**Chapter 14: Seeking Knowledge**
Time drifted by.
Then summer arrived.
The weather was scorching. The sun hung high in the air like a ball of fire, baking the earth.
During this time, Xu Chuan had taken in three more servants, all young and strong men in their twenties.
All were refugees.
One of them was named Zhou Ming. He had a talent for management.
Sharp and resourceful, he could help with many chores and mediate disputes.
The other three had practiced martial arts. Each of them was a warrior, but their families were ordinary. Busy with daily chores, none had yet opened thirty-six acupoints.
However, they all adhered to their principles and never resorted to force unjustly.
That was what Xu Chuan valued.
They became the guardians of the household and the fields in the mountains.
If Xu Chuan provided them with ample medicinal food, blood-nourishing herbs, and other resources, all three had hope of becoming third-rate warriors—or even second-rate.
A few more thatched huts had been built around the house. Simple and modest, they were for the new servants.
As for meals, they all ate in the Xu family's courtyard, together with Xu Chuan's family.
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"Chuan, the watermelons in the melon fields are ripe. When should we pick them?"
Chen Erzheng rushed to the Xu house, his face full of excitement.
After all, this was his first business venture.
"I went to check this morning. Pick them tomorrow, then send them to the villages for miles around to sell."
Xu Chuan smiled and said, "Let Zhao Dalong, Sun Fugui, and Qian Jinsan go together. They have some martial arts skills. Dealing with more than a dozen grown men won't be a problem for them."
"Good. Then I won't have to ask my brother."
"After all, I don't want to see his smug face."
"Second Uncle."
Xu Mingyuan walked out of the room and greeted him with a smile.
Chen Erzheng patted him on the shoulder and said happily, "Aiyuan, in a couple of days, you'll go with Second Uncle to sell melons for miles around. Excited?"
"Uncle, you're the one who's excited. Selling melons—it's not a big deal."
Xu Mingyuan said lightly.
"Hey, how are you talking to your uncle? Looks like you want a beating."
Chen Erzheng pretended to raise his hand, but Xu Mingyuan wasn't afraid.
He was joking, and he could tell.
In any case, Chen Erzheng wouldn't dare discipline him in front of Xu Chuan.
---
**The next day.**
Xu Mingyuan set out with Chen Erzheng.
Bai Jing's face was full of worry, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
After all, Xu Mingyuan was only seven years old, and he had to travel far—gone for several days.
A mother's heart was heavy with concern.
Xu Chuan sighed inwardly, took Bai Jing's hand, and comforted her. "Second Uncle is there, and Dalong and the others are there. It'll be fine."
Zhao Dalong clasped his hands and said, "Rest assured, madam. We will protect the young master. He will return safely and soundly."
Xu Mingyuan also said, "Mother, your son is only going out for a few days. I'll be back soon."
"Let's all go."
Of the profits, the Xu family took seventy percent and the Chen family thirty.
Everyone in Dongxi Village knew that the Xu family's melons were good. So even before Chen Erzheng and his group had left the village, many people had already bought three or two to take home and taste. They sold several hundred just like that.
"Dad, I want to eat melon."
Xu Minghu saw the hot weather approaching.
Xu Chuan smiled and agreed. "Alright. Wait for Dad to cool the watermelon down first."
He found a large wooden bucket, filled it with water, threw in a chunk of white crystal, then put a watermelon weighing eight or nine jin into the bucket.
The watermelon bobbed up and down in the barrel.
Xu Minghu dipped his hand in, then looked at Xu Chuan in amazement. "Dad, this water is so cold!"
"Yes. After half an hour, you can eat cold watermelon."
"Okay!"
He ran off to play with Li Zhi.
By now, Li Zhi was no longer skinny and gaunt. He had returned to the appearance of a normal three- or four-year-old child.
Plump and round, with a hint of handsomeness in his brows.
Xu Chuan thought for a moment and put two smaller watermelons into the bucket.
**Half an hour later.**
He called Xu Mingwei over, pointed to the melons in the bucket, and said, "Shitou, go to Uncle Chen's house. Send one to your second uncle's house and one to Grandpa Chen's house."
"Alright, Dad."
Xu Mingwei took two watermelons and headed out. He delivered one to Chen Erzheng's house, then went to Uncle Chen's.
"Grandpa Chen, these are ice-cooled melons that my father sent. It's hot in the summer—eat some to cool down."
"Ice-cooled?" Uncle Chen touched the watermelon and was surprised. "It's true. Your father gets more capable by the day."
Xu Mingwei smiled shyly.
"Thank your father for me."
After Xu Mingwei returned, Xu Chuan, Bai Jing, and the Li father and son were already eating melon.
He walked over and picked up a sliced piece from the table.
Then he sat down by the riverbank and took a bite.
Suddenly, red juice splattered.
"Very sweet."
---
**Two days later.**
The selling team returned.
The trip had gone very smoothly. All the melons were sold out.
**The Chen family's second house.**
Xu Yan saw the silver Chen Erzheng brought back, and her eyes smiled into crescent moons.
She counted the money and silver several times.
This was just the money from selling watermelons. In other seasons, there would be more—adding up to a considerable sum.
As for the thirty acres of mountain fruit trees, the earliest harvest would be next year.
"Mother, let me tell you—selling melons went very smoothly. In other places, because of Uncle Chuan's reputation, people basically didn't haggle."
Chen Erzheng drank tea leisurely, a proud smile on his face.
"That's good. We'll raise the price next time."
"No, I mentioned it, but Aiyuan stopped me. He said these melons are already priced a little higher than usual, and we're already making plenty of profit. No need to ruin our reputation."
"More than five at a time—he also gave gifts to his customers."
"What gifts?"
"Some kind of stone or something. You put it in water, and it lowers the temperature—makes ice water for cooling watermelons."
"So that's where the ice-cooled watermelons came from."
Xu Yan was surprised. She felt that this stone had a lot of business potential—especially in summer. It should sell very well.
"Where did the stone come from? Did you ask?"
"Aiyuan didn't know. Uncle Chuan gave him a small amount."
Chen Erzheng's eyes shifted. He stretched his legs straight out on the bench.
"Now, wife, you see your husband's ability. How about giving my shoulders a rub? My legs, too? I've been tired for a few days."
Chen Erzheng wanted to assert his husbandly authority.
Xu Yan glanced at him and ignored him.
*This woman!*
*Making money, and she still treats me so coldly!*
"Anyway, tonight we're eating at Uncle Chuan's house to celebrate the harvest."
---
**That night.**
Xu Yan naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity. She asked Bai Jing about the stone's origin.
Xu Chuan only said he had accidentally found it in the mountains and discovered its properties by chance.
That wasn't entirely a lie.
After some investigation and research, he had found a nitre mine nearby.
Even so, he wasn't able to mine it yet. He could only put it aside for now.
The most important thing was that the land was unclaimed mountain forest—strictly speaking, it belonged to Qingjiang County.
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