Picking Up a General to Plow the Fields

71.
The wealthy are really wayward!

These were pocket money, convenient for when he wants to buy something.
So he doesn’t bother to keep track on how much he has.

“What color is the purse? What was embroidered on it?”Lian Fang Zhou questioned.

Cui Shao Xi glance at her and cheerfully answered: “From I remember, silver blue.
Embroidered with emerald green gourd and gourd leaves.”

Only then did Lian Fang Zhou pass the bundle to him, asserted.
“Open it and check.
don't accuse us of stealing later on.”

His footboy harrumphed in annoyance.
“What do you mean by that? My young master isn't that kind of person!”

“Loudmouth!” Cui Shao Xi threw a glare at the little manservant.
He recklessly opened the bundle and carelessly counted the notes, then pulled open the purse and acted as if he looked over the content.
He turned to Lian Fang Zhou and stated, “I have inspected them, nothing is missing.”

The footboy at the side, twitched his mouth as he thought, ‘young master can you even check it clearly like this?’

Lian Fang Zhou and the others weren't blind.
They could see that this young master had no intention to inspect seriously.
He was just putting a show due to Lian Fang Zhou’s word

Lian Fang Zhou find this person so irksome; to hold so much money and treat it as nothing.
She internally sighed, ‘The wealthy are really wayward! Sigh.’

“Since it's like that, the lost property has returned to rightful owner, we’ll take our leave! ” Lian Fang Zhou nodded her head.

“Oh,” Cui Shao Xi stopped her again.
With a grin, he tested: “If I said something is missing, what would you do?”

Lian Fang Zhou cast a glance over and said, “If the inside doesn’t match to what you said then that means that bundle isn't yours! Then we can only send it over to Yamen!”

Cui Shao Xi froze then burst into waves of laughter.
   
Once his laughter subsided, Lian Fang Zhou and the others had already left.

“Country girl really don’t know how to speak! The bundle is clearly ours, but she had to make up all these reasoning.
In the end, the bundle is still returned to us!” the footboy Cui Yi mumbled.

Cui Shao Xi rolled his eyes and chided, “what do you understand! That miss is quite smart!”

Disagreeing, Cui Yi sulked as he argued, “this servant doesn’t feel she's clever.
This servant finds her too long winded!!”
After a pause, he continued.
“However, just now young master should have given her some reward money, to avoid her belittling young master.”

Even though they might not meet again and each doesn’t know the other, Cui Yi felt uncomfortable that his young man would be looked down on by Lian Fang Zhou.

“To say such silly words!”Cui Shao Xi gently rapped his head.
“She wouldn’t want it even if we gave her! However…” However, he should have asked for her name.

He self mockingly laughed and shooked his head.
Would she tell him when asked?

“How does young master know she won't?”Cui Yi immediately talked back.
“Young Master have few thousand liang inside the bundle in addition to two pieces of sable fur, clothe and things inside the purse.
It's worth over ten thousand altogether! She's just an ordinary commoner.  Afraid she never saw such a large amount of money for a few lifetimes.
So she wouldn't dare to covet them, right? Since it's asking for trouble! However, she would accept a bit of reward money!”

Cui Shao Xi swept a gaze over to him, remarked, “Though you are foolish, you are also not!”

“Is servant’s deduction correct, young master?” Cui Yi eyes lit up as asked.

“A bunch of absurd reasoning! Let's go.
Don't make Uncle and Aunt anxiously wait!” Cui Shao Xi exasperatedly glared at him, walked to the side, untied the rein and hopped onto the horse.

Not long later, the master and servant pair caught up to Lian Fang Zhou and the others.
When he passed by them, he pulled the rein to slow down.
On the horse, he cupped his hands toward them, but his eyes were focused on Lian Fang Zhou.
With a grin, he announced, “Many thanks! The surname, Cui and the name, Cui Shao Xi.  If you need any help, go and let the town's Jun Yue Restaurant know!”

Finishing, he gave her a nod.
Without waiting for her to speak, urge the horse through whipping and speed away.
Before long, he disappeared from the three's vision.

“Sister, that person really is, really is–” Lian Ze couldn't find the word to describe him.

Ah Jian couldn't help glimpse at Lian Fang Zhou.
He doesn't know why his heart feels faintly uncomfortable.
Cui Shao Xi, his instinctly dislike the other person.

“Jun Yue Restaurant? You want to go look for help from him? From the look of it, it'll save a lot of trouble by asking him!” Ah Jian couldn't resist mentioning.

Lian Fang Zhou shook her head, stated, “Returning the things to him was only a slight effort.
The other might possibly just said that without thinking.  We can't treat it seriously!”

“Un!” Ah Jian broke into a grin.
“That Su Family's young madam's mother and your mother used to have deep ties, so presumably Su Family's young madam will definitely meet you!”

“Hope it's like that!” Lian Fang Zhou laugh.
She was slightly baffled why Ah Jian suddenly was in a good mood.

After a few delays on the road, it was already past noon when the three of them reached the town.
Amid the crowded market, they look for a small shop to eat lunch.
They ask around for Su Family's address while they are at it.

Shuang Liu County appeared to be more bustling and energetic than Yun He County.
Two large rivers ran along the city, Qing Yang river and Guang Yang.  That's where Shuang Liu County come from.
(Shuang means double, Liu means flow)

It's because there are two large rivers as well as the area is located at the center of a traffic junction, maritime cargo comes and go, making it very lively and it is what makes Shuang Liu County buzzing.

Once the three of them asked around about Su Family, the shop owner mentioned, “The East side of town's Su Family on Shuang He lane? That's our Shuang Liu's wealthiest! Which manor's housekeeper or servant are you looking for?”

Lian Fang Zhou froze in place.
Su Family became the local wealthiest!

After some contemplation, she enquired, “Is the Su Family's young madam surnamed Fang? Su Family only have one young master and one young miss, right?”

The shop owner gave her a strange look and nodded.
” That's right! Though the Su Family have a prosperous amount of wealth but not a lot in family number.
The Su Family master couple have only one son and one daughter! However, that was before.
After the young madam married in, she gave birth to a chubby baby for the Su Family in her second year.
Now she has two sons! Su Family's Master and Madam is overjoyed and dote the young madam a lot.
Oh, that young madam is really lucky.
Heard she came from a poor background.
This is flying up the branches and turn into a phoenix! But it's no wonder, not only did that young madam give birth to two sons at such a young age, but she's also skillful! She is proficient in managing the business.
However, it's Young Master Su who's retreating back to the ground…”

Now Lian Fang Zhou was sure that wealthy Su Family is the Su Family she was looking for.
She gratefully smiled as she thanked the shop owner and left with Ah Jain and Lian Ze.

The three of them using the address given by the shop owner, they arrived at Su Family's entrance on Shuang He Lane.
There stood a brightly painted towering gatehouse and two huge crouching stone lion, one left and one right.
A tall, thick, red painted door was closed tightly with a copper beast head knocker that was bigger than a human head.

The large doorway was covered with neatly aligned, stony green tiles was swept clean.
It was bright and peaceful as the afternoon rays beamed down.

They stepped forward.
Ah Jian grasped the knocker and lightly knocked on the massive door.
Not long later, the giant door let out a dull groan as it was half opened by someone.
A servant dressed like a footboy swept a glance at them and asked, “May I ask who are you looking for?”

Within his words was utmost politeness.