El paisaje es como una pintura

Capítulo 6

Caiju's father nodded repeatedly: "That's right. If we've won the master's favor, how could the rewards be meager? Madam Jiang is truly insightful."

Shen Changchun listened with a frown for a while before asking, "Does Aunt Chen know about this?"

Caiju blushed with embarrassment, smashed her cup, and said, "I am a free woman now, what does it matter to her who I marry?"

Caiju Niang hurriedly came up and covered her mouth, saying urgently, "Ancestor, we're counting on them now, don't talk nonsense."

Shen Changchun shook his head and went to the Chen family to inform Aunt Chen.

When Caiju's father saw him leave, he turned around and scolded Caiju's mother: "Look at him, he's just climbed up the social ladder, and he's even a live-in son-in-law. What's he so proud of? When our daughter marries into the Zhongcheng family, we won't need him to support us anymore."

Picking Chrysanthemum Girl was naturally not happy about being scolded for no reason, and retorted, "That's your brother, what does it have to do with me?"

While her parents were arguing, Caiju sneaked into the inner room and stole some money. She went to the street to buy rouge and face powder, determined to dress herself up like a fairy and be carried into the Zhongcheng's house.

A few days later, Aunt Chen heard that the Imperial Censor's new concubine had been brought into the house and that his illness had improved. Xiao Yuan came to her to discuss inviting the ladies who had visited him to a banquet. The two looked at the menu prepared by the kitchen staff for a while, and Xiao Yuan asked, "Aunt, how come I heard that the Imperial Censor's new concubine is Caiju?"

Aunt Chen glanced at her and, seeing that she looked perfectly normal, replied, "It was indeed Caiju. Don't take it to heart."

Seeing that there was no one else in the room, Xiaoyuan said, "They're just playing the victim, what could I possibly be upset about? I'm just wondering how she found out about this?"

Aunt Chen glanced out the window and said, "That's exactly what I wanted to tell you. It's said that when Caiju came to visit me, she overheard Aunt Wu and Aunt Liu chatting, and that's how it happened... What a coincidence! Don't they know how we've managed to get by in this household? Now that you're in charge of the household, you should give her a good talking-to. As for Aunt Liu, I'll send her back home once you're married."

Xiao Yuan nodded in agreement and immediately went back to her room to have someone call Wu Sao over for questioning. Wu Sao naturally denied it outright, explaining, "Fourth Sister, this is indeed a coincidence. Although I have some grudges with Caiju, I have absolutely no intention of playing a trick on her."

Xiao Yuan tapped the table intermittently and said, "You're absolutely right. This is quite a coincidence. I'll call Aunt Liu over to ask her about it."

Knowing that Liu Ma was used to being bribed by Xiao Yuan, Aunt Wu was immediately terrified and broke out in a cold sweat: "Fourth Sister, Caiju is eager to live a good life, and I'm just trying to help her out of kindness."

"Well, I'll take that as a good intention. Cailian—" Xiaoyuan said with a nonchalant expression, "Go and call the slave trader to sell her entire household."

It took Aunt Wu a long time to come to her senses. She exclaimed, "Fourth Sister, even if I am wrong, if she doesn't have that intention, then even if I did it on purpose, there's nothing I can do."

Xiao Yuan smiled faintly: "Who said I blamed you for this?"

"Then, Fourth Sister, you..." Aunt Wu found herself unable to fathom Xiao Yuan's thoughts.

"What if I offend you someday and you say a few words of 'kindness' to me? You know, I hate it when people scheme against me behind my back." Xiao Yuan didn't want to listen to her explanation, and after saying that, she went to Aunt Chen's room, leaving her to make a scene with Cai Lian.

Seeing that Xiao Yuan had returned after only a few words, Aunt Chen asked curiously, "Fourth Sister, you finished disciplining her so quickly? You're still too soft-hearted. Such a servant really deserves a good beating."

Xiao Yuan hugged Aunt Chen's neck and laughed, "Aunt, your daughter has been ruthless today; she's already called the slave trader."

Although Aunt Chen felt that selling Wu Sao's family was a bit too much of a punishment, she didn't care much about servants anyway, and Xiao Yuan was the apple of her eye. The next day, she found a slave trader and bought two new households of servants, waiting to select the best one to be promoted to head housekeeper.

Chapter Fourteen: Medicated Sanitary Napkins

Although Aunt Wu was a wicked woman, when Caiju was brought into the household of the Censor-in-Chief, Aunt Chen unexpectedly benefited and was immediately granted a "sick" treatment.

"She was relieved that she no longer had to lie in bed every day. She was very happy and called Xiao Yuan and the two maids to play cards all day long."

Xiao Yuan sat at the mahjong table all day, and when she returned to her room in the evening, she felt a soreness in her lower back. Just as she was about to call her maid to massage it for her, Cai Lian suddenly exclaimed, "Oh dear, Fourth Sister, you've started your period."

Xiao Yuan didn't understand Cai Lian's meaning at first, until Cai Lian came forward to help her take off her skirt. She then realized what was going on and quickly pushed Cai Lian's hand away, saying, "I can do it myself. Go and call my aunt."

When Aunt Chen arrived, Xiao Yuan had already changed into clean clothes and was directing the maids to sew cotton bags.

Aunt Chen looked at the cloth bundle sewn from wood ash in her hand and asked hesitantly, "Fourth Aunt, what is this...?"

Xiao Yuan pointed to the cotton bale and said, "Auntie, the maids have already told me what 'Gui Shui' is all about. I just asked them, and they said these things can't be exposed to the sun and can only be dried in the shade. I'm not used to using them. Besides, wood ash is nowhere near as good as cotton. I was even planning to put a few sheets of Xuan paper inside."

Aunt Chen was taken aback and said, "Stuffed with cotton? That's not easy to take off and wash."

"Why bother washing it? Just throw it away after you're done. It's clean and convenient." After saying that, Xiaoyuan instructed the little girl that the cloth she would use to sew cotton bags next time must be boiled in boiling water first.

Aunt Chen, who was now quite well-off, didn't bother with the question of whether it cost money. She sat down next to the little maid and took over the task, saying, "Let me do it. The stitches are too rough." After sewing two stitches, she looked up at Xiao Yuan and said, "Later, I'll make you a thick layer of homespun cloth on the bottom and a layer of cotton gauze on top. That way, it will be more comfortable to wear."

Xiao Yuan snuggled up to her and said with a smile, "Auntie, you used Suzhou embroidery, which is famous throughout Lin'an Prefecture, to sew cotton bags for me. I'm going to be famous tomorrow."

Aunt Chen glanced at her gently: "How can I not be careful with the girl I gave birth to?"

She finished making a cotton bale and asked Cailian to help Xiaoyuan put it on. Then she took some more materials back to her room to continue sewing.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Xiao Yuan was tossing and turning in bed, clutching her stomach. Cai Lian, hearing the commotion, quickly lifted the curtain and came in to check. She was a few years older than Xiao Yuan and immediately knew she had a stomachache. Normally, maids would just endure it, but Xiao Yuan was her mistress, and Cai Lian dared not neglect her duty. She quickly called a young maid and asked her to fetch Aunt Chen.

When Aunt Chen heard that Xiao Yuan had a stomachache, she immediately had someone boil some brown sugar water and send it to her. However, it didn't help Xiao Yuan. She then had someone go to the pharmacy to get some blood-activating herbs, personally oversaw the boiling, and brought it to Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan was already sweating profusely from the pain. Hearing it was a blood-activating medicine, she picked it up and drank it down in one gulp. Aunt Chen picked up a piece of candied fruit and fed it to her, saying with concern, "Lie down quickly. You'll feel better soon."

Everyone was so worried about Xiaoyuan's stomachache that they didn't even notice the blood stain on the bed until they covered her with a blanket. Xiaoyuan complained angrily, "I thought it was a good thing. How could it be so fragile?"

The newly chosen maid, Cai Mei, comforted her, saying, "Fourth Sister, it's not that the cotton is bad. It's just that the thing is too light and small, making it easy to move."

Xiao Yuan gave her an approving look and said, "That's right, we should sew a belt on it to tie around the waist."

Aunt Chen replied, "That's easy, my child. Lie down and rest. I'll sew the ribbon for you right away."

After saying that, she rushed back to her room to sew straps on the cotton bales. Cailian hurried up to change Xiaoyuan's sheets and helped her lie down again.

When Aunt Chen brought the medicine again in the evening, Xiao Yuan was feeling a little better, so she twisted and turned and refused to take the medicine anymore: "Aunt, this medicine is too bitter, and I'm not in much pain right now, I'll take it tomorrow."

Aunt Chen tapped her forehead, "You can't skip a meal, or your stomach will start hurting again."

Xiao Yuan reluctantly pinched her nose and swallowed the medicine. She then stuffed several candied fruits into her mouth before she felt the bitterness subside.

Seeing her furrowed brows, Aunt Chen put her arm around her and said, "Fourth Sister, the doctor said that your stomachache is due to poor blood circulation, so you have to take some medicine to promote blood circulation for the next few days. I know this medicine is bitter, so please bear with it. I'll have them send over some candied fruit."

"Is your blood circulation poor?" Xiao Yuan stared at the medicine bowl and asked, "What ingredients are in this medicine?"

Aunt Chen laughed and said, "You're even researching this now? I'll have someone send you the recipe so you can take your time to look at it."

When Aunt Chen returned, she indeed sent someone to deliver the prescription. Xiao Yuan picked it up and saw that it listed some herbs such as motherwort and cyperus. She held the prescription tightly in her hand and a smile appeared on her face.

"Cailian, come and write a few words for me." Xiaoyuan watched as Cailian took out the brush and ink, and read aloud, "Artemisia argyi, mint, angelica, motherwort, houttuynia cordata, cyperus rotundus, and also stemona japonica and peony. Write them down, and then weigh out one pound of each."

"A pound? Fourth Sister, why do you need so much to brew medicine?" Cailian asked, putting down her pen.

Xiao Yuan kept it a secret and didn't explain in detail, only instructing her to prepare the materials and ordering the maid to make about ten new cotton bales.

The next day, Cailian brought in the medicinal herbs and saw Xiaoyuan fiddling with the cotton bundle. She asked in surprise, "Fourth Sister, are you going to sew the herbs in?"

Xiao Yuan took the herbs and said reproachfully, "Putting them in directly, regardless of whether they're effective or not, will just make them uncomfortable."

After saying that, she divided the medicinal herbs into two portions, giving one portion to the newly selected maid Caimei and instructing her, "Take this and wrap it in cotton to fumigate it, just like you would fumigate clothes."

She handed the remaining portion to Cailian and said, "Take it and boil it into a thick broth. Filter out the dregs, then put the cotton in, boil it, dry it, and sew it into a cloth bag."

The two maids took the materials and went about their tasks separately. After Xiaoyuan finished lunch, Caimei brought out the sachets of scented cotton. Xiaoyuan took one and smelled it, feeling a refreshing aroma that instantly made her feel much better. She exclaimed with delight, "This is mint! Thank you for thinking of this!"

Seeing that Xiaoyuan liked it, Caimei was relieved and replied with a smile, "I thought it was the same principle as scenting clothes. My fourth aunt and aunt usually like to scent clothes with mint to refresh their minds, so I took the liberty of adding some. I was worried that my fourth aunt would blame me."

Xiao Yuan took a pair of earrings from the photo box and handed them to her, saying, "It's good that you like to use your brain. Why would I blame you?"

Cai Mei thanked the gift and left quietly, without making a fuss. Xiao Yuan saw this from the window and looked at her with approval.

In the afternoon, Cailian also brought over processed cotton sachets. Xiaoyuan picked one up and smelled it as usual, saying, "The boiled ones have a stronger smell. I don't know which one is more effective. Let me try it first. You can also share some. If you don't have enough herbs, buy some more."

Cailian's face lit up with joy. She thanked Xiaoyuan on behalf of the maids and went to distribute the cotton swabs. She then went to buy more medicinal herbs.

Xiao Yuan was busy trying out the cotton swabs when Aunt Chen came rushing over, looking anxious: "Fourth Aunt, I heard you haven't taken your medicine for two days? My child, does your stomach hurt?"

Cailian helped Aunt Chen up, handed her a cotton swab, and said with a smile, "Aunt, don't worry. Since Fourth Sister used this, her stomach pain has gotten much better, so she doesn't need to take any more medicine."

Aunt Chen was skeptical: "This stuff smells like medicine, can it really work?"

Xiao Yuan explained the two cotton swabs to Aunt Chen, saying, "If the pain is as severe as it was the day before, you will definitely need to take medicine. But if it's just a minor pain, this should be enough."

Aunt Chen picked up both and smelled them, saying, "The one scented with plum blossoms smells better, but I wonder how effective it is."

Xiao Yuan replied, "Actually, each has its own strengths. The one that's been fumigated has mint in it, which makes it feel comfortable; the one that's been boiled has a stronger medicinal effect and is more effective in treating abdominal pain."

Just as she finished speaking, Cai Mei passed by the door with water and said, "Fourth Sister, the one I used to fumigate smells better, but it doesn't work. The smell will be gone in a few days."

Xiao Yuan suddenly realized: "That's right, the effect of fumigating clothes only lasts for a few days. You're such an honest person."

Cai Mei modestly replied, "I'm just interested in fiddling with things." After saying that, she picked up the water and walked away.

After discussing it for a while, Xiao Yuan and Aunt Chen decided to combine their strengths and add mint to the medicinal decoction. Since Cai Mei had some expertise in this area, she was ordered to make some and put it in Xiao Yuan's room, and some was also distributed to the maids who were menstruating to try it out.

Although the maids were too embarrassed to openly praise it after using it, they all secretly pulled Cai Mei aside to compliment her skillful hands.

Cai Mei then returned to Xiao Yuan, saying that the cotton swabs had been successfully developed.

Xiao Yuan was delighted to hear this and called Cai Lian over, instructing her, "You are the best at training people. Go and select a few skillful maids, set up a maid's quarters, and have them be in charge of sewing cotton bags. Also, have Cai Mei teach them how to make medicinal cotton."

Cailian asked curiously, "Fourth Sister, where do you get so much every month?"

Xiao Yuan said, "Which of these maids in the house doesn't need anything? Tell them to just go to the women's quarters to get what they need when they need it; just remember, they must register how much they get, and they must not waste any."

Cailian stared in disbelief: "Fourth Sister, this is something that's used and then thrown away. How much did it cost?"

Xiao Yuan picked up the ledger and waved it around, saying, "Menstruation is a big deal for girls, and it can't be taken lightly; besides, our family will soon have extra income, so we can afford these little things."

Cailian was very grateful to Xiaoyuan for caring so much for the servants, and she did her best to arrange things properly. When the maids in the house heard about this, they were all secretly overjoyed and praised Xiaoyuan in their hearts.

After Xiaoyuan finished her "important task," she didn't rest. She summoned the household purchasing agent and instructed him, "I'm going to give you a way to make money. Go and buy a lot of last year's cotton and rent a warehouse to store it."

The procurement officer was puzzled, but he was deeply impressed by how Xiao Yuan had opened several shops in just a few months, so he didn't ask any further questions. He simply withdrew the money from the account and went to buy cotton. It was already February, and the weather was getting warmer day by day, making it easy to negotiate a lower price for cotton. He filled a room with cotton without much trouble.

The purchasing wife was quite puzzled to see him bustling around collecting cotton: "Although Fourth Sister has set up a women's affairs room, why is she using so much cotton?"

While everyone was wondering about the purchasing agent's wife, Xiao Yuan instructed the purchasing agent to buy a large quantity of cotton cloth and homespun cloth. Now everyone understood that Fourth Sister was going to do business selling cotton swabs.

Upon hearing this, Ah Xiu rushed over to find Xiao Yuan. "Fourth Sister, your family bought a lot of cloth from our young master's shop. I heard it's for making some kind of cotton swabs?"

Xiao Yuan laughed: "If I opened a shop selling something like this, who wouldn't be ashamed enough to come and buy it?"

Ah Xiu smiled and said, "That's exactly right."

Xiao Yuan added, "But now that even you know about my family's cotton swabs, it seems these things will be sold out soon."

Ah Xiu still didn't understand, so she went to find Aunt Chen again and asked Fourth Sister why she needed to buy cotton cloth if she wasn't selling cotton swabs.

As Aunt Chen listened to her anxious and distressed words, she smiled and said, "I know you are on Fourth Sister's side, but you are going to be a mother yourself. You should act more prudently. What if you harm the baby? As for Fourth Sister, we don't lack that little bit of money now. Let her do whatever she wants."

Seeing how much Aunt Chen doted on Xiao Yuan, Ah Xiu became even more anxious. However, Aunt Chen was worried about her health and wouldn't let her continue talking. She called two people to forcibly send her back.

Actually, Aunt Chen wasn't worried at all; she just didn't want to spoil her daughter's fun. But after only three to five days, she completely relaxed.

When the wealthy women of Lin'an heard that even the maids in Xiao Yuan's family were using cotton sachets that were convenient, clean, and had medicinal properties, they were all afraid of falling behind and being accused of being poor. So they all went to Xiao Yuan's family to inquire about the method and mobilized all the women in the family to sew the cotton sachets.

To sew this, you need cotton and cotton cloth, right? But the old cotton is out of season now, and the new cotton won't be available until the end of the year. Where can I buy it? Only at Xiaoyuan's house.

Seeing that the cotton shop, which was temporarily converted from a warehouse, was doing very well and was about to surpass the other shops, Xiao Yuan asked the broker to set up another shop, carved a cotton merchant sign and hung it at the door, and sold all kinds of materials for medicinal cotton packs for the ladies.

A few days later, the women who knew Xiaoyuan came to congratulate her on the opening of her new shop. They all complained, "We were worried that the cotton we bought might not be clean, so we boiled it like Fourth Sister did. It was such a hassle."

Xiao Yuan had a sudden inspiration and hurriedly said, "That's easy! Tomorrow, my shop will sell boiled cotton, packed in clean wooden boxes, and delivered to everyone's door."