Country Maiden: Fields and Fortune-Chapter 457
456, Miss Save My Life (1 more)
“Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants; with merchants at the very bottom. Although the status of merchants in Dazhou has risen a lot, allowing their children to study and take official positions, those illustrious noble families and powerful households remain like towering trees, unshakeable. Even a casual flick of their wrist can obliterate a small merchant family. I understand your feelings!”
Even she had initially thought about finding a patron.
After all, it’s comfortable to stand in the shade of a big tree, and because of her connection with King Han, no one dared to bully her.
It didn’t surprise her that the timber merchant had such thoughts.
Besides, having those timber piles sitting there wasn’t an issue, but selling them for money to invest in developing mountainous land, and not having to find a place for storing firewood was indeed killing two birds with one stone – a perfect solution.
So when it came to developing the land, as long as she could buy it, there really was no such thing as a loss.
The timber from the mountains could be sold for money, as could medicinal herbs; thinner branches could be taken to restaurants, noodle shops, and stewed meat outlets for fuel, and even thinner branches could be saved for farmers to cook and heat their homes in the future.
Choosing the remote and dense forests, she didn’t have so many plans at the time; it was just to be able to open up more land, connected together, convenient for planting whatever she wanted, and convenient for settling farmers later on. Now, upon careful calculation, every single deal, as long as handled properly, meant that she had been making money from the start.
The timber merchant repeatedly agreed, hesitated for a moment, then said, “Actually, my coming to Fengping County was very urgent. Indeed, I had the intention to curry favor, but to tell the truth, I’m in the timber business myself and sincerely want to buy timber. Anyway, there are some other reasons; I’m really at my wit’s end…”
His words were a jumbled mess.
Xie Zhinuan’s brow furrowed slightly, and she didn’t speak up to interrupt, waiting to see what this timber merchant was really after.
“These things… I shouldn’t say them, but…” the timber merchant sighed and continued, “Miss Xie is right, scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants – with merchants at the bottom. The Mu Family has some savings, and we are considered well-off in the city, but it’s truly difficult when it comes to heirs. We only had a daughter at a mature age, a treasure like a pearl, and now at the prime age of twenty-eight. I too was thinking of finding a promising young man for her but never expected that the son of the Prefecture Lord would take a fancy to her. Originally, marrying into a noble family would have been her good fortune, but unfortunately, this eldest son has his primary wife and concubines, so my daughter can’t possibly become…”
As the timber merchant spoke, his eyes reddened, “She’s my only daughter, and I fear her being wronged even in marriage, let alone becoming someone’s concubine. I begged many people, and it was only then that someone pointed me to Miss Xie!”
Xie Zhinuan had the protection of powerful backing; no one dared to touch her.
Many people thought of getting close to her, but she was always alert.
He had hesitated for days with his daughter in Fengping, pacing back and forth in front of the Xie Mansion’s gate, gathering his courage to visit only today.
“…”
This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.
Xie Zhinuan’s brow creased.
Wanting to use her to deter the Prefecture Lord’s son? She felt she was not quite influential enough for that.
“Are you really a timber merchant?”
“Absolutely a timber merchant. My family has been in the timber trade for generations; I wouldn’t dare deceive you, Miss. It’s just that…” As the timber merchant spoke, his eyes reddened, and he knelt down with a thud, “Miss Xie, putting aside the trade, I indeed harbor certain thoughts, urging you to consider my deep love for my daughter and help her, I beg you!”
“I might not be able to help you with this, for King Han is not in Fengping County!”
“No, no, Miss Xie, you’re the only one who can help my daughter, you’re the only one who can save her!” The timber merchant was very earnest.
Xie Zhinuan saw his white temples and was moved by his fatherly affection.
Chapter 458
