Transmigrated Genius: Fragile Heiress Reigns Supreme-Chapter 502 - 506: Maternal Family (5)

Upon arriving at the Grand Dowager’s room to pay respects, she asked, "How is the health of the master of our in-law’s family?"

Xiqiu nodded and replied, "Very good, he seems to have gained a bit of weight compared to before the New Year!"

The Grand Dowager chuckled at this.

Returning to the courtyard, after checking the shed in the backyard, Tianyi came by.

Xiqiu smiled as she invited him to sit in the main hall. After thanking her for the tea, Tianyi spoke earnestly, "Madam, I have thought it over. It is an honor that you want me to help in the shop. I have decided to go to the shop. Although I don’t understand pharmacology, tasks like running errands in the front hall are within my abilities."

"Are you really certain?" This is a matter of a lifetime after all, and Xiqiu didn’t want to force him and potentially harm him.

Tianyi nodded firmly, "I have thought it through thoroughly."

"Very well!" Xiqiu smiled and said, "Tomorrow I’ll speak with Fourth Master. Nurse Zhang will be delighted to hear you can assist. In fact, we can’t really let you just run errands; it would be wasting your talent. My original thought was that, since running a pharmacy requires dealing with all sorts of people, we can’t just do scattered business. But the specific way to manage this, I only have a rough idea. We’ll discuss it carefully once Nurse Zhang comes, and you can take charge then."

They indeed needed to discuss this, and Tianyi paused, showing a serious expression as he nodded in agreement, "Madam, just instruct me if there’s anything to be done."

Xiqiu nodded with a smile. Tianyi stealthily glanced at Xiqiu, contemplating the matter of Chunyan, but was too embarrassed to bring it up.

Xiqiu understood his intentions, but this matter still needed Chunyan’s consent; she couldn’t be forced into marriage.

In the evening, when Fourth Master Xiao returned, she relayed Tianyi’s decision to him. Of course, Fourth Master Xiao had no objections.

Thus, the matter of Tianyi leaving the mansion early to assist in the shop was settled.

By the end of the month, the tea shop was vacated. Xiqiu asked Jin Dairui to find craftsmen to renovate the shop according to her plan. Ruan Jingliu came to the mansion every afternoon to discuss with her the shop’s progress, while Xiqiu fretted over the lack of a shopkeeper.

That day, after escorting Ruan Jingliu out, an unexpected guest arrived.

Xiqiu was surprised upon seeing Sujin and asked, "Does the concubine have any requests?"

Sujin stood in the room, silently admiring its decor. It wasn’t particularly luxurious, but exuded a meticulous elegance. She thought of Sixth Miss’s courtyard and the days she lived at the mansion and silently rejoiced for Xiqiu. It seemed her family’s concubine was indeed capable. She had foretold that Sixth Miss would achieve greatness, and indeed she was correct. Of the young ladies in the mansion, wasn’t Sixth Miss living the best life?

It’s said the Great Governor loves her deeply and vowed not to take any concubines, which is a dream many women have but dare not hope for. Sixth Miss was truly blessed, and the Marquis Mansion Dowager treated her well. Her sisters-in-law came from prominent families, and both their discourse and comportment were first-rate, naturally avoiding major conflicts. Such a life was truly worlds apart from the Tong Mansion.

With such thoughts, Sujin heard Xiqiu’s question and smiled, "It’s like this. The concubine wanted to see you personally, but her status makes it difficult to enter and leave freely. Knowing you are busy, she couldn’t possibly ask you to return over trivial matters, so she sent me instead."

Xiqiu nodded, and Sujin continued, "It’s not a major issue. She heard you are opening a pharmacy with Nurse Zhang and is currently seeking a suitable shopkeeper. As it happens, the concubine knows someone, who used to be a shopkeeper at a pharmacy in Yongzhou. If Sixth Miss thinks him suitable, she can bring him for you to evaluate. He’s currently in the Capital."

Such a coincidence, Xiqiu laughed and asked, "That truly is fortuitous. Do you know where this person is from and how old he is?"

"He is from Yongzhou, surnamed Luo, and is forty-six this year."

The age was just right!

Luo? Madam Luo’s surname is also Luo. Madam Luo’s family was ruined due to a conspiracy case back then, weren’t they?

Sujin seemed to understand what Xiqiu was thinking and smiled as she explained, "Sixth Master Luo is a second cousin to our Madam Luo; his character is absolutely trustworthy. However, he has had bad luck. His eldest son died unexpectedly last year, and his wife passed away this year. The concubine saw how lonely and heartbroken he was and petitioned the master to bring him to the Capital, intending to care for him in the mansion. This news was serendipitous, as she heard you needed a shopkeeper. She thought he’d be useful, having managed a pharmacy for decades, and could help Sixth Lady, while also keeping him from idling away in despair."

If this were true, he would indeed be a suitable choice.

Sujin finished speaking and handed Xiqiu a letter of introduction written by Madam Luo herself. Xiqiu nodded in agreement and said, "In that case, have Sixth Master Luo go to the shop this afternoon to meet Nurse Zhang and Shu Tianyi. If they find him suitable, it’s settled on my end."

Elated, Sujin nodded and said, "I will inform the concubine immediately, she will be very pleased to hear this."

Xiqiu had Chunliu escort Sujin out, then opened the letter and had Bihuai deliver it to Tianyi with clear instructions.

The next day, Ruan Jingliu came to the mansion and smiled, saying, "Let’s settle on Sixth Master Luo. Though he may be a bit old-fashioned, he has ample experience and is more than sufficient as a shopkeeper."

Xiqiu laughed with relief, "Then once the renovations are complete, we’ll pick a date to open." Ruan Jingliu chuckled, "I don’t think we need to choose another date, let’s set it for the twelfth."

Xiqiu didn’t ask why, and they decided on the opening date. They would notify Madam Luo, and Sujin came to the mansion again, expressing gratitude and inviting Xiqiu to return to the mansion to receive Madam Luo’s personal thanks.

While they were conversing, Chunliu announced from outside, "The elder master has arrived." Xiqiu paused and stood up, "Please invite him in."

"I’ll leave now and head to the shop to see what’s still needed." Xiqiu nodded in agreement and fetched a pocket from the cabinet by the bed, handing it to Ruan Jingliu: "Here’s five thousand taels of silver, you take it first. If it’s not enough, we’ll find more outside."

"You’ve already contributed the shop, you shouldn’t have to provide more silver." Ruan Jingliu replied.

Throughout the years, she had traveled to see patients without charging fees often, probably not having much left herself, so she smiled and said, "Take it, there’s no need for formalities between us!"

After a thoughtful pause, Ruan Jingliu smiled and accepted it, "Then I won’t stand on ceremony."

They both laughed.

Tong Shen Zhi had entered, greeted Nurse Zhang in the courtyard with a nod, and Xiqiu greeted him with a smile, "Is it your day off, brother?"

"Hmm," Tong Shen Zhi nodded and asked, "Has Min gone to the academy?"

As they entered the room, Chunyan served tea, and Xiqiu replied, "Yes, he’ll be back at 3 p.m." She then inquired, "How is sister-in-law doing?"

"The same as before," Tong Shen Zhi said, then got to the point, "Father seems to want to return to the Hanlin Academy, but since I’m already there, he hopes to move to one of the Six Ministries. He believes a direct transfer to his original rank may be difficult, but remaining even with a downgrade would suffice."

It would be a demotion. First Master used to be of Secondary Fifth Rank, and with this downgrade and entering the Six Ministries, the position of Assistant Minister seemed most fitting.

Xiqiu told Fourth Master Xiao the original statement that night, and after pondering for a moment, he nodded, "You’re right. Each of the Six Ministries is currently unstable. The Ministry of War might undergo adjustments due to the military parade, the Ministry of Revenue has no vacancies, the Ministry of Personnel with Jiang Shilin there is not suitable for him... The Ministry of Rites is filled with learned scholars, for someone like First Master who still holds aspirations, the post of Assistant Minister in the Six Ministries is indeed suitable."

Although it’s within the Six Ministries, it’s an independent department. The official rank and position might not seem high, but it wields real power. In First Master’s current situation, it’s the most suitable choice.

On the second day, Xiqiu returned to the house, and that evening, Fourth Master Xiao came to pick her up. He spent an extensive time discussing with Jiang Shilin, Tong Shen Zhi, and First Master in the room. Xiqiu visited Lady and didn’t see Daihe in her room, so she went to Madam Xia’s room to ask her, and Madam Xia frowned, "She was beaten twenty times and sent to the farmstead."

Xiqiu listened and sighed in relief. Daihe didn’t want to be a concubine, but she had no other way out; going to the farmstead might be her best option!

Madam Xia thought so too. After a year, once she’s of age, they could release her directly from the farmstead, avoiding further complications: "She is quite headstrong. Lady was extremely angry."

Lady was naturally furious. Back when Zijuan was sent away, it was for similar reasons.

Such tactics were not uncommon!

After chatting with Madam Xia, Madam Luo once again came to express her gratitude for helping with Sixth Master Luo’s situation. Fourth Master Xiao sent someone over, and together they left the Tong Mansion, heading back to South Arch. On the way, Fourth Master Xiao informed her that everything was settled and that they would work the details with people in the middle.

On April 12th, the medical shop opened!

Ruan Jingliu frequently sent Wan’er back to update her on the shop’s situation, noting that while business on the first day wasn’t extensive, the crowd was plentiful, establishing their reputation. Ruan Jingliu, Tianyi, and Sixth Master Luo were all busy, bustling back and forth. Chunyan listened and felt an urge to visit and see for herself.

Seeing her like this, Xiqiu simply invited her into the room and asked with a smile, "What do you think of Tianyi?"

Chunyan was initially stunned, then immediately understood the implied meaning in Xiqiu’s words. Her face flushed, and her eyes reddened.