Chapter 593 - 592: Farm Woman 21
"Besides, the workshop is running smoothly now, so it’s all the same whether I’m in the village or not."
Xue Guanglin chuckled. "How could that be the same? It’s certainly not. Speaking of which, Madam Tan, could we increase the soap supply?"
Tan You considered for a moment. "Let’s see after I return from the city. If we can increase it, I certainly won’t refuse."
Xue Guanglin beamed as if he’d gotten the confirmation he needed. "Excellent! I’ll be waiting for your good news, Madam Tan. As for the matter you entrusted to me... I haven’t been able to find out anything about Chen Cui, likely because she is a woman."
"I’ve had my people ask around the city as well, but there’s still no news."
An Wen stared down at his feet, not saying a word. Tan You, however, remained calm. "There’s no rush, but some things eventually need an answer."
Xue Guanglin nodded. "Alright, I’ll keep my people on it. Madam Tan, I’ve also collected a good amount of mugwort leaves and wool recently..."
Tan You raised an eyebrow. "Then I’ll have to trouble you to send it to Miao Gou Village, Proprietor Xue. I’ll write a letter, and my people there will know what to do."
It wasn’t surprising that Xue Guanglin was collecting mugwort. After all, her people had been buying it up everywhere last year. It was the sort of thing anyone could find out with a few inquiries.
They settled several matters amidst pleasant conversation, their efficiency on full display. Once they were finished, Tan You took Chen Xi and An Wen to an inn owned by Xue Guanglin.
Its name was simple enough: the Four Seas Inn. After they had washed up, Chen Xi cozied up to Tan You. "Mother, what are we doing next?"
Tan You said, "I’ve already made some inquiries. There aren’t many refugees near the city. I heard there was a drought in the northwest last year, and many people are wandering with their families in tow. We need to head west."
Chen Xi said worriedly, "But there are only three of us. It won’t be safe to travel there on our own."
Tan You nodded in approval. "We’re on the same page. We’ll hire an escort agency to protect us on our journey west."
An Wen pursed his lips. "If we take in too many refugees, won’t the officials think our clan has ulterior motives?"
"They won’t," Tan You said, pouring a cup of tea. "As long as the refugees don’t enter the cities, and a local clan is willing to take them in to cultivate new land, the officials will be happy. They won’t interfere."
"But this must be done quietly, without any fanfare."
Tan You practiced what she preached. The very next day, after hiring the Weimu Escort Agency, she set out west of the city with a retinue of over thirty men.
The farther west they traveled, the sparser the population became. After two days, Tan You’s party finally encountered a group of refugees. They usually traveled in large bands, as lone wanderers were more likely to be taken advantage of.
Sticking with a large group meant you might encounter some parasites, but at least you were more likely to be safe.
Seeing how sallow and gaunt they were, their steps unsteady from hunger, Chen Xi’s heart filled with pity. "Mother, can’t we help them?"
Tan You hardened her heart. "And how would we do that? If you give food to one person, others will come begging. Do you give to them or not? And look around you—there are over five hundred of them and only thirty-odd of us."
"They could overwhelm us with sheer numbers and trap us here."
Chen Xi lowered her gaze. "Mother, I didn’t think it through."
Tan You stroked her head. "It’s good to have a kind heart, but you must always prioritize your own safety when helping others. The human heart is the most unpredictable thing. Give someone an inch, and they’ll take a mile."
Chen Xi sighed. "But I can’t bear to just watch."
Tan You arched an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping over several able-bodied men among the refugees. "That’s why we need to find a way. There are certainly good candidates among this group, but how to get them to join our clan... that will depend on you and An Wen’s skills."
"This is the first task I’m giving you two. You need to grow up. You can’t accomplish anything great if you’re always hiding behind your elders."
Chen Xi peered out the carriage window. "Mother, who has caught your eye?"
Tan You sniffed the air. "That young woman over there. Even from this distance, I can smell the scent of herbs on her. And that old man on the flatbed cart—he may be skin and bones, but from the calluses on his hands, I can tell he’s a trained fighter."
"Then there are those young, strong men and the women they’re protecting. They look promising, too."
Tan You pointed out about fifty people in the group. It wasn’t that she didn’t want more, but with only thirty-odd people in her own party, she wasn’t sure they could control a larger number.
Chen Xi looked at the people Tan You had indicated, then turned to An Wen. "An Wen, let’s have a contest. We’ll see who can recruit more people."
An Wen, never one to back down, replied, "Alright, Eldest Sister. A bet’s a bet. Let’s make it three days. What’s the forfeit for the loser?"
Chen Xi thought for a moment. "Hmm... The loser has to work at the village pig farm for three days."
His fighting spirit ignited, An Wen said, "Deal."
’He had no desire to shovel pig manure at the farm, so he was determined to win.’
Tan You watched them make their bet. ’Just as I thought,’ she mused. ’If I do everything myself, the children will never get any practice. I brought them out here to broaden their horizons, and learning through experience is the best way.’
As Chen Xi and An Wen made their wager, the men from the escort agency watched in amusement. To be honest, this job had been incredibly smooth. It was less like an escort mission and more like taking this family of three on a sightseeing tour.
’Few people, few problems, and generous pay... We could do this job for a lifetime!’ the escorts thought.
Chen Xi and An Wen had completely different personalities. Chen Xi was meticulous, gentle, and patient, with a talent for winning people over through kindness and empathy. In less than a day, she had already befriended the female relatives of the able-bodied men Tan You had pointed out.
An Wen, on the other hand, was better at persuading people with logic and benefits. For instance, he was already explaining the advantages of joining their clan. But he was still young, and the refugees weren’t entirely convinced.
Chen Xi, however, was making good progress. By the time evening came, she had quite a few people with her. An Wen, in contrast, returned empty-handed.
An Wen was crestfallen. Tan You had seen it all unfold but didn’t offer any words of comfort. She simply told An Wen to follow Chen Xi the next day and observe how she did things.
An Wen clenched his fists. "Aunt, I’ll be sure to learn from Eldest Sister!"
Tan You chuckled. "Your intentions were good, but you’re too young. Even with the promises you made, they just see a little boy and won’t easily trust you."
"But Aunt, you said before that people are convinced by benefits," An Wen said, a little indignant. ’I did exactly what you taught me, so why didn’t it work?’
Chen Xi couldn’t listen anymore. "Mother said to lead with benefits, but they don’t trust us yet, do they? That means we have to try a different approach. You still have a lot to learn, little brother."