“No problem!” replied Innkeeper Zhu, “But, Miss Cheng. Now that the Cheng’s is expanding, your number of servants are really on the low end, what are your plans?”
“About this….”
Cheng Xiao Xiao shook her head, she looked at the busy bodies at the foothill from afar and said lightly, “No matter what the issues are, I think we will have to take them one step at a time. Honestly, I am a little bit leery about buying servants from the outside. Otherwise we wouldn’t have taken so many villagers’ kids in.”
“Miss Cheng, we can raise our own!” Innkeeper Zhu brought up his own suggestion, “Even though days are peaceful in Dafeng lately, but we all know what the truth is. Every province has those who are selling their sons and daughters as slaves, these situations are especially rampant in remote locations. The Cheng’s can purchase these kids and raise them!”
“You are not wrong, Innkeeper Zhu. But, from your perspective, do you think we have the manpower currently to tend to that?”
“Well, this…” smiled Innkeeper Zhu, a bit embarrassed. “It looks like Miss Cheng already has it all figured out. It’s just that the time is not right yet!”
“Oh, by the way, Innkeeper Zhu, I need a favor from you in a bit!”
“No problem at all, Miss Cheng. Just let me know what I can help with!”
“After lunch, please go into the mountains with my shi xiongs and help me with a business transaction!”
“Business transaction?” Innkeeper Zhu was dumbfounded. Why go into the mountains for some business transaction out of the blue?
Cheng Xiao Xiao squinted and said in a serious ton, “Yes, a business transaction. You haven’t forgotten about those from the School of Divine Condor yet, have you, Innkeeper Zhu?”
“Oh, Miss Cheng means….”
“Yes, sell them their meals. Remember, they must trade them for something. If they have nothing to offer, we are not going to give them any food. As for the price, of course it’s the more expensive the better!”
“Ugh…” The corner of Innkeeper Zhu’s mouth twitched. He secretly wiped away some of the sweats from his forehead and nodded, “Yes, I understand!”
“Don’t worry, Innkeeper Zhu. Your hard work will be rewarded. After we have reaped the profit, I will cut you in!”
“Okay, then I thank you in advance, Miss Cheng!”
Seeing that Innkeeper Zhu looked like he was about to start crying, Cheng Xiao Xiao tried to hold back her urge to laugh. After some more directions, she left with alacrity.
The stunned Innkeeper Zhu standing next to the pond felt bad for those in the mountains. At the same time, he had made up his mind that no matter who he has to offend in the future, it will for sure not be Miss Cheng!
After every body had lunch, Cheng Xiao Xiao arranged for her father’s dozen or so disciples to carry with them lunch boxes and followed Innkeeper Zhu into the deep mountains of Mount Wanan.
Everybody just assumed they were simply delivering lunches for those from School of Divine Condor. Little Yuteng, on the other hand, kept rushing Cheng Xiao Xiao to finish eating her fruits and go into the mountains to find out what was going on.
After eating, Cheng Zheng Yuan did not go into the mountains with the disciples. He stayed behind and talked to Cheng Xiao Xiao. In a low voice, he said, “Big sister, the people were cussing you out!”
“That’s fine, let them cuss. It won’t hurt me in any way!” Cheng Xiao Xiao didn’t care at all. She had already offended all the young men of status, what’s offending them even more?
Cheng Zheng Yuan frowned, “But they are saying such nasty things about you. I’ve already smacked a couple of them, but they are still cussing you out in a lower volume!”
“Don’t worry about it, just smack them with the fly swatter every time you heard it. Let’s see which is more powerful, their mouths or your fly swatter!”
“Okay!” nodded Cheng Zheng Yuan. “Their mouths stink and they use such nasty words. Big sister, and you are still so nice to them and sending them food. If it were me, I will just starve them to death!”