– Deliver Cherries

From the suspension bridge to the third floor of Binzhi Building, and then from the third floor to the lobby on the first floor, Nie Heng saw that there were several more calligraphy and paintings on the wall. It was the work that won the prize in today’s talent competition. Under the calligraphy and painting, the words like ‘a certain someone from Qingyun Academy was in Double Xiang House on a certain day, a certain month and a year’ were added.

“Look, gongzi.” Chunsheng pointed to a painting and calligraphy on the wall facing the front door of the lobby.

Nìng kě jū wú zhú [I’d rather live without bamboo]

Bù kě shí wú ròu. [But cannot eat without meat]

Wú zhú lìng rén sú [Without bamboo, people are brusque (vulgar)]

Wú ròu lìng rén shòu. [Without meat, people are reed (thin)1

Nie Heng smiled with admiration on his face. It was unknown whether he admired the person who wrote the poem or the person who hung the poem. Then, he briskly walked to the garden.

After dark, when the last diner left, Qin Mian summoned all the staff to the lounge for a meeting. He looked at the tired faces of the staff and motioned for Xile to pour tea for them.

Everyone was overwhelmed by the superior’s favor.

After making sure that their attention was back on him, Qin Mian said, “Everyone has been working hard today, especially the chefs and waiters. There are too many guests today, so you are the busiest. However, our Double Xiang House is situated in a small nameless remote town with few local customers. This is a fact. After the three days of discount, there may not be as many customers as today. The big boss and I are not going to hire more chefs and staff for the moment. Let’s wait and see the situation first. The four chefs and all the waiters will have to work hard for another two days. So are the others. But everyone’s hard work has paid off. The big boss and I have discussed and decided that today, everyone will be rewarded with 50 Wen as encouragement.”

Everyone was all overjoyed and said, “Many thanks, Big Boss and Little Boss!”

Qin Mian smilingly added, “We also decided to set up three awards, namely: the best smile award, the most diligent award, and the most thoughtful service award.”

“Little Young Master, what are the best smile award, the most diligent award, and the most thoughtful service award?” Xile ‘butt in’.

Qin Mian explained, “The best smile award is to smile with enthusiasm when entertaining the customers. The person with the most favorite smile will receive the best smile award, which will be evaluated once a month, and be awarded 50 Wen. The most diligent award, as the name suggests, is the award for the most diligent staff, which is also rewarded with 50 Wen. For example, if a cleaner always cleans the floor and cleans the table in time, he will get the most diligent award.

As the most thoughtful service award, whether it’s a waiter or a cleaner or even a gardener, they should greet the customers warmly when they need help. For example, when a gardener is pruning flowers and trees in the garden, a guest asks you “where is the stable?”, you have to tell him the location of the stable in detail. If you take him to the stable in person or even find a stableman for him, it can be said the most thoughtful service.”

His explanation was so easy to comprehend that everyone showed a look of understanding.

Qin Mian said, “If you understand it, I’ll let people make a detailed list of rewards and punishments tomorrow. If you receive a reward, you’ll be marked a little red flower; if you make a mistake, you’ll be marked a little black flower. By the end of the year, Double Xiang House will select two best employees. Whoever gets the most red flowers and the least black flowers will get a huge bonus.”

The staff was in high spirits and their faces were beaming with joy.

Qin Mian didn’t want to say too much in case they couldn’t digest it for a while.

“For now, things will stay that way. After Manager Sun gave out today’s reward, everyone can go to have dinner. Have a good rest after dinner. It’ll be busy tomorrow.”

Everyone was high spirits and shouted, “Yes!”

In the morning, Qin Mian and Lei Tie worked out in the back garden dressed in their white kung fu garment. After running, Lei Tie practiced boxing regularly, while Qin Mian, who had many workouts, did push-ups first.

Lei Tie was absent-minded. His eyes always drifted to his wife’s butt which fluctuated along his body. Through the drooping lapel, Lei Tie could see his smooth chest.

“Wife, what kind of training is this?” Lei Tie asked while his movements continued. Although his mind was not at peace, his boxing was still calm and powerful.“Huu… huu…” Qin Mian gasped for breath, looked at him with some pride, and said, “Don’t you understand? This way can toughen the waist and abdomen muscle. Especially pectoral muscle!”

Lei Tie was deep in thought, “Hm… the waist should be toughened up nicely.”

“What do you say?” Qin Mian didn’t hear clearly.

“Nothing.” Lei Tie continued practicing boxing.

Qin Mian did leapfrog after 20 push-ups. Currently, his body was still developing so he didn’t dare to do too many leapfrogs. He only did 20 times each.

Nie Heng took his manservants through the back garden. When he saw Qin Mian jump forward like a frog, he didn’t know what kind of appropriate expression to put on.

“Nie-gongzi. How did you sleep last night?” Qin Mian nodded his head in greeting and asked as he finished the frog leaping training.

Nie Heng told the truth, “Very good. It’s truly worth 20 silver taels for a night. It’s comfortable, quiet, and fragrant.”

“That’s good.” With a faint smile, Qin Mian stood up after jumping.

Lei Tie handed him a face towel and continued practicing boxing as if he didn’t know there was a third person present.

Nie Heng knew Lei Tie’s character and didn’t care about his impoliteness. He said to Qin Mian, “Boss Qin, I’m here especially to bid farewell. I hope we will have opportunities to cooperate in the future.”

Qin Mian accepted his offer and smilingly said, “It’s a great honor. However, Nie-gongzi may regret missing the breakfast only provided for residents and internal staff.” Double Xiang House only served lunch, dinner, and light refreshments.

“Oh?” Nie Heng raised an eyebrow, “Then, I must go to taste the breakfast of your wine house. I’m leaving first.”

“We shall meet again someday. Take care, we won’t send you off.”

After Nie Heng walked far away, Qin Mian continued to practice arm hanging and hanging upside down that was bound to lengthen his height. Since the New Year, he grew about two to three centimeters tall, which he thought was related to his persistence in morning workouts.

The staff working on the second and third floors shook their heads when they saw the scene in the garden through the window, and thought that their little boss was really strange.

“Wife, it’s enough.” Lei Tie was worried that Qin Mian would hurt himself if he trained for a long time, so he reminded after a half stick of incense burnt.

Qin Mian was hung upside down without moving. He gave a smile to Lei Tie, “A little bit more.”

Lei Tie held him down directly, “Go back to take a bath and have breakfast. Eat more to grow tall.”

“All right, all right.” Qin Mian forgot for a moment that the people on the second and third floors could see here. He leaned on Lei Tie’s shoulder and kissed him on his face. “If I can’t grow taller than you, I’ll press you so much every day until you’re short.”

Lei Tie was unsatisfied with his . He hugged him and gave him a deep kiss.

They wore only a thin kung fu garment. When they clung to each other, the doubled body temperature scalded the other’s blood.

Lei Tie’s breath was hot. He whispered to Qin Mian’s lips with a hoarse voice, “Wife, I want—”

“Eldest Young Master, Little Young Master. Breakfast is ready.” Xile came running forthrightly.

Lei Tie let go of Qin Mian and looked at Xile without expression.

Xile was shocked. He peeked at the little young master, unable to make any sense of the matter. Qin Mian stifled a laugh and did not speak.

“Xile, if you are too idle, stay here today and tomorrow.” As soon as Lei Tie finished saying, he motioned Qin Mian to leave together.

Xile suddenly realized something and wanted so much to slap himself. He followed them with a sullen face while scolding himself in his heart:

As Qin Mian expected, on the fourth day of opening, the net income of Double Xiang House decreased by 30% compared with the first three days.

Qin Mian was not disappointed with this result. He could predict that after about ten to fifteen days when those excellent poems and paintings were eulogized everywhere, the business of Double Xiang House would enter a new climax.

When Manager Sun had taken charge, Qin Mian and Lei Tie returned to Green Mountain Village with Xile.

As soon as they entered the gate, they were surrounded by the fragrance of flowers and fruits. Xile silently rejoiced. He liked to stay in Leisurely Farm Residence. The two young masters were good and the orchard was also good. He could sleep in the fragrance of fruit every day. It seemed that even his dream was sweet.

Qin Mian jumped off his horse and hurried to the cherry grove. “A-Tie, we haven’t been home for several days. The rest of the cherries are probably over-ripe.”

Uncle Fu said, “Little Young Master, don’t worry. Except for a few drops, most of them are still fine.”

Lei Tie ordered, “Go find the previously hired people to come over.”

“Yes.” Uncle Fu took the order and left.

“Eldest Young Master and Little Young Master, I’m going to bring the ladder.” Xile ran fast.

Passing by the wooden arch bridge, Qin Mian observed the honey peach trees by the way. The trees were emerald green and within the slender leaves were nearly round fruits, half-covered in the leaves. Almost each of them weighed half a jin. Its pale green color vaguely suffused with pink and gave off a faint smell of peach pulp.

“The peaches are almost ripe.” Lei Tie embraced Qin Mian’s shoulder, “Tomorrow, I’m going to Qingtian Prefecture.”

Qin Mian hesitated, “I won’t go with you.” Right now, the orchard was bound to have many people. Moreover, in case there was an emergency in Double Xiang House, it would need people with enough importance to step in.

“En, you stay at home.” Lei Tie didn’t plan to take Qin Mian. He had too many things to do. Even if Qin Mian went to Qingtian Prefecture, he wouldn’t have time to take his wife to play. He would come back as quickly as possible.

After the cherry-picking helpers arrived, they were busy in an orderly way. Since they had experienced it last time, their action had become more skillful.

As before, Qin Mian made most of the cherries into cherry juice, cherry wine, and cherry jam.

The next morning, Lei Tie rode off to Qingtian Prefecture.

After Qin Mian sent him until the entrance of the village, he returned home and took people to deal with the cherries.

“Xile, come over.”

Xile put down his chopstick that was used to dig out the cherry pit, shook off the water on his hands, and ran over, “Little Young Master, what can I do for you?”

Qin Mian filled one big basket and two small baskets with cherries. He called Xile to his side, “This big basket is about 20 jin. You send it to Qingyun Academy and give it to Dean Huo. The small basket is sent to Deng’s Village for grandpa and grandma. Also, don’t forget to tell them that they won’t be invited to come because there are many things at home recently and Lei Tie is away. Remember to speak nicely.”

Note:

FootnotesMy attempt of trying to make it rhyme somehow