CHAPTER 401: CHAPTER 382: THE RECIPE NEEDED BY THE BROTHEL (2)

The tools for printing books are all in the village. As for what books to print, Li Yuzhu hasn’t planned it yet.

Let’s go back and discuss it with Chai Eying before deciding.

But for now, let’s first sort out the shop.

Such as the wobbly windows, damaged staircase boards, doors with loose rivets, and the uneven tiles in the courtyard that are sticking up.

Repair what needs repairing, replace what needs replacing.

Li Yuzhu and Li Xing’an hired a craftsman to repair some damaged areas in the shop.

Besides repairing the damages, Li Yuzhu also discussed with Li Xing’an about repainting the shop, making it look brand new inside and out.

Currently, both of them have some money on hand.

The payment to the craftsman is fully covered.

During the few days Li Yuzhu stayed with the Zhao family, Li Xing’an went in and out on tasks with the County Magistrate, earning a few taels of silver as a side income.

At the Zhao’s, Li Yuzhu treated Old Mrs. Zhao. Mrs. Zhao was stingy and only gave a ten-tael advance consultation fee. They had initially agreed to pay the remaining one hundred taels of silver after the treatment, but Mrs. Zhao delayed and ultimately refused to pay it. Fortunately, Old Mrs. Zhao was generous and, besides gifting her a store, also gave her a five-tael tip.

Li Yuzhu decided not to take the one hundred taels consultation fee.

Moreover, whenever she visited the Zhao family, Old Mrs. Zhao always gave her items.

Sometimes it was a new teapot set, other times it was a set of fine chess pieces.

Li Yuzhu placed all the small gifts she received in the shop.

Li Xing’an bought tables, chairs, cabinets, and a bed back.

From now on, when they come to the county town, they won’t have to always stay at the County Magistrate’s house.

On the second floor of the two-story building in the backyard, there are three rooms.

Li Xing’an temporarily set up beds in two rooms.

Each room with two beds.

There are many family members, so more beds need to be prepared.

The bedding on the beds was purchased by Li Yuzhu.

Because when it comes to the quality of fabrics, Li Xing’an is just an outsider.

The large square table and four armchairs in the main room were a gift from the County Magistrate.

As they were organizing the shop, Li Jing and Chai Tianlang were fetched from the County Magistrate Mansion by Li Lixing and placed with Sister-in-law Chai and her husband.

The new shop is more spacious than the old one, and the backyard is half as large again. The two children spent most of their time playing in the back residence.

However, their luggage is still at the County Magistrate Mansion and hasn’t been retrieved.

When fetching the children, an announcement was made before taking them out, and taking the luggage would indicate they were not returning, so a formal goodbye was necessary before leaving.

This afternoon, Li Lixing came to the shop by carriage to play, and upon returning, Li Xing’an and Li Yuzhu also went to the County Magistrate Mansion.

Li Xing’an went to bid farewell to the County Magistrate, while Li Yuzhu headed towards the main room of the County Magistrate’s Wife.

The past few days, she was either busy with Old Mrs. Zhao’s issues or organizing the shop, and hadn’t spoken much with the County Magistrate’s Wife.

Li Yuzhu quietly asked Chun’er if the County Magistrate’s Wife’s health was well recently.

Chun’er frowned slightly, "Still the same as before."

Still the same as before...

That meant the County Magistrate’s Wife still misunderstood that the County Magistrate was neglecting her?

In such matters, how should she, as a young outsider, speak to this couple?

Li Yuzhu was troubled.

Entering the main room, Li Yuzhu saw that the concubine was also there.

In front of the County Magistrate’s Wife, she was neatly dividing the silk money with the other maid, Xiaxia, with no trace of impatience on her face.

Her attire was appropriate; although she wore a pink blouse, the style was simple and understated, fitting for a concubine’s dress.

Unlike the previous Aunt Hua, who always overshadowed the County Magistrate’s Wife everywhere.

Such a concubine was indeed hard to find fault with.

No wonder she stayed in the mansion for so long.

"Madam." Li Yuzhu stepped forward, smiling slightly, and greeted her with a salute, also nodding to the concubine, "Aunt Qing is here too?"

Aunt Qing stood up stiffly and returned the courtesy, "Miss Li."

The County Magistrate’s Wife was drinking tea, she put down the tea cup, smiled, and beckoned Li Yuzhu to sit beside her, "I heard that you and your brother are refurbishing a shop. Is it all repaired?"

Li Yuzhu smiled, "It was just a simple wall repaint and fixing of broken windows. It was done in two days. We’re here to collect our belongings and plan to move into the shop, also to bid farewell to Madam, as we’ve troubled Madam for many days, and we feel quite sorry."

The County Magistrate’s Wife said straightforwardly, "Speaking like that makes us seem distant. We agreed to treat each other as family."

Li Yuzhu smiled and nodded.

Since the County Magistrate was involved in the Zhao family matters, the County Magistrate’s Wife knew how the shop came about.

They talked about the Zhao family for a while, and she was quite moved, "Old Mrs. Zhao, having fallen ill, has aged a lot. When I saw her early this morning, I noticed more gray hair."

"She’s seventy already, and it’s inevitable for the body to age," Li Yuzhu said.

"Indeed." The County Magistrate’s Wife smiled.

Li Yuzhu looked at her, "Madam, you are still young, you should take care of your health. I’ve noticed you look a bit under the weather lately. Is there something on your mind?"

The County Magistrate’s Wife paused, awkwardly saying, "No, nothing really. If there’s anything concerning me, it’s just the myriad things in this mansion that require my attention."

"Household matters are endless, but your health is most important." Li Yuzhu said with a smile.

"I know." The County Magistrate’s Wife also smiled.

After Li Xing’an bid farewell to the County Magistrate, he also came to see the County Magistrate’s Wife.

As dinner time approached, the County Magistrate and his wife invited them to stay for dinner.

The County Magistrate was very talkative, and everyone continued eating until past midnight.

The County Magistrate called Li Lixing to send the siblings to the new shop.

Chun’er carried a small lantern to guide them.

Li Xing’an carried the luggage for him and Li Yuzhu, while Li Yuzhu held a bundle. They chatted and laughed while walking towards the courtyard gate.

Li Lixing walked swiftly, unexpectedly bumping into someone at the corner of a rockery.

"Who is it?" He shouted coldly.

"It’s... It’s me, Young Master."

Li Lixing squinted his eyes, "Aunt Qing? Why are you walking without a lantern in this darkness?"

"Where’s your maid? Why are you walking alone in the mansion?" Chun’er came over with the lantern, peering around her. Seeing only her, she frowned and asked.

Aunt Qing dropped a few packets of things from her hand, crouching down in panic to pick them up.

They were packets of medicine.

Li Yuzhu walked over and helped her pick up the medicine, smiling, "What kind of medicine is Aunt taking?"

Aunt Qing’s eyes flickered, "Ah, it’s some tonic medicine for women. It’s an old ailment, so I didn’t ask the young woman for a prescription. Please forgive me, miss."

Li Yuzhu picked up the medicine and smelled it, "Aunt Qing, where did you get this medicine from? The shopkeeper must have made a mistake."

Aunt Qing became flustered, "Impossible, I’ve taken this medicine three times now. There can’t be a mistake."

Li Yuzhu squinted her eyes, staring at her face, "You say it’s medicine for women, but some of the ingredients in this are specifically for treating men’s ailments."

Aunt Qing, "..." Her face changed dramatically, grabbing the medicine from Li Yuzhu’s hand and turned to run.

Li Liqing shouted, "Stop! Why are you running?"

Aunt Qing had no choice but to stop, turning back with grievance, "Please spare me, I just bought a few packets of medicine."

"But you lied." Li Yuzhu shook her head, "Lying is wrong, Aunt Qing."

If she guessed correctly, this medicine was meant for the County Magistrate, right?

Because the medicine contained sheep aphrodisiac.

It’s specifically meant for treating male impotence.

She was worried about how to tell the County Magistrate’s Wife about the County Magistrate’s impotence, and Aunt Qing had just solved her problem.

"Alright, you dare to lie! Hmph, come, let’s go see mother!" Li Lixing was once reminded by Li Yuzhu, who told him Aunt Qing was always sneaky, seemingly up to no good, and advised him to keep an eye on her.

Li Lixing had monitored Aunt Qing for many days without finding anything suspicious, but today, discovering Aunt Qing’s lie, he immediately got excited and didn’t let her go.

Aunt Qing feared Li Lixing, so she obediently followed him to see the County Magistrate’s Wife.

Li Xing’an and Li Yuzhu also went along.

Chun’er couldn’t understand what was happening and followed them back.

After accompanying the County Magistrate’s Wife for dinner, the County Magistrate returned to the study to read documents. The County Magistrate’s Wife and another maid, Xiaxia, were talking in the main room.

Seeing the group return, the County Magistrate’s Wife asked in confusion, "Why are you back? Did you forget something?"

"Mother, Aunt Qing was being sneaky, and I caught her." Li Lixing pushed Aunt Qing forward.

Then, he explained the earlier incident to the County Magistrate’s Wife.

The County Magistrate’s Wife’s face immediately changed, "Aunt Qing, what is going on? What men’s medicine?"

Aunt Qing stammered, "Madam, please ask the Young Master and the guests to leave, and I’ll explain."

The County Magistrate’s Wife glanced at her and said to Li Lixing, "Ah Xing, take Third Young Master Li and Miss Li outside."

"Understood, Mother." Li Lixing replied in puzzlement.

Li Xing’an and Li Yuzhu, along with Li Lixing, went outside, and Chun’er also retreated outside.

In the room, there were only the maid Xiaxia and the County Magistrate’s Wife, along with Aunt Qing.

"There’s no outsider here now, Xiaxia is my maid accompanying me since marriage, you can speak freely." The County Magistrate’s Wife stared intently at Aunt Qing, "I’ve always treated you well; if you lie, I won’t forgive you."

The County Magistrate’s Wife’s gaze was chilling.

Aunt Qing bit her lip and had no choice but to speak the truth, "These were prescriptions that the master asked me to get from the brothel."

The County Magistrate’s Wife squinted her eyes, "What do you mean?"

"The... The Master is unwell." Aunt Qing said with her head lowered.

The County Magistrate’s Wife sneered, "Aunt Qing, if you tarnish the County Magistrate’s reputation, I won’t forgive you!"