The Slender Waist-Chapter 529 - 378 Repeated Calculations

To test the usage rate of coal balls, Feng Yun had actually already distributed them to the villages for trial use.

However, there was one condition: once the villagers received the coal balls, they couldn’t sell them privately. The pricing and sales had to be uniform through the workshop. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The news of the He Residence had spread, and with it, the news of the coal balls disseminated far and wide, from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred. Just as mass production began, merchants started to arrive in Andu one after another.

There were local traders from Andu County.

And others who came from places as far as Yupu, Wanning, and Shiguan.

Many even made special trips to the Coal Ball Workshop in Changmen to observe the use of coal balls.

To provide a more direct experience, the workshop kept its furnace burning without interruption, making its effectiveness immediately clear.

These traders, used to wandering all over and with keen senses, knew that the appearance of coal balls was not just about a new product; it was transformative, altering fuel usage and impacting national economy and people’s livelihood.

They wouldn’t miss out on such a business opportunity, so they flocked to Changmen to seek an audience with Feng Yun.

Among them were two groups who were particularly wily.

Some, seeing the business potential, subtly expressed their desire to sign an exclusive contract with Changmen for the sole selling rights in their areas.

Others were willing to sacrifice their profits in order to secure priority in ordering and a large supply of coal balls.

Feng Yun never personally met with these people.

She let Alou handle them.

The Coal Ball Workshop had a fixed price, and buying in bulk came with a discount, but Feng Yun would neither grant exclusive dealership rights nor consider those voluntarily offering higher prices to secure priority and substantial supply—she uniformly refused.

Alou had once asked her why.

After all, if it could be sold for a higher price, why not take advantage of the situation?

Feng Yun only had a light response.

"How can I let a matter benefiting the people be monopolized by profiteers?"

Having been with her so long, Alou already understood what kind of person his lady was.

A gentleman loves wealth and should acquire it in a righteous manner.

Should coal balls sell by sole dealership, without any competition, they would no longer be an affordable product for the common people.

This was not Feng Yun’s intention.

Changmen held the core production method, so why should intermediaries take the largest profit, while they earned mere hard-earned money?

Alou understood the first point, but not the second.

Without explaining much more about the subtleties involved, Feng Yun only instructed him to report every word and deed of the visiting merchants to her daily without omission.

She was extremely cautious.

And Alou dared not be negligent.

For several days in a row, he put on clean and neat clothes every day, sat in the hall entertaining traders with tea and conversation. Despite not having completed a single deal, he increasingly assumed the air of a respectable steward...

But it was foreseeable that coal balls would soon be in shortage and would not lack for customers...

Feng Yun was also busy.

Wen Hui, after getting married, returned to Yutangchun on the third day to manage her business. Taking advantage of the inventory check, Feng Yun rode a carriage to Yutangchun.

Wen Hui was bustling about, busy as a bee.

Seeing her like this, Feng Yun teased with a smile.

"Just married, and you can’t wait to return to work instead of resting a bit longer?"

"I can’t sit still." Wen Hui, with rosy cheeks and a glint in her eyes, appeared to be enjoying newlywed bliss, and from this Feng Yun could tell that the young couple must be very happy together.

She relaxed the worry in her heart.

"It seems you’re doing well?"

Wen Hui bashfully looked down.

Feng Yun didn’t tease her further and her expression became more serious.

"You’re not attending to your in-laws, and just days into your marriage, you’re out working. Hasn’t the Governor’s Office said anything?"

Wen Hui laughed upon hearing this, her voice secretive.

"Thanks to you, my mother-in-law was sent back to her natal family by my father-in-law. It seems they had a falling out..."

Feng Yun asked, "And your husband is at ease with this?"

Wen Hui paused then shook her head.

"He is very disappointed with his mother over this incident. He hasn’t said much from beginning to end, let alone stopped it..."

Feng Yun asked, "What about Madam Yang San, has she confessed?"

Wen Hui pursed her lips and shook her head as she looked at Feng Yun.

"Currently, she is locked up in the Governor’s Office prison. According to the law, every day my husband returns, I inquire. From what he implies, Madam Yang is very tight-lipped, adamantly stating the child is his. She even counters by accusing the He Family of murdering to protect their reputation..."

She sighed.

"I would not have thought she was so resolute."

Feng Yun chuckled.

"That’s because they haven’t used torture."

With good food and drink, anyone can be tough.

If she falls into Pei Jue’s hands, even if she doesn’t die, she’ll be flayed. How many can stay tough then?

Without saying much else, she asked about other matters.

Wen Hui knew why she had come today and wanted to get some information. She quietly lifted the curtain to look outside and then said in a low voice:

"I’ve heard it said that the Marquis of Xuanping is bedridden, repeating ’injustice’ over and over again, staring with wide eyes as if possessed by demons, which is quite terrifying. The Marquis Residence has called many doctors, but none have turned the tide..."

Pausing, she lowered her voice further.

"It seems he might not last much longer?"

Feng Yun took a sip of her tea and said softly, "Really? Then congratulations are in order for the Marquis’s wife."

Seeing her nonchalant demeanor, Wen Hui started to laugh.

"The old madam visited the Marquis Residence today, and she recommended Doctor Yao. The Marquis’s wife had some reservations, but after being persuaded by the old madam, she agreed."

Lady He, the elder, represented the He Family in visiting the Marquis of Xuanping.

After all, the incident happened within the He Family premises and the case hadn’t been completely resolved, resulting in a matter of life and death, so they had to show some gesture.

Feng Yun burst into laughter.

"You are quite clever."

Wen Hui winked at her.

"I’ve learned from the mistress. Since the elder Lady He treats me well, when it’s time for me to exert effort for the mistress, how can I be vague?"

Feng Yun smiled softly.

She often felt that it was easier to get along with women.

They also seemed to know gratitude better.

After chatting for a while longer, they talked about how Luo Yue gave birth to a little son for Wei Zheng, and even sent a letter saying that after her postnatal confinement, she intended to visit her family for a short stay.

Wen Hui smiled.

"That will certainly liven things up."

They all considered Changmen as their maiden home.

Even though Feng Yun was younger than all of them, she felt like their elder sister.

On the way back from Yutangchun, Feng Yun encountered the carriage sent by the Marquis Xuanping Residence to fetch Doctor Yao.

The two carriages met on the village road.

Feng Yun lifted the curtain and glanced at Doctor Yao, voluntarily moving to one side.

Doctor Yao asked about her well-being, nodded and smiled at her.

"Thank you, mistress."

Feng Yun said, "Healing the sick is urgent, Doctor Yao, please go ahead."

As the carriage departed, Feng Yun didn’t drop the curtain but continued to gaze at Changmen in the distance under the sunlight.

The family crest shone brightly, highly conspicuous, and a flag waving in the breeze, like a stalwart spine, presented a robust character in the silence.

When she returned to the manor, Ge Guang went to stop the carriage, while Feng Yun led two servant girls towards the study.

Pei Jue watched her from beside the southern window.

As if by telepathy, their gazes met, and Feng Yun’s expression tightened as she quickened her pace.

Pei Jue slowly put down the scroll.

The light danced at the edge of the curtains, and as Feng Yun entered the room, she indeed saw him sitting there, his handsome face as cold as ever, yet she easily caught a flicker of a different emotion.

She asked, "Were you waiting for me, Your Highness?"

Pei Jue’s eyes were dark, his expression somber.

"Hmm."

As their eyes locked, Feng Yun stayed silent, simply smiling at him.

He then added another sentence, "There are matters to discuss."

His deep voice entered her ears, and Feng Yun raised her eyebrows, signaling the servants to leave and then approached him, following his gaze to the blooming flowers in the courtyard.

"The sun has risen from the west, Your Highness is actually seeking me out for advice?"

Pei Jue glanced at her.

Feng Yun laughed openly, "What is it, tell me?"

Pei Jue said, "Li Zongxun has been secretly contacting many traders to purchase grain, coal... Graphite."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yun laughed.

"Your Highness is truly well-informed. Are you trying to tell me that many traders who have visited Changmen these days are actually Yecheng’s doing..."

Seeing that she was not deceived, Pei Jue relaxed slightly.

"Just being cautious. I won’t interfere with your coal ball selling."

Feng Yun was taken aback.

Recalling their conversation that day, she could not help but smile.

"I don’t just sell coal balls, I sell anything. Like... faces?"

Pei Jue regarded her with a cool stare.

With a faint smile, Feng Yun said, "Having failed to start from Chunyu Yan, Li Zongxun has turned his attention to me. If I accommodate him, how would that be?"

Pei Jue’s brows furrowed slightly, "How do you intend to handle this?"

"I’ve already thought it through for him," Feng Yun’s mouth slightly curved, leaning forward, gazing up at Pei Jue’s face.

"How about the General and I play good cop, bad cop?"

Pei Jue grunted affirmatively, his eyes as dark as ink.

"How will I be the bad one, and how will you be the good?"

Feng Yun burst out laughing.

Indeed, without another word, he naturally assumed the darker role.

Feng Yun said, "Your Highness should think of ways to intercept the transportation channels from Yecheng, not only for grain and graphite but also other essential materials. Choke them to the point of near suffocation before letting go..."

Pei Jue looked at her. "And you?"

"Me?" Feng Yun narrowed her eyes slowly, her hands slightly twisting under her wide sleeves, her voice clear and light.

"Soon someone will offer Li Zongxun a secret transportation route. At that time, it would be kind of Your Highness to facilitate."

Pei Jue raised an eyebrow in silence.

Feng Yun leaned over with a mockingly playful look.

"No good, my lord?"

Her smile was full, her eyes open and bright.

Pei Jue knew she was scheming again.

Fortunately, this time he wasn’t the one being calculated against.