Chapter 259 The County Magistrate's Residence

Chapter 259 The County Magistrate's Residence

Without hesitation, Xie Wanniang took advantage of the fact that there was nothing to distract her from at the girls' school and quickly set up her planned large bookstore with a "front shop and back workshop".

The term "front shop, back workshop" refers to a shop in the front that sells books, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, while the back is a workshop that edits, proofreads, engraves, and prints the books.

She plans to open this shop in the prefectural city, because that's the only place in the entire Baoding Prefecture where she can quickly expand her business.

However, this meant that she would have to adjust her previous plans slightly.

She can't buy the estate for now; she has to use all her money to prepare for this bookstore.

After telling Jiang Yuan her plan, Xie Wanniang started packing her things while her mind raced, trying to figure out how to proceed smoothly step by step.

Jiang Yuan was reluctant to part with his wife and daughter, but he also knew that Xie Wanniang could not stay in Zijing Pass forever, like other military officers' families, spending all her time in the inner quarters and socializing.

She has her own things to do, but Jiang Yuan can't bear to see his wife compromise and make sacrifices for him.

He always remembered that what he loved most was the earnest look on his wife's face when she was working hard.

Whether it's the focused expression on her face when she's working hard, or the joyful smile when she achieves something, it's the most captivating and incomparably beautiful sight for Jiang Yuan.

In the brief time they had left together, the couple were sweet and harmonious, caring for each other and occasionally offering each other words of advice.

Once Xie Wanniang had made all the preparations, Jiang Yuan asked Chang Yao for a few more days off and personally escorted her to her county princess residence in the prefectural city.

The county princess's mansion was a gift from the emperor to Xie Wanniang. Although it was initially just an empty and somewhat dilapidated house, after the emperor issued the decree, the local government immediately renovated the mansion according to regulations.

The twelve servants bestowed by the emperor were sent here by Xie Wanniang when the house began to be renovated, to be in charge of the daily chores of the mansion.

Yes, in addition to this mansion, the emperor also assigned twelve male and female servants to Xie Wanniang, who were carefully selected by the empress. However, because the selection process took some time, these people did not come to Baoding Prefecture with the imperial edict-bearing team.

Of these twelve people, two were palace ladies-in-waiting, one surnamed Wang and the other surnamed Jiang. Both were between forty and fifty years old. They were not only familiar with the various rules and etiquette of the palace, but also very good at managing affairs.

Below them were four beautiful palace maids who also came from the palace, but who did not hold any official rank.

Of the remaining six people, two were the husband and son of the female official surnamed Wang, and the other four were a separate family.

Xie Wanniang only found out after asking that the last six people were all rare talents specially selected by the Empress, each with their own special skills.

The Wang family, including the official in charge of cosmetics, were all servants of the Yuan family. Before being sent to Baoding Prefecture, her husband was the head manager of a cosmetics shop under the Empress's name, and her son worked as an accountant in a general store of the Yuan family.

The other family's matriarch had spent most of her life in the palace. She was not only an excellent cook of medicinal cuisine, but also had a thorough understanding of the social networks of various families in the capital.

Of course, as a cook, she is not only skilled in medicinal cuisine, but also in other regular dishes and snacks. The reason why her medicinal cuisine skills are particularly famous is that none of her "colleagues" have been able to surpass her in this field.

It's just that she's too old to work in the palace now, otherwise the Empress might not have been willing to let her come to Baoding Prefecture with her son.

Her son used to be the third steward of the imperial estate, and he was good at farming and managing affairs. Her daughter-in-law inherited her mother's good skills and was particularly good at Shu embroidery.

Although her grandson was only eighteen years old, he was extremely talented in construction and the manufacture of objects.

The old lady told Xie Wanniang that it was all thanks to his maternal grandfather, who was a craftsman in the Ministry of Works. The child not only inherited his grandfather's talent from a generation, but also learned a lot of skills from a group of old men, including his grandfather, from a young age thanks to his grandfather's careful upbringing.

Xie Wanniang certainly wouldn't let someone's talent go to waste with such a precious item. She took the opportunity to draw a few blueprints for farm tools and asked the other party to make the items for her to see.

As for the others, considering her own busy schedule of giving birth, postpartum confinement, and raising children, Xie Wanniang decided to let them temporarily adapt to the environment at the county princess's residence in Baoding Prefecture and await further instructions.

Of course, there was another reason she didn't say—these people used to be close to the Emperor and Empress. Whether they were willing to come to a small place like Baoding Prefecture, and whether they were willing to be ordered around by a country girl like her, she still needed to see.

As for whether there might be spies planted by other people among these people, Xie Wanniang said that it was not something she could identify in a short time; she would have to take more time and observe as she went.

With Jiang Yuan's escort and accompaniment, Xie Wanniang, along with her daughter An'an, stepped into the county princess's mansion for the first time, a place that symbolized her change in status.

Having already received the news, Wang, the female official, and others not only prepared all the utensils and ingredients needed for Xie Wanniang's banquet, but also gathered in advance outside the gate of the county magistrate's mansion to respectfully welcome Xie Wanniang and her family of three.

Xie Wanniang stepped out of the carriage carrying her daughter, and with a smile, raised her hand to the twelve people who were bowing and greeting them, saying, "No need for formalities."

The group stood up and led Xie Wanniang and the others inside with enthusiasm and respect.

During this time, Xie Wanniang and Jiang Yuan had subtly glanced at the twelve people. Seeing that they were all very respectful and that there was nothing wrong with their facial expressions and body language, the two exchanged a knowing look.

Putting everything else aside, at least there aren't any fools who wear their dissatisfaction and contempt on their sleeves. It seems the Empress has a good eye for people.

Thinking this way, Xie Wanniang and Jiang Yuan continued walking and looking around, observing the overall environment of the county magistrate's mansion on the one hand, and paying attention to some small details that could reflect the dedication of the craftsmen and servants on the other.

As they walked along, Xie Wanniang and Jiang Yuan became more and more satisfied with what they saw.

Everything before them told them that these twelve people, along with the craftsmen sent by the government, were indeed very serious and responsible in their work.

Unlike the other women, Xie Wanniang did not take her child to the backyard immediately upon arrival.

Surrounded by the crowd, she and Jiang Yuan entered the front courtyard flower hall together.

The flower hall was not only warm and cozy, but also very clean in every direction. Soon, the four palace maids brought Xie Wanniang and the others hot tea, snacks, and fruits.