Mrs. Wang had long known from Qin Mingchun about Qin Liuxi taking him to meet the Mountain Master of Zhihe Academy, and she felt both alarmed and pleased about Qin Liuxi’s connections. However, when she learned that Qin Liuxi had gone out, she wisely chose not to inform the Old Lady first.
After all, there was no telling when Qin Liuxi would return home. Mentioning it might prompt the Old Lady to immediately inquire about Qin Liuxi’s enrollment, and if she failed to return in time, it would result in another dispute.
As it turned out, Mrs. Wang’s caution was justified, as Qin Liuxi indeed did not return for the night.
Now, it was nearly the end of the Chen hour, and Qin Liuxi had not come back yet. Could she still go to the academy to report?
Mrs. Wang was anxious but knew that panicking wouldn’t help. She could only tell Qi Huang that if Qin Liuxi returned, she should come to her place. Before that, she settled Qin Mingchun and prepared two sets of tuition fees.
These were all matters of etiquette.
Upon entering the courtyard, Qin Liuxi learned of Mrs. Wang’s message from Qi Huang and conveyed it, then casually changed her clothes and went over. Before leaving, she said to Qi Huang, "Check how much silver we have, including the sum Lady previously gave. Oh, first give that sum to Chen Pi, let him spruce up the shop."
She looked at her younger brother, who appeared utterly dejected.
After Qin Liuxi left, she asked Chen Pi what the shop meant.
Chen Pi explained about the Coffin Shop, and finally said, "Sister, I’m just a kid, running a shop would surely be a joke, I just want to serve the master. Otherwise, if I manage the shop and she goes out, who will be busy around her?"
"That makes sense. Outsiders are not well known, so they’re not very reliable," Qi Huang said. "But this is also the master trusting you by arranging this, and it’s a way to train you. You must not let down the master’s intentions."
"I know, but I still want to follow her," Chen Pi pouted.
Qi Huang smiled and patted his head, "You’re almost twelve, and the master has already come of age. Even though she is a female crown and a member of the Mystic Sect, not caring about the strict separation of genders, outsiders won’t think the same way. Even if you follow her, you can only act as a guard and errand runner, some things must still be avoided. I believe, slowly, her identity as a female crown will become known."
Qin Liuxi has never deliberately concealed her gender, but as she traveled more, she was bound to become well-known.
Chen Pi sighed, "Growing up is not good either."
Qi Huang chuckled and flicked his forehead, saying, "If you don’t grow up, you can’t help the master, and she won’t keep someone useless around her. So, you still need to spruce this up."
"First, set a plan. I’ll go count the silver now," Qi Huang instructed him to write at the desk, while she took out the keys from around her neck to check the accounts in the inner room.
Qin Liuxi never cared about silver or managing affairs; large or small, everything was managed by Qi Huang, especially financial matters, which Qi Huang knew best.
Meanwhile, Qin Liuxi arrived at Mrs. Wang’s courtyard, and first apologized.
"In the Suburban Wang Family Village, a peasant family could not lift the coffin during a funeral. It happened that they came to the Coffin Shop looking for an old coffin-maker, so I went to help deal with it and was delayed for the night. Nanny Shen, please have Qin Mingqi prepare, I’ll take them to the academy now."
Nanny Shen smiled and agreed.
Mrs. Wang felt a shock in her heart upon hearing about the Coffin Shop, and upon hearing that the coffin couldn’t be lifted, her curiosity piqued, she couldn’t help but ask, "Why can’t the coffin be lifted?"
"The deceased was the village chief of the Wang Family Village, who discovered his concubine and biological child committing incest. Overwhelmed with anger, he suffered a sudden acute heart disease, and his son suffocated him by covering his mouth and nose, indirectly causing his death. Filled with resentment, his spirit caused disturbances."
Qin Liuxi spoke lightly, but Mrs. Wang, who was listening, was terrified and visualized the scenario, swallowing her spit, asking, "Is it manageable? Are you hurt at all?"
"It’s just a new ghost, an old man no less; he couldn’t harm me. The old man held resentments and obsessions, dissipating his resentment would send him off. As for his son and concubine, they’ve naturally been delivered to the governmental office, they will have their retribution," Qin Liuxi smiled.
Mrs. Wang let out a sigh of relief and asked, "That being said, are you so sure because you have actually seen the old village chief’s ghost?"
Qin Liuxi paused for a moment before saying, "I have opened my Heavenly Eye."
Mrs. Wang’s hand trembled again: "Doesn’t that mean you can see many unclean things that ordinary people can’t?"
"If I were afraid, I wouldn’t have joined the Mystic Sect. Having joined and cultivated the Dao within the Sect, there is nothing to fear, after all, I am to exterminate evil and defend the Dao," Qin Liuxi shook his head, "Actually, there’s nothing scary, sometimes humans are scarier."
All ghosts: Yes, you’re scarier than the ghosts!
Mrs. Wang laughed awkwardly and shook as she reached for the teacup on the table, drinking a sip of cold tea, suddenly gaining some bizarre knowledge, feeling very panicked.
Seizing the opportunity of the conversation, Qin Liuxi simply mentioned the matter of the Coffin Shop as well.
"I’ve never done such businesses and am not good at it, just sticking to my old trade, practicing medicine, saving people, exterminating evil ghosts, and selling talismans. If I make some money, I will buy more shops; consider it the foundation of our main branch. If not buying shops, I’ll save it in the bank, or perhaps buy some farmlands, although Chen Pi said it’s less lucrative than renting out shops."
Mrs. Wang was completely bewildered.
So, their main branch doesn’t just own a Coffin Shop but actually runs a shop dealing with ghosts and exorcisms?
More and more strange perceptions, why are they growing?
Mrs. Wang downed a cup of cold tea and tried to calm herself; times have changed, the Qin family of today is not the past Qin family, anything is possible!
"Since the silver is up to you to handle, just manage it as you see fit," Mrs. Wang forced a smile, "But as for the shop, I’m afraid I really can’t help. After all, I don’t understand these matters. So the manpower for the shop and even the necessary arrangements all depend on you."
"No worries. I will have Qi Huang review the accounts every half year for your inspection."
"It’s not that troublesome, we are not in a rush to use the money, if you can, reviewing once a year is alright, if not, it’s also fine without review, we’re all family anyway," Mrs. Wang hastily refused.
Qin Liuxi smiled, eyes curving: "I still have to report to you to give you peace of mind. I’ve also made a new friend who’s really good at business, perhaps with extra money I might ask her to help money grow money."
Si Lengyue is a family head with a good business acumen, seeking her would definitely be right.
Far away in Qing State, Si Lengyue sneezed, touched her nose and looked in the direction of Li City, asking her servant by her side: "Have everything packed up and ready to set off."
Meanwhile, in a Merchants’ Association in the Northwest, a middle-aged man known as Gongbo President felt a sudden gloominess, a sense of being forgotten — what was that all about?
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