Chapter 510. Loyal Servant (1/2)
When he went to attend court the next day, he handed in his assignment and immediately asked for orders to go to the Xishan Barracks. He even declined the short break that the emperor gave him. He didn’t even stay in the capital for a moment, as if there was a vicious dog chasing behind him.
As a result, when Zhu Junyang’s aunt and pretty younger cousin came to visit the Prince Jing’s Estate, he was already at the Xishan Barracks and leading a group of recruits, who had just joined the army this spring, to train in the mountains. When he occasionally returned to the capital, he would either be accompanying his mother or staying beside Xiaocao. He didn’t give the ‘little green plum’ any chance to get close to him at all, lest a certain vinegar jar got flipped over.
After corn and potatoes were planted in the fields, it was time for summer. No matter if it was the Imperial Plantation or the fruit orchard, there were special personnel managing the fields. From time to time, Xiaocao would go to check on things at the scene. At other times, she just stayed at home, eating a bowl of iced fruits.
On this day, Yingtao, who was in charge of the pharmaceutical workshop, and Yangliu, who was responsible for the back kitchen of the braised food stores, came together. After they greeted the young miss, Yingtao took out the account book for this quarter and showed it to her young miss, “Young Miss, our pharmaceutical workshop is too small. We’re incapable of supplying the capital and all the surrounding counties because the medical pills and liquid are always short in supply. Should we expand the scale of the workshop?”
“Expand the scale? The workshop in the capital has only been in production for less than half a year, yet the production scale needs to be expanded again? Yingtao, aren’t you too dedicated to your work?” Yu Xiaocao couldn’t help but marvel. If this girl lived in modern times, she would definitely be a career woman.
Yingtao’s lips pursed into a smile. The affirmation from her mistress made her feel as if she had drunk an ice-cold drink during the hottest period of the summer—the coolness went to the bottom of her heart. She humbly replied, “It’s not that this servant is capable. When Young Miss was in Dongshan Village, you formulated a set of production rules and procedures. As long as the medicinal materials are ready and workers take charge of their own jobs, this servant just needs to control the ratio of the medicines, which is very easy to handle. Young Miss, you probably don’t know but many spies from other medicinal herb stores have infiltrated into our workshop. They worked for us for a long time, but all of them failed to accomplish their task. Young Miss, how can you be so wise as to come up with such an effective method of production? It’s seriously such a good way to keep a secret!”
Yu Xiaocao casually flipped through the account book. This quarter’s production volume was higher than the previous quarter. This was expected since, during the last quarter, the workers were all novices and still needed more practice. The output was a bit lower than Dongshan Village’s, but they soon caught up during this quarter.
“What’s more, the reward system that you set up—get more pay for more work done—has aroused the enthusiasm of the workers. Several managers were given some shares of the pharmaceutical workshop, so they wished that they could stay in the workshop for 24 hours a day. They’re working very hard!”
Yingtao became increasingly excited as she spoke, gesturing with her hands and feet. If the managers working under her saw like this, they would definitely be shocked. Head Manager Yingtao, who was usually very dignified and steady, actually had such a lively side. It was only in front of her young miss that Yingtao would only reveal the truest and purest side of herself.
Yu Xiaocao had Yingchun to serve a bowl of fruit shaved ice to Yingtao and Yangliu. Yingtao, who was just in high spirits, immediately stooped down and covered her stomach, sighing, “Master, this servant can’t eat cold food these few days. It’s such a torture to not be able to eat cold food in hot weather. This servant misses the fruit shaved ice made by Master. But, when I try to make it myself, I can never get the right taste.”
Yangliu took the bowl, but she didn’t immediately eat it. With her head lowered, she looked at the shaved ice in the bowl and muttered, “There’s peach, watermelon, cantaloupe, and cherries. Are there cherries in this season?”
Yingchun replied with a grin, “Older Sister Yangliu, the peaches, cherries, and strawberries are all preserved canned fruits. Young Miss said that it will taste better with the canned fruits. Young Miss also said that, when she has time, she will teach us how to make ice cream. The strawberry milk ice cream and vanilla ice cream that the young miss made last time were so delicious!”
Yangliu hesitated for a moment, and then she finally lifted her head to look at Xiaocao. She said in a soft but firm tone, “Young Miss, this servant wants to leave the braised food store!”
“What? Are you not happy working in the braised food store? Or is there someone bullying you? Tell me, I’ll support you!” Yu Xiaocao had noticed that Yangliu seemed to have some concerns on her mind, but she didn’t expect her to make such a request.
“No, no one is bullying me. The braised food store is already on track now, and the head chef in the kitchen is experienced so he doesn’t need me to guide him. Now, it doesn’t matter whether this servant is at the braised food store or not.” Yangliu felt that she had become unnecessary to the braised food store. Every day, she just symbolically wandered around the kitchen twice.
No matter if it was braising meat, or making all kinds of roasted ducks, roasted chickens, and smoked meat, her guidance wasn’t needed anymore. She had become a dispensable existence. Her job was too easy compared with Yingtao, and thus her ambitiousness gradually eroded.
“Then…do you have some other plans in mind? Let me hear about it!” Yu Xiaocao wanted to create opportunities for the people around her so that they could discover their own specialties and do the things that they liked. Weren’t Yingtao and Hechun both very passionate with their work? When Yangliu served by her side, she liked to cook. Thus, she sent her to manage the back kitchen of the braised food shop in the capital. She hadn’t expected that this wasn’t what she wanted.