My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead-Chapter 76: Can’t Wait Even a Moment

Qin Yuan smiled and said nothing.

Speaking of which, it seems Marquis Gu was able to catch Sixth Master Gu not because of coaxing Aunt Zheng into not going to the lake, but perhaps because his face hadn’t fully healed yet.

Cui Ming clicked her tongue.

In the Qin Mansion, they had never seen such things.

Qin Jijiu was an official in the capital, with no outside sources of income except for the ice gifts and coal gifts sent annually by local officials, relying on the gifts sent by his students upon their return to the capital to fill financial gaps.

Qin Jijiu often brought promising students home, occasionally sending them books and paper, and sometimes offering some silver taels, while also accommodating kin who came to seek refuge.

Therefore, Mrs. Cui kept the accounts extremely precise, and no one could squeeze even one cent from her.

Growing up in the Qin Mansion, Cui Ming and Hong Ye found everything in the Marquis Mansion surprising.

In her past life, Qin Yuan had dealt with all sorts of officials’ wives since she was the County Magistrate’s Wife, having seen various households.

To her, these things were all quite ordinary.

After listening to Cui Ming and Hong Ye chatter for half a day, Qin Yuan became a bit sleepy, thus instructing them not to stay inside the room, leaving only a few young maidservants outside, and giving orders that if anyone brought accounting books, they should wake her up.

Cui Ming and Hong Ye left the main room and busied themselves with their tasks.

After her afternoon rest, Qin Yuan got up, brewed a cup of strong tea to refresh herself, and was idly rocking in the rattan chair when she heard a young maid outside say that a servant at the second gate reported two middle-aged men had arrived, seeking to meet the Marchioness, claiming to be delivering accounting books.

"Invite them inside to sit in the flower hall."

Finally, they had arrived.

Qin Yuan asked, "Where are Hong Ye and Cui Ming?"

The young maid replied, "Sister Hong Ye grabbed a few handfuls of sugar threads and went out to stroll, saying she will be back later. Sister Cui Ming is in the small kitchen, not sure what’s she’s doing."

Qin Yuan said, "Go call Cui Ming to attend, and if Hong Ye returns, let her go to the flower hall too. If she doesn’t make it in time, never mind."

The young maid promptly went to the small kitchen to call Cui Ming to help with dressing and styling hair.

Cui Ming was working on cool noodles.

While at the Qin Mansion, Qin Yuan liked eating them; having been dining richly at the Marquis Mansion for a few days, Cui Ming suddenly thought of making some while Qin Yuan rested.

"Have the two shopkeepers arrived? Miss has been waiting for them a long time."

Cui Ming stopped what she was doing and told the cook a few things before changing into a fresh outfit to attend to Qin Yuan’s hair.

By the time Qin Yuan was ready and headed to the flower hall with Cui Ming, Manager Lin and Manager Wu had been sitting for almost half an hour.

As soon as Qin Yuan entered, the two quickly stood up to greet her.

They appeared a lot more respectful than during their last meeting.

After exchanging greetings, Qin Yuan said, "Please, have a seat. Have you finished organizing the account books?"

Manager Wu nervously opened the box he brought, revealing several thick account books, and said, "All the store’s account books are here; please, Marchioness, feel free to inspect."

Qin Yuan nodded, and Cui Ming stepped over to take the account books and handed them to her.

Seeing her casually flipping through a few books and setting them aside, Manager Lin quickly said, "Marchioness, these days I’ve been looking for that Persian merchant. Due to his urgency to return home because of sickness, he’s been hard to encounter, but today I got wind of him and came to report."

Qin Yuan nodded and said, "Thank you for your effort."

Manager Lin continued, "The Persian merchant has about four bushels of pepper, with a base price of fifty-five taels per pound. He says recently many have been asking, stating they’ll take all as long as the quality is good. He also mentions he’ll leave the capital within half a month, and if offered a reasonable price, he’ll sell it." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Manager Wu hesitated to speak.

Qin Yuan frowned and said, "That’s odd. Have a lot of people recently started buying pepper in large quantities?"

Manager Lin explained, "Originally, the market price should be fifty taels a pound, thinking his family emergency should push him to sell cheaply, but unexpectedly he asks fifty-five taels per pound. I guess it’s because too many inquiries have come."

Manager Wu couldn’t help but interject: "The large merchants’ sea ships will return in a few months, and the pepper’s price might likely drop. The Persian merchant’s price is unreasonable; Marchioness should be cautious. If intending to stockpile pepper, perhaps wait until the sea ships return to buy in bulk."

Though implying potential losses, it could reduce them significantly.

Manager Wu spoke sincerely and not everyone would express doubts risking the owner’s displeasure.

Qin Yuan gently replied, "Thank you, Manager Wu, for your advice, yet I have my considerations too. But with the Persian merchant raising prices so high, it’s indeed odd. Manager Lin, could you investigate further as to who’s been inquiring, and promptly report back if you find out? If inconvenient, tell a servant to pass on the message."

Manager Lin nodded.

Qin Yuan waited again; seeing they had no further comments, she excused them.

Manager Lin and Manager Wu exited the Wutong Garden with caution and silence, only speaking once outside the mansion gate, "Indeed, the Marquis Mansion is massive; we took nearly half an hour just entering and exiting through the side gate."

Manager Wu, stroking his beard, remarked, "The Marchioness is blessed; she seemed calm and steady, able to manage such immense wealth. We must serve with devotion."

Such a young lady yet possessing this determination and composure was not to be underestimated.

Manager Lin agreed, "Previously I thought the family’s concubine daughter was lucky to marry into the Marquis Mansion, but now I see she has talent and some fortune."

Not to mention the day of accounting when her methods were astounding; today at the Marquis Mansion, observing all servants treating them with utmost respect and no trace of disdain confirmed she had earned the Marquis’s esteem, promising good days ahead.

Manager Wu also nodded, then puzzledly asked, "But why is Marchioness insisting on this pepper trade?"

Manager Lin laughed, "How would I know? Whatever she instructs, I’ll do. Perhaps Marchioness has other insights unknown to us, haven’t you heard, secrets must not spread beyond certain ears?"

Manager Wu laughed too.

...

Qin Yuan sat in the flower hall and pondered; she truly didn’t understand. How could the major merchants’ plans to go overseas for pepper be known by Manager Wu and Manager Lin, yet some still wanted to buy numerous quantities, driving up inquiry prices?

Could someone else have also gained an early advantage?

A maid outside the flower hall called for Cui Ming. After a while, Cui Ming returned in haste and said to her, "The Marquis has returned, seemingly drinking somewhere; he demands to see Marchioness immediately, unwilling to wait even a moment."

Upon hearing, Qin Yuan knitted her beautiful brows and stood up, glancing outside at the sun, curiously saying, "At this hour, he drank and didn’t go to his side room for rest, why hurriedly seeking me?"

Cui Ming said, "I don’t know, perhaps Marquis wishes to talk to Miss about the Seventh Miss’s matters?"

Qin Yuan could only say, "Let’s go see then."