Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 259: The County Magistrate Rewarded with Gold Ingots

Shen Yu and the others had just finished their work in the morning and had just eaten breakfast. They were about to take a break when Qi Xi, who had not been seen since he came to pick up the flower cake that day, came to the store with a happy face.

Qixi bowed and said, "Madam, how are you? Miss, how are you?"

When Li saw that it was Qixi, she couldn't help but smile and asked him kindly, "What have you been busy with these days? Why haven't you come for a while?"

Qixi said, "Since the master went to the temple to pray a few days ago, all matters in the government office have been discussed and handled by the two masters and the young master."

"The road outside the city gate on the west side of the city was damaged by water accumulation due to continuous rain. Mr. Du, who lives here, applied for repairs. After the young master and the legal advisor took people to check it out, they have been busy repairing the road in the past two days."

"I have been following the young master, so I have no time to come here."

Shen Yu was moved when he heard this, and asked hurriedly: "If the roads in the county are broken, as long as we report it, will the county government give money to repair it?"

Qixi scratched the back of his head and said embarrassedly, "I really don't know. From what the master said, it's because that road passes by the home of Mr. Du, a wealthy family in the county town."

"Mr. Du voluntarily paid part of the money when he applied. If you want to know, I will go back and ask for you."

Shen Yu thanked him profusely: "That's great, thank you very much."

"Look at our market. The convoys coming and going are all large trucks loaded with goods. When it rains, the road surface is crushed beyond recognition."

"It was sunny and dusty again. I poured some water on it and it was fine at first, but in half an hour it was dirty again."

Qi Xi had been working on the construction site with Lu Lang for a few days and had learned some tips on road repair.

After listening to Shen Yu's words, he nodded and said, "Miss, you are right. There are many caravans passing by here, and the cars are heavy. It is useless to just pave this kind of road with gravel."

"But if we want to build this road, it will cost a lot of money. I don't know if the county government will take care of it. It all depends on what the master thinks."

Shen Yu had expected this result and was not surprised. He just smiled and said, "I just asked you when you mentioned it. Can you go back and find out how to repair the broken roads in the county?"

Qixi agreed and looked around the store.

There were not many customers in the store at this time. Breakfast had passed and it was not yet time for lunch. Only occasionally would customers come to buy some takeaway buns and sweet cakes.

Qi Xi took out his purse like offering a treasure and said to Shen Yu, "Young lady, close your eyes and hold out your hand. I am here today on orders, and I have something good to give you."

Everyone looked at Qixi. Li smiled and guessed, "Are they going to send a few more chickens? Are they going to leave them outside the door?"

"My yard is small, and I can't keep any more."

Qi Xi smiled and shook her head, but still asked Shen Yu to close his eyes.

Shen Yu watched him take out his purse and thought, "Do I have to pay more money to order a flower cake?"

Seeing Qixi's expectant expression, he closed his eyes and stretched out his left hand as he was told.

I just felt my palms feel heavy and cold, and everyone exclaimed in amazement.

Shen Yu opened his eyes and saw that in his palm, besides four silver coins weighing one tael each, there was also a small gold ingot the size of one tael lying quietly. It was shining with golden light.

The gold ingot was in the shape of a gold ingot. Shen Yu picked up the small gold ingot with his right hand and looked at Qi Xi in confusion.

Li also hesitated and said, "Qi Xi, why are you giving us this for no reason?"

Qi Xi hurriedly explained, "Don't worry, Madam. These silver coins and gold ingots were sent to me by my master."

"The master came back from the temple yesterday evening and praised the flower cakes that the young master ordered."

"It is said that even the abbot of the temple was full of praise after seeing it, saying that the flower cake was elegant and of good quality, and that the master had good taste, and asked where he ordered it from."

"On weekdays, when the master goes to the temple, the abbot rarely treats him so warmly."

"The master was very happy. After returning, he praised the young master and said that it was all thanks to the young master and the flower cakes he ordered were of high quality."

"He also asked who ordered it, and said the abbot would also like to order one in a few days. He also asked me to ask the dough chef who makes flower cakes if he could go to the temple to make it."

"After the young master answered, the master heard that the young lady only accepted one or two taels of silver, and he felt that the young lady was a kind person."

"Not only did he ask me to return the remaining four taels of silver, he also gave me this gold ingot as a reward, saying it would bring more blessings to the girl."

"He also said that if the girl is willing to go to the temple to make flower cakes, the money will be easy to negotiate. Not only will the abbot pay the reward, but the master will also give her other rewards."

Shen Yu hadn't done anything yet, but Li couldn't help but be overjoyed, and asked excitedly: "Oh my, when will the abbot order the flower cakes?"

"You don't need to come to pick me up, and you don't need to ask for a reward. I will go with Yuzhi, and I can make flower cakes for the temple. This is a great merit!"

Not only Li was excited, but even Jiang, Zheng Sanniang and others were envious, as if being able to make flower cakes in the temple was much more important than getting the reward money.

Shen Yu smiled and said, "Why do we have to go to the temple to make it? Wouldn't it be the same if we make it in the restaurant and send it over?"

Qixi measured it and said, "The flower cake that the abbot wants to make is very big. I am afraid that it might get bumped on the way when I deliver it, so I want to ask you to go to the temple to make it."

Seeing that Li and the others also took it for granted, he could only accept the silver and nodded, "Thank you very much for the reward, Your Excellency. If you need flower cakes, just let me know one day in advance."

Seeing that the matter had been explained, Qi Xi said, "Miss, Madam, the young master has one more thing he wants me to ask. Can we go to the backyard to talk about it?"

Shen Yu smiled and said, "There are no outsiders here, is there anything else you want to eat?"

Qi Xi did not laugh, but whispered: "We need to make some food, but we should not let the passing guests hear about it. It is okay for Brother Zhou and the others to know."

Shen Yu looked at the customers who were buying buns in the shop, nodded, and walked to the backyard first.

Although Li didn't know why Qixi wanted to avoid telling others since he was only doing food, she saw that he looked serious and told Jiang and the others, "You guys go in front to greet the guests, we'll be back soon."

The three of them sat down at the kitchen table, and Qi Xi said, "The young master asked me to ask the young lady if there is any food that is both filling and cheap. The cost of a meal is around fifteen cents."

Shen Yu was suddenly asked this question and didn't understand what he meant, so he could only say, "The sauce-flavored cakes in the store are ten cents each. If one person eats one and a half and adds some soup, he will be full, but it will still cost about twenty cents."

"Why are you asking this all of a sudden for no reason?"

Qixi explained, "The young master has been supervising the road construction work at the construction site these days. When he saw that the lunch for the conscripted chores was too bad, he went to find the cook in charge."