Chapter 84: Crimson Affection ◇

◎ After the joy, it was time to count the coins and divide the earnings. ◎

A bulging bag filled with silver coins was placed before the entire family.

Everyone, except Yu Lian, was rather stunned.

It wasn't that they lacked exposure to the world; they had once held banknotes worth tens of thousands of taels in their arms without much fuss. However, now, as a bag of loose silver coins jingled before them, it stirred an unusual excitement within them.

Yu Lian untied the drawstring of the bag, poured its contents onto the table, and the sound of clinking silver coins echoed through the room.

The twins couldn't resist reaching out their small hands to catch the continuous flow of coins. The varying-sized pieces of silver and strings or scattered copper coins landed in their tender palms, then trickled through their fingers onto the table. Their faces flushed with excitement as they whispered in awe, "Silver, silver, so much silver!"

Even though Hua Sanduo had counted these coins before, his excitement was no less than the children's. His voice trembled as he exclaimed, "In just a few days, we've earned this much silver, more than all the money I've seen in my life!"

Yu Lian chuckled and asked, "You've counted them?"

"It's seven hundred ninety-five taels and three hundred seventy-eight wen! I've counted them many times, not a single copper coin is amiss!"

The children let out exclamations of "Wow," but their surprise stemmed not from thinking it was too much, but rather too little. In the past, within the Marquis's mansion, they were accustomed to seeing adults handle silver notes and large ingots of silver—considerably high denominations in their young minds. Subconsciously, they had come to believe that such a sizable heap of silver should amount to a considerable sum. To their astonishment, it turned out to be less than eight hundred taels.

Yu Lian smiled gently and stroked their heads, explaining, "That's because these are copper coins and broken silver pieces. They might seem numerous due to their small denominations, but when added together, they amount to less than a large silver note or a taels of gold."

Yu Lian felt quite content. Initially, she had set an estimate for herself, hoping to sell around five hundred taels before the Laba Festival. That would be considered a decent outcome. The profits from that would recoup all the costs, including the expenses for purchasing the mountain, materials, labor for the workshop, and the cost of acquiring the shop itself.

We've earned nearly three hundred taels more than anticipated. After the Laba Festival in two days, we can resume business for the new year's trade. With the reputation we'll gain from selling during the Laba Festival, why would we worry about business during the new year?

When all is accounted for, the profits during the New Year period would be sheer earnings.

"Has your shop run out of all its goods?"

Hua Sanduo lifted his chin proudly. "Indeed, we sold everything. Even when we were closing up, someone rushed over wanting to buy more. I told them we were out and suggested they come back in a couple of days."

Half of the stock was still stored in the cellar. Yu Lian mused that, despite it being winter now and impossible to make fruit preserves, they could certainly produce more meat-based canned goods. Didn't they have that entire batch of wild boar from last time, which they had cured into bacon? Wouldn't that do?

The river was beginning to freeze, and the villagers mentioned going ice-fishing. Perhaps they could try making fish canned in spicy sauce? The thought of it made her mouth water at the delicious prospect.

As she pondered these ideas, she wished they had some chili peppers. A spicy and numbing fish head canned dish would be absolutely delectable. Just the thought of it caused her mouth to water.

Zhu Ying pondered and said, "That wealthy merchant, Madam Li, seems rather unusual. She's being overly attentive..." Since ancient times, merchants were known for their cunning ways. Even if someone had an honest character, they would never do anything at a loss. She had already fulfilled her part by accepting the rouge and promoting it. Why would she then send her steward to deliver gifts?

Having served her master for so long, Zhu Ying, though not well-versed in business or intrigues, had learned that excessive kindness often hid ulterior motives.

Yu Lian smiled and shook her head. "Let her be. We'll just accept her gestures. If there's nothing, we'll pretend ignorance. If there's truly an issue, she'll come forward."

Zhu Ying nodded in admiration. Her young mistress truly had the demeanor of a great leader. Little did she know that her bias towards her young mistress was thicker than the walls of their home... At the slightest hint of praise, she would exaggerate it. Hua Ji, who had just received Zhu Ying's latest letter, could attest to this.

The subordinate he had dispatched had become a fervent admirer of the young mistress. In the initial letters, the young mistress's praises were still somewhat restrained. But in the most recent one, two-thirds of the content was devoted to extolling the virtues of his young mistress.

Upon finishing the letter, the man's weary and cold gaze softened with a hint of a smile. For the first time in a long while, he felt an undeniable sense of relief and pleasure.

From the moment he received the first letter from Zhu Ying, an inexplicable anticipation took hold of him, eagerly awaiting each new correspondence. Upon finishing each letter, a profound sense of warmth would suffuse his heart, soothing his hatred and ambitions, if only for a brief respite. It was as if a wounded runner, scarred from relentless pursuit, suddenly found all injuries healed in an instant. A soothing warmth coursed through his limbs from the core of his being, offering him a long-forgotten sense of comfort and relaxation.

Once more, after a cursory glance, {Zhu Ying} delved into a meticulous reading of each word and phrase from start to finish. True to her nature, she had been verbose, this time filling an unprecedented three pages. Yet, {Hua Ji}, undeterred by the length or redundancy, patiently perused every line.

In my mind, a woman's figure slowly takes shape, outlined with elegance and grace.

She was dressed in a vibrant red bridal attire, her eyes shimmering with tears yet brimming with determination as she stepped into the shattered East Yuan Marquis residence without hesitation. With unwavering resolve, she abandoned wealth and glory, leading her entire family away from the bustling capital. She scolded her young twin brothers with a firm hand, imbued with the wisdom and teasing of an elder sister. She affectionately clung to her elderly grandmother's arm, cajoling her into joy. She subtly inspired her disheartened father to regain his strength. She managed the family's livelihood, displaying both spirit and cunning in her quest for income...

Zhu Ying had mentioned in his letters on multiple occasions that the young madam would often lean on her desk at night, gazing at the moon as she thought of her beloved.

He wrote, "The young madam was lost in thought by the window for a long while, seemingly missing you again."

"The young madam truly adores you."

"Her affection extends to the two young masters and lady as well, treating them exceptionally well. She has hired tutors for their education and even appointed me as their martial arts instructor..."

At this thought, the man's eyes drooped slightly, and a flush tinged his ears. His throat tickled, prompting him to cough twice.

Outside the door, a concerned subordinate asked, "My lord?"

He replied that he was fine. The subordinate muttered under his breath, "Zhu Ying must have rambled on and on again. My lord has been reading that letter for almost an hour and still hasn't come out. Two paragraphs would have sufficed; the rest is just nonsense!"

Hua Ji spread the letter flat, ready to fold it neatly into the box. He had a special letter box with a lock, designated for storing family correspondence. As he frequently traveled for his grand mission, he could only receive letters after long intervals. However, he always carried this box with him, taking out the letters when he needed some comfort.

Midway through folding, his gaze sharpened as he noticed writing on the back of the third sheet. Apparently, Zhu Ying had run out of space and resorted to using the reverse side.

The message on the back was a warning: "My lord, be cautious. Li Xiang, the youngest legitimate son of the Ru Yang Marquis, still harbors malicious intentions. He's sending letters and gifts to win over the young madam. Fortunately, the young madam remains steadfastly devoted to you, showing no sign of wavering. Nevertheless, we must guard against that fellow!"

His lips, which had been curled in a faint smile, gradually flattened as he read the letter. His elegant brows knitted together, and his starry eyes fixated on those few lines for a long while, as if he could pierce through the thin parchment.

A subordinate knocked on the door, informing him that a counselor wished to see him. He returned to his senses, carefully placing the letter back into a locked box.

Yet, the crease between his brows remained unrelieved.

He was concerned.

Very much so.

"Master, at present, the court is plagued with internal strife and external threats. The two opposing factions, along with the Empress and the Concubine, are vying for power amidst the chaos of the Empress's pregnancy and the birth of a prince. Meanwhile, barbarian tribes like the Hu and Liao are eagerly watching from the borders. Yet, the young emperor is overly conceited, taking none of this seriously. He's still indulging in amusements with women. Perhaps we should seize this opportunity..."

The man shook his head slightly. "The time is not ripe. We wait."

He recalled that after his death in his previous life, his soul wandered for years. In the following two years, natural disasters struck one after another – drought in the south, floods and locusts in the north, poor harvests, and many displaced citizens. There were even two earthquakes near the capital, causing countless casualties. With too many corrupt officials in the court, the Empress and the Concubine appointed relatives to key positions. The relief efforts were riddled with corruption, and only a small portion of the aid reached the people. As a result, the emptying treasury had to increase taxes in unaffected regions, further burdening the common folk and plunging the entire land into a state of suffering and disorder.

Seizing the opportunity, the barbarians from the frontier tribes, including the Hu and Liao, united with smaller tribes to invade the Central Plains. That was when the true internal strife and external threats emerged. What they were witnessing now was merely a prelude.

Amidst the natural disasters and warfare, rebellions soon sprang up across the land.

He didn't witness the final outcome, for when he woke up again, he found himself transported back to the night when both he and his father were captured and imprisoned. It was too late for him to make any arrangements except instructing his covert subordinates to withdraw. He was then thrown into jail alongside his father outside the palace gates.

But from the moment he returned, he began planning for the next two years.

Only amidst chaos did he stand a chance to avenge himself.

...

Yu Lian divided the silver equally among her family, ensuring each person counted their share before stacking them together to confirm the correct amount. She set aside five hundred taels as a recouped investment, considering it a cost recovery, while the remainder constituted profit.

She allocated nearly three hundred remaining taels, setting aside two hundred as capital for the next venture. The balance of fifty taels, she gave to Mrs. Chen.

Mrs. Chen was taken aback. "For me? Why?"

Yu Lian smiled. "Your contribution was immense. You designed the embroidered packaging, and you taught the village girls how to sew, enabling us to create such beautiful covers. Moreover, you were instrumental in selling the canned goods. Without your friendship with Lady Li and your initiative to gift them, our products wouldn't have garnered any attention."

Mrs. Chen blushed, unsure if her daughter-in-law exaggerated her role. Yet, Yu Lian's words made her feel valued and significant, as though she truly played an essential part. Could she really be that capable?

A small spark ignited within Mrs. Chen, who had always been accustomed to relying on others. It was warm and empowering, filling her with a newfound strength.

Following this, Yu Lian distributed ten taels each to her father-in-law and grandmother, five taels to Aunt Mei, and another ten taels respectively to Zhu Ying and Hua Sanduo. The remaining hundreds of copper coins were given entirely to her three children. Overjoyed, the children pounced on the coins to rub their cheeks against them. After their excitement subsided, they began counting the coins and dividing them among themselves.