The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 432 The Tables Have Turned

Chapter 432: Chapter 432 The Tables Have Turned

Wang Yongzhu was well aware that, for now, the shortage of Yellow Pine Mushrooms was really hard to fill.

After much thought, she had no choice but to opt for artificial cultivation once more.

Seeing Guan Yifei’s determination, she knew that if she didn’t give him some reassuring words today, he probably wouldn’t let her leave, so she nodded, "Don’t worry, I’ve always kept it in mind. I’ll make sure to provide Shopkeeper Zhang with three jin of Yellow Pine Mushrooms when the time comes."

Upon hearing this, Guan Yifei’s face lit up with joy. Boss Zhang had always been concerned about this matter—his letters had inquired about it several times, and today he could finally hear a firm promise from Wang Yongzhu, which meant he could report back with good news.

After settling the silver, Wang Yongzhu began to worry. It was easy to agree verbally, but even if they planned to grow more Yellow Pine Mushrooms, they needed to find a place to do so.

Given the Wang Family’s current situation, it was decidedly impossible to plant them at the Wang Family estate.

Song Chongjin had been paying attention and noticed her concern, "What’s wrong? Are you worried about the Yellow Pine Mushrooms? In a few days, I’ll take you into the mountains, and we’ll look around slowly. We’re bound to find a spot."

Upon hearing this, an idea suddenly struck Wang Yongzhu, and she grabbed Song Chongjin’s sleeve, "Have you found any hidden caves in the mountains that no one else has discovered?"

Although Song Chongjin didn’t know why Wang Yongzhu was asking, after thinking for a moment, he replied, "There are such places, but they’re a bit remote. You..."

"That’s perfect; we’ll talk more after we get back," said Wang Yongzhu, feeling secure with a plan in mind, her face breaking into a smile.

The two then drove the carriage to the dye workshop. Shopkeeper Wu hadn’t seen them for some time and knew that the Wang Family was busy with the mountain goods trade. He came out to greet them, exchanged a few pleasantries, and inquired about the mountain goods business.

Wang Yongzhu smiled and said it was going well.

Shopkeeper Wu then subtly hinted a few things, mentioning that nowadays, stores in town that dealt with mountain goods were said to be affected, and the reputation of the Wang Family’s mountain goods store had spread to the town, advising them to be cautious.

Wang Yongzhu and Song Chongjin took note and thanked Shopkeeper Wu for his advice.

Wang Yongzhu then proposed buying some fabric, and Shopkeeper Wu laughed upon hearing this, "You’re now a shareholder of our dye workshop. For just a few bolts of fabric, do you still need to spend your own money? Just tell me what color you want, and have the shop assistant load it onto the cart for you."

Wang Yongzhu quickly waved her hands and explained the purpose of the fabric, "One thing at a time, my partnership with the dye workshop is one matter, but now I’m buying fabric on behalf of my family’s mountain goods business, and it is meant for resale to others, so naturally it can’t be combined. Business is business, personal is personal. The fabric should be paid for at its proper price; we can’t mix the two."

Only then did Shopkeeper Wu understand, and he found himself esteemed even more toward Wang Yongzhu. He ordered the shop assistant to bring out the fabric Wang Yongzhu requested, and also suggested, "The dye workshop just had a batch of fabric dyed incorrectly, not too much, and only with minor defects, hardly noticeable to those who aren’t too picky. Its price is cheaper—perhaps you should take it and use it in your dealings with the hunters from the mountains."

It was actually a good suggestion. Wang Yongzhu knew that in the daily lives of peasant families, they were really not particular about clothing; even if it was a botched job from the Auspicious Dye Workshop, it usually was just uneven color or other minor faults.

Such fabric, when in the hands of unscrupulous merchants, could be sold as good quality to those who were unable to tell the difference or who weren’t careful enough.

Although she only had relationships with hunters from Chongzi Gou for now, she had also heard that deep within Dahei Mountain, there were many such villages that were not easily accessible and were looked down upon by outsiders.

If this fabric could be cleverly utilized, perhaps she could find another reliable supply point.

With this in mind, Wang Yongzhu did not hold back anymore and thanked Shopkeeper Wu, deciding to take all the mishandled fabric.

Shopkeeper Wu also updated Wang Yongzhu about the recent business situation of the dye workshop and showed her the accounts for the current quarter.

Looking at the numbers on the ledger, Wang Yongzhu knew her year-end dividend was likely to be no small amount, and she felt truly happy.

Shopkeeper Wu was also happy. The business of the Auspicious Dye Workshop and the fabric store was getting better and better, and their reputation had spread far and wide. Just a few days ago, the boss even wrote a letter to praise him specifically.

Thinking to himself, this year, when he returned, things would be different from before.

Wang Yongzhu and the shop assistants loaded the fabric onto the cart, paid off the silver, and also handed over a small amount of mountain goods they had set aside especially for Shopkeeper Wu, as a token of their own goodwill, before taking their leave.

Song Chongjin drove the cart directly to the bookstore.

The bookstore was diagonally opposite the restaurant. Song Chongjin expertly turned into the back street and stopped in front of a small courtyard.

The two black lacquered wooden doors were firmly closed, looking no different from the other houses in the town from the exterior.

Song Chongjin stepped down from the cart and knocked on the knocker. After a short while, a voice came from inside the courtyard: "Who is it?"

The door creaked open and a tall, strong man poked his head out, his face covered with side-whiskers, his hair casually tied up, and his body clad in tight clothing.

Seeing that it was Song Chongjin, he paused for a moment, nodded, and then retreated a step: "You’re here, come in and talk."

However, Song Chongjin didn’t immediately follow him in. Instead, he stepped down from the steps and walked to the side of the cart: "Yongzhu, we’re here, you can get off."

He reached out to help Wang Yongzhu get off the cart.

Wang Yongzhu lightly jumped down from the cart, surveyed the gate briefly, and lifted a small cowhide paper package from the cart.

She had bought a packet of jujube cakes at the crossroads. It was her first visit, and after all, Song Chongjin had once been her master; she couldn’t arrive empty-handed.

With great composure, she followed Song Chongjin into the house, not forgetting to ask, "What about the goods on the cart? Won’t they be stolen if we leave them outside?"

Today, to haul the cargo, the carriage compartment had been disassembled, and the fabrics and other items were just piled up inside, left unattended outside. If someone passed by and took them away, no one would notice.

Song Chongjin hadn’t spoken yet when the tall man walking in front suddenly staggered, quickly steadying himself, and gruffly shouted at Song Chongjin: "Aren’t you going to drive your cart in? If something important gets stolen, the two old folks here can’t afford to compensate for it!"

Upon hearing this, Song Chongjin’s face darkened. It didn’t matter to him if the other man was impolite; after all, they owed each other favors, but he was displeased by the way he was treating Yongzhu.

Just as he was about to speak, Wang Yongzhu cheerfully pushed Song Chongjin: "Go and drive the cart in quick."

Seeing that Wang Yongzhu wasn’t upset, Song Chongjin walked to the side of the yard where there was a side gate, just big enough for the cart to enter.

Song Chongjin went out, leaving Wang Yongzhu and the tall man in the courtyard.

The tall man looked impatient and scrutinized Wang Yongzhu from top to bottom before saying in a muffled voice, "So you’re the bride that kid is planning to marry?"

Wang Yongzhu smiled slightly and raised a finger, shaking it: "You’ve got it backward. It’s not that Song Chongjin is marrying me as his wife; he is the one who’s going to be a son-in-law at my house!"

"What?" Before the tall man could reply, something in the house was overturned, and a man’s voice rose incredulously.