Chapter 168: Chapter 168 Quite Necessary_1 Chapter 168: Chapter 168 Quite Necessary_1 It wasn’t until the afternoon that Jiang Ziqi left, and soon after, the steward from the Government Office arrived. Since he was personally instructed by the Magistrate, the steward did not dare to be negligent. He didn’t wait for Zhao Erhu to visit the Government Office and came directly to Zhao Erhu’s home. When he arrived, he happened just in time to see Jiang Ziqi’s luxurious carriage leaving Zhao Erhu’s residence. Given the time, it was clear Jiang Ziqi had stayed for lunch before departing, which showed a good relationship between the Divine Doctor and this household. It was no wonder then that the Magistrate also took extra care of this family due to his connection with the Divine Doctor. The steward regarded Zhao Erhu and his wife even more highly in his heart.
Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue were also somewhat surprised by the steward’s swift handling of affairs. The role of steward, though not a high-ranking one, was a lucrative position, and those who held it were generally trusted by powerful people in the Government Office. Regardless of their abilities, they were certainly objects of everyone’s flattery and favor. The buying and selling for the Government Office were all managed by the steward. Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue had already planned to visit the Government Office early the next day to present a gift to the steward, but unexpectedly, he took the initiative to visit them first. The reason behind this was quite clear; indeed, power is a wonderful thing, and their mere good relationship with Jiang Ziqi had earned them such favorable treatment.
Despite this, Lin Yue and Zhao Erhu still did not dare to treat the steward negligently. They welcomed him into the house politely and courteously. They would need to earn money under the steward’s supervision, and even if the Magistrate was kind to them, they couldn’t possibly bother him with every trivial affair, especially since the Magistrate’s favor was out of consideration for Jiang Ziqi. Thus, establishing a good relationship with the steward was quite necessary.
“I am Zhao Erhu, and this is my wife, Lin Yue. May I know how to address you, sir?”
“My surname is Chen, with a single given name, Qi. Honored by the Magistrate’s trust, I serve as the steward in the Government Office. You may call me Big Brother Chen. Today I am here under the Magistrate’s orders to discuss the specifics of the purchase with you both. I would like to know what goods and foodstuffs you sell, and the quantities involved. Please provide me with the details, so I can make arrangements upon my return.”
Chen Qi was an impatient man, eager only to carry out the tasks assigned by the Magistrate. He skipped the pleasantries and went straight to business. However, in his eyes, what could a humble farmer’s home have to offer? He assumed that the Magistrate was merely showing consideration for the Divine Doctor’s sake. If the price was high, he could purchase the goods for servant use without spending much Silver Coin, thereby fulfilling the Magistrate’s directive. It had to be said that Chen Qi truly was the Magistrate’s confidant; he had guessed the Magistrate’s intentions right away. That was Chen Qing’s initial thought until he tasted a few snacks made by Lin Yue, which changed his mind.
It was only after Lin Yue presented the dishes she took to the market to sell and quickly cooked several small dishes that Chen Qi put aside his contempt. He hadn’t expected that a mere farmer’s wife could have such clever culinary ideas and produce food better tasting than the chefs in the Government Office. Moreover, the variety was impressive, with several items he had never seen before. If he took them back and instructed the kitchen to prepare them just as Mrs. Lin had said, they might well please the Magistrate.
Whether as the Magistrate’s confidant or a good Servant, the most important thing was to win the master’s favor. Chen Qi had previously been a mere doorman but had reached his current position not only because of his capabilities but also his loyalty. He always put his master first and considered his master’s interests in everything.
“Very good. These should all be sent to the Government Office. I will prepare a list for you shortly with the specific quantities. If possible, start delivering to the Government Office from tomorrow morning.”