Expelled from the Duke's mansion, the fake heiress is richer than a country.

Compared to growing grass, which is said to only last two or three years, growing Dendrobium officinale is definitely more reliable. Those can fetch astronomical prices!

Yu Wanran didn't immediately reveal the planting method. She could tell that her father was still hung up on the neighbor next door and was determined to make the eldest son's family rich. Perhaps if the third son's family came back and begged her softly, her father would soften his heart too.

Let's take it one step at a time. Whether or not she should tolerate the other two families clinging to their coattails, she'd have to stand by and watch with a cold eye. In both her lives, she had no good feelings towards these so-called relatives.

When the family was destroyed and everyone died, apart from the eldest uncle who took out one or two taels of silver to buy two thin coffins to help with the funeral arrangements, no one else showed up.

Later, she left for distant lands, secretly sending a large sum of money to her younger brother and sister-in-law through a third party. However, when she finally mustered the courage to return home, she died at sea.

During the meal, everyone was still savoring the moment. There was so much information, it was hard to process it all at once. After a while, Ji Chunhua remembered and asked, "Ranran, when are you planning to go on your trading trip?"

"Let's wait until the weather gets warmer."

Yu Man suggested. It's freezing cold now, making it difficult to go out already, and this would only increase the risk.

"I plan to leave in the next few days!"

Yu Wanran shook her head: "Delaying business opportunities will mean missing out on a good chance to make money. After we finish eating, I'll go into town to find a security escort agency and arrange with them to take the next available caravan so we can set off together."

She had been struggling to find Dendrobium officinale, and had even considered robbing the rich to help the poor or taking out a high-interest loan. After all, missing out on information about Edelweiss would be a huge waste.

The Yu family members looked at each other and immediately became tense.

It was all talk and no action, but when it came to actually doing it, people inevitably backed down.

Yu Man thought for a moment and gritted his teeth.

"I...I'll go with Ranran on this trip!"

Although the farthest he had ever traveled was Tongcheng, he was still quite naive and his legs would go weak at the mere mention of going to the capital. Yet, he couldn't bear to let his daughter, a young girl, go out alone.

Yu Wenbin hesitated for a moment, then finally made up his mind: "I'll go, I'll escort Third Sister! Father is old and his legs aren't good, I'm young and strong and I'm the eldest, so I'm the most suitable to go."

Yu Wanran neither objected nor offered any suggestions.

She certainly didn't need anyone to escort her. But the Yu family had lived their entire lives in a subservient manner. If they didn't go out and broaden their horizons, she feared that even if she gave them mountains of gold and silver, she wouldn't be able to hold onto them in the end.

Moreover, running a trade route is extremely risky, as it involves risking one's life.

She wanted them to know that money doesn't come easily, so they wouldn't be so kind in the future. She works tirelessly to earn money, and they just let her squander it all—what kind of person is that?

Large houses, especially three-bedroom houses, are a potential problem.

"You two should go together, so you can look out for each other!"

After much deliberation, Ji Chunhua finally made her decision. She glared at Yu Wenrong, who was eagerly waiting beside her, and said, "Fourth brother, forget about it! You're still young. Stay home and help out for a couple of years. I haven't even found you a wife yet!"

Only after getting married can one be considered an adult.

Yu Wenrong immediately deflated.

Yu Wanran glanced at her younger brother.

Actually, she wanted to take her younger brother out with her to gain some experience. Her father and older brother's personalities were already set in stone and difficult to change. But her younger brother was lively and had a strong sense of integrity; he had great potential if she could nurture him.

However, if she takes both her mother and her precious sons away at once and something goes wrong, her mother will hate her for the rest of her life. Let's talk about it next time!

With the travel group decided, the next step was to anxiously pack. Yu Wanran was afraid they would overthink things and cause unnecessary worry. She assigned tasks to the whole family.

Ji Chunhua and Xiao Xiang worked hard, so they prepared some dry food for the journey; Yu Man sought help from the village head and other villagers to buy land and build a new house.

The eldest brother and sister-in-law went to Xiaohong Village to collect red grass and weave a new straw mat as a sample for her to take to the capital.

As for why they didn't bring the red grass directly, it's because Yu Wanran discovered that fresh red grass is difficult to preserve. However, red grass that has undergone selective cleaning and treatment is more durable when woven into mats.

Besides, bringing a traditional straw mat from so far away is understandable. But bringing a basket of red grass... is that a blatant attempt to cover up the truth?

The family is caught up in a tense and busy schedule due to the uncertain future.

Yu Wenrong followed her third sister into the city by car, but halfway there she was still unhappy: "Third sister, why didn't you take me with you on your long trip? I'm much smarter than Dad and my eldest brother!"

Yu Wanran patted his hand, signaling him to speak softly so the coachman wouldn't hear.

"Once we've earned some money, your third sister will send you to school. You must study hard and learn as many words as possible. You can even teach Xiaoxiang when you come back!"

"School?"

Yu Wenrong almost jumped up, which made the driver turn around to look.

"I'm so old, you want me to go and study with a bunch of little kids?"

He did want to study when he was a child, but his family couldn't afford it. Now that he has the opportunity, he doesn't want to anymore. Just thinking about sitting in a row with a bunch of snotty-nosed kids, getting his hands slapped by the teacher, makes him...

There is no love in life.

Yu Wanran glared at him: "As a man, you're neither good at academics nor martial arts. How will you take care of your wife and children and support your family in the future?"

"Dad and my eldest brother weren't academically gifted either, but that didn't stop them from becoming the pillars of the family..."

Yu Wenrong muttered.

Yu Wanran shut her mouth. The driver pricked up his ears, listening to the two siblings talking. He would teach the younger brother gradually. After all, it was just the beginning; the Yu family hadn't yet prospered, and it was normal for family members to lack understanding.

"Rongwa, you just went into the city yesterday, why are you going into the city again today?"

The driver had a gossipy look on his face.

He drove the mule cart out of necessity; if there were passengers, he would go to work. But it was rare to see villagers going to town every day. The round-trip fare of twenty copper coins was not cheap!

Yu Wenrong had already prepared an excuse for this: "Uncle, my third sister has always wanted to go back to the Duke's Mansion, so I'm accompanying her."

The Duke's Mansion...

The driver clicked his tongue inwardly, no longer daring to entertain any thoughts. The affairs of the powerful and wealthy should be kept quiet and uninvolved for ordinary people.

Once in the city, the coachman went off to solicit business. The siblings, empty-handed, first went to the money exchange to exchange for silver notes before heading to the Tongcheng Escort Agency.

This escort agency, named Zhenyuan, is the only one in Tongcheng. Like Ruicaotang and Huitong Money Exchange, it's a branch, primarily operating in the capital. The fact that it can establish such a chain in various counties and prefectures of the Great Zhao Dynasty suggests a reassuring background and powerful connections.

Therefore, Ji Chunhua wasn't too opposed to her family going to Beijing. After all, safety was guaranteed, and apart from the higher price, there were no other problems.

Wearing a straw hat that covered most of her face, Yu Wanran instructed Yu Wenrong to act as her representative and inquire about the escort agency's operations.

They learned that the next shipment was scheduled for two days later. A merchant was transporting goods to the capital, and they could go along the same route. Since they had no cargo, only personal belongings, the escort agency would only charge ten taels of silver for a round trip.

Twelve!

Still only?

Yu Wenrong's heart ached, he hadn't expected a trip to be so expensive! They were just incidental companions, the escort agency was supposed to be involved in escorting goods anyway.

Fortunately, there are advantages to being expensive.

They could travel by the escort agency's carriage; all they needed to do was provide their place of residence, and they would handle all the entry and exit procedures for the city. This would save them a lot of trouble and prevent them from being recognized as Yu Wanran when they went to the government office.

Yu Wanran took out ten taels of silver, and Yu Wenrong took out his household registration certificate. The siblings completed the travel procedures and signed an agreement with the escort agency.