CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: CHOOSING CANDIDATES

Mrs. Zhou is really accommodating to her son; whatever he wants, she gives him, even if it’s five beautiful maids.

"The maids in our house are all born into service. There are one or two who are quite pretty, but whether they’re willing to follow you or not, you’ll have to ask their opinion. Don’t force them."

The third young master of the Zhao family, if he gets a reputation for being forceful and causes a problem, it’ll be a real loss of face.

In the future, he really shouldn’t dream of marrying a good wife.

Reputation, even though it can’t be eaten, is something you must have. You can’t lose it, for if it’s ruined, people will find out even if you try to patch it up.

"Alright, then bring them to me; I’ll take a look first."

Zhao Minghua was thinking that a maid who can do business must be pretty, with a sweet mouth to please, lively eyes, and a brave heart.

Hmm, that’s roughly what he thought.

Looking at the six maids standing in front of him, their heads lowered so shyly, Zhao Minghua felt they all wouldn’t do.

"Lift your heads."

Why the downcast heads? Can you do business bowing your heads? Can you serve the wealthy ladies like this?

One by one, they lifted their heads, their faces blushing red as they looked at Zhao Minghua with a sense of expectation in their eyes.

"What are your names?"

"Replying to the Third Young Master, this servant’s name is Lihua, fourteen years old this year."

"Third Young Master, this servant’s name is Lan Hua, fourteen years old this year."

"Third Young Master..."

A bunch of floral names, a bit old-fashioned, but they suit them well.

"Do you know how to read?"

They all shook their heads.

How could they read? Born into service, they naturally had to learn to serve people, neglecting learning to read.

"You all..."

Alas, they just don’t seem right.

Better to let Xiao Chunnuan help him make the selection.

When Zhao Minghua brought the six little maids to the Xiao family, Chun Nuan was amazed by his bold move.

The Xiao family was even more puzzled.

What kind of situation is this between Chun Nuan and Zhao Minghua?

Why even ask her to vet the maids?

"Are you all willing to follow Zhao Minghua?"

The maids all raised their heads in unison, looking at Xiao Chunnuan: could this be the future young mistress?

At this point, saying no would be false, so they might as well speak honestly— they truly were willing.

Saying so, their faces flushed with rosy hues, their eyes couldn’t hide their delight towards Zhao Minghua.

Chun Nuan... truly, this person is unreliable.

"Do you know what Zhao Minghua wants you to do?"

"We’ll do whatever the Third Young Master wants," they said, lowering their heads even more bashfully.

"Your Third Young Master wants you to help him make money, working at the tea garden. Are you willing?"

What?

All of them looked at Zhao Minghua in surprise: Is that so? What is a tea garden anyway, can you even make money there?

They only knew places where men go to spend money and make money, not what they thought.

"Zhao Minghua, you explain clearly to them."

These poor girls, with hearts full of romantic fantasies, thinking they could become Zhao Minghua’s confidantes, and now reality smacked them in the face. How much imagination did Zhao Minghua give them?

Actually quite harmful.

"Huh, explain what?"

Even Zhao Minghua didn’t foresee such a big misunderstanding waiting for him.

"What are you employing these maids for, where are you going to assign them, you need to explain to them immediately."

Otherwise, what would they think?

"Well..."

This made Zhao Minghua suddenly a bit tongue-tied, mainly because opening the tea house was something he did privately, his parents didn’t know about it yet.

And now, if I turn to my mother for maids, wouldn’t the tea house thing also get revealed to my parents?

Ah, so miscalculated!

"So, this matter I’m telling you about, you must not spread it, don’t tell Madam, nor your relatives and friends. You mustn’t tell anyone. Can you guarantee it?"

"Servant obeys the young master’s command."

What else can’t be said?

Chun Nuan was also curious why Zhao Minghua made them vow not to say a word.

"Alright, I’ll tell you. I’ve opened a tea garden in the county, it’s specially selling to madams and young ladies. I want you to serve them. Would you be willing?"

Upon hearing this, their hearts suddenly felt empty: turns out it’s not serving the young master.

Glancing at each other, three of them shook their heads right away, unwilling to go.

Serving a young master still held a chance to become a concubine, but serving those madams and young ladies was just being enslaved in a different place.

Besides, those people have terrible tempers, often hitting and scolding.

The servants all knew, such kind of master like the Zhao family couldn’t be easily found anywhere else in Changzhou.

So, better return and serve at the Zhao family honestly.

"And you three?"

"As long as the young master doesn’t despise the servant for being slow-witted, the servant is willing to serve."

Isn’t it just changing a person to serve? There’s nothing special about that.

Going to the county is actually fine too. It’s better than staying in this small town for a lifetime.

"Miss Xiao, what do you think of them?"

Unexpectedly, the young master still sought the opinion of the girl in front of him.

"Whether they’re good or not, we’ll see eventually, but take them out for some experience." Chun Nuan thought the remaining three had relatively more brainpower.

They definitely aren’t content with merely serving.

"Alright, let’s keep you three then. Qingsheng, take them to Changzhou," Zhao Minghua said. "You three, what I’ve told you must stay secret. If my parents find out, I’ll sell your entire family."

"The servant dares not."

Suddenly having second thoughts, what should they do?

Is it still possible to say you’re willing to go to Changzhou now?

In a moment of hesitation, Qingsheng had already led the three maids onto the carriage and drove away.

The ones who couldn’t go were threatened, then sent back to their homes.

Zhao Minghua lingered behind, eager to humbly listen to Chun Nuan’s opinions.

"I don’t really have much to say, you’re the expert in doing business," Chun Nuan said. "By the way, I thought about it. The snacks in the Women’s Tea Garden should be a bit sweeter, as most women like sweet foods."

"You handle that. I just want to ask if you have any other money-making ideas, tell me if you do. I’ll open the shop and give you a 20% profit share. Let’s earn money together."

"Sure, when I come up with new ideas, I’ll tell you."

As for the cosmetics shop issue, Chun Nuan didn’t think Zhao Minghua would agree. What does a man selling cosmetics even mean?

This money, she planned to earn herself. But with her current financial situation, it’s temporarily not feasible.

After Zhao Minghua left, Mrs. Xu came to ask her daughter about the situation.

Upon learning they were jointly opening the Women’s Tea Garden, she didn’t say much. Some things, she thought too much about. An adult’s thinking can’t really measure up to a daughter’s.