Chapter 48: Making a Huge Profit Over the past month, their business has been booming...

"The wind is picking up."

On a winter day in Ning'an County, a chill wind whipped recklessly through the streets. The cracks under the eaves whistled sharply, and doors and windows creaked as they jostled against each other. The clothes of pedestrians rustled in the wind, rustling like fluttering flags. In the distance, the faint sound of camel bells mingled with the wind, weaving a desolate and mysterious song unique to this city.

Liu Yeshu had just finished her work, washed her hands, and wiped them on the coarse clothes at her side. She was standing in the yard, sorting the bacon and dried meat hanging out to dry, when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the gate. She looked up and saw the Mo family's brother-in-law walk in with a serious expression, a look of apprehension and apology on his face. The cold wind ruffled his hair and flushed his cheeks.

The Mo family's brother-in-law stood before Liu Yeshu, bowing slightly uncomfortably. His tone was filled with deep apology. "Miss Liu, I've come specially to apologize to you. I've been here several times before, but you weren't here."

Liu Yeshu was slightly startled. Indeed, she had been busy with her business with Widow Wang, and had been away all day. Younger Brother Liu had gone out to chop wood, leaving Liu Yeshu alone at home. She walked over, holding the door open with a stick, and turned to smile gently, "Brother Mo, you don't have to be so polite. Just say whatever you want to say."

The Mo family's brother-in-law took a deep breath and said solemnly, "After you came that day, I went back and asked my wife, and only then did I realize that she was the one who had done that foolish thing. Miss Liu, you have indeed been wrongly accused, and our Mo family is truly ashamed of you for this."

Liu Yeshu had already guessed that there was another hidden story behind this, but after hearing the truth from the Mo family's brother-in-law, he still had doubts.

"But I don't know my sister-in-law, why are you reporting me?"

"That's what I asked," the Mo family's brother-in-law sighed as he sat on a stone bench. "It turns out that her best friend was gossiping about her in front of her, and the rumors actually got to her heart. Miss Liu, you're a girl, and you should be able to understand some things I don't say explicitly. Saying them out loud would only offend your ears. I told her to stay away from that best friend a long time ago... Oh, come to think of it, her best friend's husband's family is from your Huangtun Village. Li Bufan, do you recognize them?"

Liu Yeshu was not surprised at all and said with a smile, "Manager Li, of course I recognize him. He is the one who is in charge of us criminal slaves."

After hearing this, the Mo family's brother-in-law realized that this matter might not be simple, but he did not point it out. He just sighed: "It seems that Ning'an County is really small."

Liu Yeshu nodded in agreement: "Brother Mo, the world is complicated and many things are beyond our control. This misunderstanding ends here and I will not pursue it."

Upon hearing Liu Yeshu's generosity, the Mo family's brother-in-law's face showed a touch of gratitude and admiration. He didn't dare to offend anyone in the general's residence, so he bowed and said solemnly, "Miss Liu is very magnanimous. Although this matter is absurd, if the government really makes a fuss about it, the consequences will be disastrous. So, I owe you a favor. If there is anything you need my help with in the future, I will definitely not refuse."

Liu Yeshu thought for a moment and said slowly, "Come to think of it, there's something going on right now."

"My neighbor, Sister Wang, has done me a favor. She's new to Huangtun and wants to start a small food business. If you know any Hu merchants, please help introduce them to one or two." She pointed to the bacon hanging. "Sister Wang is a good cook and works quickly. Look at all the bacon she makes. There's more than enough space at home, so she's put it all in my yard."

The Mo family's brother-in-law agreed immediately: "How difficult is that? There are many Hu merchants who come to my brother-in-law's shop. I can just say hello to him."

It happened that Widow Wang came to see Liu Yeshu. Seeing a stranger, she didn't dare to say much. She subconsciously straightened her clothes, a slightly embarrassed look on her face, bowed and stood aside. After Liu Yeshu briefly introduced the two to each other, she winked at Widow Wang.

"Sister Wang, please cut some bacon for Brother Mo to try, and cut some meat slices and dried meat, and put them in Brother Mo's shop for people to try."

Although Widow Wang didn't understand Liu Yeshu's intention, she still gave a knowing "Ah" and hurried to the kitchen to work. Soon she came out with a plate of chopped bacon and beef jerky. The bacon was sliced ​​into thin slices, and the beef jerky was cut into small pieces. They were neatly arranged on the plate. The bright red meat shone with an attractive luster in the sunlight, and the aroma was fragrant.

A rich aroma filled the air, a blend of the richness of smoke and the freshness of meat, whetting one's appetite. The Mo family's brother-in-law's Adam's apple rolled unconsciously.

Liu Yeshu smiled and gestured "please." The Mo family's brother-in-law eagerly picked up a piece of bacon and put it in his mouth. He closed his eyes, savoring it carefully, his expression gradually shifting from curiosity to surprise.

"This bacon tastes incredible!" he couldn't help but exclaim. "It's salty and fragrant, the meat is firm, and it has a unique smoky aroma. It's completely different from anything I've tasted before!"

He picked up another piece of dried meat, tasted it and said, "This dried meat is dry and not burnt, it is really suitable for eating when you are hungry on the road."

The Mo family's brother-in-law ate with gusto, his smile growing wider as he praised repeatedly, "Ever since you stopped selling pickles and pickled eggs at my restaurant, business has been much quieter. This bacon and dried meat are perfect for eating with noodles, and I can help sell them in my shop."

Widow Wang turned her head and saw Liu Yeshu looking at him with a smile, as if encouraging him. She stepped forward and continued, "Brother Mo, this bacon is five taels of silver per pound, and the beef jerky is seven taels of silver per pound. Brother Mo, I'm grateful for Miss Liu's kindness, but I can't let you suffer a loss. So, if a Hu merchant comes to buy through your introduction, I'll give you 10% of the profit on each order. If you want to sell it in your store, I'll sell it to you at four taels of silver per pound for bacon and six taels of silver per pound for beef jerky. What do you think?"

The Mo family's brother-in-law agreed repeatedly: "Okay, okay, thank you! This price is very fair, let's just make it a deal."

After Widow Wang left, the courtyard fell silent. Liu Yeshu gazed at the distant horizon, her mind awash with thoughts. She turned to her brother-in-law, a trace of worry on her face. "Brother Mo, it's not easy for Sister Wang to be alone. I originally just wanted you to introduce me, but I didn't expect it to boost your business."

As the saying goes, "A widow's door is full of gossip." The Mo family's brother-in-law heard the hidden meaning and quickly waved his hand, saying sincerely, "Don't worry, Miss Liu, this time it won't be like last time. I promise that no gossip will spread."

At this point, the Mo family's brother-in-law sighed, with a hint of regret in his tone: "Alas, if it weren't for this criminal slave identity, Miss Liu would also be a good business hand."

His words suddenly made the atmosphere in the yard solemn. Liu Yeshu's eyes dimmed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

Seeing this, the Mo family's brother-in-law changed the subject and whispered, "By the way, Miss Liu, I wonder if you've heard that the county magistrate has just married a concubine. It's said she's also a slave. However, he feels sorry for her, and shortly after the marriage, he removed her family from slavery and made them commoners."

Liu Yeshu shook her head. "I don't know that. I just know that it's not easy to escape slavery. It's truly rare to be able to go from slavery to commoner."

"I heard..." He lowered his voice and said meaningfully, "I heard that the concubine's family has changed their names. Miss Liu, you are currently serving in the general's mansion. If you can gain the general's favor, perhaps you will have the opportunity to ask the general to change your name for you. It may not be difficult to remove yourself from the official family."

Liu Yeshu laughed dumbly: "Thank you for your kindness."

After seeing off the Mo family's brother-in-law, the courtyard returned to its tranquility. The winter sun shone obliquely on the courtyard wall, casting long shadows on the ground. Yuanbao slowly walked out of the inner room, twisting his round body and rubbing against Liu Yeshu's feet. She looked down at her hand caressing Yuanbao, her fingertips feeling a little cold, and whispered softly, "Change your name..."

Although this body isn't her original, she feels an indescribable guilt whenever she thinks of the real "Liu Yeshu." Having traveled to this era and taken over another's life, she never forgets the pain and helplessness the former Liu Yeshu must have endured in these troubled times. Now, using her name and identity, she strives to survive and live here.

She sighed softly and said to Yuanbao, "Yuanbao, tell me, if I change my name, will Liu Yeshu really disappear from this world?" Yuanbao squinted his eyes and rubbed her hand with his head, as if to comfort her.

If I changed my name, wouldn't that completely bury the real Liu Yeshu in the passage of time? Wouldn't that erase even the last trace of her?

She took a deep breath and said, "But I still want to stand in the sunshine with integrity, without being manipulated by others because of any evidence against me."

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on Liu Yeshu's face, gilding her features. Yuanbao seemed to sense his master's mood and gently rubbed her hand, purring comfortably.

*

In the early morning of winter, the village was covered with a thin layer of white frost, and the cold was getting stronger. The sand dunes in the distance were looming in the morning light, adding a bit of mystery to this border town.

The cold weather didn't deter Liu Yeshu and Widow Wang from their journey. Smoke curled from their courtyard, filling the air with fragrant aromas. Their busy figures loomed in the morning mist, sometimes working at the stove, sometimes drying bacon and beef jerky in the yard. Bacon and jerky were easy to carry and filling, and the Hu merchants raved about them. The large caravans were always well-funded, and when Widow Wang negotiated, the deals were generally successful. Every few days, the two of them rushed to produce large quantities of preserved products.

Over the past month, their business has been booming, with sales of nearly 100 kilograms of bacon and 80 kilograms of beef jerky, a figure far exceeding their initial expectations.

"Sister Wang, look, this is last month's account." Liu Yeshu pointed at the account book, her face filled with unconcealed joy. "After deducting costs, we made a net profit of approximately 260 taels of silver. This is enough to cover our next purchases, and we can also save some for more long-term plans."

Widow Wang came over and carefully examined the figures in the account book, but she felt like she wasn't taking in anything. She was just overwhelmed with joy. She nodded, her voice trembling slightly, "Thanks to your good idea, we were able to earn this much money. I never thought I'd have so much savings before, but now I feel confident."

"Sister Wang, as we agreed before, we will split the profits 50-50."

When Widow Wang heard this, tears welled up in her eyes.

"Miss Liu, you are such a kind person! If it weren't for your help, I would probably still be worrying about food and clothing this winter."

"We're doing business together, so naturally we have to be fair and reasonable." Liu Yeshu patted her shoulder. "We can use some of this money to rent a small stall in the market. The Hu merchants' business isn't available year-round. In the summer, there are heavy rains, and the roads are muddy and difficult to travel. In the coldest winter, heavy snow blocks the mountains, and the trade routes between the Western Regions and the Central Plains are almost cut off. Caravans dare not travel. Although we can make some money from the Hu merchants' business on weekdays, if we really want long-term stability, we need our own fixed stall and customer base. On weekdays, we can just sell some food."

After hearing Liu Yeshu's plan, Widow Wang's eyes flashed with determination. She bit her lip and nodded heavily, "Okay, since you've chosen this path, I'll follow you to the end! If we can rent a small shop at the market, we can do more stable business. When the foreign merchants come, we can bring out more carefully prepared food, and business will be more stable."

As her business grew, Widow Wang gained a stronger face. Her former timidity and evasion were gone. She walked with her head held high and her back straight before the villagers, no longer as submissive as before. Even facing those who once mocked her, she could smile calmly and without fear. The villagers' attitudes toward Widow Wang also gradually changed, with curiosity, jealousy, and a hint of flattery.

However, Liu Yeshu always kept a low profile and never got close to Widow Wang in public, as if they were just ordinary neighbors.

Life was hard, but there was hope. One day, Liu Yeshu was going to the market to buy vegetables. When she passed by the village entrance, she saw a few aunties chatting. One of them saw Liu Yeshu and couldn't help asking, "That widow Wang who lives across from you has made a lot of money recently, right? What kind of business is she in?"

Liu Yeshu showed a trace of bewilderment on his face, and replied softly: "Ah, I don't dare to do business, so why would I pay attention to these things."

Aunt Li curled her lips in disdain and spat out the melon seed shells in her mouth. A melon seed shell was still stuck in her mouth, but she didn't bother to care. She just said coldly, "That's true."

The morning market was bustling with activity. Vendors hawked their fresh fruits and vegetables, and the air was filled with the aroma of various foods. Her eyes rested on a bunch of emerald greens, and she gently brushed her fingers across the leaves, feeling the dew on them. Suddenly, a child's voice reached her ears.

She turned her head and saw the vegetable vendor's son lying on his father's shoulder, waving his chubby little hands and mumbling childishly, "Ma, Da Ma!"

The child's father laughed and shook his shoulders to help his son sit more steadily. "The kid saw a group of people entering the city from the west gate and clamored to ride a horse too." As he spoke, a doting smile on his face, he tilted his head slightly and said, "Aren't you riding a horse now? But you promised not to pee on my head!"

This made everyone around them laugh, and Liu Yeshu couldn't help but smile softly. She looked at the little boy, his face full of excitement, waving his hands, his tender voice sounding particularly innocent and cute in the bustling market.

However, just as a smile appeared on her lips, her heartbeat suddenly accelerated and her body gradually stiffened.

"Girl, do you want this cabbage?" The stall owner's voice brought Liu Yeshu back to reality.

"No, thank you." Liu Yeshu came to her senses and said hurriedly. She put down the basket in her hand and hurried towards home without bothering to continue shopping.

Along the way, Liu Yeshu's steps felt a little numb, as if she was stepping on cotton, and the scenery on both sides of the street became blurred in her eyes.

Pushing open the door, Liu Yeshu took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She quickly removed her apron, stained with the scent of the market, and stepped before the bronze mirror. Her cheeks flushed slightly, her eyes gleaming with nervous anticipation. With trembling fingers, she combed through her slightly disheveled hair. She opened her wardrobe and chose the most appropriate dress. This pale cyan dress was something she usually wouldn't wear, but now it seemed perfect. After changing into the dress, she carefully adjusted the collar and cuffs.

Finally, Liu Yeshu took a deep look at herself in the bronze mirror, exhaled lightly, and then turned and rushed towards the general's mansion.

Along the way, Liu Yeshu's heart raced. Her steps sometimes quickened, sometimes slowed, her fingers unconsciously twisted together. The people on the street, the hawkers' cries, the rumble of carriages—everything seemed cut off from her.

Arriving at the general's mansion, the gates were wide open, clearly to welcome the general's return. Standing at the door were several familiar guards, their gazes fixed on her with a somewhat benevolent smile.

Liu Yeshu suppressed her anxiety, straightened her back, and nodded to the guards. She forced a smile, hoping to hide her nervousness.

"Miss Liu," a guard said with a smile, his voice full of familiarity, "The general has returned and is waiting for you in the study."