Everyone in the Su family moved quickly. Within half a day, each and every one had packed up their bags. The sleepless night where everyone had different thoughts was finally over. In the morning of early spring, the weather was misty and dim. Su Family's two horse carriages and five mule carts had already lined up neatly at the gate of Su's house. Everyone in Su Family moved quietly and swiftly did a final check before leaving.
Su Family's masters were still saying goodbye in the front yard: "You Jin, Mother is really worried about you and You Zhu staying in Luohe Prefecture. What if..."
Mrs. Su tightly held the hands of the two daughters and refused to let go. She wished to take the two daughters away with them: "Money isn't important. Mother just hopes that our family can be well."
With the other free hand, You Jin patted Mrs. Su lightly, and comforted softly: "Mother, don't worry. There are Uncle Song and a few guards at home. Nothing will happen."
All of Su Family's foundation was in Luohe Prefecture. Luohe Prefecture was the most important pass in the north of Dafeng's capital. If Luohe Prefecture is breached, Northern ethnic's cavalry will be able to attack the capital in a short time. His Majesty won't let Luohe Prefecture fall.
You Jin wanted to take this gamble. But she can't let the whole family take the risk with her. Just in case, the Northern ethnic really reached here, Chaxiang might be spared as it was remote. For the safety of the family, You Jin still decided to stay by herself and not let the whole family be at risk.
"That's right, Mother. Don't worry, Eldest Sister is the best fighter among us. She will be fine." You Zhu, who looked half similar to You Jin, jollily stood by You Jin and comforted Mrs. Su: "Mother can go to Chaxiang for a short stay without worry. Wait for Eldest Sister and I to pick you up."
"Your eldest sister is very skilled. While you are the laziest. You dare to holler to stay?" Irked, Mrs. Su glared at You Zhu: "Among you sisters, you are the most rebellious!"
You Zhu stuck out her tongue in retaliation. Lowering her head, she leaned against Eldest Sister and did not speak. That's because she knew that Eldest Sister would speak for her. Since she was little, she had always listened to Eldest Sister. But this time no one could persuade her. She was determined to stay in Luohe Prefecture with Eldest Sister.
You Jin smiled and said: "Mother, don't worry, You Zhu is smart. Nothing will happen. Besides, if something happens, I'm still here. I will take good care of You Zhu." Initially You Jin didn't plan to keep You Zhu in Luohe Prefecture, but she had a quarrel with her last night. After begging and promising, You Jin compromised. The mother and daughters talked for a long time. Only when Leader Guard Xiao came to report that everything was ready, Mrs. Su reluctantly took the rest of the children into the carriage and set off for Chaxiang.
At the side, Mrs. Han also quietly wiped away her tears a few times. She had finally reunited with her few children, but now they were about to separate again. She couldn't help instructing over and over again: "Your sister is heavily pregnant now. Wen Sheng, you are the eldest son. You have to take good care of your elder sister and younger brother when Mother is away."
Initially, You Jin told Mrs. Han to go to Luohe Prefecture with them, but Mrs. Han insisted on staying. Due to this, only You He, her two sister-in-laws from Liu Family and Wen Sheng brothers went to Chaxiang.
Mrs. Han/You Jin took You Zhu and stood at the gate of Su's house and watched the convoy slowly disappear into the early morning before dawn. They didn't circle back into Su's house until the last mule cart was nowhere to be seen. You Jin needed to properly re-arrange the family's big and small affairs.
Sitting at the head of the main courtyard, You Jin looked at the servants and guards standing in two rows with burning eyes, and announced: "Since everyone is willing to stay in Luohe Prefecture and advance and retreat with our Su family, I assure you guys now that if Northern Ethnic really reach here. I will never give up on anyone. If someone unfortunately dies, my Su Family will not ignore and leave their family on their own."
Most of the people staying in Luohe Prefecture at this time were young and middle-aged men and a few kitchen women, as well as personal maids who usually serve Eldest Miss and Third Miss. The rest were the three of Su Family's guards left by Xiao Family and a temporary guard team composed of five guards trained this year.
Among the people left behind, except for Xiao Family's guard who had actually seen blood, the rest of them were originally peaceful ordinary people who were born in a stable era. How could they possibly have experienced wars?
But they were grateful to Su Family and Eldest Miss. It was the Su family who bought them back and provided them with food and clothing. Although Madam and other misses had left now, the backbone of Su Family had always been Eldest Miss! Everyone responded in unison: "Eldest Miss, don't worry!"
As long as Eldest Miss was there, they had confidence in their hearts.
"Although there are fewer people in the family now, everyone still has to perform their duties. As for the guard team, Guard Lin will temporarily serve as the leader guard. Eight people will be divided into four groups. Every day, there must be people on patrol 24 hours. In addition, after nightfall, the gates of all places must be locked earlier." You Jin methodically assigned the work at home one by one. Although everyone was a little nervous, they felt as if they had consumed a reassurance pill when seeing Eldest Miss's calm appearance. Once the tasks were assigned, they went to work.
As the battle on the front line was getting more and more stalemate, and the prices in Luohe Prefecture were soaring all the way. Fortunately, Su Family had already stored enough food, both in the shop and at home. Their business had also been greatly affected. Their daily income was now less than a quarter of what it was before the war.
***
"It's a mess everywhere now," Bai Zhi stood behind the counter of the shop, looking helplessly at the passers-by passing by outside. Anxiousness and helplessness brewed in her heart.
Bai Zhi can be regarded as an old staff member of Su Family. The maids working in the shop knew that Eldest Miss and Third Miss wouldn't leave and all offered to stay in Luohe Prefecture with them. It had been more than ten days now. The war in the north seemed to have reached a stalemate. Actually, this was good news for the citizens of Luohe Prefecture.
It was rare for You Zhu to come out from the back kitchen to the front shop. Seeing that Bai Zhi and Qiu Nai were a little listless, she cheerfully spoke: "It's such a beautiful day and you two are sighing. Aren't you afraid that Eldest Sister will come back soon?"
Seeing Third Miss come out, Bai Zhi and Qiu Nai quickly put away the expression on ther face and replaced it with a smiling face: "Third Miss spare the servant girl, the servant girl knows her mistake."
Bai Zhi and Qiu Nai can be regarded as watching Third Miss grow up from a little girl to a graceful teen girl. Although the boundaries between master and servant among the three were clear, there was still some friendship and closeness.
"What are you talking about? I heard your laughter from outside the door." The three of them were talking when the smiling You Jin came back from outside. Today she wore a pair of twelve broken fairy skirts with peach blossom embroidery paired with a white narrow-sleeved jacket with a pattern of twining lotuses. It complemented the already beautiful girl and made her even more bright and stunning.
"Eldest Miss (Eldest Sister)." Seeing You Jin come back, the three of them stopped laughing. Bai Zhi and Qiu Nai stood with their hands down, while You Zhu came up to her: "Eldest Sister, are you done?"
You Zhu knew that Eldest Sister had gone out for a discussion today. Unexpectedly, she returned after half an hour. Looking at Eldest Sister's smiling expression, things must have gone well.
Taking a sip of the thorn rose honey water that Qiu Nai brought over, early spring coldness was dispelled. You Jin sighed comfortably and handed the cup back to Qiu Nai before the two sisters went up to the wing room on the second floor.
"What did Eldest Sister do today?" Seeing Eldest Sister's unfathomable expression, You Zhu's curiosity was aroused and obediently sat next to You Jin.
You Jin took out a few sheets of thin paper from her pocket, put them on the table, looked at You Zhu with a smile, "Why don't you look at it and find out?"
You Zhu didn't doubt her, picked up the papers on the table and carefully looked at them. Finally, she raised her head to look at You Jin in doubt: "This many deeds! How much does it cost? Eh? What is this? "
She knew it was property deeds. One of which was for a two-story shop facing the street in the city's east side. The other three were located in Huaishu Alley and Anqian Street in the city's east side. Among them, the one in Huaishu Alley was a triple entry house. As for the two houses on Anqian Street were double entry houses. But why were her and Second Elder Sister's names written on these two sheets?
You Jin carefully put away the four house deeds back in her pockets. She grinned at You Zhu and said, "Your second elder sister will get married in two years. It's time to prepare the dowry. Once your second elder sister is married, next is your turn, no?"
Although she felt it was too early to get married at the age of fifteen or sixteen, but this was the norm in this era. She can only do her best to protect them: "No matter when, it's better when things like money are in your own hands."
"I don't want it. Eldest Sister keep it for You Ling, You Luo, and the others." In a puff, You Zhu looked at You Jin: "There is no good man in this world. I would rather coil my hair and be a nun than wrong myself because of these stinky men!"
Irked, You Jin poked her forehead: "What nonsense? No matter whether you want to marry in the future, you deserve these things. Anyone in this world can betray you, only money and property deeds can't."
You Jin knew that You Zhu was largely influenced by the people of Yue Family. That was why You Zhu thought that men in this world weren't good people. So she didn't say much. Anyway, the house deeds had already been exchanged.
"Eldest Sister!" You Zhu simply sat closer, grabbed her arm and kept shaking it coquettishly: "I don't want to get married! Can't I guard the shop at home!"
"Out of all the sisters, you are the most rebellious." You Jin was tortured to the point that she had no intention of forcing her younger sister. So she budged, "Fine. If you really don't meet someone you like in the future, then don't marry."
Anyway, with the family conditions, You Jin had already planned to start a family business for each of them no matter whether they were going to marry or not. If You Zhu is forced to marry off, maybe she will hate her for the rest of her life!
You Zhu wasn't surprised when such shocking words came out of You Jin's mouth. On the contrary, she was very grateful: "Thank you Eldest Sister!"
As long as Eldest Sister stood by her side, she would not be afraid no matter how angry Mother would be.
The two sisters chatted for a long time before You Zhu wandered back to the back kitchen, leaving You Jin alone in the second floor wing room to count the accounts during this period.
Due to the war on the front line, prices in Luohe Prefecture have soared. However, the house prices had been greatly reduced. This time, the street facing shop bought by You Jin was only 80% of the pre-war prices. The houses were even cheaper. Those people were afraid of the Northern Ethnic reaching and wished to sell them cheaply. She bought three houses with only 70% of the market price.
After recording the nearly 3,000 taels of expenditure in the account, You Jin counted the money left at home. Finally, she closed the account book, sat on the bed by the window facing the street, and watched the people coming and going outside in the market. She thought to herself, wealth sought in danger. Hope the current emperor won't let her down.