CHAPTER 227: CHAPTER 224 DREAMING

Daming Prefecture.

Miss Lin looked at the accounts in her hand and smiled with satisfaction. She owed thanks to Chen Family Village. Without Chen Family Village, she wouldn’t have the woolen business she had now.

Since last year, Chen Family Village started selling wool textiles, making not only hats and socks but also blankets. Although the textiles crafted by the farmers weren’t that delicate, they were tightly woven with ample wool. Moreover, the Tian Family Trading Team worked tirelessly to deliver the goods to shops in various states and counties, gradually opening up the market.

So, throughout the winter, Chen Family Village was busy in the weaving rooms. As soon as the weather warmed up, they sent the wool textiles out through the Tian Family Trading Team, aiming for a big profit in spring to subsidize the spring plowing. However, they didn’t expect to be intercepted by her in advance.

Miss Lin’s smile deepened, but it was far from enough.

After all, the wool textiles from Chen Family Village in spring were not abundant, and they sold quickly after the price was lowered without affecting the core of Chen Family Village. If Chen Family Village stopped at this point, she would have to find other ways to deal with Chen Family Village.

God truly seemed to have eyes, as Chen Family Village didn’t give up on wool textiles and boldly bought looms and patterns everywhere. They even invited weavers to the village to teach the farmers’ wives how to make the textiles more exquisite. They also urged other villages in Zhenzhou to use all their silver coins to buy wool, gearing up for competition...

If this venture fails again, the outcome is predictable.

Even if she could spare Chen Family Village and Xie Liangchen, other villages in Zhenzhou wouldn’t let it go easily, fearing they wouldn’t wish to tear Xie Liangchen apart.

Thinking about this, Miss Lin said, "Xie Liangchen doesn’t carefully consider; no matter how fast they learn, can they match real weavers? Madam Su says Xie Liangchen is too cunning, but in my opinion, it’s Madam Su who lacks ability."

The maid beside her understood her intent and spoke openly, "Naturally, they can’t compare; they are likely to lose more heavily this time."

Miss Lin said, "The wool from the North is continuously being sent over, making Zhenzhou highly bustling now. Those farmer’s wives think they can earn silver coins just by buying wool, and many praise Xie Liangchen’s benefits."

Miss Lin snorted coldly and continued, "No wonder they say new calves are not afraid of tigers; those who haven’t seen the big world naturally don’t know the height of the sky."

Let them collect more, lose more heavily,

Then, when the people of Zhenzhou beg her to buy the wool, she will extract the silver coins earned from medicinal herbs last year from their hands because those originally belonged to her.

Miss Lin put down the accounts in her hand and was about to rest a bit when the housekeeper came forward quickly and reported, "Second Miss, Third Master Du has sent items over."

Miss Lin’s eyebrows rose, and a smile appeared on her face. Although she was already engaged to her cousin from her aunt’s family, how could the Shen Family compare to the Du Family of Sui State?

This woolen business was so smooth because Sui State was continuously sending wool to her hands. Initially, Miss Lin didn’t know who was behind the Shi Family Trading Team. As the wool business progressed smoothly, the person behind it revealed themselves.

Du Yi, Third Master Du, was the third brother of Du Jiedu. He was twenty-six years old this year and his first wife passed away due to illness last spring. Miss Lin still remembered the look in Third Master Du’s eyes when he saw her, filled with surprise and joy.

Princess Jiahui wasn’t just seeking business for her but showed her a clear path. As long as she can firmly grab onto the Du Family, she could annul her engagement with her uncle’s family and marry Third Master Du as his concubine, worrying about future glory and wealth.

As for Xie Liangchen, she would forever be just a farmer’s wife.

The servants carried three sandalwood boxes into the room. The steward from the Du Family bowed to Miss Lin and said, "There was heavy rain in the Northwest, so to bring more wool, Third Master has to stay at home for a few days. He instructed us to deliver these items first and report to Second Miss, ensuring you need not worry about the wool; everything is managed by Third Master."

Miss Lin was joyous in her heart but frowned at the door, "Third Master sent these items... they say no merit is received for reward; I cannot accept, you should take them away."

The Du steward said, "Third Master stated, if Second Miss doesn’t like them, we should throw them away, and will have to return for punishment."

Miss Lin looked troubled and sighed after a moment, "I understand, leave the items here first. I’ll consider after meeting Third Master Du."

After the Du Family people left, Miss Lin impatiently ordered the boxes to be opened, and inside the three boxes, they were filled with fabrics, ornaments, dressing cases, copper mirrors, and various items for a lady’s use.

They seemed to exceed the betrothal gifts from the Shen Family.

Miss Lin was inwardly delighted but kept a nonchalant demeanor, "Put the items away first!" She planned to carefully choose them at night when no one was around. When Third Master Du came to Daming Prefecture, she would wear the clothes made from these fabrics and the ornaments he sent; then he would understand everything.

When he believed she had feelings too, she would shed tears and mention the marriage with the Shen Family. It was only to save her life that she had to do so; Third Master Du would only pity her and wouldn’t mind the engagement.

Miss Lin pursed her lips. It was almost time; at this juncture, she couldn’t be careless and needed to consider all the details carefully.

Miss Lin called the stewards to her side, "Have you arranged the weavers?"

The steward said, "We’ve found thirty weavers and over thirty miscellaneous workers, ready to clean and dry the wool when it arrives. Once the wool is carded, it will be sent for spinning and weaving. Rest assured, we will deliver the wool textiles to the shops as quickly as possible."

Miss Lin said, "Not only fast but also woven well. I don’t want the wool textiles from Chen Family Village to be more exquisite than ours."

The steward whispered, "This is not the Northern Border where every household’s women can use looms; the Capital City has many embroidery shops and weaving workshops. Our embroideresses are carefully selected, so how can the Chen Family Village’s craftsmanship compare? You’ll see!"

Miss Lin finally felt assured. Calculating the days, the wool would be delivered in ten days or so. Once her wool textiles spread all over, Chen Family Village’s wool textiles would not have been completed yet.

...

Chen Family Village.

Tian Chengyou was worried like never before. The Tian Family Trading Team had been recruiting personnel since last year, adding more than ten clerks in early spring, yet still wasn’t enough.

One box of goods after another was loaded onto mule carts. Tian Chengyou wiped the sweat off his face and found Chen Yongsheng among the crowd.

The two locked eyes and immediately moved aside to talk.

Chen Yongsheng said, "Is the trading team understaffed? Our several villages have found over twenty people and four mule carts to exit Zhenzhou with you."

Tian Chengyou’s eyes lit up, "That’s definitely good."

Chen Yongsheng said, "Once the goods are delivered to Xingzhou, Mr. Tian can lead the trading team back to Zhenzhou for another batch of goods."

Tian Chengyou was surprised, "Unload at Xingzhou? Who will oversee?"

Chen Yongsheng laughed, "We’ll oversee it. We rented a yard in Xingzhou a few days ago to store the goods. Miss Chen said this counts as the warehouse for Zhenzhou’s goods."