Chapter 277: Establishing Power
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Han Qiao personally went to the kitchen to give the order. Aunt Zhao quickly approached as soon as she saw her, “Madam.”
“Are there any snacks left for the children?”
“We have wontons and buns. Each person will have two buns and a bowl of wontons. If they’re still hungry, we can give them an extra bun.”
“Are they meat buns?” Han Qiao asked.
Aunt Zhao quickly nodded, “Yes, Madam,”
“Let them eat their fill, but don’t let them be stuffed full.”
“Don’t worry, Madam. The children all know this and won’t be greedy.”
Han Qiao talked to Aunt Zhao for a while and asked her if she was used to the new place.
She wanted to bring her to the city tomorrow, because moving forward, she would have to go shopping herself.
As the housekeeper of the kitchen, she had to know the price by heart.
Aunt Zhao smiled, “Then, are we leaving after breakfast tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, I’ll prepare the list tonight.”
Since it was her first time in Chenzhou City, there were many things that needed to be bought. Aunt Zhao also wanted to go and take a look. Chenzhou City was bustling. How much did the food cost?
She could not go out to buy vegetables every day in the future. She had to know all these things. Otherwise, if she was fooled by the servants and lost the trust of the Madam, not only would she lose her dignity, but she would also lose the support for the rest of her life.
She knew what was more important.
When Han Qiao returned to the main courtyard, Bai Cha, Shopkeeper Zhu, and Lan Cheng were already waiting for her.
“Are you here to settle scores?” Han Qiao asked with a smile.
Bai Cha smiled and nodded.
Han Qiao smiled, “Alright, let’s see what we have now.”
Han Qiao gestured for them to sit down and ordered for tea to be served.
Bai Cha handed the account book to Han Qiao.
“Currently, there are six fast food restaurants and two hot pot restaurants in the six counties. They belong to the Heng family alone and have nothing to do with the Feng family or Gong princess consort,” Bai Cha said.
Han Qiao nodded slightly.
“In addition, in the twelve counties, excluding Puyi County, each county has three villages. Each village has 20 to 50 mu of land, and the mountain area has 50 mu. The village with the most land has 200 mu of land.”
“These mountains have been reclaimed and planted with food. The nearby villagers will work as long-term farmers and will be paid monthly wages.”
“Every village has chickens, ducks, pigs, and geese.”
“There are fifteen shops in Chenzhou City, and they have all been used to open tofu shops. Currently, each shop can earn about three taels of silver a month.”
Although it wasn’t a lot, it was at least profitable.
Han Qiao was very satisfied with this.
“The manor we live in now occupies an area of ten mu. About thirty mu of land has been reclaimed, and another twenty mu is still being reclaimed. We bought a large mountain behind us, so only one-tenth of it has been reclaimed. If we want to completely reclaim it, we have to wait until April or May next year.”
Bai Cha summarized.
He felt a great sense of accomplishment with all the achievements they’ve reached.
“Then the matter with the servants.”
“Other than the ones I brought from Puyi County, these are all the deeds of the people in the manor and the city. Please keep them well.”
Bai Cha handed her over a box.
Inside were these people’s contracts, which could very well affect their lives.
Han Qiao took it and felt the weight in her hands.
The box was light, but the things inside made it very heavy.
“In addition, there is the remaining silver, which is used for various expenses, as well as the purchase of land, shops, and the construction of these two residences. We still have 183,216 taels left.”
Han Qiao exhaled lightly.
It was still a lot.
In just over a year, they had already bought so many businesses.
It was very difficult to manage.
Only those who had experience would understand the hardships of doing one.
“You all have worked hard.” Han Qiao said.
Han Qiao counted out thirty-three thousand two hundred and sixteen taels for Bai Cha, “Take these and give a share to the people under you. Reward those who deserve it, especially those who are diligent. This is a reward from the boss in addition to their wages.”
“Sister-in-law, this is too much.” Bai Cha said.
“I told you to arrange it, not to share all of it. You’re the one who has worked the hardest. You should save some money and get yourself a wife as soon as possible.”
She recalled Bai Cha’s past.
“When you get married and have children, put them under my and your big brother’s names. In the future, when you receive the grace of the heavens, I’ll remember it under your and your wife’s names. What do you think?”
Under Heng Yi and Han Qiao’s name, his children would be considered legitimate noble children.
His sons could study for the imperial examination and their future would be limitless.
If their names were recorded under Bai Cha’s name, the only future they could have was to be born as slaves.
Bai Cha knew the crux of the matter.
“I’ll listen to Sister-in-law’s plans.”
Shopkeeper Zhu remained silent as he listened by the side.
Lan Cheng also gave Han Qiao a deep look.
He didn’t expect this lady to be so righteous.
It was no wonder that she was able to run all her shops so well.
“Shopkeeper Zhu, do you want to search for your and Shopkeeper Liu’s family? Or should we just let nature take its course?”
Shopkeeper Zhu quickly stood up, “If we can find them, my mother will be able to rest in peace. Thank you for your concern, Madam.”
“What effort am I putting in? I’m just asking. You have to do the rest yourself. If you need money, you can discuss it with Bai Cha and Housekeeper Liu. If it’s not enough, come and ask me.”
In short, she had given him enough dignity.
She also hoped that they would do their best to help her.
Shopkeeper Zhu thanked her profusely.
When Housekeeper Liu had gotten this word, he hurriedly came to thank her and hurriedly went back to tell his mother about this matter.
It was not easy to find a family in a sea of people.
It required a lot of manpower and resources.
It was not something that could be settled with just a few words.
Han Qiao touched the stack of silver notes, the deed to sell herself and her family, the deed to the house, and the deed to the land, and smiled.
Back in the Gong Prince Mansion…
After Han Qiao left, the Gong Prince’s consort went to the front courtyard to meet with her husband, the Gong Prince.
When the brocade box was returned intact, a lot of silver notes were also placed inside.
“Your Highness.”
“Why did the Princess Consort come here?”
The Gong Prince’s consort held the brocade box in her hand, “Your Highness and I lived different lives.”
He opened the brocade box and pushed it in front of the Gong Prince, “I’ve never been a calculative person. When Ah-Qiao mentioned this, I found it funny, but 1 also felt that it was good for her to do business with such rules.”
“I won’t hide anything from you, Your Highness. The restaurant is in a good location and the food is good. You should be able to earn a lot of money every month, but in reality, it is pitifully little.”
“Your Highness is distressed that I have earned too little silver, so I am naturally distressed that Your Highness has worked so hard.”
The Gong Prince was touched by her words.
She was completely different from the concubines that lived in his back courtyard.
Those concubines only knew how to fight for favor and asked him for money and things. Only his wife would remember his scheme.
“I actually came here today to tell Your Highness that there are great benefits to the restaurant according to what Ah-Qiao said.”
“So if the secondary consort, the children, and the brother of the secondary consort start to make a scene, please appease them.”
“I will personally talk to my uncle.”
This uncle was not the Gong Prince’s uncle.
His uncle was enjoying life in the capital.
This was the Great Uncle, who had blocked a knife for the Gong Prince and thus gained power with the royal family.
The Gong Prince’s consort naturally wouldn’t go empty-handed.
And this gift would be much better than the Great Uncle bringing his friends to their restaurant to eat and drink for free..