CHAPTER 74: CHAPTER 74: THINKING OF THE NORTHERN DESERT

"Nuannuan, Grandma really has limited knowledge, it’s truly thanks to you."

It’s been half a year since we returned to Shu City. We have a house to live in, land to farm, and a bit of money coming in.

The family members who should be embroidering are embroidering, those who should be studying are studying, and the little great-grandson is growing chubby and healthy.

This home is more and more like a real family.

The old lady held Chun Nuan’s hand and patted it.

"Ah, Grandma is worried about your father and them now, and doesn’t know what the situation is like?"

Exiled to the Northern Desert, and they’re all scholarly and weak people. The old lady is worried the children and grandchildren won’t be able to handle it, and there’s no news at all, which makes her anxious.

"Grandma, don’t worry, I’ve already asked someone to find out. If there’s a caravan going to the Northern Desert, perhaps they can help send some items to Dad and them."

Chun Nuan had already planned for this a while ago: "Once my mom and the others finish embroidering the wedding gowns, we’ll start making some cotton clothes for Dad and them and send them all together."

"Can you send it? Is it possible?"

"Yes, it’s possible."

But Chun Nuan wasn’t really sure in her heart.

She had heard of Master Zhou Qi’s affairs and knew he had several caravans traveling both south and north.

She once thought of asking Master Zhou Qi for help.

But whenever she remembered Qingsheng’s words, she backed out.

In Changzhou, she couldn’t afford to offend anyone. She could only endure and slowly nurture the Xiao family to grow, gaining enough capital to show herself to the world.

"That’s good, that’s good, this matter, your Mom and them need to arrange it."

Without Chun Nuan needing to say much, Mrs. Xu and her three sisters-in-law, along with Zhu Ling, were moved to tears upon hearing they could send winter clothes to the men and children.

"We will make them, for sure, and the cotton in the clothes needs to be thick. Shoes and pants also need some stuffing, the Northern Desert is freezing in winter, they won’t be able to stand it."

This reminded Chun Nuan: the frostbite ointment needs to be prepared. She’d send some over when the time comes.

But, who could she ask to take it?

Chun Nuan tried going to Zhao Minghua.

"You’re talking about the Northern Desert caravan?"

"Yes, is there any going to the Northern Desert that can help take some things to my dad and them, and if you could also bring back a letter, I’d pay double the reward."

"The Northern Desert is so vast and far, are you sure they’ll find your dad and them?"

"I’m not sure, but I have to take a gamble," Chun Nuan said. "It’s a long way to the Northern Desert, if we don’t send it together now, who knows when the next chance will come. They didn’t take much when they set off."

Along the way, who knows how they managed to endure?

"You..." Zhao Minghua only said two words in the end: "Impressive!"

Impressive for Chun Nuan’s wisdom, decisiveness, and strategy, and also her generosity.

She’s not even afraid that the items wouldn’t reach her relatives and would be taken by the caravan people.

"So, is there such a caravan?"

"Yes, at Master Zhou Qi’s place."

Indeed, it’s Master Zhou Qi again, even Zhao Minghua himself wasn’t sure if Master Zhou Qi’s caravan would be willing to help with this.

"Then, shall I go visit Master Zhou Qi?"

"No, no, no." Zhao Minghua quickly stopped her: "That really is a den of wolves and tigers, if you go looking like that, you probably won’t come back, my parents, no, even my grandpa would beat me to death knowing I sent you into the den. I dare not take that risk."

"Is he really that overbearing? Forcing women regardless of their willingness?"

"Yes indeed, as long as he fancies a woman, he throws money their way, it’s easy for those who want money, but those who don’t might even lose their lives," Zhao Minghua said. "You’d better not take that risk."

"By the way, I also heard from Qingsheng that you offended Master Zhou Qi’s favorite concubine, Lady Li, is that true?"

"It’s not that I offended her, she didn’t take her medicine and went out causing trouble."

"Same difference, for her, relying on Master Zhou Qi’s power, strutting around Changzhou, no one dares to offend her, you’ve really hit a hard wall."

Chun Nuan originally wanted to say isn’t there any royal law, but then realized not to mention this in the distant Shu City, even in the Capital, under the Emperor’s foot, royal law didn’t seem effective; otherwise, her grandfather wouldn’t have been wrongfully killed.

Having money and power really is like having the royal law.

"So, you better not plan to visit Master Zhou Qi alone, if something happens, it’d be too late for regrets."

Chun Nuan originally planned to quietly visit, but after hearing Zhao Minghua’s words, she squashed that restless thought entirely.

"Isn’t there any other way?" Chun Nuan asked. "Master Zhou Qi doesn’t have to go with the caravan to the Northern Desert, can’t you solve this by finding me the leader?"

"No, the reason Master Zhou Qi can run his caravan so successfully, traveling north and south without issues, is because of his strict regulations, sending a letter is fine, but if anyone privately accepts goods, they’re immediately kicked out."

Chun Nuan... wanted to ask for help, but couldn’t harm others.

"Is there no other way?"

Chun Nuan felt a bit desperate.

At home, her aunt and the others had already started staying up late making winter clothes, yet she couldn’t find a way to send the goods out, making them upset.

"Perhaps, there is another way."

Zhao Minghua thought for a moment and said slowly.

"What way?"

People can’t keep others hanging, can they?

Why not just give an answer in one sentence?

"I’ll go back and ask my mom, to have her find Zhou Qi, after all, Zhou Qi is technically her cousin, maybe for his cousin’s sake, he’d help," Zhao Minghua said. "You mustn’t show up."

"Then I’ll trouble Mrs. Zhao."

It might actually work.

Chun Nuan let out a big sigh of relief.

"When the time comes, just let me know how much it costs."

"Alright, I’ll go back and ask my mom, have her take a trip to Changzhou tomorrow."

Mrs. Zhao sneezed several times.

"Ma’am, have you caught a cold?"

Mrs. Zhao said: "In this weather, there’s no way to catch a cold, I feel it’s someone cursing me."

"Ma’am is so good, how could anyone curse you?"

"Not necessarily, just look at how unsteady the third child is, going out and causing trouble, others would curse him and add me in with it."

In this respect, Mrs. Zhao said she was already used to it.

"Ma’am has high expectations of the third young master, I think the third young master is quite good."

"Good when he’s good, but when he’s bad enough to make people wish they could send him away."

Mrs. Zhao had just finished speaking when she saw a figure rush up to her.

"Mom, your beloved youngest son is back."

Mrs. Zhao looked at him and thought, her instincts were strong today, this kid showing up here definitely means there’s something going on.

"Speak, did you provoke a cat or mess with a dog today?"

Mrs. Zhao thought about it, unable to figure out what kind of trouble hadn’t found its way to her doorstep yet.

"Mom, your son has been very good, not teasing cats or provoking dogs."

Zhao Minghua’s nature is to kick a couple of times even if provoked by a dog by the roadside, but today his face was full of smiles, making Mrs. Zhao even more unsure: this trouble must be serious.