He Yanxiu came back at night and asked about their Miss with such concern. Qingkui thought that He Yanxiu was probably looking for Su Yujin.

“No need. I still have some things to do. I have to leave now.” He Yanxiu waved his hand. “Tell your Miss tomorrow morning that I will be back in the evening. Tell her to take good care of her illness. If there is anything wrong, ask someone to send a letter to me.”

“Yes, I’ve made note of it,” Qingkui responded quickly.

He Yanxiu said “Hmm” and turned back to his room.

Xing’an hurriedly followed.

The lights in He Yanxiu’s room were on for about an hour and then went out.

The sound of chaotic footsteps was heard again in the courtyard. When Qingkui stood up again, she saw He Yanxiu leading Xing’an and a group of people hurriedly leaving.

Being so busy so late at night, the Second Master must be really hard-working.

However, even though the Second Master was so busy, he still remembered to ask about the Miss’s condition, which showed how much he cared about and loved their Miss.

Her Miss will definitely be loved deeply and live a comfortable and smooth life with the Second Master in the future.

Qingkui fell asleep with a smile on her face. In the morning of the next day, she told Su Yujin that He Yanxiu would come back in the evening and remembered to ask about her condition.

Su Yujin felt happy when she heard this.

The way the Second Master treated his subordinates was really impeccable.

It was so good that if she hadn’t known that the Second Master was a bottom, she would have mistakenly thought that he was interested in her.

She had to work hard for the Second Master in the future.

In the following days, He Yanxiu was busy outside and did not come back, but he sent someone to deliver a message saying that those who were poisoned by copper sulphate had basically recovered and there were no problems.

In the past few days, Kang Shi and Chen Shi often came here.

Kang Shi came to talk to Su Yujin about the progress of the business.

From buying the shop to decorating it and then hiring employees, Kang Shi completed everything at lightning speed. The decoration was rushed day and night, and it could be said that the shop looked different every day.

If they continued at this pace, the shop would be open for business in about half a month.

Chen Shi usually came to see Su Yujin to chat and pass the time, or to give Su Yujin some small gadgets she made herself.

Rouge, powder, or sachets or something like that.

Chen Shi’s needlework skills were excellent, and she even found time to embroider two new handkerchiefs for Su Yujin. On one corner of the handkerchief, she embroidered the word “Jin” in Su Yujin’s name and a simple and elegant orchid.

The reason why orchids were embroidered was that in Chen Shi’s opinion, Su Yujin was dignified and beautiful yet ethereal and elegant, just like the graceful orchids in the mountains, which could still bloom luxuriantly even if exposed to the sun, wind and rain, or ignored.

Chen Shi’s embroidery skills were excellent, and the handkerchief she made was exquisite. Su Yujin happily accepted it but didn’t forget to give Chen Shi a return gift—a batch of tender fish prepared by Ai Cao and Qingkui.

Fresh crucian carp, scrape off the scales, gills and internal organs, add various seasonings and put into a casserole, boil over high heat and simmer over low heat for a full day and night so that the meat and bones of the crucian carp are well-rotten. When you eat it after it cools down, not only is the meat fully flavored, but even the bones taste powdery.

This kind of crispy fish was easy to preserve and had a rich flavor. It was best to eat one fish in one meal as a side dish.

Naturally, Chen Shi accepted it happily.

Soon it was the day when Linglong Pavilion would come to measure for clothes. Two experienced embroiderers who were only in their early twenties came with a few servants and brought clothing patterns and many fashionable fabric samples for Chen Shi and Su Yujin to choose from.

Chen Shi chose two sets of spring clothes and four sets of summer clothes. The styles were quite standard, and the colors were mostly lake blue and emerald green, which were suitable for her age. The fabric used was the latest brocade from Songjiang.

Su Yujin selected two sets of spring and summer clothes and chose simple and elegant colors such as sky blue and smoky colors. Even the embroidery was of the same color and not ostentatious. The material used was Fufeng brocade.

Compared with Yunjin, Fufeng brocade was much softer but less stiff. It was just comfortable to wear, but its texture seemed to be worse than Yunjin. It was only suitable for daily home wear, not for going out or socializing.

Su Yujin felt that as a nominal mistress, she did not need to deal with too many diplomatic matters, and Fufeng brocade, which was so gentle and comfortable, was the most suitable fabric for her.

The two of them selected the fabric and pattern, and the embroiderer measured the size and prepared to leave.

Su Yujin thought for a moment and asked, “Is there any fabric suitable for making men’s clothes?”

She didn’t bring much luggage when she came, and He Yanxiu also didn’t bring much, so he probably didn’t bring enough clothes either.

He Yanxiu treated her kindly, so she should also do her best and pay more attention to his food, clothing, housing and transportation so that he could be more comfortable.

“Yes.” The leading embroiderer, known as Lady Yun, replied with a smile, “But I didn’t bring much this time. Miss, please see if you like any of them. If not, you can go to the shop and choose carefully.”

In many cases, it was the women in wealthy families who made most of the clothes, but in many cases, they would just get excited while choosing and ordering two sets for the men in the family as well.

This was a common occurrence, and Linglong Pavilion was quite experienced in this regard, so every time they visited a client, they would bring some fabrics and patterns suitable for men to wear for selection.

“Let me take a look first.” Su Yujin flipped through the album, selected the fabric, and chose two spring clothes that were suitable for He Yanxiu to wear. She handed a piece of paper to Madam Yun, “Here are the sizes. Just make it according to this.”

These were the size data she had just obtained from having someone measure the clothes in He Yanxiu’s room. The size should be right when she makes them.

“Yes.” Madam Yun took a look at it and put the paper away. “It will take about half a month to make the clothes. I will send them to Madam and Miss immediately after they are finished.”

“Thank you for your help.”

Chen Shi ordered Qiuyue to send the person out.

After Madam Yun and Madam Fang left, the tense mood finally relaxed a little.

“Sister Yun.” Madam Fang frowned. “Madam Qu usually makes clothes with Aunt Kang. Why is she with such a young and beautiful girl today?”

“I don’t know.” Madam Yun thought for a moment and said, “But I heard from other people in Linglong Pavilion that a high-ranking official from the capital came to work with Magistrate Qu and that high-ranking official seemed to have brought his female relatives with him. Perhaps this Miss Su is the female relative of that high-ranking official from the capital, so she is treated with such respect and courtesy by Madam Qu.”

“Since you are a female relative, why are you called a Miss?”

Madam Fang was puzzled.

Shouldn’t it be Madam or Auntie?

“You don’t know this, do you?” Madam Yun smiled, keeping it a secret. “The relationships in the backyard of a noble family are the most complicated. It’s very common to have three wives and four concubines, and even having a few mistresses is not uncommon. This Miss Su has no official status, so I think she is the mistress of that high-ranking official in the capital.”

(End of this chapter)

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