Chapter 135: Refusal (Pink 675)

  Looking for pink tickets, still available tonight.

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  That man only swung his whip and hit the horse, galloping wildly forward, sweeping past everyone's face like the wind, leaving behind a thick fragrance. One of the two people chasing after him saw Peony and others, saluted with a fist, and didn't even have time to greet them before catching up.

  Rong Niang asked strangely: "Auntie, did you recognize that person just now?"

  "Looks familiar, probably from Jiang's village, followed us back to our village. Don't recognize the others."

  Madam Feng said, "Just now that young master riding the purple horse had a very heavy murderous aura. He was so reckless and desperate in whipping his horse, I'm afraid he'll drive it mad. If he encounters any obstacles or rugged terrain that he can't control, I fear he won't be able to escape disaster."

  Yingniang said: "I see that Jiang Shu and Wu Zongguan both treasure this purple horse, but I don't know what kind of person would treat a horse like this."

  A moment later, three or four men in brocade clothes rode up on horseback, standing at the crossroads and looking around. When they saw Peony and the others, one of them, a stout man with half an ear missing and a full beard, rode forward without any courtesy, speaking coarsely: "A young master just rode out, which way did he go?" As he spoke, he stared at Peony's face.

  Although Peony detested him for his rudeness, she thought that he was from Jiang Changyang's Zhuangzi and rode Jiang Changyang's purple horse. If something happened, the horse would also be implicated, so she signaled to Feng Dainiang to respond. Feng Dainiang raised her whip tip and pointed forward: "He went ahead."

  That man didn't even say thank you, he just turned his head and beckoned the other three people to follow him, galloping forward on horseback.

  "Where did this boor come from? How utterly impolite!"

  "Everyone has their own way of doing things, no need to interfere with others. Hurry up and focus on your journey."

  After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, someone behind him shouted again. This time, they directly called out Mrs. Feng's name. It was Wu San leading four or five men in grey robes on horseback, who came forward to pay their respects and asked about the whereabouts of the young gentleman from earlier.

  Wu San heard that someone had already caught up, so he slowed down his pace and asked Peony with a smile: "Miss He, are you going back to the city? I'm afraid this time we'll have to stay in the city for a while?"

  "Father and brother are going on a long trip, I'll accompany them for a few days."

  Wu San slightly furrowed his brow: "Is this time going out to sea? Has a specific date been set for departure?"

  "Exactly, it's on the 26th of this month."

  Wu Sansi thought for a moment, then bowed his fist and bid farewell: "The young master just now is the second son of the Zhu Guo Gong Mansion. He came with Zhu Guo Gong as a guest. Something happened, I'd better go and take a look, He Niangzi, you all slow down."

  "You're busy, don't mind us." It was only then that Peony realized the man was Jiang Changyang's half-brother. He didn't seem like a good person to get along with. And Zhu Guogong, who had appeared at Jiang Changyang's estate, probably also had something to do with Madame Wang's remarriage. Who knew what he would ask of Jiang Changyang? Suddenly, Peony thought of Qiu Shi's words and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh as she urged her horse on.

  Upon arriving at the De's residence, it was almost noon. Mudan and others entered the gate, and Mrs. Li led Ruan Niang with a smile to greet them: "Speaking of Cao Cao, Cao Cao has arrived. Father and mother were just mentioning that if you didn't come back today, they would send someone to pick you up tomorrow, and coincidentally you have returned."

  "Didn't Father go to the shop?"

  "Today at home there are guests, except for your fourth and sixth brothers who went to the shop, all the others stayed at home."

  "Who is it?" Rongniang asked strangely.

  Bai led a few maids carrying fruit and tea over, smiling: "It's Lu Wulang."

  Peony thought that if Duan Daniang was someone people like He Zhizhong were eager to get along with, then it was only normal for them to go out of their way to entertain and socialize. She didn't think much of it and merely asked: "Is there any news about Qin San Niang?"

  Bai said in a low voice, "It seems that there is some clue. Father asked someone to investigate in the west market and found out that one of the attendants who followed Qin San Niang out on that day was from the Jing Wang Fu, but the others were unfamiliar faces. Now it's just uncertain whether the person is really related to the Jing Wang Fu or not."

  Jing Wang? This name sounds a bit familiar. Peony ponders for a moment, suddenly remembering that this is the one Jiang Changyang mentioned earlier, who raised many good flower craftsmen and was said to be an unknown but influential idle person. If Qin San Niang really has something to do with Jing Wang Fu, then how did she get connected to Jing Wang Fu? What kind of role does she play in the palace? Peony can't help but shake her head slightly, life is indeed unpredictable.

  On one side, Bai and Li exchanged glances for half a day before Li said: "Two days ago, the father and son of the Li family came to our door to apologize."

  "Peony was silent for a moment, then said: 'What did you say?'"

  Li smiled and said, "What else can be said? The other family came to apologize and offer gifts, so of course Father and Mother would still treat them as relatives, invite them to stay for dinner and drinks, and send them off with joy. They even agreed to come back on the 26th to bid farewell to Father and your brothers. Li's paternal uncle said that Ning Wang found out about Meng Ruren's affair, scolded and rebuked her, demoted her to a sixth-rank concubine, and she is no longer allowed to enter or leave the palace freely. A large number of slaves in the palace were also punished."

  "Peony couldn't help but feel a little strange: 'That punishment is really severe.' Originally, Madame Bai had told her that this matter could be big or small, depending on how the Ning King thought about it. Now it seems that it has indeed come true as Princess Fen said, and it is being handled according to the most severe punishment. But dealing with a large group of slaves would absolutely not be because of this matter."

  Bai smiled and said, "Kill the chicken to scare the monkey, punish multiple crimes at once. As for why, Li's cousin would naturally not tell us in detail, but I think someone like her wouldn't just do one bad thing. As for the other slaves, in my opinion, they should have been disciplined long ago. A small manager from a rural village dares to be so arrogant and domineering, let alone others."

  Whenever the matter of Deng Guanshi is brought up, Peony can't help but think of what Li Wei said back then - that it involved some matters between members of the royal family. She doesn't dare to make random guesses, perhaps this time it's also like that, and Ning Wang is just taking advantage of the opportunity to deal with a group of people. But at this moment, the Ning Wang Fu and her, the Li family, are as far apart from her as heaven and earth, Peony quickly puts the matter out of her mind.

  After entering the backyard, I met Mrs. Cen and chatted with her for a while. Peony roughly told her about the situation in Fangyuan Garden, saying that she wanted to pick a few clever, capable, responsible, and honest young men to follow Li Huajun to learn how to take care of flowers and trees. Mrs. Cen said: "What's difficult about this? Pick a few local-born children, just the other day several people told me that their sons have grown up and want to find jobs. Later, let your elder sister bring the name list, you go through it one by one to pick, if not enough, then go buy some more."

  Madam Cen had barely finished speaking when Zhen Shi said, "Dan Niang, my attendant Pan Wu Jia has a pair of young sons, one is seven years old and the other is nine years old, they are clever and clean, it's just right for them to follow you."

  She had just begun, and Bai Shi and Sun Shi were already somewhat moved. They all thought that the life in Fangyuan was easy and comfortable, and they could entertain guests as soon as spring arrived. The people who went there were all wealthy, and as long as one was clever, they would not lack generous rewards. Moreover, they were all born into good families, and after going there, they would still have to become someone in charge. The most wonderful thing was that if Fangyuan really made a lot of money, the people under them could learn a good skill, and in the future, it would be a way to get rich. Therefore, everyone naturally wanted to put their own people inside.

  Peony had long expected this situation to arise and had already thought of a countermeasure, so she readily agreed. Seeing her agree without hesitation, the others all started speaking up, some of whom were not even from the He family, and someone even asked if Peony Garden had a general manager, with the number suddenly reaching over ten and still rising.

  "Can you really use so many people?" Mrs. Cen asked, looking at Peony with doubt. This was no longer her picking people, but others picking for her. Could these people be of any use? The deed of sale was not in her hands, and when would she be left high and dry by someone pulling the rug from under her feet? But Mrs. Cen couldn't say this directly to Peony in front of several daughters-in-law with ulterior motives, so she could only indirectly remind her.

  "Ha! The garden is so big, of course it's worth using. I can afford to hire people even if the pay is several times higher, and I can also support them. However, I'm worried that they might not agree to come. After all, the garden is not like the city, it's quiet and dull, without the hustle and bustle. They would have to dig soil, carry water, fertilize, and weed, and even if they became the head gardener, it's still not as good as working in a shop in the city, where they can learn skills and have prospects. I was worried that no one would go with me, luckily you all recommended some people."

  Zhen's eyes widened in surprise: "What's this about buying people?"

  "Peony smiled and said, 'Li Hua told me that he would teach his apprentices without difficulty, but they must be people who have signed a lifelong contract with me. Otherwise, he won't teach them. This old man has a peculiar temper, is stubborn, and often wants me to listen to him. If I don't listen, he'll sulk. Moreover, he has excellent craftsmanship, so I can't leave him. And the new flower artisans I recently hired all signed short-term contracts and aren't very obedient to my instructions. So, I made up my mind that from now on, anyone who wants to work in Fragrant Garden planting peonies must sign a lifelong contract. After all, I'm not comfortable using my family's resources and my sisters-in-law's people without paying them. As brothers, we should be clear about the accounts. This money is necessary.'"

  Zhen Shi originally had a hidden intention, only thinking of lending the person to Peony, with the contract still in her own hands. Now hearing Peony say this, she was somewhat unwilling, and dryly laughed: "Dan Niang is right, this matter must first ask their parents, lest they blame me for breaking up the family."

  "It's exactly the same reason." Peony lowered her head, blew a mouthful of tea soup, and drank a mouthful of tea as if nothing had happened. She then asked Bai Shi and Sun Shi and others: "Do you want to ask some questions too?"

  Bai and Sun exchanged a glance, smiling: "Of course we'll ask. We'll come back and tell Dan Niang after we've asked."

  The peony smiled slightly, knowing that this matter was basically over and no one would dare to stretch out their hands randomly again. She wasn't being overly cautious or defensive, after all, if others wanted to learn from her how to cultivate peonies, they could just hire craftsmen as long as they had the money. There were plenty of these small flower craftsmen around, and even if only one in ten was exceptionally talented, she would be grateful. However, she required that the people under her command be of one mind with her, prioritizing her orders and interests above all else. This chaotic group of people, each with their own masters and interests, would inevitably affect the overall situation.

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  Wah wah wah, singing red songs until hoarse, time is tight, send this up first, more tonight. Asking for pink, asking for pink, I will try to squeeze out more updates if possible, if not finished in these two days, will continue in July, thank you everyone.