High-class maid

Chapter 250 Go to Jiangnan

Ever since Wang learned that her pickled vegetables could be sold, her heart had been set on returning home. Now she was restless and couldn't wait for nightfall so she could get things done.

"Mother, you go ahead and do your work. I can manage on my own," Shen Xing'er said.

She is becoming more and more skilled and can take care of multiple customers by herself. Moreover, it is now mid-afternoon, and few people come to buy embroidery at this time. Therefore, Shen Xing'er dared to let Wang Shi go home.

"Then, Mother will go back first? You've worked hard these past few days. After I finish this batch, you can get some rest," Wang said apologetically.

"What's so hard about it? You should go back quickly. Aren't you going to the street to buy jars?" Shen Xing'er said.

"Yes, yes, I almost forgot if you hadn't reminded me. I'm off now." Wang Shi walked away without looking back.

Looking at Wang's energetic appearance, Shen Xing'er felt that letting her sell pickled vegetables was the right thing to do. Even if the nobles only ate them once, it made Wang feel that she had something to do.

"I was wondering what was missing. Turns out the seal wasn't written," Shen Xing'er said suddenly, patting her head.

Nowadays, her mother's pickled vegetables are just a small workshop, so how would others know that they are Wang's pickled vegetables? Therefore, Shen Xing'er decided to write some seals for Wang's pickled vegetables and stick them on the seals of the jars.

Without further ado, Shen Xing'er went to the street and bought some paper. After asking the shopkeeper to cut it up, she brought it to the shop. Fortunately, she had nothing to do but copy the calligraphy model given to her by Song Wenyang, so her handwriting was still legible.

Two days later, when the batch of pickled vegetables was delivered to the noblemen's residences, Wang looked at the eight taels of silver on the table. Although it was a good amount, it was also her first pot of gold.

"Husband, am I dreaming? Eight taels of silver is so easy to earn?" Wang asked.

“Of course it’s not a dream, my wife is amazing, hurry up and put your money away,” Shen Kun said, acting as Wang Shi’s best straight man.

"Let's close the shop today and go out to eat!" Madam Wang said with a wave of her hand.

"Wow, Mother is awesome!" Shen Xing'er clapped her hands and said from below.

As evening approached, the family closed their shop and headed towards Zuixianlou. Wang ordered a medium-sized meal and spent an extra ten coins to buy a jar of wine.

"Mother is happy today, let's have a drink as a family of three." Wang poured a cup for both the father and daughter.

"Alright, then I wish Mother's pickled vegetables a great success!" Shen Xing'er said, then picked up her wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

"Thanks to Xing'er's auspicious words, I wonder if the noble ladies can get used to the food? I wonder if they will buy it?" Wang's eyes were filled with endless worries.

Humans are so contradictory. When I first started making pickled vegetables, I was happy as long as someone ate them. When someone ate them, I was happy as long as someone bought them. Now that someone is buying them, I'm happy as long as I have repeat customers. I'm so never satisfied!

"Yes, my wife, don't worry. Come, let me toast you too," Shen Kun comforted her.

The family enjoyed a happy meal together. After her parents had finished eating, Shen Xing'er said...

"Father, Mother, there isn't much fabric left in the shop. The fabric from Jiangnan is selling the best. Although it's a bit expensive, people are willing to spend it because there aren't many shops selling it in the city."

"Then, why don't we go to Jiangnan and import some cloth?" Shen Kun asked.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking. These days, customers come to order embroidery and specifically ask for fabrics from Jiangnan. It has become the hallmark of our Jinxiufang. So I’d like to make a trip to Jiangnan.”

"no!"

"no!"

Wang Shi and Shen Kun's voices rang out at the same time. Although the couple sometimes bickered, they were surprisingly in agreement on not letting their daughter go out.

"Why? I will protect myself," Shen Xing'er said.

“Our capital is prosperous, so you won’t encounter many bad people. But if you go to Jiangnan, it will take five or six days to travel by water. How can your father bear to let a weak woman like you go?” Shen Kun said.

“But the fabrics from Jiangnan are the hallmark of our Jinxiufang. If we don’t have the fabrics from Jiangnan, how is our shop any different from the others in the capital?” Shen Xing’er said.

"Let Father go," Shen Kun said, bowing his head.

“When Father was young, he traveled all over the country with Master. I’ve even been to the frontiers that are farther than Jiangnan, so I should go instead.”

Shen Xing'er dared not agree and turned to look at Wang Shi's intentions.

"Let your father go. He's confined to Jinxiufang all day long; he's probably feeling very resentful," Wang said.

Should she keep her daughter in the capital, or should she keep Shen Kun in the capital? Without hesitation, Wang chose her daughter.

"Yes, back then, my master and I almost died on the road."

"Alright, alright, shut up." Madam Wang interrupted Shen Kun's boastful words, then whispered a reprimand.

"There are too many people and too many eyes in the restaurant, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Shen Kun touched his nose, then said casually.

"In short, this trip to Jiangnan is just to buy some fabric, Dad can manage."

"Alright, then you should set off tomorrow." Shen Xing'er felt that there was no time to lose and the sooner the better.

"Where does the fabric in the shop come from? We've never been to Jiangnan," Shen Kun asked belatedly.

"It was left behind by Sister Gao. Her shop had low prices, and the customers were all ordinary people, so the fabric didn't sell for a while."

"I see."

After deciding on their itinerary for the next day, the family drove their carriage home. They were to set off the next day, and Wang Shi needed to quickly pack Shen Kun's luggage.

The next day, just as dawn broke, Wang and Shen Xing'er escorted Shen Kun to the dock.

"Even if you're poor, you should be generous on the road. Take this money and don't deprive yourself on the journey," Wang said with some reluctance.

Since leaving the manor, she had never been separated from Shen Kun. Now that they were suddenly separated, she felt a little reluctant to part.

"Don't worry, my wife, you should go back quickly. It's windy at the dock," Shen Kun said with some reluctance.

"Father, get on the ship. Once you're on board, we'll head back."

Shen Xing'er couldn't bear to see her parents so reluctant to part, so she couldn't help but interrupt them.

Left with no other choice, Shen Kun could only walk away, turning back every few steps.

Shen Xing'er covered her eyes, she couldn't bear to look! She felt like Fahai, who had separated her mother and father.

"Xing'er, go home and get some sleep. I can't sleep. I'll be watching the shop this morning," said Madam Wang.

Now she's preoccupied with Shen Kun, and even more so with the pickled vegetables she sold, so she can't sleep at all. Rather than just sitting at home in a daze, she'd rather find something to do and let her daughter sleep a little longer.

“Alright, then you can go to the shop.” Shen Xing’er didn’t refuse. She had packed her father’s bags last night and got up early this morning to see him off. Shen Xing’er’s eyes were already too tired to keep open.

Shen Xing'er returned home and slept until the sun was high in the sky. She rubbed her rumbling stomach and prepared to go to the kitchen to find something to eat.

"Why is there only eggs in the kitchen! Oh right, Shan Tao also asked me to deliver some eggs to Wu Xun's house! I was so busy I forgot!" Shen Xing'er slapped her forehead and said with annoyance.