The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 705 - 704: Seeking an Audience

Chapter 705: Chapter 704: Seeking an Audience

Old Granny Zhang was listening by the side and understood clearly that Shopkeeper Wu’s remarks about Ninth Young Master seemed to indicate he wasn’t a pleasant person, which immediately made her anxious. Ever since the incident in Qi City, Old Granny Zhang had been fearful of encountering these noble patrons.

If the nobles were reasonable it would still be bearable, perhaps just suffering some physical pain. However, most nobles were irrational, or rather, they didn’t reason with common folk.

Song Chongjin’s birth mother had also once been a lady of a grand household. When the family fell from grace, she became like a fresh flower dropped into a mud pit, trampled upon by all. A young lady of her standing could not even become a concubine.

How desolate!

It had not been easy for her own family to escape from the mud pit of Qi City, and she dared not deal again with these powerful and noble officials.

As much as she worried, she still remembered that there were others present and mustn’t tarnish her daughter’s dignity.

Thus she remained seated despite her anxiety.

Wang Yongzhu pondered for a moment, "Shopkeeper Wu, let’s not beat around the bush given our rapport. The fabric and dye workshop business we discussed last time was just a preliminary talk. If there is any difficulty on your end, we can pretend I never mentioned it."

"Now that our family has moved to the city, you might be aware that living here is not easy. Moreover, Brother Song is now studying at Changqing Academy and plans to take the provincial examinations in the second half of the year, so we will likely stay in Jing County. Naturally, we need to consider a way to make a living in the county town."

"So let’s speak plainly, I will certainly redye and resell the batch of fabric. But rest assured, I will not flood the market with it in large quantities. Once I tidy up the shop, I’ll sell it gradually, just to make enough to get by."

Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Wu’s complexion changed. Let alone the fact that the dye workshop and fabric deal had been almost set before the new year, given his and Wang Yongzhu’s characters, it was pretty much a done deal, with only the price left to be discussed.

But with Wang Yongzhu’s latest declaration, not selling the dye workshop or the fabric was one thing, but for Wang Yongzhu to dye the fabric herself and sell it? Even though she mentioned selling it slowly, the underlying implication was significant.

Currently, the success of Auspicious Fabric relied on Wang Yongzhu’s dye recipe. If Wang Yongzhu stops selling the recipe or sells it to someone else, what future would Auspicious Fabric have?

Thinking this, Shopkeeper Wu was filled with regret, wishing he could slap himself for being so talkative in front of the boss.

With his mind churning like stormy seas, Shopkeeper Wu tried to remain calm and said, "My dear niece, what are you talking about? Although I, old Wu, can’t claim my word is as good as gold, once I’ve given it, it’s firm as a nail. There’s no question of going back on a deal once it’s been agreed upon!"

"As for the dye workshop and the fabric, rest assured. Even if I were to stop being Shopkeeper, I would ensure this matter is settled properly!"

He had made up his mind.

Shopkeeper Wu gritted his teeth, resolutely deciding that if Ninth Young Master really caused trouble without considering the big picture, he would stick his neck out to get a fair resolution.

Otherwise, if he offended Wang Yongzhu, there would be no business to speak of.

Having made her point, Wang Yongzhu smiled upon hearing Shopkeeper Wu’s response, "Then I’ll await the good news from Shopkeeper Wu. It’s getting late, so I shall head back now. I will visit the shop daily in the next few days. My family’s shop is the second one on West Main Street. Just send someone to deliver a message when there’s news."

Shopkeeper Wu nodded in agreement.

Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang just got up to take their leave.

After leaving the tea house, they were not in the mood to visit their shop, so they simply took a carriage back to their estate.

Halfway there, Old Granny Zhang couldn’t hold back anymore, "Maybe we shouldn’t sell the shop after all. These nobles, each with their eyes atop their heads, if we offend them we would have nowhere to seek justice. I actually agree with you—take the spoiled dyed cloth to the shop and sell it slowly, even if it’s a little cheaper, I refuse to believe it won’t sell. There will always be some income every day, right?"

Living in the city, what doesn’t cost money? A bit of income is better than none.

Wang Yongzhu reassured Old Granny Zhang, "Mother, rest assured, I know what I’m doing! Our family rose up thanks to this cloth-dyeing business, and initially it was Shopkeeper Wu’s discerning eye, and the operations of his backers, that allowed the cloth I dyed to become known even by the noble ladies in the palace."

"Although our life has just started to improve, we cannot do anything ungrateful.

"Wouldn’t that make us appear callous? Outsiders don’t know that we don’t wish for trouble, they would only think we are burning bridges. So these dye works and the fabric, they are my way of repaying Shopkeeper Wu and his backers."

"As long as those backers aren’t foolish, they would not refuse. Unless this newcomer, Ninth Young Master, really has no brains," Wang Yongzhu snorted with laughter.

"What you say is true, one has to have a conscience in life, or we all become ingrates, right? Since that’s the case, as long as Ninth Young Master isn’t too unreasonable, it’s fine if we make less money," Old Granny Zhang said, making it clear she had no high opinion of the never-before-seen Ninth Young Master, and only thought about how to resolve the issue, preferring as little interaction with the nobles as possible.

With their decision made and watching Wang Yongzhu and Old Granny Zhang walk away, Shopkeeper Wu’s face fell. He downed half a pot of cold tea, bit his teeth, stomped his feet, and ran back to the inn to ask to see Ninth Young Master.

But he was stopped by a young servant at the gate: "Shopkeeper Wu, you should go back first. Ninth Young Master is still resting. If there’s anything urgent, you can tell me. Our Ninth Young Master isn’t seeing anyone right now."

Shopkeeper Wu had no choice but to wait, telling the young servant to inform Ninth Young Master immediately upon waking that he had a very important matter to discuss with him.

The indifferent young servant waved his hand, urging Shopkeeper Wu to hurry away and not disturb their Ninth Young Master’s rest.

Knowing that it’s easier to meet Yama Raja than to deal with his little devils, especially the subordinates of Ninth Young Master, Shopkeeper Wu could only swallow his frustration and return to his room.

It wasn’t until before dinner that Shopkeeper Wu, seeing Ninth Young Master strolling in the courtyard, hastily approached and bowed, "Ninth Young Master, I have an important matter to report."

Ninth Young Master frowned and signaled for him to follow inside the room, asking impatiently, "What is it now?"

Shopkeeper Wu reported his encounter with Wang Yongzhu earlier in the day, then tentatively said, "Ninth Young Master, we must now ensure that we keep the dye works and that batch of fabric in our hands, what do you think?"

Ninth Young Master raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a dazzling smile. Even an old hand like Shopkeeper Wu couldn’t help but be momentarily dazzled. There is no denying it, just Ninth Young Master sitting there was like a painting, the most beautiful man he had ever seen.

Those unaware of Ninth Young Master’s temperament could forget everything upon seeing him like this.

If one had even slightly less willpower, one smile from Ninth Young Master could make them lose their senses and agree to anything.

Shopkeeper Wu thought one thing, but Ninth Young Master, naturally unaware, simply touched his lips and after a while commanded, "Since the Wang Family Young Lady has spoken so, it seems best to meet her sooner rather than later. Tomorrow, arrange for her to come to the finest restaurant in Jing County."