Chapter 92 This place has become a safe haven for me.
It's cool in the mountains, and there are fresh fruits to eat every day. Wild game from the mountains has almost become a regular dish on the table.
Fu'er finally had a good time playing.
Yao Shisan was so happy he didn't want to leave. Shuang'er also felt that although living in the mountains wasn't as convenient as living in the city, it was more comfortable.
If they don't leave, they will only become a burden to these mountain people.
The precious things they bring out every day, as if presenting a treasure, are all things they've been saving to sell for money.
Shuang'er was taken aback when she said she wanted to go down the mountain.
"So fast...?"
Yao Shisan noticed the fleeting sadness in her eyes, then turned around and took out two pairs of shoes from the trunk.
"You've been carrying it for so long, are you planning to take it down the mountain again?"
Without waiting for her to react, she shoved the shoe into her hand and pushed her out.
"Speak your mind directly, don't hold back."
Shuang'er was pushed out of the foot of the stairs. She stood on the stairs, unsure whether to go up or down.
Just then, Wei Xun walked up the mountain path barefoot.
He was also carrying a pair of shoes in his hand, and he kept glancing at them.
Shuang'er was so frightened that she immediately squatted down.
Unaware, Wei Xun picked up his shoes and walked toward the old woman who was drying vegetables.
"Grandma, can these shoes be repaired?"
The old woman looked at his shoes and said, "The uppers are cracked; even if you mend them, they won't hold up."
"Let Ah Xiang make you a pair; I guarantee you won't wear them out!"
Ah Xiang is the old woman's granddaughter and the eldest daughter of the lame farmer.
Ah Xiang was beautiful, with a long, dark braid that captivated countless young men as she danced around the campfire.
"Grandma, whose shoe is broken?"
Just as Wei Xun was about to refuse, Ah Xiang came out of the building.
She saw the shoes in Wei Xun's hand. "Brother Xun, are your shoes broken? Let me see."
Without saying a word, she took the shoes from his hand.
"It can be repaired, but it's not sturdy enough. I'll mend it for you so you can wear it for now, and then I'll make you a better pair!"
Shuang'er squatted on the stairs and could hear everything clearly from below.
She glanced at the shoes in her hand.
I bought these from the mute old woman; she doesn't know how to make shoes.
Purchased items are never as sturdy as those made by hand.
He won't need it anymore.
Shuang'er placed the shoes behind the door, turned around, and went inside.
Wei Xun had excellent hearing; the sound of the door opening at the foot of the building made him subconsciously look up.
Then I saw Shuang'er turn around and go inside.
There were two more pairs of shoes placed at the door, exactly the same as the ones he was holding.
He felt a moment of emptiness in his heart.
He didn't hear what Ah Xiang said clearly.
“Brother Xun, how much longer are you going to stay in the mountains? It will get cold soon, let me make you another set of clothes.”
Wei Xun snapped out of his daze and took back his shoes.
"Thank you, Miss Xiang, but no need. Someone brought me shoes."
"No need for clothes, we'll be going down the mountain in a few days."
After he finished speaking, he turned around and went to his little cabin.
"Hey! You—"
Ah Xiang could only watch helplessly as he walked away without looking back.
The old woman saw it clearly and comforted her with a smile, "Ah Xiang, he's not from a mountain family, you can't keep him."
Ah Xiang pouted, "Then...then I can go down the mountain too."
The old woman simply shook her head.
When Yao Shisan and the others were about to go down the mountain, the carriage was filled with all kinds of mountain goods.
There was almost no room for anyone to sit down.
Shuang'er couldn't help but look around, but she didn't see Wei Xun.
The two pairs of shoes behind the door of the stilt house are still there.
She pursed her lips. Impossible, impossible no matter where.
Yao Shisan quietly slipped the money bag into the arms of a toddler who had just learned to walk.
It wasn't until the car reached the mountain road that she leaned out of the window and told everyone that she had bought the mountain produce and that the money was for the children to share.
Wen Xi shook her head. "As for Su Kun's matter, even if we take a few more cartloads of mountain goods, it wouldn't be enough. You're even leaving them some money."
Yao Shisan pursed his lips. "I have my own reasons for dealing with Su Kun's matter. I will need a lot of timber in the future, so it's better to resolve it once and for all than to deal with it in a roundabout way."
"But they treated us to their own hospitality without any selfish motives, purely out of gratitude."
Although Wenxi disagreed, Yao Niangzi was a person with her own insights.
Otherwise, how could she have been so audacious as to fake her death?
Not content with escaping himself, he also took his maids and children with him.
On the day the granary was officially completed, Wei Xun also descended the mountain.
He stayed on the mountain for twenty days in a row, and his whole body got quite tanned.
Even if Zhou Congxian stood right in front of him, he probably wouldn't recognize him.
As Xiao Shu passed by in his carriage, he lifted the curtain with his finger and saw that everyone was there.
He chuckled softly, "This place has become a safe haven for me."
Steward Qing, who was sitting by the door, peeked out through the crack in the door.
That's right.
Yao Niangzi, Fu'er, Shuang'er, Wei Xun.
Which one doesn't belong to the British Duchy?
Even Wenxi is almost there.
With so many people under Your Highness's care, will Prince Zhou turn against you in the future?
The rice harvest season has officially begun in Yuzhou City.
It wasn't until the new rice harvest came that Yao Shisan realized how important that bowl of rice was.
"How's the new rice delivery going?"
Yao Shisan ate the sweet and sticky rice cake while flipping through the account book in his hand.
As her belly grew to over five months, her appetite decreased, and she got hungry much faster, sometimes wanting to eat five meals a day.
Fortunately, there are plenty of street food stalls, so you can buy hot food anytime, anywhere.
"Much less than expected," Manager Wu shook his head.
“When we went to collect the grain, the people all said that this year’s harvest was poor and they all refunded their deposits.”
"Refunded?"
Yao Shisan was so surprised that he forgot to swallow the rice cake in his mouth.
"Last time you went to see it, didn't you say the rice ears were as thick as cotton? How come there was a poor harvest?"
Manager Wu was also encountering such a situation for the first time. "Perhaps it's because we are a new business and haven't facilitated any cooperation yet."
Having done business in the capital for many years, Wenxi immediately understood the intricacies of the business.
"Merchants are driven by profit and are accustomed to bullying the weak. Madam Yao's business is not operating under His Highness's name; it is just an ordinary small business. Therefore, it should be a large business that forcibly buys grain. Even if our price is higher, the people will not dare to sell."
Yao Shisan turned to look at her, "I pursue profit, but I do not bully the weak."
Wen Xi said, "...I also pursue profit, but I do not bully the weak."
Furthermore, Dingxian is already far from Yuzhou City; our distant assistance cannot quench our immediate thirst.
Shuang'er: "Is there really no other way?"
Wenxi said, "Of course there is a way. To deal with someone like that, you just need to hit his sore spot."
"It's just that he's become a local tyrant, and no one can do anything about him."
Shuang'er immediately understood, "Just like Su Kun, who monopolized timber."
"If we trick His Highness into going to Ding County again and intimidate him, we can then collect grain normally!"
Wen Xi, “…”
Yao Shisan, “…”
Manager Wu, "..."
Wen Xi stopped looking at her. "The county magistrate of Ding County is Qin Daolin. Lord Qin must have dealt with such a person before. Even someone as tough as Lord Qin couldn't take him down. There must be someone behind him."
Manager Wu said, "I asked around and heard that this grain merchant supplies grain to the imperial army."
Yao Shisan understood, "The military supplies are purchased from him, and the profits are shared with the court. He is in charge of..."
Wenxi smiled and said, "It was Madam Yao who pointed it out clearly."
"The world is at peace now, but the grain reserves in the court are for the preparation of war."
"But what if someone embezzles funds, submits less grain, or submits no grain at all..."
Yao Shisan, "abused his position in 'grain purchasing' to embezzle funds!"
Shuang'er listened for a while and still felt that her suggestion was fine.
"Isn't that perfect? With His Highness's status, he can intimidate people like that?"
Yao Shisan patted Shuang'er on the back of the head, "You should take good care of Fu'er."
Xiao Shu has been exiled to such a far place, and in less than three months, he already wants to meddle in court affairs?!
Shuang'er, "??"
Wen Xi smiled and said, "Actually, this matter is also a thorn in Lord Qin's side."
“Now that he has returned to the court and has not participated in factional struggles, he is now the best weapon, and this matter could be the fuse.”
Yao Shisan's eyes lit up. "It's harvest season now. Let's make a bigger fuss to make this process more logical!"
Manager Wu looked at them and asked, "Then who will do this?"
Wenxi and Yao Shisan both looked at Shuang'er.
The grain harvest isn't the key issue; causing trouble is.
Shuang'er stepped back, "I can't understand what you're saying! I'll only make things worse."
Yao Shisan placed a bunch of keys in her hand, saying, "Just make things difficult. You are the second young lady of Yao's Trading Company, so naturally the second young lady should contribute."
Shuang'er, "What if...what if I get beaten to death by the bully..."
Wen Xi's eyes turned cold. "For failing to protect them properly, bring me your head!"
Shuang'er muttered, "What's the use of taking my head if I'm already dead..."
"I'll go."
She had barely finished speaking when Wei Xun's voice came from the doorway.
I wonder how much he overheard at the door.
All eyes were on him, where his right hand was clenching something tightly.
He lowered his eyes, his feet adorned with new shoes.
"Ah Xun is the Second Miss's bodyguard."
A smile flashed in Wenxi's eyes. "I think it's great."
"We will also arrange for two guards to disguise themselves as servants; they are all top-notch experts from the Prince's mansion."
Shuang'er was stunned for a moment, trying to ignore Wei Xun's gaze, and then looked at Wen Xi.
"A top-tier expert is protecting me?"
Wenxi said, "I guess I benefited from... well, from Miss Fu."
Fu'er was recognized as Xiao Shu's adopted daughter, and was the young lady of the Cheng Prince's mansion who could do whatever she wanted.
Shuang'er smiled and kissed Fu'er on the head.
"Good Fu'er, I've certainly not spoiled you for nothing."
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