The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 358 - 359 Delivery

Chapter 358: Chapter 359 Delivery

Song Chongjin didn’t expect Wang Yongzhu to agree immediately; he was already very content that she would consider it and take it to heart.

They still parted ways at the crossroads. After Wang Yongzhu had walked a couple of steps, Song Chongjin suddenly called out to her, "I need to go out tomorrow and can’t accompany you to town. Take Jindou or Jinhoo with you."

Now that he knew of a lead, he would surely investigate it the next day. Even though he knew Wang Yongzhu could handle herself, he couldn’t help but worry.

Wang Yongzhu nodded and after a moment of thought, she advised, "Be careful on your trip!"

After all, he was going out for her sake; it would be remiss not to say anything.

It seemed that she was becoming increasingly indebted to Song Chongjin; it wasn’t right to remain in debt like this forever. Wang Yongzhu pondered; she had to find a way to repay the favor.

Upon returning home, she tossed the meat she bought to Lady Jiang to deal with.

Wang Yongzhu first went to the storeroom for a quick inventory. Then she gathered the family members and announced that all the collected mountain goods would be packed up and sent to town the next day.

The Wang family immediately understood that this must be because Boss Zhang’s men were coming to inspect the goods.

Everyone became restless, and without needing Wang Yongzhu’s orders, they all spontaneously started to prepare.

In particular, Wang Yongfu was nervous; he appraised most of the goods that had been gathered. If they were transported to town the next day and the inspecting party didn’t approve of them, what would he do?

He couldn’t help but have trembling hands.

The mountain products they gathered over this period didn’t look much, but they turned out to be quite laborious to organize.

The whole family was busy as bees. Wang Yonggui, only half-understanding, knew about the family’s mountain goods business and had inquired about it with Wang Laozhu.

Wang Laozhu only vaguely told him, mentioning that it was Wang Yongzhu’s contact, and that the family collected some inexpensive mountain goods nearby to sell to the boss for some additional household income.

Though he said nothing, in his heart he knew his Third Brother well; if there was money to be found in the oil pot, he had to fish it out to spend. What if he gambled away knowledge of the household’s increased income and caused trouble?

In the past, when he was the head of the family, no matter how unruly Third Brother was, he was still his son, and he couldn’t just watch him get beaten to death, right?

But now, with the attitudes of his wife and his eldest daughter, if Third Brother dared to incur gambling debts, they would probably indeed drive him out.

So, subconsciously, he kept it secret.

At first, Wang Yonggui didn’t care much, for he was preoccupied with the thoughts of Sun Ahfu’s hidden silver.

If he could just deceive her and get his hands on it, he would be rich.

Why bother with such a hard life, exposed to the wind and sun every day, when Laosi had nearly lost his life doing so?

Yet, seeing the constant hustle and bustle of people coming and going at home, he wasn’t stupid; having mixed in outside, he monitored how much mountain goods Wang Yongfu gathered and how much silver he spent. He got an idea of the business’s potential.

He roughly understood that this mountain goods business seemed to be profitable.

Adding to that, Sun Ahfu was tight-lipped. No matter how he coaxed, she wouldn’t reveal where her private stash of silver was hidden. He didn’t want to fall out with her, so he started to half-focus his attention on the family business.

That evening, Wang Yongzhu announced that she had already hired a carriage to transport the goods and that she would escort it to town early the next morning, hinting that she would bring someone along.

Jindou and Jinhu, the brothers, stepped forward, eager to seize the opportunity. Having gone out to collect goods, they had opened their eyes to the world and knew that accompanying their older cousin to town was a rare chance for experience and opportunity.

Wang Yongzhu had not yet decided who would go when Wang Yonggui, all smiles, chimed in, "Don’t fight over it; I’ll accompany you. I haven’t really helped the family since I came back, and I’m familiar with the town. It’s better if I go along!"

Old Granny Zhang was the first to object, "What are you going for? Trying to stir up trouble again? With so much going on at home, have you finished the work in the fields? As an uncle, are you really competing with your nephew over such easy tasks? Have you no shame?"

Trying to smooth things over with a smile, Wang Yonggui said, "Mother, listen to what you’re saying. Isn’t it just because I’m worried that Jindou and Jinhu are too young and inexperienced to adapt if something arises? Anyhow, I’ve seen more of the world than they have, so I can look after my little sister, to prevent her from being taken advantage of due to her youthful appearance. How is that shameless?"

When he put it like that, others might have let it pass, but Wang Laozhu actually took it to heart. Laosan’s words made sense; although he could be frivolous at times, he was, after all, someone who had spent years outside the family and had some savvy. His presence could be very useful in making decisions if anything came up.

His two eldest grandsons were still too young.

Wang Laozhu’s expression showed he was somewhat tempted.

Wang Yongzhu had a pretty good idea what Wang Yonggui was up to, and on any normal day, there would be no issue bringing Wang Yonggui along.

If he planned to cause trouble, it was no big deal to handle him then and there.

But the next day was the first delivery, and it was clear that Guan Yifei would be observing closely.

First impressions were crucial, and she herself was not even fully confident, so how could she possibly take along Wang Yonggui, the troublemaker?

If she spoke with the same tone she had used with the Liu Family siblings that day, then this business venture might as well be over.

She firmly declined with pursed lips, "There’s no need. It’ll be fine if Jinhu comes with me. The family needs people to work in the fields, and if Third Brother really wants to help out, then get to work these next few days. Now that our family is in this state, with the eldest brother’s leg just healed and unable to exert much strength, while Fourth Brother is injured, and our parents are getting on in years, and both of our sisters-in-law being women, lack the physical strength for the work. By process of elimination, we can only rely on Third Brother."

"Third Brother, the main responsibility for the autumn harvest rests on your shoulders. You are the hope of our entire family!" Her words elevated Wang Yonggui to a high pedestal.

Uncomfortably shifting, Wang Yonggui, after all, cared about face; how could he admit his incapacity in front of his parents and the whole family?

Any man couldn’t say he was incapable!

Reluctantly, he touched his nose and gritted his teeth in agreement.

There were no more words that night, and early the next morning, just as the sun was rising above the trees, the horse carriage arrived at the Wang Family’s doorstep.

Everyone worked together to load the mountain goods onto the carriage, and Wang Yongzhu and Jinhoo both got on. With a snap of the driver’s whip, the carriage, carrying the Wang Family’s hopes, sped towards Shiqiao Town.

Upon their arrival at Changfeng Escort Agency, they found Guan Yifei had already been waiting for some time.

After briefly exchanging greetings, Guan Yifei unceremoniously climbed into the carriage and began inspecting everything.

He inspected items like dried mushrooms, various common medicinal herbs, and several animal hides.

Among them were the wolf pelts that Wang Yongzhu had hunted herself. She had kept two aside, planning to make Old Granny Zhang a wolf pelt coat, and brought the rest with her.

As Guan Yifei examined the goods, the more serious his expression became, causing Jinhoo to feel increasingly nervous.

After completing his inspection, Guan Yifei finally nodded, "The quality of the mountain goods is acceptable. If all future goods are at least up to this standard, then there won’t be any problems."

He then pointed out issues with some of the mountain goods, such as their appearance and age.

Not only did Wang Yongzhu listen closely, but Jinhoo also made an effort to remember the tips Guan Yifei provided.

Now that the goods had passed inspection, Jinhoo was left outside to move the mountain goods to a small warehouse inside, where a clerk would weigh them.