Hua Ming Zi knew that her recruitment drive would create a great uproar but she was really so busy that she did not have the time to listen to the arguments of others.  Every day she had to travel non-stop all over the city. 

During the few days after the recruitment news was released, as usual, she got up early in the morning and as in the past, she would first have a discussion on the day's schedule with Steward You who was in charge of the restaurants.  Then she would discuss the housework schedules, arranging for work inside and outside the residence with Steward Wu who was in charge of the mansion.  They would then decide everything within the time taken to drink a cup of tea after breakfast in the morning.  Following that, she would leave by carriage for all the different branches of the Hua Ji Restaurants and she would sit in the carriage to listen to the operation status of each and every Shopkeeper.  Then at the same time, she would conduct a series of visits to the restaurants and hold discussions with the Shopkeepers until the sun sets in the west before she could return home. 

Hua Ming Zi knew other people were talking about her and they said that this Hua Dangjia desired nothing except to make money.  But she knew in the Hua Mansion and the Hua Ji Restaurants, the hundred-plus workers all depended on her diligence and hard work to earn money.

Sometimes, she really feels very tired, so tired that she wants someone to share her burden.  But training someone is not a trivial matter and in addition to looking for someone with good character, she still has to be wary of the person's ulterior motives. 

Ten years ago, it was because her Father had put his total trust in his capable Second Wife that the Hua Family was dealt with a severe blow.  The land t.i.tles for their Hua Ji Restaurants and the majority of their money were given to his Second Wife for safekeeping and in the end, she ran away taking everything with her. 

Thinking about this, it was that time her powerful name, Hua Ming Zi, began to spread and became well-known.  After her Stepmother fled, her Father fell seriously ill and was bedridden.  She engaged the services of a Security Bureau* to search day and night for her Stepmother.  Ten days later, the Security Bureau caught her Stepmother and she got back half of the stolen wealth and also sent her Stepmother to jail.

(In ancient times, the Security Bureaus are businesses that offer services such as security guards, escorts for travelers or any other security services as requested.  During those turbulent times, robberies and kidnappings were rampant and wealthy families traveling long distances or businesses that needed to transport their goods would seek their services.) 

From then on she took over the reins of Hua Ji Restaurants' business and she was only 15 years of age at that time.  After learning from her mistakes with the loss of two to three restaurants, she decided to learn and strengthen her knowledge in the business.  She started to use her eloquence that her late mother taught her and learned to talk on the wide range of delicious cuisine, paid visits to all the local famous chefs to learn from them and disciplined herself to sleep for only two sichens* a day.  After going through a lot of difficulties, she eventually managed to save the Hua Ji Restaurants and resumed business operations again.

(One sichen is equal to two hours.)

Ten years later, Hua Ji Restaurants' business became very successful but by that time, she had become an old maid.  Fortunately, the capital city was a place where females outnumbered the males and being an unmarried woman in her twenties was not regarded as unacceptable or strange.

How is Matchmaker Liu getting on with the recruitment?

This thought flashed through Hua Ming Zi's mind as she sat in the carriage flipping through the new menu and account books while listening to Shopkeeper Gu Yu reporting to her on the restaurant's business status.

Three years ago, she bought many poor families from the countryside as slaves.  From these slave families, she picked those who knew to read and write, those who were willing to work hard and trained them.  At present, the Shopkeepers of several Hua Ji Restaurants were selected from these families of slaves and Shopkeeper Gu Yu is one of them. 

For a slave to be able to work hard and climb up to the position of a Shopkeeper was not easy.  So she knew that every slave sold into slavery held the hope of being sold into the Hua Family.  Only she alone knows that under such a show of kindness hid her own selfishness.

The slavery deeds of the slaves and all their family members were held by her.  Even if any slave becomes powerful in the future and rebels, he would still be unable to create too much of a problem because she alone controlled everything in the Hua Family and she had planned and made preparations for any eventuality. 

"Your idea and presentation for this Mushroom Banquet are quite good."  Hua Ming Zi looked at Shopkeeper Gu Yu and nodded at him with satisfaction.

"Five days later, I will be back to try the dishes.  If there is no problem with the dishes, then we will go according to your idea and the presentation you suggested to promote this 'Jingcheng Vegetarian Banquet' to the n.o.bles.  In future, if the response is good, we will hold this banquet once a year.  We will promote 'Hua Ji Restaurant' like 'Qingcheng Mountain Villa' and become a place of trend in the capital city."

"Alright."  Shopkeeper Gu Yu nodded respectfully.

"During this time, everyone will have to work hard.  Later, I will go to the shop to give out token money to everyone.  Later, if the banquet is successful and the restaurant makes a profit, everyone will get to reap the benefits."  Hua Ming Zi said.

"Thank you, Dangjia."  The Shopkeeper nodded with a smile.

"Oh yes, this is the gift of thousand-year-old ginseng I received yesterday."   From behind her, Hua Ming Zi pulled out a wooden box and put it next to Shopkeeper Gu Yu's hands.  "Half of it, I've left for my Father and the other half, you can take it home for your Mother.  When the doctor took your Mother's pulse the last time, he said it is best for your Mother to take this kind of ginseng."

Shopkeeper Gu Yu looked at the wooden box in his hands and his eyes turned red.  After taking a deep breath, he pushed back the box.

"Thanks for Dangjia's kind gesture.  This gift is too expensive.  This small one does not dare to accept."  Shopkeeper Gu Yu said.

"This gift is for your Mother.  Do you dare not to accept?!"  Hua Ming Zi pushed the wooden box directly into Shopkeeper Gu Yu's arms and refuse to allow him to return the gift.  "You have helped me to take care of the restaurant so that I less to worry and can have more rest.  Therefore it is right for me to make a little effort to look after your family in return."

"This is too expensive......"

"I've said this is for your Mother, not for you.  Why do you have to talk so much?  Just accept this."  Hua Ming Zi patted his shoulder and at the same time, she felt the carriage coming to a slow stop.

"Thanks to Dangjia."  With both hands, Shopkeeper Gu Yu lifted the wooden box to the level of his eyebrows and bowed to express his greatest respect for her.

After the carriage came to a complete stop, Hua Ming Zi frowned because she suddenly remembered something......

These few days, every time when she left the Hua Mansion, she was followed by a nuisance. 

"Dangjia, please wait for a moment.  I will check whether Luo Ji Cai's carriage is still following behind."  Gu Yu lifted up the curtain and looked outside the carriage.  A look of disgust flashed across his square face.  "His carriage had stopped behind us."

"Forget it, I don't want to waste any more time on Luo Ji Cai."  This is the reason why she has to marry as soon as possible, lest she has to spend a lot of effort to deal with this person.

Hua Ming Zi turned her body sideways and got down from the carriage.  At the same time, from the magnificent carriage behind them, a figure dressed in purple robes jumped down with his whole body reeking of alcohol and the man was Luo Ji Cai.

"Hua Dangjia!"  Luo Ji Cai shot over like an arrow and stood in front of Hua Ming Zi.  His triangular eyes* were staring at Hua Ming Zi's blurry face under her tulle veil. 

(In face-reading there are three types of triangular eyes with different attributes.  LJC's triangular eyes should have the attributes of being treacherous, greedy and selfish.)

"Everyone in the capital knows about Ying Yan Long's rejection of your marriage proposal and your instructions for Matchmaker Liu to recruit a husband on your behalf.  You did not give me face at all!  I've been pursuing you for such a long time but you are not even giving me a chance!"

"People who tread on different paths will never be together, and they can never be husband and wife.  This is the last time I am telling you this.  In future, if you appear again, don't blame me if I'm not courteous."  Without any expression, she walked around Luo Ji Cai and continued to move forward.

"The more distance you put between us, the more I desire to obtain you."  Luo Ji Cai once again blocked her path. 

She looked at the cynical smile on his face and ground her teeth in annoyance.

"Luo Gongzi, you are reeking of alcohol and it seems you have just come from the entertainment houses or gambling dens, devoid of sleep the whole night!  I don't think your brain is very clear and therefore, I shall be more compa.s.sionate and let you know very clearly!" 

With both hands on her waist, Hua Ming Zi said in her clear voice.  "Both you and I know that your purpose of proposing to me is solely for my wealth.  It is all because of the money you owe in the gambling dens and you anxiously need someone to help you pay for the debts.  If you continue to hara.s.s me and refuse to let go, then don't blame me if I inform your Father about this matter today!"

Immediately, the smile on Luo Ji Cai stiffened and he looked left and right.  Fortunately, the shops on the street were not opened for business yet and no one saw them, so he smiled and said sheepishly. 

"Since Hua Dangjia knows so much about me and if you can help me out with my financial difficulties, then I promise not to cling shamelessly to you.  Just take it as I, Luo Ji Cai is your friend and as friends, it is only right to help one another.  The words I said are not wrong!  Once you have helped me, Luo Family's influential background will sooner or later benefit you."

Hua Ming Zi lifted her eyebrows and immediately, she was on guard against Luo Ji Cai.

In broad daylight, he can even ask for money, what else does he not dare to do?  She is afraid if she gives him the money once, there will be a second time and a third time.  How can she start this precedent?

"I opened a shop to do business, not a rescue center......"  She replied coldly and waved her hand at Luo Ji Cai.

Luo Ji Cai was caught by surprise and hastily moved a few steps back to avoid the danger.

Luo Family's two guards who were dressed in black rushed forward from the side and stood guard beside him. 

"Are you crazy?!  You even dare to touch me!"  Luo Ji Cai shouted at her.  "I am interested in you but you don't know what is good for you and tried to hurt me many times!  It is better for you to understand the situation!  My Father is the current Prime Minister and if the Luo Family wants to make it difficult for your few little shops, it is very easy!"