Lin Qingwan smiled and tapped the table, saying: "It's not a big deal, just that last year we bought a batch of sheep, raised them for half a year, and now it's time to slaughter them. Now more than half have been sold, but there are still a small number left. The people of Suzhou sympathize with us sisters' difficulties, so they've added quite a few orders."

  "We're not on good terms with the white-collared people, so we have to go and thank them. My sister-in-law and I are still in mourning, it's not suitable for us to visit as guests, sending a servant is also not respectful, so we thought of borrowing your brother to run an errand."

  Lin Qingwan smiled and said: "When the time comes, I'll trouble you to help me send some gifts and respond on my behalf."

  "Who's there?"

  "The Qian family in the west of the city, and also Zhou Cishi, they've both ordered a lot. Lin Qingyan said: "These two families are the most important, so we need you to go personally."

  This year, due to the war in Nanhanshan, grain prices skyrocketed and meat sales stagnated. Except for families with a really rich household, few people dared to take out money to buy meat to eat.

  So Lin Qingyuan's batch of sheep this year is a bit unsold.

  But big families have always had their own channels for purchasing goods, and it's not easy to change. That's why the Qian family and Zhou family, who don't have a deep foundation, would look for the Lin family to buy sheep.

  In this matter, Zhou Shi helped her a lot last week. Not only did he buy mutton from his own home, but also recommended it to his subordinates, and with the Qian family's large purchase, half of the unsold sheep were gone.

  After a year they added another batch, which barely accounted for the consumption of the sheep, otherwise she would not have made much profit from the sheep.

  She was originally going to pick a nephew from the clan to help run an errand, but since she had to find an excuse for Shang Mingjie to stay overnight, then so be it.

  Lin Qingwan instructed Shang Mingyuan, "You go to Zhou Cishi's house first, then to Qian's house. Don't rush back. See what they say at home. I'll give you and your brother some grain."

  Shang Mingyuan happily agreed, this matter is good, and it's a great opportunity to gain connections. Zhou Cishi didn't mention it, but the Qian family is also a prominent merchant household in Suzhou.

  He will definitely deal with each other in business in the future.

  It wasn't until he saw Gyu Yu outside the door that he suddenly came back to his senses. Where's Erlang?

  Wasn't it said that we would go together?

  He looked around and suspiciously gazed at Yu Yu, asking: "Where is Second Master?"

  Gu Yu Xiao smiled, "Let Da Biao Young Master go first, Er Biao Young Master will come eventually."

  It always ends up being that no one is seen, but Shang Mingyuan isn't stupid, and he gradually comes to his senses. No wonder, Aunt Lin doesn't lack nephews, why did she have to call him over to take advantage of the situation? It was all for Second Brother's sake.

  He thought of the two families who had almost finalized the marriage arrangement and smiled knowingly. He didn't ask about Shang Mingjie's whereabouts anymore, but instead focused on handling the difference that had arisen.

  Lin Auntie would never let Second Brother eat, but rather had him help out at the Shang's to cover things up, which wasn't difficult.

  Shang Mingyuan first went to the Zhou family, then went to the Qian family and didn't come out. He followed several old men from the Qian family to drink and make merry, and ended up staying overnight at the Qian family's place.

  Following that, Gu Yu let out a quiet sigh of relief and replayed the words of several old masters from the Qian family in his mind before finally calming down.

  Lin Qingwan and two others in another courtyard were burning the midnight oil.

  Bai Feng made the lantern brighter and saw that his aunt still didn't have a hint of wanting to rest, so he couldn't help but anxiously look at Bai Mei.

  Bai Mei thought for a moment, then went to the kitchen to bring Lin Qingwan a bowl of soup. She whispered: "Young lady, Eldest Miss and Second Young Master have not gone to sleep yet."

  Lin Qingwan finally came back to her senses and turned her head to look at the hourglass. Bai Mei immediately said, "It's already the 10th hour."

  Lin Qingwan turned her neck and spread out the copied paper on the table, "Go let them rest, they can continue copying tomorrow."

  Bai Mei nodded and immediately turned around and left.

  Bai Feng immediately called for the maid to bring water for her to wash up, and helped Lin Qingwan loosen her hair. "Young lady, I'll give you a massage later."

  "Whatever."

  Bai Mei personally came to call Lin Yuhong to rest, how dare Yingyan and others indulge them again?

  He immediately stepped forward and whispered: "It's not worth it, if you exhaust yourself and damage your body, it would be a loss. The young lady will get angry if she finds out."

  Lin Yuheng glanced at the remaining notes and slightly raised the corner of his mouth, saying: "If tomorrow has this speed, it will definitely be copied, but another one..."

  Bi Rong smiled and said: "The young lady doesn't know, but the aunt is copying much faster than you, I heard she has already copied half of it."

  "Already?" exclaimed Shang Mingjie.

  Lin Yuhong proudly raised his chin and said, "This is nothing for Auntie."

  Shang Mingjie saw her proud little appearance and couldn't help but purse his lips in a smile. "You're right."

  The two of them simply tidied up the table and then took their leave, each returning to their own room.

  Shang Mingjie lay on the bed in the guest room and let out a long sigh, his complexion finally looking a bit better.

  The three of them copied for most of the next day, and finally finished copying the book before sunset. They handed it over to Bai Mei and Ying Yan to bind, and only then did they rub their eyes, feeling a bit sour.

  Shang Mingjie did not dare to stay for long, he didn't return home at night and didn't know if there was a disturbance at home.

  Lin Qingwan smiled at him and said, "Don't spread the word about you copying notes in my house. I've already covered for you, just follow your big brother back."

  Shang Mingjie was stunned, "Auntie, how did you cover for me?"

  "Don't ask anymore, just listen to your big brother." After that, he had someone send him to the Huan Chun Building, where Shang Mingyuan and several young masters of the Qian family were already fighting.

  Seeing Shang Ming Jie, Shang Ming Yuan smiled and introduced him to the several young masters of the Qian family, then pulled him along to drink a few cups of wine, and after finding an excuse, he pulled Shang Ming Jie away.

  The Qian family's young masters also felt that through a day and night of socializing, the friendship between them had been solidified, so they let them go very generously.

  Shang Mingyuan dragged out Shang Mingjie, who had a head full of misty water, and asked him with raised eyebrows, "Honestly, what did you do last night?"

  Shang Mingjie looked at him strangely and said: "I'm right in the Lin family's other courtyard."

  "What were you doing in another courtyard?"

  Shang Mingjie understood his hint and couldn't help but straighten up and say, "Big brother, don't make wild guesses, I'm helping Lin aunt copy books."

  Shang Mingyu was taken aback, "Copy books?"

  He naturally wouldn't suspect Shang Mingjie's words; this second brother of his had a rather foolish and honest nature, he wouldn't tell lies.

  He scratched his head and asked, "What book are you copying that's so important it has to be copied overnight?"

  Shang Mingjie said solemnly: "I promised Aunt Lin not to tell a third person."

  Shang Mingyuan couldn't help but roll his eyes, he just knew.

  He pulled Shang Mingjie's hand and headed towards the horse carriage, saying: "Let's go, first return home to pay respects to Old Lady. After returning, speak less, and don't mention anything about copying books, got it?"

  Shang Mingjie nodded, "Lin Auntie told me to listen to you."

  He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Big brother, how...?"

  "How can I help Aunt Lin?" Shang Mingyuan glanced at him, "Am I going to tell you that I'm collaborating with Aunt Lin to deal with your mother and uncle's family?"

  He cleared his throat and said seriously, "I've lived in the Lin family for a period of time. To me, Uncle is like a father. You think Aunt Lin has something going on and I wouldn't help? Besides, it's not a big deal."

  Shang Mingjie looked at him suspiciously, if it were before, he would not have doubted his brother's words, but after experiencing so much in this period of time, although very subtle, he still felt that his brother was not telling the truth.

  He lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, feeling that exposing Lai's true nature wouldn't look good on the surface either. No matter what Lai's reasons were, the outcome was good, wasn't it?

  Shang Ming Jie obediently followed Shang Ming Yuan onto the horse-drawn carriage and headed home.

  Mrs. Shang was worshiping Buddha in the Buddhist hall, and she didn't know until this morning when someone secretly came to report that her son had followed Shang Mingyuan to help at the Lin family's other courtyard.

  Because the person was sent by Lin Qingyuan herself, Mrs. Shang Er did not suspect much, but was angry that the Lin family had delayed her son from going to school.

  Feeling unhappy in his heart, he brought some out from the Buddhist hall.

  But the old lady was very happy, and in front of her, she pulled two grandsons and smiled: "You Lin aunt brought your cousin to spend the day, it's not easy for you. If you can help, help more. If you don't do well, come back and tell grandma, grandma will send someone to help you."

  The two of them nodded obediently with their heads lowered.

  The old lady curiously asked, "You only said that Lin auntie wanted you brothers to run errands, but I don't know what she wants you to do."

  Shang Mingyuan smiled and said: "It's nothing big, just going to the Zhou and Qian families to thank them."

  "Grandma, you don't know that the meat from outside is hard to sell this year. Last year, Lin's farm raised a batch of sheep, and before the Spring Festival, the Zhou and Qian families bought some. After the festival, they bought another batch, and directly packaged all the remaining adult sheep on the farm. Lin knew they were intentionally helping her, so she was grateful and wanted to thank them."

  Shang Mingyuan coaxed the old lady: "It's just that Lin Aunt and cousin are not easy to go out, she has some relationship with the Lin family on that side, so I thought of us brothers."

  The old lady listened and was indeed delighted, smiling: "That's because she values you, so in the future, you should go to her more often to run errands. Especially you, Eldest Brother, since your uncle and aunt raised you for a period of time, their kindness is deep, you can't forget the Lin family's kindness."

  "Grandma can rest assured, her grandson has it all in his heart."

  The old lady felt relieved and let out a sigh of relief, thinking that the matter from last year was finally over. Lin Qingwen was still young after all, she wouldn't hold grudges for too long, and still had to rely on the Shang family.

  Shang Mingjie secretly glanced up at his grandmother, quietly let out a breath of relief, and lowered his head to follow his older brother out.

  Madam Shang immediately stopped him, "You are already a day late today, tomorrow you must go early to read books, I will have someone prepare a thick gift, and make amends with your master."

  Shang Mingjie nodded his head in agreement.

  The old lady slightly frowned, the smile on her face faded, "Second daughter-in-law, how is the scripture I asked you to copy coming along? On the second day of the second month, I will go to the temple to burn incense and offer sacrifices for your father-in-law."

  The second lady lowered her head and said softly: "It's almost copied, don't worry, mother, it won't delay the time."

  The old lady nodded slightly, "That's good, everything at home is handed over to Mingyuan's wife, you can rest assured and copy the scriptures."

  Mrs. Shang's face was still smiling and responding, but her patience was wearing thin.