CHAPTER 374: CHAPTER 371 THE HEART

The felt products made by Chen Family Village were quickly sold out.

However, the fur shop remained open, and Manager Jiao and his assistants continued to show the felt products to everyone.

Manager Jiao apologized, "When Chen Family Village sends more felt products, we will surely inform everyone."

The small fur shop had never had so many people enter before, and by looking at their attire, it was clear that most of these people were "nobles" from the Capital City.

After a busy day, the assistant murmured with a mix of joy and melancholy, "The felt products sell so well, why doesn’t Chen Family Village sell them at a higher price?"

The assistant recalled the people from Chen Family Village who mentioned the conditions in the North, thinking that earning more silver coins could benefit those common folk too.

Manager Jiao closed the door, unable to help but smile and shake his head, "This is a long-term business, how can we focus only on short-term gains? You still have much to learn."

The young assistant didn’t understand, so he busied himself cleaning the shop, "Should we open tomorrow even without felt products to sell? Should we display our old stock?"

"No need to display," Manager Jiao said without looking up, "During this period without merchandise, we won’t sell. But since we promised Chen Family Village to display the felts, we will keep them hung until the goods from Chen Family Village arrive."

The felt from Zhenzhou had just started selling, and many people hadn’t seen it yet, not knowing what it truly looked like. The shop stayed open not to sell but to let everyone see those felt and flower felt.

Manager Jiao understood that this was why Chen Family Village found a few shops to sell new products and promised them benefits.

The assistant seemed worried, "What if this product only sells for a while, and in the future, others start copying it at a lower price? Wouldn’t we lose silver coins then?"

Manager Jiao nodded, "There is indeed such a possibility. That’s how business is; no one knows what will happen, but I believe in Chen Family Village."

It’s not for anything else, just based on how methodically Chen Family Village conducts its affairs and how knowledgeable they are about furs and the North, others find it hard to match.

Manager Jiao added, "Next year, the fur business will be easier, and the prices will be lower than in previous years."

The assistant didn’t know where his shopkeeper’s predictions were coming from.

Manager Jiao continued, "Once the felt products from Chen Family Village sell well, we will also sell the fur we have stored at a cheaper price, no need to hoard them."

That young lady from Chen Family Village had already disclosed some information to him, mentioning sheepskin and wool, indicating her keen interest. Now that there are no wars in the land of the Eight States, the towns in the North like Zhenzhou have developed such a fur business, and when the weather warms, surely people will start herding sheep.

Manager Jiao did not explain further to the assistant, instead focusing on his accounts. He wanted to properly manage the business in Zhenzhou. With so many shops in the Capital City, as they frequently sold goods from Zhenzhou, others would come to his shop in search of items from Zhenzhou in the future.

...

Commander of the Palace, Li You, was seated in his study, writing.

The paper placed on the felt became exceptionally smooth with the paperweight added on top, providing moderate hardness and fluency for writing.

"Good stuff." Li You couldn’t help but smile.

After the cohort from Chen Family Village arrived in the capital, Xie Liangchen and Chen Zigeng delivered the felt. For the past few days, Li You had restrained himself from speaking about it, but in the quiet of the night, he would spread the felt and write on it.

Looking at his own handwriting, Li You felt an impulse to dry the written characters and ask his junior to show them to the teacher. Somehow, with this felt, his writing seemed to improve, though if changed for wax paper...

He merely entertained the thought, naturally reluctant to use it.

Last year, while in Chen Family Village, he had bought pen and ink for his junior. Now the paper from Chen Family Village had so many people thinking about it, and in just one year, such changes had occurred.

Miss Xie is truly extraordinary.

Of course, without Song Xian, Miss Xie would not have been able to extend her capabilities. Conversely, no matter how well Song Xian governed, without such assistance, it would take several more years for the North to prosper.

Song Xian marrying Xie Liangchen is most opportune, and such an excellent match was destined to happen.

Li You, joyfully admiring his handwriting, was pleased for both Song Xian and Xie Liangchen, contemplating that he should prepare a grand gift for their marriage.

"Master," the steward entered to report, "Prefect Yin has arrived."

Just today, Li You’s residence had received several officials, from scholars to associate scholars, and now this prefect from the capital, all of whom maintained some personal connections with Li You. They had come not for other reasons but because Li You had been to Zhenzhou and had represented Chen Family Village. They wanted to inquire about Chen Family Village’s news and, incidentally, ask Li You for some pieces of paper.

Li You invited Prefect Yin to sit in the study.

Prefect Yin got straight to the point, "Have you heard the news about Chen Family Village?"

Upon saying this, Prefect Yin realized that perhaps his question wasn’t well-posed, as Li You surely knew. So he rephrased, "You’ve been to Chen Family Village; is it really as incredible as they say? Were those things really made by Chen Family Village?"

Li You nodded, "Indeed, that’s true. But saying it was all made by Chen Family Village isn’t entirely accurate; as far as I know, now all the villages in Zhenzhou work with Chen Family Village, and it’s the same over at Zhaozhou."

Prefect Yin considered Xie Liangchen’s background, "Now I believe."

Li You asked, "What?"

Prefect Yin said, "That Miss Xie is a descendant of Prince Guangyang."

Li You remained silent.

Prefect Yin hesitated for a moment before continuing, "When you were in Zhenzhou..."

Before Prefect Yin could finish, Li You knew what he implied, "I didn’t know, nor did I ever suspect that Xie Liangchen’s identity was questionable. I never saw any individuals related to Prince Guangyang secretly assisting her. Back then, those surrounding her were just villagers who started their business by picking herbs and selling them, from trading Yangtao Vine, and that was all evident to me."

Li You continued, "These people didn’t use any tricks on me. When I was investigating cases, I meticulously verified everything, without the slightest bias."

"Recently, there have been many rumors in the court, but since I had been to Zhenzhou, many things are inconvenient to speak of openly. Some say Song Xian and Xie Liangchen had plans long before, and achieving the current outcome was due to using Prince Guangyang’s name. Once Xie Liangchen’s identity is restored, Song Xian could secure control over the Eight States."

Prefect Yin, naturally, had heard of these too.

Li You displayed a satirical expression, "The emperor had long designated Jiahui as Commandery Princess, and even if it were false, in the eyes of everyone, it was a given that a descendant of Prince Guangyang was in the world. So why, over nineteen years, hadn’t anyone joined hands with Commandery Princess Jiahui to reclaim the Eight States? Because no one dared attempt such a thing."

"When Song Xian led troops to the Northwest, how many cowered and didn’t dare utter a word for fear of being sent by the court on the same mission? How many were watching in secret, waiting for the situation to turn favorable to claim a share?"

"Now that Song Xian has won a victory, such rumors arise, as if they were competent enough to achieve the same victory if given the chance."

"Honestly, this outcome didn’t surprise me at all. Within the court, there’s endless scheming and strategizing, but how many actually accomplish something substantial? Some secretly say I’m biased in favor of Song Xian and Chen Family Village, and perhaps I am inclined to support them because both genuinely endeavor to accomplish things."

"Even if Xie Liangchen wasn’t a descendant of Prince Guangyang, she would still achieve as she does."

Prefect Yin saw clearly that Li You genuinely admired Song Xian and Chen Family Village, "The emperor intends to grant me an audience tomorrow to inquire about the matter of Chen Family Village selling felt and paper in the capital, and I will report honestly."

After finishing, Prefect Yin looked intently at Li You, "Does Song Xian really have such capability?"

Li You didn’t respond; he understood that Prefect Yin didn’t need an answer from him.

Prefect Yin said, "I have a few students who are promising talents. I consider sending them to the Eight States to contribute."

Li You asked, "Are you willing to let them go?"