The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 344 Hurry Up

Chapter 344: Chapter 344 Hurry Up

Shopkeeper Wu naturally agreed without any hesitation. In the dye shop, the dyeing formula and steps were separately taught to two experienced masters, and most importantly, the mordant which ensured the color remained uniform and had high color fastness, was secretly prepared by Wang Yongzhu. Besides Wang Yongzhu, no one else knew about it.

This ensured that even if one of the dye shop’s master craftsmen were poached, it would not have much effect.

After pondering, Wang Yongzhu added, "The autumn harvest is approaching, and I won’t have time to deal with this anymore, plus the raw materials aren’t readily available. Our dye shop has just started and already has three or four colors that others have not been able to dye, which is quite an accomplishment. Rather than rushing, it’s better to take it slow and plan for the future."

This espionage incident might be due to the Auspicious Dye Workshop expanding its territory too rapidly. Moreover, given the current level of technology in this era, the colors that could be dyed were limited.

If all the colors were developed in one go and handed over to the dye shop, what would happen if Shopkeeper Wu and the power behind him turned hostile?

What would I have to counter with?

So it would be better to take things slowly, demonstrating my strength to Shopkeeper Wu and the forces behind him while giving myself room and time to grow.

Shopkeeper Wu’s eyes flickered as he took Wang Yongzhu’s words to heart.

He could tell that the Auspicious Dye Workshop had spread out a large operation. Although its reputation was soaring for the moment, if they couldn’t control it properly, it might end up as brief as a morning glory’s bloom.

Shopkeeper Wu was an ambitious man. If the Auspicious Dye Workshop were managed well and Wang Yongzhu continued to collaborate, offering new dye formulas, it wouldn’t take ten years, no, just five, and he would make the Auspicious Dye Workshop and his fabric business famous nationwide.

Perhaps Auspicious Dye Workshop’s future would become a century-old brand. A hundred years later, as long as the Auspicious Dye Workshop existed, people would remember his name.

Thinking this, his head, which had been buzzing with the booming business of these past days, cooled down.

Wang Yongzhu exchanged pleasantries before leaving to instruct the two masters in the back.

Shopkeeper Wu was drinking tea with Song Chongjin in the front courtyard, watching as Song Chongjin’s eyes, which looked pretty good, followed Wang Yongzhu to the back courtyard until she was out of sight before he withdrew his gaze.

With a smile, Shopkeeper Wu didn’t miss the hint of Song Chongjin’s thoughts. Seeing the previously stoic young man showing some warmth, he couldn’t resist teasing, "Brother Song, when can I drink to your wedding?"

Song Chongjin’s eyes dimmed, and he silently drank his tea, not responding.

Shopkeeper Wu quite favored this young couple, the man handsome and the woman pretty.

Song Chongjin might look like a rural hunter, but Shopkeeper Wu knew this young man was no simple character, having never underestimated him and always treated him with great courtesy, even intending to make his acquaintance.

As for Wang Yongzhu, his business partner, there was even less need to speak of his regard for her.

Truly appreciating them in his heart, he couldn’t help but add, "Brother Song, you should seize the moment. With such grace and talent, your niece is the envy of many."

Song Chongjin’s expression grew even darker...

When Wang Yongzhu finished instructing and came out, he saw Shopkeeper Wu looking all smiles, whereas Song Chongjin looked as if Shopkeeper Wu owed him silver and hadn’t repaid it, his expression solemn.

Upon seeing Wang Yongzhu emerge, Song Chongjin stood up first, "Let’s go!"

There was a sense of impatience in his demeanor.

Wang Yongzhu looked at them, puzzled, not able to discern anything specific, and then took his leave from Shopkeeper Wu as well.

Song Chongjin’s steps were heavy and hurried, and in no time, he had gone quite a distance. Looking back, he saw Wang Yongzhu leisurely following behind, in no hurry whatsoever.

Feeling stifled, unable to vent his frustration or leave it behind, he wanted to walk ahead but couldn’t bring himself to do so.

He had no choice but to wait with a dark face and patience. Just when Wang Yongzhu had caught up and he was about to say something, he heard someone calling from a distance, "Is it Miss Wang from the Wang Family?"

Wang Yongzhu turned around and saw a familiar figure. Steward Lu?

She hastily stopped in her tracks.

Steward Lu, with his quick pace, caught up to her in just a few steps, a smile on his face, "I was planning to have Shopkeeper Wu from the dye workshop pass on a message to you, but I caught up with you just after you left."

"A message?" Wang Yongzhu was taken aback.

"Boss Zhang has sent a letter, saying he has already dispatched someone to the town, specifically to handle the purchase of mountain goods. They should be arriving in a few days," Steward Lu was doing a favor for Wang Yongzhu.

Ever since he learned that Wang Yongzhu’s dyed cloth had received the favor of a lady from the palace and that she had entered into a business partnership with Shopkeeper Wu, Steward Lu no longer treated her like a slightly capable but insightful village girl.

In their line of work, what was needed was to build good relationships widely, and seeing Wang Yongzhu’s potential, it was natural for him to want to foster a good relationship.

Especially for such a small favor, which didn’t cost much, just involved running an errand, and giving a reminder, it also counted as a favor.

Wang Yongzhu immediately understood and quickly thanked Steward Lu.

Seeing that Wang Yongzhu was on board, Steward Lu was also pleased. He loved dealing with intelligent people; there was no need to spell everything out explicitly, just a hint, and everyone understood.

Therefore, the smile on his face became even more sincere.

They exchanged pleasantries, talking about where they were coming from and where they were heading—useless chatter.

Suddenly, Wang Yongzhu remembered that during her last visit to Jing County, Steward Lu’s Escort Agency had nearly figured out everything about Wang Yongan’s life, hadn’t they?

She quickly spoke up, "Big Brother Lu, I just happen to have something for which I need to visit the Escort Agency."

Steward Lu’s eyes lit up, "If there is anything you need, Miss Wang, just say the word. As long as your Big Brother Lu can lend a hand..."

After all, even if people aren’t too familiar with each other, doesn’t repeatedly owing favors make them closer?

Wang Yongzhu spoke vaguely, only mentioning her brother who was acting out of line. Since returning from Jing County, he had brought back a widow as a concubine, which had turned their household upside down.

Their family did not want a concubine, but this concubine claimed she was orphaned and without siblings, and the man she had married had also been dead for a few years. Plus, she had become involved with her Third Brother, making the situation difficult to resolve for the time being.

If the widow’s background was clean, their family could consider it, but they were afraid she might be from some place with ulterior motives...

At this point, Steward Lu understood completely.

For their Escort Agency, this kind of task was a piece of cake.

He assured her with a pat on his chest, and Wang Yongzhu immediately dictated to Steward Lu the particulars of Widow Sun’s documents and origins, intending to pay according to the rules.

But Steward Lu wouldn’t accept the money, insisting it was a trivial matter, not worth mentioning. If he took money for such a small favor among friends, wouldn’t he be slapping his own face?

He adamantly refused.

Wang Yongzhu stubbornly stuffed a five-tael silver ingot into his hand, saying it was to buy a drink for the Shop Assistants investigating the matter, and only then did Steward Lu reluctantly accept it.

They agreed that once he had news, someone would send a message to Wang Yongzhu, and then they parted ways.

On the way home, Song Chongjin’s face didn’t look very good. All the way, he was conflicted. Did Wang Yongzhu not trust his capabilities?

If it had been before, had he offered to help only to be treated like this, he would have left in a huff.

But now, Song Chongjin could only wryly smile, since he didn’t even have the courage to ask Wang Yongzhu a question.