Chapter 222: Sky‑High Candle

After settling the matter of the three brothers and arranging their lodging, Chen Yan took a comfortable bath.

Just as he returned to his room and was about to check his Potato, Gao Yang appeared behind him like a ghost, silent as a specter, and called, "Husband!"

"Damn!"

Chen Yan almost got scared to death.

"No, what are you doing? When I just came in, why didn't I see you?"

"Stop pulling tricks every day, will you? Sooner or later you'll drive me insane."

"What is a mental illness?" Gao Yang asked, puzzled.

"It's a brain disease… sigh, never mind, I'm too lazy to explain. Just say it, what do you want to do?"

"What do I want to do?" Gao Yang smiled, walked to the bed, sat down, and lightly patted the spot beside her, indicating that he should sit there.

Chen Yan felt Gao Yang's attitude was odd; didn't he already know his own wife's character?

She's basically a big M, maybe with a yandere streak.

Now she's acting so… hmm, gentle!

Right!

Exactly!

Just gentle!

Definitely something's off!

Even a fool can see there's a problem.

But he doesn't chicken out, strides over, and plops down beside Gao Yang.

"Speak, what do you want to do?"

Gao Yang didn't answer right away; instead she slowly lifted one of Chen Yan's hands, toyed with his fingers, and then, unhurriedly, asked, "Nothing much, I just want to inquire about someone, husband."

"Inquire about a person? Who?"

"I don't know the surname, only that she's called Miss Lian Yue. I wonder… have you heard of her, husband?"

Chen Yan instantly realized and teased, "So what's up with you, turns out you knocked over the vinegar jar."

"I suppose it was the servant who heard it from those three clumsy mouths and told you, right?"

Hearing this, Gao Yang didn't get angry; instead a heavy stone silently dropped in her heart.

When she first heard about Miss Lian Yue from the servant, she was indeed a bit worried.

But now, seeing Chen Yan's attitude, Gao Yang knows she went off track.

Otherwise Chen Yan would never be so calm.

Immediately she loses interest in continuing to ask, lifts her hand, grabs Chen Yan's collar, pushes him down, and prepares to get to business.

Chen Yan is stunned, "No, you wait a moment!"

"What are you waiting for, hurry up!"

"I... wuwu..."

Before the words finish, they're cut off.

The curtain silently drops, the bright moon outside seems shy to peek, quietly pulls two thin clouds, covering the room's spring light.

The roaring engine sound, accompanied by a gentle breeze at the ear, the car's sleek, light body makes one gasp.

……

In the blink of an eye, another three days pass.

That morning, the sky remains gloomy.

Chen Yan arrived early at the county office and indeed found Du Gou.

Chen Yan holds an umbrella entering the county office, his boot soles step through puddles, splashing tiny droplets.

Du Gou is idly leafing through documents at the desk, sees Chen Yan coming in through the rain, quickly stands to greet.

"Brother Chen, why are you here so early today?"

Chen Yan folds his oil‑paper umbrella, helplessly says, "It's been raining for three days, I'm worried the laborers responsible for road repair and building the library will get upset, since heavy rain forces a work stoppage, and stopping work means losing income."

"And the people we recruited are those in dire straits; over time, I'm afraid they can't endure."

For three days, the rain hasn't ceased; occasional pauses last only a short while.

Fortunately, the Wei He is well‑connected; otherwise, at this rate, the Wei He would inevitably flood.

Du Gou laughs after hearing, "Brother Chen, I understand your worries, but I must say they're somewhat unnecessary."

"Although the common folk are uneducated, many high‑and‑mighty often call them 'fools' in one breath, yet they're not unreasonable."

"When it rains, no one can help it; your order to halt work is for the people's benefit, and they can understand that."

He says, pausing briefly, "Moreover, those people have at least worked for a while; yesterday I settled the wages, so they now have money and won't cause trouble."

"Oh?" Chen Yan asks in surprise, "You've already arranged it?"

Du Gou's face darkens, "Brother Chen, what's with that expression?"

"I am, after all, surnamed Du; do you really think I'm a freeloader?"

"Ha ha, Brother Du, I mean no such thing!" Chen Yan clears his throat, "It's just a serious matter, can't be careless; I'm only asking one more question."

"Rest assured," Du Gou explains, "I've already distributed all the wages and sent people to visit; the people have no objections."

"After all, the project is there; even if rain stops work, once the rain ceases we have to resume."

"As long as we rehire the original workers when we restart, that's fine."

"Alright." Chen Yan nods, "How about the workshop?"

"The workshop has been continuously operating," Du Gou replies, "Unlike road repair and library construction, the workshop isn't exposed to rain, so there's little impact."

"Now several workshops are on track, beginning paper making and carving printing plates."

"That's fine," Chen Yan nodded, found a seat and sat down.

Road repair isn't actually urgent, but if the library's construction progress is affected it could disrupt his original plan.

Moreover, the current expenses can't be covered by a single Public Transport Boat, and the money he borrowed from the tavern would also be quickly exhausted.

He must come up with other ways to earn money.

And the money has to come in quickly.

Chen Yan fell into contemplation.

Du Gou knew it was best not to disturb Chen Yan at this moment, so he busied himself reading the documents.

Suddenly, Du Gou frowned; the candle on the desk had already burned out.

Outside, it was pouring rain, and the room was already dim; without a candle it wouldn't work.

So Du Gou fetched another candle, lit it, and continued perusing the documents.

All these actions were observed by Chen Yan.

Staring at the burning white wax, Chen Yan seemed to think of something and suddenly said, "Brother Du, how much is your candle per piece?"

Du Gou was slightly startled, looked at the candle on the desk, and replied, "This is shallow yellow wax, not very expensive—looks like about eighty wen, or something; I've forgotten."

Chen Yan: "......"

What a shallow yellow wax, what an inexpensive eighty wen!

Ordinary folk might work several days and still not earn eighty wen.

You say "eighty wen is not expensive."

"Isn't that cheap?" Chen Yan hadn't really known candle prices; such trivial matters were usually handled by Xiao Shunzi and Qing'er.

"Is that still pricey?" Du Gou set down the document in his hand and explained, "My shallow yellow wax is already a low‑grade product; the higher‑grade white wax costs at least two hundred wen, sometimes even three hundred."

"Candles aren't affordable for ordinary families; even some low‑rank officials can't afford them."

"My candle was actually bought when I was in Weinan County; my mother bought it for me. Otherwise, I couldn't afford it either."

"Is that so?" Chen Yan stroked his chin, "Candles... seem to have potential."

"......"