The road to wealth of a peasant widow

"Sister, are you really going to the provincial capital?" Chen Dahe asked with a bitter face.

"Well, I want to check out the price of charcoal over there. If the market is good, I'll ask my elder and second brothers to work with us when I come back, and then we can sell our charcoal to the capital."

Chen Cui answered Chen Dahe's questions while packing the bag in her hands.

"Then I'll go with you. I'm worried about you going alone!" Chen Dahe straightened his neck and said to Chen Cui.

"I told you, I am worried about the kids at home. This year is colder than in previous years. It is a good time to sell charcoal. You can't stop making charcoal. The family can't do without you. You have to stay at home and take charge."

Chen Cui tied the bundle and put it aside. Seeing that Chen Dahe was still stubborn, she turned around and advised him earnestly, "Dahe, you saw us go to the county town to sell charcoal these days. It's no problem for me to go alone. What's more, I'm going with the mountain goods store's delivery team this time. I'm not traveling alone, so nothing will happen. What I'm worried about is my family. I can only feel at ease when you're at home."

Chen Dahe lowered his head and said nothing.

Over the past month, they went into the city seven times to sell charcoal and earned forty taels of silver.

In the past, earning forty taels a month was something Chen Dahe would never have dared to dream of.

In the past, he could only earn two taels of silver at most after working hard for a year. Even his father, who worked hard all his life, probably didn't save that much money. But his sister did it in just over a month.

He knew that his sister had become very capable now. Not only did she act quickly and decisively, she was also not afraid at all when going out.

On the contrary, he was like a decoration every time he went to the county town and could only do some moving work. Anything that required negotiation was done by his sister.

Although he knew that his sister was very successful now, he was still very worried when she said a few days ago that she wanted to go to the provincial capital with the mountain goods store's delivery team.

Chen Dahe was also regretting, hating himself for not being smart enough and not having that brain. If he was more capable of speaking and doing things, he could go to the provincial capital and his sister wouldn't have to make the trip alone in the cold weather.

Chen Cui had just managed to persuade Chen Dahe to calm down when the three Changping brothers came back with gloomy faces again.

Obviously, none of the children wanted her to go to the provincial capital. For children who could seldom go to the county town once a year, the provincial capital was even more mysterious and remote, with many unknown risks.

"You should know that when mother gave birth to your sister, she almost died. Thanks to the ginseng your grandfather brought, our lives were saved. That ginseng was worth more than ten taels of silver, but your grandfather used it on me, and your uncles all agreed. Although this matter has passed, I still remember it in my heart. Mother will always remember the kindness of your grandparents and uncles, and I want to bring them to make money together so that your grandparents' life will be better."

Chen Cui's words reminded the three children of the tragic situation their family had faced in the past, and they all burst into tears.

They couldn't imagine how they would live if their mother hadn't survived giving birth to their younger sister and their father had passed away in an accident.

"Besides, do you think our family can keep this method of charcoal burning a secret?" Chen Cui asked.

Changping thought for a moment and shook his head.

This method of burning charcoal is actually not difficult. If someone sees the charcoal pile in the backyard and goes back to think about it, they might be able to figure it out on their own.

Recently, their family has to go to the county town every few days. Although they set out before dawn, they come back during the day and are bound to run into villagers. Some people have asked about it out of curiosity, but Chen Cui either doesn't answer or gives a vague answer.

But this is not a long-term solution.

Although their home is remote, it is still in the village and they cannot avoid the villagers forever. If it were not for the fact that their family is in mourning period and the hundred-day mourning period has not yet ended, someone would probably come to visit.

It is impossible to keep charcoal burning a secret forever. If someone accidentally sees them one day and learns how to do it, this way of making money will no longer be a secret unique to their family.

Since it is impossible to keep it secret forever, we must use it to make as much money as possible before others learn about it.

If they want to make more money, they have to expand production, but there are only a few people in their family, only two adults and the other three are children. No matter how hard they work, they can't produce more.

Another point is that after these few deliveries, Chen Cui has realized from Boss Chu's attitude that delivering 1,400 kilograms every five days is almost the sales limit of their store.

Even if they could produce more charcoal, the market would not be able to absorb so much at once.

Therefore, no matter from which aspect, she must find a way to expand the market and expand production, and a trip to the provincial capital is indispensable.

Chen Cui touched Changping's head and comforted him, "So, we have to save more money now. Even if others know our method in the future, we won't be afraid. By then, we will have the capital to do other things."

Chang Ping nodded and wiped away her tears, "Then we will listen to mother."

Changan and Changfu also responded.

Chen Cui smiled with relief, "Okay, stop crying. Mother promised you that she will come back safely."

The next morning, Chen Cui and Chen Dahe went to the county town to deliver goods again, but this time after delivering the goods, Chen Dahe went straight home, while Chen Cui had to stay in the county town for one night and go to the provincial capital with the team from Lin's Mountain Goods Store early the next morning.

In fact, there had been no other interactions with Lin’s Mountain Goods Store since the last time they sold wolf skins. Chen Cui only started to pay attention to them when she accidentally learned that they had to go to the store in the city regularly to deliver goods.

Later, she found a way to get acquainted with Manager Lin of the mountain goods store, and then further strengthened their relationship, and later she got the opportunity to travel with their team.

Although her opportunity to travel was not free, in addition to paying for her own food and accommodation, she also had to pay a fee of fifty cents, and she had to obey the arrangements of the team leader and not act on her own to avoid causing trouble for the team.

Despite such harsh conditions, Chen Cui still agreed.

Because she had inquired and found out that there was no escort company in the county, and she didn't know of any other reliable way, this was the best way she could think of.

At least Lin's Mountain Goods Store has been operating locally for many years and its reputation is guaranteed. By following their team, her safety on the road can be basically ensured, avoiding the danger of traveling as a single woman.

Moreover, if you follow the mountain goods store's team to the provincial capital, you can take a horse carriage, which can save a lot of time.

Yinping County is more than 200 miles away from the provincial capital. If you drive a ox cart there, it will take at least two or three days. But if you have a horse carriage, if the weather is normal, you can set out before dawn and arrive at night, and you don’t need to stay overnight on the road.

Therefore, Chen Cui chose to follow the mountain goods store’s team.