Chapter 84 - Two-in-One Contract Issuance (Bug Fixing)...

When Chai Jiao gave him a look, Chai Xingyu's heart pounded, and he took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Second Sister? You think my method is too cheap for them? Do you expect me to come up with an even cheaper method to beg for cooperation?"

Chai Jiao chuckled and looked away.

Do you think this is child's play?

Chai Xingyu snorted, "It was agreed that I would make all the decisions to get that soup noodle sauce into our shop. I've been busy for days, discussed it with people, and given them my guarantee. Where do you think I'm supposed to put my face?"

"That's right, with a face like mine, what do I need to save face for?"

"The soy sauce shop is yours, the store is yours, do as you please, I don't care anymore!"

After saying that, he got up, turned around, and left, leaving the group of people dumbfounded.

Guo Jixiang called out to him as she watched his retreating figure, but Chai Xingyu didn't respond. Guo Jixiang muttered to herself, "You really are something..."

Chai Jiao said, "I think he's been bewitched by Lin Chuntao."

Watching Chai Xingyu leave, Chai Laosan was pleased with his successful scheme. He continued, echoing Chai Jiao's words, "That young lady is quite shrewd. The other day, the owner of the mutton rice noodle shop was sulking because his business was being taken away. But now she's all smiles and greeting them as they come and go. Especially the owner's wife, she even invited them to dinner."

Guo Jixiang said, "Isn't it because mutton soup noodles have recently come up with some kind of mint mutton dish, which is said to be the most popular way to eat it in Yongchang?" After saying that, she looked at Chai Jiao and asked, "Is there such a way to eat it?"

Chai Jiao frowned. "Never heard of it."

Guo Jixiang also slowly frowned. That was the mutton rice noodle shop's own idea. Aunt Chai next to her laughed and said, "It is said that this way of eating was also invented by Madam Lin."

Chai Jiao scoffed, completely unconvinced. "She's helping the mutton soup noodle shop steal her own business? Has she lost her mind?"

Aunt Chai laughed and said, "She didn't steal anything. I see that her business is still the same as before, and the mutton soup noodle shop is slowly getting better."

Guo Jixiang thought that if that was the case, it would make sense for the relationship between the two families to improve.

But what Chai Xingyu is doing will allow Lin Chuntao's sauce to dominate the Chai family's shop, and it will also carry her name. In the future, everyone will remember the Lin family's sauce, but who will remember the Chai family's?

That won't work either; I need to talk to Lin Chuntao again.

While pretending to throw a tantrum, Chai Xingyu secretly moved all his money to the outer house. He also gathered his former close servants for a small meeting, saying he would take them to make money. He explained that they hadn't been kicked out because Chai Xingyu had protected them during the last major incident.

They also realized that the master and mistress treated the young master like a precious gem, and as long as they didn't incur the young master's dislike, they would be fine.

After Chai Xingyu had secured the money, he led them to find a shop.

This morning, Lin Chuntao went mushroom picking but only found some purple-skinned green-headed mushrooms. The mushrooms in the mountains are gradually becoming scarce, and she didn't even fill her basket today. She sold them all in no time.

After selling the mushrooms, she helped cook some noodle soup for a while, then pulled her mule cart away.

Because she needed to get rice seedlings to take back, she borrowed a mule cart from Aunt Guizhi. She needed to buy the seedlings, but she couldn't buy enough. So Lin Chuntao first pulled the mule cart back to the village and exchanged the seedlings on the way back.

With a full mule cart, she returned to the village early, as planting these things required starting in the morning.

Lin Changzong took Lin Jiahui to the county town, where Chen Dongniang, Sun Shi, Aunt Guizhi, and Sixth Grandma came to collect the rice seedlings.

They were all quite surprised to see so many rice seedlings.

But if the two families divide the land, they can only cultivate one plot, which isn't a lot.

Lin Chuntao divided the seedlings into portions, but did not remove them.

"Auntie, Uncle, why don't we just leave it here and take it straight to the field and plant it?"

Chen Dongniang and Sun Shi had no objections. They went back to get their tools and called for help. Lin Chuntao then pulled the mule cart to the edge of the field.

The ground where potatoes had just been dug didn't need to be turned over, and it wasn't hard. Lin Chuntao didn't have much to do, so she took a hoe and helped to dig ditches. As soon as she did that, Sun Shi and Aunt Guizhi knew what she meant. They planted corn in neat rows.

The Sun family has a large number of members, so they don't need that many people. Chen Dong and her daughter, along with their sister-in-law, even came to help Aunt Guizhi with the planting. Lin Chuntao also called on Duo'er and Lin Chunhe to help both families.

When Wang returned from picking corn, she saw both families busy at work and asked curiously, "Auntie, sister-in-law, what are you planting?"

Mrs. Sun replied, "Plant some tomatoes and chives."

Looking at so many rice seedlings, Wang felt puzzled, thinking that such a large area of ​​land was to be planted.

"Growing so many?" she said, glancing at Aunt Guizhi, who was planting some distance away, and then laughed, "Are you growing these to sell in the county town?"

Chen Dongniang glanced at Lin Chuntao, who was with Aunt Guizhi, and then smiled and said, "Chuntao asked for help to plant them."

Wang thought of Lin Chuntao and the others selling soup noodles, and figured they would need them.

"Is she just borrowing your land to farm?"

Sun said, "No, it's because after they're planted, we pick them and sell them to her."

Wang pursed her lips. Once these are grown, there's no need to send them to the county town; she can sell them herself. It wouldn't be right not to ask about such a good thing.

"Oh dear, does she need much more? The two plots of land where we dug potatoes are still idle."

Chen Dongniang and Sun Shi didn't know either, but since Wang Shi had spoken up, Chen Dongniang could only smile and say, "Chun Tao is over there, why don't you ask her?"

As Chen Dongniang spoke, she asked, and Lin Chuntao, seeing that it was Wang Shi, smiled and said, "We don't need many tomatoes and chives anymore, but we need more bitter greens and dried chilies."

"Second Aunt, don't you grow buckwheat in your fields?"

Originally, we were going to plant some, but since growing vegetables can make money, there's no harm in keeping a plot of land for growing vegetables. Wang smiled and said, "We can plant some buckwheat and keep a plot for growing vegetables."

Lin Chuntao said, "Does Second Aunt want to plant them? You can buy the seedlings and seeds yourself, or I can buy the seedlings for you. You just need to pay me for the seedlings."

"Did you buy all these rice seedlings?"

"Yes."

During their chat, Wang walked over from the edge of the field. Lin Chuntao was helping Aunt Guizhi plant corn, and Wang put down her corn to help as well. But as she was helping, she started asking about Lin Chunxing.

Chen Dongniang and Sun Shi exchanged a glance and shook their heads in unison.

"With you gone, can Chunxing manage the stall all by herself?"

Lin Chuntao said, "She can manage. She's become skilled now and can watch it all by herself."

Wang said, "You sisters are really clever; you know how to scheme and plot."

Lin Chuntao twitched the corners of her mouth. "What's so great about it? We're just afraid of not having enough to eat. Right now, we're still living in Grandma's house, and we still need to save money to build our own house."

Madam Wang said, "That's true. Your mother is gone, and you still have to arrange marriages for Chunxing and the others." After saying that, she asked, "Chunxing is about the same age as Qingqing. I've been busy finding a husband for Qingqing lately. Are you going to find a husband for Chunxing too?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuntao glanced at Wang Shi. If she really wanted to find a husband, she would definitely ask the adults to help make arrangements by now.

But she smiled and waved to Wang.

"I won't look for them. I want to keep Chunxing and the others at home."

Wang exclaimed in surprise, "Ah! Is the son-in-law staying at home?"

Lin Chuntao nodded.

"Well, our parents aren't here, and I'm afraid they'll be bullied if we get married. I need to keep them by my side. Besides, they're still young, and I plan to wait until they're eighteen or nineteen before we talk about marriage."

Aunt Guizhi listened silently from the side. Wang Shi gave her a cold glare and said to Lin Chuntao, "They are so lucky to have you as their older sister."

Lin Chuntao smiled but remained silent.

"Siblings will separate when they grow up. Can you protect them for the rest of your life? Take advantage of this time to find a good husband. You should wait until you are eighteen or nineteen. It will be harder to find someone when you are older."

"Besides, you're leaving your three younger sisters at home, doesn't your son Xiao Pei have any objections?"

Lin Chuntao looked up at her and smiled, "No objection, he'll listen to me."

Wang: "..."

Lin Chuntao was still planting tomato seedlings, working quickly and efficiently. Wang was squatting diagonally opposite her. Seeing that Lin was unresponsive, Wang directly broke the ice.

“Chunxing and Qingqing get along well. I was thinking that if you were to find her a husband, Qingqing has a cousin who is handsome and has a good personality. He would be a good match for Chunxing.”

After rambling on for so long, Lin Chuntao was getting a little annoyed, but she didn't show it on her face.

"Oh, thank you for remembering us sisters, Second Aunt. It's alright for now. I'll ask for your help again in a few years when Chunxing and Chunhe are both looking for husbands."

Looking at her smiling face, Wang saw that she spoke with a smile on her face, but her words were completely unyielding.

Anyone who genuinely appreciates her concern would at least say they'd check it out, but she just says, "Forget it now."

Wang was somewhat displeased.

“It’s harder for girls to find husbands when they’re older. They usually get married at eighteen or nineteen. You can arrange dates and engagements for them now. It’s no big deal.”

These words went on and on, as if Lin Chuntao wasn't speaking human language, and it seemed she had already set her sights on Lin Chunxing.

“Second Aunt, you don’t understand us orphans. My mother was bullied to death by my mother-in-law, and I don’t want my sisters to be bullied in the future.” Lin Chuntao sighed as she spoke, and looked up at Wang Shi: “To be honest, Second Aunt, I’m not afraid to say this. First, Chunxing and the others are young. Second, I also have requirements for their husband’s family. But please don’t scold me for saying this, Second Aunt. I hope my sisters will marry into families where their parents-in-law are dead.”

Wang felt a lump in her throat and almost started cursing.

Aunt Guizhi paused for a moment upon hearing this, then looked up at Lin Chuntao. She had dealt with Lin Chuntao a lot, and the fact that Lin Chuntao could say such a thing meant that she was already very angry.

Wang rambled on and on, pretending not to understand what Lin Chuntao was saying.

Lin Chuntao noticed the change in Wang's expression, but she pretended not to notice and smiled, "It's convenient for someone like that to marry into their family or come and live with us."

"Besides, if I really get too old to find a husband, then I'll support them. I'm happy to support them for the rest of my life."

The smile on Wang's face slowly faded. She wanted to hold on a little longer, but she couldn't hold on any longer.

In the end, he only left one sentence: "Sigh, Chun Tao, you are really capable of making money. We parents don't even dare to say that we can raise our children for a lifetime."

Lin Chuntao said, "It's nothing special, it's just that we don't have any brothers."

Wang gave a forced smile, put down the rice seedlings in her hand, and slowly stood up. "You guys are busy, I have to go back and feed the pigs."

Lin Chuntao didn't say anything more, and Wang Shi didn't say anything more about whether or not to plant vegetables, but Aunt Guizhi greeted her.

After watching the person walk away, Aunt Guizhi said, "You really kept Chunxing and the others until they were eighteen or nineteen?"

"Yes, if you get married too young, you won't know anything. What's the good thing besides being tormented? You've already suffered a lot before, and you don't want to suffer like this again."

Aunt Guizhi nodded slightly and murmured, "It's good to keep them by my side. I feel at ease watching over them right under my nose."

After they finished planting the chives and tomatoes, it was already lunchtime. Just as they were about to go home to cook, they saw Lin Jiahui and the others return, along with Lin Chunxing and Pei Ying.

Lin Chuntao and Chen Dongniang waited together for the people to arrive before going back together.

Lin Jiahui was very happy along the way. They ran into Lin Chunxing at the market, and Lin Chunxing even cooked two bowls of noodles for them to eat.

Lin Chunxing said that there was some left over, so each of them would eat some, and then they would pack up and come back.

He had already seen what kind of beans and dried chilies the other vendors were selling, and asked about the prices. He happily told Lin Chuntao, "Sister Chuntao, I'll go and buy some this afternoon."

Lin Chuntao smiled and nodded.

Pei Ying bought some pork ribs. The corn was still very tender, so Lin Chuntao asked Aunt Guizhi for a few packets. After lunch, they stewed corn and pork rib soup in an earthenware pot.

After Lin Jiahui finished eating, he carried a basket on his back and a scale to find Lin Chuntao. He always asked Lin Chuntao about the price before buying anything for her.

At the grain store, beans cost 32 coins per dou, which works out to 2.6 coins per jin.

The beans are still in the fields this year, and we don't know the price of grain. If we go to buy them now, they will all be last year's beans. Besides, the beans bought from the countryside may not be properly picked. Lin Chuntao thought for a moment and said to Lin Jiahui, "The price per pound should be within two and three coins. You can give me whatever you think is fair. The dried chili peppers should be within four and five coins."

Looking at Lin Jiayi following Lin Jiahui, Lin Chuntao asked, "Is your younger brother going with you?"

"Yes, he's coming with me to play."

Lin Chuntao said, "Be careful of dogs when visiting villages. Bring a bamboo stick with you." As she spoke, she went back into the house, took out three hundred coins, and put them into a money bag.

"There are three hundred coins in here. Count them. We'll reconcile the accounts when you bring the goods back tonight."

Lin Jiahui took the money bag and felt its weight. He had never held so much money before. He took a deep breath before counting the money. He asked Lin Chuntao for some hemp rope and divided the three hundred coins into six strings of fifty coins each.

Lin Chuntao looked at him and said, "We have to get back to the village before dusk, and buy as much as we can."

Lin Jiahui nodded. "Sister, I've got it. Let's go."

Lin Chuntao found two bamboo poles for them and reminded them, "Be careful."

Lin Jiahui felt dizzy as he held the money bag. He was still debating whether to ask his parents for money to buy it or what to do, but Lin Chuntao gave him the money directly.

He will definitely handle this matter well.

Lin Jiahui first went to the surrounding villages, and upon entering the villages, he loudly called out to buy soybeans and dried chili peppers.

I was a little embarrassed to shout like this for the first time, but soon people came over to ask the price after hearing the shouts. If they had any at home, I would lead them to my home to weigh the items.

However, each household doesn't have much, and the new grain harvest is coming soon. So some families can sell a dozen or twenty catties, which isn't much, but they offer two coins per catty, which is a little higher than the price offered by the higher-ups who come to buy the new grain, so they sell it to them.

Before leaving, someone asked if they would come again when the new grain was harvested, and Lin Jiahui naturally agreed to come again.

Lin Jiahui had only earned enough to buy over 100 jin of goods from half a village, along with more than ten jin of dried chili peppers. Once the money was gone, they had to return home.

Fortunately, I had Lin Jiayi with me, so I could help him carry some of the things. I bought some more and carried them back with me.

I bought them and carried them around while shopping. At first, it wasn't too tiring, but it got very tiring later on.

But we still have to carry the beans back.

When we returned, the sun hadn't set yet, but by the time we got to the village, the sun had disappeared, leaving only a red glow on the horizon.

Many families in the village were already eating when they saw the Lin brothers returning with their belongings and started chatting amongst themselves.

They looked like they were returning from visiting relatives, and no one was curious about why they were carrying that.

Lin Chuntao looked at the beans Lin Jiahui was carrying on his back and took a deep breath.

"Why are you carrying so much? You must be exhausted."

Lin Jiahui chuckled, "It's not much, but it feels heavy when you carry it around while buying it."

Lin Chuntao felt that this child was still somewhat honest, so she said, "Tomorrow when you go again, go to the village's threshing ground, shout a few times, and ask them to bring the food to the threshing ground for you to weigh. Once you've weighed enough, carry it back. If it hasn't been weighed yet, just tell them you'll be fine when you get back."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiahui slapped his forehead, probably realizing how foolish he had been.

Lin Chuntao gently patted his shoulder.

"Sit down and rest first, I'll weigh you."

Lin Chunhe brought two stools for them, poured two bowls of water, and added some honey to them.

The two brothers gulped down a bowl of water, as if they hadn't drunk any water for half a day.

Lin Chuntao decided to ask Pei Ying to make a bamboo cup so that the silly child could carry water with him when he went out to drink.

She weighed the money, Lin Jiahui drank some water, took out the remaining money, and reported the situation.

"Sister, I gave you two coins a pound for the beans. I bought them in small amounts, and the total should be 118 pounds. The chili peppers were four coins a pound, and we bought 16 pounds. We only came back after we ran out of money."

Lin Chuntao weighed out the same amount as he reported, and after checking, she found the beans to be clean and the dried chilies to be mostly intact.

The day's work was pretty good.

Lin Chuntao went inside and brought out thirty coins for him. The young man, half-grown, happily accepted the money with a silly grin.

"Thank you, Sister Chuntao."

Lin Chuntao said, "No need to thank me, this is what you earned from your work. We haven't eaten yet, rest for a while and eat with us."

Lin Jiahui shook his head, "No, sis, let's go back and eat."

As she spoke, she pushed Lin Jiayi to leave, and when they reached the door, she turned back and said, "Sister, I'll go buy it earlier tomorrow."

"No need to go too early, if you're too tired after one day you won't be able to do anything the next day."

"good!"

The two brothers responded and ran off.

Since evening, Chen Dongniang had been standing at the gate of the courtyard waiting for Lin Jiahui. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the two brothers return.

"How are you? Are you tired?"

As Chen Dongniang asked, Lin Jiahui shook the copper coins in his hand at his mother.

Seeing how happy he was, Chen Dongniang gently patted him and said, "I asked you if you were tired, and you were just showing off your money."

Lin Jiahui was really happy; thirty coins! He wasn't tired at all.

Lin Jiayi stared longingly at the money in his brother's hand, filled with envy.

Mrs. Sun looked at the two brothers who had returned with a smile and sighed, "Our Hui is earning his own money now."

Lin Jiahui asked the old lady, "Grandma, do I have to give the money I earn to the family?"

Since the family hasn't separated, they definitely have to pay, but they don't need to pay the full amount. After thinking for a moment, she said, "How about paying half?"

Lin Jiahui nodded.

"good."

Even after paying fifteen coins, he still had fifteen left. Today, Lin Jiayi had been running around with him all day, so he gave Lin Jiayi another five coins.

Lin Jiayi was happy now.

However, the two brothers didn't have much fun fighting for long before Chen Dongniang took the money away.

The next day, Lin Chuntao gave the money to Lin Chunhe and asked her to give it to Lin Jiahui. She also gave him some instructions before going to the county town.

Chai Xingyu and his group also left early today.

Yesterday, the shop was rented, and today we were going to the government office to register the property and get the deed. The officials were familiar with the Chai family, and when they heard that the owner, Chai Xingyu, was still selling soy sauce, they all frowned.

I've never heard the Chai family mention this before.

Chai Xingyu frowned as he looked at the person in front of him. He said, "We'll open a separate shop that specializes in selling all kinds of sauces. I'll manage it, but we're all one family, so there's no difference."