Chapter 420: Achu’s New Job
In the main hall, Xiao Xia sat in the main seat, Xiao Cong and Xiao Gui sat below, and several important legitimate sons sat below.

Xiao Xia asked with a smile: “When will the head of the family go to Luoyang to take up his post?”

Xiao Cong also smiled and said, “We will leave in two days. I am handing over to Lao Si these days.”

Xiao Xia smiled at Xiao Gui and said, “From now on, the Fourth Master will be the head of the family!”

Xiao Gui bowed and smiled, “Please take good care of me in the future, Your Highness!”

“Of course. If the Xiao family has any difficulties, you can come to me directly.”

Xiao Cong said slowly: “I have told the fourth brother that if we need help from His Highness when we are in trouble, it is also within the legal and reasonable scope. We will not do anything that violates the law, and we will not ask His Highness for help!”

Xiao Xia nodded, “Why didn’t the Jiangdu Xiao family merge with the Jinling Xiao family?”

“Isn’t it because of Jiangning Xiao family?”

Xiao Cong smiled bitterly and said, “We were almost done talking. When Xiao Hong heard that the Xiao family in Jiangdu and Jinling were going to merge, he came crying. The Xiao family in Jiangning also wanted to merge with us. We couldn’t afford to lose face, so we had to maintain the status quo.”

“Did we hold a Three Xiao Martial Arts Contest later?”

“It was held in Jinling County last year, but the rules were changed and no outside aid was allowed. As a result, the Jinling Xiao family won. They had two sixth-grade disciples, Xiao Xin and Xiao Ai. Although we also had several fifth-grade disciples, we still failed.”

Xiao Xia pondered for a moment and said, “I suggest that the head of the family release the elixir so that all the Xiao family members and warriors can have the opportunity to take the elixir. Once a war breaks out, the Xiao family can quickly organize an army and at least protect themselves.”

Xiao Cong said happily: “Since Your Highness said so, from today on, the Jiangdu Xiao family will officially release the elixir!”

Xiao Xia remembered something and asked with a smile, “I didn’t seem to see Lao Liu just now?”

“Lao Liu is now the dock manager. He is usually at the dock. He is now the father of three children. His wife is Sun Xiaoya. Do you remember her?”

Of course Xiao Xia remembered the little girl who was almost raped by Yu Chuan.

At this time, a member of the Xiao family came in, presented a sandalwood box to the head of the family, bowed and left.

Xiao Cong opened the box, and inside was a moon-white undershirt. Xiao Cong handed the box to Xiao Xia: “This is a treasure left by my father, called Canglong, which was also one of the nine treasures of Emperor Wu of Liang. No one knows what material it is made of, but its defensive effect is equivalent to a heavy armor that can be worn close to the body. I’ll give it to you!”

Xiao Xia smiled and said, “Can the master of the family go to the capital and present it to the emperor?”

Xiao Cong shook his head, “It can only be passed down to the descendants of the Xiao family. Your father is not. You are already the King of Jin, but you still refuse to change your surname. Just based on this point, you will always be a descendant of our Xiao family!”

Xiao Xia refused to change his surname, not because he was Jiangdu Xiao Xia, but because he was also called Xiao Xia in his previous life. This name was the only connection between him and his previous life, so he didn’t want to give it up.

Of course Xiao Xia would not explain, he nodded and said: “Thank you, Patriarch, I accept it!”

When Xiao Xia returned to the palace, he learned that his wife had something important to discuss with him, so he hurried to his wife’s yard.

Xiao Xia entered the room and looked at his wife anxiously. He was relieved to see that she was fine.

“What’s important?”

“An urgent letter has been sent from Chang’an.” Cui Yu handed an urgent letter to her husband.

Xiao Xia took the letter and read it carefully, his expression changed slightly.

“Husband, what happened?” Cui Yu saw that her husband’s face looked strange.

Xiao Xia sighed and said, “Manager Ma is seriously ill and may not be able to survive.”

Cui Yu was surprised. “How could that be? You said last time that he was in good health.”

“The last time was two years ago. He is sixty years old this year. He has been working hard for a long time. This time the company moved to Luoyang, which was too hard. His body finally couldn’t stand it. Alas! I should have let him retire a long time ago.”

“He is so loyal to you, you have to make good arrangements for his funeral.”

Xiao Xia nodded, “I will definitely make arrangements for his wife and son, but the question now is, who should I let take over?”

Cui Yu thought for a moment and said, “Aren’t there a few deputy stewards?”

“The deputy steward can do the job, but I must find someone who is absolutely loyal to me to take charge. There are millions of guan of property!”

“How is Xiaoqing’s father?”

“no!”

Xiao Xia shook his head and rejected it. “He is just a relative, but he is far from loyal.” “I remember that you have an aide named Du, and he seems to be in Chang’an to observe mourning?”

“You mean Du Wen!”

Xiao Xia still shook his head. “His loyalty doesn’t meet my requirements, and I don’t trust him. He must be loyal and trustworthy to make me feel at ease. Sun Lei is fine, but… forget it. I won’t hinder his future.”

At this point, Xiao Xia said in a distracted manner: “I’ll go to the study to reply first, and then I’ll think about it carefully!”

Xiao Xia turned and left. At this time, Cui Yu suddenly thought of someone.

Xiao Xia quickly finished writing the letter and put it into an envelope. At this time, his wife Cui Yu came in holding a cup of tea.

She placed the teacup on the table and said softly, “Let Ah Chu go!”

“Achu!” Xiao Xia’s eyes lit up. Achu was indeed a perfect candidate. She didn’t need to do any work, just supervise. Besides, her mother and sister happened to be in Luoyang.

But is Ah Chu willing to go? Xiao Xia hesitated.

“Does my husband intend to take her as a concubine?”

Xiao Xia shook her head. “I agreed with her mother that Ah Chu has been with me for five years. She followed me when she was ten. Now she is fifteen, which means it has been almost five years. I promised to let her be the head housekeeper.”

Cui Yu said softly: “If your husband decides to take her as a concubine, then keep her. If your husband has not considered taking her as a concubine, then let her go. She is smart and sensible, strong and upright, and very capable. Let her be in charge of your husband’s property. She is the most suitable person.”

Xiao Xia pondered for a long time and said slowly: “According to the etiquette, I can marry twelve concubines. If she is willing to follow me, it is not impossible for her to have one more concubine. But if she wants to do something on her own, I will also help her.”

“My husband wants her to decide for herself?”

Xiao Xia nodded slightly.

“Okay! I’ll go talk to her.”

At night, Xiao Xia was in the study thinking about tomorrow’s meeting with the governors of Danyang County and Liyang County. The door opened gently, and Achu walked in with a teacup.

She put down the teacup, lowered her head and stood in front of Xiao Xia. Xiao Xia held her hand, and seeing her red eyes, she held her in her arms and said softly: “If you don’t want to go, just be Xiao Qing’s sister!”

Ah Chu bit his lip and whispered, “Master, I want to go.”

“Don’t force yourself. I can also let Sun Lei or Sister Li go. There are choices.”

“Sir, do you think they are more suitable than me?”

Xiao Xia shook her head, “No one can make me trust you more than you, and no one can make me feel more at ease!”

“That’s okay!”

Ah Chu also sighed and said, “I want to be your concubine, but I am unwilling. You said before that you wanted me to be the chief housekeeper, and I was so excited that I didn’t sleep well for two days. I really want to do something like a man. At first, I wanted to be the manager of the cloth shop, but it’s a pity that you gave it to Xiaoqing’s father.”

Xiao Xia pondered for a long time and said, “Ah Chu, let’s make a deal. Five years later, if you want to be with me, I will take you as my concubine. If you want to start your own business, I will give you three Xihai jewelry stores. What do you think?”

Ah Chu burst into laughter and said, “Really?”

Xiao Xia nodded, “When have I ever promised you something that was not true?”

At this time, Ah Chu gently untied her belt, and suddenly a dazzling white skin flashed. Xiao Xia was startled and quickly covered her eyes, “Ah Chu, this won’t do, you are only fifteen years old!”

Ah Chu snuggled in Xiao Xia’s arms, her whole body burning with heat, “I understand everything, I know everything, my greatest wish is to give it to you, sir, please let me leave without regrets!”

Xiao Xia sighed, “I promised your mother that I would let you return intact.”

Ah Chu became excited, “I am the master of my own body and my own destiny. No one can represent me. In this life, I will never have another man except you!”

Xiao Xia was touched, and hugged her delicate body and whispered in her ear: “I promise you!”

The next day, Xiao Xia woke up and found that there was no one around him. Ah Chu had quietly got up and left without him knowing. After a long moment, Xiao Xia sighed softly.

Two days later, Achu and Cui Mei left Jiangdu in a carriage, escorted by two female guards and three hundred cavalrymen, and headed for Luoyang to take over as the chief steward of Xihai Trading Company. The female guards would become her personal bodyguards.

In addition, Xiao Xia also gave her a gold medal of King Jin. With this gold medal, no one dared to cause trouble for her.

As for Cui Mei who was traveling with them, it was her parents who repeatedly urged her to go home. She had been away from home for two years and her parents missed her, so it was a good opportunity for her to go back with Achu.

(End of this chapter)