Chapter 1342: Xiang Weinan Departs

As predicted by Xiang Weinan, County Magistrate Xie was indeed a gentle and non-radical person. However, when he met Shu Yu, he was friendly and kind. Since he came to take office, he naturally wanted to inquire about the situation in the county. Among all matters, Shu Yu's achievements were the first to be known. After all, the emperor had brought Xiang Weinan back to the capital under the pretext of discovering and presenting new crops. Therefore, someone like Shu Yu, who could grow such a crop, could not be ignored.

Even though Magistrate Xie believed in the doctrine of the Golden Mean and would not rashly reform, having someone like Shu Yu, who could significantly improve his political achievements, made him happy.

Shu Yu's first meeting with Magistrate Xie was pleasant. Although they didn't share the same ideas and had a close relationship like with Xiang Weinan, it was clear that if she had any plans in the future, she wouldn't encounter any obstacles.

With that, Shu Yu felt relieved.

Xiang Weinan also felt relieved.

He began the handover with Magistrate Xie, and the county exam finally ended amid their busy schedules.

The county exam was small in scale, and the results were quickly announced, just five or six days after the exam.

On the third day after the county exam results were announced, Xiang Weinan prepared to return to the capital. He loaded three or four carriages full of belongings and was ready to set off.

Shu Yu didn't see that concubine again. She guessed that the concubine was taken care of before Xiao Shi left. Shu Yu probably guessed that the concubine was the one behind the troubles she faced.

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She didn't know how Xiao Shi was doing now.

Xiang Weinan was returning this time to deal with the Xiao family and the third prince. He hoped for a good outcome.

On the day he left, Shu Yu accompanied him out of the city.

In addition to her, there were Zhao Xi, Lu Sanzhu, and some other wealthy families in the county who had a good relationship with Xiang Weinan.

Zhao Xi gave Xiang Weinan some medicine bottles, saying, "I don't have much to give you. The officialdom in the capital is different from here, full of tricks and dangers. Be careful there. Take these medicines; it's a token of my regard."

Xiang Weinan patted his shoulder and thanked him, "Thank you. Take care of yourself. I won't be able to make it for the birth of your child, so let me congratulate you in advance."

As for the gifts, he had already left them behind.

Zhao Xi sighed secretly and was about to return to Shu Yu's side when a figure approached from the left and began talking to Shu Yu first.

"Second Miss." Tang Wenqian still addressed her as he did in the past when they were in Shishi Village. Since Shu Yu's marriage was arranged, he felt uncomfortable for a while, but now he had come to terms with it, and his gaze at Shu Yu was very gentle.

However, as he spoke, he kept his head slightly lowered and didn't look at her much. He even seemed a little embarrassed. "This time, when Minister Xiang returns to the capital, I will follow him. However, I'm not familiar with the capital and have no foundation there. It wouldn't be appropriate to bring my parents along. It might be a bit abrupt, but I want to ask Second Miss for help when they encounter any difficulties. I'm grateful, and if there's anything I can do for you in the future, just let me know."

Shu Yu looked at Tang Wenqian's parents, who were not far away, wiping tears, and smiled, "You helped my elder sister before. If there's anything your parents can't solve, as long as I have the ability, I won't stand by and watch."

She didn't like Tang Wenqian's mother, but Tang Wenqian was genuinely a good person.

In consideration of that, if she could help, it would not be a problem.

 Chapter 1341: The County Exam Begins

After finishing his tasks, Da Niu was sent back to the estate by Zhou Qiao to continue working. Zhou Qiao felt that Ah Yu had given them so much share and bonuses that it was not fair for Da Niu to stay with her during her confinement.

Now that she was recovering well and had someone he bought to take care of her, her confinement was much better than most people's.

Therefore, Da Niu returned to the estate, but he would come back every one or two days.

With Da Niu taking care of things, Shu Yu felt much more relaxed. She bought a large piece of land not far from the workshop. She wanted to connect that land with the rest, but for now, it was not possible.

However, the newly planted sunflowers would take a few more months to harvest, and the old stock was almost running out.

Shu Yu was thinking of making something else, such as instant noodles, but before she could start, the county exam began.

Originally, Shu Rui, Er Niu, and Da Bao, who were studying at the school, also got a holiday. But the three of them coincidentally went to the examination site outside to experience the tense atmosphere of the exam in advance.

Shu Yu also went, sitting in the carriage, thinking about Meng Yunzheng, who was far away in Changjin Prefecture.

At this time, he should have entered the examination room, right?

When the examination hall's gate closed, Shu Rui ran back to the carriage and drank two sips of tea.

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Seeing his second sister lost in thought, he climbed onto the carriage shaft and patted her hand, saying, "Don't worry, Sister. Big Brother Meng will be fine."

Shu Yu came back to her senses and smiled, "You have a lot of confidence in him."

Shu Rui puffed his chest and said with great confidence, "Of course, my Big Brother is very knowledgeable. I was the last one to enter the school originally, with no foundation and often not understanding things. Later, when I went to the Southwest, Big Brother Meng taught me to study. After I came back, he set up a study plan for me. The teacher said that now when I study, it's like having divine help, and my rank in the exams keeps improving. Last time, I even got first place."

He had only been studying for a short time, and the other students at the school had been studying for much longer.

Even with some talent for studying, without Meng Yunzheng, he would still be at the bottom.

"Even Master Wen asks Big Brother Meng when he doesn't understand something." Shu Rui said, suddenly lowering his voice, "Master Wen said that Big Brother Meng will definitely be the top scorer in this exam. It's a pity he's not from Jiangyuan County."

Otherwise, Jiangyuan County would have a talented person coming out.

Shu Yu raised an eyebrow. She had confidence in Meng Yunzheng, of course. He was such an intelligent person that he should have participated in the county exam at the age of ten. If it weren't for the revenge delaying him for so many years, he would have already achieved success and fame.

"I'm not worried. I just want him to finish the exam and come back soon."

Upon hearing this, Shu Rui looked at her with some sympathy.

How could it be so soon? After the county exam, there would be the prefectural exam and the imperial exam. It would take at least several months.

However...

"When Big Brother Meng comes back, he will be a scholar."

On this point, everyone was full of confidence.

Shu Yu's attention to the county exam lasted for a day before she was drawn to other matters.

Because the newly appointed county magistrate finally arrived in Jiangyuan County.

However, the county exam was taking place at the moment, so Xiang Weinan had to wait for the results to come out before he could return to the capital after finishing the handover with the new county magistrate.

The new county magistrate's surname was Xie, a thin man in his fifties.

On his first day in office, Shu Yu was summoned to the county yamen by Xiang Weinan to meet this Master Xie.

 Chapter 1339: The Use of Silver

Three hundred taels, for Lu Dasong, this was not a small amount.

How long has it been? About a year since they started planting sunflowers? Earning three hundred taels in a year—let alone in their village—even Cui Hua's husband's shop in town didn't make a net profit of three hundred taels in a year, right?

Lu Dasong's spirit was invigorated in an instant. "What do you plan to do with these three hundred taels? Your third uncle has already bought a house. Why don't you buy one too? Having a place to stay here would be more convenient. If three hundred taels are not enough, your dad has some savings. I can help you make up the difference."

Da Niu smiled, "Dad, I don't plan to buy a house."

"Why?"

"After Qiao Qiao finishes her confinement, we will go back to our estate. We will be living there most of the time. Dad, the estate area will develop better and better in the future."

Others might not know, but Da Niu knew that the black market had been sold to Young Master Meng, who was planning to establish an academy there.

Moreover, with the nearby sunflower fields and the not-too-distant workshop, the area would undoubtedly become more prosperous.

Not to mention anything else, just the fact that some people had set up small stalls outside the workshop to sell various goods in these few months showed the potential.

However, at this time, there were only about sixty or seventy people working in the workshop, including the hired farmers in the fields.

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In Ah Yu's plan, there might be more than a thousand workers in the workshop in the future, more than twice the total population of Shishi Village.

Plus, with the academy opening up in the future, the prosperity of that area could be imagined.

In the future, Da Niu would spend most of his time there, so why bother buying a house in the county?

He didn't explain these details to Lu Dasong, but seeing that his dad had some ideas in mind, he didn't persuade him further.

"In that case, if you don't buy a house, just save the money."

Da Niu smiled, "Although I won't buy a house, I plan to renovate the house in Shishi Village."

"Hmm?"

"Dad, since you won't come with me to the estate and insist on staying in Shishi Village, then we should at least live in a better place. In the past, our conditions didn't allow it, but now we can afford it, so let's do some renovations."

Lu Dasong immediately refused, "No need, we're living quite well now. There are so many rooms in the house, enough for us to live in."

It wasn't about whether there was enough room; it was about living comfortably.

Da Niu didn't plan to listen to his dad and continued, "In addition, I plan to buy you a mule cart."

"Da Niu." Lu Dasong frowned, "Don't spend money recklessly just because you have some."

"I'm not spending recklessly. Dad, with a mule cart, you can easily go to the county to see your grandchildren or visit the estate. It will be much more convenient. And if you're worried about Er Niu and Lan Hua, you can come over anytime."

Lu Dasong was tempted. When Erbai's family bought a mule cart for the first time, although he didn't get as excited as Lu Sanzhu, he still wanted to have one of his own.

But...

"If our family buys a mule cart, your mother will have to go to the estate often."

Da Niu smiled, "Mom doesn't know how to drive the cart. Whether she goes or not is still up to you." Besides, whether Mom goes to the estate or not doesn't depend on whether we have a cart at home.

After a pause, Da Niu continued, "And, I want to buy a mule cart for my father-in-law too."

 Chapter 1340: Da Niu Generosity

Lu Dasong was taken aback, "Hmm?"

Da Niu said, "Ever since Zhao Zhao was born, there have been rumors coming from the Zhou family, saying that our family would treat Qiao Qiao badly."

"Nonsense," Lu Dasong snorted, "Just buying a daughter-in-law is like buying half of a son-in-law. Although your in-laws don't have a son, their daughter and son-in-law are both filial. Zhao Zhao is our family's treasure; how could they spread such nonsense? Let them see how well we treat your wife."

"That's the decision then?"

"Decided."

Da Niu nodded, "Okay, I'll start looking for a mule cart tomorrow."

However, Da Niu's search wasn't limited to just a mule cart; he also planned to hire a capable woman to help Qiao Qiao take care of the child.

Although there were people helping with the work in the estate, those women were all hired by Ah Yu, and he couldn't use the estate's resources for personal reasons.

He discussed this matter with Qiao Qiao, and Qiao Qiao didn't have any objections. Whether it was renovating their old home or buying a mule cart for her father, she had no issues with it.

What surprised her was that her husband also wanted to buy a mule cart for her father.

She was taken aback and said, "Isn't that inappropriate? My mother-in-law will definitely have objections."

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"What's inappropriate? Your dad is my dad too. With a mule cart, he can visit you when he's free."

Qiao Qiao felt sweet in her heart, but she was also a little anxious, afraid that her in-laws might not be happy about it.

But whether it was her grandmother or her father-in-law, they didn't react much when they learned about it.

It was Da Niu's money, and how they wanted to use it was their own business. Why bother interfering?

Indeed, Li Shi was not happy about it and even strongly disagreed. However, before she knew about it, Da Niu had already done it. No matter how angry she got, it wouldn't change anything. At most, she could refuse to take care of Qiao Qiao during her confinement.

So, after two days, Lu Dasong drove a mule cart back to Shishi Village with great excitement and started preparing to renovate their home.

The villagers came over curiously to see the mule cart and were envious when they found out that it was bought by Da Niu. They admired his filial piety and praised the mule cart's good condition and spacious cargo area.

The next day, Da Niu drove the mule cart and bought some daily necessities, heading directly to the Zhou family's house.

At first, Zhou's father and several younger sisters thought he was just visiting them and invited him to have lunch.

Unexpectedly, when Da Niu left, he left the mule cart behind and walked to the main road to wait for the cart to take him away.

Zhou's father was completely puzzled, until Da Niu told him that the mule cart was a gift for them, and he was like he had been struck by lightning.

Zhou's father hurriedly refused, but Da Niu said, "Now that Qiao Qiao is still in confinement, having a mule cart will be convenient for you if you want to see her and the child. In the future, we will still live on the estate, which is far away. If we can't make time to come back, you will have to come over to see Qiao Qiao."

The conditions of the Zhou family were not as good as the Lu family's. Zhou's father rarely went out and mostly worked at home. Later, he visited the estate a few times, but he walked there.

Going to the county was the same; Zhou's father was used to walking, and the younger sisters had to follow suit.

With the mule cart, at least they wouldn't have to work so hard.

Moreover, Zhou's father knew how to drive a cart. In the future, during the slack season, he could earn some money by driving the mule cart to pick up people from nearby villages.

Zhou's father didn't know what to say for a moment. By the time he realized that Da Niu had already left, Zhou's second sister and second sister-in-law were looking at the cart with bulging eyes, filled with envy.

They wanted to keep the cart for themselves, but now Zhou's father no longer had to worry about not having a son to support him in his old age. He had a filial son-in-law who could give them a mule cart.

 Chapter 1337&1338: Big Brother Bull's Share

As he read on, Da Niu's eyes brightened even more.

During these days, he had already handled substantial amounts of money, but seeing so much extra money on the account still made his face flush with excitement.

After Da Niu finished reading, he saw Shu Yu taking out three silver bills from the drawer and handing them over.

"What's this?" Big Brother Bull asked in surprise.

"This is three hundred taels, your share," Shu Yu replied.

"Ah Yu..."

Shu Yu pushed it forward again and said, "We agreed on it before. Once the workshop starts making money, you get a share. Originally, we planned to distribute it at the end of the year, but at that time, the workshop had just started production, and the market was not established, so we didn't settle it then. Now that the goods have all been sold, the share that belongs to you should naturally be given to you."

Sunflower seeds were something they discovered together and dug into together.

In the beginning, when they tried planting sunflowers, Shu Yu was exiled, so Da Niu took care of it alone. When it came to large-scale cultivation, Shu Yu went to the capital. So, during the first harvest and replanting, Da Niu was solely responsible for everything.

At that time, when they just started, Shu Yu entrusted him with all the tasks, so it was easy to imagine how much pressure Da Niu had.

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Even when Shu Yu returned later, Da Niu was still busy managing the estate. She only occasionally visited, and the hardship of staying up late to monitor things was incomparable to what he went through.

After the workshop was set up, Da Niu put in his utmost effort to manage both sides.

Although Ren Huai thought it was unwise to entrust someone with no experience as the manager, only Shu Yu knew that she could trust Da Niu because he was her elder cousin, and she could rest assured handing over the rear when she went to the capital.

Shu Yu was very grateful to Da Niu "Big Brother Niu, since last year, you have been working so hard. Now that we have our harvest and are making money, your share naturally should be given to you. sister-in-law just gave birth to a child, and there are many expenses. It's not easy for you to buy something for yourself."

"But you said you want to buy more land for expanding the sunflower cultivation. That also requires money. My monthly wages are high, and it's enough for me."

"Don't worry; I have set aside the money for buying land. Besides, just because your wages are enough doesn't mean I should withhold your share."

Da Niu felt a bit helpless. "But I just looked at the accounts, and even if it's one share, it's still less than three hundred taels."

"I already gave bonuses to the other people in the workshop today, and considering your hard work, of course, you should receive one too. Let's make it an even three hundred taels."

Da Niu was momentarily speechless. After a while, he smiled and said, "Alright, I'll accept it."

"That's more like it."

The siblings smiled at each other, and Big Brother Bull left to put away the silver bills.

He returned to his room and told Zhou Qiao about the silver bills.

Zhou Qiao was stunned, "Th-three hundred taels??"

Big Brother Bull nodded, "Yes, three hundred taels."

Zhou Qiao gasped; that was too much! Including the wages Da Niu received earlier, their family now had nearly four hundred taels of silver.

Originally, she thought Da Niu's wages were already high enough, and they could live a comfortable and worry-free life with that money alone. But now, seeing this share, it turned out to be the major part of their income.

I don't know what happened but this chapters is too short and I can not change its chapter number as it will affect the others

 Chapter 1336: Discussing Matters with Da Niu

"Thank you, Master!" The crowd cheered.

Shu Yu waved her hand. "Of course, we still need some people to stay in the workshop. Let two people stay behind to watch over it, and once they've had their rest, you can take your turns off. You can arrange this yourselves or delegate someone to do it."

"Understood."

"Alright, now come forward to receive your wages."

Everyone was very organized, quickly forming a queue as they pushed and shoved, lining up in order of their names in the employee list. They had already gained experience from the previous months, so they knew their positions well.

This efficient process saved Shu Yu a lot of time.

After distributing the wages, it was just past noon.

Shu Yu stretched lazily. Finally, she handed the money to Luo Chun and Ruan Dalai. They were in charge and had already received a raise in their salaries, so their bonuses were also higher than the others'.

"Arrange things and have everyone finish the remaining tasks this afternoon. Clean up the workshop, and tomorrow you can take a day off."

"Yes, Master."

The two men were also very happy, tightly clutching their earnings as they left.

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As it was getting late, Shu Yu had her lunch in the workshop before heading home.

The news of her business with Baixiang Fruit Shop had already spread, so there were hardly any people waiting in front of Lu's house.

Upon entering the house, Shu Yu felt relieved that the tasks were completed, and she could finally take a break.

After taking a shower, Shu Yu comfortably took a nap. When she woke up, she went to see Xiao Zao.

However, in just four or five days, the baby had changed a lot compared to when she was born.

Zhou Qiao was still in her confinement period and watched as Shu Yu played with the child in the cradle. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "Ah Yu loves children so much. You should marry Master Meng as soon as possible and have one of your own."

Shu Yu shook her head. "I'm still young. I just turned fifteen last year. I'll wait a few more years before having children."

"Young? Haha, Ah Yu, your age might be young, but your maturity surpasses many of us."

At that moment, Da Niu walked in, carrying a bowl of chicken soup. "This is what Mother just made. Come, let me feed you some."

"No need, I'll do it myself." Zhou Qiao felt a little embarrassed and quickly took the bowl from Da Niu.

Seeing that Zhou Qiao had no problem drinking the soup, Da Niu turned to Shu Yu and said, "I heard the sunflower seeds have been sold as well? I wasn't in the workshop these past few days, and you seemed to have been busy with it. You even look slimmer."

Shu Yu replied, "Brother Da Niu, you're exaggerating. Sister-in-law just gave birth, so she needed you by her side. But for me, I only needed to arrange the loading and unloading of goods. I didn't have to do it myself, so it wasn't tiring at all, and I'm definitely not slimmer."

While what she said was true, managing things still required mental and physical effort.

Da Niu also hadn't expected things to turn out this way. Just as his wife gave birth, the people from the capital and the palace came to discuss business with them.

He asked about the situation in the workshop and, after confirming that Zhou Qiao had finished her chicken soup, he put the bowl away and left the room.

Shu Yu followed him to the door and called out, "Brother Da Niu, come to the study later. I have something to discuss with you."

"Huh? Sure thing."

After Da Niu returned the bowl to the kitchen and washed his hands, he went to the study.

Inside the study, Shu Yu sat behind the desk, and there were two ledgers in front of her.

As Da Niu entered, she pushed one of the ledgers toward him. "Brother Da Niu, take a look at this."

"This is... the workshop's account book?"

"Yes." Shu Yu nodded. "The inventory in the workshop has been sold. Whether it's Lord Qi or Master Ren, they have given us deposits for the next batch of goods. Our current income is not low."

Da Niu's eyes lit up, and he eagerly opened the ledger to examine it.

 Chapter 1335: Awarding the Bonus

With both parties willing to cooperate, the negotiations proceeded smoothly.

At the moment when Shu Yu signed her name on the contract, she felt a sudden sense of relief. She looked up and smiled at Ren Huai, saying, "A pleasant cooperation."

Ren Huai was taken aback for a moment but quickly responded, "A pleasant cooperation."

After carefully taking the contract, they agreed to deliver the goods the next morning, and Shu Yu left.

When she reached the entrance of her family's residence, she saw a crowd outside. Without hesitation, she told Ying Xi to turn the carriage around. "Let's forget about going back home; I'll head back to the workshop."

Since they had to deliver the goods early the next day, she needed to sort and pack them tonight. So, she planned to return to her workshop after changing her clothes.

However, seeing the crowd at the gate, Shu Yu decided not to go back and instead asked Ying Xi to inform the gatekeepers before leaving the city directly.

When she arrived at the workshop, the workers were still excited about having just delivered the sunflower oil to the palace in the morning.

Now, after only a short time had passed, their boss was back, and she told them that they had a buyer for all the sunflower seeds, and it turned out to be the young master of the largest preserved fruit shop in the capital, whom they had met during their previous visit.

The excitement of the workers was beyond words.

Their boss was truly amazing. While other workshops and businesses started small, selling their products in nearby towns and counties, their boss had entered the capital and even the palace market.

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This was just incredible! Their boss's starting point was already the end goal for others.

Shu Yu chuckled at their reaction. "Alright, stop standing around and get to work. Pack the goods quickly, and once they are shipped out, we'll distribute the bonuses."

"Wow!!" The workers exclaimed, even more thrilled now. They rushed to start their tasks, and the entire workshop was filled with a joyous atmosphere.

The next morning, Ren Huai and the manager Xu arrived with their team to collect the goods.

The first batch of goods was still limited since Shu Yu had sold a portion before the New Year and sent another portion to the capital.

Now, there wasn't much left.

Ren Huai was aware of this, so yesterday, he had already discussed with Shu Yu the time and quantity for the second batch of supplies.

After loading the sunflower seeds onto the carts, Ren Huai settled the final payment and left a deposit for the next batch of goods. Then, he and his team left directly.

They had already delayed a lot of time in Jiangyuan County, and since everything had been settled, they had to rush back to the capital as quickly as possible.

After bidding farewell to them, Shu Yu turned around with a smile and returned to the workshop.

She didn't waste any time and gathered Luo Chun and Ruan Dalai to call all the workers together.

Seeing everyone gathering in the hall, they could all guess what was happening, and their expressions were particularly excited.

Shu Yu stood on the steps, motioning for everyone to quiet down. Then, she cleared her throat and smiled, "You have all worked hard during this period, especially in the past few days, delivering two batches of goods consecutively. Everyone worked late to maximize production, and I'm truly grateful for your dedication. Now, it's time to reward your efforts. As I said yesterday, once the goods were shipped out, we'd distribute the bonuses."

The people in the hall brightened their eyes one after another, and their excitement caused them to clench their hands tightly.

Shu Yu continued, "The bonuses are not much, just an extra month's worth of wages for each person."

"Wow." Wasn't that a lot? An extra month's worth of wages was like a dream come true for them, an unexpected stroke of good luck, and it couldn't get any better.

Shu Yu smiled, "Alright, everyone quiet down. In addition to the month's worth of wages, I'll give you all two days off. You can use this time to go home or buy something you like. Enjoy your break."

 Chapter 1334: Negotiating the sunflower Seed Business

Shu Yu was unaware that visitors had been coming to her home one after another. She went to the outskirts of the city to see Qi Lie off.

After seeing him off, Shu Yu hadn't walked far when she was stopped by someone.

Seeing the slightly anxious expression on Ren Huai's face, Shu Yu smiled faintly and asked, "Young Master Ren, do you have something you want to discuss with me?"

Ren Huai's smile seemed a bit forced, but he still tried to sound friendly, "Lu Xiangjun a few days ago, I asked Manager Xu to contact you, wanting to arrange a meeting to discuss the sunflower seed business. However, at that time, you were busy, so I didn't want to disturb you. I wonder if you have time now?"

Shu Yu guessed the reason for his change in attitude. The news of her selling sunflower oil to the palace must have spread, even though she didn't intentionally publicize it. Those who needed to know would know.

Ren Huai seemed to feel some urgency now.

Seeing the situation develop this way, Shu Yu also wanted to finalize the deal as soon as possible. She didn't want to drag it out any longer, so she didn't beat around the bush.

"I happen to have some free time now. Let's find a place to talk in private. Please," Shu Yu said.

"Sure."

This time, they didn't go to the tea house they had visited before. Instead, they found a private and secluded restaurant nearby.

After entering the private room, Ren Huai sighed, "I didn't expect Lu Xiangjun to take her business to the palace."

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Shu Yu looked a little embarrassed, "It's just luck. Thanks to the help of Lord Xiang, I was able to present rare items like sunflower seeds and sunflower oil to the palace before the New Year. The imperial physicians in the palace said that sunflower oil is healthier than ordinary cooking oil, so they were quite interested. That's why they sent people to inspect it, and after seeing it, they immediately took a liking to it."

Ren Huai was surprised and took a sip of tea.

This time, he no longer believed that Lu Xiangjun success was just due to luck. He had made a misjudgment before and thought that her achievements were due to her backing from Minister Qi. Now he realized that she was not someone easily fooled.

She was just as cunning and clever as the young master she was paired with, and both of them were not easy to deal with.

Two young people with such cunning minds and shrewd business sense—this could be a formidable combination in the future.

Ren Huai sighed internally, "Village Lord Lu seems to always come up with rare items."

Like the heat packs before and the sunflower seeds and sunflower oil now.

Shu Yu smiled, "I'm just lucky, and I stumbled upon them unexpectedly."

Ren Huai's mouth twitched. I believe your nonsense.

Shu Yu was not easily deceived, and Ren Huai no longer tested her with words. He knew that a large group of people were waiting outside her door, wanting to do sunflower seeds business with her.

So, he wanted to finalize the cooperation during this meeting.

Ren Huai didn't try to lower the price, nor did he mention exclusive sales or any other tricks.

Although he still tried to get the best deal for himself, his sincerity was evident.

Fortunately, Shu Yu had already intended to cooperate with them. She had inquired about Bai Xiang Guo, and although they had some common problems that businesses often faced, they were not dishonest merchants. They wouldn't sell inferior goods and still maintained a good image with their customers.

Cooperating with them would be beneficial to her, so she didn't make things difficult.

 Chapter 1333: Spreading throughout Jiangyuan County

Shu Yu and her group stood inside the estate, facing a courtyard that appeared desolate after months of neglect.

The courtyard was now covered in tall grass, and a thin layer of dust had settled on the windowsills.

"Most of the things here have been moved out. When manager Guo left, he even took away some large items. Apart from the stone tables and benches that couldn't be moved, there is nothing left behind as potential clues," Shu Yu said as she walked inside, leading Qi Lie. "They are very cautious in their actions, and the Black Market holds many secrets. They must have destroyed everything before leaving. Ah Yun and I have come here twice before, but we found nothing."

She led Qi Lie to the two secret rooms, saying, "These are the secret rooms. Would you like to take a look inside, Your Excellency?"

Qi Lie nodded, and Shu Yu pressed a switch to open the door.

His two subordinates entered first, while Shu Yu remained outside, saying, "Your Excellency, if you have any business, you can handle it first. This estate is quite large, and we won't be able to finish searching it in a short time. It seems we will have to spend the night here. If you need anything, feel free to come to the estate and find me. I'll have Ying Xi bring some food for you later."

"Thank you," Qi Lie replied.

Shu Yu left, and Qi Lie's group continued their search.

However, as Shu Yu had said, manager Guo was a meticulous person. Since he was selling the estate, how could he possibly leave anything behind that could be used as evidence?

Qi Lie searched for a whole day and then again the next day, but he ended up leaving the mountain with an unsightly expression.

....

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....

Seeing his expression, Shu Yu knew there was no progress. She poured tea for her group and asked, "Your Excellency, do you want to continue searching?"

Qi Lie shook his head, "No need. I came with only a glimmer of hope. There are no clues in Jiangyuan County; we can only start from other Black Markets."

He took a sip of tea and raised his head, saying, "If Lu Xiangjun finds anything, please inform me promptly."

"Alright."

Qi Lie provided Shu Yu with a special contact method, as his contact with the capital through Xiang Weinan would soon be cut off, as Xiang Weinan would be returning to the capital.

After Qi Lie bid his farewell and returned to the county office to prepare to leave, Xiang Weinan still couldn't leave. The new county magistrate had yet to arrive, so he had to wait for the handover before he could depart.

Shu Yu loaded the ten barrels of sunflower oil onto the cart, and Qi Lie took them directly.

As soon as he left the city gate, news of Shu Yu selling sunflower oil to the palace spread throughout Jiangyuan County.

Everyone learned that Shu Yu had taken her business directly to the palace.

People who were previously hesitant quickly filled the entrance of the Lu family, and the doorman couldn't even collect all the greeting cards.

 Chapter 1332: Miao Lao Ye's Changes

"Someone with a grudge against young master Meng?" Qi Lie stood up, frowning as he pondered.

Shu Yu sighed, "Ah Yun has carefully considered all possibilities and ruled out those that can be excluded. The most likely person is Gong Qiu, but he was beheaded last year. Honestly, this matter has been weighing on our minds. If we can find the mastermind behind it and solve our doubts, we can finally be at ease."

Qi Lie pursed his lips. If that was the case, they could investigate along the lead provided by Meng Yunzheng.

However, as Lu Xiangjun said, young master Meng biggest enemy over the years was Gong Qiu, and even he couldn't think of it, so how could they investigate?

"In any case, I still want to go to the Black Market to take a look," Qi Lie said.

Shu Yu nodded, "Alright, perhaps you will notice something that we missed. Shall we go now?"

"Let's go."

The two of them left the workshop without delay and headed straight for the Black Market.

Since the Black Market had been relocated, the path leading up the mountain was no longer maintained. With the weather getting warmer, it was now covered with lush green grass.

Shu Yu and Ying Xi, along with Qi Lie and his two men, walked while carefully observing their surroundings.

When they reached halfway up the mountain, the path ahead became much narrower.

....

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....

This section of the road was different from the original one; it had been redesigned.

Originally, the Black Market had a complex and winding path from halfway up the mountain to the top to keep it hidden.

However, since the estate was now turned into a school by Meng Yunzheng, a flatter road was more suitable, so they decided to reconstruct it.

As Shu Yu and the others had suspected, even though Guo, the steward, sold the estate, he still had people secretly keeping an eye on it, afraid that master Miao would sell it again.

To avoid suspicion, master Miao started renovating the estate not long after purchasing it, hiring craftsmen from the capital.

This road in front of them was the one being repaired.

As for the inside of the estate, Meng Yunzheng had his own blueprint and plan, which he definitely wouldn't let others know about. After the road outside was completed, he would have Lu Erbai, a trusted person, do the renovations.

If there were any secrets discovered during the renovation process, they could be dealt with in a timely manner.

However, the repair of this road was taking a long time, as master Miao always seemed to have various problems and would request work to stop. After modifying the blueprint several times, the repairs would continue.

The craftsmen working on the road were annoyed by his troublesome behavior and even had a conflict once, causing the road construction to be halted for over a month.

But this was exactly what Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng wanted; they were intentionally stalling for time.

Then, halfway through the road repair, the late Emperor passed away.

master Miao was running Qinlou and Chuguan businesses. With the Emperor's death, his businesses would have to stop for at least several months.

Thinking of doing other businesses, he took the money and left the capital to develop other ventures. In this way, he naturally had no time to manage this estate.

To be honest, Shu Yu was surprised by master Miao change of attitude, wanting to dabble in other businesses.

Could it be because of what she said last time, asking him to do more good deeds? Shu Yu felt it was unlikely. She didn't have that much influence to change master Miao's deep-rooted thoughts with just a few words.

In any case, master Miao's actions provided them with an excuse to delay the repair of the Black Market.

The people secretly keeping an eye on the estate were gone.

Therefore, the estate was particularly deserted at this moment.

 Chapter 1331: Qi Lie's Purpose for Coming Here

Shu Yu made tea for him, "Is General Qi satisfied?"

"Not bad. In two days, have ten barrels of oil prepared, and I will take them with me," Qi Lie replied.

"In two days?" Shu Yu was surprised, "Is General going back to the capital already?"

Qi Lie nodded, "I was only temporarily assigned this task, so I can't delay for too long. Originally, the purchase of the sunflower oil should have been handled by the palace's procurement office. However, since I was already here, the Emperor entrusted this matter to me, giving me a legitimate reason to come to Jiangyuan County."

Finally, he brought up the reason for his visit.

Shu Yu sat up straight, knowing that this matter might be related to her.

"I wonder if General has any other important matters to attend to on this visit. If you need any help, please feel free to tell me."

Qi Lie felt that this village lord was different from what he had imagined, but she was undoubtedly not an ordinary secluded girl, being able to form a relationship with Meng Yunzheng.

"I want to go to the Black Market," Qi Lie said, looking in the direction of the Black Market.

Shu Yu blinked, not expecting that his destination was the Black Market.

"General Qi... What are you going to do at the Black Market?"

....

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....

Qi Lie didn't hide anything from her, "The Black Market of Da Su Dynasty has only risen to prominence in the past ten years or so, but in this short period, it has spread to various prosperous towns. Many court ministers are also involved with the Black Market, and while the late Emperor did not realize the serious consequences that might arise, the current Emperor will not tolerate the existence of such a place."

Qi Lie's expression gradually turned grim as he continued, "At first, the Black Market only dealt with some valuable items that were best kept hidden. However, over time, they became increasingly audacious, involved in trafficking people, intelligence, goods, and even hiring assassins. It has become more than a simple trading place; it has become a powerful organization that cannot be ignored."

Such an organization was a menace to the Emperor.

Moreover, the true mastermind behind the Black Market remained unknown to this day.

Recently, there had been reports of people disappearing from the palace, with rumors saying that they were sold to the Black Market. Why would the Black Market buy people from the palace?

Shu Yu understood, "The Emperor wants to dismantle the Black Market?"

"Yes," Qi Lie nodded, "However, the other Black Markets have tight security and are difficult to infiltrate. Even if we manage to get in, investigating will be extremely difficult. Especially if we are discovered, the other party will be even more cautious, making it even more difficult for us to find the mastermind behind it all."

That being said...

"So you're thinking of checking out the Black Market in Jiangyuan County to see if you can find any clues?"

"Yes." Qi Lie nodded, "I know that the estate there now belongs to Meng Yunzheng."

"Indeed, he bought the estate. However... to be honest, when we tried to buy from the Black Market, they refused to sell to him, even at a higher price. We suspected that there might be some grudge between him and the Black Market. So, after obtaining the estate, we wanted to investigate. However, we have searched it inside out several times and haven't found any clues."

"Is that so?" Qi Lie was not aware of this information.

The information sent to the Emperor by Xiang Weinan only briefly mentioned the current buyer of the Black Market, but the specific details of how it was purchased were too complicated and were not mentioned.

Now that Shu Yu mentioned this matter, it provided Qi Lie with a direction.

 Chapter 1330: Out of the Ordinary

The workshop was quiet at the moment. The workers had just started their morning shift when Ruan Dalai informed them that someone from the palace was coming to inspect their sunflower oil today.

When the workers heard this news, they thought they must be dreaming, for their small workshop was actually doing business with the palace?

Seeing their reactions, Ruan Dalai thought to himself that it was a good thing he had informed them in the morning. If he had told them last night, they might not have been able to sleep all night, and they would be exhausted and unenergetic during work today.

If the palace's representatives saw them in such a state, they might doubt their ability to work properly, and that would be disastrous for the deal.

Fortunately, there was still some time before Shu Yu and the others arrived. Ruan Dalai quickly reassured the workers and helped them adjust their mindset, urging them to be energetic and perform well.

By the time Shu Yu and Qi Lie entered the workshop, although the workers were still a little nervous, their faces had returned to normal, and they were working methodically.

Qi Lie followed behind Shu Yu, wearing shoe covers and a hat, and surveyed the entire workshop with his eyes.

Compared to Ren Huai's astonished expression when he first saw the workshop, Qi Lie's expression was much calmer, although he was also quite surprised by everything in the workshop.

He could tell that this workshop wasn't something made hastily; the workers here were obviously accustomed to this environment and way of doing things.

Behind Qi Lie were two other people, who lagged a few steps behind him and asked the workers a few questions.

....

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....

The worker stuttered and looked as if he was about to cry after answering their questions.

Once Shu Yu and Qi Lie had finished their tour and left the workshop, the worker immediately grabbed the person beside him and anxiously said, "What should I do? I was so nervous just now that I couldn't speak properly. Will they decide not to do business with us because of that?"

The person beside him looked at him sympathetically, appearing a little frustrated, "Your courage is too small. Those people ask questions all the time, and you just need to answer honestly. What are you afraid of?"

"You're finished. If this deal falls through, you won't be able to work here anymore."

Hearing this, the worker sat down on a stool in a daze.

Who knew that after a while, Ruan Dalai came over and patted him on the shoulder with a smile, "You did well."

The worker was startled, "Well? I-I was so nervous that I stuttered."

"That's nothing. Master said people from the palace have seen many people before. Your nervousness made you seem genuine. The answers you gave made them believe you."

If they had answered perfectly without any nerves, the people from the palace would have known that they were prepared in advance, and the questions they asked wouldn't have any meaning.

Ruan Dalai laughed, "Alright, just focus on your work. Once Master and the palace agree on the deal, I'll give each of you a bonus."

The workers cheered at the news, "Really? Manager Ruan, you'll really give us a bonus?"

"Of course, if you work diligently, Master won't treat you unfairly."

After Ruan Dalai left, the cheers continued, making him smile.

At this moment, Shu Yu and Qi Lie were already sitting in the office. Qi Lie was sipping his tea with a sense of contentment, "This workshop is quite extraordinary."

At least, after seeing it, he was reassured about the cleanliness of the sunflower oil.

 Chapter 1329: Regret in Vain

Shu Yu didn't mind the gossip and assured the coachman that such rumors couldn't stop her. She mentioned that when Zhou Qiao finished her confinement period and returned home with the baby, everyone would see how she was doing.

After dismissing the coachman, another person came in and informed Shu Yu that Manager Xu had arrived and wanted to discuss a trade cooperation tomorrow.

Shu Yu went to the front hall to meet Manager Xu in person and apologized, saying, "I have some business to attend to at the workshop tomorrow and can't spare the time. Can we reschedule?"

Manager Xu's eyelids twitched, and he asked, "Is there something wrong at the workshop? Why do you need to go there in person? Is it possible that you have found a new cooperation partner?"

Shu Yu smiled and replied, "Indeed, I have a new potential partner, and they want to see our sunflower oil. But as for whether the deal will go through, no one can say for sure."

She had already confirmed the deal with Qi Lie, but he was only visiting the workshop to inspect the production environment. Compared to Manager Xu and the young master Ren, Qi Lie was straightforward and had even paid a deposit.

Of course, the main reason was that she trusted him.

Manager Xu felt relieved when he heard that the potential partner wanted to buy oil. He bid farewell and left.

However, on the way back, he couldn't help but feel that something was amiss. Today, hadn't Lu Xiangjun only visited the county government to see Qi Lie? Then, there was the sudden offer to sell sunflower oil? Could it be...

....

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....

Manager Xu was shocked by his own thoughts. He hastened his steps and went back to the inn to discuss it with Ren Huai.

Ren Huai also looked incredulous when he heard the news. As a result, the next day, he woke up early and waited on the road outside the city.

Sure enough, at the appointed time, Lu Xiangjun carriage appeared.

And behind her carriage was the one that had entered the city yesterday, and Qi Lie's face was revealed for a brief moment as the curtain fluttered.

Ren Huai was stunned. It was indeed him, Qi Lie. If Qi Lie represented the Emperor, then the one who wanted to do business with Lu Xiangjun was the Emperor?

Although Shu Yu was inside the carriage, she caught sight of two familiar figures out of the corner of her eye. She smiled and said to Ying Xi, "Business people these days love to be mysterious. If they had approached me openly and sincerely, there wouldn't have been a need for Qi Lie to visit."

Ying Xi didn't fully understand the business aspect and asked, "Will Ren Huai be afraid now that Qi Lie visited the workshop? But they are not looking for the same thing."

"Although they are not looking for the same thing, Qi Lie's visit sends a signal – our workshop's products are highly valued. Since even the palace is cooperating with us, the product itself must be reliable. Before, some people were hesitating and wanted to see if Baixiangguo would discuss a deal with us. Now they won't hesitate anymore."

Once there was competition, Ren Huai would get nervous. And when he got nervous, he would lose negotiating leverage.

Thinking of this, Shu Yu felt pleased.

The two carriages arrived at the workshop, and as soon as they got off, old Yang nervously rushed over. "Madam."

Shu Yu nodded, and when she looked up, she saw Ruan Dalai and Luo Chun had also come.

Since Zhou Qiao had just given birth, Shu Yu hadn't let Da Niu know about the matter, lest he run around.

Shu Yu led Qi Lie into the workshop and went straight to the oil pressing workshop.

 Chapter 1328: Clumsy-mouthed Father Zhou

After discussing the sunflower oil, Shu Yu expected Qi Lie to bring up the next topic, but surprisingly, he didn't mention anything else.

Leaving the county government, Shu Yu was still puzzled. Hu Li had previously mentioned that Qi Lie had other matters to attend to, but since he didn't bring it up, she decided to pretend not to know.

Back at home, everyone had already returned. Even Lu Dasong was there, happily talking about their granddaughter.

Both Zhou Qiao and the baby were asleep. Lu Da Niu had named their daughter "Zao Zao" because she was born a few days earlier than expected.

Zao Zao was already adored by everyone in the Lu family. When Father Zhou and Zhou Second miss saw this, they felt relieved. Father Zhou didn't plan to stay for long as he was worried about his two younger daughters back at home, so he asked Zhou second miss to stay here and help Zhou Qiao for a few days.

Shu Yu asked the family's coachman to take Father Zhou back and also pass a message to Ruan Dalai at the workshop. Tomorrow, the Imperial offer would visit the workshop, so Ruan Dalai should be mentally prepared.

After all, Qi Lie was different from Ren Huai. Shu Yu wanted to be more cautious this time.

The coachman came back before the city gates closed and informed Shu Yu of some idle gossip he had heard.

When Father Zhou returned to the village in a hurry, many people became curious and asked whether Zhou Qiao had given birth to a boy or a girl. Upon hearing that it was a girl, most people didn't say much, but Zhou Second aunt was the first to react dramatically, saying, "Oh no, now Qiao Qiao will have a hard time in the Lu family."

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....

She not only made up stories about Zhou Qiao being neglected but also claimed that Lu Da Niu might take a concubine. She said that since he had money now and also had a noble sister as the Village Lord, he might turn bad. Especially when there was a mother-in-law who wanted a grandson, he might find another woman outside.

Even though Father Zhou was not good with words, he was furious upon hearing this and scolded Zhou Qiao's second Aunt severely. He pointed out that Lu Da Niu liked Zao Zao very much, and Lu's grandmother even gave a red envelope with ten taels of silver. The news of the ten taels shocked everyone present.

They were all astounded because even the dowry for marrying a daughter-in-law in their village was only three to five taels of silver. Lu's grandmother was too generous. She not only didn't blame Zhou Qiao for not giving birth to a grandson but also gave such a large red envelope.

However, Father Zhou regretted mentioning the amount immediately after saying it. How could he reveal the money matter? What if these people found out that his daughter had money and went to borrow from her? What if Lu's grandmother gave less to others in the future?

Father Zhou wanted to slap himself for saying too much, so he refused to say anything further and took his two daughters home.

The coachman witnessed everything and didn't know whether he should tell Shu Yu or not, but in the end, he couldn't resist and told her everything.

 Chapter 1327: Shu Yu Meets Qi Lie

Shu Yu suddenly realized and asked curiously, "Is the sunflower oil so important that the Emperor sent his trusted subordinate here?"

Hu Li lowered his voice, "According to Master Qi, it's not just about the sunflower oil. But he didn't say much, I believe he intends to talk to you privately, Miss Lu."

"Qi Lie had just arrived today, and he planned to meet Miss Lu personally, so he sent me to inform you."

Shu Yu got up, "Please wait a moment, I'll change my clothes and go out."

"Sure."

Shu Yu quickly changed and came out.

When Hu Li and her were leaving, Ren Huai immediately noticed. He exchanged glances with manager Xu, and saw the two of them hurrying towards the county government.

Manager Xu asked softly, "Young Master, is Hu Li taking Lu Xiangjun to meet Master Qi?"

He thought that Hu Li was just informing Shu Yu about something concerning Xiang Weinan.

But now that Lu Xiangjun was going to the county government, it couldn't be just to see Xiang Weinan.

Ren Huai's expression became serious, and he felt inexplicably anxious.

He threw a few copper coins on the stall and returned with Xu. This time, they went directly back to the inn they were staying at.

....

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....

Shu Yu followed Hu Li and arrived at the county government, where she met the rumored Qi Lie.

Qi Lie seemed curious about her and looked her up and down for a while before smiling and saying, "Miss Lu, I've heard your name for a long time."

"The feeling is mutual."

Qi Lie: "..." What do you mean by mutual? I don't believe you've heard of me.

But Shu Yu really did know the name Qi Lie. When Hu Li mentioned him earlier, she didn't remember at first, but as they came along, she gradually recalled. This Qi Lie was indeed a character from the novel, mentioned a few times, and had frequent interactions with the male lead in the story. Shu Yu had some impression of him.

She thought that a general like him should be very burly, but now that she saw him, she was surprised to find that he was quite slender.

However, he was indeed tall, standing beside Xiang Weinan, he was about ten centimeters taller.

Qi Lie had not become a general yet, but he exuded a strong aura of killing, probably because he had been serving as a bodyguard around the Emperor for a long time.

But in front of Shu Yu, he still restrained it somewhat.

After exchanging pleasantries, he went straight to the point, "Miss Lu, how much sunflower oil do you currently have?"

"Not much, probably about ten barrels of the best quality."

Shu Yu knew that he was not asking about the total quantity but the quality of sunflower oil that could be supplied to the palace.

The sunflower oil produced in the oil mill was quite good, with the best looking a bit clearer, but the difference was not significant.

"Ten barrels? Indeed not much."

Although the daily consumption of cooking oil was not much, with such a large Imperial Kitchen and so many people in the palace, with the Emperor and his consorts eating multiple meals, ten barrels would be used up quickly.

Qi Lie asked, "When will the next batch of sunflower oil be available?"

"There is still some main material left for oil pressing here, probably enough for about five barrels. The rest will have to wait for two months until the next batch of sunflowers matures and is harvested."

Qi Lie calculated in his mind, "I understand. Send ten barrels back to the capital for now. As for the remaining five barrels, I will trouble miss Lu to arrange for someone to deliver them to the capital when the time comes."

"That's not a problem."