"Madam?"
The address from Li Dagui snapped Madame Wang out of her reverie. She looked over calmly and smiled faintly, "I was lost in thought for a moment."
Li Dagui nodded respectfully.
"Mr. Li, you've been with our Qin family for many years now. We've relied on your family to manage this old estate, take care of Miss Qin, and it's been quite a toil," Madame Wang expressed with gratitude.
Li Dagui bowed slightly, humbly replying, "Madam, it's what we ought to do."
Madame Wang continued, "As you know, the Qin family now isn't the same as before, with only servants from the capital city. Some have been dismissed. People always strive for higher positions. Mr. Li, you..."
Li Dagui immediately knelt down, saying, "Madam, our family has been serving at the old estate for many years and looking after Miss Qin. From the bottom of our hearts, we regard Miss Qin as our mistress. No matter rich or poor, life or death, we will always serve her faithfully."
Madame Wang raised an eyebrow.
Serve Miss Qin, not the Qin family.
In professing loyalty, Li Dagui had also made it clear who their true master was.
Qin Luoxi had managed to win over this entire family. No wonder Aunt Li and the others always defended Qin Luoxi and put her first.
Madame Wang wasn't displeased. If Qin Luoxi could win over this family, it was her skill. Others could try to snatch, but it all came down to ability.
Madame Wang glanced at the courtyard full of goods, saying, "You may rise. It's clear that you and your family are loyal to Miss Luoxi. That's why she entrusted these matters to you."
Li Dagui smiled and got up from the ground.
"Just as the saying goes, sitting idle leads to nothing. Though Miss Luoxi has this intention, our entire family cannot rely solely on her. Mr. Li, my mother and I have discussed it and plan to buy a few acres of good farmland in your name. Renting it out will yield some grain, reducing our reliance on spending silver everywhere. What do you think?" Madame Wang proposed.
Li Dagui considered for a moment before replying, "Madam, the matter was mentioned to me by Qihuang as well. Good farmland near Licheng has already been taken up, and the prices are high, around eleven or twelve taels per acre. If we look a bit further, to Qinghe County, although it's farther away, there's fertile land due to the river. On average, it's around eight or nine taels per acre, or even six or seven taels further away. With a few hundred taels of silver, we could acquire several dozen acres of farmland with ponds, gardens, and fertile fields. However, it won't be as prominent as Licheng."
Madame Wang was somewhat surprised by the high prices.
"True, Qinghe County might be a good choice. Although it's farther away from Licheng, we won't attract as much attention there," she pondered.
This meant that if the Qin family bought a small farm, using someone else's name, and it wasn't watched over everywhere in Licheng, there wouldn't be too many incidents.
"You've thought it through quite thoroughly. Find an opportunity to go to Qinghe and see if there are any suitable small farms available. If there are, and the prices are reasonable, go ahead and buy them," Madame Wang made up her mind immediately.
"Understood."
Li Dagui agreed, but hesitated for a moment before adding, "There is one more matter."
"Oh? What is it?"
Li Dagui replied, "You instructed me to deliver an invitation to the Ding family in Babao Alley. Their gatekeeper said it was unfortunate timing. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the magistrate in Ningzhou Prefecture expressed a desire to visit Mrs. Ding. So, Mrs. Ding has been taken to Ningzhou Prefecture to reunite with him, and it's uncertain when she'll return."
Madame Wang, hearing this, set down the tea she had picked up, her fingers slightly curled. This wasn't unfortunate timing; it was clearly an excuse to evade the invitation.