CHAPTER 406: CHAPTER 403 SOURCE

Old Mrs. Chen gazed at several boxes in the room, which contained the silver coin they brought back from the capital, mostly from selling pink wax paper and wool felt.

"Don’t we need the silver coin?" Old Mrs. Chen said, "Didn’t we bring it back?"

Mrs. Gao looked at Old Mrs. Chen in surprise.

Old Mrs. Chen said, "What are you looking at? We can keep part of the Chen Family Village’s silver coin in the village, but we must not owe outsiders, especially since those kids have to follow Yongyi to such a distant place, it’s a long journey, and the family can’t help but worry. If we don’t give enough silver coin, wouldn’t it be oppressing others?"

"Our Chen Family Village was the first to sell medicinal materials and even received several rewards from the court. No matter what, our days are better than those outside," Old Mrs. Chen said, "For the long-term plan, we can only ask everyone to endure for now."

This time, the Emperor and the Empress gave considerable rewards when they went to the capital, but most of these things are for display and cannot be sold for silver coin, so they definitely need to use some village silver coin.

Ever since we started selling medicine, it’s always been this way. We earned silver coin and distributed it, never letting anyone suffer losses.

Chen Yongsheng said, "Liangchen and I calculated, and the silver coin for each household will still be distributed according to plan. We’ll use the portion that we always keep in the village. Although it won’t be enough, we can manage slowly."

Xie Liangchen nodded, "Now Song Xian is guarding Dai State, Lanzhou, Xinzhou, and Longzhou, and Old General Zhang is helping in Dai State and Xinzhou. We are familiar with the villagers in these two states, so we’ll start with Dai State and Xinzhou. We don’t need to make too many looms, and there’s still some time until spring farming, which should be sufficient for our preparations."

After saying these, Xie Liangchen continued, "When making looms, make sure to specify the need for labor costs. We also need people to teach thread tassel making, which also requires accounting for silver coin, but this silver coin will be given after we earn money."

Xie Liangchen is planning for the long term, ensuring everything is stated clearly. Business is business, and relief is relief; they are different. Everyone has a ledger in their heart, preventing future disagreements.

"In the future, it will always be like this. Making looms will earn labor costs, and teaching thread tassel, wool felt, and pink wax paper also needs labor costs. It’s not just Chen Family Village people involved, many villages in Zhenzhou have skilled teachers. How can we invite them over to help without offering silver coin?"

Chen Yongsheng said, "That makes sense. If we’re unclear, others might think we’re profiting at their expense."

Xie Liangchen said, "Zhenzhou was the first to use large looms. Mr. Miao taught many womenfolk. In the future, improved looms will start from Zhenzhou. New spinning trials will also start in Zhenzhou, along with flower felt patterns, and once Zhenzhou has perfected them, they will be taught further."

Zheng, in charge of the weaving room, understood when she heard this, "Are we not going to make the current thread tassels anymore? In the future, we’ll experiment with new looms and spinning wheels, making new styles of wool felt and flower felt?"

Xie Liangchen said, "That’s what I mean. At least focus on trying new looms first. When the eight states need manpower, everyone in the village who can use a loom will need to help out. How many more thread tassels can be made? Besides, if we don’t test new looms and make new styles, Chen Family Village products will quickly cease to be the best."

"The large looms we use can be replicated. Remember the incident with Miss Lin? If we had no thread tassels, the business would now belong to Miss Lin, so we must strive to do better. Others can replicate our goods, make our large spinning wheels, but as long as we keep improving spinning wheels and innovate, we’ll always stay ahead."

This is also the reason why they turned to wool felt when spring thread tassels didn’t sell well.

Zheng said, "No wonder Liangchen said making spinning wheels requires labor costs, teaching thread tassel making requires labor costs, and in the future, when we stop making spun threads, we’ll rely on this to earn silver coin. Won’t we all become like Mr. Miao?"

Xie Liangchen laughed and said, "We started early, so naturally, we are instructors. Otherwise, how could we teach others? Now that we have more hands, everyone will have a distinct role. When we go to the eight states, if someone shows aptitude, is good at improving tools, or using looms, I’ll have them come to Zhenzhou too."

Zheng still couldn’t quite believe it. From knowing nothing to trying their hand at woolen goods on their own, then inviting Mr. Miao’s help... Now they had become instructors too? In the future, would others treat them like Mr. Miao?

It was something she’d never imagined. A peasant woman like her, doing such things?

Despite her doubts, Zheng was extremely excited, feeling almost boundless energy, eager to return and try the spinning wheel with Mr. Miao.

Their large spinning wheels are suitable for spinning wool into thread tassels, but not so good for spinning silk. It must be adjusted before cocoons arrive in Zhaozhou.

Xie Shao Yuan nodded. Liangchen’s thoughts were correct; Zhenzhou indeed being the most reliable place, setting it as the source was a perfect idea. He could also have Liu Ji bring some people to Chen Family Village.

After discussing, Chen Yongyi needed to find manpower in the village, first determining who should go to the eight states. Once prepared, they would set out.

Old Mrs. Chen held her account book and went to check it with Zheng, distributing everyone’s wages for this period.

Xie Liangchen, Xie Shao Yuan, Chen Yongsheng, and others continued discussing other matters.

Xie Shao Yuan said, "The weather is warming, and we may need to spruce up the village a bit. When people from the eight states come over, the village might not accommodate them all." This is planning for the future.

Chen Yongsheng said, "We also need to reinforce the walls, as there will be many things to store in the village in the future."

Xie Liangchen understood that the village’s construction was also for her wedding preparations.

Everyone agreed, "Now that every household has silver coin, everyone can fix their houses well. We should go early to buy some blue bricks back."

"Yes, we also need to properly pave the village entrance. The roads built this year are not very smooth anymore."

"Let’s make thorough repairs this time, so Liangchen’s wedding can be grand."

In the end, it came back to her marriage.

Xie Liangchen initially had many things to say, but now didn’t know how to start.

Xie Shao Yuan laughed, "Then let’s think about how to do it; this time, we’ll expand the village further."

"Last time, we saw in Xingzhou some villages with very high walls. Let’s build like those!"

Everyone said it was a good idea, their faces full of joy. Who wouldn’t be happy to spruce up their home?

...

Old Mrs. Chen had just taken out her account book when a village woman came to deliver a message: "Old Mrs. Song has arrived."

Old Mrs. Chen hurried to greet her.

The two old ladies had grown more familiar, and after not having seen each other for a while, the distance only seemed to lessen due to their family ties.

They both sat down in the room.

Old Mrs. Song got straight to the point, "I won’t hide it from you, my old sister. I came this time for our two children’s wedding date."

A big red invitation was taken out, listing three dates.

Old Mrs. Chen hesitated upon seeing the dates chosen by the Song Family.