seeing her dried vegetables appreciated, Liu shi felt content. While helping Jiang Mixia organize the items brought by Zheng Yuanhe, she couldn’t help but praise, “Mr. Zheng is truly a nice person.”
Before Jiang Mixia could respond, Jiang Youcheng snorted impatiently, “He’s alright, just so-so.”
“He’s a bit short and chubby, look at how his shoes are worn out, probably flat-footed. In terms of business acumen, he’s not particularly discerning. Compared to Xia and Jingyun, he’s far behind,” Jiang Youcheng continued, expressing his discontent.
“And I noticed loose threads on his left sleeve cuff. Seems like he doesn’t pay much attention to his dressing. Doing business outside, meeting people all day, yet neglecting his attire…” Jiang Youcheng rambled on, sounding quite disgruntled.
Liu shi and Jiang Mixia exchanged glances, puzzled.
“What’s wrong with your father?” Mrs. Liu inquired with her eyes.
“I have no idea…” Jiang Mixia shrugged.
If she remembered correctly, Jiang Youcheng had previously praised Manager Zheng for his integrity. Just as Manager Zheng left, he even mentioned how generous the Zheng family was. So why was he now nitpicking at Manager Zheng?
And observing so attentively… Had Jiang Youcheng ever been this meticulous before?
Jiang Mixia raised an eyebrow in bewilderment.
“Mother, what’s this?” Song Jingyun, helping to bring the items into the house, noticed a basket with a cloth draped over it in the room. He asked, “Should we move it somewhere else?”
“Leave it there. There are needles inside, be careful not to prick yourself,” Liu shi replied. “With the weather getting cooler, I thought of making a jacket for your father. I’ve only managed to do half of it these past few days, I’ll finish it in a couple of days.”
“Oh, isn’t it straining on the eyes to do needlework? You could just buy ready-made clothes from the town or county store. Why are you making clothes again?” Jiang Youcheng complained, raising an eyebrow. “It’s fine if you’re making one for me, but you shouldn’t be making clothes for Xia and Jingyun anymore. At this age, if your eyesight deteriorates, it’s not easy to treat.”
“You’re always nagging. I haven’t touched a needle in over two months, and now that I wanted to start sewing, you’re already objecting,” Liu shi responded, slightly irritated.
Seeing his annoyance, Liu shi explained, “Xia and Jingyun are frequently in the county town now. My sewing skills are not presentable, so I’ll just have them buy clothes from the town. I don’t plan on sewing for them anymore.”
So, does this jacket she’s making now just for him?
Jiang Youcheng felt pleased internally but didn’t show it on his face. He simply said, “Fine, make just this one. No more after this.”
“Got it,” Liu shi replied with a hint of annoyance.
Jiang Mixia thought to herself…
They hadn’t even had dinner yet, and suddenly she felt full.
Public displays of affection aren’t frightening; what’s truly daunting is when it’s all surface-level bickering, concealing deeper intentions, perhaps even feeding others dog food indiscriminately! — The various mooncakes sent by Zheng Yuanhe were being enjoyed until the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the results of the provincial examination were announced.
Song Jingyun’s name stood out prominently, once again claiming the top spot.
From the county-level examination to the Prefectural-level and now the provincial examination, Song Jingyun had consecutively secured the first position, earning the prestigious title of “Triple Top Scholar” and officially becoming a scholar.
With titles like “Top Scholar” and “Triple Top Scholar,” Song Jingyun became the subject of discussions among scholars in Fengyang County, sparking awe and curiosity about his true character.
What surprised everyone even more was the performance of the other successful candidates in this examination.
Typically, only around twenty to thirty scholars were accepted province-wide, with each county securing merely a few spots. However, in this recent examination, Fengyang County had eight scholars on the list, making it the county with the highest number of successful candidates.
Notably, all seven other scholars, like the top-ranked Song Jingyun, hailed from the Hongle Academy!