Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 1179: Chapter 1089: The Female Prime Minister (27)

Yin Shuangshuang, along with about ten strong villagers, directed them to cut down the needed wood and dig kilns for charcoal burning.

Of course, before burning charcoal, Yin Shuangshuang established a rule in advance: for every tree cut, ten trees must be planted back, and once profit is made, they must refrain from cutting trees from one place only.

They have to go to other places to select trees for charcoal burning, and similarly, plant ten trees for every one cut, never just destroying the environment without maintaining it.

During the production of Silver Frost Charcoal, Yin Shuangshuang experimented with adding a process, so that the Silver Frost Charcoal produced would emit a light floral fragrance when burned.

This fragrance is not strong; when burned, it is subtle yet very pleasant, accepted by people whether they love it or not.

Yin Shuangshuang led the people through a four-day struggle, encountering many failures, and finally obtained a hundred pounds of Silver Frost Charcoal.

Yin Shuangshuang took this batch of Silver Frost Charcoal to meet the County Magistrate’s Wife, accompanied this time by Mrs. Wang and Yin Zheng. Yin An stayed in the village to continue collecting mountain goods.

Today, besides seeing the County Magistrate’s Wife to discuss cooperation, Yin Shuangshuang also prepared to buy a few servants. Her health was poor, and with a large courtyard and many rooms at home, relying solely on Mrs. Wang for chores was too laborious, leaving no leisure time from dawn till dusk.

Yin Shuangshuang’s aim in earning money was to enable her family to live a relaxed life, not to do endless housework.

The current dynasty’s attitude towards businessmen is quite favorable. Even the sons of businessmen can participate in the imperial examinations and become officials. Although their future cannot compare to the sons of bureaucratic families, it’s better than being considered lowly.

With the status of businessmen elevated, although officials cannot engage in business, their families are allowed to do so.

This, while having the risk of collusion between officials and merchants, undeniably strengthens the economy of this dynasty much more than others due to the increase of businessmen.

Although common people might still face hunger, large-scale starvation has never occurred, since when the harvest is poor, they can still try to find work.

Of course, in this era, commerce is not as developed as modern times, and not everyone can find work, but temporary labor is possible.

The town next to their village is quite remote, so there are fewer jobs available, and villagers are habitually afraid to go to larger towns. Therefore, when the grain production reduced, they became desperate.

Actually, if forced, they could venture into the county and find work; they wouldn’t starve to death. It’s just the inertia passed down through generations that made them accustomed to relying on the land for survival and not consider working in larger cities.

This is the sorrow of this era. The lack of explosive information makes places like the county too unfamiliar and scary for them. Unless they’re facing starvation, they wouldn’t dare to step in easily.

The County Magistrate’s Wife naturally engages in business, otherwise, as the wife of a seventh-rank county magistrate, how could she afford jewelry worth over a thousand taels of silver? Even with a lot of dowries, she wouldn’t dare to squander like this.

Because of the exchange of gifts, Yin Shuangshuang became familiar with the servants of the County Magistrate’s family. When Yin Shuangshuang mentioned wanting to meet the County Magistrate’s Wife, the gatekeeper immediately went to report.

Soon, the County Magistrate’s Wife’s personal maid came out, guiding Yin Shuangshuang and Mrs. Wang to meet her. Yin Zheng sat at the gatekeeper’s place outside waiting, being a man, it was inappropriate for him to enter the inner courtyard.

Yin Shuangshuang had always been the one to interact with the County Magistrate’s Wife, so after greeting her, Mrs. Wang quietly sat aside, letting her daughter take the lead.

The County Magistrate’s Wife was also accustomed to dealing with Yin Shuangshuang, offering tea and snacks to Mrs. Wang, and then directing her attention to Yin Shuangshuang.

”Have you come today with some new hairpins again?”

The County Magistrate’s Wife greatly admired Yin Shuangshuang’s craftsmanship in making hairpins. Whenever Yin Shuangshuang had something new, the County Magistrate’s Wife would almost always keep it.

Yin Shuangshuang smiled and said, ”I’ve come today to talk business with you, Madam.”

Talking business? The County Magistrate’s Wife got interested; she liked this skillful girl very much and did not belittle her ability due to her young age, because she herself engaged in business.

”You want to talk business with me? Tell me, what kind of business do you want to discuss?” the County Magistrate’s Wife asked with interest.

Yin Shuangshuang opened the small basket she brought, inside was a small batch of Silver Frost Charcoal, ”The business I want to discuss with you, Madam, is about this.”

Silver Frost Charcoal, the County Magistrate’s Wife raised her brows; this business was feasible, but for it to be sold locally, the county was too small, and Silver Frost Charcoal was already occupied by other merchants.

If she wanted to forcefully intervene, it could only be by imposing pressure, but the County Magistrate’s Wife was not that shortsighted; to ruin her husband’s reputation for a bit of silver was not worth it, so the Silver Frost Charcoal could only be sold elsewhere.

Selling it to other places would add transportation costs, increasing the capital significantly. The County Magistrate’s Wife began pondering how much price to set for negotiating business with Yin Shuangshuang.

However, before the County Magistrate’s Wife could speak, Yin Shuangshuang already started talking: ”Madam, the Silver Frost Charcoal made by me is different from the ordinary ones. Now the weather is slightly chilly, do you want to light a few pieces of the Silver Frost Charcoal I brought, and feel it yourself?”

The County Magistrate’s Wife, curious about how different Silver Frost Charcoal could be, casually instructed her maid to bring a copper basin and light a few pieces of the charcoal from Yin Shuangshuang.

Soon, several pieces of Silver Frost Charcoal were stacked together and lit. The warmth slowly spread, making the slightly cold Yin Shuangshuang subconsciously exhale in relief.

The County Magistrate’s Wife carefully observed the burning Silver Frost Charcoal and nodded with satisfaction at its quality; there was no smoke at all, the burning speed was slow, and this charcoal was highly durable.

However, this Silver Frost Charcoal seemed only to prove its quality, without much difference from other charcoal.

Just as she thought so, she felt something off; she couldn’t help sniffing and asking her maids, ”Do you feel there’s a scent in this room?”

A girl dressed as a senior maid in pink next to the County Magistrate’s Wife also sniffed.

”Ma’am, indeed there’s a subtle fragrance, but I haven’t burned any incense, and we don’t have such scented incense at home.”

Since no incense was burned, the source of the scent was self-evident; the County Magistrate’s Wife and the maids all looked at the quietly burning Silver Frost Charcoal in the basin, their eyes starting to shine.

Yin Shuangshuang timely explained, ”This fragrance is what I mentioned as the unique aspect. It’s achieved through a special technique during the manufacturing of Silver Frost Charcoal.

The fragrance is faint and elegant, clinging to clothing without dissipating, and can linger on garments for at least five days. If burned continuously in a lady’s room, it can permeate body fragrance.”