Chapter 92: Chapter 91 Inquiring about the Source of Honey

Mr. Tang thought even further ahead. Petty skirmishes weren’t the Tang Family’s style, so he suggested:

“Hmm, we could have them make a variety of toys, rush out a batch to sell before New Year, see how well the goods sell, then consider organizing after the New Year to expand the collaborative venture with their family.”

Eldest Young Master added, “We could find them a factory in the suburbs, or buy land to build a factory, hire workers to produce more fine works. The faster this is done, the better.”

Lady Tang listened as her husband and father-in-law discussed business matters. The thought that the hated wet nurse, Mrs. Li, could become increasingly wealthy under their family’s leadership made her somewhat reluctant.

Jufeng failed to anticipate that an ordinary farmer’s wife like Mrs. Li– receiving a visit from young Master was an honor in itself–could gain wealth through young Master’s visit, and jealousy burned within her.

Young madam mulled over it and proposed, “Just toys might not be that novel; once others see them, they can imitate. If you ask me, we should invite Mrs. Li’s husband to come work in our factory, sending her back home. That would solve everything.”

Madam Tang shook her head and said, “Our grandson is fond of Mrs. Li as his wet nurse. She’s doing a fine job and we can’t just replace her immediately. If we replace Mrs. Li now, the grandson needs to adapt anew.”

“Mother-in-law, Mrs. Li is just a housekeeper, without a servitude contract. It’s not possible for her to stay by the child’s side all day. She has given birth to five girls already, and it seems she may have another child.”

Madam Tang seemed to understand Lady Tang’s implications and looked at her, saying:

“Even so, we must wait until the grandson is over the age of three. We’ll talk about it after New Year. This is not an urgent matter. Let’s follow what the men say. Others are content working wood at home and earning money. They don’t wish to work as housekeepers.”

Mr. Tang, after hearing his mother and wife’s discussions, analyzed for them:

“Mother is right; everything must prioritize my son. We’ll revisit this when he is older. Also, others are doing well as their own bosses at home, making money there, and wouldn’t come to the county for a small sum of extra money. After all, it’s more comfortable to work at home and help with family affairs.”

Old Master Tang said, “Let’s settle on that for now. For the sake of the grandson, we don’t judge the monk by the face but by the Buddha, and collaborating in this manner is quite good.”

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Madam Tang, after hearing her husband and son, agreed with their rationale and said:

“The Old Master is correct. Our grandson can bring business opportunities to the family, even at such a young age. It’s his capability. We shouldn’t just think about the immediate benefits but should pave the way for our grandson.”

Lady Tang bit her lip. With the family saying this, she who had married into the family had no authority to speak on business matters.

She could only manage her dowry. All household matters were governed by the Mother-in-law and the family business was run by her husband and father-in-law. Others, like herself, merely helped manage. She married the Eldest Young Master, and this young madam would eventually have the right to manage the family affairs.

Her son was the legitimate eldest grandson, for whom the family was making strategic plans. This time they were expanding his connections.

She didn’t believe the people from Mrs. Li’s family could bring the so-called wealth to her son, but she could say no more on the matter.

As these conversations took place, the kitchen was already using honey to make pastries, a scent distinct from the honey bought at the market.

The kitchen servants, while baking, swallowed their saliva and discussed among themselves.

Jinhua and a maid personally delivered that bowl of honey into the kitchen.

The pastry chef, a man, had an old woman assisting him with making the pastries.

“Miss Jinhua, this time the honey we’ve procured is exceptionally pure. Usually, our purchases are from the same merchant, and the honey bought is also quite good. But this procurement doesn’t seem to have come from that usual merchant, right?”

As a chef, he was aware of the kitchen supplies, which were overseen by a dedicated old woman. Each played the role of informants for the Tang Family members.

Madam Tang had her people in the management of every household, especially in the vital area of the kitchen, where she made sure her trusted servants were in control.

“The honey this time was not purchased; it was a gift from the young Master’s wet nurse’s farmer family for the young Master. The honey was brought to the kitchen to make some pastries.”

Jinhua knew that the people here all had eyes and ears for various masters. It was no secret that the young Master had followed Mrs. Li back to her farmer family for a visit.

There must have been many pairs of eyes watching as he stood here, making sure the servants made the pastries well to be sent to Madam Tang’s quarters.

Usually, the servants of Madam Tang and other masters would pick up their food, but some people didn’t trust this process and would watch as it was being made.

Knowing the peculiarity of today’s honey, Jinhua didn’t want the pastries made with this honey to be claimed by others, with the master still waiting in the living room.

“Does the Li Family raise their own honey? How much would such good honey sell for?”

An old woman thought to buy some for her family too if it wasn’t too expensive, as it would be perfect for giving her family a health boost.

This old woman’s question made the other kitchen workers think the same; they earned a decent monthly salary working in the Tang Mansion, particularly from a place like the kitchen where there were perks to be had.

What they lacked was not money, but rather affordable and nutritious items to purchase for their families.

“I haven’t heard that the Li Family raises bees or sells honey; this honey was all sent as a gift to the young Master,” Jinhua explained.

She knew they were gossiping, and the situation of the Li Family was probably known throughout the entire Tang Mansion.

Unable to find out how much the Li Family sold their honey for, they thought it better to ask Mrs. Li herself when they had the chance, hoping to perhaps get a better deal.

Some shifted the topic, “Isn’t the Li Family in woodworking? If they have such skills, shouldn’t their living conditions be quite good? How could Mrs. Li have the heart to leave her child to become a wet nurse?”

Jinhua shook her head and said, “Everyone is aware of the hardship in Mrs. Li’s family; she too is a pitiful person. I heard her child is even more pitiable, and it’s mainly due to her in-laws being difficult.”

Though Jinhua herself was unmarried, she could imagine that marrying into a bad family or dealing with difficult people could only lead to a miserable life.

Many of the kitchen maids had become mothers-in-law and understood that mothers-in-law like to take charge; there were also those who were ill-tempered.

It was rather naive of Mr. and Mrs. Li to work hard and earn money, yet not have a single cent to their name, which spoke to the domineering nature of her in-laws.

With honey available in the kitchen for pastries, the Tang Family normally used either honey or white sugar for their pastries, which were quite standard fare.

However, the word had spread that the honey Mrs. Li brought for the young Master was very good and had been delivered to the kitchen to make pastries.

The masters of Tang Mansion all wanted to try such pastries and were curious whether the honey was indeed that good.

Various people sent their maids or old women to the kitchen, hoping to snatch some pastries from Jinhua.

Jinhua had poured quite a lot of honey earlier; the pastries she made didn’t consist only of honey but also a bit of white sugar. She didn’t make them too sweet, for the sake of health, and had anticipated that others might want some pastries too, so she instructed the kitchen to make extra.

It was also to let everyone have a taste of the pastries made with honey from the Li Family.