125 – The End of the Year Approaches

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Several servants in grey cotton-padded jackets and grey winter hats efficiently carried hampers of vegetables onto the carriage.

White Spot lay on the side of the carriage, two paws playing with a tomato like a ball.

“Which family’s girl?” Qin Mian took a big and red tomato from the hamper and handed it to Lei Chuntao.

“Thank you.” Lei Chuntao’s face was red due to the cold as she took the tomato, but because it was too cold, she took out a handkerchief to wrap it. “It’s the second daughter of Aunt Xiulan, called Xiaoyu.”

“Fellow villager? That’s good.” Qin Mian was surprised. Very few people in Green Mountain Village were willing to find a daughter-in-law or son-in-law in the same village, mainly considering that living in the same village would make it more awkward in case of conflicts between the husband and wife.

It was getting colder and colder, so much so that the white air puffed out when one spoke almost formed icicles. As they chatted, Lei Tie put a hat, a scarf, and gloves on Qin Mian’s body, one by one.

Seeing this, Lei Chuntao was envious and couldn’t help imagining whether her future husband would treat her as well as her eldest brother treat her eldest sister-in-law.

“Xiaoyu is a good-natured girl. She is good to be my fourth sister-in-law.” Lei Chuntao’s eyes had a touch of playfulness, “Mother had mentioned a few girls to Fourth Brother, but he wasn’t interested. Today, as soon as the matchmaker introduced, Fourth Brother agreed!”

Ever since Lei Xiangzhi became a Xiucai, Du Shi was even more supercilious. Qin Mian remembered that Aunt Xiulan’s family was only average, would Du Shi agree?

“Has the date of the marriage been fixed?” asked Qin Mian.

Lei Chuntao said, “Not yet, only passed the first of the six etiquettes¹. I was so happy that I couldn’t help running here to tell Eldest Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law first.”

Qin Mian was just about to tease her if she was anxious to get married because she was so concerned about Lei Xiangli’s marriage, but then he remembered that this was a conservative era. He only smiled and left it at that.

“Are you two going out? I won’t delay you anymore. I’m leaving.” Lei Chuntao waved her hand and quickly ran away.

Lei-Qin Shun then came forward, “Eldest Young Master, Little Young Master. The vegetables and fruits for transport have all been loaded.”

“Set out,” Lei Tie concisely ordered and boarded the exclusive carriage with Qin Mian. White Spot jumped up and looked out from the back window.

The carriage in winter was quite different from that in summer. Thin blankets were hung on all sides of the carriage wall to wholly block the wind. Only one part was reserved at the window to receive the ray of light.

Even so, there was still darkness in the carriage. To remedy it, one could only hang a wind-proof lantern. Qin Mian had an impulse to invent glass. The transparency of glass was good but the manufacturing cost was too high after all.

Lei Tie closed the door and sat down beside Qin Mian.

Lei-Qin Le drove the exclusive carriage at the front, and Lei-Qin Shun drove the carriage with vegetables at the rear. The two carriages drove smoothly out of the village.

On a winter morning, the sun was somber; between the sky and the ground, there seemed to be a layer of gauze, with mist and drizzle. When the biting cold wind blew in fits and starts, the bare branches incessantly shook, bleak and lonesome. The villagers who used to be chatty no longer hung around outside; they closed the doors and windows and stayed at home. Even the chickens hid in the corner with their necks shrunk, and at the sound of the wheels, they jumped up in surprise, so much so that several pieces of chicken feathers fell away with the wind.

Qin Mian had yet perfected his cultivation, so he still felt cold even though he was wearing a woolen hat, scarf, and gloves. Lei Tie stretched out his long arms and embraced Qin Mian. Then, he took off his wife’s gloves and pressed his (QM) hands under both of his overcoat’s armpits.

Face to face, eyes to eyes, both men’s breath entangled together. The atmosphere in the carriage suddenly became ambiguous. Qin Mian’s breathing was a little hurried, but he was unwilling to pull his gaze out of the tenderness within Lei Tie’s eyes.

Lei Tie lowered his head to approach. Soft and warm kisses gently fell on Qin Mian’s forehead, nose, and finally lips, where it was gently licked, nipped, and sucked. Qin Mian also opened his mouth to lick the man’s lips but was caught in a gap, and deep kissing ensued.

The enthusiasm of the two was finally cooled by the fact that they wore too much clothing.

“You’re warm.” Qin Mian leaned comfortably on Lei Tie’s shoulder; his fingers deliberately scratched the man’s armpits. After he acutely sensed that Lei Tie’s body shrinking away and the man then clamped his hands, he burst into a fit of laughter.

Lei Tie’s lips lightly rubbed on his wife’s face, “Eat something?”

Qin Mian shook his head, “No.”

“Ate too little breakfast.” From the space, Lei Tie took out a plate of lovely small steamed meat-filled dumplings, about a dozen, still piping hot.

Qin Mian lay on his stomach, motionless. He opened his mouth and looked at Lei Tie with the corner of his lips dyed in a light color of a smile, revealing his innermost joy and satisfaction.

Lei Tie wiped his hands with a handkerchief and picked up the small steamed meat-filled bun to feed his wife.

“You eat too.”

Lei Tie ate one, and the rest was fed to Qin Mian. After that, he took out a bamboo tube from the space.

Qin Mian refused, “No, I don’t want to grow into a fatty.”

“Won’t.” Lei Tie unfastened the lid and sent the tube to his wife’s lips.

He could only open his mouth and drank two mouthfuls before he shook his head, “No more.”

Lei Tie didn’t force him to drink the rest of the soup. He put away the tube and plate, and held his wife tightly again, not letting a little bit of wind drill in.

“A-Tie, it’s now the twelfth month. When will our shops and workshops be on holiday?”

After Eating Savory Restaurant’s one-year rent expired, Qin Mian decided to continue renting the shop, selling quick meals as before. Since the tenth month, hot and spicy soup, barbecue, and hot pot were added back to the menu.

Lei Tie said, “Double Xiang House and Eating Savory Restaurant close on the 24th of the twelfth month and open on the 8th of the first month; the workshops close on the 24th of the twelfth month and open on 16th of the first month.”

Qin Mian had no objection. “When is the ‘Big Adventure of Sweeping Away the Old and Starting Afresh’?”

“Let Manager Sun send people to inform the Diamond Members and try to arrange it before the New Year.” Lei Tie had a plan in mind. It was very busy this winter, so much so that his wife seemed to be a little thinner. Dealing with the trivial matters earlier could let his wife have a good rest for a few days.

“Alright, I’ll come along with you too.”

“En.”

The two talked about this all the way, and time passed quickly.

The carriage stopped at the gate of Double Xiang House. When the staff saw the “Lei” and “Qin” on the carriage, he quickly came forward.

Qin Mian reluctantly took out his hands from Lei Tie’s armpits. Lei Tie then covered his hands with warm gloves.

Qin Mian asked the staff to take the vegetables to the kitchen. A few baskets of sweet oranges for the Diamond Members were also taken away.

“Wife, I’m going to make rounds.” After Lei Tie said it to Qin Mian, he went to Rugui Building first.

Qin Mian entered the lobby. Manager Sun was still busy behind the counter.

“Manager Sun, you are off work today. Go back earlier and have a rest.”

Manager Sun laughingly said, “Greetings, Little Young Master. Our shop is busy these days, so I won’t be off work today.”

Since he voluntarily offered, Qin Mian would not refuse, “Sure. Thank you for your hard work, Manager Sun. Next year, we will hire an assistant manager. By then, Manager Sun can be more relaxed.”

As soon as Manager Sun heard “assistant manager”, he understood that the two masters were still very appreciative of his ability. He felt grateful and decided to put more effort into work.

“Thank Little Young Master for your consideration.”

Qin Mian asked, “Have some Diamond Members been here recently? If they don’t come, let someone send them the fruits and ask them which day they have free time before the 24th of the twelfth month. It’s almost the end of the year. Double Xiang House is about to launch the ‘Big Adventure of Sweeping Away the Old and Starting Afresh’.”

“Yes.” Manager Sun said, “Nie-gongzi and Mu-gongzi are here today. I’ll let them know in a little while. There is one more thing to report.”

His expression was a little grim. Qin Mian motioned him to go to the lounge.

“Little Young Master, it’s like this. We limit two jars of canned fruits for each person. But yesterday afternoon, I learned that the canned fruits we sold were actually bought by Nie-gongzi. As far as I know, he sold all that he bought to Qingtian Prefecture, with the price of 3 silver taels for each jar. Because he sent different people to buy it, we didn’t notice at the beginning. Please forgive my mistake, Little Young Master.”

Nie Heng was indeed a “profiteer”. Qin Mian shook his head slightly, “So that’s the case. No problem. We have our ‘Glimmer of Paradise’ brand on the jars. Even if he sells it to the capital of the country, he also helps us to promote. But… our main source of customers is around Zhaoyang County, so it’s better to sell it to nearby customers. Even if Nie Heng went to the prefectural capital to give us publicity, people in the prefectural capital might not want to go all the way to Double Xiang House to eat. Therefore, we should not let Nie Heng continue to take advantage.” Nie Heng’s advantages over him and Lei Tie laid in that he was more powerful in business and more flexible in cargo transportation. Qin Mian was very clear about these. The development of their business should be based on the principle of ‘’safety’’; a great many things should not be done in a hurry.

Manager Sun was worried, “Well then, what should we do now?”

Qin Mian thought for a moment. Then, with a sly smile on his face, he said, “From today on, people can only buy the canned fruits with membership cards. If Nie Heng can find the members who bought it and persuade them to resell it to him, then it is his capability.”

Manager Sun praised, “Little Young Master is brilliant.”

On the other end, Lei Tie just crossed the bridge when Nie Heng and Mu Chen came from the opposite side.

“Boss Lei.” Nie Heng cupped his hands and greeted, “Haven’t seen you for a long time.”

Lei Tie nodded, “Hope that you two are well.”

“Thanks to your lucky influence²,” said Nie Heng.

“Boss Lei and Boss Qin have always been inseparable.” Mu Chen came forward at this time and looked behind Lei Tie. “Since Boss Lei is here, Boss Qin must have come too. May I know where is he now? We want to talk with him about a business we have.”

Lei Tie looked at him, “Same as talking with me.”

Mu Chen was taken aback, not knowing how the man’s sudden precaution came about.

Nie Heng lightly coughed as he secretly patted Mu Chen’s back, and asked Lei Tie, “Do Boss Lei and Boss Qin have time to talk things out?”

Lei Tie leaned sideways, gestured a “please” sign, and turned back to go to the bridge.

Nie Heng and Mu Chen looked at each other and kept up. Mu Chen mouthed “too reticent” to Nie Heng.

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