Chapter 328: Departure

Chapter 328: Departure

"Should I go too? Maybe I should stay. If I leave, who’ll handle all the chores at home?" Before he could even show his joy, Zhao Xiping first considered the fact that Sui Yu’s hard-earned family business couldn’t be left unattended.

The little boy groaned in disappointment, then rushed over to hug his father’s arm, pleading, "Dad, you should come too. I want to go to Chang'an with you, Mom, and Uncle. Our whole family should leave Dunhuang as one and walk the paths that Mom and Uncle once walked."

No matter how hard he tugged, Zhao Xiping stood firm, his feet unmoving, and his expression unwavering.

"The servants can handle the household affairs, and we can entrust Old Uncle Niu and Old Chen to manage things. I’ll take care of arranging this," Sui Yu said, walking over to Zhao Xiping with a sidelong glance. She stood on the other side and wrapped her arms around his arm, asking with lingering resentment, "You don’t care about my plans, do you?"

"That’s ridiculous," Zhao Xiping found the statement utterly absurd.

"Then come with me. From the moment I step out of Dunhuang, you’ll stand quietly behind me, my rock. After so long, you’ve become a silent mountain of support. This time, come with me, and I’ll show you the paths I’ve walked, the waters I’ve crossed, and the mountains I’ve climbed. If possible, we’ll enter the imperial city together and see the world. Liang Ge is young, and the little one is still a child—they might have future opportunities to enter the imperial city. But for the two of us, this might be the only chance in our lifetime. Zhao Qianhu, grab this chance. You’ll regret it if you don’t go." Sui Yu tightly hugged his arm and said, "Tomorrow, go and ask for leave from Qu Xiaowei, bring him a cotton quilt, and explain the situation. He’ll understand."

Zhao Xiping wavered but still hesitated. His biggest concern was the cotton—this year’s harvest and next year’s planting all required the master’s oversight. If he left, he worried that thieves might steal the cotton seeds and sell them at a high price elsewhere.

He shared his concerns with Sui Yu, who had the same worries but believed they could be resolved.

"Master, the messenger who delivered the imperial decree has left. I tried to give him money, but he refused. When he passed the cotton fields, he mentioned a cotton quilt, so I took the liberty of promising him one. He was happy and accepted," Ding Quan reported nervously, having hurried back after seeing off the messenger.

Sui Yu had a sudden idea. She let go of Zhao Xiping’s arm and waved Ding Quan in, saying, "That’s a small matter. You made the right call. One cotton quilt is fine. When the autumn wind rises, take a new quilt and send it to him."

"Alright," Ding Quan sighed in relief and added cheerfully, "I asked for his name. When it gets cold, I’ll quietly deliver it to him."

"You’ve got some smarts. Why were you so foolish back in the desert?" Sui Yu wondered.

Ding Quan looked embarrassed. He touched the short hair on his head, where a scar stretched down the back of his skull, leaving it bare.

"I was scared. I was a bit dim before that, but I learned my lesson after that incident," he explained.

Sui Yu nodded. "Learning and reflecting shows you’ve got a good mind. There’s hope for you to rejoin the merchant team. But I don’t think you’ll fit into the team. Zhang Shun, Li Wu, Xiao Chunhong, and Qingshan are all sharp, and even Xiao Xi, A'niu, and Sancao are quite shrewd. They can handle any trouble on the road, so they won’t let someone who’s of no use join and share their profits. If you force your way in, even if you don’t make mistakes, as long as you don’t contribute, you won’t last. At best, you’ll quit the team and ask to stay home to take care of the farm work. At worst, you’ll lose your life."

Ding Quan’s expression changed. He believed it. Back then, Qingshan had killed that slave because he was in the way.

Sui Yu watched him struggle silently, waiting.

"Working the fields isn’t a bad life. If Master builds another inn elsewhere in the future, could I go and be the owner?" Ding Quan thought of a way out.

Sui Yu examined him for a moment and said, "It’s not up to me. It depends on your ability. For the next half year or so, I’ll be taking the merchant team to Chang'an. The little one’s father and uncle will come with me. I’ll leave the inn to A’shui, Huaniu, and Old Uncle Niu. As for the cotton fields, I’m considering entrusting them to you, Er'hei, and the five new servant women who came last year. I’ll ask Old Chen to keep an eye out. Among the seven of you, whoever shows ability, I’ll promote them to manager with a monthly salary of forty coins. At the end of the year, bonuses will be given based on performance."

Ding Quan’s spirits lifted. This pay was even better than Gan Da and Liu Ya'er’s. Not including bonuses, five years would amount to two thousand four hundred coins. It couldn’t compare to the profits from the merchant team, but it didn’t require traveling.

"I…"

"Go get Er'hei and Xia Hapu," Sui Yu interrupted him.

Ding Quan immediately understood. The manager position was something he’d have to compete for with the other six. He wasn’t worried about the five foreign servant women, but Er'hei made him nervous. Before he even delivered the message, he was already on guard.

Sure enough, as soon as Er'hei heard Sui Yu’s words, he lit up, looking as eager as if he wanted to devour someone. Among the household servants, he was the only one who had made a major mistake. Er'hei knew this was his only chance to turn things around. If he missed this opportunity, he’d keep being a drudge, watching others’ pockets grow fatter while he earned nothing.

Sui Yu was satisfied and reassured. She dismissed the seven of them, saying, "Tomorrow, I’ll organize and assign the farm work for the next half year. You all think it over too. Oh, and go call A’shui and Huaniu over. Aqiang and Da Zhuang too."

"I’ll go get Old Uncle Niu," Zhao Xiping said.

"Good," Sui Yu smiled at him.

As soon as Zhao Xiping left, the little boy jumped up excitedly, hugging Sui Yu and asking, "Mom, is Dad coming to Chang'an with us?"

"Yes, your mom nearly said she wanted your dad with her. If he didn’t go, she’d be heartbroken. How could he sit still?" Sui Liang interjected, crossing his legs and swaying them with a smug and disdainful look. "Your dad’s like dried sheep dung—hard and stinky in front of us, but he can’t resist your mom’s persuasion. A few sweet words from her, and the sheep dung softens in water."

Sui Yu raised her hand to hit him, "Why do you always have to make everything sound so gross? No wonder your brother-in-law can't stand you."

Sui Liang scoffed, and as he caught sight of his brother-in-law striding in from the corner of his eye, he quickly swallowed his words and shut his mouth.

Zhao Xiping glared at him and instinctively asked, "What are you saying about me again?"

The little boy looked around, saw his uncle scared like a quail, and giggled with delight.

"Sister-in-law, I'm here," A’shui ran in, followed by Old Uncle Niu.

Once everyone was here, Sui Yu told them about their family's upcoming trip to Chang'an. "I’ll leave the inn business in your hands. Run everything as usual, just like when we’re here. This year, there will be more merchant groups, mainly seeking cotton and cotton seeds. Sell all the cotton to the Brocade Workshop and keep the cotton seeds at home; don’t sell them to anyone."

"With so many people around, I’m worried we might not keep the cotton seeds safe," Old Uncle Niu said.

"I'll arrange for soldiers to patrol," Zhao Xiping said.

"That should work," Old Uncle Niu had no further objections.

"Sister-in-law, don’t forget the merchants who stayed at the inn to help us this year. What did you promise them?" A’shui asked.

"I’ll take care of it before we leave Dunhuang, don’t worry. Tomorrow, I'll take you to meet Master Du, and after that, you'll be in charge of collecting money from selling the cotton," Sui Yu arranged, glancing at Zhao Xiping, "Do you think we could hire some soldiers to stay here? With us gone, we’ll need stronger patrols."

Zhao Xiping took it upon himself, "I’ll take care of it."

With these things taken care of, Sui Yu felt more at ease.

Over the next two days, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping were buried in work, making sure all the household and field chores were assigned. Twenty-three merchants who got the news came knocking.

"Jade Merchant, our brothers have worked for you for half a year, digging pits, watering, catching cotton pests, we've done it all. Now that the cotton is harvested, you owe us an explanation, right?" asked a merchant from the Chen family.

"I haven't forgotten. I’ve already talked it over with Master Du. Your seven merchant groups can have priority over others to get goods from his workshop this year. As for how much cloth and cotton quilts you can buy, you'll need to discuss that with him," Sui Yu had sold the cotton ginning technology to Master Du for three thousand coins, and from now on, the workshop would also sell cotton quilts and cotton-padded jackets.

This was seen as building a relationship with the workshop. The merchants were satisfied but still wanted more. Someone inquired about the cotton seeds.

"Jade Merchant, are the cotton seeds for sale? Or are you planning to be the only one growing cotton next year? You couldn’t handle forty-seven acres this year, and with more, unless Zhao Qianhu calls in patrols from the city to guard against thieves."

Sui Yu had it all figured out, "The imperial court has ruled that cotton seeds can’t leave the border. I need to go to Chang'an to understand the specific regulations. Don’t rush to buy cotton seeds and risk trouble. I'll probably return by mid-April next year, just in time for spring planting. Any extra cotton seedlings will be sold."

"Then we'll wait a bit longer," a merchant said, "I figured the imperial court wouldn’t let cotton seeds pass the Jade Gate. Cotton is only grown within our territory, and selling it beyond the border can fetch a good price."

Sui Yu nodded and continued, "I don’t think you should focus on the cotton seeds. They won’t sell for much, or farmers couldn’t afford to grow them. And the imperial court is sure to make cotton as common a crop as ramie, wheat, and beans."

"That's true too. The more cotton we grow, the more cloth and quilts we can buy," the Chen family merchant chimed in, standing up, "Let’s not get sidetracked, Jade Merchant, take us to see Master Du."

The business dealings of the Brocade Workshop were handled by Du Jibai. Sui Yu led the people to him, and after buying forty cotton quilts from the workshop, they left.

The current price for cotton quilts was five hundred coins each, but Sui Yu got them for four hundred coins. She bought forty cotton quilts, and Du Jibai also gave her twenty hand muffs. The inner lining of the hand muffs was cotton cloth, filled with fluffy cotton, and the outside was satin brocade, with rabbit or wolf fur on both sides.

Sui Yu thought about the whole tiger skin she still had in her possession and pondered whether to make some clothes, shoes, or hats out of it.

"Master, the food for the people and camels is ready, and Lvya'er has sent word that she's also ready. When shall we set off?" Zhang Shun had just returned from the city.

"Did you ask Censor Geng?" Sui Yu asked.

"Yes, Censor Geng said anytime is fine."

"We'll leave the day after tomorrow," Sui Yu said, "Wrap these quilts in hemp cloth, add a few more layers, and keep them dust-free."

"Alright," Zhang Shun acknowledged.

On August 24th, Sui Yu's family of four, along with Censor Geng and his attendants, departed from the inn with the caravan.

Just as they exited the city gate, the twenty-man patrol squad arranged by Commandant Qu headed north. Sui Yu had received the imperial decree delivered by the courier. Starting this year, Dunhuang and the Yumen Pass would strictly inspect outgoing caravans, strictly prohibiting them from carrying cotton seeds out of the pass. The best way to control cotton seeds was to guard them at the source. As long as the cotton seeds did not flow out, the caravans could not take them out of the pass.

The caravan led by Lvya'er was already waiting outside the east city gate. Song Xian and Song Congzu were also outside the gate to see them off. Sui Yu met them and said, "Don’t worry, Elder Sister Song, Lvya'er will be safe with me."

"I’m not worried. I’m more at ease with her going with you than with me. I just came out to see her off," Song Xian said. "When do you plan to return next year?"

"If all goes well, we’ll be back by early April, or at the latest, May. I need to come back to take care of the cotton plants," Sui Yu replied.

"Congzu will be at the inn in the mornings, so I'll go to the inn every afternoon to sit and help you keep an eye on things," Song Xian promised. Since Sui Yu was taking care of her daughter, she would help guard the inn's affairs.

Sui Yu showed her gratitude, "With you and your son watching over things, I’m completely at ease. Thank you, Elder Sister Song."

Song Xian waved her hand and looked at the sky, saying, "It’s getting late, you’d better get going."

"Alright, Mom, I’m leaving then," Lvya'er eagerly replied, showing no hesitation, just excitement about going to Chang'an.

Song Xian chuckled, "Go on, go on."

With the sound of a gong, the two caravans merged and headed east under the brilliant morning sun.

The melodious sound of camel bells ran with the wind, and the little one was thrilled, riding his camel and trotting between his parents.

This time, he no longer had to catch the trailing sound of the camel bells. The clear sound of the camel bells would lull him to sleep and wake him up.