CHAPTER 384: CHAPTER 381: POPULAR

Chen Yongyi had come to the Capital City for the first time, and before entering the city, he saw the carriages and horses on the official road, surprising him with how many people traveled even in winter.

Tian Chengyou, having led trading teams across the country, appeared very calm: "The Capital is always bustling at the year’s end. Officials from outside come to pay homage, especially recently, as those coming to the Capital need to hurry back since New Year’s Eve is approaching."

Chen Yongyi nodded: "Will we be spending this year’s New Year in the Capital?"

Tian Chengyou replied: "The Old Madam, the General, and the Commandery Princess have just been honored, so it’s likely we’ll keep vigil at the residence in the Capital."

Chen Yongyi knew that even if they spent the New Year in the Capital, the Old Madam and the others would be eager to return to Chen Family Village, where many matters awaited Liangchen.

Preparations for spring plowing would start once back, especially since they now had the land of the Eight States; they couldn’t delay for too long.

"General Zhongwu and village chief Chen have arrived," Tian Chengyou called out.

Chen Yongyi immediately looked up, indeed seeing Xie Shao Yuan and Chen Yongsheng riding swiftly towards him.

Chen Yongyi was overjoyed, hastily jumping off the carriage and limping forward. It had been so long since he had seen everyone and he missed them dearly.

"How was the journey?" Xie Shao Yuan asked.

"All went well," Chen Yongyi replied, "Two of our men fell ill, but it wasn’t a major issue. The medicine Liangchen and Mr. Xu prepared was effective; otherwise, we wouldn’t dare to travel at this time."

Xie Shao Yuan then said to Tian Chengyou: "Brother Tian, you’ve worked hard."

"The General is too kind," Tian Chengyou laughed, "Consider me a person of Chen Family Village. I eat and live there now, just short of getting a registered residency."

Recently, with Xie Shao Yuan and others away from Chen Family Village, Tian Chengyou had many matters to discuss with Chen Yongyi and often stayed there. Even the members of the Tian Family Trading Team knew that if the master was in Zhenzhou, he was either with the Tian Family or in Chen Family Village. Chen Family Village had indeed become like a second home for Tian Chengyou.

Xie Shao Yuan said, "Then Brother Tian, don’t address me as a General anymore. Let’s keep things as they used to be."

"Sure," Tian Chengyou agreed readily.

Chen Yongyi spoke of Chen Family Village: "All’s well in the village. We’ve prepared everything needed for the New Year before we left. Brother-in-law and elder brother need not worry."

Xie Shao Yuan, slightly uneasy, said: "Recently, we’ve made a lot of pink wax paper and wool felt, yet everyone doesn’t have much Silver Coin to use."

"The village doesn’t need much Silver Coin," Chen Yongyi said, "There’s no shortage of food, everyone is warm enough, and that’s sufficient. Besides, everyone is too busy to mind such things, all working in the weaving rooms and the Papermaking Workshop. Also, this year, the Familiar Medicine Institute helped the Official Medicine Bureau make a lot of finished medicine. People don’t even want to rest and will only keep vigil on New Year’s Eve, keeping on as usual on other days."

As they talked, they walked towards the city.

Chen Yongyi mentioned Song Xian and Xie Liangchen: "Are General Song and Liangchen very busy?"

"He shouldn’t be called General Song anymore," Chen Yongsheng said, "He’s been appointed as a Military Governor now."

Chen Yongyi had already received the news, but calling Song Xian a Military Governor felt somewhat strange. He always found General Song more endearing, as he had been a great help to Chen Family Village during its hardest times.

Beside him, Tian Chengyou said, "I heard the Emperor issued the imperial edict for marriage; Military Governor Song is betrothed to Chen Family Village. Once the wedding is held in the coming days, he’ll be considered one of us no matter what he’s called."

After Tian Chengyou said this, he congratulated Xie Shao Yuan: "Good people have good fortune. With all that Liangchen and Chen Family Village have done, helping so many people, their future is bound to be prosperous."

As they spoke, they reached the city gate.

Only then did Chen Yongsheng think to remind Chen Yongyi and Tian Chengyou: "Once we enter the city, there might be people surrounding us. No need to panic, Liangchen has prepared everything, every box of our goods has a designated place."

Chen Yongyi didn’t fully understand what Chen Yongsheng meant by people surrounding them? To do what?

But this question was quickly answered as the convoy had just entered the city when someone approached.

"Are these the goods from Chen Family Village?"

"General, I am from the Yang Dazhi household. I delivered a message to you before. Dazhi is waiting at the shop entrance, and sent me to check where your trading team is."

"General, do you have flower paper in this shipment..."

From the noisy chatter, Chen Yongyi could discern a few words and understood that these people were here for their goods.

He looked at Tian Chengyou, who had maintained his calm demeanor but was now visibly surprised, starting to understand why people had watched their convoy all the way to the Capital.

Initially, he was nervous, worried that those people wanted to target their goods, but later discovered that they were merely observing from a distance, not approaching, more like gathering information.

Tian Chengyou now realized they were checking when their goods would enter the Capital.

It seemed many in the Capital were fond of paper and wool felt, and Tian Chengyou couldn’t help but marvel at how Old Master Xie and Miss Xie had paved the way in the Capital in such a short time.

Then again, recalling the past incident when Miss Xie dared to have their goods transported before settling payments, Tian Chengyou wasn’t surprised anymore. In all his dealings with merchants, rarely did he meet someone with Miss Xie’s audacity, much less someone as sharp as she was.

"Let’s move," Tian Chengyou instructed his men, "Don’t look around randomly, follow village chief Chen forward. When we reach the shop, unload exactly as instructed, and be quick."

Meanwhile, Xie Shao Yuan was already surrounded by people, but thankfully with Chen Yongsheng leading the way.

The convoy headed first to Manager Jiao’s fur shop.

Xie Liangchen was inside, speaking with Meng Changshu and Miss Yan. Miss Yan talked with Xie Liangchen about the herb illustrations they’d been working on these days.

Li Ruchu couldn’t come, busy deliberating with his uncle over those herb illustrations, checking for areas needing improvement.

Xie Liangchen mentioned Miss Yan’s illustrations: "Several are exceptionally good; I’m reluctant to part with them."

Miss Yan blushed: "To be honest, those weren’t my works; they were my father’s paintings." These days, she competed with her father in illustrating herbs; if not for her father being swamped with work at the government office, she certainly couldn’t win against him.

Xie Liangchen laughed: "It really is a lot of work for Lord Shaoqing."

"Not at all," Miss Yan said, "If you don’t let him paint, he’d really be displeased."

Xie Liangchen whispered, "Later, I’ll set aside some paper for Lord Shaoqing, including some flower paper. This time, we didn’t make much flower paper, and I’m not planning to sell it. I’ll first distribute it to everyone as a token of appreciation for their hard work."

Miss Yan’s face flushed again: "We haven’t done much, truly feeling somewhat undeserving, but... I wouldn’t want to miss out."

Meng Changshu laughed as well upon hearing this.

"They’re here, ladies, the carriage has arrived."

At the door, Manager Jiao’s voice rang out happily.

Chen Zigeng said, "I see Fourth Uncle."

Xie Liangchen quickly donned her veil and went out to meet them, as Chen Zigeng waved towards Chen Yongyi and Tian Chengyou not far away.

Chen Yongyi saw his two family members, but when his gaze fell on Xie Liangchen, he couldn’t help but pause; since when did Liangchen start wearing a veil? It looked quite unfamiliar to him.

"Manager, does this batch include goods belonging to our family?"

"Manager, the Commandery Princess is here, please divide the goods as previously arranged."

Manager Jiao assured everyone, "No mistakes, none at all."

"Will there be anything leftover? We failed to reserve any earlier; we’d be content just to get one piece of wool or flower felt."

"Indeed," came the replies.

Amid hoarse chatter, the goods from Chen Family Village were moved into the shop.

After unloading several boxes, Xie Liangchen led Chen Yongyi to the next shop.

"Liangchen," Chen Yongyi said, "We should be able to sell all our goods quickly, right?"

Xie Liangchen smiled, "They’ve been sold long ago; they all had buyers before the goods even arrived."

Chen Yongyi expected the goods to sell easily but didn’t anticipate such high demand.

Xie Liangchen continued, "There’s another good piece of news, Xiao Xingzong will be escorted to the Capital today. Song Xian left with the court’s troops heading north to assist, and the prison cart should arrive later."