CHAPTER 666: CHAPTER 665: GOING OUT FOR THE LANTERN FESTIVAL

In the carriage, Jadeite was fiddling with a lantern she had obtained from Duan Rong, clicking her tongue in appreciation.

"Who would have thought that Duan Rong, frail as he looks, has such remarkable skills? Miss, this Nine Heavens Mystic Lady drawn here is truly divine, so otherworldly." Holding the lantern’s handle, Jadeite twirled the lantern around to admire the fairy painted on the gauze, her eyes revealing her fondness for it.

Painting on gauze is not easy at all, yet he managed to capture the likeness so vividly, which shows his dedication.

The lantern was designed to resemble a Palace Lantern, but unlike ordinary Palace Lanterns. It had iron wires as its frame, and the handle had a button to open and close it. Pressing the button, the exterior gauze would unfold, revealing another layer of misty shadowy lantern shade inside. Another press, and it would close up again as if the Mystic Lady was ascending to heaven—an extremely ingenious design.

"Miss, are you really going to hang this lantern in the restaurant as a decoration?" Jadeite asked after playing with it for a while.

Wufu had been resting with her eyes closed, but at the question, she opened them slightly and asked, "Why, do you hate to part with it?"

Jadeite laughed, "It’s not exactly that I hate to part with it. Since Duan Rong and his group are now your people, we could have as many of these lanterns as we want in the future, right?"

"Not too dim-witted," Wufu said with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Jadeite stuck out her tongue, "I wonder who will get this lantern."

Wufu took the lantern from her, flicked it with her bare hands, and the lantern started spinning, resembling the Mystic Lady dancing. It was dizzyingly beautiful and truly a pretty lantern. She said, "Whoever has the ability will naturally obtain it."

Once she returned home, Wufu first paid a visit to Madam Zhou to greet her.

Madam Zhou knew that the restaurant was opening that day, so she asked a few questions about it. And the other grocery store had already been opened two days prior. Since it was called a grocery store, it naturally sold various daily necessities. Anything not in stock could be ordered in advance.

For this grocery store, Wufu had employed Tan Cheng, the second son of Tan Datie from the estate, as a junior manager cum shop assistant. The lad was sixteen years old and fairly clever. Wufu thought to groom him a bit, which made Tan Datie’s family so pleased they were over the moon, showing tens of thousands of expressions of loyalty to Wufu.

"Mother, today is the Lantern Festival, and many places in the city will be decorated with lanterns. Since our restaurant opens today, I think we should dine there for the festival tonight. After dinner, we could take a stroll in town and enjoy the lanterns." Wufu suggested with a smile, "Besides, you haven’t visited our restaurant yet. It has a good location, overlooking the river, and offers a nice view."

Madam Zhou was somewhat tempted by the suggestion but hesitated, "Wouldn’t it be inconvenient?"

"What’s inconvenient about it? You’re one of the hosts, so it would be good for you to visit and let the manager recognize you. Otherwise, it would be a joke if you went there in the future and they didn’t know who you are!" Wufu said, her lips curving into a smile.

"Well, if it’s convenient, then all right."

"When you spend money there, just put it on my account," Wufu said. "And, since we are going out, we might as well give the staff at the mansion a day off."

"Even if it is a day off, not everyone can go out, or else who will look after the mansion?" Madam Zhou chided with a laugh.

"Then that’s settled!" Wufu turned to Qiu Xiang, "You make arrangements for those who need to stay tonight at the mansion. Tell the main kitchen not to prepare our meals, and for those who can’t have the day off, give each an extra five qian of silver as compensation for overtime."

Qiu Xiang smiled and curtseyed, "With the Miss’s generosity, I’m afraid no one will want to take the day off."

In an ordinary mansion, there is no such thing as days off, and to have silver as compensation for those who can’t take leave—who else would be so generous but our Miss!

"It’s a festive day after all. Everyone should have some time to relax," Wufu said with a smile. "Just one thing, don’t get into trouble outside, and be careful with your safety."

Qiu Xiang acknowledged the order, thanked her, took a couple of steps back, and then went off to make the arrangements.