PFC Chapter 1771 A 5-Day Stay
Chapter 1771 A 5-Day Stay
He Ye smiled and said, "Qing Sheng has wanted to set up a stall here for a long time. Back then, my mother and He Bao were still alive. Chen Qing Sheng and I knew that business was good here, but we didn't dare to come. There are many worshippers at Lingchen Temple, and many people come here to visit on ordinary days. On the first and fifteenth of the lunar month, it's so crowded that you can't even walk. Small things like what Qing Sheng sells sell faster here than on Zhu Jin Street!"
Shang Xi said, "I always said that Qing Sheng is physically weak but has a likable personality, so he is suitable for setting up a stall."
Yu Hua said, "There are many things that really can't be said in person. In the beginning, Qing Sheng was struggling to make wooden basins, and he couldn't even sell two a day. Cheng Feng took him to Liulichang and brought back a truckload of glass. Now he earns more than his two older brothers who work day and night, and he also sends the most money home! My third son has really made something of himself!"
Shang Xi wanted to laugh when she heard this. When Chen Qingsheng came out to beg, everyone looked at him from all angles and thought he was a sickly person. The Chen family wanted to raise him like a useless person. Now he has made something of himself! Indeed, life is unpredictable!
The purpose of their visit was to offer incense and pray for Lu Si Niang, so the group did not delay and headed straight for the gate of Lingchen Temple. They were all regulars here, so they knew the way well, but Yu Hua was in charge of directing them.
Upon arriving at the main hall, Shang Xi spotted a familiar figure, "Jiu Tong!"
Upon hearing this, Hong Jiutong turned around, saw who it was, and quickly called out "Mother!" before running over. "Mother, why are you here?"
Shang Xi asked with a smile, "I should be asking you that! Why aren't you at home taking good care of your mother? What are you doing here?"
Hong Jiutong explained, "Mother, your daughter-in-law has come to fulfill a vow. My mother has taken the medicine sent by the Crown Prince, and her condition has greatly improved these past two days. She no longer suffers from severe abdominal pain at night and can sleep through the night. Her complexion has also improved. Thank you, Mother, for sending the Crown Prince to visit my mother. My mother was so happy to see His Highness that her condition improved by half immediately!"
"
Shang Xi smiled and said, "You know how to talk. Your mother is happy to see you. This credit goes to you and the imperial physician. Go back and tell your mother that I will visit her in the next few days."
"Thank you for your concern, Mother!"
"If you had said so earlier, your mother's illness wouldn't have dragged on until now. Let her rest and recover properly, and let the Crown Prince find a way to help her with any medicine she needs."
"Thank you, Mother!"
“We’re family, no need for formalities. Come on, let’s go with Mother to offer incense.”
Hong Jiutong nodded obediently. Apart from being older than Cheng Youning, there was nothing wrong with him.
The group lit the tallest incense sticks, added money for incense oil, and bowed repeatedly before leaving Lingchen Temple.
Before leaving, they naturally had to deliver the lotus leaves to Chen Qingsheng's stall. Since He Bao murdered his mother, they hadn't encountered any trouble with their stall. They also consciously stopped blocking the entrance of Wanjia General Store on Zhujin Street. Now, they would go to whichever street was selling well. Their worries had vanished with the departure of certain people.
Because the street was so crowded with vendors, Chen Qingsheng's stall was barely two meters long. Beside him sat Jin Feng, helping customers find pearl hairpins. Jin Feng, the second sister-in-law of the Chen family, was very dutiful. She would deliver the heavily pregnant He Ye to Prince Pang's mansion in the morning and then come here to help Chen Qingsheng. Despite the small stall, Chen Qingsheng couldn't manage it all by himself, so Jin Feng kept her loom completely idle so she could take good care of He Ye.
After watching the people in the stall busy for a while and seeing off two large groups of customers, Shang Xi pulled Hong Jiutong forward. Only then did she realize that the two-meter-long stall was neatly filled with all sorts of small items.
Shang Xi couldn't help but praise, "Qingsheng's business is getting bigger and bigger!"
Chen Qingsheng's face was flushed and covered in sweat, he was hot from being busy. He forced a smile but said modestly, "Not at all, my stall is getting smaller and smaller."
"You don't sell those plates and bowls anymore, do you?"
“Those things take up space and are easily bumped and broken. They break every few days. Lotus Leaf won’t let me sell them anymore. The main thing is that things like beaded bracelets and bangles sell well. Auntie, why don’t you and your daughter-in-law choose some beaded bracelets? These are all new products that I brought back from Liulichang a couple of days ago.”
Shang Xi said to Hong Jiutong, "Jiutong, pick some to take back and distribute to the women in your maternal family."
Hong Jiutong hadn't browsed a street stall in a long time, and seeing the colorful glass hairpins, she couldn't help but be tempted. She picked out a few according to her own taste. However, since this person was the Crown Prince's concubine, and the Chen and Wan families were related, Hong Jiutong's maid quietly took out silver. Chen Qingsheng refused to accept it no matter what, and Yu Hua also refused to accept it.
Shang Xi smiled, took out her money pouch, and said to Hong Jiutong, "I knew they wouldn't accept the money if you offered to pay. I'll pay!"
Chen Qingsheng refused again, but when Shang Xi stuffed the silver into his hand, Chen Qingsheng happily accepted it, saying, "Thank you for supporting my business, Auntie!"
Shang Xi sighed to Yu Hua, "Look at Qing Sheng's complexion, her face is rosy, her hair is shiny, she's gained weight, and most importantly, she's more lively. This is all thanks to He Ye."
Yu Hua looked at Shang Xi and Cheng Feng, who were two of a kind, and rolled her eyes at Shang Xi: "I'm not arguing with you. If you say it's He Ye's doing, then it's He Ye's doing. Go home and make shoes. The fabric and needles were delivered yesterday. It's getting colder and colder on the northern border every day. Keep your hands tight and make a batch to send over first."
Shang Xi truly admired Yu Hua. She had to worry about her own family, the Prince's mansion, and other people's families. Most importantly, she could manage everything perfectly, leaving no one out.
After seeing Hong Jiutong get into the carriage, Shang Xi and Yu Hua also got into the carriage.
When Hong Jiutong returned home, he told her about Shang Xi's visit. Madam Hong was overjoyed and waited at home for more than ten days with a radiant smile before Shang Xi finally arrived. Shang Xi always kept her word and never made excuses. If she said she would visit, she would. The fact that she only came today was not because she had forgotten. She was at home making cotton-padded clothes for the soldiers at the border. She knew better than anyone how cold it was at the northern border, because she came from the northern city. Without warm clothes, how could they fight?
Upon meeting, Madam Hong kept praising the Crown Prince and even told Hong Jiutong to pack his things so he could go back with Shang Xi in a little while.
Hong Jiutong verbally agreed, but Shang Xi could see the reluctance in Hong Jiutong's eyes. Madam Hong, needless to say, was also reluctant. However, the royal palace rules were strict. As a concubine, she could only stay at her parents' home for a maximum of half a month. Today was exactly the fifteenth day, and Madam Hong's health had improved. There was no reason for her to stay at home any longer.
Shang Xi was about to say that staying at home for a few more days would be fine when Jing Jing said, "The Crown Prince said that the Consort should wait for someone to come and pick her up!"