Tomorrow was the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Steward Jia personally brought a large batch of produce from the farm estate to the Prince Zhao Mansion.
Among them were two large baskets full of plump, delicious crabs.
Hua Manman’s mouth watered as she looked at the crabs.
Feihua Zhenren floated over like a ghost behind her and said languidly, "Crabs are a ’cold’ food. Pregnant women shouldn’t eat too many."
Hua Manman’s gaze gradually turned resentful.
’This is the only time of year to eat such plump, delicious crabs, but I can’t have any! Dammit!’
Feihua Zhenren rubbed his chubby little hands and said expectantly, "I love crabs. I can help you take care of all of them, and I guarantee not a single one will go to waste."
Since Hua Manman couldn’t eat them herself, she had no intention of letting the fat crane have them for free.
"I can’t eat them, but the Prince can."
Feihua Zhenren tried to reason with her. "The Prince can’t eat this many crabs by himself, can he?"
Hua Manman retorted, "Who said I was going to let the Prince eat them all by himself?
I plan to send some back to the Zhong’an Bo Mansion for my parents and younger brothers to try.
Then I’ll send some to the Duke Zhen Country Mansion for Princess Rouwan.
Oh, and I also have to send some over to Princess Ningyang to show my respect."
Feihua Zhenren counted on his fingers. After a round of gifts like that, there wouldn’t be many crabs left for him.
He really wanted to cry!
Just then, Gao Shan came over to ask how the Mid-Autumn Festival gifts should be sent.
Hua Manman told him to divide the two baskets of crabs, pick out the biggest ones, and add some seasonal fruits, fresh mooncakes, and two large jars of osmanthus wine. They were to be packed together and sent to the Zhong’an Bo Mansion, the Duke Zhen Country Mansion, and the Grand Princess Residence.
It wasn’t much, but it was the thought that counted.
Gao Shan accepted the orders and left, having the items Steward Jia had brought carried away at the same time.
Hua Manman had Steward Jia distribute mooncakes and pork to the tenant farmers on the estate so that everyone could have a good festival.
Now that the oil-pressing workshop and Pear Blossom Snacks were both profitable, Hua Manman had money in hand and felt secure, making her quite generous with the benefits she provided.
Steward Jia thanked her profusely, showering them with praise as if words were free, extolling Prince Zhao and Princess Consort Zhao to the high heavens.
Only at the very end did he cautiously bring up the matter of Lan Xuan.
"Ever since Miss Lan Xuan came to the estate, she has been managing the accounts with utmost diligence.
Although the young lady is blind, she is extremely fast at accounting.
With the help of that girl, Jin Ling’er, the two of them now keep the accounting office in perfect order.
When the two of them learned that I was coming to deliver festival gifts to the Prince and Princess Consort today, they specifically begged me to bring them along.
I was wondering if the Princess Consort would be willing to see them?"
Hua Manman said quickly, "Have them come in at once."
A moment later, Jin Ling’er walked in, supporting Lan Xuan.
Though it had only been half a year since she had last seen them, both girls had grown taller and were becoming more and more graceful.
They greeted Princess Consort Zhao, then presented her with a sachet and a pouch they had sewn by hand as Mid-Autumn Festival gifts.
The sachet was made by Lan Xuan.
Because she was blind, she couldn’t embroider any patterns on the surface, but the fragrant herbs inside were all carefully selected by her.
The faint scent of osmanthus was very pleasant and just right for wearing in the autumn.
The pouch was made by Jin Ling’er. On the surface of the apricot-white pouch, a branch of osmanthus stretched out diagonally, its petals scattering, all embroidered with lifelike detail.
Hua Manman attached the sachet and pouch to her person on the spot and said with a smile,
"You’re so thoughtful. I love them."
Lan Xuan and Jin Ling’er were both delighted to see that the Princess Consort liked what they had made.
Jin Ling’er was lively and outgoing. She took the initiative to talk about some interesting things that happened on the estate, turning to ask Lan Xuan from time to time with phrases like, "Right?", "Don’t you think so too?", and "You heard about that too, didn’t you?"
Lan Xuan listened attentively the whole time and answered just as earnestly.
It was clear that the two young girls got along very well.
Hua Manman was quite gratified.
She asked if the two of them wanted to stay for lunch before leaving.
Jin Ling’er quickly waved her hands. "Thank you for your kindness, Princess Consort, but we have to go shopping later, so we don’t have enough time. We’ll come and trouble you another day."
After speaking, she scratched her head in embarrassment, afraid the Princess Consort would be offended.
Worried that the two young girls might get lost in the city, Hua Manman couldn’t help but ask, "What are you going to buy? Would you like me to send someone with you?"
Jin Ling’er replied, "We want to buy some books, as well as brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Steward Jia will take us later, so there’s no need to trouble the Princess Consort."
Hua Manman was very curious. "Are you planning to study?"
Jin Ling’er answered honestly, "I want my younger brother to study."
’It just dawned on me,’ Hua Manman thought. ’If this were the modern era, Jin Sinian would still be in elementary school. He really should be studying hard.’
’Actually, it isn’t just Jin Sinian. Jin Ling’er, Lan Xuan, and many other children on the estate are of school age. I can’t let them waste their time. It seems the matter of building a school has to be put on the agenda.’
After Jin Ling’er and Lan Xuan left, Hua Manman ran to find Li Ji to discuss building a school.
Hua Manman was prepared for Li Ji to think she was just stirring up trouble. After all, few people these days would build a school for a group of unrelated tenant farmers; it was a purely thankless task.
However, Li Ji didn’t ask a single question and said casually, "I’ll have someone purchase the building materials in a bit.
There’s no need to hire bricklayers and plasterers. Just let the tenant farmers handle it themselves.
They built the houses they live in, so building a school shouldn’t be a problem.
Once they’ve built the school, I’ll find a few teachers to teach there."
Hua Manman stared at him in a daze.
Li Ji raised an eyebrow. "Why are you staring at me so blankly?"
Hua Manman asked, "Why didn’t you ask me why I want to build a school?"
Li Ji gave a casual laugh. "It’s just building a school, isn’t it? Why ask about such a small thing? As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters."
Hua Manman threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and nuzzling her face against his chest.
"You’re so good to me!"
Li Ji wrapped his arms around her in turn and huffed softly. "Are you only just realizing today how good I am to you?"
Hua Manman looked up and gave him a silly grin.
"Can I make one tiny request, then?"
Li Ji was magnanimous. "Go ahead."
Hua Manman said, "Can you hire a female teacher for the school? I want the girls on the estate to be able to study at the school too, and it would be more convenient if there was a female teacher."
She had a wonderful vision, but Li Ji mercilessly poured cold water on her idea.
"Even if there is a female teacher at the school, the tenant farmers might not be willing to send their daughters to study."
Hua Manman was confused. "Why?"
Li Ji didn’t answer her question directly. Instead, he had someone summon Chen Wangbei.
He had Chen Wangbei answer.