"Yes, so we'll just follow Chen Xiaobei here. Even if we suffer a little and earn less, as long as we can eat, that's enough," Liu Rumei said humbly. In reality, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. The current assets of the Liu family were enough to sustain them for three generations without working, and they wouldn't lack food. However, Liu Rumei knew that the Emperor valued one's attitude more.
Liu Tie and Liu Ce bowed together, clasping their fists. "Miss speaks very true. We understand."
"I've already spoken with Brother Xiaobei. He'll have Chen Dayong and his men expand the kilns a few more times, and you can go learn from them then," Liu Rumei arranged again.
Liu Ce and Liu Tie didn't hesitate this time, agreeing, "Then we'll go find Dayong now."
Watching them leave, the maid Xiao Qing couldn't help but pout. "Miss, are we really going to stay in this small mountain village for the rest of our lives?"
Liu Rumei turned back and looked at Xiao Qing. "It's I who will stay here for the rest of my life. You can't say that. Later, I'll find you a good family and marry you off."
"No, no, Miss, I don't want to! I want to serve you my whole life."
Hearing Xiao Qing's words, Liu Rumei smiled, a very happy smile.
"It's enough to have such thoughts. All women have to get married in the end. Marry into a good family, have a few children, and when you're old, have them dote on you. Just thinking about it is happiness."
Xiao Qing shook her head. "I don't, I don't. Miss, I'll just stay with you."
"Alright, I'll decide this matter. By the way, what do you think of Liu Tie?"
Xiao Qing was stunned for a moment, and then a shy expression appeared on her face. "Miss, I said I want to stay with you."
Liu Rumei immediately understood. She nodded slightly. "Alright, I'll handle this."
At this moment, Liu Tie and Liu Ce walked out of Liu Rumei's residence, exchanged glances, and helplessly shook their heads.
"Alas, let's do it this way for now. It's fine to burn some charcoal as a pretense. As long as Miss is happy," Liu Ce said with a hint of helplessness.
Liu Tie also nodded. "Yes, Miss is right. Let's see after things stabilize a bit."
The two went to find Chen Dayong, while Chen Xiaobei was not idle either.
He had been wanting to go into the mountains again but hadn't had the chance. Now he finally had time. Before the heavy snow blocked the mountain, he had to go and see Huhu Valley.
Hearing that he was going to Huhu Valley, Cui Hongyu quickly tried to dissuade him. "I think you've been there last time. It's just a place with herbs like ginseng and lingzhi."
"We have several pots planted in our old house, enough for emergencies. I think it's better not to take the risk!"
Chen Xiaobei shook his head. "But my heart is unsettled. I still want to go and see. Don't worry, I'll stay in Huhu Valley tonight and come down tomorrow."
Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, Cui Hongyu had to compromise and suggested that he bring a few people with him, preferably asking Liu Rumei for some skilled guards.
Chen Xiaobei thought it made sense. If he encountered any danger in the mountains, having a few people who knew martial arts would be beneficial.
Chen Xiaobei went to see Liu Rumei and explained his intentions. Liu Rumei immediately responded that she would accompany Chen Xiaobei into the mountains, which made Chen Xiaobei hesitant.
"Rumei, it's cold in the mountains. Just send a few people with me."
Liu Rumei smiled and shook her head. "There's nothing for so many people to do at home. I can't stand seeing them idle all day. Bringing them into the mountains is at least giving them something to do."
He thought about it. Chen Dayong and the others needed people to build charcoal kilns, but they wouldn't need twenty or thirty people.
"Alright, then it's settled. We'll pack up, have lunch, and set off. We'll reach Huhu Valley before dark, stay there for a night, and return after lunch the next day."
Liu Rumei immediately instructed Liu Ziming and Liu Ziliang to each lead five people. After they packed and prepared to set off.
Upon receiving the news, Liu Tie and Liu Ce rushed back.
As soon as they saw Liu Rumei, they eagerly said, "Miss, let the two of us accompany the son-in-law."
Liu Rumei shook her head. "No, you two have other things to do."
"One of you will go to Qingzhou, and the other to Shouzou."
"We'll be selling charcoal in the future. You two go and investigate the market prices first. You are familiar with these two places. Ask more people. Do you understand what I mean?"
The two exchanged glances, hesitated, and finally clasped their fists and agreed. "Miss, please rest assured. General Zhang in Qingzhou and General Li in Shouzou are both old subordinates of the Prince."
Liu Rumei nodded slightly and reiterated, "Be careful with everything, and don't make a big fuss."
After lunch, Chen Xiaobei led everyone into the mountains. Besides Liu Rumei, who brought Liu Ziming, Liu Ziliang, and other Liu family guards, Chen Xiaobei also called Chen Daqiang and Chen Sanliang. There had to be two village guard members.
It wasn't for balance. Chen Xiaobei just felt that having two village guards would make Chen Dayong feel more at ease, that's all.
Walking into Qingniu Mountain again, Chen Xiaobei's mood was completely different from before.
And it was already the beginning of winter. The river water had frozen.
The temperature in the mountains was naturally even lower. A gust of wind blew, making one shiver.
Fortunately, they were fully prepared and all wearing their thickest cotton-padded clothes.
Liu Rumei and her subordinates were all wearing thick fur coats, which made Chen Daqiang and Chen Sanliang secretly envious.
Not just them. Chen Xiaobei was also envious.
Even in his previous life, fur clothing was a treasure for staying warm in winter. He really had to go get a fur coat when he went to the county town next time.
On both sides of the road, the trees were bare, and fallen leaves swirled. They crunched underfoot. Liu Rumei's mood was obviously better than others. As she walked, she would occasionally pick up two fallen leaves and whisper to Xiao Qing.
Seeing their joyful appearance, Chen Xiaobei's worried heart relaxed a little.
...
At this moment, the little girl rushed into Chen Xiaobei's new house. As soon as she entered, she shouted, "Brother Xiaobei, Brother Xiaobei."
Cui Hongyu quickly went to meet her. "Your Brother Xiaobei has gone into the mountains. Is there anything you want to tell me?"
The little girl stomped her foot in anxiety when she heard this. "Alas, I'm still a step too late. I wanted to go into the mountains with him. No, I'm going to find him."
Cui Hongyu heard this and quickly stepped forward to hold her back. "That won't do. They left at least an hour ago. How can you catch up? It'll be dark in a while. Aren't you afraid of being alone in the mountains?"
The little girl didn't know that Cui Hongyu didn't want her to chase after them and was deliberately saying this.
But with just these few short words, the little girl believed it and sighed, "Then alright, I'll go then."
Walking back to the school, the little girl looked dejected and kept sighing. The maid beside her smiled and said, "Miss, even if we can't go to Qingniu Mountain, we can still go to the county town for a walk, right? Staying at home all the time will make you go crazy."
This sentence made the little girl excited again. "Yes, yes, yes! I'll go tell my brother. Let's go back to Xiaojia Town for a few days."