Chapter 14 I Was Sick All Along

"What brings you here, Madam?"

Manager Cheng saw Shen Hua stepping inside and hurriedly put on a welcoming smile to greet her. Despite the current changes, he remained respectful to Shen Qu and maintained his courteous attitude toward Shen Hua, showcasing his adeptness in handling situations.

Shen Hua gave him a fleeting glance. She understood that Manager Cheng was now Shen Qu's man.

"Where is Housekeeper Sun?"

"Housekeeper Sun is busy in the inner workshop."

The embroidery workshop was divided into two parts: the outer workshop and the inner workshop. Manager Cheng was in charge of the outer workshop, handling guests, overseeing daily trivial matters, and managing trade dealings across various regions.

The inner workshop was much simpler, dedicated solely to embroidery under the direction of Housekeeper Sun, with each person attending to their respective duties.

With that response, Shen Hua headed straight to the inner workshop.

Before, she often came here to find Shen Wei. She was so familiar with this path now that she could walk it with her eyes closed.

"The County Magistrate's daughter is getting married, and she specifically requested our workshop to make her wedding clothes. The timeline is a bit tight; everyone needs to be vigilant. Su Embroidery is renowned for its elegance and grace, with lively stitchwork emphasizing evenness, fineness, and smoothness with radiant patterns."

"Let me emphasize once again, items such as the red veil, wedding handkerchief, waistband, and cloth boots also need to feature auspicious patterns like mandarin ducks, auspicious clouds, cranes, peonies, and pomegranate flowers."

Housekeeper Sun appeared exhausted, continually pacing, inspecting the embroidery pieces the embroiderers were working on, occasionally stopping to give pointers.

"Aunt Sun," called Shen Hua.

As soon as Sun saw who it was, she quickly set aside her work and hurried over to her, leading her to a storeroom used for resting without even pausing for pleasantries.

Once the door was closed, blocking the curious eyes from outside, she worriedly took a good look at Shen Hua.

"Finally, I get to see you, Madam."

The Shen Family's main branch was straightforward, but that stepmother, Mrs. Shen Xue, was not easy to deal with, and the He Family that broke off the engagement kept visiting the Zhou Family's house several times in just a few days.

How could young Shen Hua endure this?

Feeling uneasy, she went to the Shen Family's front gate multiple times seeking to meet, only to be left waiting for a full two hours without any message being relayed.

"Aunt Sun shared a deep sisterly bond with my mama. Now that you're blessed with a grandson, I naturally came to offer my congratulations."

While speaking, Shen Hua took out a golden lock. It was shaped like a plump gold ingot, engraved with the word 'fortune,' with a small bell hanging from it. When gently shaken, it made a crisp sound, making it perfect as a gift for a little child.

"You're too kind. Back then, during the great drought, famine was everywhere, and death and illness plagued my family. Without Madam's help, I wouldn't be where I am today."

But speaking of her grandson, Housekeeper Sun's expression softened, and even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes seemed to lighten.

"The child was born at dawn, which is auspicious timing. But my daughter-in-law suffered greatly from blood loss during childbirth. Thankfully, the doctor arrived in time to save her. She needs proper care now."

"My son is away escorting a shipment and hasn't returned yet. With my daughter-in-law bedridden, I'm stretched thin trying to take care of both her and the child. I'm thinking of asking my in-laws to come over and help for a while."

"Please don't laugh at me, Madam. I've grown old, and my eyesight is failing. I've long thought of returning home, but I can't bear to leave the embroidery workshop."

Nor could she bear to leave Shen Hua.

If she stayed, perhaps she could still be of some help to the Madam.

Nobody understood Housekeeper Sun's situation better than Shen Hua.

She had become a widow early on, raising her son all alone, which was no easy feat.

"Aunt Sun, there's no need for us to be formal."

"Having the mother of your daughter-in-law come over is not a long-term solution. You've had your share of hardships over the years. Now your son is successful, and your daughter-in-law is filial. As I see it, why not resign from your position and return home to take care of your grandson? Only by solving urgent needs can your life be complete."

"Of course, during this time, for any financial losses, I will ensure that the monthly salary of the embroidery workshop's steward is sent to you as usual."

Housekeeper Sun: ???

Is she suggesting I continue to receive money while doing no work and staying at home?

But if she leaves, what will happen to the embroidery workshop...?

Housekeeper Sun's thoughts were in turmoil. In a solemn tone, with a serious expression, she asked, "Madam, do you know what you are doing?"

Shen Hua met her gaze. Her sickly face suddenly broke into a faint smile.

Call it a desperate measure, call it rebellious; once Shen Hua decided on something, she was determined to see it through.

"Yes."

That one word was enough to stir up a storm within Housekeeper Sun's heart.

Madam had always been decisive since she was young. Although headstrong, she never acted recklessly.

She was such a filial person, with her father's bones barely cold, yet...

No one in the entire Shen Family was wealthier than Shen Hua. Each year, three-tenths of the workshop's profits were directly deposited into the bank under Shen Hua's name by Shen Wei.

!!

Surely, the money for Madam's usual expenses was embezzled by Mrs. Shen Xue. If the bank hadn't been closed overnight, Yicui wouldn't have had to sell jewelry to buy medicine on the day Madam fell ill.

Everything became clear.

The only heir left by Madam in this world was suffering!

In just a moment, Housekeeper Sun pondered over many things.

"I'll follow the Madam's wishes."

She paused for a while, then tentatively added, "Most of the old embroiderers in the workshop are exceptionally skilled and have also been beneficiaries of the lady's kindness. Upon joining the workshop, they all signed a contract."

"Where are those contracts now?"

"Originally, Madam kept them. After Madam and the young master passed, the master was devastated. Had it not been for Madam's care, he might have wished to follow them. At that time, the master had no strength to manage the embroidery workshop, so he entrusted them to me."

Later on, Shen Wei didn't take them back.

But recently, Shen Qu has been pressuring her. After all, these were property of the master family. Although Housekeeper Sun was cautious, she only kept them as custodian. If Shen Hua hadn't come today, she wouldn't have been able to withstand the pressure and would eventually have handed them over.

If these were truly given to Shen Qu...

Burdened with heavy thoughts, Housekeeper Sun left briefly and returned, holding a small box.

Shen Hua opened it, feeling the thick stack of contracts between her fingers. With curved eyebrows, she could already envision Shen Qu's furious reaction.

"With money to be earned without the need for work, I doubt anyone would refuse. I'll need to trouble Aunt Sun to convey the message."

She had plenty of money.

She was only afraid that even in death, she couldn't spend it all.

After handling her business, Shen Hua contentedly left the embroidery workshop. Now she just awaited the results from Aunt Sun's end.

Standing under the signboard of the Shen Family's Embroidery Workshop, Shen Hua was amidst bustling street noises, surrounded by the unending calls of vendors.

Yicui looked around, but did not see their family carriage.

"Buy some offerings for a ceremony; Ying'er has disappeared. How is it delayed till now?"

Shen Hua wasn't in a rush to go back. She was about to head to a nearby restaurant for a warm drink.

"I wondered who it was, and it's Shen, isn't it?"

A voice came from her right, and when Shen Hua heard it, she turned to find herself facing a face filled with sarcasm.

Ah.

An old acquaintance.

Shen Hua suddenly smiled.

"Sister Mi."

Lady Zheng from the rice shop had her face darken.

"Mi what Mi, my surname is Zheng. Are you sick in the head? You always get it wrong."

She always extorted her without pity, yet couldn't even remember her surname!

Shen Hua looked at her, weak-like but resolute.

"I am sick."