Chapter 82: A Return Gift ◇

◎ She's truly remarkable ◇

As Zhu Ying read on, a sense of foreboding crept into her heart. This man is so concerned with Lady Yu, could it be that he truly intends to snatch her away?

The messenger then produced another letter, urging Lady Yu to open it.

Estimating the thickness of the parchment, Zhu Ying reckoned it contained at least two densely written pages – no less than what he'd write to his own master.

Yu Lian unfolded the letter, which was filled with the verbose and flirtatious style typical of the young casanova. It ended with a poem he had composed, expressing his longing for her and inquiring about her well-being. He also mentioned that he had few close friends in the capital, leaving him quite lonely, and asked her to remember to reply to him.

Zhu Ying watched Lady Yu's expression closely. Seeing only a gentle smile but no other signs of emotion, she felt a modicum of relief.

Lady Yu would never be swayed by such gestures!

Yu Lian instructed Aunt Mei to prepare another room in the courtyard where Zhu Ying currently resided, for the messenger to stay temporarily. Zhu Ying's eyes nearly popped out in anger, but she begrudgingly consented, watching as the shameless man's equally shameless subordinate moved into his very own courtyard, right next door to his room!

After her afternoon rest, the elder lady was escorted out by Mrs. Chen. Seeing the items scattered on the ground, she realized that it was a reply from their in-laws.

Yu Lian presented the cloak sent by her mother to her grandmother and mother-in-law, delighting the elder lady so much that her eyes crinkled into a smile. Holding the soft and thick cloak in her hands, she said warmly, "Your mother-in-law has truly put in a lot of effort."

"I was thinking that winter will soon arrive, and when we came here, it was still hot. We didn't bring many clothes, so we might have to spend more money to make new ones. This cloak is like a timely rain."

She then reminded Yu Lian to send her regards to her mother-in-law in her reply. Mrs. Chen also fondled her own outer garment, a simple lapis lazuli blue one that suited her perfectly. She loved it but felt a little embarrassed. It was nothing for her to make a few clothes for her mother-in-law, but the fabric bought in the countryside could never compare to that in the capital. Yet, in return, they received such an exquisite cloak...

"Lián-er, I'll write a letter too. You can send them both together later," Mrs. Chen initially wanted to ask Yu Lian to convey her greetings, just like the elder lady, but upon reflection, she decided that writing a letter herself would demonstrate her sincerity better, given how well her mother-in-law treated them. Besides... she had never had any close friends or confidantes, and for some reason, she now had a favorable impression of her mother-in-law.

Yu Lian agreed and took out the food from the package while putting away the rest of the items.

After Hua Sanduo waited for the ladies to finish their arrangements, he reported the outcome of his trip.

"As you instructed, I discussed with the fruit farmers. Since it's already autumn, and winter is on its way, any seedlings planted now wouldn't survive the cold. They might freeze to death, so I purchased a large quantity of fruits, buying whatever was available, and arranged for a cart to be delivered daily. As for the fruit seedlings, we can buy them next spring."

Yu Lian nodded appreciatively. "Well done. After we sell these canned fruits in winter, I'll give you a bonus."

Although Hua Sanduo admired his employer's confidence, he couldn't shake off his concern. "Are you really sure? While this can preserve the fruits for a while, it sounds novel. But what if the people don't buy them?"

Hua Sanduo worried that if they couldn't sell all those fruit preserves, they'd end up spoiling and causing a huge loss.

Yu Lian had already planned it out. She intended to create a narrative for the canned goods, establish their brand identity, and market them as luxurious gifts. It was a Chinese custom to exchange presents during festive seasons, so if the cans could become a trendy gift item with their extended shelf life, they would likely be well-received in the market.

Moreover, in ancient times, there were no greenhouses for vegetables and fruits. Winter made it challenging to find fresh produce. Yu Lian aimed to stock up in autumn and sell in winter. Currently, she was researching other types of canned food, such as pickled vegetable cans, meat cans, and seasoning cans.

However, the production cost of the cans was not insignificant, especially the sealing wax. Once her bee farm was operational, she would ask Hua Sanduo to search for a tree called waxberry. If planted on the farm, its fruit seeds contained abundant wax that could be extracted through boiling. If they could manage the entire production process themselves, reducing costs, mass production would be feasible.

After assigning these tasks, Yu Lian's attention turned to a potted plant on a nearby table. According to the messenger, this plant was a royal gift from the Emperor to Li Xiang's imperial sister, who then passed it on to her brother. Intrigued by its rarity, Li Xiang sent one to Yu Lian for amusement. As it bore no fruit and only had green leaves, Yu Lian had no idea what species it was. She decided to care for it on her windowsill.

After several days of producing a cartload of fruit cans each day, the cellar was almost filled to capacity. Yu Lian finally declared a halt to the operation.

She and Hua Sanduo tried selling a few cans in town, but alas, none sold, despite their promise of longevity. Nobody believed in the concept!

Seeing Hua Sanduo's disappointment, Yu Lian returned home.

Upon arrival, she sought her mother's help.

A few days later, a tale spread around the neighborhood. It spoke of divine food descending from heaven, destined for those fortunate enough to find it. The story claimed that the sick would recover swiftly upon consumption, while the healthy would enjoy peace and happiness. This miraculous food could be preserved indefinitely and kept at home. Whenever the desire arose, one could open a can, just as fresh as if it were cooked that very day.

Initially, the common folk had merely treated the story as mere entertainment and paid little attention. However, a few days later, the county magistrate's youngest son fell ill for several days. Wealthy merchant Madam Li and her son visited to offer their concern. The next day, the young master was miraculously cured, full of energy, and even took to the streets to play with cats and dogs, much to the delight of others.

Word spread that Madam Li had presented a magical sweet jar, passed down by an immortal, which had cured the child. As a result, he immediately went out to frolic with pets. People approached Madam Li to verify the tale, and she confirmed its truthfulness. Not only that, but she had also distributed these "divine food jars" to all the prominent families she knew. Upon receiving them, everyone was thrilled, not only because of their exquisite and peculiar packaging but also due to their sweet and soft texture, which both elders and children enjoyed. Curious individuals began inquiring about where Madam Li had purchased them.

With a smile, Madam Li cryptically replied that it was a matter of fate, revealing that the seller would only occasionally offer a few jars when in high spirits, and the time and place of sale were unpredictable.

The more elusive the jars became, the greater the desire to acquire them. As a result, various mythical versions of the divine food tale emerged, eventually transforming into a story of celestial delicacies brought down by immortals from heaven, containing magical remedies that instantly rejuvenated the sick, surpassing any medication.

Upon hearing the tale from Hua Sanduo, Yu Lian couldn't help but twitch her lips. She had to admit that in an era where commercial advertising was scarce, her marketing strategy – a combination of advertisement, scarcity, and celebrity endorsement – had successfully promoted her canned goods.

She first tapped into the popular fascination with fantastical stories, crafting a legend to establish a "backstory" for her jars. Drawing inspiration from her own childhood in modern times, when parents would buy sweet canned treats to comfort sick children, she created the tradition of enjoying cans during illnesses.

This was the "jar concept" she wanted to embed in people's minds, making sales much easier. Furthermore, she exploited the fact that the jars could be preserved for extended periods, reinforcing the "divine food" myth. After all, who had heard of ordinary food lasting long? In summer, it spoiled within a day, and even in winter, it wouldn't last many days.

While the astute might not fall for the ruse, who would genuinely question a tale with a touch of magic? It was simply a delightful novelty.

Finally, after allowing the story to simmer for a few days, her mother, Mrs. Chen, who was renowned for her embroidery skills and had once created a bridal screen for the daughter of wealthy merchant, Mrs. Li, would pay the latter a visit. She would bring with her the finest rouge that Li Xiang had sourced from the capital. This particular rouge shop was notoriously exclusive, reportedly selling only to high-ranking officials and the elite; commoners, even wealthy merchants, found it difficult to gain entry.

With this precious box of rouge as an offering, the path to Mrs. Li's door would be paved. Coincidentally, Mrs. Li's son was a close friend of the county magistrate's son. The magistrate's son, having recently landed in trouble, was pretending to be ill at home and desperately needed a plausible excuse to "recover." When she and her son visited with the canned food for him to consume, it would naturally provide a convenient way out of his predicament. Thus, the tale of the miraculous canned food would be further solidified.

Capitalizing on this excellent publicity, she instructed Hua Sanduo to seize the moment and occasionally sell a few cans in the market. Sometimes he'd carry ten, other times a dozen or twenty, and occasionally even thirty, but never more. Once they were sold out, he would promptly withdraw.

Those fortunate enough to purchase the divine sweet cans treated them like treasures, boasting about their acquisition before carefully storing them at home or presenting them as invaluable gifts to cherished ones. Initially, people were skeptical that this was truly the same food consumed by the county magistrate's son. However, Hua Sanduo, quick-witted and resourceful, began selling near the Li residence, where the family's servants confirmed that the cans were indeed the same ones taken to the magistrate's household. This fueled the hype, and soon, Hua Sanduo's face became recognizable as the vendor of the mystical food among many townsfolk.

Given the steep price of 100 wen per can, only a few determined citizens could afford it, typically those from well-off middle- to upper-class families. Occasionally, one family would attempt to purchase all available cans. Thankfully, Hua Sanduo adhered to his employer's directive, limiting each customer to no more than two cans; any more, he wouldn't sell. His employer believed that with more people buying, the product's reputation would grow.

He even announced that during the winter, there would be gift boxes containing divine food jars, perfect for giving as presents during festive occasions.

With these moves, he had earned both money and reputation. Now, all that was left was to await the release of the gift boxes, which would undoubtedly bring in another substantial profit.

In the meantime, she continued her research on other canned food varieties, such as pickled vegetable jars, and even experimented with canned Dongpo Pork, braised pork, and preserved meat with preserved vegetables. The additional heating step before sealing the jars gave the meat a unique softness and savory flavor when opened, earning praise from the entire family.

She packed five jars each of Aunt Two's famous pickled radishes and wild pickles, along with five cans of various meats, and ten jars of sweet fruit preserves. She bundled them together, planning to entrust Li Xiang's errand runner with delivering them back to the capital.

As a return gift to Li Xiang, she duplicated the same package she sent to her parents, along with two letters for each of them. In her letters, she reassured her parents not to worry about her, as she was doing well and her life had become smoother. She had also started a successful business. She asked them to try the new treats and requested that they need not frequently write to her to avoid any inconvenience.

Adding some affectionate greetings and inquiries, she sealed the envelope.

The letter to Li Xiang, on the other hand, mentioned rural anecdotes, asking about his well-being, and playfully teased him about his skill in writing stories. Nothing more was said, as this letter was composed openly in the main hall, without any attempt at concealment.

Zhu Ying covertly stole a glance, then secretly rejoiced, reassured that the young madam truly loved her master alone and paid no attention to other suitors.

With so many items, the young messenger couldn't carry them all by himself. Somehow, during his brief departure, he managed to summon two laborers to assist with the load. Together, they left in a carriage.

Before leaving, he cast a glance at the Hu family's courtyard, standing resolutely before the lush green hills of the countryside. The vast fields in front awaited their owner's touch to grow greenery, while a clear river meandered nearby. Villagers frequently entered and exited the workshop adjacent to the courtyard, engaged in their bustling activities, creating a lively rural tableau.

He smiled, reflecting that the young master had unnecessarily worried. Miss Sixth was doing just fine. During his stay, he had witnessed her canning, selling, and constantly exploring new culinary delights, all while educating her three younger siblings, honoring her aged grandparents and in-laws, and managing the household affairs with clarity. Whenever anyone in the family faced an issue, they turned to her for advice, making her the de facto pillar of the family.

How many girls could achieve such a feat, let alone the delicate and pampered daughters of noble families? He genuinely admired Miss Sixth; she could thrive anywhere, and seemed to enjoy this busy rural life more than the high-society existence in the capital. The vitality she exuded was something no aristocratic lady in the city possessed, as they were often preoccupied with marrying well and conforming to societal expectations.

Miss Sixth, however, was truly living her own life, striving for her own happiness. Rather than being a refugee in the countryside, her departure from the capital seemed to have given her control over her destiny. She was flourishing here, and the imagined hardships the young master had conjured up were non-existent. Any notion of being a hero to rescue her from adversity was merely a fantasy.