Chapter 493: Erya Discovers Business Opportunities
Han Dang came again and apologized again and again.
Gu Chengyuan said calmly, "Keep your family under control from now on. Otherwise, if you bring trouble to the commander, what good will you get?"
Han Dang nodded repeatedly, then waved his hand. Two of his personal soldiers came forward and dragged Yao Honger out.
Han Dang also said that he would hold a banquet to apologize to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan said, "As a guilty minister, I cannot accept this responsibility."
Gu Chengyuan also declined on his behalf and ordered him to leave. "Master Han, it would be better for you to go back and clean up your mess first."
Only then did Han Dang leave.
Gu Chengyuan invited Xiao Yan to his home.
"No need. We're meeting today, so we can just talk in the temple. We're in a hurry to get on with our journey, and you're also tied up in official duties. Don't miss out on important matters."
Gu Chengyuan had followed Xiao Yan for many years and knew his temper, so he could only find a room in the temple to talk to Xiao Yan alone.
Lu Qinniang, Erya and Sanya were also taken to other rooms to rest.
"General!" Gu Chengyuan closed the door and almost immediately became so excited that he wanted to kneel down with tears in his eyes.
"Chengyuan, be careful with your words." Xiao Yan held him, his eyes filled with the joy of reunion. "I think you already know my situation. You still call me 'General' in front of so many people today. I'm afraid you will be criticized in the future."
Gu Chengyuan said, "I was originally a soldier led by the general. If anyone disagrees, just stand up. Without the general, there would be no Gu Chengyuan today."
"You earned it by risking your life."
The two hadn't seen each other for a long time, so naturally they had a lot to talk about.
However, Xiao Yan repeatedly reminded Gu Chengyuan: "You must remember to write a memorial to impeach Han Dang when you return."
In this way, the fact that the two of them met was made clear to the emperor.
Otherwise, someone might make a fuss about this matter in the future, and the bad guys would file a complaint first, accusing Gu Chengyuan of treating the guilty ministers too well.
Gu Chengyuan could only nod.
He also asked Xiao Yan about his future plans.
"I will take my wife and daughter to Qiongzhou to settle down first and wait and see if there will be an opportunity for amnesty in the future."
Gu Chengyuan said, "I'm afraid that even if there is such an opportunity, you will be excluded."
"Then we'll take it one step at a time."
"General, you can't let others bully you. If you—"
"Chengyuan, be careful with your words. There are ears on the other side of the wall."
The two of them were talking here, and Erya was discussing today's events with Lu Qiniang over there.
"Yao Hong'er is certainly hateful, but Han Dang cannot be unaware of this. She is pretending to be righteous and kill her own relatives today. It's really disgusting." Erya said.
San Ya also said, "If he hits a woman, he can go back and do it himself. What's the point of doing it in front of us? Isn't he the one who should apologize the most?"
Lu Qiniang felt relieved to hear that her two daughters had the same idea as her own.
This way you won’t be easily cheated by men in the future.
"Mom, when did my dad meet Mr. Gu?" Erya asked, a little curious and a little confused. "Do my dad and him have a good relationship?"
"That would be great," San Ya said as she played with her little golden bow. "Otherwise, how could I offend others for my father? Han Dang might still be holding a grudge against Master Gu for making him lose face, and he'll definitely try to trip him up in the future."
"I don't know either," Lu Qiniang said, "Wait until your father comes back and ask him."
Xiao Yan's mouth is tighter than a clam shell.
"Okay, we've been busy all day, you two go to sleep. I'll finish feeding Shi Niu and give her milk to A Tai. I guess your father should be back by now."
She helped feed Shang Pu for a few days.
But Shang Linfeng was a great writer after all. During his travels, many people came to see him almost everywhere he went.
A new wet nurse was also easily found.
Erya was very envious of Shang Linfeng and thought he was very successful.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan was so proud today.
San Ya yawned and said, "Then you should go to bed early, mother. I'm going to sleep. Second sister, you won't leave?"
"You go first, I still need to talk to my mother."
"Why do you have to avoid me about this? There won't be anything delicious." San Ya muttered as she walked out.
"Eat, eat, eat, all you know is eating." Erya said with disdain, "Hurry up and leave."
After San Ya left, Lu Qiniang spoke up, "Why are you being so secretive? You can't even say it in front of your sister."
"Mom, I'm waiting for my dad to come back."
"What are you waiting for your father to do?"
"I want to ask my father about his relationship with Gu Chengyuan."
"Tell me the truth, what do you want to do?"
"You'll find out in a moment."
She didn't dare to say it now, for fear that Lu Qiniang would jump up and object.
Xiao Yan didn't come back until the middle of the night.
He was surprised to see Arya when he entered the room, and blurted out subconsciously, "What happened?"
"Ask her," Lu Qi's mother had already fallen asleep leaning against the headboard. Upon hearing this, she looked at Erya, "If she doesn't tell me, she'll be waiting for you to come back!"
Erya said with a smile, "Dad, are you familiar with Master Gu?"
Looking at her attentive expression, Xiao Yan suddenly had a bad feeling.
I always feel that Erya is planning something.
"I know him very well. He, like your brother-in-law, was under my command before." Xiao Yan said, "Then when I had the opportunity to come to Jiangxi, I recommended him to come here."
It was also because Gu Chengyuan was good at fighting and able to seize opportunities, and he was really lucky. He met a commander-in-chief who was also his fellow Shandong native, and he rose rapidly in a few years.
"Then there's no doubt about this relationship. Dad, can I stay for a while?" Erya said excitedly.
Xiao Yan did not refuse immediately, but sat down and patiently asked her the reason.
Gu Chengyuan is several years older than him and is already thirty years old this year. His eldest son is the same age as Erya.
When Xiao Yan thought about Erya staying, his first reaction was to make sure she didn't get taken away by Gu Chengyuan's son.
There's no way around it. People who raise daughters think a lot.
Erya's eyes sparkled, and she was filled with the excitement of discovering a treasure. "Dad, Mom, do you remember when we first entered Jiangxi and walked along the Gan River? I saw several shipbuilding docks along the river!"
"Yeah, I saw it. What's wrong?" Lu Qiniang was confused.
"There's a lot of wood piled up next to those docks! There's a particular kind of wood that has a very unique smell," Arya gestured. "It smells refreshing and cool, and it's kind of invigorating if you smell it for a long time. It smells like the mothballs sold in the shops in Beijing!"
Xiao Yan immediately understood: "Camphor wood? Camphor wood is often used in shipbuilding for its water resistance and anti-insect properties."
"Yes, yes, yes! It's camphor wood!" Erya excitedly said, "Dad, you really understand! I saw a lot of camphor wood scraps piled up next to the dock. Roots, thick branches, and sawed-off pieces were piled up like a small mountain. Some were just thrown away, and I heard some were burned as firewood. It's such a waste of resources."
Lu Qiniang also vaguely understood: "Camphor wood...camphor? You mean those waste materials can be made into camphor?"
"That's right, mother!" Erya nodded vigorously. "Camphor is so expensive in the capital! Especially the best camphor powder and camphor blocks. Rich families use them to fumigate clothes to repel insects, and pharmacies use them as medicine to repel mosquitoes in the summer. Which one of them is not precious? But in Jiangxi, the leftover camphor wood from shipbuilding is actually used as firewood. Just imagine the price difference!"
She became increasingly excited as she spoke, her speech quickening. "I've heard that there are people in Jiangxi making camphor, but their scale is small, their methods are crude, and the product is full of impurities, so it can't be sold at a high price. But when Yun Ting and I were researching hair dye, I looked up a lot of books and found a method for purifying it that I'd like to try. My father has such a good relationship with Lord Gu, and Lord Gu is the second-in-command of the Jiangxi Dusi, so his words carry weight. I was thinking, could Lord Gu help me connect with those shipyards and ask them to sell me the camphor waste at a lower price, or maybe I could just pay for it myself?"
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