Chapter 710: Traveling Together

The donated funds for military supplies are fixed. Although it may take a day or two to arrive, the supplies are not in high demand and there is no rush to transport them to the Northwest.

The 30% of silver saved in this way can be used to purchase other necessary medicinal herbs, grain, and other supplies.

If you're good at business, you can also help shops sell their goods and bring people along, earning money for your own travel expenses, and maybe even making a profit in the Northwest.

Bai Youran's overall planning was very reasonable, and all the young ladies, including Lin Yuesha, looked at her with new respect.

Wei Lan was so angry that she couldn't speak. She was the one who gathered the young ladies to raise funds, so why did she leave Bai Youran to her own devices in the end?

Facing Wei Lan's sinister gaze, Bai Youran remained unmoved. Ever since she lost her reputation, she had been resented by the Wei family. Don't think she was unaware of this; in fact, the Wei family had already contacted the Bai family to find her a suitable match.

She has a grudge against Wei Lan, so how could the Wei family let her go?

Li Ruohua, the eldest sister-in-law, spent a lot of money to bribe the head maidservant of Madam Bai, and learned that the Wei family intended to take her into their household as a concubine for that paralyzed man.

Marrying a paralyzed man is an insult even as the principal wife, let alone as a concubine.

Why should Bai Youran sacrifice herself for the benefit of the Bai family? She's not stupid.

No one can be relied upon but oneself, so she made up her mind that she would no matter what, she would propose to escort supplies on this trip and take this opportunity to sneak into the Northwest.

In the Northwest, there are people from the Prince of Luo's and the Protector General's Mansion. What if she has a chance to get close to the Prince of Luo...

Bai Youran plans to make a trip and has no intention of returning to Beijing in the short term. She no longer has the same reservations about Wei Lan as before.

"What Sister Bai said is indeed worth considering."

Lin Yuesha quickly took sides. When it came to military supplies, she had to speak up for Bai Youran to prevent the Wei family from monopolizing the market and taking advantage of it.

She did the math in her head: if she bought military supplies along the way and gradually increased the amount, it would be more time-saving and labor-saving than transporting money to the Northwest and then purchasing supplies from various places.

The Northwest is short of resources, so the prices of grains and other goods are higher than in the rice-producing regions. Even considering the losses during transportation, the cost of purchasing along the way is still more economical.

As Bai Youran said, those with a brain can even make a profit along the way.

"Bai Youran, you make it sound so easy. Are you really going to go and transport military supplies?"

Wei Lan didn't want to make things difficult for Bai Youran. Giving Bai Youran to her second brother as a concubine would be like a marriage exchange between the two families, making them even closer. However, Bai Youran didn't give her any face, so she wouldn't be polite!

"Sure, I can."

Bai Youran had been waiting for Wei Lan to say this, and immediately agreed, "I'm not afraid of hardship, and I'm not married, so I can make this trip for my sisters."

Even if Wei Lan was angry with her, she wouldn't choose to go to the Northwest. Wei Lan and Bai Dingfeng were already engaged, and their wedding was approaching. Besides, Bai Dingfeng was going to take the imperial examination next March. If she accompanied Wei Lan to the Northwest, the round trip would take several months, and she might miss the examination. If she missed it once, she would have to wait another three years.

Bai Youran, knowing Wei Lan wouldn't dare to respond, smiled smugly.

Upon hearing this, the ladies gave Bai Youran a thumbs-up, expressing their admiration.

They were all pampered daughters of officials, never lifting a finger, and very few of them traveled far. Their destination was the windswept northwest, a place where the Great Qi exiled serious criminals, even more bitter and cold than the north.

Bai Youran said these words because he truly cared about the soldiers in the Northwest.

Wei Lan was once again rebuked and felt powerless. She knew it was inappropriate to argue with Bai Youran, so she kept her eyes on Lin Yue'e, hoping that Lin Yue'e would step forward.

"How about we invite two or three more young ladies to come along?"

Lin Yue'e was very unwilling. She had already offended Wei Lan once, so she had no choice but to speak on Wei Lan's behalf.

The cause of her mother Qin's death is unknown, so she must stay in the capital. Once she leaves the Lin family and comes back, she may not even have a place to stay.

“In that case, I will go with Sister Bai.”

Lin Yuesha originally had no intention of going to the Northwest, but if she wanted to protect the donated money, Bai Youran was unreliable, so she had to get involved herself.

This silver may not be used for the Northwest military supplies, but it must not be embezzled by the Wei family.

"I would feel even more at ease if Sister Yue Sha went with me."

Bai Youran immediately agreed, saying to everyone, "Sister Yue Sha is quick-witted and has a good business sense; she's a bit better than me."

"I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it at all."

Lin Yuesha modestly said that none of the ladies were born with a silver spoon in their mouths; only she was a peasant girl from the north who made her fortune through business.

Everyone said nice things, but apart from that, no other young lady was willing to go with them.

The money wasn't raised by Wei Lan alone, so she had to listen to everyone's opinions and think about discussing it with her mother when she got back to the mansion.

That evening, Lin Yuesha received a reply from Wei Lan, the result of which greatly surprised her.

Wei Lan agreed to let Lin Yuesha and Bai Youran travel together, using the donated money to purchase supplies for the soldiers in the Northwest. As the person who raised the most money, she would also go along.

"She's gone mad, hasn't Wei Lan gone mad?"

Bai Youran immediately found her elder brother Bai Dingfeng and asked, "Once our parents arrive in the capital, you and Wei Lan will need to prepare for your marriage. What if something unexpected happens to her if she goes to the Northwest at this time?"

Bai Youran devised this plan in order to get rid of Wei Lan, even though she was willing to suffer in the Northwest. However, she didn't expect that in the end she would not be able to get rid of Wei Lan and would have to go with her.

"Brother, what exactly does Wei Lan mean?"

Bai Youran was furious, but Bai Dingfeng forced her back into her seat.

He had heard about the farce that had taken place in the Prince's villa during the day, when he was painting there.

He had initially suspected that Li Ruoxue's miscarriage was too coincidental, but after Mo Dong met with Wei Lan and committed suicide, confirming that Wei Lan was the mastermind, Bai Dingfeng began to believe in Wei Lan's innocence.

An unseen hand was pushing this matter forward, which aroused Bai Dingfeng's suspicions.

He was unmoved by Li Ruoxue's miscarriage, which led him to decide to let her off the hook for the time being.

"Little sister, this trip includes not only Wei Lan, but also your brother."

The Wei family sent someone to invite him to their residence. He discussed with the eldest son of the Wei family that, on the surface, the trip to the Northwest was to salvage Wei Lan's reputation, but in reality, they were after more than 200,000 taels of silver.

"Big brother, are you crazy? Wei Lan is being ridiculous. Don't you care about your future?"

Bai Youran was so angry that she jumped up and down. In her eyes, her older brother was a rational person. How could he go along with Wei Lan's nonsense!

The trip to the Northwest, a round trip, would delay the scientific expedition by another three years.

If things change drastically in the capital three years from now, will my elder brother still have a chance to become an official?

"It's alright, I can read on the way and get back before March next year without delaying the scientific expedition."

Even if one passes the imperial examination, one still has to start from the lowest level of officialdom. If the Wei family succeeds in taking that position, he will be a relative of the emperor.

Bai Dingfeng has already been drawn into the Wei family's camp, and his ambition can no longer be concealed.

His parents had already sent a letter by carrier pigeon, agreeing to the marriage. Before leaving the capital, he and Wei Lan would get married quietly, which was also the wish of both families.

"You're going to marry Wei Lan right after your sister-in-law just had a miscarriage?"

Even if it was all Bai Youran's plan, she was still baffled by Bai Dingfeng's actions; he was simply inhuman.