Jiang Wei exclaimed with delight, "How come I didn't think of buying cotton? Second Uncle is so thoughtful. He really is a shrewd businessman."
She genuinely showered Chen Yunfan with praise.
Jiang Wei hurriedly wrote to Chen Yunfan, asking him to buy charcoal and grain in large quantities, and she was afraid that her second uncle might not actually buy them.
Although her second uncle doted on her, she had always stayed at home and didn't know how to do business. How could she have known about such a big affair?
If it were her, she probably wouldn't believe it either.
She dared not ask him to buy more cotton. With grain, the family could eat; with charcoal, the family could roast. They could get through this winter.
Chen Yunfan was quite pleased. He picked up the tea beside him, took a sip, exchanged a glance with his father, and looked at Jiang Wei to ask the question he most wanted to know, "How did you know this winter would be very cold?"
This is the reason why Chen Yan and Chen Yunfan called Jiang Wei over.
Jiang Wei noticed that her maternal grandfather and second uncle were staring at her intently.
She brought out the story she had prepared, “At the beginning of winter, I had a dream in which my maternal grandmother and mother came to see me hand in hand. They said a lot of things to me, but when I woke up, I couldn’t remember most of them. I just remembered that they said this winter was particularly hard to endure, with heavy snow falling for more than half a month and many people freezing to death. They also said that if no one took care of my younger brother, he would freeze to death in this winter. At first, I didn’t believe it and didn’t take it to heart. By chance, I heard Aunt Liu and the others say that my younger brother was still alive, so I believed these things, which is why I wrote a letter to my second uncle.”
Chen Yan and Chen Yunfan both nodded, clearly believing Jiang Wei's explanation, and both felt somewhat saddened.
"Are your maternal grandmother and your mother doing well down there? Do they need anything?" Chen Yan asked with a sorrowful expression and concern.
Jiang Wei rarely saw such an expression on her maternal grandfather's face; the last time was when her mother passed away.
Seeing her grandfather's somber expression, Jiang Wei felt somewhat sorry for him. She felt guilty for making up a lie that had hurt him, but she was afraid they wouldn't believe her if she didn't say anything else.
Chen Yan calmed himself down in a few breaths. He thought that his daughter must have appeared in his dream because she couldn't let go of them.
Chen Yunfan sensed that his father was somewhat disappointed and the atmosphere was a bit oppressive, so he adjusted his own emotions.
Smiling, she said to Jiang Wei, "Your maternal grandmother is so biased. She has always favored your mother since you were little, and now she only comes to see you in her dreams, and never comes to see us."
"Of course, who can blame me when I'm my grandmother's most beloved granddaughter? They definitely like me the most," Jiang Wei replied proudly.
Jiang Wei walked over to Chen Yan and massaged his shoulders. "Grandfather, don't you agree?"
Chen Yan patted Jiang Wei's hand, "My darling is the best girl in the world. Of course, your grandparents love her dearly."
Clearly, Jiang Wei's coquettishness was very effective on Chen Yan, and his low mood improved.
"My dear, what were you planning when you asked your second uncle to buy charcoal and grain?" Chen Yan asked Jiang Wei affectionately as she massaged his shoulders.
"Wei'er doesn't know what to do either. Over the years, Wei'er has been spoiled by her maternal grandfather and doesn't understand anything."
The reason Wei'er knew to ask her second uncle to buy grain and charcoal was because of a dream she received from her maternal grandmother and mother. Wei'er simply wanted everyone to have fire to warm themselves and food to eat, so they wouldn't freeze or starve to death, because her grandmother and the others said that too many people had died this winter.
Jiang Wei pondered for a while and felt this was an opportunity. She tentatively asked Chen Yan, "Grandfather, if Wei'er wants to do business, would you be willing to teach me?"
“What business can a girl like you do? Your maternal grandfather can support you.” Chen Yan laughed.
"What if Wei'er just wants to do business? Wei'er seems to like doing business." Jiang Wei was unwilling to give up.
Chen Yunfan stared wide-eyed, seemingly unable to believe that Jiang Wei would say such a thing.
"Do you really want to learn how to do business?" Chen Yan asked her.
Jiang Wei nodded, "Mmm..." She smiled sweetly, her eyes full of anticipation, "Is it okay?"
Chen Yan didn't answer but asked her instead, "Why does my dear girl insist on learning how to do business? Is it because you need money?"
Jiang Wei hesitated for a moment, but decided to tell them the truth. She shook her head and said, "I don't lack anything. I just don't want to get married. I don't want to spend the rest of my life confined to a house. I yearn for life outside and want to be a free person."
Chen Yan felt a pang of sadness. He understood perfectly well that she had been hurt by Song Yanxuan and was disillusioned with their marriage.
“My dear, it’s hard work to be a merchant. Even your uncles and the others have a hard time going out to do business, let alone a woman like you.” Chen Yan looked at her with heartache.
Jiang Wei knew that it would be difficult for them to accept her, a woman living alone in the open, in the harsh conditions.
"I still want to give it a try," Jiang Wei said firmly.
Her purpose today was simply to tell her maternal grandfather and the others what she was thinking, so that they could be prepared and wouldn't object too much when she actually did it.
Chen Yunfan saw that Jiang Wei's eyes were firm, and she didn't seem to be just sitting there for fun on a whim.
"Does Wei'er really want to do business?" Chen Yunfan asked her.
Chen Yan also looked at him, and he gave Chen Yan a reassuring look.
Jiang Wei's gaze was firm, and a faint smile appeared on her face. "Well... Wei'er wants to be self-reliant, wants to have a world of her own, wants to go out and see the mountains, see the water and feel the wind, instead of staying with a man, trapped in a house and wasting her life. Grandfather, Wei'er doesn't want that."
That's how she lived in her past life, but she lost her life in just five years.
Seeing her so determined, Chen Yan was torn between trying to persuade her but also fearing she would suffer.
"Here's what we'll do! You'll be in charge of the business of the charcoal, grain, and cotton I brought back today. If you do well, we'll consider letting you do business. If you don't, you can forget about doing business in the future."
"Really?" Jiang Wei didn't expect that her second uncle would let her do business so soon. This opportunity really came out of nowhere.
"Don't be too happy yet. We'll only give you manpower and goods; we won't take care of anything else." Chen Yunfan wanted to discourage Jiang Wei.
Jiang Wei didn't think so; on the contrary, she felt this was a very good opportunity.
"You need to think this through carefully; business isn't that easy," Chen Yunfan advised again.
"Yes, my dear, even ten of your maternal grandfathers could support you, why do you have to suffer?" Chen Yan advised her with heartache.
"Grandpa, just let Wei'er try. If Wei'er doesn't do well, Wei'er won't do it anymore," Jiang Wei comforted her grandfather.
Chen Yan knew that if Jiang Wei made up her mind, she would definitely give it a try, otherwise she wouldn't give up easily.
Chen Yan sighed, "Then let's do as your second uncle says. If you can't continue, you can stop anytime. Your maternal grandfather can support you. You don't need to earn a living as a girl."
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