Volume 1 Chapter 108 Journey South (9)

  Yao Cun Hui smiled and said slowly: "Actually, it's not a big deal that will bring down the sky, sister, you can rest assured."

  Yao Cun Jia's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded: "Speak slowly, don't worry." I can take it.

  Yao Cunhui then stated the purpose of his trip south, tracing back to the source and explaining the reason simply, after which he sat quietly in his chair.

  "Who would have thought that so many things happened at home!" Yao Cun Jia sighed lightly, and his gaze at Yao Cun Hui was somewhat complicated. "Hui'er, it's hard for you, I've wronged you!"

  "Sister, this is what I should do, where can I say that I'm wronged!" Yao Cunhui smiled.

  "You're right, why didn't you tell me and your brother-in-law earlier? Is there anything we can help with?" Yao Cun Jia said: "I don't understand business matters, but I think that person is definitely trying to cut off the lifeline of my Yao family. What can my sister Hui'er do to help, just say it."

  "Your sister is right!" Xie Fu Yun naturally had to respond to his daughter-in-law's words, but in his heart, he sighed several times. He smiled and asked, "Which of these two ideas was yours?"

  Yao Cun Hui smiled and said: "This, I'm not too clear about it, presumably it's something Father discussed with his trusted advisors!"

  "I think so too." Xie Fu Yun smiled and changed the subject when he saw that she didn't want to discuss it further.

  "But isn't there anyone else at the rice shop? Letting a young girl like you take on such a big responsibility, isn't that..." Yao Cun Jia furrowed his brow, his eyes filled with concern and worry.

  "Sister, I'm the only suitable person for this task because my departure from the capital won't attract attention." Yao Cunhui said calmly, her delicate eyebrows slightly raised, and a brilliant light flashed in her eyes: "Besides, I believe I can do it well."

  "Ah! You're still so confident!" Yao Cun Jia couldn't help but smile lightly, shaking his head slightly. Seeing her full of confidence and flying spirit, he felt a slight relief in his heart.

  "Tomorrow, you'd better stay in the mansion and accompany your sister. I'll send someone to investigate at Shanghai Puhong Port. The day after tomorrow, you go to Huxiang, I'll find some suitable people to accompany you. Once there's any news from the port, I'll send someone to inform you. What do you think?" asked Xie Fu Yun.

  Yao Cun Hui's expression hesitated for a moment, then she said: "Brother-in-law is kind, Hui'er shouldn't refuse. But the matter of going out to sea must be kept secret, not a single word can be leaked. Hui'er thinks..."

  "This I know, so put your mind at ease! The person I send will ensure that not a single whisper of wind leaks out." Xie Fu Yun smiled and added another sentence: "Except for me and your sister, no one else in the Xie household will be aware!"

  "Brother-in-law!" Yao Cunhui stood up, bowed deeply to Xie Fu Yun, and said seriously: "Brother-in-law's great kindness, the Yao family will surely repay it heavily in the future! Hui'er has something to say here, sister and brother-in-law only know that Hui'er went south to buy land and go out to sea. Because of kinship and landlord etiquette, they helped Hui'er a bit, but as for the reason behind it, sister and brother-in-law don't know anything!"

  Yao Jia's arch-nemesis had no idea who it was, the only thing that could be determined was that this person was wealthy and powerful, with a big background, if Xie's family got involved in this too, nobody knew what the consequences would be! Yao Cun Hui couldn't drag her sister down.

  Xie Fu's eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of appreciation flashed at the bottom of his eyes. He nodded with a smile: "Not bad, I and your sister don't know anything! You are Jia Er's younger sister, if you ask us for help, we will naturally help!"

  Yao Cunhui smiled with relief.

  After talking for a while, it was already late and they each returned to their own rooms to rest.

  The next day, Yao Cunhui stayed in the Xie mansion with her sister. Xie Yun went out early in the morning and returned at night, telling Yao Cunhui that someone had been sent to the harbor, and the people going to Lake Township had also been arranged, a total of four people. The leader was called Yi Chuanming, who was a manager under Xie Yun's name on the estate, very familiar with agricultural management. In addition to two loyal and steady-handed servants, Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu, there was also Yi Chuanming's daughter, Yi Feng.

  Tomorrow morning, they will wait at a must-pass place ten miles outside Jinling City, and Yao Cunhui can meet with them directly.

  "Thank you, brother-in-law, for your thoughtful arrangement. We have a long way to go together, and I won't thank you for your great kindness!" Yao Cunhui was deeply grateful. Presumably because he was afraid that she would not be able to communicate with Yi Guanshi conveniently, he specially ordered his daughter to come along as well, so that they would have an easier time communicating.

  Xie Fu laughed loudly and said, "Second sister, why are you suddenly being so polite! We're family, no need to be so formal! Don't even mention the favors! However, who knows, maybe in the future I'll really have a request for second sister. At that time, second sister can return this 'great favor'! Hehe!"

  "That's a must!" Yao Cunhui responded firmly without hesitation.

  Xie Fu Yun saw her heroic and chivalrous expression, with a hint of a smile, he intentionally teased her again, laughing and saying: "Hey, don't agree too quickly! I'm not bragging, but among the people who can move in today's world, there are really only a few from the Xie family. If the Xie family gets into some inexplicable trouble, it would be a huge deal. Are you sure you still won't mind?"

  "Of course!" Yao Cunhui slightly raised an eyebrow, but in her heart, she couldn't help feeling a little nervous and uneasy at Ye Fu Yun's words. She blinked quickly and smiled slyly: "Anyway, this kind of situation won't happen, so why not be generous? Besides, I'm not losing out!"

  Yao Cun Jia and Xie Fu Yun both burst out laughing.

  Xie Fu Yun also felt that this kind of joke was not worth playing, so he let the matter drop. Yao Cun Jia again held his sister's hand and repeatedly reminded her to be careful in various ways, to take care of herself in various ways, and Yao Cun Hui responded one by one.

  At night, Yao Cun Jia tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. She thought about her sister's trip, worried that the Yao family had offended someone powerful, feared they might not be able to get through this, and was concerned about whether Yao Cun Hui's journey to Hu Xiang would go smoothly, as well as their voyage south across the sea, which wasn't a trivial matter. All sorts of worries entwined in her mind, making her feel anxious and restless.

  She didn't sleep well, and Xie Fu Yun beside her also couldn't sleep. He stretched out his arm from behind her and gently comforted her, "Jia Er, go to sleep quickly, if not for yourself then think about the child in your belly? The things outside have your husband to take care of, I'll keep an eye on Second Sister's affairs!"

  "She's still so young, never having traveled far or handled such a big matter before!" Yao Cun Jia sighed.

  In the darkness, Xie Fu Yun raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of curiosity. He had been following his father to the weaving workshop since he was young and often went on business trips to other places. Although he was still young, he had gained rich experience.

  Yao Cunhui gave him a very strange feeling. As Yao Cun Jia said, it was her first time traveling far away and doing such things, but on her body, he couldn't see that "first-time" awkwardness, that lack of confidence in his heart, or the timidness and curiosity towards everything. Her self-confidence, calmness, composure, meticulousness, and prudence were not inferior to those of a person who had been trained for over a decade like him.

  This is something that can't be forced, and inexperience can't be accumulated. But she's only fifteen years old! And according to Yao Cun Jia, previously she was just a deep boudoir golden girl who didn't even step out of the gate or cross the threshold!

  Is it really true that there is such a thing as genius in this world? Is there a corresponding "genius" in every field and industry? And is this little auntie of his just one of them?

  Xie Fu smiled wryly and shook his head, tightening his arm around his wife's shoulders. He chuckled and said, "Second sister is not as simple as you think, don't worry, I have a feeling that she will definitely succeed. And this is just a small test of her abilities, her future achievements will far surpass today!"

  "Really?" For some reason, Yao Cun Jia didn't actually believe her husband's words, but after hearing him say that, she inexplicably felt a sense of relief in her heart.

  "Ah, your husband's judgment of people is never wrong." Xie Fu Yun replied seriously, but his next words were not so serious. He continued: "Take you for example, wife, he took a liking to you at first sight!"

  "Nonsense!" Yao Cun Jia rebuked in a low tone, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily curled up slightly. After a moment of silence, she continued: "However, to buy so much land and cultivate it into good fields, the labor and resources required will certainly be substantial. All this will require a lot of silver! I'm afraid Hui'er's money won't be enough."

  Xie Fu Yun couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and frustration when he mentioned this to Yao Cun Hui. When he asked her how much land she planned to buy, she said that her father's intention was to buy 30,000 mu first, and then softly sighed: "I'd actually like to buy 200,000 to 300,000 mu first, but unfortunately, we don't have enough silver on hand!"

  At that time, he almost spat out a mouthful of tea. Such a big risk, she also dared to take! The land there is not worth much money, and the cost of buying 400-500 million mu is not a small amount. She even said it was "buying first"! Unfortunately, she is not a man, otherwise, he would definitely form a fleet and then urge her to lead the fleet out to sea and make a fortune!

  "I still have some private savings, why don't I give her a little later? 110,000 to 120,000 taels is no problem." Xie Fu Yun said.

  "My dowry——"

  "Enough!" Xie Fu Yun cut her off, his tone not allowing for discussion: "Your dowry can't be touched. If the daughter-in-law of the Xie family has to use her dowry to make ends meet, and people find out, your parents will scold us to death! Even I, your husband, would lose face!" He then advised, "Second sister is also too reckless, I think you should advise her to be more cautious, step by step. I'm worried that if she's too impatient for success, she'll end up losing everything!"

  Yao Cun Jia fell silent for a moment, nodded and sighed lightly: "What you said makes sense too, let's do it this way for now!"

  Xie Fu smiled lightly and said, "There are still 20,000 taels of silver notes in the study that haven't been touched. Send them to her early tomorrow morning. She's just arrived there and will definitely need money."

  Yao's heart warmed up and she softly murmured "uh-huh" as she leaned into his chest, closing her eyes and falling fast asleep.

  The next morning, Yao Cunhui came to bid farewell. Yao Cunjia gave her a silver ticket, which she was reluctant to accept at first, but eventually did so after her sister insisted. She owed her brother-in-law this much and that much, and would repay it later.