CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 57 WRONG PERSON

Madam Su did not answer Miss Lin’s question, only displayed a smile full of deeper meaning.

Miss Lin grasped the meaning, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "I don’t know what those villagers are thinking. Do they think if the pharmacy doesn’t buy, they can sell at the market? Medicinal herbs are not ordinary goods; even if there are bell doctors willing to buy, they are in the minority."

Madam Su spoke with conviction: "I also hope they can sell, but after all, this is different from the paper workshop business."

The fact that Chen Family Village could sell medicinal herbs to the paper workshop was due to the government’s approval. Thinking their business was doing well, they began collecting other medicinal herbs, which only shows their overconfidence.

Miss Lin laughed and said: "Aunt is so kind-hearted, and cousin is just like aunt. Even though he’s running a pharmacy, he gives away medicines every year."

Mentioning Su Huaiqing brought a blush to Miss Lin’s cheeks.

Madam Su saw this but did not address it. Her brother’s family had liked Huaiqing for a long time. She had privately mentioned to their grandfather to marry her niece to Huaiqing to strengthen family ties, but grandfather always brought up the Xie Family girl who was kidnapped.

Now, with the Su Family and Xie Family’s engagement annulled, perhaps the topic could be revisited. Although her brother is just a county magistrate now, he has close ties with the Henghai Military Governor, and her sister-in-law’s family is also affluent, which could be beneficial for Huaiqing.

Thinking of this, Madam Su said with deeper meaning: "Huaiqing will come to Zhenzhou in a while. I’m eager to set up the two pharmacies for him, so he can focus on his studies and attain success in the exams."

Miss Lin lowered her head, not daring to look at Madam Su, and after a while, softly said: "Father also told mother that with cousin’s talent, he will surely pass the exams with flying colors this time."

Madam Su nodded: "I hope so."

Miss Lin thought of something else: "Aunt can be at ease about Qi State, as father will head there in the next two days and will assist you if anything arises."

Madam Su smiled and said: "You’ve worked hard, thinking of these things for me."

Upon hearing Madam Su’s praise, Miss Lin clutched her handkerchief tightly, unable to hide her delight. She only hoped there would be no more mishaps from the Xie Family, and Miss Xie would just quietly remain a farmer girl.

That way, with Miss Xie’s status, she could never aspire to cousin.

...

Chen Family Village.

Old Mrs. Chen looked at the courtyard full of hanging toads, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Watching her granddaughter skillfully drying the toads, she was simultaneously pleased and worried. Which household’s matriarch does such things?

If her family-in-law saw, wouldn’t they be shocked?

Even if her granddaughter wasn’t afraid, it was still notable she brought several village girls along. Initially, they exclaimed in surprise, but soon all focused on the task, seemingly dismissing these things.

Miss Chen truly had courage, as if there was nothing she dared not do.

After several such days, Manager Ding from "Taihe Inn" came with people, finding the courtyard already filled with drying toads.

Manager Ding brought a Mr. Tian along.

Mr. Tian, in his fifties or sixties, was very tall with a few old scars on his cheeks.

Xie Liangchen and Old Mrs. Chen poured hot water to receive their guests, and Manager Ding spoke first: "I’ve used that processed Rehmannia, it’s quite suitable for making medicinal cuisine. We’ll first purchase ten pounds for our inn to try."

Hearing that the first transaction with the inn went through, Old Mrs. Chen couldn’t stop smiling, feeling relieved about her money pouch.

After Manager Ding finished, Mr. Tian eagerly asked: "How much toad oil do you have now?"

Xie Liangchen pointed above: "In ten days, the toads drying in the courtyard can be gathered, amounting to around three hundred. If you’re willing to wait ten days, at least five hundred."

The two mountains left by her father had several hundred toads over three years old.

Mr. Tian’s face displayed delight as he said to Old Mrs. Chen: "Can I have a look at those toads?"

Old Mrs. Chen smiled with missing teeth: "Have a look, we caught and dried these ourselves."

Mr. Tian began pacing around the courtyard, occasionally picking up a toad for inspection. Such toads weren’t cheap. He had previously purchased some for the Capital, making some silver in return.

"Mr. Tian, do you run a caravan?"

Mr. Tian was pondering when he heard a girl’s voice.

Mr. Tian instinctively nodded: "Yes."

Xie Liangchen asked again: "Are you heading south?"

"Yes." Mr. Tian didn’t hide it. The Tian Family used to have a caravan of over a hundred people, but in recent years, trouble in the North not only brought invasions by Liao people but also numerous mountain bandits. Several incidents occurred while escorting goods, costing many lives, and the caravan nearly disbanded. He managed to survive by supplying goods to southern inns.

Now the court won the battle, restoring peace to the North. He wanted to revive the caravan, but limited silver made him consider what to sell in the South.

Manager Ding informed him that Chen Family Village had excellent toad oil, so he rushed to check. Toad oil was highly sought after in prefectural cities in the North and could be conveniently transported by caravan.

Mr. Tian asked: "How do you intend to sell this toad oil?"

Xie Liangchen had long thought it through: "Forty wen per toad."

Mr. Tian’s eyes gleamed again, finding forty wen per toad quite reasonable.

Hearing the price, Old Mrs. Chen could hardly believe her ears. Could toads really be this expensive? Was there a mistake? If they caught five hundred, how much silver would that be?

Old Mrs. Chen gently tugged on Chen Zigeng, wanting her grandson to do the math for her.

After Mr. Tian said this, he fell into deep thought, calculating how many toads his silver could buy. If the deal went through, could the Tian Family regain their former glory?

"Mr. Tian, how many carts and horses does your caravan have?"

Unable to suppress his excitement, Mr. Tian seemed to hear Xie Liangchen’s question only after a while: "More than ten carts, dozens of people."

Xie Liangchen continued: "Mr. Tian, have you lived in the North for a long time? I heard during the war many caravans went south."

Hearing this, Mr. Tian smiled slightly, showing a bit of heroism and loyalty on his face: "Many did leave, but some always stay." His caravan transported grain, cloth, and medicinal herbs.

"You’re really impressive." Chen Zigeng raised his head to look at Mr. Tian after hearing this.

Mr. Tian shook his head and sighed: "Those were past matters. After the victory in the North, this is our first trade journey. Laugh if you want, right now the silver I can muster isn’t much, and I’m unsure if I can buy all your toads."

"Have you considered selling Northern medicinal herbs to the South?"

Again, Mr. Tian heard the girl beside him inquiring.

Mr. Tian thought of the medicinal herbs he saw when entering the village, then decisively shook his head: "Even if I want to, I can’t afford it. We don’t have enough silver to buy the herbs."

He also heard that Chen Family Village’s herbs couldn’t sell. If they wanted to sell their herbs to him, they’d be mistaken.