Chapter 450: Going Home

Fang Qing silently let go of her mother-in-law, who was hugging and crying with Su Xin’er, and backed away. She smiled and nodded at Lian Fang Zhou.

Lian Fang Zhou also smiled. She had no interest in watching other people’s mother-daughter relationship, so she pointed at the door and mouthed to Fang Qing ‘I’m going out’ and left.

Seeing Fang Qing’s nod, Li Ma hurriedly followed Lian Fang Zhou and said: “Miss Lian is really capable! The Old Madam, the Madam, and the Young Madam have all tried to solve the Young Lady’s problem many times but it never worked. Miss must be very tired. The Young Madam instructed this old slave to lead Miss Lian back to rest first.”

“Thank you, Li Ma.” Lian Fang Zhou smiled. “What I said was not very pleasant, I just hope Madam Su and your young lady aren’t angry with me!”

Li Ma laughed and whispered: “Don’t worry, Miss! This old slave was paying attention outside. The Madam is not angry and Young Madam wouldn’t be angry with you about this.”

Lian Fang Zhou nodded: “Then I am relieved, Li Ma. Thank you very much.”

Fang Qing didn’t go back to see Lian Fang Zhou and the others until it was about dinner time.

Naturally, she went to see Lian Fang Zhou first.

“Fang Zhou! Thank you so much, that girl finally stopped burrowing into a bull horn!” Fang Qing said emotionally.

She looked very tired and had probably spent the entire evening settling down and calming Su Xin’er. That Su Xin’er was really very noisy!

Lian Fang Zhou laughed. “Cousin, don’t say that. Maybe the power of hatred is stronger. What I said was not pleasant, it’s not surprising that she would raise her spirits just to argue with me! I hope cousin and Madam Su won’t blame me for speaking badly.”

“No!” Fang Qing shook her head sternly: “After everything, my father-in-law and mother-in-law are very grateful to you, how could they blame you? Please be patient!”

The two talked for a while and then called Third Aunt and the others to eat together.

Su Jing He knew about what had happened that afternoon. When he saw Lian Fang Zhou, he gave her a deep bow and said solemnly: “Cousin Fang Zhou, thank you very much.”

Lian Fang Zhou avoided his salute with a smile and hurriedly said: “Cousin-in-law, I can’t afford such a big salute. It’s too awkward, let’s just ignore it! I’m so uncomfortable!”

Su Jing He laughed and felt a little embarrassed: “Alright, we’ll do as cousin says!”

During dinner, Madam Su and Master Su sent over a high ranked servant with several dishes. The maid smiled and said a lot of polite words, adding that if there was something they had to do this evening and they wouldn’t be able to join them.

Lian Fang Zhou knew that they wanted to have dinner with their daughter, which was for the best. If they insisted on arranging a dinner with Su Xin’er, everyone would be uncomfortable.

Smiling, she thanked the maid politely. Third aunt and the others didn’t ask the reason, Lian Fang Zhou had mentioned a few things to them before.

After dinner, another high ranked servant came over. This one was from Madam Su, who had sent several pieces of jewelry to Lian Fang Zhou, Lian Fang Qing, and Third Aunt. Each one received a pair of bracelets and a pair of gold hairpins. They were inlaid with jewels and very valuable. Master Su had also sent a few valuable gifts to Lian Ze and Ah Jian.

Lian Fang Zhou and the others could not refuse but she couldn’t help but sigh. This benefit was too much. Especially the pair of warm jade bracelets she received.

Fang Qing was surprised when she saw them, mentioning that they were very rare in the world. Even if someone had money, there was nowhere to buy them.

She was afraid that Lian Fang Zhou would treat them casually without knowing their worth, so she said a few words with a smile.

Lian Fang Zhou was indeed ignorant of luxury goods. Although she knew that these things must be valuable, she had not expected them to be so rare.

They spent the rest of the night chatting before going to bed.

~

The next morning, Lian Fang Zhou and her family left the Su family and went home.

Originally, she insisted on not taking the Su family’s carriage, but it was difficult to reject their kindness and she had no choice but to accept it. So much so that Lian Fang Zhou couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. Hadn’t she just scolded Su Xin’er for being spoiled yesterday?

When they reached Yuhe county, Lian Fang Zhou sent back the Su family’s carriage and hired another one.

Before they returned to the village, Lian Fang Zhou asked Ah Jian to accompany her to the most famous and largest oil mill in the county.

At this time, soybeans and peanuts were used for oil extraction, of which 70% was soybeans. The reason for this was because they were very cheap.

Ah Jian was puzzled: “Do you want to do oil extraction as well?” It wouldn’t be hard, the purchasing work would be left to Zhuang Xiao Jun. Lian Fang Zhou would not need to manage things very closely.

Lian Fang Zhou pursed her lips and smiled: Didn’t we hear people say that this year had a bumper harvest of soybeans and peanuts? The price must be cheap, it’s a good time to start this business.”

Ah Jian smiled helplessly and laughed: “Soybeans and peanuts are cheap but I’m afraid that oil is not valuable. Isn’t it the same?”

“But a good harvest in our area does not mean a good harvest in other places. The transportation from Shaungliu county is convenient and the oil can be sold to other areas.” Fang Zhou explained. “I just had such an idea, I’m not sure if I can actually do it. Let’s see first.”

There were three oils mills in the capital of Yuhe County and likely many more in some of the smaller towns. It would be hard to squeeze in.

He smiled. “As long as you want to, you can do it!”

“You’re just believing in me blindly!” Lian Fang Zhou laughed.

Ah Jian raised an eyebrow: “Now that you have money and confidence, what can’t you do?”

Lian Fang Zhou gave a startled smile: “Okay, now you are making fun of me!”

“I’m telling the truth!” Ah Jian insisted.

After talking, they had almost reached the oil mill called Zhou Ji and there was a strong smell of oil in the air. The two stopped talking and walked quickly.

Oil mills were very messy and dirty places and it was no different here. A dozen or so workers were busy working and the crude, primitive oil pressing tools creaked under the push of manpower. A turbid wave of soybean oil and peanut oil filled with impurities flowed out in a line into an iron vat.

There were too many impurities in the oil and it could only be sold after some separation.

Lian Fang Zhou frowned. Were they lazy or did they really not think of using something like gauze as a filter?

In her previous life, she had seen people use a layer of palm leaf skin that was used to filer out the coarser impurities and then a few layers of cotton gauze to filter it again. The resulting oil had been very clear, with no impurities at all.

She was already mentally prepared, but she was still surprised by how primitive the extraction tools were!

Those traditional oil extraction she had seen in the modern era were on the verge of disappearing but compared to what she could see now, those groups were still very advanced!

It seemed that it was very feasible for her to open an oil mill.

Su Zi Ji had taken a break after the cotton processing and was ready to get busy again.

He won’t let her down, right?