The head of the Mu family

Chapter 170 An Even More Shocking Patriarch

In mid-July, Huaisheng and Musu went to the two stores near Zhenbaoxuan to settle their accounts.

Mu Su went off to attend to her own business, and Su Dingliang came to find Huaisheng:

"Patriarch, is Brother Mu Su already a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations)?"

He seems to have just come of age, right?

"Mu Su... not yet, she will come of age next year."

He's a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, and the other day he was bragging to me about his achievements and asking for a reward. He got angry when I gave him some money.

We're just waiting for your master to return so he can reward him with something good.

"Patriarch, after much thought, I've decided to look forward, and I also want to take the surname Mu!"

If I were still Su Dingliang, as you know, I wouldn't be able to participate in scientific expeditions, no matter where I am.

It's all because the Su family had such a prestigious reputation for so many years, yet they've come to such a state...

Although Huai Sheng was unaware of the Su family's prosperity, now that he knew the situation, he could roughly figure out the obstacles.

"Alright then~ as long as you've thought it through and are truly willing, you can take the surname Mu~"

"Mu Yuansu, what about the 'Yuan' in 'source'?"

Upon hearing this name, Mu Yuansu's eyes instantly welled up with tears:

When other families give their servants names, they do so in a contemptuous way, so that the servants know that they are lowly.

The patriarch, however, told him not to forget his roots and to make sure everyone in the Mu family valued him.

"Thank you... thank you, Master~"

I plan to take the college entrance exam next year.

"Okay, go find Aunt Wu and she'll give you some pointers. There are quite a few differences between the imperial examinations in the North and South."

"Wait until Qianyan comes back, then ask him again."

That evening, Huaisheng and Musu went back with the people from the two shops.

The two walked at the front when suddenly Huai Sheng remembered something and asked:

"How were the year-end bonuses distributed here last year?"

"The monthly interest for the last two months, plus a bonus for one month, is the same as the year before last."

"Oh~ I was busy with other things and forgot to send you a message."

The elderly people in these two shops received a reward of two months' salary the following year.

Which of the three of you is coming tomorrow? Please send this out as a belated message.

As long as the store's total annual revenue is not lower than what was mentioned before, the end of this third year will be three months, understand?

"Understood, Master. I'll come over tomorrow and get it done in the morning."

I'll talk to Sister Qingyue when I get back and ask her to tell Uncle Dong and Sister Wanxing tomorrow.

As they were talking, the group arrived home. Mu Su told Qing Yue what happened and then went back to her studies.

Yuan Su took Rong An to Uncle Wu's house to find Liu Niangzi.

The next morning, Mu Su paid the staff of the two shops back the money and explained the reason for the payment.

Everyone: With such generous pay, who wouldn't work hard?

Huai Sheng was quite busy after he returned, except for going to the palace every month.

The Lan family, the Duke's mansion, and the noblewoman's family frequently send invitations to visit.

Jingtang is getting married in October, and the noblewoman often calls on Huaisheng to discuss the matter.

Qingchen has already started taking on apprentices. She bought a shop and opened a small clinic, and Wu Shishuai assigns one person to protect her every day.

Whenever Huai Sheng had free time, he would bring someone from the shop to go to the free clinic with her.

Qingchen has taken on two apprentices over the years, both of whom were children from poor families during her free clinics. She has not yet taken on any female apprentices.

Previously, Huaisheng had told her to specialize in one area, so that she could improve her consultation fee by mastering that one area. So she focused on orthopedics.

He had already studied diligently, and soon his efforts paid off, and his small clinic gained some reputation.

After gaining fame, some people caused trouble. Members of the Mu family took turns protecting her, and Qingyue went to find Pingbo, which finally brought peace.

After Huaisheng returned, during the off-season in July and August, he took them out in batches for a day of eating, drinking, and having fun.

He then had all the women in the shop dressed in men's clothing in two groups and took them out to drink and have fun.

At first, everyone was a little reserved. Huai Sheng first had everyone drink two glasses of wine, and then asked someone to sing a song.

Gradually, everyone relaxed and became even more lively than men drinking with courtesans.

Huai Sheng ordered a few more girls, and also ordered a small restaurant for a few unmarried nannies to keep them company.

The women were very polite when drinking at the brothel, and the girls felt respected and were served attentively.

The guests and hosts enjoyed themselves immensely throughout the evening.

After everyone returned from drinking and partying, their spirits were different, and they were more motivated to work.

The men in the shop were all very excited when Huai Sheng took them on a picnic to ride horses, shoot arrows, have a picnic, and fish.

The Mu family members were used to it; the patriarch had even taken them out to relax when he had some free time.

When Huaisheng went south, he wrote a letter during the off-season, asking Qingyue and Wanxing to organize a relaxing trip for everyone.

The people from Longrui and Longan were stunned when Qingyue and Wanxing led them around for the first time. Manager Gong and Manager Lin didn't dare to go until they saw the head of the family's instructions.

Yuan Su and Rong An were both stunned by this series of bold moves.

When the two actually saw the aunties who no longer worked in the shop coming to collect their monthly wages, they were utterly shocked.

Since the aunts all had maids, nannies, and coachmen to serve them, they would come to the shop to collect a few hundred coins, bring a bunch of delicious food, and have a lively lunch there before leaving.

The head of the household not only required everyone to study, but also sometimes when everyone gathered together in the evening, he would tell them not to study to death.

One time, a few of them were preparing for exams and were doing their homework at Mu Su's place at night.

When Huai Sheng brought Qing Yue to test their studies, they were even more surprised. If Qing Yue and the head of the family were men, they could also take the imperial examinations.

After checking the homework that day, Mu Xu felt a little sad and cried like a child who had done something wrong.

Huai Sheng and Qing Yue looked at each other, pondering:

There was no hitting or scolding~

What's wrong with this child?

"Mu Xu, what are you doing? You've disturbed the head of the family!"

"Waaah... Sister Qingyue, I feel... I feel like I've let the family head down..."

"Sorry to me? What did you do to offend me?"

"Master... I studied with Mu Su and Xiao Xi, and I still haven't even passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations!"

I studied really hard too, boohoo...

Upon hearing this, Huai Sheng chuckled in disbelief.

"I'm teaching you to read and write, not so that anyone can become the top scholar in the imperial examination."

Of course, it would be great to pass the imperial examinations and obtain official rank, but it doesn't matter if you don't get any.

I simply hope that you understand the principles of conduct in the book, learn the knowledge within, and let that knowledge help you become better people.

Besides, everyone has different strengths. Why did Qingyue send you to the south to pick me up?

"Because I'm the best at martial arts!"

"Yeah~ If those two were to compete with you in martial arts, wouldn't they be crying every day?"

They read their books, you read yours; each serves a different purpose.

I encourage everyone to read books so that they can be enlightened by the vast world within them.

Instead of spending all day thinking, "I'll wait until tomorrow, and all my efforts will be in vain."

As for those who have the opportunity to participate in scientific expeditions, I do not wish for you to merely delve into the texts and spend your lives studying the classics.

In that case, even if one later enters officialdom, one's thinking will be outdated, one will be inflexible in dealing with matters, and one will be out of touch with the times.

If we cannot follow the old ways to deal with changes, how can we bring benefits to the people?

Things in this world are always changing and impermanent; change brings new life, stagnation brings decay; change brings vitality, stagnation brings stagnation.

The teenagers were shocked. A thousand thoughts rushed into their minds, and they opened their mouths silently, but for a moment they were speechless.