Jiang Sheng had been feeling very depressed recently.
Eldest Brother was elusive, chatting with people all day, and often frowning while mumbling about something serious he seemed to be doing.
Second Brother had gone far away, and although he had urged over and over again to come home early for the new year, there was still no sign of him yet, which was really worrying.
Fourth Brother was at home, but went to the clinic from dawn to dusk every day, so busy he barely touched the ground. Even when he went to the toilet he would flip through a medical book.
The once lively courtyard had suddenly become strangely quiet, and even Zhang Auntie's laughing face was gone from the back yard where she usually gathered shoes.
Jiang Sheng couldn't help feeling melancholy and sighing repeatedly for several days in a row.
Finally, Chang Yan couldn't stand it anymore. "Little sister, it's like you're pretending Fifth Brother doesn't exist?"
Although she felt a little lost without her brothers around, Fifth Brother was still her brother after all. How could he be overlooked like this?
Hearing this, Jiang Sheng hurriedly let go of the little hand on her round belly, stuttering as she opened her mouth, "I didn't... I'm not... I just..."
She just liked it more when everyone was together, happy and lively.
But Fifth Brother's grievance was written all over his face, leaving Jiang Sheng at a loss over how to explain and comfort him.
Fortunately, the sound of a carriage stopping at the door saved her.
Jiang Sheng blinked her eyes ingratiatingly and flatteringly, "Fifth Brother is the best. There are people outside, it might be Eldest Brother, or Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother. Let's go open the door."
Even Third Brother off at the frontier got dragged into this.
Chang Yan pressed down the corners of his upturned lips and nodded heavily.
Jiang Sheng felt as if she had received a great pardon, and scurried out, not seeing Fifth Brother's open laughter behind her, or the mischievous look in his eyes.
As children growing up in the same courtyard, how could he not miss the happy times when everyone was together, when even his little sister yearned for it?
If he pretended to be aggrieved on purpose, it was only to divert Jiang Sheng's attention.
Chang Yan straightened his clothes unhurriedly before following to the courtyard gate.
Jiang Sheng had already opened the big door and was staring at the dusty monkey on the carriage, taking a good while to recognize him. "Xiao Song Brother!"
The newcomer turned out to be Wang Xiaosong, who Jiang Sheng hadn't seen for a good half a year since he left Anshui Prefecture in May.
She didn't expect that he would come to Fengjing before the new year!
While tears welled up in Jiang Sheng's eyes, she criticized Second Brother in her heart - look at how nice Xiao Song Brother was, specially rushing here to accompany his little sister for the new year.
"Wow, young miss." Wang Xiaosong was both startled and delighted, wiping five white streaks on his face. "We haven't seen each other for half a year, how did you get so fat?"
Jiang Sheng's smile froze, and she gradually retracted it.
Only then did Wang Xiaosong realize he might have said the wrong thing. He quickly lifted his head and turned to Chang Yan at the door, grinning from ear to ear, "Fifth Young Master, you haven't grown an inch."
Chang Yan expressionlessly twisted his head away.
Wang Xiaosong hurriedly covered his mouth again, cursing himself for ever learning to speak.
After a long pause, it was still Jiang Sheng who broke the awkward atmosphere. "Xiao Song Brother traveled a thousand miles, so go wash up first. Sister Xiaozhu is at the clinic."
Wang Xiaosong covered his mouth and nodded, went into the courtyard covering his mouth, and washed up still covering his mouth.
After changing clothes, the monkey had turned into a fresh young man.
Wang Xiaosong was about to cover his mouth again, but remembering what had happened in Anshui Prefecture, he finally put his hand down. "The master's business in Anshui Prefecture has all been arranged. The routes to Danyang Prefecture, to Yunshui County, to Xieyang County, to Anyang County, hired people for all of them, with Pang Dashan in command and Uncle Zhang supervising."
"The workshop is also doing pretty well. All the broad beans from Xieyang County have been harvested, cooked and sun-dried. Half supplies the two You Ran Houses, and the other half was sent to Fengjing according to the master's orders."
With Zheng Ruqian away, he could only report everything to Jiang Sheng first, to pass on later.
But when he got to the end, a difficult expression appeared on Wang Xiaosong's face.
"Young miss, the master's roasted duck business can't happen anymore." After a long pause, he said softly, "The manager of You Ran House used the past half year to raise ducks in Anshui Prefecture, and hired an expensive roasted duck chef from Danyang Prefecture. They won't need us to transport the ducks from far away anymore."
Jiang Sheng immediately stood up.
Back then, Shopkeeper Hao had begged Zheng Ruqian, and even paid two taels of silver, just to get the roast duck from Danyang Prefecture.
Of course You Ran House must sell the dish at a higher price to afford paying so much.
But for Zheng Ruqian it was still very good business.
It was also to transport the roast duck that he spent heavily to buy the villa in Anshui Prefecture, dug the storage cellar, bought cakes for storage, and hired many people, specially arranging the route to Danyang Prefecture.
Yet in just over half a year, before the invested money was recovered, You Ran House directly hired a roast duck chef and unilaterally ended the duck transportation route.
"This, this is just too much!" Jiang Sheng cried mournfully, "Isn't this what Eldest Brother called drawing water without replenishing the source?"
Moreover, You Ran House didn't just draw water, they secretly raised ducks for half a year until they could be slaughtered and roasted, before cutting off the firewood from under the cauldron.
She used to hear merchants were profit-seeking, but this time she really witnessed it.
Thinking of Zheng Ruqian's business in Anshui Prefecture, half was supported by the roast duck transport. Without the roast duck, the ice would be useless, the villa as good as wasted money, and future profits greatly reduced.
What to do, what to do?
In her life Jiang Sheng had stolen and fought, suffered cold and hunger, cried for others, and wept from pain, but she had never encountered any difficulties in business.
With her innate courage and fearlessness, she dared to go up the mountains to pick mushrooms and sell them to Master Bai, and was also able to obediently be a good little sister when Zheng Ruqian was trying to prove himself. When Zheng Ruqian later wanted to give up the workshop, she was able to take on the responsibility again for the sake of the love and kindness in her heart.
Jiang Sheng's thoughts were simple - eat your fill, drink your fill, with brothers by your side.
She had no business sense, no ambition, no greed, no extravagant hopes.
If the roast duck business was her own, perhaps she would have accepted defeat and moped for a few days.
But it wasn't.
This was Zheng Ruqian's business, the fruits of Second Brother's labor, the root he never mentioned but all his brothers and sisters could see, that would allow Second Brother to stand tall and straight-backed in front of his other brothers.
It was also the key for him have confidence and poise.
Wang Xiaosong was still anxiously asking at the side, "Then what should we do about the ice and the villa?"
Jiang Sheng's vision blurred for a moment, as if seeing Second Brother's phantom.
He still liked flashy clothes, but as a businessman running a shop he was restricted from wearing silks and satins, and could only wear plain silk, waving a fan with a solemn expression on his face.
Jiang Sheng followed his phantom and recited word for word, "Keep the ice and the villa. Even without transporting roast duck, other things can be transported."
If they could ice and transport roast duck back, they could ice and transport other items too.
With the ice and villa, the invested money would definitely earn back!
