Wanjin Lady

Chapter 423 Giving Gifts
“If I don’t completely crush the Cheng family winery, there will be no end for the Jia family.”

"But don't forget, in another year, Cheng Yunzhang will take the imperial examination. If you want to eradicate him, it will take more than just fighting at the Cheng family's winery."

The young lady raised her eyes. "My Lord, are you trying to get me to fight Cheng Yunzhang? I thought... my Lord regarded him as his junior fellow apprentice."

Wei Zheng suddenly fell silent.

He had thought so too.

He didn't even intend to interfere in the feud between Wen Wan and Cheng Yunzhang.

But when did my heart lean towards Wen Wan?
Perhaps it was the Cheng family's relentless pressure, perhaps it was because he knew Wen Wan very well, or perhaps... emotions clouded his reason.

"All tributes to the Great Chen Dynasty were reported by the local governments. The Ministry of Rites' Department of Rites oversaw the tributes from the four barbarians and the local tributes. Tribute judges were sent to the local governments to inspect the tributes, specifically responsible for appraising the tributes. Perhaps there were also eunuchs trusted by His Majesty, also known as imperial envoys."

"Lord Yan has already submitted the tribute list. There will be a tribute wine delegation of several dozen people. The delegation has its own set of assessment criteria, referred to as the 'Five Combinations': time, location, skill, quantity, and omens."

"That is, the water source and grains used for making the wine must be unique to the area; the winery must have a traceable lineage of craftsmen; the annual output must be stable, sufficient to provide tribute to the imperial court; and the wine's name or brewing legend must contain auspicious meanings."

"If Junior Sister Wen wants to qualify to drink tribute wine, she needs to make arrangements."

Wen Wan pondered, "Need a bribe?"

How much can be bribed... this is a huge question.

If it’s too little, the other party will look down on you and you’ll be like throwing meat buns at a dog and never get it back.

Too much, she felt distressed.

Wei Zheng laughed: "Instead of bribing them, you might as well bribe me."

Seeing that the young lady was seriously considering this matter, Wei Zheng quickly said, "Bribery doesn't just involve money. First, your Ruiguo syrup must please the envoy. Second, you must produce authentic ingredients that can truly surpass those of the Cheng family's winery."

This made Wen Wan very embarrassed.

It is difficult to satisfy everyone. The audiences of Ruiguojiang and Changchun French wine are different. When it comes to taste, everyone has their own preferences.

Then the choice becomes an extremely subjective matter.

Ultimately, it all comes down to who can win the favor of the field research delegation.

Wen Wan's brows knitted slightly, thinking deeply. Wei Zheng coughed softly and slowly pulled out a wooden box from under the table. He said calmly, "I haven't congratulated Rui Guojiang on being selected as a tribute wine yet. I found this by chance on the street. Take it back for Zhao Zhao and Hun Ge'er to play with."

Wen Wan grabbed the wooden box on the table, said "thank you" and left.

When Zhao Heng saw Wen Wan casually tuck the wooden box under her armpit, his eyelids twitched!
That was made by the Marquis himself with a knife! He spent two nights learning the patterns on it!

I don't expect Manager Wen to take it home and worship it, but I can't just throw it into the carriage without even looking at it.

Zhao Heng glanced at Wei Zheng, but saw that Wei Zheng had no reaction.

Even though he has never touched the young lady, he knows that to be nice to the young lady, you not only have to do it, but also say it!
Wen Wan was thinking about the tribute wine and returned to the Wen residence in a trance.

Wen Jing happened to be walking towards her while she was playing in the yard. When she saw the wooden box in her hand, she came over curiously and asked, "Sister, did you buy me something to eat?"

Wen Wan came to her senses and opened the wooden box, only to see two lifelike bamboo dragonflies.

Wen Wan was inevitably disappointed. What did she mean?
No more sending gold and silver?

Wen Jing liked it very much, "Bamboo dragonfly! Sister, I want it! Can you give me one?"

Wen Wan smiled and handed her the wooden box, "Choose for yourself."

Seeing An Zhongrong sticking half his head out from behind the tree with an envious and timid look on his face, she smiled and called him over, "Zhongrong, do you want it?"

An Zhongrong said nothing and looked at her with pursed lips.

Only half a year after this child followed that bastard dad, he became quiet and taciturn, no longer as innocent and lively as before.

Wen Wan patted his head and handed him the remaining bamboo dragonfly that Wen Jing had chosen. "Here. Take it and play with it. This will be your home from now on, so don't be shy."

An Chongrong lowered his head, reached out his small hand to take it, and looked at her with a shifty eye. After a while, his voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Thank you... Manager Wen."

Hongmei ran over and handed her a letter, "Miss, this is a letter sent by Madam Mo, saying that you will definitely need it."

Wen Wan opened the letter and saw that it described the personnel composition, assessment process and precautions of the tribute wine delegation. It also considerately included the art of gift-giving, and even clearly stated the amount of silver to bribe the other party.

Almost exactly what Wei Zheng said!
Wen Wan received the letter and gradually felt relieved. "This is really a timely relief."

When she turned around, she saw Mei Qing packing up her things. Mei Qing's eyes fell on the red and black bamboo dragonflies in An Zhongrong and Wen Jing's hands, and she felt indescribably moved.

"Young Master! We have to go back. The winery has just harvested the grain, and it's the critical time for winemaking. We can't do without people!"

Wen Wan was a little reluctant, "You're leaving so soon? You finally made it to Bozhou, why don't you stay for a few more days?"

"Young Master, are you reluctant to let me go?" Mei Qing smiled at her. "But Young Master is doing very well in Bozhou, and we can't let go of our hometown! This trip to Bozhou has been very beneficial. I know that this Ruiguo pulp is selling so well, and it may even become a tribute wine. I feel more confident when I return. I also know how to increase sales."

Wen Wan smiled and said, "Ruiguo pulp's reputation and reputation in Ping County are not as good as those in Bozhou. And the price of Ruiguo pulp will filter customers. You don't have to force sales, just keep guarding this piece of land in your hometown."

Although they were words of comfort, they somehow inspired Mei Qing.

Not looking for sales?
Then what is the role of her as a manager?
"Oh, right." Wen Wan looked at Liu Yiyi, who was holding Zhao Zhao in the sun inside the house, "Where's my dad?"

"The weather is nice today, so he and Shopkeeper Zhu went fishing."

Wen Wan looked around but didn't see Hun Ge'er. "Did my father take Hun Ge'er to the river?"

Liu Yiyi smiled, "Just now, when the master left, Hun'er cried uncontrollably and insisted on clinging to grandfather. When your father saw Hun'er crying, he couldn't help crying too, and the grandfather and grandson cried together, so I let him take Hun'er with him. Don't worry, Chen Ma and the wet nurse are also there."

Wen Wan sneered: Haha, the whole family went on an autumn outing to bask in the sun, but she was the only one working like a slave.

Liu Yiyi turned around and saw Wen Wan packing her things. She asked curiously, "What are you doing, Miss?"

"Go get some sun!"

After an autumn rain, the whole Bozhou City was filled with a cold wind.

The autumn was bleak, and even the vendors in the city were fewer. The official road near the outskirts of the city was dusty, and a team of ten people were riding horses towards Bozhou City.

The team stopped to rest when they came across a tavern on the way.

As the folk song collector Liu Dajian sat down to drink tea to quench his thirst, a man approached him. This man claimed to be a member of the Cheng family. He was sent by the head of the family to meet Liu Dajian and present him with a letter.