Chapter 359: Chapter 360: Conditioning the Body

Seeing Hu Dong again after more than half a year, Jin Qianqian couldn’t help but worry. He was so tall and thin that she feared a strong gust of wind could blow him away.

"You’ve gotten taller, but why are you so thin?" Jin Qianqian frowned at him. "Have I given you too much to do? Are you overworked?"

Hu Dong knew his own condition. He actually ate a lot at every meal, but he figured his past with Uncle Hu—when meals were irregular, sometimes starving, sometimes full—had likely taken a toll on his body.

"This won’t do," Jin Qianqian said, looking at Hu Dong, who was almost as thin as a piece of paper. She set aside the ledgers he had just handed her. "I’ll have Housekeeper Fu take you to a doctor first. Don’t worry. There are many former Imperial Physicians practicing in clinics here in Shangjing. We’ll definitely get your health back in order."

A warmth spread through Hu Dong’s heart. "Thank you for your concern, Madam. Once I’m done with these matters, I’ll definitely have Housekeeper Hu take me to a clinic for a proper check-up."

"You must go. Your health is no laughing matter." Seeing that he had truly taken her words to heart, Jin Qianqian didn’t press the issue further.

"You’ve worked hard this past year, traveling all over the country." Jin Qianqian lightly patted the thick stack of ledgers before her. Each one represented a shop in a different location.

At that moment, she even began to wonder if she had made the young man work too hard, seeing how it had worn him down to this state.

"Now that you’re in Shangjing, you should take the chance to relax properly. Don’t do any work for the next two months. Focus on recuperating first."

Hearing he was being given a long leave, Hu Dong grew anxious instead. "I don’t need that much time off. There’s still so much to do."

"We’ll listen to what the doctor says. We’ll decide after hearing his advice." Seeing his frail frame, Jin Qianqian felt a pang of guilt. ’I feel like I’m becoming a ruthless exploiter like Zhou Bapi.’

Hu Dong knew the Madam meant well. After handing over the ledgers and contracts, he followed Housekeeper Fu out the door.

"Housekeeper Fu, it’s been a while. You’ve put on some weight."

Jiang Zhongfu patted his belly and said with a hint of regret, "If only all this fat were on you, then everything would be perfect."

Hu Dong replied, "If you’re willing to part with it, Housekeeper Fu, I’d be happy to take it off your hands. Just let me know when you’d like to make the trade."

Jiang Zhongfu was speechless for a moment. "...You’ve become quite the smooth-talker, kid. It seems you’ve done plenty of haggling out there this past year."

"Of course. A lot of deals are sealed with words. I heard Mili often accompanies the Master now?"

Speaking of his son, Jiang Zhongfu’s face filled with pride. "Thanks to the Master and Madam’s favor, the boy is in charge of internal affairs. Ming Feng handles matters outside, and the two of them work very well together."

"That’s really great. One can learn a lot by the Master’s side." He recalled that when he first met the Master and Madam, his own life had been hanging by a thread.

If he hadn’t met the Master on that snowy day, he probably would have met a very different fate.

Jiang Zhongfu deeply agreed. This Chief Steward Hu standing before him had once been a naive boy. After being taught by the Master and Madam, he was now a prominent figure across more than a dozen nearby cities.

What they valued even more was that the Master and Madam knew how to use people’s talents and always treated them with sufficient respect.

On top of that, the Madam had even taken care of their worries about old age, when they would no longer be able to work. What reason did they have not to be loyal?

"We don’t need to take a carriage. There’s a former Imperial Physician who has a clinic at the street corner just ahead. He’s very skilled at nursing people back to health. Looking at your condition, you could definitely use some proper recuperation." Jiang Zhongfu led him to the left.

"I’m troubling you again, Housekeeper Fu."

"Nonsense, don’t be so formal..."

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＆

Jin Qianqian had thought it would be a while before the drama started, but just a few days later, Yang Wenlan brought her the latest news.

"Things are really heating up at the Ning Family’s residence. That Fang Yuan has come to me crying several times, wanting my husband to go over and try to talk some sense into them." Yang Wenlan had been greatly bothered by this lately. "Tell me, who can possibly interfere in something like this?"

Jin Qianqian asked, "So what did you tell her?"

"What else could I say?" Yang Wenlan looked helpless. "It’s their own family’s business, after all. How can we, as outsiders, get involved?

We’ve only interacted a bit more because our husbands are colleagues from the same year. We’re certainly not close enough to meddle in their business of taking a concubine.

But it’s just as you said. Everyone was at the same banquet, and it’s not like he was the only one who got drunk, but Lord Ning just had to be the one to bring trouble home.

I hear the old madam is quite pleased, though. She’s saying they can build a connection with the Minister’s Mansion and is excitedly preparing the bridal chamber at home."

Jin Qianqian said, "I seem to recall that their courtyard is rented, and it isn’t very large. Can they even find a spare room to prepare?"

Yang Wenlan replied, "Fang Yuan was already against it, and the issue with the rooms has made her even more furious.

They only have a few main rooms. The old madam occupies the east wing, she and her husband live in the west wing, and the other one is currently partitioned for their two children.

The other end has been converted into a study. The rest are all side rooms where the servants temporarily stay.

But now, the old madam actually wants to kick the two children out into a side room and clear out their room for the noble concubine.

The wife and concubine would be living a wall apart in the main house. Can you imagine what a mess that will be?"

Jin Qianqian asked, "And which side is Lord Ning on?"

"Hah," Yang Wen Nan scoffed with disdain. "I heard he just puts on a troubled look at home all day, pretending not to take sides, but he’s still letting his blind old mother cause all this trouble.

It’s just that Fang Yuan is too blinded by anger right now to think clearly. Once she sorts things out in her head, there’s probably going to be an even bigger scene."

Although Jin Qianqian disliked the Ning Family’s mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, she didn’t want to see Fang Yuan fall into a trap.

She stroked her chin and said thoughtfully, "Speaking of this daughter of the Xiao Family, I do have some impression of her. Her father, Xiao Yunhai, was originally the Magistrate of Dao City. He was demoted to a seventh-rank county magistrate in a remote place because of the refugee incident.

This concubine-born daughter of the Xiao Family refused to go with him to suffer and instead stayed here in Shangjing, clinging to her official mother and sister.

Two years ago, her official mother arranged a marriage for her, to be the second wife of an official with the surname Niu."

"Ah, she’s been married before?" Yang Wenlan was truly unaware of this twist. "But isn’t she supposed to be Third Young Madam Huang’s sister? How is that possible?"

Jin Qianqian glanced at her. "Do you remember what I told you when I visited your residence the other day?"

"Last time?" Yang Wenlan couldn’t recall immediately.

Jin Qianqian smiled, pressing her lips together. "At the time, your Mr. He even praised that young lady for being quite attractive."

Yang Wenlan immediately knew which incident she was talking about. She had nagged He Nan about it for days, until he promised he wouldn’t dare stare at young ladies again. Only then did she finally let the matter go.

"So, the Xiao Family’s daughter was originally pestering Mr. Gu?" At this, Yang Wenlan looked at Jin Qianqian thoughtfully.

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