Chapter 329
Chapter 329
The glass workshop had produced another batch of bottles for peach blossom wine.
There were also some dainty wine cups shaped like flowers. Their plump little forms were adorable and looked lovely alongside the peach blossom wine.
This time, Jiang Yunsui bottled plenty of peach blossom wine and sent it to those who had not received any before.
Fortunately, there had been plenty of peach blossoms this year, so she had brewed a large amount.
Of course, all she had to do was direct the brewing and, when it came time to seal the jars, blend in the Imperial Flowing Essence Balls she had prepared.
Even after accounting for the wine she gave away, there was still plenty left to sell.
She and Ji Yan’an were partners. She brewed the wine, while Ji Yan’an provided the shop and handled the sales.
They split the profits evenly.
Ji Yan’an still had to pay others their shares and cover wages and other expenses, however.
All Jiang Yunsui had to do was brew the wine, then lie back in comfort and collect her silver.
At the same time, good news came from the glass workshop: they had successfully made colored glass.
They had even produced a finished piece.
The moment Jiang Yunsui heard the news, she went with Ji Yan’an to see it.
The finished piece was a peach.
The plump glass peach had subtle gradations of red from top to bottom.
Crystal clear and shimmering in the sunlight, it was beautiful from every angle.
It was also rather heavy.
That was because the peach was solid glass.
“Pretty! So pretty!”
It was more than good enough to serve as an ornament.
Ji Yan’an asked, “Can you make the flowers of the Twelve Flower Deities before the New Year?”
Cold sweat sprang out on Master Yang’s forehead.
“That… would be rather difficult.”
Jiang Yunsui held the peach as she listened to them talk.
Ji Yan’an said, “Then make two of them first. Make them exquisite and imposing.”
Master Yang nodded again and again. “That we can do.”
“Li Yunniang will discuss everything else with you from now on.”
Li Yunniang managed the commercial ventures under him, but she could no longer handle everything alone.
Glass, wine, and the cloth produced by Jiang Yunsui’s textile workshop could all be sold, and each brought in substantial profits.
There was too much for Li Yunniang to manage by herself.
After thinking it over, Ji Yan’an decided to recruit two more shopkeepers.
He could not place everything in a single person’s hands, either.
With a plan in mind, he prepared to return home.
“Ji Yan’an, I want this one.”
Jiang Yunsui hugged the glass peach to her chest.
Ji Yan’an nodded. “All right.”
Delighted, she followed him home.
As soon as Ji Yan’an returned, he sent word for Li Yunniang to come back. At the same time, he began considering whether anyone nearby was capable of serving as a shopkeeper.
“Ji Yi, go get Ji Qi.”
If he remembered correctly, Ji Qi was excellent at arithmetic and had an adaptable personality.
Jiang Yunsui paid no attention to Ji Yan’an’s business. She carried the peach back to her room.
She found a celadon plate and set the peach on it.
Then she went to fetch Ji Yang so they could admire her new ornament together.
The two little girls gathered around the glass peach and chattered away.
Jiang Yunsui said, “I’m going to ask Master Yang to make a pretty mushroom, a peach blossom tree, a white deer, a fox…”
Counting on her fingers, she listed every one of her good friends from her previous life.
She even began drawing designs for them.
Her drawing skills had become quite good by now, and she could render everything she imagined beautifully on paper.
Ji Yang looked at the stack of drawings.
“There are so many. Can they really make all of these?”
“This deer is so beautiful.”
Jiang Yunsui nodded. “That’s right! His name is Bai Xian, and he’s incredible.”
“This peach tree is enormous. Its roots could spread beneath the entire Ji Mansion, and it’s so tall it blocks out the sky and sun.”
“Her name is Tao Yao. She loves having lots of little animals play on her branches, and the fruit she grows is incredibly, incredibly delicious.”
Ji Yang listened intently, but she was puzzled.
“These animals and plants all have names. Little Aunt, do you know them?”
Jiang Yunsui paused, then nodded.
“That’s right. Let me tell you, they’re all spirits, and I’m a spirit too!”
Ji Yang exclaimed in wonder.
“Spirits can all use magic, right? Little Aunt, can you?”
Jiang Yunsui raised her chin proudly. “Of course. My special ability is growing lots and lots of mushrooms. I can also make plants produce more and taste better.”
Ji Yang obligingly clapped her hands.
“Little Aunt is amazing.”
Jiang Yunsui giggled.
Of course, when Jiang Yunsui brought all those drawings to the glass workshop, Master Yang and the others looked as miserable as could be.
“Miss, there are far too many things here. We can make some of them, but there are others we still can’t make yet.”
Jiang Yunsui said, “That’s all right. I’m just showing them to you first. You can make them when you’re not busy.”
She was in no hurry.
Everyone immediately breathed a sigh of relief at her words.
Even so, they kept Jiang Yunsui’s request firmly in mind.
Once they finished the tasks assigned by Young Master Ji, they planned to have the two craftsmen most skilled at making glass ornaments work on her designs.
The glass workshop had been established entirely because of Jiang Yunsui. Thanks to her, these craftsmen were highly valued, earned more money, and had even learned such an important craft.
Naturally, none of them were ingrates. They understood gratitude, so whenever Jiang Yunsui asked for something, they did everything they could to fulfill her request.
Besides, the little girl was kindhearted and had never made things difficult for them.
Sometimes, when they encountered a problem, they even had to ask her for help.
She occasionally found it annoying, but she never scolded them.
If she did not know the answer, she would pretend not to hear, cover her ears, and run away.
If she did know, she would answer them.
Who could possibly dislike such a wonderful master and employer?
After leaving the drawings behind, Jiang Yunsui skipped away.
It was time to visit the estate again.
The wooden barrels for brewing had already been delivered there, and the grapes on the estate were almost ripe.
“Let’s go, let’s go! Off to the estate!”
As soon as word arrived that the grapes were ripe and ready to pick, Jiang Yunsui invited Ji Yan’an, Ji Yang, and the others to visit the estate together.
“Put on your veiled hats. Don’t get tanned.”
Eldest Aunt reminded them from behind with a smile.
Jiang Yunsui was not worried at all. “It’s fine. I don’t tan.”
With so many people going, they needed several carriages.
The weather was hot, so each carriage was equipped with an ice chest.
The women held delicate round silk fans, while the men carried folding fans. As they gently waved them, they dispelled some of the stifling heat and looked elegant doing so.
The moment the carriages reached the estate, Jiang Yunsui jumped straight down.
Old Madam Ji laughed. “Just look at her, scampering about like a wild little monkey.”
“Honestly, you don’t act like a young lady at all. Once you’re a little older, you mustn’t behave like this in front of outsiders.”
Jiang Yunsui knew the old woman only wanted what was best for her, so she nodded repeatedly.
“I know. I have to put on an act in front of outsiders, or people will speak badly of me. I might not care, but I still don’t like hearing those things.”
After all, who enjoyed hearing others speak ill of them?
“But I can gossip about the people who don’t like me too.”
Old Madam Ji lightly tapped her on the forehead.
“You little rascal.”
She did not lecture her further.
In fact, she thought this was rather good. At least the child would not let herself be taken advantage of.
Jiang Yunsui supported one of Old Madam Ji’s arms. Ji Yan’an stood unhurriedly on the old woman’s other side, supporting her other arm as they slowly walked into the estate.