CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 64: IT’S ALL ABOUT MONEY

When the Tian Family Trading Team returned to Zhenzhou, many onlookers stood on both sides of the street.

Previously, everyone knew of the Tian Family Trading Team, but after some incidents, Tian Chengyou sold many of the family’s houses and land, and with no male heirs to continue the lineage, people thought the Tian Family was finished. Unexpectedly, Tian Chengyou transported herbs from the Chen Family Village to the south.

The Tian Family Trading Team, dusty and worn yet with joyous expressions, returned to the city, making countless people envious, while others were angry, seeing the Tian Family and Chen Family Village as eyesores.

If not for the alliance between Tian Chengyou and Chen Family Village, how would the medicine merchants have ended up in this situation?

Madam Su, despite having already investigated the matter, still held onto a sliver of hope until she personally saw Miss Tian leading people all the way to Chen Family Village. Her legs went weak, barely able to stand.

It was all true.

Under her nose, Chen Family Village transported those herbs away.

Madam Su clenched her hands tightly, her face ugly with anger, and said through gritted teeth, "They are all no good." She should have realized earlier; they are all rascals.

Rascals exactly like Xie Liangchen.

When Xie Liangchen was still with the Xie Family, she plotted against her, and now she set a trap with Chen Family Village.

Madam Su vented her anger on the steward: "Did you not go to inquire? Didn’t the Tian Family Trading Team transport fur and jade, why has it become herbs?"

The steward bowed his head in panic: "I went to inquire. Song Xian has a strict rule, the patrolling soldiers wouldn’t say anything. It was only after the Tian Family left Zhenzhou and stayed at an inn that we had a chance to check."

Now it seems likely we were deceived by Tian Chengyou. Madam Su’s voice was shrill: "This Tian Chengyou, how dare he do this? Isn’t he afraid of offending all the medicine merchants? Are their trading teams going to rely on Chen Family Village from now on?"

For the sake of earning some silver coin, the Tian Family won’t be able to procure herbs from the medicine merchants in the future.

Madam Su slumped into her chair, feeling like her chest was burning. She reached for her teacup, intending to take a sip, but her hand trembled uncontrollably.

Finally, unable to suppress her anger, Madam Su threw the teacup to the ground.

The sound of breaking porcelain made the steward and the servants in the room jump.

When Madam Su spoke again, her voice was extremely hoarse: "How much herbs have we gathered?"

The steward thought for a moment before speaking: "We received some in Dingzhou. I plan to visit Mo State again."

In other words, herbs from Zhenzhou and Qi State are scarce.

Madam Su looked at the steward with red eyes.

The steward dared not delay: "A few days ago, after hearing that the Chen Family Village sold its herbs, those who gather herbs are even less willing to sell them to us.

It’s the same in Qi State and Dingzhou. Even the Yongning Army, from farther away, heard the news and declared they would price herbs by weight, refusing to purchase indiscriminately."

Madam Su’s eyes nearly spat fire. Once this path is taken, there is no turning back.

The steward added: "If Chen Family Village’s herbs hadn’t sold, no one would dare say these things. Now that the Tian Family Trading Team has returned with a full load, it’s drawing everyone’s attention..."

Most frightening is that Chen Family Village consists of common people, who easily persuade other common people. Those who venture deep into the mountains to gather herbs are willing to listen to them, and the veterans who return from the battlefield support them.

Madam Su grit her teeth, her voice squeezing out between them: "So there’s no hope of collecting them?"

The steward lowered his head.

While they were speaking, another servant came to report: "Madam, Madam Zhao has visited our residence."

The Zhao Family, also medicine merchants, had consulted Madam Su for advice a few days ago. Madam Su hinted that they should ignore Chen Family Village. Now, seeing the signs turning unfavorable, the Zhao Family came to vent their annoyance.

Madam Su’s heart thudded irregularly.

The steward suggested, "Madam, should we follow Chen Family Village’s lead and gather some herbs from the collectors? Even if we don’t transport them for sale, our family’s pharmacy needs supplies. You ought to inform the master, lest the old master inquires."

Madam Su’s ears buzzed; how could it be so simple? Before heading north to gather herbs, they spent considerable silver coin bribing officials. Although those who took bribes were arrested by Song Xian, their silver coin couldn’t be retrieved. These funds must be accounted for in the herb costs. If they collect herbs at the same price as Chen Family Village, they’ll only incur losses.

The old master’s health is failing, and the master is incompetent. Madam Su intended to excel in the northern pharmacies to show the old master, then she could confidently request authority from him; who knew she’d stumble at this moment?

And who should be blamed, but that farm girl, making her unable to bow her head?

"Let’s wait," Madam Su decided, "I’ll make a trip to Qi State; we’ll discuss further after." She must ask her brother if there’s room for maneuver.

Her brother certainly can devise a good plan.

...

Miss Tian led the trading team all the way to Chen Family Village.

From afar, she saw people carrying bamboo baskets to deliver herbs.

A once insignificant small village now bustling with activity.

Miss Tian felt both gratitude and admiration for Chen Family Village. Seeing the villagers coming to welcome them, she agilely jumped off the mule cart and quickly went forward to greet them.

Miss Tian knew that the one doing business with Chen Family Village wasn’t the village chief but Miss Xie, who was about her age.

She had wanted to visit Miss Xie earlier but feared revealing any clues, waiting until now to make the visit. With this thought, Miss Tian looked through the crowd.

The crowd suddenly parted, and a young girl in a coarse cloth skirt stepped forward.

Miss Tian’s gaze fell on the girl’s face, seeing eyes bright and clear like the bright moon, her lips slightly raised with a trace of a smile.

The surrounding villagers began to speak upon seeing the girl.

"Miss Chen."

"Sister Chen."

Surrounding the girl like stars around the moon.

Seeing this, Miss Tian understood that this girl was Miss Xie.

Miss Tian stepped forward to greet her, while the Tian Family’s servants bowed.

Xie Liangchen quickly returned the greeting: "The journey was hard."

The people of Chen Family Village followed suit, clasping their fists.

"Let everyone enter the village!" Xie Liangchen looked at Chen Yongsheng.

As the village chief of Chen Family Village, Chen Yongsheng hosted the Tian Family Trading Team, with Xie Liangchen and Miss Tian at the forefront.

Miss Tian’s full name was Hui Zhen, and Tian Chengyou privately called his daughter Zhenzhen. Upon meeting Xie Liangchen, Tian HuiZhen felt a sense of kinship and shared her nickname openly.

Tian HuiZhen said, "Father bought many fabrics from the south, and he instructed me to deliver them to Chen Family Village. Miss Xie must accept them; without Chen Family Village, our trading team would have had no future."

It’s cold now, and many children in the village still lack proper clothing. Truly, Mr. Tian has thought of everything. Xie Liangchen thanked Tian HuiZhen, "You’ve put a lot of thought into this."

"Please don’t say that," Tian HuiZhen’s eyes were filled with sincerity, "What Miss Xie has done for us cannot be repaid with mere items; no matter when, we will always remember Miss Xie’s kindness."

Xie Liangchen smiled and said, "Since I call you Zhenzhen, why don’t you call me Liangchen?"

Tian HuiZhen was naturally delighted.

The Tian Family’s servants unloaded the fabrics and gifts from the cart and carried several boxes down.

The boxes were brought into Old Mrs. Chen’s main house, where Tian HuiZhen bent down to open one, and Old Mrs. Chen walked over and glanced inside, immediately stunned.

Her eyes seemed unable to open, tears threatening to fall.

God, Old Mrs. Chen covered her mouth, afraid to shout—there was all silver coin.