CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 67 FRIENDS AND FOES

Xie Liangchen silently observed the furs displayed in the shop, pondering the identity of the person before her.

The shop was small, with a few valuable silver fox and mink furs, but mostly horse, sheep, and a small quantity of cow hides. Observing these, she concluded the owner was likely a small-time merchant.

A small-time merchant. The thought momentarily flashed in Xie Liangchen’s mind, as she suddenly recalled where she had seen this person before. In her previous life, while she was with the Su Family, she often exchanged medicine for animal ligaments and horns, sent them to the Military Equipment Supervision, and had seen this face there.

However, he was not dressed as a merchant in the Military Equipment Supervision, but in a Standard Eighth Rank official uniform.

A merchant who, twelve years later, is tasked with weapon manufacturing at the Military Equipment Supervision. Although his rank was low, it was very important. Was he exceptionally clever in finding a path into officialdom, or did he have someone supporting him?

Xie Liangchen pondered, maintaining a calm expression, her gaze lingering on the sheepskin for a long time.

Wang Jian noticed the hint and smiled, "Does Miss Xie wish to buy sheepskin?"

Xie Liangchen nodded, but soon shifted her gaze from the sheepskin, "It’s too expensive; we probably can’t afford it. We might just buy some wool."

Xie Liangchen was surprised that a lambskin hat could cost ten strings. It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford it, but the hat wasn’t particularly useful.

Wang Jian chuckled and ordered his apprentice to fetch the wool, "This wool is pretty good, sold to us by merchants from the west."

Xie Liangchen rubbed the wool between her fingers; it was lengthy and uniformly thick—certainly quality goods.

"This wool is priced at one string and fifty coins per pound," Wang Jian declared, "Since we’re having a good year selling fur from my shop, and since you’re from Chen Family Village, I’ll sell it at one string per pound."

Xie Liangchen was taken aback, "Why are you giving Chen Family Village a discount?"

Wang Jian laughed heartily, "After the Chen Family Village and the Tian Family Trading Team did paperwork at the government office, we followed suit. Today, a trading team departed Zhenzhou, buying a lot of fur from my shop. The South doesn’t need woven fabrics, but both sheep and cattle skins sell at a good price. If things go smoothly, I’ll earn a year’s worth of silver coin from this trip.

There’s no need for thanks. When you come to buy goods, I offer you a discount as a gesture of gratitude."

Beside her, Chen Yuyu and others looked delighted hearing this.

Wang Jian’s gaze passed over the children from Chen Family Village, and he sighed, "Times are hard for everyone. I had a wife and two children, but they fell ill during the chaos."

As he spoke, tears glimmered in his eyes.

"I hope everything gets better," Wang Jian turned away to stabilize his emotions, "It’s getting cold soon. Use this wool to make socks for the children. Once we get through this year, there won’t be any war, and the fur will be much cheaper."

Xie Liangchen nodded, "I’ll start with five pounds of wool." She needed to try it first, unsure if she could use it well, given she had never made woven products in her previous life, only heard how to do it.

Wang Jian instructed his apprentice to weigh it, "My name is Wang Jian. If you need anything later, come find me at the shop. I’ll give you the best price so you don’t lose out."

Xie Liangchen smiled warmly, "Thank you."

"No need for thanks," Wang Jian added, "While you’re collecting herbs in the mountains, if you catch birds or animals, feel free to bring them here. Some feathers and hides can be sold."

Xie Liangchen nodded in agreement.

Before departing, Wang Jian asked, "Is Chen Family Village’s medicine only sold to the Tian Family? If a trading team wishes to buy, would you sell them?"

Xie Liangchen hardly hesitated, "If it’s a trustworthy trading team, of course, we’d sell. However, the time to gather herbs is nearly over, and there aren’t many left this year in our village."

Wang Jian laughed, "If I come across a team that offers a high price and conducts business well, I’ll introduce them to you. Earning more silver is always good; money is hard to earn but spends quickly."

Xie Liangchen left with Chen Yuyu and a few others, the wool carried by half-grown children from the village, both she and Chen Yuyu were very relaxed.

"Sister Chen," Chen Yuyu said, "That gentleman is truly nice. One word and we saved over two hundred coins."

Chen Yuyu glanced again at the wool. She also wanted to buy some to bring home because it felt unbearably cold in winter, especially when going outside, shivering with her teeth chattering. Although there was a mud bed at home, it couldn’t be kept too warm, no matter how much firewood was used, waking up frozen at night.

But silver coin really wasn’t enough; repairing the house cost quite a lot, and right now, all Chen Yuyu wanted was to earn more money.

Xie Liangchen remained silent throughout the journey, pondering Wang Jian. Starting by suggesting exchanging medicine for hides and then selling wool cheaply when she didn’t buy sheepskin—was he truly grateful to Chen Family Village, or did he want to establish a connection with them?

Suspicion arose in Xie Liangchen’s mind, vowing to keep an eye on Wang Jian, and if he revealed any clue, she would discern it.

Chen Family Village.

Old Mrs. Chen was in the courtyard, dismantling quilts filled with kapok and reed down, intending to put in some better reed down, carefully layering for Miss Chen.

Once, her family had land, exchanged for silver coin when fleeing, used some upon reaching Chen Family Village, the rest given as a dowry to her daughter and for getting a wife for her son.

She blamed herself for being incapable, unable to save silver coin, wondering if her husband and two children were still alive, Chen Family wouldn’t have ended up like this.

Old Mrs. Chen worked swiftly, hoping to finish the quilts early to make her granddaughter happy.

"Grandmother."

Footsteps approached.

Old Mrs. Chen looked up to see Xie Liangchen and Chen Yuyu enter with four half-grown boys.

Just as Old Mrs. Chen was about to speak, noticing two of the boys carrying things.

Old Mrs. Chen felt a sense of foreboding, trying to stay calm, "What have you bought this time?"

Chen Yuyu and the boys quickly set the items down and dashed off, leaving only the grandmother and granddaughter.

"Wool, one string per pound," Xie Liangchen smiled, "I bought some to try, see if it’s suitable for quilts, sweaters, or socks."

Old Mrs. Chen glanced at the kapok and reed down in her hands, questioning why her granddaughter favored expensive things.

Old Mrs. Chen said, "Just a bit to try?"

Xie Liangchen nodded, "If it works, I’ll buy dozens of pounds." Maybe it could be turned into woven products to sell; come winter, no herbs can be collected, she must do something with the villagers.

Dozens of pounds? Wouldn’t that be dozens of taels of silver?

Old Mrs. Chen grew anxious, wanting to speak, but sneezed instead.

"Boo" kapok scattered.

Concerned about the silver, she only realized her grandson was missing after a while, "Where’s Brother Geng? Where did he go?"

...

Chen Zigeng sat on a small stool, playing with his abacus.

"You’ve calculated?" Mr. Dongli asked.

Chen Zigeng nodded, "One thousand eight hundred ninety coins."

Mr. Dongli maintained his expression, but his eyes showed a hint of wave, "Try another problem, see if you can solve it."

Chen Zigeng glanced down, then straightforwardly said, "I can, my sister asked me similar questions."

Mr. Dongli continued to smile warmly, "What else can you do?"

Chen Zigeng replied honestly, "I’ve seen simple chess manuals that my sister sketched out on the ground for me."

Li You was somewhat surprised, knowing Miss Xie was intelligent, but underestimating her ability after hearing Chen Zigeng speak today.