Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 548: Chapter 550: A Grateful Payback

After the family had finished eating, Zhang Liliang and Bai Zehao went back home. Seeing Bai Ruozhu, they asked her how she was doing with immense care and concern. However, Zhang Liliang kept eyeing Bai Ruozhu in a strange way.

Bai Ruozhu’s eyelid twitched. Zhang Liliang was running around collecting materials, he might have figured out she didn’t go back to Fengye Village.

Thinking this, she suggested to Zhang Liliang and Bai Zehao, ”After you finish eating, come to my room for some bookkeeping.”

They both agreed and after dinner, they gathered in Bai Ruozhu’s room.

”Ruozhu, we sent another batch of goods the day before yesterday. Here is the new silver and the account book.” Zhang Liliang said as he handed the account book and a silver banknote to Bai Ruozhu.

Bai Ruozhu nodded and started checking the account book. The business of soup and noodles was doing pretty well. The cost of materials was cheap since they fetched all the ingredients separately. The main source of profit was the recipe.

She went through the accounts and then handed Zhang Liliang a silver banknote worth 200 taels, saying, ”Uncle Zhang, it’s the end of the year. This is the bonus we agreed upon beforehand.”

Zhang Liliang refused, ”The business is just getting started. We still haven’t settled down in Beiyu City yet. It’s too soon to distribute bonuses. Moreover, normally people only receive bonuses if they have invested some money. I haven’t invested a cent, I even used many of your precious herbs and medicinal materials. How could I possibly take a bonus?”

”You helped me earn quite a lot of money, so it’s only fair. This is your share.” Bai Ruozhu smiled as she pushed the silver banknote towards him, ”You can use this money to buy some land. It could be well for leasing, or in the future, we can use it for Rongrong’s dowry.”

Hearing this, Bai Zehao, who had recently been running errands with Zhang Liliang and learned a lot, chimed in, ”Yes, Uncle Zhang, you should accept it. Otherwise, Ruozhu may feel embarrassed to ask for your help in the future.”

With that, Zhang Liliang had no choice but to accept. His eyes, however, turned a bit red.

Bai Ruozhu just smiled at her brother and said, ”Brother, you’ve worked hard too. Here’s your share of the bonus. It’s almost New Year’s, so use it to buy a gift for your wife.”

Bai Zehao quickly refused, ”Your sister-in-law would scold me. No, no.”

Bai Ruozhu shot him a look, ”You just told Uncle Zhang to accept his. If you don’t take it, I won’t feel comfortable asking you to help out later.” She then gave her brother fifty taels of silver.

Bai Zehao chuckled as he accepted the money, ’This is the first time I’ve had this much pocket money.’

”Don’t you dare spend it all on alcohol, I would definitely tell your wife!” Bai Ruozhu warned him.

Bai Zehao’s face instantly turned as red as a beet, ”Ruozhu, you always tease me. I’ve never even been near a brothel, let alone waste money on alcohol.”

Zhang Liliang couldn’t help but laugh along at this. Bai Ruozhu then sent Bai Zehao back to his room before turning to Zhang Liliang, ”Uncle Zhang, you wanted to ask me something?”

Zhang Liliang coughed awkwardly, having not expected Bai Ruozhu to bring it up first, ”It’s not a big deal. A few days ago while I was shipping the goods, someone mentioned casually that you seemed to be busy with something else. I didn’t bring it up with your parents though, I know you’re capable of handling your own affairs.”

Bai Ruozhu knew Zhang Liliang was considerate, but he was obviously worried about her.

”Uncle Zhang, I was following the city lord’s orders to treat a patient, but this is a secret. Even though you know, you should still pretend that you don’t.” Bai Ruozhu had no choice but to use the same excuse once again.

Zhang Liliang nodded, ”I see. As long as you’re okay.”

The two of them chatted about business for a bit longer before Zhang Liliang excused himself to return to his room. When Rongrong’s mother asked about his day, he handed over Bai Ruozhu’s silver banknote, saying, ”This is the bonus that Ruozhu insisted we take.”

Upon hearing this, Rongrong’s mother got flustered, ”How could you accept it? Ruozhu has already spent a lot of silver while treating me. She could have bought her own mansion in Beiyu City with her skills by now. Why would she need to stay at someone else’s house?”

Zhang Liliang sighed, ”I tried to refuse, but Ruozhu insisted I take it. She told me to buy some land as Rongrong’s future dowry.”

Rongrong’s mother looked at Rongrong, who was already asleep on the side, a loving smile spreading across her face. However, when she noticed that the burn scar on Rongrong’s hand was fading, her smile broadened even more.

”Rongrong is still young, there’s no need to hurry. Let’s use the money to buy land or a shop in Ruozhu’s name. Let’s not tell her about this for now, and when the time comes, this will all be used for her dowry.” Rongrong’s mother suggested after thinking for a while.

Zhang Liliang smiled brightly, ”That’s a great idea, I should start checking the market.”

Unaware of Zhang’s family agreement, Bai Ruozhu stayed in her room. It was only much later that she found out that many people had bought land for her without her knowing. Without realizing, she had become a major landlord in Beiyu City.

The night passed by without a conversation. The next morning, Bai Ruozhu took Dengdeng out. After pondering over, she decided to go to the Meng Residence first before visiting Jiang Yichun. To avoid seeming too impatient, she reasoned it would also be more practical since he would still be in the process of detoxifying the poisonous insect poison in the morning, so going there would mean waiting around for nothing.

In the Meng Residence, as soon as she sent a message, she was guided in. Soon, Bai Ruozhu, carrying Dengdeng, entered Leisure Residence and met the elated Lady Meng.

”Goodness, I thought you completely forgot about this old lady since there wasn’t any news from you for days.” Lady Meng complained verbally, yet her face was brimming with a smile.

Bai Ruozhu laughed as she greeted, drawing near with Dengdeng in arm, ”I went to the countryside, where the postal service doesn’t operate. As soon as I came back, I came to see you. Shall I make some small snacks for you?”

Lady Meng playfully slapped her, ”Are you treating me like a glutton? Tempting me with snacks now, you don’t have to go and make any today. Let’s have a chat. I have something that I want you to design for me.”

The moment Bai Ruozhu heard this, she became enthusiastic. Any order from Lady Meng was a huge deal. Even if it wasn’t due to the high monetary value, just the fact that Lady Meng was treating her so well meant that she must do a great job.

”Please tell me what you need, Lady Meng. I promise to do a good job for you,” Bai Ruozhu said cheerfully. Dengdeng, probably influenced by her laughter, chuckled along.

Lady Meng couldn’t resist playing with Dengdeng’s chubby hand again. In fact, she seemed like she wanted to nibble it, which made Bai Ruozhu break out in cold sweat. Lady Meng was really too obvious about this.

”I was thinking of getting you to design a folding screen. You can hook the pattern on it, right? Can you make a four-panel screen with blessings, prosperity, and longevity on it? I want to send it as a gift to the empress dowager on her birthday after the New Year,” Lady Meng explained.

Even though Lady Meng said it casually, Bai Ruozhu felt nervous. This was a gift for the empress dowager, there was no room for mistakes. Why was it suddenly becoming a huge burden?

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Recommendation: Sōngzi Lóngmāo’s novel, ”The Enchanting Imperial Consort: The Playful Imperial Concubine Troubling the Nation”.

Synopsis: A comical transmigration, the emperor’s aloof and cold demeanor, waiting for my hair to grow long, topple the harem, can I do that? One precious treasure, an empire, a lifetime of prosperity, a lifetime of commitment.