"Okay, we'll listen to the clan leader and Sixth Uncle." Tiedan's father was the first to respond. "In the past, my family didn't have cotton clothes to go out in the winter, and we were freezing like dogs. Now we're happy to have enough food and clothes, and we don't want anything else. At worst, we can continue to plant corn tomorrow spring, and we'll be fine!"
Everyone was reminded, and they felt more at ease when they remembered that they still had corn to support them.
"The clan leader is right, hurry up and get back home!"
"That's right, Uncle Six's family is very capable. I'll just have to look for good business in the future."
After a few more small talk, Master Tai started to chase them away. "Alright, it's getting late, hurry home. Keep the gates locked at night to prevent wild animals from coming down the mountain. Starting tomorrow, those who are on patrol should do so, and don't be lazy."
Everyone agreed and took their wives and children home to sleep on their warm beds.
The old and young of the Tai family were left behind to set the table for dinner. Yang Lihua and Liu Dongniang took the children to the kitchen to eat. Only the old man, Mr. Tai San, Manager Min, and the three brothers Tai Jizu, Tai Jizong, and Tai Jiye were left in the main room.
The sun had already set outside, and it was dark everywhere. It was obvious that Manager Min could not go back.
So, everyone had no more worries and opened a jar of sorghum wine and started drinking happily.
Manager Min recounted the middle-aged man's experience in detail again, and everyone didn't know how to respond.
If you curse this middle-aged man for stealing your business, he would be dead.
Even if you feel sympathy and pity for him, this person still has bad intentions...
In the end, the old man waved his hand and said, "Forget it, let's just pretend we don't know about this and never mention it again. I hope they'll stop now and never mess with our family again."
Master Tai San nodded and sighed, "Life is not easy for common people. If any noble master has any ideas, it will be a disaster for us."
Tai Jiye was naturally saddened by the loss of his family's unique business. He had been busy for several months and had put in a lot of effort.
But this cannot be blamed on anyone. It can only be said that a big tree attracts the wind and it is difficult to make money alone!
But Tai Jizu didn't think so. He drank two bowls of wine, and his entire face and neck turned red. Now his eyes were also red due to the alcohol.
He held his brother's hand, his voice choked with sobs.
"San'er, it's my fault. I'm incompetent and didn't take good care of your workshop."
The last time Tai Jiye saw his elder brother like this was when his mother passed away. He was stunned for a moment and his nose felt sore.
"Brother, what are you talking about! This workshop is in our family, not mine alone. Besides, if you really want to know who owns it, it's my sister-in-law! It was my sister-in-law who figured out the knitting method for clothes and trousers. I was just responsible for going to the grassland to buy cashmere. Brother, don't say that in the future. We are a family, and no one owes anyone anything!"
Tai Jizong turned his head, secretly wiped away a tear, and turned back to persuade his elder and younger brothers.
"That's right, Third Brother is right. There are many profitable businesses in the world. If we don't do the cashmere clothing business, we can find other things!"
Manager Min also laughed and said, "Let's not talk about anything else. We can make a fortune from the cashmere we brought back this time. Everyone in the city is looking for cashmere now. The price of cashmere has increased four or five times!"
Everyone was surprised and delighted.
Old Master Tai instructed, "Third son, take a few days off to rest and then go for a walk in the city. If you can really make money reselling cashmere, then we can keep enough for our own use and sell the rest. This way, we can save ourselves the trouble!"
As they talked like this, the table became lively again.
Tai Jiye didn't want his brother to worry anymore, so he told him what he saw and heard on the road.
"On our way back, we were still thirty miles from our county town when we ran into a noble convoy. They were so arrogant! They actually stopped all our vehicles and pedestrians to let them pass. We were delayed for a whole day. Otherwise, we would have been home that morning."
Old Master Tai replied, "It doesn't matter whether it's a day earlier or a day later. There's nothing serious going on at home. Nowadays, many nobles have gone to the imperial palace, and every household goes out less and doesn't want to cause trouble."
"That's right. I've been trying to prevent villagers from wandering around. Even the carriages going into the city have stopped in the past few days!" Master Tai San took a sip of liquor, feeling very annoyed and helpless.
"These nobles are really something. Why would they come to this bitter cold place like ours when they could just stay in Kyoto?"
Manager Min responded, "I heard a few things. It seems that he is going to meet with the Khan of the grassland. It is said that the appointment was made several years ago."
He pointed to the ceiling, and everyone understood and nodded.
"Forget it, forget it. We don't understand your business, nor can we get involved. Just mind your own business." Master Tai San picked up the wine bowl and said, "Come, have a sip to celebrate Jiye's safe return with the convoy."
The crisp sound of everyone's wine bowls colliding with each other is the best music of reunion!
At this moment, the carriage carrying Mr. Zhou's body also hurried back to the palace.
The two guards looked at the crying attendant and had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to the third prince to report.
But they thought about how to explain themselves many times, but the result was...
The third prince is not here!
The young eunuch who served the third prince took their silver and was willing to say a few more words.
"His Highness has accepted the mission assigned by the Emperor and has already led his men to the border garrison. If you have any urgent matters to report, you can rush to the border. If it's not urgent, then wait a while. His Highness will be back in three to five days!"
The two guards looked at each other, both of them feeling relieved, and naturally decided to classify this matter as non-urgent.
You have to know that the Third Prince is carrying out missions under the orders of the Emperor, so it must be important.
Don't bother him with such a small matter!
The two men left the palace and went straight to Mr. Zhou's entourage to persuade him together.
"Brother Zhou, the Third Prince has gone out on errands and we don't know when he'll be back. Even though it's cold now, it's not good to leave Mr. Zhou's body lying out in the open. He must be buried as soon as possible."
"Yes, the Third Prince's temper isn't the best either. If he finds out after returning that Mr. Zhou lost his job and didn't get the lucrative business, won't he be furious? What if he doesn't allow Mr. Zhou to rest in peace... then Mr. Zhou will be even more miserable!"
The follower was less than twenty years old and had no idea what to do. He cried even harder when he was frightened by them.
"Then what should we do? Woohoo, it's pitiful enough that our master accidentally drowned..."
One of the guards took the opportunity to reveal their true purpose, "Why don't you quickly take Mr. Zhou's coffin back to his hometown and bury it? Even if the Third Prince pursues the matter, he can't dig Mr. Zhou out of his grave! If we say a few nice words, it will be a small matter, and it will be over!"
The attendant thought that his suggestion made sense, so he quickly took the coachman with him and rushed back to Kyoto with the coffin overnight.
In a remote courtyard in the palace, lights were also burning at this moment.
Under the light, the Sixth Prince drank tea while listening to his subordinates' reports, his expression also full of surprise and doubt.
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