CHAPTER 204: CHAPTER 202 THANKS

Miss Lin walked into the room and picked up the teacup on the table, drinking it all in one gulp.

The family had suddenly changed drastically; all was gone, and Miss Lin could no longer be the pampered noble lady.

Her father’s case, on the surface, was reported to the government by her aunt and cousin, but she knew her cousin had been misled.

The one who misled her cousin was Xie Liangchen.

Her cousin submitted the evidence to the government office only after visiting the Chen Family Village in Zhenzhou, clearly influenced and instructed by Xie Liangchen, thus siding with the Chen Family Village.

Reflecting upon these past events, Miss Lin’s eyes would no longer shed tears; all she could offer was a deadly weapon.

Miss Lin put down the teacup and was about to inspect the accounts.

A servant approached her and said, "Miss, someone from the Princess Manor has arrived."

Miss Lin’s eyes lit up, and she quickly got up to greet them.

Nanny Liu from Princess Jiahui Mansion entered the yard, exchanged courtesies with Miss Lin, and then walked into the main house.

Miss Lin dared not be negligent and personally served tea to Nanny Liu.

After dismissing everyone else, Nanny Liu finally said, "The Princess said your woolen goods are very well made; the shops in the Capital City are willing to accept them."

Miss Lin was filled with joy: "It’s all thanks to the Princess’s trust in me."

Nanny Liu looked at Miss Lin, her expression becoming very stern: "I don’t know why you sought out the Princess. Our Princess is kind-hearted and only does business with you because you’re capable. You must be cautious and not speak nonsense."

Upon hearing this, Miss Lin quickly said: "Nanny, what I passed on is true, about the Chen Family Village..."

Nanny Liu raised her hand to stop Miss Lin: "Just do your job well. If you say one more word, the Princess will never use you again."

Miss Lin dared not mention these matters again: "I will perform well, please reassure the Princess. If the woolen goods from Chen Family Village can’t be sold, eventually the shops will only sell what we make. By then, we can increase the price of the woolen goods, and those shops will have to agree."

"As long as you have a plan in mind." Nanny Liu said no more, stood up, and walked out. After boarding the carriage, she lifted the curtain and waved at Miss Lin, signaling her to retreat.

Miss Lin stood gazing in the direction of the departing carriage and murmured: "See? She is just a servant from Princess Jiahui Mansion, yet she can enter and leave in a carriage. As long as I hold on to the Princess, one day, I can return to the past."

Not only that, she would be stronger than before.

After her father fell into misfortune, his close associates informed her about Xu Tingzhen’s matters in the Chen Family Village, advising her to pass the news to Princess Jiahui, hoping she might help.

This was her father and mother’s worry for her, their last support, which she must firmly grasp.

"Go tell those shopkeepers that within three days, we’ll deliver the woolen goods to their stores. Our woolen goods are cheaper and more exquisitely made than those from Chen Family Village. Just on this basis, starting now, the woolen goods from Chen Family Village shouldn’t even think about entering Daming Prefecture."

...

Inside the carriage.

After meeting Miss Lin, Nanny Liu felt very satisfied and could return to report to the Princess.

The Princess did not yet know the details of Chen Family Village; it might be best to use someone like Miss Lin to probe.

As Nanny Liu was contemplating, a voice came from outside: "Nanny, the Tian Family Trading Team is loading up to leave Daming Prefecture."

Nanny Liu frowned: "What about the goods?"

The servant reported: "They have been loaded as well."

Nanny Liu remarked, "Are they not selling in Daming Prefecture? Those woolen goods sell best here; they can’t fetch a high price in nearby prefectures."

Without waiting for the servant’s reply, Nanny Liu continued with a furrowed brow: "Weren’t the trading team members still running around? Why suddenly decide to pull out the goods?"

The servant replied, "Someone from Chen Family Village came to handle matters."

Nanny Liu instructed the carriage to stop: "No hurry to report back, let’s first see what those people from Chen Family Village intend to do."

...

Chen Yongyi rented a few horses and, with two young lads from the village, rode tirelessly to Daming Prefecture.

Tian Chengyou’s trading team lingered nearby for half a month; after encountering setbacks in Xingzhou and Mingzhou, Tian Chengyou realized this matter wasn’t simple.

Before the Tian Family Trading Team reached Daming Prefecture, Tian Chengyou already checked it out alone. Upon discovering the situation there was the same, his heart sank halfway; thus, he simultaneously investigated the news and sent a message to Miss Xie.

Even though this mission encountered an error, the response was quick.

Tian Chengyou and Chen Yongyi approached a nearby shop: "Are you really going?"

Chen Yongyi replied: "When coming here, Liangchen counseled me on how to proceed; rest assured, Mr. Tian! Liangchen’s advice is sure to be correct."

Tian Chengyou trusted Miss Xie, so he said no more.

With that, the two walked into Bai’s shop. Manager Bai saw Tian Chengyou, his face showing a complex expression, unsure of Tian Chengyou’s purpose this time.

Was it to argue with him? After all, last year Bai’s shop orally agreed with Tian Chengyou to accept their delivered woolen goods this year.

"Manager Bai." Tian Chengyou and Chen Yongyi stepped forward to greet him.

Manager Bai looked at Chen Yongyi’s limping appearance and noticed his missing fingers, pondering. Tian Chengyou had mentioned these woolen goods were made by villagers from several villages in Zhenzhou.

These civilians suffered greatly during the war, barely scraping by to find such livelihoods. Manager Bai had even considered offering a high price, only to be refused by Tian Chengyou. Could it be that now, being cornered, they sought pity?

Manager Bai slightly furrowed his brow, about to speak, when the limping man bowed to him apologetically: "I am from Chen Family Village, here to thank the shopkeeper for the care given to Chen Family Village last year."

Manager Bai’s expression froze.

Chen Yongyi continued: "I heard the woolen goods in the shop are more exquisite than ours and cheaper in price. The shop doesn’t accept our goods because our craftsmanship isn’t good. It’s not easy for a shopkeeper to run a shop, and you can’t do losing business, we understand. We only want to consult with the shopkeeper, if we make more exquisite woolen goods, could we deliver them to the shop?"

Manager Bai took a moment to react: "Certainly can..."

After saying this, Manager Bai felt slightly embarrassed: "Actually, this isn’t your fault. The Square Victory Pattern and woolen blankets hadn’t been done by anyone before; you were the first."

Chen Yongyi was naturally sincere, and his courteous manner made him seem even more earnest.

Chen Yongyi said, "This time we’ll also buy weaving machines to bring back. Once we’ve made samples, we’ll send them to the shop. When you need them, we’ll have the trading team deliver them.

The more people who make woolen goods, the better the quality will naturally be. More choices in the shop are advantageous for the shopkeeper. Wouldn’t you agree?"

From the words of this man in front of him, Manager Bai heard another layer of meaning: perhaps after Chen Family Village stops making woolen goods, the ones who do would raise prices.

If they can hold each other in check, it would be different.