Qin Liu Xi almost returned empty-handed when she left the mansion. However, when she came back, she had several large boxes with her. One contained the consultation fee from this visit, another held the Jade Skin Flower from the Longevity Pavilion, and there was also a box of Phoenix Spirit Flowers.
Qihuang greeted her when she returned, saying with a smile, "Miss seems to have had a great time on this trip."
Qin Liu Xi's eyes curved. "You can tell?"
"Of course, your smile is reaching your ears," Qihuang teased.
Once inside, Qin Liu Xi said, "The Qian family is quite generous. I gained two merits this time, and Mr. Qian readily handed over the two thousand taels for the consultation fee."
As Qihuang poured water, she said, "In my opinion, if Miss is willing to intervene, two thousand taels is still too little."
With merits involved, how could it be a small matter?
Qin Liu Xi took the tea Qihuang handed her and watched as Chen Pi placed everything on the table. Then she said, "Take half of this consultation fee and have someone deliver it to the temple."
"Oh, Miss is being conscientious. The temple master will surely be pleased," Qihuang chuckled.
Qin Liu Xi sighed as she touched the box. "Can I not be? The Five Vices and Three Deficiencies are there. If I even slightly deviate, it will immediately come true, faster than anyone else. Why should I suffer that punishment?"
She suspected that Heaven was deliberately targeting her. There were cultivators in the world, yet why was she being treated so rigorously just because she was not seeking progress?
Qihuang divided the money and said, "That's right. With your diligence, how much money can't you earn?"
"Mm." Qin Liu Xi looked at the silver and said, "Keep the rest for now. Later, let Uncle Li use this money to procure everything we need for the autumn and winter, whether it's grains, cloth, medicinal herbs, oh, and charcoal. With so many people at home now, we need to prepare a large quantity of these things in advance."
"Miss, are you taking charge like the mistress of the house from that side?" Qihuang asked.
Qin Liu Xi replied, "Their money is also limited and needs to be used in many places, so it's not enough. Autumn in Li City is short, and winter comes quickly. If we don't prepare winter clothes and other things early, and if everyone catches cold one by one, that would be a big problem."
"I'm afraid they'll take advantage of your kindness."
"If they really do, it depends on whether I'm willing to give them the opportunity and this money," Qin Liu Xi said coldly.
Qihuang thought to herself that this was indeed true. Her master's ideas were always right.
What she was willing to give, she didn't care about at all. But what she wasn't willing to give, she wouldn't give it to them even if they threw it into the Li River.
"The Qian family does business and has a shop at Dongping Street called Qian's Trading House. Let Uncle Li go there to purchase cloth and other goods. We should be able to get reliable goods there," Qin Liu Xi instructed.
Qihuang felt that something was wrong. "Miss, your instructions sound like you're going on a long journey?"
Qin Liu Xi grinned. "You can't hide anything from you."
"Where are you going? For how many days? Let me pack."
"Ningzhou Prefecture," Qin Liu Xi said. "I'm not sure how many days. You know Ningzhou is far away, so just pack two sets of clothes for changing. Nothing else is needed."
She had always traveled light, and Qihuang knew that. So, she agreed.
"Also, you don't need to accompany me this time. Chen Pi will be enough," Qin Liu Xi said.
Qihuang frowned. "How can that be? Chen Pi is rough and unrefined. How can she serve you well? I must go with you."
The epidemic was more severe than in previous years, and everyone must take care!