Chapter 281 - Chapter 281: Trivial Matters
Chapter 281: Trivial Matters
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Li Yu, Xiaoyu, and the others picked out the corn seeds. Ruyi walked into the courtyard with the drawings made by the two Zou brothers. “Madam, look. These are the drawings made by the Zou brothers. They are waiting in the front courtyard.”
After Li Yu took it, she looked at it for a while but didn’t understand it. She smiled at Ruyi and said, “I don’t know much about this either. Let’s ask the brothers!”
Ruyi nodded and followed Li Yu to the front hall. Li Yu saw Craftsman Zou and a thin man with a walking stick standing in front of the hall. The two of them hurriedly bowed when they saw Li Yu.
Li Yu smiled and said, “Come in and sit.’
Craftsman Zou smiled cautiously and followed Li Yu into the hall. Craftsman Zou helped his brother sit down and bowed. “Madam, are you satisfied with the design?”
“There are some things I don’t quite understand. Please explain them to me.” Li Yu placed the drawing on the table and said to the brothers.
“Zou Liang, tell Madam.” Craftsman Zou helped his brother to the table. Zou Liang looked at the place Li Yu pointed at and said cautiously, “Madam, this is the entrance of the villa. This is the place for guests to park their carriages. This is the dark ditch that draws water into the garden. This is an octagonal pavilion. In front of the pavilion is the imported water. There are mountains, rocks, and flowers… and this is the lotus pond. These are winding corridors. The steps up the mountain are dug along the terrain. There are wooden railings on both sides.”
Li Yu asked a few questions that she didn’t quite understand and made some suggestions. She said to the Zou brothers, “Build according to this blueprint. Set the budget and go to Ruyi to collect the money for construction.”
Zou Liang leaned on his walking stick and thought for a moment. “Madam, I estimate that it will take at least 8,000 to 9,000 taels of silver to complete the construction of the garden, and the guest rooms you designed.”
Li Yu pointed at Ruyi and said to the two of them, “Alright, report the details to Ruyi. He’ll be in charge of this.”
“Yes, Madam.” Ruyi led the brothers out.
Li Yu returned to the backyard and saw that Xiaoyu and the others had already spread out the corn seeds in the courtyard.
Gu Yu came in and reported, “Madam, Madam He and Madam Gao said that Beautiful Robes Workshop has new styles for spring. They want to invite you to take a look.”
Li Yu thought for a moment. “Alright, invite them to sit down. I’ll come after changing my clothes.”
“Yes, Madam.” Gu Yu went back and said to Madam Gao and Madam He, “Madam, my Madam asks the two of you to wait for a moment.”
The two of them thought that Li Yu wouldn’t go with them. After hearing Gu
Yu’s words, they laughed. “It’s fine. Madam is showing us courtesy by going.”
A moment later, Li Yu came out of the inner courtyard and smiled at the two of them. “I’m busy at home every day. I’ve never gone to a clothing shop.”
Madam Gao smiled brightly. “We were worried that Madam wouldn’t have time for us. In the future, we’ll invite you to go shopping.”
Li Yu smiled and nodded. The three of them went out and got into the carriage.
Soon Ma Gui reported, “Madam, we’ve arrived at Beautiful Robes Workshop.”
When Gu Yu got out of the carriage, Madam Gao and Madam He had already gotten out of their carriages car and were waiting at the entrance of Beautiful Robes Workshop. When Li Yu approached, the three of them went up the stairs together. The shopkeeper of Beautiful Robes Workshop, Feng Wanniang, had already received a notification and was waiting at the entrance of the shop. When she saw them, she greeted them with a smile. Seeing how respectful the two of them were to Li Yu, she thought that this was probably the new magistrate’s wife.
Feng Wanniang’s words were crisp, and her tongue was very sharp. “Madam, Madam Gao, Madam He, what brings the three of you here today? Please sit in the private room in the backyard.”
Madam Gao smiled and glanced at Feng Wanniang. “This is Madam Li. You have to bring out your specialty and the latest and best styles.”
“Yes, as long as Madam Li likes it, it must be the latest and best.” Feng
Wanniang welcomed the three of them into the private room in the backyard.
The assistant walked in with a pile of clothes and materials. “Madam Li,
Madam Gao, Madam He, take a look. They’re all new this spring.”
After Li Yu and Madam Gao looked through the styles, she ordered a narrow-sleeved satin dress with mercury and red peony patterns. It was an autumn-colored embroidered dress with narrow sleeves. The skirt revealed half of the skirt, which was made of light blue high-quality yarn. She also bought a few plum blossom accessories.
Madam Gao ordered a lake-green floral dress, and a silver-red floral dress, while Madam He bought herself a purple floral dress. The three of them came out of Beautiful Robes Workshop and went to the teahouse of the Intoxicated Immortal Restaurant. They ordered some fruit tea and cakes.
Madam Gao smiled and said, “Madam, Sister He and I have long wanted to invite you out, but we were afraid of disturbing you.”
Madam He also smiled shyly. “Yes! Ever since I saw Madam last time, I’ve liked you for being straightforward and generous. I’ve always wanted to get close to you.”
Li Yu also felt that the two of them had good personalities. She smiled and said, “Sisters, you know that I came from a farmer’s family. I’m good at taking care of the fields and know nothing about poetry and painting. If you don’t find it boring, we can get together when you’re free.”
Madam Gao and Madam He covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and chuckled. “I’m also not a cultured person. I don’t know anything about those things. When I’m free, I like to take care of flowers and trees. It’s the same as farming that you’re good at. Sister He is also planting vegetables in the courtyard! ”
Madam He said softly, ‘When I have nothing to do, I like to plant some vegetables in the garden. I want to save as much as I can. I’ve been mocked by them a lot.” The three of them chatted for a while and felt a little closer. They agreed to go to Li Yu’s new manor to take a look next time.
Li Yu felt that the pastry conch in the teahouse melted in her mouth. The pine nut candv was sweet and crispv. She asked the teahouse to pack two portions each and planned to take them back to coax Yangyang and Seven Pounds.
Everyone got up and went down the teahouse. Madam Gao rushed to get the maidservant to go and settle the bill. The shopkeeper smiled and cupped his hands. “Miss, Madam Li’s table has already been settled.”
Madam Gao recalled that when the magistrate just arrived in Yunzhou City two days ago, the head shopkeeper of the Four Seas Bank and the shopkeeper of Yunzhou City had personally gone to the government office to visit. The relationship between the two families was definitely not ordinary. The higher-ranking officials knew who was behind the Four Seas Bank’s businesses. It seemed that she had to persuade her Master to restrain his temper and cooperate with Lord Zhou.
Only then did Li Yu remember that the Intoxicated Immortal Restaurant was a business of the Four Seas Bank. She thought to herself, “The villa’s painting is done. The Four Seas Bank is experienced in running restaurants and teahouses. I’ll get Ji Xiang to ask if the Four Seas Bank is willing to invest in it later.” The three of them left the teahouse and bade farewell with a smile before returning home.
Yangyang and Seven Pounds watched Ji Xiang practice martial arts in the backyard. They each carried a tiger doll and imitated Ji Xiang’s actions. When they saw Li Yu return, Yangyang asked, “Mom, did you buy something delicious for Yangyang on the streets?”
“Yes, I did. There is one for each of you.” Li Yu smiled and took out the pastry conch from the box and handed it to the two of them. She planned to give them a few candies every day..