Chapter 174 Meng Chun Leaves
“It’s all fate. Seven years ago, I wouldn’t have dared to imagine this day would come,” Meng Qing said. “Uncle Li, just wait patiently, and perhaps one day your wish will come true.”
"Thank you for your kind words." Li, the cloth merchant, rubbed his face. "Let's go look at the fabrics."
He Bian had managed to contact this silk shop through various connections, and both the owner and the goods had a good reputation. Li, the cloth merchant, followed the Meng family to the warehouse, and after the manager brought out twenty bolts of brocade, he unfolded them one by one to examine them.
"This silk shop has a good reputation; they won't mix inferior goods with good ones. You should focus on the patterns and weaving techniques," the cloth merchant Li advised. "This is Liangzhou brocade, with a strong Western Region influence. The patterns are mostly linked animal motifs and hunting scenes, and the colors are very complex. It's not very popular in Suzhou and Yangzhou, so you should get some colors suitable for women's clothing. As for damask brocade, it's known for its grand patterns and thick texture, but by the time your goods are transported back to Wuxian, it will already be hot there, making it difficult to sell and likely causing unsold stock. But that doesn't mean you can't buy it. Look at the patterns on damask brocade; they're mostly tortoise shell and crimson patterns, auspicious designs that are popular with older people. So you should get some with stable colors, firstly to make brocade quilts, and secondly to sell to older, more distinguished people."
Meng Chun nodded repeatedly, "I've learned a lot."
"As for Shu brocade, take as much as the silk shop can give you. Shu brocade sells well in Suzhou, Yangzhou and other places, and it is no less popular than the local Wu silk," Li the cloth merchant added.
"I'll do as you say," Meng Chun said.
"Uncle Li, will you also load brocade onto your return ship?" Meng Qing asked.
"We will load some, but in small quantities. It's mainly for transporting goods to merchants along the way, making a profit from reselling them." Li, the cloth merchant, didn't hide anything. "Our ships transport Wu silk and silk from our own cloth shop to the north to sell, and then we buy hemp from the north to bring back. The further north we go, the better the quality of the hemp and silk."
“Oh, I see. Then I’m relieved. I was worried that you might be too proud to share everything with Meng Chun, and that if he took two boatloads of goods back with him, it would hinder your business. That would be our fault,” Meng Qing said.
Li Bushang smiled and said, "If that's the case, it has nothing to do with you. This is something I took on myself."
"If I ever have the opportunity to promote Wu Ling in my hometown, I will definitely contact you and Uncle Wang." Meng Qing had received a favor from them, and perhaps she would reciprocate.
Li, the cloth merchant, had a bright look in his eyes. “Your Highness, where do you live? I’ll send you some satin tomorrow…”
"No, that's not what I meant." Meng Qing chuckled. "How about this, I'll buy it."
“If you give me money, I won’t sell it. I don’t need the money for a few bolts of satin.” Li, the cloth merchant, shook his head. “Take it. I’ll borrow your name for a while. I’ll tell you that the Lady of Wu County uses the satin from our cloth shop. Once that reputation gets out, it’ll be worth more than a few bolts of satin.”
"As you wish," Meng Qing agreed. "I live in the post station southeast of the Luoyang County government office. I will instruct the postman in advance that when you arrive, you should give him your name and he will lead you in."
Li Bushang exclaimed, "Oh, staying at the post station! How respectable!"
Meng Chun and the steward had reached an agreement. He walked over and said, "Sister, brother-in-law, and Wang Zhou, which brocades have you taken a fancy to? Pick out more and load them onto the cart. You can choose here first. I'll go and call someone to bring the money over. While the caravan is still here, let's hire them to move the goods so I don't have to hire someone else."
Meng Qing nodded.
"It's almost noon, shall we go get some food first?" Li Bushang said.
Meng Chun hesitated for a few seconds and said, "No, I'll treat Uncle Li and Uncle Wang to dinner another day. There are still thirty or forty money transport carts parked in the warehouse at the ferry crossing. I won't feel at ease if I don't keep an eye on them myself."
"Then go ahead." Li Bushang didn't insist, since he had already invited the most important guest.
Meng Qing still had more than forty bolts of silk bestowed by the female saint, enough for her to use for two or three years. However, she didn't think it was too much. Right now, she really liked Liangzhou brocade, so she picked out ten bolts, and then picked out two bolts of Ling brocade and ten bolts of Shu brocade.
Du Li and Meng's father moved the brocade into the cart and had the coachman drive back to the post station to put the things away. Meng Qing and the others walked with Li the cloth merchant to the restaurant for a meal.
At the dinner table, Meng Qing revealed how she obtained the title. Upon hearing this, Li and Wang, the cloth merchants, could not hide their disappointment. They could not find their own opportunity in Meng Qing's path to success.
After the banquet, Meng Qing and his party wanted to return to the inn to rest, but Li Bushang and Wang Bushang did not stop them. The two of them continued their banquet and got completely drunk.
*
The following day, Meng Qing took his family by boat to the north of the Luo River. When they approached the palace complex, the family disembarked and walked.
This was the first time in Wang Zhou's memory that he had been so close to the palace, close enough to see the palace's upturned eaves and the glazed tiles shimmering in the sunlight. He was so mesmerized that he lost his senses.
Meng Qing wandered around this place for a day, and when she returned to the post station, the postman told her that a cloth merchant surnamed Li had delivered ten bolts of brocade to her.
Meng Qing accepted the invitation, and the next day he sent another invitation, asking Li and Wang, the cloth merchants, to return the favor with a meal when they were available.
Three days later, He Bian brought his father to the post station, and the land purchase was progressing well.
"After asking around several times, I have indeed found out that there is a piece of land for sale. It is located west of Shangyang Palace, three miles from Luoshui, and backed by Gushui. The scenery here is exceptionally beautiful," said Father He.
"Isn't it a bit far from Shangyang Palace?" Meng Qing asked.
“There are some,” said Father He. “There are also some closer, but they are already built houses. If you are interested, you can buy two houses and combine them.”
"How big is the open space? How much is it worth? And how much are the two houses worth?" Meng Qing asked.
"The vacant lot covers four acres and would probably cost nearly two thousand strings of cash to buy. The two houses are more expensive, though they don't occupy much land, probably less than three acres, and together they would be worth more than seven thousand strings of cash. But the location is indeed excellent, right next to the Imperial Horse Garden of Shangyang Palace," said Father He.
Meng Qing looked at Wang Zhou and asked, "Wang Zhou, do you prefer to buy land and build it yourself, or buy two houses, combine them, and then renovate them yourself?"
Wang Zhou was taken aback. "Do I have to decide?"
“Yes, don’t you like to weave houses and furniture from straw and paper? I’m planning to ask you to join me in building a mansion that our whole family will be happy with,” Meng Qing said. “Would you like to give it a try? If you do, we’ll buy the land.”
Wang Zhou felt a surge of excitement. Wasn't this just turning the layout on the blueprints into a real object? How come he hadn't thought of that?
"Buy the land," Wang Zhou decided.
“Let’s buy land,” Meng Qing said to He’s father. “We’re not in a hurry to move in; let’s buy land and build our own house.”
Mr. He shook his head and chuckled, "You really spoil your child."
Meng Qing waved her hand, "I had the same idea myself."
Without saying much, Mr. He said, "I'll start contacting the landowner right away."
"Thank you for your help," Meng Qing said.
*
Two days later, He's father came to the door again and told the other party that the price was 1,880 strings of cash. Meng Qing immediately went with He's father to see the place, and after returning, they set a date for payment and transfer of ownership.
Upon learning the news, Meng Chun brought two cartloads of copper coins and followed Meng Qing to the county government office to pay the money and transfer the ownership.
After obtaining the land deed, Meng Qing and Du Li took the Wangzhou and Wangchuan brothers to see the land and drew the terrain and water flow on paper to facilitate future planning and layout.
On the fourth day of the fifth month, Li and Wang were about to return home, and Meng Chun was also leaving with his valuables and servants. Meng Qing and his family saw him off at the ferry.
"I don't know where your uncle has gone. This is a peace charm that I obtained from other eminent monks. You should carry it with you." Meng's mother handed Meng Chun a brocade pouch containing the peace charm.
Meng Chun subconsciously looked at Meng Qing. She told him not to tell his parents about their speculations about Master Konghui's whereabouts, so he didn't say anything. In his parents' minds, Master Konghui had probably already become a wandering monk.
"If you see your uncle at Ruiguang Temple, remember to write to me," Meng's father instructed.
"Understood," Meng Chun replied, bowing her head.
"If you meet a kindred spirit in Wu County, don't delay any longer, settle down as soon as possible." Mencius' mother repeated her old advice, "If you can get what you want, getting married and having children won't affect anything, and it will benefit your wife and children."
Meng Chun gave a perfunctory reply: "I know."
The ferry crossing has been reached; the farewells must come to an end.
"Be careful," Meng Qing instructed. "If you encounter anything on the road, prioritize your life over your belongings; do not risk your life."
"Sister, please stop talking, it's scaring me." Meng Chun's expression changed. "I'm on the ship now, I'll let you know I'm safe when I get to Yangzhou."
"Uncle, I wish you a safe journey, and I hope our family can be reunited soon," Wang Zhou said.
Du Li patted Meng Chun on the shoulder and said, "I wish you will become the next Meng Qing."
Meng Chun smiled and said, "Brother-in-law, I love hearing that."
"Shall I say a few more words?" Du Li said earnestly, "You are remarkable. You are a good son and a good brother, but being a good son and a good brother has not confined you. You are still yourself. You will definitely live a very fulfilling life because you have not let yourself down or let anyone else down. No matter what the outcome, you are a very capable person."
Meng Chun's expression froze.
"Go on, it's time to get on the ship." Du Li felt embarrassed by his gaze.
“Brother-in-law, you’re different now that you’ve been to school,” Meng Chun exclaimed. “You’re absolutely right, I’ll remember that. And thank you for agreeing with me.”
"Let's go." Du Li waved.
Meng Chun felt a little embarrassed. He quickly glanced around and saw the worried and reluctant looks in his family's eyes, so he quickly turned and left.
After walking a few steps, he started running and quickly boarded the cargo ship, afraid that Reluctance would leave him behind.
"I'm leaving." Meng Chun waved from the boat. He vaguely recalled the day his sister got married, only now he was the one on the boat, and he was going to earn a future for himself and his descendants.
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