Chapter 76 – In Case Your Master Changes His Mind, I Can Still Run Away With the Money.

Xia Tian felt helpless. The next morning, she took Ning Xiang with her to Yayi Studio again.

“Xiao shopkeeper, what is it? We just saw each other yesterday.”

“Madam, there’s a customer who wants to order a custom painting of ‘Pine and Crane Longevity Picture,’ and it must be completed before the New Year,” Xiao shopkeeper said urgently.

Xia Tian frowned slightly, “Didn’t we agree on a maximum of two paintings per month?”

“We can’t turn this down. It’s from the Wen Yibo Mansion. The old madam of the family will celebrate her sixtieth birthday on the second day of the new year, and they want a painting of ‘Pine and Crane Longevity Picture’ by Xuan Yingxian.”

“But there’s only half a month left before the New Year, and that might not be enough time,” she replied. She had just completed a custom painting yesterday, which also needed to be finished before the New Year and was said to be a gift for her superior.

Xiao had already promised the customer, and there was no backing out now.

“Madam, think of a way. First, we can’t afford to offend the Wen Yibo Mansion. Second, they’re offering five thousand taels. They’re in a hurry.”

When Xia Tian heard this, she was stunned. Five thousand taels for a painting—these people were truly wealthy!

After thinking carefully, she realized that she could manage to finish two paintings in half a month, but it would leave no time for anything else.

She made up her mind. For the money, she had no choice.

“Alright, I’ll accept it. But after this, I won’t do it again. Otherwise, this business won’t be sustainable.”

“Good, good, good! I promise it won’t happen again!” Xiao shopkeeper happily escorted Xia Tian out.

He quickly sent someone to respond to the Wen Yibo Mansion.

Since Xiao had already left, Xia Tian thought she might as well have lunch outside before returning home.

She and Ning Xiang, along with Mu Feng, went straight to Yuxin Xuan.

Last time, Shen Nian had told her that it was his family’s restaurant. She had assumed it was part of the Wuan Marquis’s estate. However, Mu Feng later told her that it was actually the private property of Young Master Shen.

It was part of the dowry of Shen Nian’s biological mother, who came from the prominent Cui family.

When Cui married Shen, her dowry was very rich. At the time, it was managed by the old madam, and when Shen Nian’s mother married, half of the dowry was given to her, while the other half was taken by Shen Nian and personally managed ever since.

“That means your young master’s family is quite wealthy!” Xia Tian joked.

“Everything that belongs to the master belongs to the madam, so the madam is also quite wealthy now,” Mu Feng teased in return.

He wasn’t wrong—nowadays, the master couldn’t live without the madam.

“You’re right. Today, we’ll enjoy a free meal and have your master foot the bill.”

The three of them laughed as they entered Yuxin Xuan.

Yuxin Xuan was a three-story building with extravagant decorations. The first floor was a large hall, while the second and third floors had private rooms.

Since it wasn’t yet lunchtime, there weren’t many people in the hall.

As they entered, they saw the shopkeeper of Yuxin Xuan hunched over behind the counter, counting beads on an abacus.

“Please come in, distinguished guests!” the waiter greeted them.

When the shopkeeper heard customers had arrived, he looked up. “Mu Feng, what brings you here?” he asked, looking around but not seeing Young Master Shen.

He was puzzled. “Who is this?”

“This is Young Master’s wife. I brought her here for a meal,” Mu Feng introduced Xia Tian to the shopkeeper.

“Madam?” The shopkeeper’s face immediately brightened with a smile, and he made a sweeping gesture with his hand. “Please, please come in. I’ll take you straight to Young Master’s private room on the third floor.”

He then turned to the waiter. “Have the kitchen prepare a few extra signature dishes for Madam to try.”

Afterward, he personally led the group to the private room reserved for Shen Nian on the third floor.

“Madam, please sit. Today, you must try our signature dishes.”

“Thank you, shopkeeper.” Xia Tian smiled and thanked him. “You can call me Bai shopkeeper. It’s fine.”

The shopkeeper instructed the waiter to bring over a pot of fine Longjing tea along with several plates of delicate snacks before leaving.

Xia Tian had Ning Xiang and Mu Feng sit with her.

After a short wait, the dishes were served, filling the table.

Xia Tian tasted each one, nodding, “The taste is pretty good.”

“I think Madam’s cooking is even better,” Mu Feng said after taking a bite.

Ning Xiang nodded while eating, “Indeed, Madam’s cooking is more delicious.”

Last time, to celebrate the Young Master getting a new official position, Madam had made a huge spread. They hadn’t eaten much then, but the rest was eaten by Ning Xiang and the others, and the food really was special.

“If Madam opened a restaurant, there would definitely be a lot of customers,” Mu Feng couldn’t stop talking about Xia Tian’s cooking.

He wasn’t usually one to be particularly picky about food, but he just couldn’t forget how delicious her cooking was.

“I’ve actually always wanted to open a restaurant, but I haven’t saved enough money yet.”

“Master has plenty of money. Madam can take as much as she wants,” Mu Feng said as if he had the authority to make such decisions.

This made Xia Tian laugh. “No, I want to earn the money myself to open the restaurant. That way, if your master changes his mind in the future, I can run away with the money.”

“Master will never change his mind,” Mu Feng immediately reassured her.

“It’s too early to talk about that now. But Mu Feng, please keep an eye out for any good properties that are available.”

“Madam, you’re not really thinking of leaving Master, are you?”

“No, I just want to start a business. It can also be my dowry, right?”

“That’s true.” Mu Feng nodded. “I’ll keep an eye out for you.”

The three of them joked and finished their meal. Under the shopkeeper’s warm escort, they got into the carriage and prepared to return to the residence.

Passing by the fabric shop, Xia Tian went in and selected several bolts of various silks, cotton, and satin. The seamstresses in the residence were swamped with work as the year-end approached, and aside from the usual duties, they weren’t accepting extra orders.

She bought the fabric so Ning Xiang and the others could cut and sew it themselves.

It was a little treat for everyone.

When she felt it was enough, she stopped shopping and headed straight back home.

With half a month left, she had to finish two paintings, so time was tight.

She didn’t waste any time in the afternoon and went straight to the study to paint.

On the 17th day of the twelfth month, the first painting was finished, and she had Ning Xiang and Mu Feng deliver it to Xiao shopkeeper.

On the 13th day of the twelfth month, the little New Year arrived. That evening, the family gathered for a meal at Ruixuan Hall. Liu didn’t attend due to illness, and Shen Ke still couldn’t get out of bed.

After dinner, everyone quietly returned to their respective courtyards.

On the 14th day of the twelfth month, Ning Xiang and Ning Xue took the servants of Jinglan Courtyard to clean inside and outside the courtyard, preparing for the new year.

They also took the fabric Xia Tian had bought and sewed clothes for the servants in the courtyard.

The seamstresses were too busy to keep up, so they had to do it themselves.

Xia Tian was also working overtime, finishing the ‘Pine and Crane Longevity Picture.’ The entire Jinglan Courtyard, from the master to the servants, was bustling with activity.

Finally, on the 17th day of the twelfth month, she completed the painting and personally delivered it to Xiao shopkeeper, bringing back 4,000 taels in silver notes.

When she saw the silver notes, she finally felt that all her hard work over the past few days had been worth it.

On the 18th day of the twelfth month, the household distributed the New Year’s allowances. In addition to the regular monthly allowance, each master received two extra sets of clothing, while the servants received one set of clothing each. There were also fruit and dried goods, with everyone receiving a share.

The entire residence was filled with festive joy.

On the 19th day of the twelfth month, Xia Tian also gave each servant in Jinglan Courtyard a red envelope with a month’s worth of salary, and gave Ning Xiang, Ning Xue, Cuiyun, and the other four maids a set of clothing and some fabric. The clothing was all made by the maids themselves.

She also gave each person a piece of cotton fabric, so they could make their own clothes, since she couldn’t keep up with everything herself.