CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 59: ANGELICA, ADENOPHORA, AND LAMB SOUP

No matter what, if you are one step ahead, you will accomplish twice as much with half the effort.

Especially with goods; the fresher, the better they sell.

Tian Chengyou leads his trading team throughout various counties and prefectures, often risking half his life to arrive just one day earlier. How could he not understand this principle?

If an old merchant had said this, Tian Chengyou wouldn’t be surprised, but the girl before him...

Tian Chengyou was forced to reassess Miss Xie. The Chen Family Village’s takeover of the Paper Workshop business was no accident, but rather because someone in Chen Family Village truly understands trade.

Xie Liangchen said, "Mr. Tian knows that our Chen Family Village is collecting medicinal herbs for the first time. Gathering herbs is easy; selling them is difficult. That’s our problem, and it’s the same for Mr. Tian. After the war, the trading team under your command was damaged. For you and our Chen Family Village, now we must either slowly accumulate capital and await opportunities, or find another way.

Accumulating capital seems safe, but now many Southern merchants are coming to the North. Their manpower and resources are far superior to ours. Once they establish themselves in the North, we will only be constrained by them."

Tian Chengyou fell into thought. Without silver coins, does that mean no business? Although he can’t muster up a large trading team now, he still wants to go through with this venture, proving he is not someone who gives up easily.

Clearly, Miss Xie has the same mindset, but despite her young age, she sees things more clearly than he does.

Tian Chengyou faced Xie Liangchen: "So, Miss Xie thought of this method?"

Xie Liangchen said, "Since you don’t want to miss this opportunity and wish to continue this business, you can only offer concessions. We will make mutual concessions and share any risks that might arise."

If you want to take away the medicinal herbs from Chen Family Village, you need to prepare more manpower, carriages, and horses, paying less silver coins to Chen Family Village. This relies on the years of accumulated reputation of the Tian Family Trading Team.

For Chen Family Village, it’s the same—it’s all the silver coins earned from their village selling medicinal herbs.

Tian Chengyou went to Chen Family Village, saw the people in the village, and understood their hardships.

Tian Chengyou looked at Chen Yongsheng, understanding why this girl brought the village chief along; the village chief could decide on behalf of the entire village.

Tian Chengyou took a long breath and thought of the men who died while trading with him. He promised to take care of their families, and with that alone, he couldn’t give up.

A myriad of emotions flashed by.

When he regained his composure, his gaze became more steadfast. He looked at Chen Yongsheng and Xie Liangchen and said in a low voice, "The government office might not have made such paperwork before. I’ll find someone to inquire. If we truly want to proceed like this, we must not let any rumors escape."

At this point, even Chen Yongsheng, who hadn’t spoken, was somewhat moved.

Tian Chengyou said, "Once I’ve investigated, I’ll go to Chen Family Village. Many details still need to be discussed."

With all the words spoken, Xie Liangchen stood up to take her leave.

Tian Chengyou couldn’t help but say, "I heard Chen Family Village collects medicinal herbs differently from other herb merchants?"

Xie Liangchen nodded, "The rules that herb merchants set for collecting medicinal herbs are unreasonable. We don’t want to be at their mercy. Although it’s business, it must be sensible; otherwise, it’s not trading, but exploitation."

He saw off Chen Yongsheng and Xie Liangchen.

Tian Chengyou stood in the courtyard, and in his mind and ears were Miss Xie’s words.

"Father."

Miss Tian knew there were guests at home today. She glanced from afar but only saw one girl about her age.

Tian Chengyou showed his daughter a loving smile: "You’re back?"

Tian Chengyou’s wife passed away early, leaving behind only a daughter. Over the years, he never remarried, and the father and daughter depended on each other.

Though Miss Tian was a girl, she was straightforward by nature and always wished to ease her father’s worries. Thus, from a young age, she insisted on learning horseback riding and martial arts from her father, whom Tian Chengyou doted on, allowing her to do so.

Tian Chengyou reached out and stroked his daughter’s head: "If I take the trading team away from Zhenzhou this time, the household will rely on you to manage."

Miss Tian had long known her father’s intentions, and the father and daughter had discussed this matter, but she wasn’t sure why her father seemed so solemn today.

Miss Tian asked, "Father, did something happen?"

"Nothing," Tian Chengyou said, "It’s just that success or failure hinges on this one action."

On the way back to Chen Family Village, Chen Yongsheng looked at Xie Liangchen: "You didn’t mention these things to Mr. Tian yesterday; was it because you wanted to first understand the situation of the Tian Family?"

Xie Liangchen nodded: "Yesterday, my second uncle went to the house of Mr. Tian’s former colleague to inquire. He learned that Mr. Tian has been taking care of the families of those who died under his command, which shows his deep sense of duty. When there was war in the North, the Tian Family Trading Team still risked delivering goods. This shows their sincerity. We need to find a trading team, and the Tian Family seems very suitable."

Chen Yongsheng knew Miss Chen had thought everything through. After a moment of silence, he said, "You said not to let anyone know our medicinal herbs have been sold. When we get back to the village, I’ll lead people to build a few warehouses. They can store rice and grain, as well as herbs. This way, when the herbs are transported out, we can fool the others’ eyes."

There is still much to be done, and Xie Liangchen thought again about Song Xian. She wanted Chang Yue to report the Tian Family Trading Team’s affairs to Song Xian, but when she considered the creditor’s temper...

They hadn’t seen each other for days. Last time, she glimpsed a shadow just outside the tavern. This time, she had to go and talk to ease the creditor’s mind.

Every time she met the creditor, she would prepare some gifts. So, each time Xie Liangchen returned from Song Xian’s courtyard, she immediately pondered what to bring for their next meeting.

Cheng Yanzhao mentioned that Song Xian had a poor appetite. She happened to have received some Solomon’s seal, and now it’s autumn, so she went to the market with her bamboo basket to buy some lamb.

Before leaving, she told her younger brother to avoid people when visiting General Song, because the matter of selling medicinal herbs to the trading team had to be done with General Song’s help.

Her younger brother wasn’t so easily dismissed this time, insisting on going with her until she finally talked him into staying.

Xie Liangchen sighed, her brother was too clever. It was difficult to fool him, and someday he might just see through her plans.

Xie Liangchen followed Chang Yue into Song Xian’s courtyard, where Chang An greeted, "The master is discussing business in the study with Mr. Cheng. Miss Xie, please wait a moment."

Xie Liangchen replied and turned towards the kitchen.

The kitchen was very quiet, not looking as if there were a chef in there. It seemed that everyone knew exactly what she was there to do.

Xie Liangchen said, "I’ll go to the kitchen first."

She walked into the kitchen, looking at the cold pots and stoves, remembering how her grandmother fed chickens and ducks with such careful care, afraid of them not laying eggs.

How similar it was to her situation now.

In addition to meeting the creditor, she was tasked with feeding him as well.

The stove fire was lit, warming the pot, lamb was cleaned and put in the pot, then Solomon’s seal and Chinese angelica were added.

On another stove, rice porridge was boiling, with ground sour jujube seeds added.

The Solomon’s seal and Chinese angelica stewed with lamb replenish blood and energy and nourish the stomach.

The sour jujube seed rice porridge calms the mind.

Her genuine affection for Song Xian was all in these dishes.

Xie Liangchen was squatting by the stove fire, glancing at the courtyard where several chickens strolled, the flames reflecting a glint in her eyes.

When did this small courtyard start raising chickens?

Next time she makes chicken stew, could she use them directly? Xie Liangchen’s lips curled slightly; her grandmother was right, save where you can!

In the study.

Song Xian and Cheng Yanzhao were reviewing military intelligence from the Northwest when Cheng Yanzhao suddenly sniffed and swallowed: "A Xian, did you smell that? What is so fragrant?"