Blossom in Adversity

C168. A Big Deal.

Chapter 168: A Big Deal

Compared to the bloodshed and turmoil in the capital, the atmosphere at the Zhuangzi Manor was quite pleasant.

Hua Zhi emerged from the noticeably warmer interior of the house with a very good mood. Everything was going better than she had expected. The seeds had sprouted well, and the nutrient beds were adequate.

A few elderly men with dark complexions and deep wrinkles followed behind her. Though they appeared somewhat hesitant, their expressions betrayed a sense of joy. While they had initially worked at the young lady's behest without fear of blame, once things had succeeded, they were visibly relieved. They had fulfilled the young lady's trust and were now being well compensated for their efforts.

Hua Zhi sat in the main room, and the few elderly farmers who had received instructions took their seats beside the chairs. When a maid came to serve tea, they quickly stood up respectfully to receive it, only daring to touch their lips to the cup before setting it down and retaking their seats.

This hierarchy had been ingrained in them for decades, and Hua Zhi knew it would not change with a few words. She chose to ignore it and got straight to the point. "When watering, be mindful not to overdo it. The temperature inside the house must also be controlled well. It is still cold weather, so the furnace should maintain the heat I specified. You all did well before, and I expect you to continue to do so."

One elderly farmer replied dryly, "Yes, we will do our best."

"If you encounter any problems, you can inform the steward. He will handle it seriously. Of course, you can also tell me now."

The men looked at each other, and the one who had spoken earlier hesitated before saying, "We want to let the young lady know that, in our experience, this kind of thing tends to attract mosquitoes. We have some ideas, but we are concerned about not being able to prevent them..."

"You've reminded me. I will think of a solution."

Seeing that their words were useful and noted by the mistress, the elderly farmer happily scratched the back of his head. The others also voiced their thoughts. Whether useful or not, Hua Zhi listened attentively and assured them she would resolve any issues. This made the elderly farmers, who had always been at the bottom of the food chain, feel happy and reaffirmed their determination to look after these things that they had yet to fully understand for the young lady.

Behind the scenes, the maids exchanged glances, secretly amused. The young mistress was indeed clever, as some matters had already been resolved, like the mosquito repellent that Shao Yao had long prepared. But the way the men acted showed that the young mistress's handling of the situation was the best.

Didn't those old men practically want to give her their hearts?

They still had much to learn!

After the elderly men left, Liu Xiang, who had been waiting at the door, finally entered to report, "Miss, Wu Da and the others have arrived."

"Bring them in." Hua Zhi sipped her tea and observed the newcomers. They had been stationed at the manor to guard it, and in the stable environment away from the Hu family, they had adopted a fiercer demeanor befitting estate guards.

"We greet the young miss," they said as they entered.

"I excuse you." Hua Zhi gently gestured for them to come closer, "I called you here to help create some cellars in this estate."

Knowing that Eldest Miss was sending them to another estate, Wu Da had his suspicions. Now that it was confirmed, he wondered what Eldest Miss had in mind this time.

"I heard you spent two months learning from a master before the new year?"

Wu Da was honest, "Yes, although I knew a little before, it was just a drop in the bucket. I was worried about any issues with the cellar that I couldn't handle."

With so many canned goods in the cellar, any problem would lead to significant losses, and it wouldn't be appropriate to call in someone else to fix it.

Hua Zhi admired people with resourceful minds, nodding in approval, "Indeed, you are thoughtful."

"I dare not take credit for that, Miss. It's just what I should do." Whether it was their financial support or Chen Liang's affairs, they were grateful to Eldest Miss.

"The purpose of the cellars here is different from the ones there. By the way, is the ground thawed now?"

Thinking back to what the master said, Wu Da nodded, "It should be thawed by now."

"Good, I'll leave this matter to you."

Wu Da accepted loudly, then asked, "How many do you need, Miss? Any specific requirements?"

"We need as many as you can make. As for requirements..." mushrooms prefer damp and dark places, "the requirements are not as high as the other estate. When it gets hot, just place a few ice trays. Pay more attention to safety, and you can also seek advice from the old experts in the estate."

"Understood, I will do my best." It seemed to be a different kind of profession from the workshop, and Wu Da felt invigorated. He knew that if the Hua family prospered, they would prosper too, as Eldest Miss had never let them down.

"Tang Yong."

"Here I am." Tang Yong, tall and handsome, stepped forward respectfully.

Originally from the second uncle's household, Tang Yong was not highly regarded until several maids selected him to manage the new workshop. Now he worked diligently, and Eldest Miss's command was his highest priority.

"Arrange accommodation for Wu Da and the others. Their work is heavy, and they should have meat in every meal."

"Yes."

"Come back later; I have something to tell you."

"Understood."

As Wu Da and the others followed Tang Yong, they all silently vowed to work even harder.

Tang Yong soon returned, and Hua Zhi handed him a list, "The first thirty people are from the Hua family's side branches, and the next ten are from our own family. They will come here in about ten days and will be under your command. Treat them all equally, even if you can't please everyone, avoid showing favoritism. Make them forget about their origins and focus on the work."

"I understand what to do now."

Hua Zhi nodded slightly, "Also, be cautious of sycophants."

"Understood."

"Respect the elderly I have invited. They may not know what you know, but you may not know what they know. We rely on their expertise, so be careful not to offend them. We cannot afford to make enemies over petty differences."

Tang Yong accepted solemnly, wondering why so many people were needed to tend to the mixed earth in a few rooms.

"If you have any doubts, ask."

"Yes." Tang Yong knew Miss Zhang was a generous master. He asked, "There will be nearly sixty people with the new arrivals. I'm wondering if we really need that many."

"We need them." This was a big business venture she was planning. When they all learned the trade, she would expand further. She didn't need to explain this to Tang Yong.

Satisfied with the affirmative answer, Tang Yong left.