Chapter 319: Three Sneaks

Chapter 319

The production volume of waxed meat was huge. Every time the weather turned cold, the warehouses were not enough to hold the inventory and the workers were busy rushing around.

In contrast, the fine craftwork, complicated process, and relatively small demand for shuilu noodles made the entire workshop seem rather tranquil.

In Fengjing, every inch of land was worth an inch of gold. It was understandable that Zheng Ruqian had this idea.

"But Second Brother, shuilu noodles are expensive and making more doesn't necessarily mean selling more." Jiang Sheng scratched his little bun. He always felt the left one was a little loose. for new novels

Zheng Ruqian smiled. "Who said I was going to make shuilu noodles? No one with a sane mind eats that stuff."

"Then what are you going to make?" Jiang Sheng wondered.

Zheng Ruqian kept it a mystery. He got up and took a look around, leaving two requests:

First, build a wall down the middle to divide the workshop into two sections.

Second, set up a steaming pot stove and prep tables on the left side.

It looked as if he was going to move the entire Jiuzhen Store over.

Jiang Sheng racked his brains. As the carriage headed towards Tian Street Corner, he finally understood. "Second Brother, are you thinking of expanding our pastry shop?"

Currently, the Jiuzhen Store occupied two storefronts. One was used for steaming various pastries, the other for selling. If the steaming was moved to the workshop, both storefronts could be used entirely for selling pastries, instantly doubling the store space.

They could use the carriage for restocking during normal times, even though it was more troublesome. But they had no shortage of manpower.

Jiang Sheng yelled excitedly, "Second Brother, you've become smarter, Second Brother you're so amazing!"

Zheng Ruqian felt the spring breeze on his face, arrogant yet self-satisfied. "Of course, in this whole family, I'm the smartest! Other than me, who else is there?!"

Who else was there?!!!

Once this guy became full of himself, he could even forget about the losses he just suffered yesterday.

The carriage was stopped by Jiang Sanle. Jiang Sheng lifted the curtain, feigning surprise as he called out, "Oh, Eldest Brother?"

Zheng Ruqian's body instantly tensed up, anxious and apprehensive. "Uh...other than me there's Eldest Brother. Eldest Brother is also very smart, a teeny tiny bit smarter than me."

He used his thumb and index finger to measure half a chi, then spread them to one chi, as far as possible.

Along with that was an almost fawning laugh, and a flattering "Eldest Brother" that he drew out through countless twists and turns.

Yet when he turned his head back, where was that scholarly youth in green robes? All that was there were the diverse shops on Tian Street Corner and countless relaxed commoners.

They were following the Liao Family.

Zheng Ruqian selling lychees boldly and openly in Fengjing, and actually managing to sell them―with the Liao Family's temperament they would definitely harbor resentment and find ways to sabotage things.

Jiang Chengyuan was rather familiar with those uncles of his. Early in the morning, he had sent people to keep watch on the Liao Family. Things had indeed happened just as he anticipated.

The Second Branch siblings beside them kept clicking their tongues. They had heard before that no one knows a son better than his mother, and now there was also "no one knows an uncle better than his nephew". Following Eldest Branch really opened their eyes!

"Those people over there should be the Liao Family's men." Jiang Chengyuan pointed at a few shifty-looking brawny men in the corner. "Keep a close eye on them later and don't let them leave your sight."

Jiang Chengfeng and Jiang Chengyu solemnly nodded.

Those brawny men watched Jiang Sheng and her siblings while they in turn watched the brawny men. The three groups ran back and forth between Tian Street Corner and the workshop.

Transporting oil, rice, flour, steaming pots...

As the rearguard, the three of them ate a mouthful of dust and hid until they were exhausted.

"When can we finish transporting everything..." Jiang Chengyu said blankly to the sky. "Eldest Brothers, can I quit?"

Why had she clung on halfway to insist on joining? She must have a problem with her brain, or caught some kind of madness.

"No." Jiang Chengfeng was merciless. "You've followed for so long already. Quitting suddenly now, could you bear it?"

Quitting meant that the suffering and exhaustion from before would have been for naught.

Could she really bear it?

Jiang Chengyu clenched her little fists. She told her brothers with the action of climbing onto the carriage―She couldn't bear it!

She must see the bustle to the end. She must know how it would all end!

As the carriage travelled from the workshop back to Tian Street Corner again, Jiang Sheng also changed from doubt to certainty.

"There really are people following us." She lowered her voice. "Second Brother, I'm guessing it's because of the lychees attracting attention."

Zheng Ruqian's face was overcast. "I haven't even transported the second batch of lychees back yet. They can't wait to make their move. The Liao Family is being too petty."

The distance from Lingnan to Fengjing was truly vast. He couldn't be certain of the lychees' sales, so he didn't make arrangements to hurry the second shipment. He only prepared the transporters.

The lychees had sold out yesterday. The Yao Family placed an additional order for 30 jin. Wang Xiaosong set off overnight towards Lingnan to bring back large, fresh fruit in 20 days.

The Liao Family actually didn't need to be afraid. As the imperial household's exclusive supplier, plus 20 days of priority, they could earn enough to have pots full of gold.

Yet they were unwilling to even leave behind the dregs of soup, let alone a share of the pot.