CHAPTER 257: CHAPTER 254: GROWING BIGGER AND BIGGER

Mrs. Gao was momentarily stunned by Chen Zigeng’s words before she reacted: "Did General Song send a message to your sister?"

Chen Zigeng nodded: "Since Sister came back, there have been five letters."

Old Mrs. Chen frowned: "Could it be that there’s something wrong with that case?"

Mrs. Gao also thought the same. When Miss Chen returned from Xingzhou, she explained the whole matter thoroughly with everyone, and in short, Chen Family Village was fine, and the warehouse was intact.

When General Song went to the Capital City, he took Chen Yongyi with him. When the government office in the Capital inquired, someone from Chen Family Village needed to respond.

Chen Yongyi couldn’t write letters, so any news would naturally be sent back by someone entrusted by General Song.

However, the point of Chen Zigeng’s earlier words was not this. What he intended to express was the frequency of General Song’s letters, and why every letter was addressed to Sister?

Chen Zigeng looked at his grandmother, and her expression was natural, showing no sign of overthinking. He then shifted his gaze to his second aunt. Ever since she went to Zhaozhou with Sister and returned, she often mentioned General Song as if she knew him well.

It was actually just surface-level admiration, without any depth. Otherwise, how could she not see the General’s intentions?

Thinking of this, Chen Zigeng sighed. He had given his grandmother and second aunt a chance, but they didn’t take it well.

Chen Yongyi’s wife, hearing news from the Capital, ran over to inquire. Ever since she learned that Chen Yongyi went to the Capital, she had been on edge: "Is Yongyi okay? He won’t be staying in the Capital forever, will he?"

Xie Liangchen had just informed Chen Yongsheng of the letter’s contents. After they wrapped up matters at the Familiar Medicine Institute, they both came to the weaving room, intending to discuss this issue with Old Mrs. Chen, when they saw Chen Yongyi’s wife’s anxious look.

Seeing this, Chen Yongsheng chimed in: "Why would they keep him in the Capital all the time? Does someone’s family have extra space to keep him permanently?"

Chen Yongyi’s wife, hearing this, breathed a sigh of relief: "I’m just scared. Near the Imperial City, right under the Emperor’s eyes, just hearing it makes my legs go weak. I’ve heard that even walking down the street, you might run into the Prime Minister, let alone the royal relatives... Has Yongyi ever seen such things? What if he inadvertently offends someone? Being so far away, we can’t help."

Old Mrs. Chen chuckled at this: "If Yongyi doesn’t come back, does this mean you want to move to the Capital to live too?"

This time, even Mrs. Gao and Chen Yuyu couldn’t help but laugh.

"Don’t worry," Old Mrs. Chen said, "Yongyi is not someone who hasn’t seen the world. The work at Zhaozhou and the warehouse in Xingzhou, wasn’t it all managed by Yongyi? General Song took him to the Capital, and he will certainly bring him back safely."

Chen Yongyi’s wife felt much relieved but still looked at Xie Liangchen.

Xie Liangchen nodded: "General Song’s letter says the case is going very smoothly, with both witnesses and evidence in place. The government office in the Capital has reviewed the case file. They only called Fourth Uncle twice for questioning, knowing that these matters have nothing to do with our Chen Family Village. It seems like Fourth Uncle will be returning home soon, so Fourth Aunt can rest assured."

Chen Yongyi’s wife is the type to churn things over in her mind whenever something happens. Soon she would bring it up for discussion, and the villagers knew her temperament, offering both teasing and comfort, and she would feel much better.

Xie Liangchen said: "General Song had someone go to the Capital with him. I discussed with Second Uncle to have Fourth Uncle go too, so he could also see how our Chen Family Village items are selling.

Fourth Uncle wouldn’t have gone for nothing. We also need to spin more first-class thread tassels to have the trade caravan bring them to the Capital."

Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Chen said: "We don’t have much wool left, we’ll probably not be able to pick out much inner wool."

Xie Liangchen smiled: "There’s wool now. General Song mentioned that merchants from the Northwest are willing to sell wool to Chen Family Village."

Mrs. Gao was overjoyed: "What do you mean, did we gain an advantage from a misfortune?"

Xie Liangchen nodded: "When the merchants from the Northwest arrive, I’ll go negotiate this matter. If both the buyer and seller are satisfied, they won’t have to worry about selling the wool at a low price, and we won’t have to worry about buying good wool."

Mrs. Gao had already stopped thinking about how to negotiate the price. With Miss Chen around, they didn’t have to worry about these matters, and she didn’t have the mind to concern herself.

"Auntie," Mrs. Gao looked at Old Mrs. Chen, "Possibly, today’s kitchen might not have enough food. Should we go make some more?"

Old Mrs. Chen, who just tucked her hands into her sleeves, took them out again: "Why?"

Mrs. Gao said: "With all this happiness, everyone might eat a bit more, with so many people... With one bite from you, one from me, one pot of food will be gone."

Old Mrs. Chen found reason in this and was about to instruct Mrs. Gao when she heard Hei Dan shouting all around: "We have wool now."

Old Mrs. Chen sighed. None of them could be at ease. Now full from the meal, everyone was full of energy. Hei Dan’s shout could probably reach two miles away.

"Let’s go," Old Mrs. Chen looked at Mrs. Gao, "What are you waiting for? Go cook quickly and start the meal early." So that people from other villages don’t hear the news and come over. In that case, the kitchen fires won’t get a rest today.

Old Mrs. Chen walked ahead with her hands behind her back, and Mrs. Gao pulled Chen Yuyu: "What’s wrong with you these days? Slacking off?"

Chen Yuyu was taken aback: "No... no, I’m not."

Mrs. Gao said: "I saw it, Old Mrs. Chen has it noted in her book, and you have two big pancakes drawn there." To her understanding, pancakes are not good, but duck eggs are good.

With concern, Mrs. Gao said: "Are you okay?"

"I’m fine," Chen Yuyu said, "Rest assured, it won’t happen in the future."

Mrs. Gao wanted to say more, but Chen Yuyu said: "You should go quickly, or you’ll get pancakes drawn for you."

Actually, Grandmother is quite lenient with them... It’s just that... her mind has been a bit scattered, likely because she was overthinking while working.

Chen Yuyu felt she was really not capable. Why overthink so much? Making money is the most important thing. Just look at Sister, nothing can trouble her.

Chen Yongsheng, Xie Liangchen, and Chen Zigeng went inside, with Zigeng helping his second uncle and sister pour tea. Taking a sip of the sweet tea, Chen Yongsheng looked at Xie Liangchen: "How do you plan to talk with the merchants in the Northwest?"

Xie Liangchen said: "I set two prices for them to choose. Mixed wool at one price, and separating the wool into three grades would fetch a higher price.

If there’s enough labor in the Northwest, the second option is naturally the most cost-effective. Although we pay more silver coins, the labor saved allows us to spin more thread tassels.

Moreover, when it’s time to harvest spring cocoons, the spinning wheel will have to spin silk, which will keep us busy enough."

Chen Yongsheng listened and said: "This method is good, everyone can make silver coins." Liangchen mentioned that profitable trade for both parties is sustainable, while monopolizing profitable trade without letting others take part is not the Chen Family Village’s style.

Chen Yongsheng said: "The wool trade is good, but unfortunately it takes a long journey from the Northwest."

"Perhaps after this year, things will improve," Xie Liangchen took a sip of tea, "In no more than two years, everyone will have it easy."

Chen Yongsheng fixed his gaze on Xie Liangchen: "Are you saying?"

Xie Liangchen said: "Without the eight states in between, coming from Sui State would not be so far."

Only the process would be treacherous.

On the battlefield, there’s no room for mistakes.

Y thinking of this, Xie Liangchen continued: "I also want to set aside a batch of medicinal materials. If people ask in the future, just say that medicine is cheap this year, so we stockpiled some."