As Chen Qingqing and Xiaoyu approached the village entrance in their oxcart, they saw Old Man Chen hurrying out of the village.
Surprisingly, he didn't roll his eyes as usual, but instead gave a cryptic smile.
The oxcart passed by Old Man Chen.
Chen Qingqing felt that smile was strange and made her feel uncomfortable.
Although I didn't understand, I didn't think much of it.
At this moment, Old Lady Chen and Chen Ruolan were sitting under a big tree at the entrance of the village, enjoying the cool air, when they saw Chen Qingqing returning in an oxcart.
Old Mrs. Chen snorted disdainfully, "Ruolan, that brat is back."
Chen Ruolan looked up and saw Chen Qingqing and Xiaoyu sitting on the oxcart chatting and laughing, and she was immediately consumed by jealousy.
The villagers had already spread the word that Tangfang produces at least 100 jin of sugar a day.
One hundred coins per pound, one hundred pounds is ten taels of silver.
Excluding costs and labor expenses, that brat earns at least eight taels of silver a day, which is two hundred and forty taels a month.
Not only does she have daily income, but she also has such an obedient and handsome guy by her side.
Although she's a bit silly, she's undeniably good-looking.
If I could make a lot of money myself, I'd definitely support a few gigolos.
She appeared calm and collected on the surface, but inside she was already going crazy.
I had originally planned to have my grandparents secretly learn how to make sugar, so that they could open their own sugar mill.
Who knew those two old geezers were so short-sighted, abandoning a long-term business to insist on marrying off their damned daughter?
But that's fine, since the eldest son and Chen Dabao have already learned how to make sugar.
Once that brat is driven out of the Chen family, the eldest branch will lose its leader, and everything will be at the mercy of the third branch...
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but curse, "Shameless bastard, always running around with an idiot, doesn't he feel ashamed?"
Old Mrs. Chen chimed in, "That's right! I heard that this fool has a rather stubborn temper. He doesn't listen to anyone else, only to that brat. I really don't know if he's really stupid or just pretending. He's so obsequious, like a little shadow. If you ask me, this fool has a bad conscience and is probably up to no good!"
"Whether he's really stupid or pretending, as long as we get through tonight, this silly boy will either get lost or become our slave."
As Chen Ruolan spoke, a cold smile crept onto her lips.
"And those poor laborers in the village, they're nothing but a bunch of sycophants and bootlickers."
They've made a few measly bucks and are practically praising that brat to the skies. When the sugar mill is in our hands, we'll fire them all.
"Yes, Ruolan, you're absolutely right."
Grandma Chen nodded and continued, "Let's not talk about others, just take Liang Fugui's wife. Back then, they were dirt poor, they couldn't even fill their stomachs."
To put it bluntly, he wears pants but his buttocks are exposed, and he's too ashamed to look people in the eye.
But ever since she started working for that brat, she walks down the street with her head held high, as if she's a head taller than everyone else.
What's most infuriating is that yesterday I saw her wearing a newly made linen dress.
You didn't see how smug she was back then; she was so proud of herself, her big butt practically swayed in the air when she walked.
They'd barely taken two steps before tugging at their sleeves and dusting themselves off, as if they'd never worn new clothes before.
Believe it or not, she had never actually worn new clothes before.
"Having a little money makes them arrogant and they've forgotten who they are. These kinds of people have the mindset of someone who's been suffering from poverty. Once we get our hands on the sugar mill, we absolutely cannot keep using people like that."
"Grandma, I'll do whatever you say. Whatever you say, I'll do." Chen Ruolan flattered, saying only what the old lady wanted to hear.
Grandma Chen's eyes narrowed into slits with laughter. "My granddaughter Ruolan is the most filial, unlike that ingrate."
As the oxcart approached, the two men felt a surge of envy and longing.
******
The Wu family's old house.
Chen Qingqing unloaded the eggs and vegetables she had bought from the county town from the oxcart.
He paid Liu Laohan thirty coins for the carriage and instructed him to go to Anyang County every two days.
Old Liu was overjoyed. He went to Qingshui Town every other day, which would be fifteen days a month. Each trip cost twenty coins, which would amount to three hundred coins. In addition, he would spend ten days a month in Anyang County, which would bring him six hundred coins, more than his previous annual income.
Although he was happy, he also had some concerns. He tentatively asked, "Qing girl, your business is getting bigger and bigger. Will you have to buy an oxcart in the future?"
Chen Qingqing knew what he was worried about, shook her head and smiled, "Grandpa Lao Han, don't worry, even if I buy a car in the future, I will still use your oxcart as usual."
After all, you are experienced and familiar with the road conditions in Qingshui Town and Anyang County.
Hearing this, Liu Laohan finally felt relieved, and his face was full of smiles again. "I'm relieved to hear you say that. You go ahead with your work, I'll head back now."
Everyone in the courtyard was busy at work.
Mrs. Lin busied herself adding firewood to the stove.
Chen Zhanshan and Da Bao were stirring the syrup in the pot with wooden sticks, and the sweet aroma filled the air...
Seeing Chen Qingqing enter the house, Madam Lin quickly stood up. "Qing'er is back. How was your trip to the county town?"
Chen Qingqing put down the vegetables in her hand and announced with a smile, "I have good news for you. I have found a buyer in Anyang County. We have agreed to deliver the goods every three days, 200 catties each time, for a long-term order. We have already signed a contract."
"Really?" Mrs. Lin asked with delight.
Chen Zhanshan grinned and said, "Then we'll be very busy. We need to cook at least 120 jin a day, otherwise we won't be able to supply the delivery."
Da Bao patted his chest happily, "Sister, I won't rest after lunch tomorrow, I'll try to cut more beets."
Chen Qingqing waved her hand, "No rush. The town delivers 100 catties of brown sugar every two days, and the county delivers 200 catties every three days. That's an average of 100 catties a day. That's enough to sell. There's no need to work so hard."
Chen Qingqing had already decided that she wouldn't expand production right now; she would start building the house after the autumn harvest in a few days.
We can carve a few more stone mills and buy a few donkeys. Once we have the space, it won't be too late to start large-scale production.
Chen Dabao chuckled and scratched his head. "Sis, I'll listen to you."
"Alright, let's get to work!" Chen Qingqing rolled up her sleeves and got busy too...
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