Chapter 274: Bird Wishing to Fly

Chapter 274: Bird Wishing to Fly

"This is the latest formula for making Eight-Fathom Xuan Paper. Although it's not completely perfected, it's very close. The only issues are the slightly rough edges after drying and the unappealing vertical edge texture... With this formula, Dog Ye can start the paper-making process with the folks from Seven-Seven-Seven and the villagers of Xiaocao. Ensure Nan Xiaogua thoroughly understands the cost structure, so we don’t end up losing money while producing tribute items."

Xianjin sealed the letter with wax and solemnly handed it to Suo'er, "Please, please, please ensure you deliver this directly to Dog Ye."

Suo'er solemnly hid the letter in her chest. "I swear on Zhou Ergou’s right leg."

Xianjin: "..."

Having you, Dog Ye is truly blessed in three lifetimes.

"Do you need Zheng Big Brother to accompany you?" Xianjin still felt uneasy. The round trip to Xiaocao Village would take five days and four nights, and she feared something might go wrong along the way.

Suo'er looked horrified, "A man and a woman alone together—how can that be proper!"

Xianjin snapped, "And when you take care of Zhou Ergou, is there an innocent ghost standing by watching!?"

Suo'er pouted.

Xianjin then realized: Oh, if Zheng Big Brother went, Zhou Ergou would definitely drink with him every night. Seven sessions in two days, getting so drunk he wouldn't have time to worry about this dark, chubby girl.

Damn it, the cunning tricks of lovebirds.

In the end, Mother Zhang was sent along with Suo'er, and a mule cart was arranged. Even Zheng Er, who doesn't drink but eats plenty of meat, was dragged along for protection.

Suo'er ran off with the secret letter, and Aunt Zhong entered with another secret letter. Aunt Zhong handed the letter to Xianjin with a solemn expression, and seeing that no one else was around, she still chose to lean in and whisper, "Sanlang from the Chen family asked a fellow worker from the same dormitory to send this letter to Third Young Mistress Sun. I privately intercepted it."

Xianjin's eyebrow twitched as she took the letter from Aunt Zhong.

Goodness, how many accusations does this third young master have?

It's so thick!

Even if she wrote her own life story, it might not be this thick!

Xianjin placed the letter on the table, resting her right hand casually on the envelope, her gaze landing precisely on the sealed edge—whether to open it or not, that was the question. Should she endure the heart-pounding suspense of guessing what’s inside, or should she forget her modern moral sensibilities and find out what mischief these three generations of the Chen family were planning?

Xianjin was torn.

Aunt Zhong glanced at Xianjin and whispered softly, "I've already opened and read it."

Xianjin let out a sigh of relief: If you weren’t the best assistant, heaven wouldn’t allow it.

"What did it say?" Xianjin flipped the letter over and tossed it aside on the table, crossing her arms and asking calmly.

Aunt Zhong, with her usual serious expression and ever-present smile, already showing the composure of a director, reported, "The first five pages complain about the unfair treatment at the Jixi Workshop. He suffers there, unable to sleep or eat well, living in great hardship."

Just padding the word count!

He’s only been here for ten days, and he can write so many pages complaining about the boss?

This padding skill should be sent to Chen Fu, so Xiao Fu Ai Rong can learn from it. Otherwise, people might criticize his writing for being short and lacking depth.

Xianjin nodded and motioned for Aunt Zhong to continue.

"The middle three pages mainly complain about your lack of diligence despite your position. They describe you as careless and lazy, never seen around, just slacking off, and not living up to your title." Aunt Zhong reported truthfully, smiling, showing her assistant prowess. "All these are false and biased descriptions."

Xianjin smiled faintly.

Xianjin smiled, but Aunt Zhong’s smile vanished, and her expression turned grave. "On the last page, Chen Sanlang writes in the letter with deep emotion and tears, pleading with the third young mistress to speak to the old madam and persuade her to change her mind, so that you don't have to marry into his household as a prestigious concubine."

Xianjin’s hand froze mid-air as she was about to knock on the table.

Mother Zhang had just left and was squatting in front of a small stove, roasting pumpkin seeds from a ripe pumpkin.

The kernels, still carrying the mature red flesh of the pumpkin, gave off a sweet, fragrant aroma under the heat of the charcoal fire.

Xianjin’s brain felt as if it had been repeatedly struck by a heavy mallet, a pain like the aftermath of an eighth-degree earthquake.

She could understand that Madam Qu wanted to assist the Chen family in reclaiming power from her, and she could also accept the Chen family’s rejection and distrust of her. She fully understood that her existence blocked the next generation of the Chen family—this was only natural. She had never naively hoped for openness, acceptance, and tolerance from a family enterprise.

In this era, since she was in it, it was difficult to switch sides.

In later generations, if you were unhappy, you could quit and even hope for a raise at a new job. But in this era, if she tried to leave, the Chen family would immediately escort her to the authorities and accuse her of poor management, dereliction of duty, or deceit. She had flipped through Qiao Shanchang's legal code; her fate, as a delicate yet unattractive flower, was merciless exile.

Though she might not be beautiful, she was still a delicate flower.

Exile was something she could not endure.

So all along, she had taken the route of a powerful executive, making the boss wary and dependent, fearing her departure and doubting the extent of the power granted.

As the chips in her hand grew more, her dangling heart gradually settled: the rice paper was so fine, and she, tainted with utilitarian motives, felt unworthy of managing and representing it.

She felt herself blending in, merging into the white pulp, into the blood, sweat, and tears that craftsmen over the centuries had poured into each sheet of paper.

A sudden shock.

Xianjin’s hand stopped mid-air and after a long while, she slowly lowered it, her eyes fixed on the thick letter, her lips pressed tightly together, her little finger trembling uncontrollably.

It turned out that no matter how many assets she had, in the eyes of these people, they could all become the man’s property along with her body.

Once a woman was possessed by a man, not only her body but also her thoughts, intelligence, achievements, and principles of action became the man’s wealth!

Destroying any woman seemed to be achievable through the simplest act of sexual possession.

Xianjin’s heart sank heavily.

Aunt Zhong looked pained. "You can see for yourself."

Seeing is believing.

Xianjin placed her hands on the table, her head bowed low, buried between her shoulders, her thin shoulder blades trembling slightly. Aunt Zhong, for a moment, thought she saw a bird ready to take flight.

"If you’ve seen it, it’s as if I have."

Trust those you employ, and do not doubt those you trust.

After a long time, Xianjin slowly lifted her head, her expression calm and peaceful, and instructed, "Seal the letter with sealing wax."

As usual, she dictated word by word, "Send it out, delivering it to the third young mistress unaltered."

"Find someone to clean the house we rented outside the city walls; go to the Zhen family yourself and ask Zhen Sanlang to mediate on our behalf, ensuring the contracts of Mother Zhang and Director Dong's family are transferred to the courtyard outside the city as soon as possible; your contracts with Dog Ye, Xiaocao Village, Nan Xiaogua, and Qi Qiqi—the old ones are nullified. Sign new ones under my name as soon as possible."

Aunt Zhong quickly reacted, "What about Master Li Sanshun? Should his contract be changed?"

Xianjin gently shook her head; she couldn't be sure about that stubborn old man.

The old man’s bond with the Chen family is much longer than his bond with me.

Aunt Zhong’s eyes showed sympathy.

Xianjin shook her head, "Let’s set our emotions aside for now."

Aunt Zhong quickly shifted her gaze, looking professional and serious.

Xianjin turned her head, her voice steady, continuing to plan, "Three shops, all the profits from the past three years in cash. All my personal savings, the silver notes, and gold my mother left me, will be cashed out and placed under Qiao Hui’s name."

"The Qiao family’s eldest son?" Aunt Zhong frowned.

Xianjin nodded softly, "Qiao Hui, Qiao Baoyuan."

Just as when the Qiao family was in trouble, Qiao Baoyuan entrusted all his assets to me,

Now, in my own dire situation, I can only think of handing over all my assets to Qiao Hui.

Xianjin leaned forward to assist Mother Zhang in turning the pumpkin seeds.

The scent of the pumpkin flesh had gradually faded, and the unique nutty fragrance lingered under her nose.

The flames from the stove reflected in Xianjin’s eyes, burning brightly.

"I want to see how the Third Young Lady makes her decision."

"I want Madam Qu to plead with me, crying."

"I want to leave the Chen family with my people and my wealth, with dignity."

"I want the path of tribute paper to be unobstructed. The pure, noble white paper should not be entangled in the dirty, selfish struggles and power plays among people."