Chapter 328 Departure
"Am I going too? I won't go. If I leave, who will take care of all the chores at home?" Before the joy showed on his face, Zhao Xiping first considered that the family business that Sui Yu had worked so hard to build could not be left without him.
The little boy cried out in disappointment, then threw himself over to his father, hugged his arm and swung it, begging, "Dad, please come too. I want to go to Chang'an with you, Mom, and Uncle. Let's leave Dunhuang together and walk the same path my Mom and Uncle walked."
No matter how he shook, Zhao Xiping stood firmly, his feet didn't move at all, and there was no wavering expression on his face.
"Leave the household affairs to the servants, and ask Old Chen and Uncle Niu to take care of things. I'll take care of this matter." Sui Yu glared at Zhao Xiping, then stood on his side, hugged the man's arm, and asked with a grudge, "You're not interested in my affairs."
"Nonsense." Zhao Xiping thought this sentence was outrageous.
"Then come with me. From the moment I set foot in Dunhuang, you've been standing behind me, silently supporting me. You've been silent for so long that you've almost turned into a mountain of silent devotion. Come with me this time, and I'll show you the roads I've walked, the rivers I've crossed, and the mountains I've climbed. If possible, let's go to the Imperial City together to broaden our horizons. Liang Ge'er is young, and Xiao Cub is still young. They may enter the Imperial City in the future, but for the two of us, this should be the only chance in this life. Captain Zhao, seize the opportunity, or you'll regret it if you don't." Sui Yu hugged his arm tightly and said, "Go ask for leave from Captain Qu tomorrow, send him a bed and quilt, and explain the reason. He'll understand."
Zhao Xiping wavered, but still hesitated. His biggest concern was the cotton. Harvesting this year and planting next year both depended on the owner's care. If he left, he worried that thieves would steal the cotton seeds and sell them at a high price.
He told Sui Yu about his concerns, and Sui Yu shared the same concerns, but she felt that these problems could be solved.
"Master, the postman who delivered the imperial edict has left. I gave him some money but he refused it. When passing by the cotton field, he mentioned a quilt. I took the initiative and promised to give him a quilt. He was happy and agreed." Ding Quan was a little nervous. After sending the postman away, he hurried to report the situation.
Sui Yu suddenly had an idea. She let go of the man's arm, beckoned Ding Quan in, and said, "This is a small matter. Just make the decision. One quilt is one quilt. When the autumn wind blows, you can bring him a new quilt."
"Hey." Ding Quan breathed a sigh of relief. He said lightly, "I asked his name. When it gets colder, I'll quietly send it to him."
"He's quite smart. Why did he act so stupid outside the Gobi Desert before?" Sui Yu was a little puzzled.
Ding Quan was embarrassed. He touched the hair on his head, which was less than a finger long. From the back of his head downwards, there was no grass growing on the hideous scar.
"I was scared. I was a little stupid before that, but I learned my lesson after that incident," he explained.
Sui Yu nodded. "The fact that you can remember and reflect on your actions shows that you have a good brain and are expected to join the caravan again. However, I don't think you can get involved in the caravan's affairs. Zhang Shun, Li Wu, Xiao Chunhong, and Qingshan are all smart people. Even Xiaoxi, Aniu, and Sancao are very smart. They can solve the problems encountered during the trade and will not allow a useless person to join and share their profits. If you force your way in, as long as you have no achievements, you will not be able to stay. The best case scenario is that you voluntarily withdraw from the caravan and ask to stay at home to take care of the farm work. The worst case scenario is that you will lose your life."
Ding Quan's expression changed. He believed what he said. Qingshan murdered the slave because he blocked his way.
Sui Yu saw a struggle on his face, so she waited quietly.
"Life is not bad when I am farming at home. If my master builds a guesthouse somewhere else in the future, can I go there and be the manager?" Ding Quan thought of a way out.
Sui Yu examined him for a few seconds and said, "Whether you can do it or not is not up to me. It depends on your ability. In the next six months, I will lead a caravan to Chang'an. Xiaozai's father and his uncle will go with me. I will leave the business of the guesthouse to Ah Shui, Hua Niu, and Lao Niushu. I am considering handing over the cotton in the fields to you and Erhei. As for the five new servants who came last year, I will ask Old Chen to keep an eye on them. If anyone among the seven of you is capable, I will promote him to the position of manager. The salary will be forty coins per month, and there will be a bonus at the end of the year based on his performance."
Ding Quan was shocked. This salary was higher than what Gan Da and Liu Yaer earned for managing the guesthouse. Not counting the bonus, it was still 2,400 coins for five years. It was not as much as the profit from the caravan, but he didn't have to go out and run around.
"I……"
"Go call Erhei, Xia Hapu and the others over." Sui Yu interrupted him.
Ding Quan immediately realized that he had to compete with six other people for the position of manager. He didn't care about the five foreign maids, but Erhei made him feel very pressured. He became defensive before the words were even brought to his lips.
As expected, Erhei perked up as soon as he heard Sui Yu's words, his expression almost rabid with excitement. He was the only servant in the household who had made a serious mistake, and Erhei knew this was his only chance to turn things around. If he missed this opportunity, he would continue to be a workhorse, watching others' pockets grow fatter day by day while he remained penniless.
Sui Yu was satisfied and relieved. She sent the seven people away and said, "Tomorrow I will sort out and arrange the farm work for the next six months. You can go down and think about it. Oh, and call Ah Shui and Hua Niu, as well as Ah Qiang and Da Zhuang."
"I'll go and ask Uncle Niu." Zhao Xiping said.
"Okay." Sui Yu smiled at him.
As soon as Zhao Xiping left, the little cub jumped up excitedly. He hugged Sui Yu and asked happily, "Mom, my dad is going to Chang'an with us, right?"
"Yes, your mother just said she wanted your father to accompany her. If he didn't go, she would be so disappointed. How could he sit still?" Sui Liang interrupted. He crossed his legs and swung them, saying with a look of smug disdain: "Your father is like a dried sheep dung ball. He is smelly and hard in front of us, but he can't stand your mother's persuasion. If your mother says a few nice words, the sheep dung ball will soften in water."
Sui Yu raised her hand to hit him, "Why are your words so disgusting? No wonder your brother-in-law thinks you're not a nose or an eye."
Sui Liang made a "tsk" sound and caught a glimpse of his brother-in-law striding in from the corner of his eye. He quickly swallowed his words and shut up.
Zhao Xiping stared at him and subconsciously asked, "What are you talking about me again?"
The little cub looked around and saw that his uncle was scared like a quail, so he laughed happily.
"Sister-in-law, I'm here." A Shui ran in, followed by Uncle Lao Niu.
After everyone arrived, Sui Yu told them about their family's trip to Chang'an. "I'll leave the business of the guesthouse to you. Everything will be run the same way we did back home. There will be more caravans this year, but they'll be looking for cotton and cotton seeds. The cotton will be sold to Jinxiu Weaving Workshop, and the cotton seeds will be kept at home. I won't sell them to anyone else."
"There are too many people here and the cotton seeds are stored at home. I'm worried that we can't take good care of them." said Uncle Lao Niu.
"I will arrange soldiers to patrol." said Zhao Xiping.
"That's fine." Uncle Niu had no objection.
"Sister-in-law, don't forget what you promised the merchants who stayed in the guesthouse to help us this year?" A Shui asked.
"I'll take care of this before I leave Dunhuang, so don't worry about it. I'll take you to meet Master Du tomorrow, and you'll be the one collecting the money for selling the cotton." Sui Yu arranged. She glanced at Zhao Xiping and said, "Do you think we can pay for a team of soldiers to stay here? After you and I leave, patrols will need to be stepped up."
Zhao Xiping took the responsibility and said, "I'll arrange it."
After explaining these things, Sui Yu felt much more at ease.
For the next two days, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping were very busy, taking care of all the chores at home and in the fields. Twenty-three merchants who got the news came to them.
"Shopkeeper Yu, we brothers have been working for you for half a year, digging holes, watering, catching cotton bugs, and doing everything. Now that the cotton harvest is good, you have to give us an explanation, right?" asked the merchant Chen.
"I haven't forgotten. I have already discussed with Master Du that the caravans of your seven families can get goods from his weaving workshop in priority over other caravans this year. As for how much cloth and quilts you can buy, you can discuss it with him." Sui Yu sold the cotton-fluffing technology to Master Du for three thousand coins, and from now on the weaving workshop would also sell quilts and cotton-padded jackets.
This also established a relationship with the weaving workshop. The merchants present were satisfied, but still not satisfied. Some of them asked about the news of cotton seeds.
"Shopkeeper Yu, are you selling cotton seeds? Or are you planning to plant cotton with your family next year? You can't even take care of the 47 acres this year. If there are more, you'll have to call in patrols from the city to prevent thieves."
Sui Yu knew what was going on and said, "The imperial court has issued an order prohibiting the export of cotton seeds. I need to go to Chang'an to learn the specific regulations. Don't rush to buy cotton seeds to avoid getting into trouble. I will probably be back before mid-April next year, which will coincide with the spring planting season. Any leftover cotton seedlings will be sold."
"Then we'll wait a little longer," said a merchant. "I also expected that the imperial court would not allow cotton seeds to leave Yumen Pass. Cotton is only grown on our territory and can only be sold at a good price outside the pass."
Sui Yu nodded and continued, "I don't think you need to target cotton seeds. They won't sell for a high price, otherwise farmers won't be able to afford them. And the imperial court definitely wants cotton to become a common crop like ramie, wheat, and beans."
"That's true. If we grow more cotton, we can buy more cotton cloth and quilts." Merchant Chen took over and stood up and said, "Without saying anything else, Shopkeeper Yu, please take us to meet Master Du."
Du Jibai was in charge of the business of Jinxiu Weaving Workshop. Sui Yu took the people to him, bought forty quilts from the weaving workshop and left.
The current price of a quilt was five hundred coins per quilt, and Sui Yu was offered four hundred coins. She bought forty quilts, and Du Jibai also gave her twenty hand warmers. The hand warmers were lined with cotton, filled with fluffy cotton, and covered with satin brocade, with rabbit or wolf fur on the sides.
Sui Yu thought that she was still holding a whole tiger skin in her hand, and she wondered whether she should use the tiger skin to make some clothes, shoes and hats.
"Master, the food for people and camels is ready. Lu Yaer also sent a message saying that everything is ready. When are we going to set off?" Zhang Shun had just returned from the city.
"Have you asked Minister Geng?" Sui Yu asked.
"I asked, and Geng Zhongcheng said any time is fine."
"We'll leave the day after tomorrow," Sui Yu said. "Tie these quilts up with linen and wrap them in two layers to keep them away from dust."
"Yeah." Zhang Shun agreed.
On August 24, Sui Yu's family of four, Geng Zhongcheng, and his attendant followed the caravan out of the guesthouse.
As they left the city gates, a twenty-man patrol team dispatched by Captain Qu headed north. Not only did Sui Yu receive the imperial decree delivered by the postman, but he also received it. Starting this year, Dunhuang and Yumen Pass would conduct strict inspections of caravans leaving the border, strictly prohibiting them from taking cotton seeds. The best way to control cotton seeds was to strictly prevent them from leaving the country. As long as the cotton seeds didn't leak out, the caravans wouldn't be able to leave.
The caravan led by Lu Yaer was already waiting outside the East City Gate. Song Xian and Song Congzu were there to see them off. Sui Yu met them and said, "Don't worry, Sister Song. Lu Yaer will be fine if she follows me."
"I'm not worried. I feel more at ease with her following you than with me. I just came out to see her off." Song Xian said, "When will you be back next year?"
"If nothing goes wrong, it will be in early April, and no later than May. I have to rush back to take care of the cotton seedlings." Sui Yu said.
"My great-grandfather is in the guest house in the morning, so I will go there every afternoon to sit and help you look after it." Song Xian promised that Sui Yu would help her take care of her daughter, and she would help her look after the guest house.
Sui Yu showed gratitude, "With you and your son here, I feel completely at ease. Thank you, Sister Song."
Song Xian waved her hand. She looked at the sky and said, "It's getting late. You should leave."
"Okay, Mom, I'll be leaving then." Lu Yaer responded first. She didn't seem reluctant at all, and her face was full of excitement about going to Chang'an.
Song Xian laughed, "Let's go."
With the sound of a gong, the two caravans joined together and headed eastward towards the bright morning sun.
The melodious sound of camel bells echoed in the wind. The little boy was so happy that he rode his camel and squeezed in between his parents.
This time, he finally doesn't have to catch the tail end of the camel bells. The crisp sound of the camel bells will accompany him into his dreams and then wake him up from his dreams.
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