Looking north towards the rivers and mountains

Chapter 169 News

On the 28th, Yu Yuan prepared to return to Jiangyin Prefecture.

Before leaving, he went to the antique shop to collect his last personal belongings, intending to send them to the old charitable granary.

He has a room here and can stay there permanently.

The old granary area is really convenient. Going southwest via Loujiang, you can reach the Grand Canal wharf outside Suzhou city.

The lower reaches of the Loujiang River are wide and deep, and large ships of 6,000 liang can go directly to the vicinity of the old city of Kunshan. It is not impossible to go further upstream, but smaller ships are usually used instead.

The soon-to-be-established trading company owns six ships, all of which can sail to the outskirts of Suzhou, then turn northwest, pass through the Grand Canal to Wuxi, and then cross into the canal—the Xicheng Canal, which is named "Canal"—to travel north to Jiangyin. This transportation is really convenient, and the future water transport industry seems to have a very promising future.

Upon entering the ware shop, Yu Yuan discovered that the shop assistant had been replaced.

Cao Tong was sweeping and dusting when he saw Yu Yuan. He introduced him to the new shop assistant and then pulled him to the back, saying as they walked, "Yu She, Zheng Sheng has become the new manager of the Qingqi Shop. He ordered the rooms to be changed a few days ago. I've kept Shao She's things safe and put them by my bedside. You can take them with you."

Yu Yuan paused for a moment, then said, "Okay."

He didn't expect that the Zheng family would change managers so quickly, with Zheng Sheng already taking office.

"Where is the new manager?" Yu Yuan asked again.

"He personally led the team to Chuzhou," Cao Tong said. "They were all his wife's family members, and they were so arrogant and haughty that it was really unpleasant to watch."

Yu Yuan's situation is understandable.

Zheng Sheng definitely needs to use his own people; otherwise, why bother fighting for the manager's position? But the character of the people he uses and the impression they give to others are also very important. In the two years he's been following Brother Shao, he's learned a lot. One of the most important things he's learned is that everyone has all sorts of flaws, and you have to manage them well, making the most of their strengths and minimizing their weaknesses.

Zheng Sheng doesn't seem capable and is quite greedy. His only redeeming quality is his willingness to work hard, going to great lengths to travel to Chuzhou—most likely to order bronzeware.

Upon arriving at the dormitory, the two were greeted by a strong odor.

Yu Yuan remained calm as he looked around, but quickly looked away.

"Where's Liu Jiu?" he asked curiously.

Cao Tong brought over two bundles and replied, "He's off duty today."

"Doesn't he live here? Where is he?"

Cao Tong's face showed a complex expression as he said, "He spent all the money he had saved over the years to become an apprentice to a martial arts master. The master said he was too old and was initially reluctant to take him on, but he eventually accepted because of the money. Liu Jiu went to learn whenever he had free time, working himself to the bone every day, and everyone laughed at him. Although I laughed too, I was still very envious."

"What's there to envy?"

Cao Tong lowered his head and said, "Let's go all out, no matter what."

Yu Yuan took the bundle and said, "Shi Tou, don't be discouraged. Brother Shao is no ordinary person. I've never seen anyone more capable than him since I was a child. Even my brother is inferior to him in many ways. He has a good eye for people and cherishes old friendships. He remembers all the times you helped him drive. There will be opportunities in the future."

"Really?" Cao Tong suddenly looked up, his face lighting up with surprise. "I can't practice martial arts, and I'm not very smart. Everyone says I'm timid, stubborn, and that's how my life will be. Will Brother Shao really be interested in me?"

"Yes, I can," Yu Yuan said with a smile. "Two years ago, I was too clumsy to even kill a chicken. Brother Shao has always encouraged and mentored me, and now I have the confidence to do anything. You can do it too."

"I only know how to drive," Cao Tong said somewhat nervously.

"Brother Shao needs a coachman too," Yu Yuan said. "Cooks and coachmen are the closest people to us; we wouldn't trust outsiders to help." Cao Tong was delighted to hear this and said, "I can drive horse-drawn carriages, donkey carts, and mule carts."

"No problem." Yu Yuan was also happy for his friend, saying, "As long as you're willing to come, Brother Shao will definitely accept you."

Cao Tong nodded and said, "I'll talk to my uncle during the New Year. He was the one who asked someone to let me work at the shop." Yu Yuan nodded repeatedly and said, "Of course, of course."

Cao Tong's mood suddenly improved, and he eagerly took the bundle from Yu Yuan's hands, saying, "Yu She, let me drive you there."

"No need." Yu Yuan was startled and blushed. "Who do you think I am? How could I let you drive? I can carry it myself. It's just a short walk."

Seeing Yu Yuan quicken his pace and leave, not giving him a chance to help, Cao Tong could only helplessly follow after him and said, "I also heard a rumor that Song You, the chief of the warehouse, said that Brother Shao will be transferred to the cloth shop near Tianfei Palace. It was originally managed by Lu San, but after he resigned, someone else took over, and he wasn't doing a very good job either, so they're planning to let Brother Shao give it a try."

Yu Yuan paused, then asked, "To be the manager or the accountant?"

"I heard he was originally an accountant, but then the old master said Brother Shao had rendered meritorious service, so how could he be treated so harshly? Therefore, he was promoted to manager," Cao Tong said. "The old master also said he wanted to meet Brother Shao during the New Year to see what kind of outstanding talent he was; I guess he'll announce the news then." Yu Yuan listened and nodded, initially not noticing anything amiss, but suddenly remembered something and asked, "Shitou, how do you know all this so clearly?"

"I wasn't the only one who heard what Song Zhiku said in the store."

"Oh dear! Wasn't that something I said on purpose for you to hear?" Yu Yuan exclaimed in surprise.

Cao Tong hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's what I think too."

"Do you know what Song Zhiku's background is? How does he get along with Zheng Sheng?" Yu Yuan asked again.

"My uncle told me that he used to be a pageboy for the old master in his early years. Once, when he was traveling in Jiangning, the old master stayed overnight at the Song family's house in Wumadu. He and Master Song hit it off immediately and talked by candlelight all night. He stayed for half a month before leaving, and they had frequent contact after that," Cao Tong said. "Later, the Song family got into some trouble and fell into poverty. So Song Zhiku came here to work."

Yu Yuan suddenly realized.

I had only heard that Song You was a descendant of the old prime minister's "old friend" before, but I didn't know the specifics. Now I know.

"It seems that Song Zhiku and Manager Zheng don't get along," Cao Tong added.

"How so?" Yu Yuan asked.

"Manager Zheng wanted to arrange for his brother-in-law to become a warehouse manager, but it didn't work out, and it's rumored that he was even scolded by the Third Department," Cao Tong said. "When Warehouse Manager Song heard about this, he wasn't very happy and wanted to resign and go home, but the Third Department persuaded him to stay."

Yu Yuan perked up immediately upon hearing this.

Brother Shao is short of someone who can read and write and do math. He needs to report this news back quickly, otherwise it will be difficult to find someone again if Song You returns to his hometown. "Stone, actually..." Yu Yuan said somewhat embarrassedly.

Cao Tong looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Yu Yuan smiled shyly and said, "It's nothing. No need to see me off, let's stop here."

After saying that, he ran away in a flash.

He actually wanted to say that Cao Tong would be more useful staying in the shop to gather information than becoming a coachman, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

After walking two miles, he finally returned to the small courtyard by the river, only to find Nie Shi and his son Nie Xu chatting in the courtyard. They greeted each other.

Nie Shi felt somewhat awkward, because besides the women, there were only children in this small courtyard, making it inconvenient for him to stay there.

When the second sister saw Yu Yuan coming, she subconsciously felt a little guilty, and her face turned a little red.

Yu Yuan found it a little strange, but didn't pay it any mind, simply asking, "Is anything missing here?"

Su Niang was picking vegetables in the kitchen when she heard the sound and came out, exclaiming with delight, "Yu She is back? Wait a moment, I'll go cook." "Okay, sure." Yu Yuan put down his bundle, feeling a warm glow in his heart.

Spending time with them felt like being with family, a warm and comforting feeling, even though Su Niang's husband, Gou Nu, always bullied her—of course, Wang Huadu would never admit that he was married.

Seeing that Yu Yuan had returned, Nie Shi stood up to take his leave: "Yu She, I'm leaving now. I was just wandering around nearby and came over to ask for a bowl of water." Nie Xu lowered his head and didn't say anything.

"Have your meal before you leave," Yu Yuan said politely.

"No, no," Nie Shi declined repeatedly, saying, "The Shen residence has hired a few new guards, and I need to train them properly."

After saying that, she grabbed her son and left.

Yu Yuan escorted the two to the outside of the courtyard before returning.

At this moment, Daohua quietly walked over, pointed at the departing figures of the Nie father and son, and whispered, "Uncle Yu, that old man often comes over to talk to Wujin's mother."

"As far as I know, he's only thirty-five. How can he be considered an old man?" Yu Yuan chuckled, patting Daohua's little head. "Besides, they're both from the Huai River region, with similar customs. There's nothing wrong with them chatting, is there?"

"It's an old man," Daohua pouted. "His wife is dead, so of course he's an old man, isn't he?"

Yu Yuan chuckled silently.

As he was laughing, he suddenly realized what was happening.

That old man! He's definitely no good.

"Uncle Yu, are Rongniang and Sihai coming back?" Daohua tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Mother told me not to ask anyone else, so I can only ask you."

"They won't be back for a while." Yu Yuan squatted down and wiped the dust off Daohua's face, saying, "Do you miss them?" "Yes," Daohua hummed in agreement, adding, "Wujin misses them too."

Do you miss your father?

Daohua nodded without hesitation and said, "He came back a while ago, stayed for two days, and then left again."

"Did he say anything?"

"He doesn't play with me at all." Daohua lowered her head, looking a little unhappy. "He just keeps muttering about how expensive the wood in Shanghai is and how cheap the stone slabs in Liujiagang are. He even dreams about it at night."

How did you know?

"The night he came back, Mother seemed to be sick. She groaned for most of the night, which woke me up. I couldn't fall back asleep, and then I saw Father talking in his sleep..."

Yu Yuan's face flushed red instantly. He quickly covered Daohua's mouth, looked around furtively like a thief, and whispered, "Don't tell anyone about this. Your mother is cured, it's alright."

Daohua responded with an "oh".

"Go play by yourself." Yu Yuan patted her little head, got up and went to Shao Shuyi's room, taking out the items one by one and arranging them neatly. After lunch, he was about to go to the river to find the Liu brothers when he saw Manager Mo coming over.

"I heard from the Nie family that you're back, so I don't have to make any more trips," Mo Bei said with a smile. "I've already discussed the cotton cloth, raw silk, and silkworm cocoons with my wife."

"How is it?"

"Madam didn't say anything on the surface, but she's secretly pleased," Mo Bei said, stroking his beard. "She's already planning to open another fabric shop at the dock, just like Zheng's porcelain shop, specializing in maritime trade. Shao She must seize this opportunity; once it's missed, it will be too late to regret it."

"I will definitely tell Brother Shao," Yu Yuan assured him.

Mo Bei smiled and nodded, quite satisfied.

That afternoon, Yu Yuan bid farewell to everyone in the courtyard, carrying a small bundle, and went straight to the riverbank. He boarded Liu Bao's brother's boat and sailed upstream towards Jiangyin.