Chapter 100: The Grand Opening of the New Shop

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Upon hearing Madam Yun praise Wei Ruo, Wei Qingwan's fists involuntarily clenched tighter. Now, both her father and mother regarded her elder sister as more outstanding than herself.

Following Madam Yun’s words, Wei Qingwan casually remarked, “Yes, it would have been better if sister had told us earlier.”

At this, Madam Yun’s expression faltered slightly. She didn’t know that the elder daughter’s rice seeds were so effective, but the eldest daughter herself must have known. However, this thought lingered only briefly in Madam Yun’s mind before she recalled that when they brought the eldest daughter back, their early rice was already being transplanted.

“This shouldn’t be blamed on Ruo’er. I remember that when she returned, the fields were already being planted. At that time, if she told me to change the rice seeds, I probably wouldn’t have believed her immediately,” Madam Yun explained.

She clearly remembered this matter. At first, when her daughter suggested improving the southern city’s land, she opposed it, doubting her eldest daughter truly had such ability.

“Oh… yes, I almost forgot. Sister only returned then; I must have been mistaken,” Wei Qingwan hastily agreed, her face showing a forced smile.

Just as Madam Yun was worried over the grain situation, the goods from the Loyal and Righteous Earl’s Residence in the capital arrived. These were gifts sent by the old Earl and Wei Mingting’s two elder brothers to congratulate Wei Mingting on his promotion.

Among them were several carts of rice. The first part had traveled by water, which was faster, but after passing Hangzhou Prefecture, they went by land, causing some delay, so they only arrived today.

Seeing cart after cart of goods, Madam Yun was overjoyed. Although she knew that the old Earl and the two brothers were so enthusiastic because her husband’s promotion made him the only official in the Loyal and Righteous Earl’s Residence, the family’s mainstay, she couldn’t deny that this grain eased their urgent need.

Besides grain, the Loyal and Righteous Earl’s Residence also sent cloth and jewelry, gifts from the old Earl and the old Madam.

“Madam, these are from the old Earl and old Madam for the eldest miss,” the messenger carefully noted.

“Good,” Madam Yun responded, her gaze turning to Wei Qingwan with concern shining in her eyes.

Wei Qingwan’s face paled somewhat. Facing Madam Yun’s worried look, she still forced a smile, which only deepened Madam Yun’s pity.

Before Madam Yun could speak on the matter, Wei Qingwan hurriedly said, “Mother, I’m fine. Sister just returned, so it’s natural that grandfather and grandmother care more for her.”

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Hearing her daughter’s mature words, Madam Yun’s mood grew heavier.

She glanced at the cloth and jewelry before her, hesitated for a moment, then said, “Qingwan, when the household is more financially stable, I will get you some as well.”

Madam Yun truly wanted to share some with Wei Qingwan, but reason prevailed. These cloths and jewelry were different from the decorative pieces sent previously; these were items to be worn outside.

They still planned to return to the capital, and if her in-laws learned she had privately redirected items meant for the eldest daughter to the second daughter, they would surely be displeased.

No matter how much Madam Yun wished to care for her second daughter, she dared not go against her in-laws.

Wei Qingwan was taken aback by Madam Yun’s words, staring at her blankly.

“What’s wrong, Qingwan?” Madam Yun asked with a hint of confusion.

“Nothing, Mother, I’m fine…” Wei Qingwan quickly gathered herself, repeatedly assuring she was all right.

“Good, as long as you’re fine,” Madam Yun said without much thought. She knew her daughter’s temperament well; it was inevitable she would feel some sadness over her grandparents’ attitude, but there was surely no other ill intent.

After a moment, Madam Yun added, “I have a set of pearl headpieces that I intended to give you when you came of age, but now I plan to give them to you early. You can wear them when we go to the city.”

Her consideration was not only because of today’s events but also because of the brocade silk. She didn’t want Qingwan to feel too slighted, nor did she want her attire to pale in comparison to her elder sister’s when they visited the capital.

“No, no, I don’t need them. I already have some headpieces. You should keep yours,” Wei Qingwan quickly declined.

“You will need them. You are my daughter; all my things will be for you and Ruo’er in the future,” Madam Yun reassured her.

“Then… thank you, Mother,” Wei Qingwan accepted without further refusal, a shy and grateful expression on her face.

“Silly girl, no need to thank me. Come on, let’s go to my room,” Madam Yun said, taking Wei Qingwan’s hand and leading her inside to hand over the pearl headpieces.

***

The gifts specifically for Wei Ruo from the Loyal and Righteous Earl’s Residence arrived at Tingsong Garden.

This time, the boxes were small, but the contents were far more valuable than the bronze ornaments sent previously.

“Miss, here is a set of gold jewelry! And some jadeite pieces, all seemingly very precious,” Xiumei exclaimed with delight.

Wei Ruo was also surprised; she hadn’t expected the Loyal and Righteous Earl’s Household to send such valuable jewelry.

Though the bolts of cloth were not as precious as the brocade silk, there was a full box, and they were also satin, not cheap by any means.

“The camel may be skinny, but it’s still bigger than a horse. No matter how declining the Loyal and Righteous Earl’s Household is, they still have some backing,” Wei Ruo murmured.

What puzzled Wei Ruo was why the old Earl and old Madam would send her such precious gifts—something that hadn’t happened in the original story.

After pondering, the difference lay in the merits she had made in the southern city benefiting the Wei family.

Thus, the elders were not simply doting on a granddaughter they had never met; their actions were largely motivated by family interests.

But that was fine; at least they gave real gold and silver, a method Wei Ruo appreciated greatly.

***

For several consecutive days, the hired laborers at Little Sunshine Mountain busily harvested sweet potatoes, filling several pre-prepared warehouses to capacity.

The production of dried sweet potatoes and sweet potato chips quickly followed.

Following Wei Ruo’s instructions, the wet nurse specially selected women from impoverished families to learn the production of dried sweet potatoes and chips, then entrusted much of the work to them.

Each woman was paid five cash coins daily plus one large sweet potato.

Though the income was modest, for village women struggling to secure meals, it was a very good job—enough to keep them from starving, with manageable work intensity within their capabilities.

Meanwhile, next to the Four Treasures Pavilion, a bustling grain shop opened.

The shop’s name was simple and straightforward: Xu’s Grain Shop.

Inside, the main offerings were grains—rice and sweet potatoes—along with fresh shiitake mushrooms and dried shiitake.

They also sold dried sweet potatoes and chips at prices consistent with those in the preserved fruit shop.