o the livestock, cooking three meals a day. Sometimes she even had to wake up early or go into the fields to bring them food.So she didn't have to, like other women, become a man when her husband was...Chapter 1186: Knowing Gratitude

Fang Jinshi spent two days handing over the business in Beijing and the Changhe to someone else.

In the past, when Jinxiu Caizhuang distributed porridge to aid refugees, it gained a lot of goodwill from ordinary people. After Fu Shangyuan ascended the throne, order in the capital gradually returned, and shops on both sides of the streets also gradually reopened for business.

People need to live their lives, they can't stay home forever. So after things calmed down, the streets became lively and bustling again.

Fang Jinxiu had originally thought that after such a major blow, the people of the capital city would temporarily cut back on consumption. However, to her surprise, after Fangjin Xiu Cai Zhuang reopened, business was even better than before.

Every branch had a long queue of people waiting outside, all there to buy groceries.

The Yangtze River hasn't rolled back the prices, it's still 20% lower than before. It's not super cheap, but definitely not expensive either, something the common people can afford.

Fang Jinxiu's instructions were almost all related to the future development of Caizhuang. In fact, he only gave a few simple explanations. Over the years, Changhe had been in charge of Caizhuang, and there was nothing about Caizhuang that he didn't know.

"Are you the wife of Marquis Wuding"

Just as she was about to leave, a sudden elderly woman walked up and blocked Fang Jinshi's path, her expression faintly agitated.

Fang Jinxiu saw that she probably didn't have any ill intentions and nodded in agreement.

"I am, the old man, is there something you need from me"

After the old woman confirmed her identity, she suddenly knelt down with excitement. Fang Jinxiu hurriedly bent down and reached out to help her up.

"Old man, if you have something to say, just say it. What are you doing Get up."

The old woman's eyes welled up with tears.

"Madam, the old woman has been waiting at the vegetable garden's gate for several days and finally got to see you appear."

Fang Jinshu looked puzzled, and the old woman immediately explained.

"My wife and mistress are both from our family, also surnamed Fang. Recently, my house was burned down by bandits from the Western Xia."

"My son and daughter-in-law both died in the fire, and my grandson nearly burned to death. It was only thanks to the timely arrival of the Marquis that my grandson was rescued."

"And then you treated my grandson without asking for a single copper coin. If it weren't for the Marquis and his wife coming to our rescue, I fear our entire family would have perished in the fire, leaving not even a trace of our bloodline."

"So this old woman is here specially to thank you, madam!"

"This is a small gift brought by the old woman, please don't dislike it, madam."

As they spoke, the old woman took out a lump of something wrapped in a tattered handkerchief from her bosom. She carefully opened the handkerchief, and inside was a roasted sweet potato with a fragrant aroma.

The outside of the steamer basket looked old, but inside it was clean. The sweet potatoes were still steaming.

Grandma Fang looked at her with pleading eyes. Fang Jinshu smiled helplessly and pushed the sweet potato back to her.

"Grandma Fang, you don't need to be so polite. Please take the gift back. I just hope all of you are safe and well."

She glanced at Granny Fang's clothing. The fire had left many people in the capital city without homes or wealth, and Granny Fang seemed to be wearing the same clothes she had on the day of the fire.

It wasn't that Fang Jinshui had a good memory, but the other person's clothes were burnt to shreds. Even from afar, you could smell a rotten stench.

The imperial court currently lacks the funds to provide relief to these disaster victims. With people struggling to even have enough to eat, how could they possibly afford to worry about their clothing being clean and tidy

Hearing her mention her grandson, Fang Jinshu did remember. There was indeed a little boy rescued from the fire, with his airways full of smoke and dust.

She put a lot of effort into saving the young boy's life. However, if his aftercare is not proper, there is a high chance that his vocal cords could be damaged in the future, affecting his ability to speak later on.

In such a dire situation, this sweet potato might be the only meal for the two generations for the entire day.

Fang Jinshi originally didn't intend to accept it, but Fang's grandmother was a stubborn person.

"Madam, you perhaps despise the commonness of this sweet potato that your wife prepared, so you refuse to accept it."

Grandma Fang pulled her hand back.

Fang Jinshi seeing the situation had no choice but to reach out and take the sweet potato, "Don't mind it, I'm also from a rural farming family. Such a sweet sweet potato, when I was young, I couldn't even afford to eat it, how could I dislike it."

Upon hearing this, Granny Fang's eyes lit up instantly. She nodded and smiled repeatedly.

"Since the madam enjoys it, this sweet potato may be just an ordinary food, but after roasting, the taste is really good."

Although we are just ordinary people, we also know what it means to be grateful and repay kindness.

"It's wonderful that Mistress is willing to take her in. Then the old woman won't bother Mistress anymore."

After Grandma Fang finished giving the gifts, she turned to leave. But Fang Jinshu called out to her.

"Stay a while, Mother."

She turned to look at the long river and asked, "Is Yuan Ke Lai still short of manpower"

Chang He was stunned for a moment before quickly recalling, "Yuan Ke Lai has always been managed by Wu Niang. We're probably not able to intervene in matters of manpower."

"However, the vegetable farm is quite short-staffed. Hygiene is a problem, as well as tasks like harvesting, washing, and bundling vegetables. They haven't had time to hire new staff yet."

Fang Jinshi nodded, figured out something in her heart and looked back at Grandma Fang and asked.

"Mother-in-law, we still need someone to wash and pick vegetables here. Two meals a day, three hundred wen a month. Would you be interested"

Upon hearing this, Granny Fang froze in her tracks. A job paying three hundred words a month When would it ever be her turn to do such work Decent shops usually preferred young and capable men, no one wanted an old woman like her.

Grandma Fang was so overjoyed that she burst into tears, understanding that Madam Hou was intentionally helping their family. Her face filled with gratitude, she nodded repeatedly.

"The old woman is willing, thank you, Madam, thank you, Madam!"

Fan Jinxiu smiled, leaving the rest to Chang He to arrange.

She then got into the carriage, as she was still going to Jinshu Mountain Villa later.

During her downtime, she thought to herself that cases like Fang's grandmother and grandson were not uncommon in the capital. She couldn't replace the imperial court and help everyone, so she could only offer assistance within her capabilities.

Perhaps the manor also needs manpower. When Zong Hu and Chang He are recruiting, they can prioritize those whose families suffered from the fire.

After a short while, Chang He arranged for Granny Fang to return to the carriage. Fang Jinxiu mentioned this matter casually.

"Rest assured, madam. I will post a notice tomorrow and prioritize hiring from the families that have been affected by the disaster."

Fang Jinshi reminded him, "Be careful to distinguish those who are taking advantage of the situation."

Chang He nodded, "Remembered, madam. It's getting late, shall we return home now"

Fang Jinshu hesitated for a moment, "No, let's go to the mountain villa. I don't feel comfortable leaving that batch of salt crystals in charge of Big Brother Zong Hu either. It's best to take a look."

As soon as Zong Hu and his wife arrived at the manor, Fang Jinxiu had someone send over the method for extracting edible fine salt from salt crystals. Over a month has passed, there should be some progress by now, right stay in the mountains at night.""If we really got into trouble, we wouldn't be able to help Sister-in-law Jinxiu at all, and we might even cause her more trouble."Tiezhu didn't agree with Changhe at...