Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 260 - 259: Secrets

Chapter 260: Chapter 259: Secrets

With such a large quantity and undeveloped transport in ancient times, Chen Afu thought, a good price was definitely dependent first on identifying the right market.

Luckily, there were six acres of watermelons as the vanguard. First, he would sell these good melons to wealthier regions. Once the merchants there found them good, they would come to purchase more on their own.

Peculiarly, Dingzhou was a transportation hub of the Dashun dynasty. The Grand Canal beside the city ran north to the Capital City and south to the vital town of Wu City in Jiangnan, while also connecting to the mother river of this time-space, the Changfu River. These melons seemed plentiful, but as long as the right market is found, the purchasing power along the Grand Canal alone would be overwhelming.

Mr. Zeng had already rented cattle and donkey carts from two nearby villages. Including the one voluntarily lent by Tang Garden and their own cattle cart, there were a total of eight carts, enough to transport all the melons at once. Besides the thousand pounds sent to Chen Er Grains Shop, the rest would be sent to Dingzhou’s Fuyunlai Trading Company. From there, they would be transported along the canal and sold far and wide. The current market was yet to have watermelons, and with their own melons being so large and sweet, they would surely fetch a good price. As for how much exactly, Zeng Shuang, who had conducted a market survey, should know.

Also, they would first pick forty watermelons for their own consumption and to give away as gifts. Fu Garden, Lu Garden, and Tang Garden each would receive several. Each of Old Monk, Abbot Liao Chen, Dabao, and the Yang family from the county town would be sent two. Each favorable household in the village would receive one, and Chen Shiying’s household and Capital Marquis Mansion would each receive five.

The next day was the 20th, Dabao and the others all had the day off. Besides Chu Hanyan, who preferred fewer people and had retreated into Fu Garden, Marquis Chu, Chu Lingxuan brought Chu Lingzhi and Dabao to the watermelon field beside Fu Garden to watch the hustle and bustle. Even Mr. Liao had come. Some households from the village and tenant farmers from Tang Garden, as well as the children of tenants and servants from Tang Garden, many came to watch the lively scene.

Marquis Chu was happily laughing, extremely joyful. Seeing these beautiful large watermelons, he thought of rice, wheat, and autumn corn to be planted in the future using the seeds provided by Master Wu Zhi. If they could yield high amounts and taste great like these watermelons, it would be a boon to the Dashun dynasty.

He had previously not very much approved of his granddaughter-in-law’s excessive enthusiasm for business and farming. It was not that their family lacked money. It’s just that it would seem ridiculous for his granddaughter-in-law to dabble in these things. But now, he saw that it wasn’t a matter of money, but facing the significant issue of fulling the citizens’ meals. And it was providing support for the Emperor. He must fully support this.

Afu, what a great name to have — the one who truly has good fortune. His granddaughter-in-law was well-chosen!

The old man didn’t consider himself an outsider and had another two watermelons picked and cut into bite-sized pieces to entertain the spectators.

Dabao looked at Chu Lingxuan standing under a distant tree. He couldn’t mingle with these old farmers and was just standing there, foolish. Unlike Marquis Chu and Mr. Liao, who can mingle with the villagers and chat about the weather and harvest.

Dabao took a slice of watermelon to Chu Lingxuan’s side and said with both hands presenting it, "Father, eat some watermelon. It’s really sweet."

Chu Lingxuan looked stunned but happily accepted the watermelon and after taking a bite, said, "Indeed, it is really sweet."

Dabao didn’t go away and instead said at his side, "These watermelons will definitely sell for a good price. Our family is going to make a fortune. Mother also said that I helped when she was soaking the watermelon seeds and will pay me ten taels of silver in wages. This money is my first bucket of gold that I earned myself. I want to buy a gift for Mother, Grandma, Grandpa, and Father to show my filial piety. What kind of gift does Father like?"

Chu Lingxuan wasn’t sure why Dabao was suddenly being so nice to him. He didn’t understand why Dabao was referring to the ten taels of silver as a bucket of gold, but such a sensible and grateful child left Chu Lingxuan’s heart especially soft. Looking at him with clear, bright big eyes, those eyes were mischievous, flattering, cautious, pure, and bright.

Chu Lingxuan figured if he had grown up in that big courtyard, the latter two kinds of looks would absolutely not exist. In the countryside, although he had suffered a lot, and previously also lived cautiously, the kind Chen family still allowed him to grow up happily.

Recalling the incredible news his grandfather had brought, Chu Lingxuan was both surprised and delighted. He had been afraid of Chen Afu’s low heritage and was concerned that his family wouldn’t agree. He thought of multiple ways of dealing with his elderly saying no. He even thought marriage wasn’t likely within these few years. But he hadn’t expected that his grandfather agreed so readily. It was only later that he found out his grandfather upon going to explain this to that person, learned of an incredible secret that, aside from the Emperor and that person themselves, had deceived everyone...

This was truly divine help. Next year, he could fulfill his wish and marry the woman he loved home. Despite the heavier responsibility on his shoulders, he was willing to bear it. Not only for loyalty to the Emperor, but also for Afu.

Seeing that Chu Lingxuan had not answered his question, Dabao’s eyes darkened and anxiously twisting his fingers he said again, "Father, don’t you like me giving you presents? Although it might not be worth much money, but it is my token of filial piety to you."

Chen Dabao’s words interrupted Chu Lingxuan’s thoughts, and Chu Lingxuan hurriedly laughed and said, "Thank you, Dabao, for thinking of showing filial piety to me after you’ve earned some money. I’m very gratified. If you want to gift something to dad, then give..." He feigned thought for a moment and said, "Give me a pen. I can think of Dabao when I write."

Dabao happily nodded and said, "Okay, I’ll go to the county to buy a good pen."

At the end of May, Wangshan Village’s watermelons began being picked again. Although these watermelons were a little inferior in texture, they were still sweeter and larger compared to those grown by contemporary farmers.

At the beginning of June, after the watermelons from the six acres of land were harvested, Chen Afu had the land prepared again in readiness for planting autumn corn.

This time selling watermelons, those from the six-acre land were on the market earlier and were large and sweet, fetching the highest price. They earned a total of 420 taels of silver. After deducting over eighty taels of transport costs, mainly boat fares, there still remained over 300 taels.

Meanwhile, the watermelons from Wangshan Village would sell for a little cheaper. But due to the large quantity, they would earn much more, approximately 2,000 taels. However, it wouldn’t sell this well next year. The other farmers would be planting with these watermelon seeds, and with more of the same variety, the prices would no longer soar.

Chen Dabao indeed received the ten taels of silver in wages from his mother, as promised.

On June 10th, he was to go to the county town to buy gifts to show filial respect to the elderly.

Aside from Chu Lingxuan, he also asked the other few people for their opinions. He had planned to buy each of Chen Afu and Mrs. Wang a pine wood carved comb, and a set of teacups for Chen Ming. Later, he thought that Marquis Chu, Mr. Liao, and Mrs. Chen were also elders. He should buy gifts for them too. Thus, he decided to also buy each of the first two a pen and a comb for Mrs. Chen.

Chen Afu didn’t have time to accompany him, so Chen Dabao was accompanied by Xue Dagui. Tang Garden dispatched two guardians. And also it was good timing to deliver five melons to the Yangs. If possible, they could also pick up the two Yang siblings.

At the beginning of noon, Fu Garden received several unexpected guests. It was Chen Shiying, who also bought the siblings - Chen Yulan, Chen Yuqing, and Chen Yuxia.