The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 856 - 834: Pulling Strings

Chapter 856: Chapter 834: Pulling Strings

Wei Ting, carrying two pots of white peonies, ran back home and immediately, with glee, sought out his grandmother and mother to give each of them one pot.

Old Madam Wei and Madam Wei were very pleased. Looking at the flowers before their eyes, they couldn’t help but take Wei Ting’s hand and praise him, "You really know how to honor us."

When Old Master Wei heard this, he frowned slightly and asked, "Today is neither a break day nor a holiday. Why have you come home?"

Wei Ting stiffened, only then remembering that he had climbed over the wall to get out.

But Wei Ting was accustomed to skipping school and maintained his composure, blatantly lying, "I heard from a classmate that there were pure white peonies outside, and knowing that grandmother and mother like them, I asked for half a day off from school to go out. I will return to school tomorrow to continue my studies."

Old Master Wei, no stranger to dealing with truancy, narrowed his eyes and said, "Is that so? Well, you better make sure to do your additional homework. Someone, go to Mr. Zhai’s residence and ask what homework was assigned to the young master today."

Wei Ting’s legs turned to jelly, so the next day he limped to school.

Bai Shan had just arrived at the school as well, setting down his book basket, and when he looked up to see Wei Ting grimacing and hobbling in, he asked with a laugh, "What happened to you?"

Wei Ting heaved a sigh and lamented, "Yesterday, I got carried away and forgot I had sneaked out of school. Ah, why didn’t any of you remind me?"

Bai Shan, without changing his expression, replied, "We forgot too."

Wei Ting didn’t doubt him for a moment and sighed even more deeply, "Yesterday, my father sent someone to talk to Mr. Zhai, and later I’ll have to face punishment from the teacher as well."

Ji Hao couldn’t help but ask, "What did you leave the school grounds for yesterday?"

"To see Manbao’s peonies," Wei Ting replied, and he shared his regret with Ji Hao, "It’s a pity you left too early yesterday; you really should have gone to see them. Her peonies are truly beautiful."

Ji Hao perked up and asked, "Did you buy any?"

Wei Ting nodded, "Yes, I bought two pots of white peonies."

Ji Hao breathed a sigh of relief then inquired, "Are the yaohuang and the moutan peony still there?"

"Of course, they’re still there. Those flowers are so expensive, we couldn’t afford them. But I mentioned it to my grandmother, and she was quite interested. She said she would go to take a look today," Wei Ting said. "Those two pots really are exquisite. Is your mother going to have a look too?"

Ji Hao fell silent for a moment.

His mother was also very interested, but she probably wouldn’t go in person and would instead send a servant to pick them up.

Rubbing his forehead, Ji Hao asked Wei Ting, "Couldn’t you give the flowers to my mother?"

Wei Ting frowned and said, "That’s something for the adults to decide; we children shouldn’t meddle. Let them outbid each other for it."

He didn’t care, so why should Ji Hao?

Ji Hao didn’t say anything more.

Neither of them knew that it wasn’t just Second Madam Ji and Old Madam Wei who wanted to buy those two pots of flowers. Manbao had left the house early in the morning. After taking care of things at the pharmacy and attending her classes, before school was dismissed, Manbao had Zhou SiLang carry out a pot of white peonies.

Daji asked, "Miss Man, aren’t you going to the county school today?"

Manbao replied, "Not going. Today we’re going to the County Governmental Office."

Manbao was going to deliver flowers to Madam Tang, who, although she preferred orchids, didn’t mean she disliked peonies.

Upon seeing the pot of excellent quality white peonies, Madam Tang smiled and didn’t accept them. "Manbao, you and your family’s husband are friends. If you have any issues, just speak to me. I’ll help with anything I can. There’s no need for such a grand gift."

Manbao smiled and said, "This pot of flowers isn’t particularly valuable, it’s only worth sixteen taels. If you find it too valuable, Madam Tang, you can just give me sixteen taels."

Madam Tang didn’t believe it; she was from Chang’an, where peonies thrived, and naturally knew how much a peony of such quality was worth.

"How could it possibly be only sixteen taels?"

Manbao said, "The first pot sold for sixteen taels and three coins, so the rest are only worth sixteen taels."

Madam Tang blinked and asked, "Who bought the first pot? From what you’re saying, do you still have many white peonies?"

Manbao smiled and said, "I have a total of twenty-two pots, keeping one for myself, with the remaining twenty-one for sale."

Madam Tang finally believed that she had priced the flowers at only sixteen taels and laughed, "So what brings you to me this time?"

"I’d like to ask Madam Tang to extend an invitation to Madam Huang and Madam Ming. I still have two pots of yaohuang and moutan peonies, and I wonder if they might be interested," Manbao said. "The Ji Family and Wei Family are already looking to come and see."

Madam Tang gasped in astonishment, "You’re thinking of..."

"I’d like to invite a few madams to appreciate these pots of flowers first; great flowers naturally belong with those who cherish them."

Madam Tang then laughed and said, "You’re quite bold, daring to invite so many madams at once. Alright, I will host a banquet at the Ganxiang Pavilion and just send out invitations for all four madams to come and see. However, with this, one pot of flowers seems too few."

Manbao nodded, "Flowers should also come in pairs for the best aesthetic. I will have my Zhou Si send another similar pot of white peony later so it will be more pleasing for you to view."

Madam Tang couldn’t help but laugh; she always enjoyed speaking with clever people.

Manbao really did have Zhou SiLang deliver another pot of white peony, and now two pots of peonies were displayed under the veranda of their house. When County Magistrate Tang returned home from the County Governmental Office to eat dinner, he couldn’t help but stop and admire them for a moment, smiling, "Madam, where did you buy these two pots of flowers?"

Madam Tang smiled, "Guess?"

"Chang’an?"

Madam Tang shook her head.

County Magistrate Tang then laughed, "It can’t possibly be from Luoyang, could it? Did you send someone to Luoyang?"

Madam Tang gave him a sidelong glance and said, "Am I that unreliable? To send someone specifically to Luoyang just to buy a pot of flowers."

County Magistrate Tang still laughed, "Of course, Madam wouldn’t do that, so I’m just curious where you got these flowers."

"Your little friend sent them over." She explained how Manbao wanted to sell flowers and still had two pots of yaohuang and moutan peonies at home.

County Magistrate Tang was taken aback for a moment and asked doubtfully, "Zhou Man? Are you sure she wants to sell flowers?"

"Could I possibly not recognize her?" Madam Tang said, "I thought she had a knack for cultivating orchids, but it turns out she is also quite adept at growing peonies."

County Magistrate Tang was puzzled, not understanding why she suddenly took an interest in selling flowers.

Madam Tang, however, didn’t think much about it and talked about her plans to help with the networking. "I find your little friend rather interesting."

County Magistrate Tang came to his senses and smiled, "It’s rare to find someone who can hold a conversation with you; I hope you two get along well."

Meanwhile, in the small courtyard, Manbao was sending off the people from the Ji Family and Wei Family. Both families had sent their stewards to view the flowers and were ready to buy them, but to their surprise, Manbao refused.

The Ji Family took it rather well, given that Manbao had other ties with them, but the Wei Family’s steward’s expression was not very good.

However, in front of the Ji Family, they didn’t dare say anything. They smiled, said their farewells to Manbao, and got into their carriages and left.

Bai Shan glanced at their retreating figures and then said to Manbao, "Let’s have Madam Tang set the date for the day after tomorrow. I’m off work then, and I’ll go with you."

Manbao nodded in agreement without any objections.

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