Sean Hayes dragged Leonard Li away by force. Mark Hunter watched the two men bickering and tussling as they walked off, his eyes wide with lingering fear. "Young Lord Hayes really is different from ordinary folks..."
Lucky tried to stifle his laughter, nodding vigorously.
Leonard Li, that's what you get for coveting my wife! Just wait, I'll let all of Greenfield City know you have a penchant for men!
Lily Evans chatted with Cynthia Wu for a while. Margaret Evans sent Belle to invite them to Cynthia's room.
Belle led the way and took them to Cynthia Wu's birthing room.
Margaret Evans had specially prepared this room for Cynthia Wu: a bedroom with two side chambers. The heated floor kept it cozy, the bedding was all brand new, and the cotton had just been fluffed—everything was comfortable and warm.
All the daily necessities were ready inside—even a crib for the baby was set up.
Cynthia Wu and Mark Hunter looked around the room, so moved they were at a loss for words.
"Cynthia, you'll stay in the bedroom. One side chamber will be for the nanny, and the other for Mark or your father when they visit. Isn't that convenient?" said Margaret Evans.
Cynthia Wu held Margaret Evans's hand and said, "Godmother, I don't even know how to thank you. You gave me such a wonderful room to have my baby in..."
"Oh please, you're my goddaughter, and you're Lily's best friend! Why shouldn't I take care of my girl's postpartum recovery?" Margaret Evans laughed. "You two just stay here tonight. If you need anything, tell your godmother—no need to be polite. Treat this place like your own home."
Mark Hunter thanked her sincerely, then went to the carriage to bring in their belongings and settled everything.
Cynthia Wu discussed finding a nanny with Margaret Evans and Mark Hunter.
Traditionally, country folks nursed their own babies, but now that Mark Hunter was earning well, he didn't want Cynthia Wu to be exhausted. He wanted to hire a nanny to help with the baby so Cynthia could recover after childbirth.
Lily Evans saw that the three were getting along and went out to tend to her own business.
Old Joe Zhou delivered the vegetable purchase ledger. Lily Evans reviewed it carefully and saw that most villagers kept their accounts neat and tidy.
Belle assisted her, saying, "Madam, when the villagers come to buy vegetables, they're all so happy. They keep talking about how wonderful you are."
Lily Evans smiled, "It's not easy for country folk to have a way to earn a living. I help them make money, of course they're grateful. And my roots are here in Clearwater Village—if the village prospers and the people remember my kindness, that's good for me too. But..."
Lily Evans flipped through the ledger and laughed, "Belle, don't be fooled by how every household delivers the same amount of vegetables each day. In a few months, things will be wildly different from house to house."
"Huh?" Belle blinked. "Why would there be such a difference? Madam, you gave each family about the same size plot, and the vegetables to sell are more or less the same."
Lily Evans shook her head, "I gave them all a high starting platform, but some are more capable and will grow their business. Others are lazy and won't last long. Just watch. I’ll use this as a chance to pick out some real talent from Clearwater Village. When my business expands, I’ll need their help."
Belle nodded, "Madam, you really think ahead. When I worked outside, I heard that businessfolk always rely on people from their hometown, and they like to help their own. They say hometown folks are more trustworthy. If you train a batch of business-savvy people from Clearwater Village, they’ll be a huge asset someday!"
As she spoke, Belle pulled out her little notebook and jotted down what she'd just learned.