The road to wealth of a peasant widow

Changping heard the noise and immediately ran to the front door and whispered through the door, "Mom, is that you?"

Chen Cui was outside the door and answered softly, "Changping, it's me, open the door."

Changping quickly put down the bolt and opened the door, only to find that standing at the door was not only his mother, but also his grandfather and his eldest and second uncles.

"Grandpa, uncle, and second uncle." Changping opened the door a little wider and let them all in.

"Hey, Changping seems to have grown taller after not seeing you for a month!" Chen Shangen touched Changping's head lovingly and said with a smile.

This is his daughter's eldest son and his first grandson, so the feeling is naturally different. He can't help but like him a little more than Chang'an and Changfu.

Changping felt that he was a grown-up boy, and he always felt a little embarrassed when an adult touched him like a child.

"Where are the other people at home?" Chen Cui asked when she saw that Changping was the only one in the front yard.

"Chang'an and his uncle went up the mountain to chop trees. Changfu was looking at the charcoal pile in the backyard, and Suisui was sleeping and hadn't woken up yet." Changping explained where everyone was going.

"Go boil some water for your grandpa and uncle to drink." Chen Cui ordered.

"No rush, I'd better go and see what's going on with the charcoal burning!" Chen Shangen said in a deep voice.

It turned out that Chen Cui did not return directly from the county town after taking a horse carriage. Instead, she went to Chenjiagou first, told Chen Shangen and her two brothers about the charcoal burning business, and invited them to learn how to make charcoal so that they could make money together.

Chen's father and his two sons were shocked when they heard this, and their first instinct was not to believe it.

Their daughter/sister was a good and obedient girl before she got married, and a good wife and a good mother after she got married, but they never saw any talent in business!

How could they learn how to make charcoal, buy charcoal, negotiate large orders, and even arrange for horse-drawn carriages to transport the goods in just a few months? It was simply unbelievable!

Is this still their daughter/sister?

Even without Chen Cui's invitation, they would come and see for themselves whether it was really as she said.

If burning charcoal was so easy, and they lived in the mountains with so many trees available, why haven't I heard of anyone doing this in the surrounding areas?

But when the Chen family father and son walked into the backyard and saw the piles of charcoal under the shed and the charcoal burned in the corner, they couldn't help but widen their eyes.

Chen Shangen picked up a piece of charcoal and pointed at the charcoal pile: "Is this charcoal coming from this mound of earth?"

Chen Cui nodded: "Yes, the method of burning charcoal is really simple, but if no one teaches us, no one would have thought of doing it this way."

"Then how do you know?" asked Chen Dahai, the eldest uncle of the Chen family.

"Dad, big brother, second brother, you may not believe me, but on the seventh day after Eryong's death, I had a dream. After I woke up, there were many things in my mind that I didn't know before. I think these were all told to me by Eryong in the dream. In fact, there are other ways to make money, but I have only learned how to burn charcoal."

Chen Cui looked serious and spoke earnestly.

An important principle for telling lies so that people will believe it is that you must also believe it firmly in order to deceive others.

Whether you believe it or not, I believe it myself.

Chen Dahai and Chen Dajiang looked at each other and saw the word "disbelief" in each other's eyes.

But Chen Shangen believed it. Older people would rather believe in these things about ghosts and gods.

He sighed, with a look of emotion on his face: "Eryong revealed this because he was worried about you and your children and that you wouldn't be able to live well in the future. I don't know if this child will be hindered by leaking these things."

Even in modern times, there are still many superstitious people, let alone in the feudal ancient times, almost everyone has a fearful attitude towards ghosts and gods, and the elderly are even more so.

Chen Cui pinched herself secretly, her eyes reddened at the right time, and she sniffed and said, "Dad, don't worry, Eryong is fine, he said he will marry into a good family."

"That's good, that's good!" Chen Shangen stroked his beard and nodded.

Chen Dahai and Chen Dajiang looked at their father and sister and found themselves simply incomprehensible.

How come this matter suddenly became so mysterious, and it even involves my deceased brother-in-law? I must be dreaming!

"This way of making money is what Eryong asked you to use to support your family and take care of the children. If you tell us, what will happen to Changping and the others in the future?" Chen Shangen calmed down and said hesitantly.

Once his family learned the method of making charcoal, he could now control his sons and prevent them from competing with his daughter's family for business, but he still had grandchildren!

Besides, people's hearts are biased. Although he loves his daughter, she can never compare to his sons and grandsons in his mind. Although he has this idea now, he cannot guarantee that he will not indulge his children and grandsons in the future and use this skill as their own to make a profit.

This way of making money is used to pass on the family fortune, especially when a daughter has lost her husband and has to rely on her son in the future, and he must have the ability to make a living. Chen Shangen does not want to take advantage of this and let his grandson lose his unique job in the future.

"Dad, my daughter's life was given by you and mom. When I was born, you saved me again with ginseng, which allowed us to survive. I will never be able to repay your kindness in my lifetime. Now that I have a way to make money, I will definitely ask my family to do it together. My brothers have taken good care of us mother and son. I can't make money by myself, but I have to watch my mother's family suffer from poverty. I have already told Changping and the others about this, and they all agreed."

Chen Cui was moved and said this, with tears streaming down her eyes.

Changping and Changfu also nodded vigorously.

Mother Lai had told them long ago that there was no end to making money, and what the family lacked now was labor. Before they grew up, they would have to rely on their grandfather and uncles for many things. Making them rich would only benefit the family and not harm it.

Moreover, compared with the kindness shown by their in-laws to their own family, this charcoal-burning business is actually nothing. This is the idea that the three brothers came up with after being educated by Chen Cui.

Chen Cui invited Chen's father and son to join the business because her ability was limited. She wanted to recruit more people, expand the business, save more money, and earn the first pot of gold before the method of charcoal burning became known.

In her opinion, they are the best partners. They are honest and tolerant of her. They will not betray her for a little benefit and affect her position as the leader.

As for the tears, it might be the emotions left by Chen, Chen Cui wiped the corners of her eyes.

Chen Shangen seemed to be a little saddened by these words: "What are you talking about? You are the child of your mother and I. It is our duty to give birth to you and raise you. How can I watch you in danger without saving you? Your brothers and sisters think so too. You are blood relatives. If you are not living a happy life, it is their duty to take care of you. They only want to make your life better. They have never thought about anything in return."

"Yes, yes, these are what we should do." Chen Dahai and Chen Dajiang said.