Ficool

Chapter 194 - Chapter 194

Baron Stoichkov was a highly efficient man. After his last visit to Sardinson County to finalize the tobacco trade, he didn't want to wait idly for next year's harvest. Instead, while the mountain roads were still passable before winter fully set in, he quickly purchased tobacco from several doctors, bundled it up, and delivered it right away.

He didn't have much confidence in the tobacco business and worried that if something went wrong midway and Sardinson suddenly terminated the contract, he would be the one to suffer the loss. So he thought it best to send an initial batch first, to see what that ducal couple intended to do with the tobacco, and also to buy another shipment of grain to take back.

When he returned, the grain he had sent ahead was still on the road. Seeing the baron return alone with a group of mercenaries, the villagers thought he hadn't managed to buy any food and fell into despair, believing they would starve to death that winter. Only after the baron repeatedly explained did they finally believe that the grain had indeed been purchased and was merely delayed because of a detour, but it would arrive before they completely ran out of supplies.

The reason for buying more grain wasn't because the previous purchase was insufficient. Rather, the baron knew that grain prices in Soria had been soaring recently and would likely spike further during winter. He planned to resell a batch for profit, to offset the tax shortfalls that year and replenish his nearly empty treasury.

The mountains were already more dangerous than before at that time. Baron Stoichkov had hired many mercenaries and brought a large number of slaves to help transport the goods. With such a large group, most wild animals wouldn't dare approach. As long as they were cautious, there wasn't much danger.

Wei Wei hadn't expected him to come back so soon, but she welcomed the tobacco he brought.

The tobacco leaves had been harvested and air-dried as required. The leaves were large, turned a crisp yellow after drying, and were stacked neatly together. Several leaves were tied into a bundle, then secured with hemp rope and packed into burlap sacks for transport. Anyone unfamiliar might have mistaken them for pickled vegetables.

This time, the baron brought about 500 jin (approx. 250 kg) of tobacco leaves.

According to the previously agreed price, each jin of tobacco would be paid at three silver coins, one silver coin more than wheat. The baron had purchased the tobacco leaves from the doctors at one silver coin per jin. By transporting 500 jin to Sardinson, he earned 75 gold coins in total, of which 50 were pure profit.

Don't underestimate these 50 gold coins. While the Duke and Duchess of Sardinson dealt in tens of thousands of gold coins daily, earning and spending vast sums, they were an extraordinary exception in all of Europe. Wealth disparity had always existed and would continue to do so.

In reality, a typical earl relying on their territory might have an annual income of only 5,000 gold coins, while a baron could consider 500 gold coins a decent annual revenue. Baron Stoichkov, as a minor lord of a poor region, had an annual income of merely 300 gold coins even in his best years.

So just by spending two days trekking over the mountains to deliver a shipment, he earned one-sixth of his annual income. When he stuffed those coins into his purse, it further strengthened his resolve to build a road.

After earning his profit, the baron entrusted the grain-buying task to a trusted subordinate, while he stayed at the castle, hoping to learn what Wei Wei planned to do with the tobacco leaves.

With these leaves, cigars, hand-rolled cigarettes, and pipe tobacco could all be made, undoubtedly very lucrative businesses. But Wei Wei wasn't worried about others imitating her. Though cigars, hand-rolled cigarettes, and pipes were all simple to produce, if it were truly so easy, anyone could just grow some tobacco and make their own, and there wouldn't be such a variety of flavors in the market.

Just like perfumes, tobacco also required "blending" to create different aromas and to enhance its appeal. Correct blending techniques and formulas could enhance the tobacco's flavor, offering diverse tastes. Only with mastery of blending, combined with high-quality raw tobacco, could premium cigars and cigarettes be produced.

Wei Wei didn't plan to monopolize the entire tobacco market. She planned to enter the high-end market in the future, providing only the finest quality cigarettes, targeting wealthy, noble customers.

However, the 500 jin of tobacco brought this time was not intended for any type of smoking product. Instead, she planned to reserve all of it for medicinal use.

So, although Baron Stoichkov was curious, in the end, all he saw was Wei Wei using the tobacco to make medicine.

Still, he did gain something — at least he learned from Wei Wei about many illnesses that tobacco could treat. Amazed and enlightened, he thought this was precisely why she had ordered so much tobacco.

With so many medical applications, different combinations with other herbs could treat various ailments, with significant effects. Once launched to the market, such medicines would surely sell well.

Armed with this new knowledge, the baron left Sardinson once more, brimming with confidence and carrying some of Wei Wei's gifted medicines, ready to return and organize people to plant more tobacco.

Afterward, the temperature in Sardinson gradually dropped. As December arrived, the vegetation withered, the land grew desolate, and the cold wind howled. Winter had quietly arrived, and before they knew it, another year was coming to an end.

In winter, the days were short and the nights long. By three or four in the afternoon, it was already getting dark. The wind grew colder by the day, and people switched into thick winter clothes, welcoming the season together with the winter wheat in the fields and the first snow of the year.

The first snow wasn't heavy. The tiny flakes turned into cold raindrops as soon as they touched the ground, leaving no accumulation but falling continuously for several days without pause.

Because of this rain-snow weather, the umbrella shop in Dingle Town saw an endless stream of customers again. The shop sold both ordinary bamboo oil-paper umbrellas and Western-style fabric umbrellas with metal frames. The prices of umbrellas were not too high for commoners, so now nearly every household would own one or two. Wealthier people, in addition to buying oil-paper umbrellas, would also purchase beautifully crafted Western-style umbrellas so they would be protected from both sun and rain.

After all, in this era, pale skin was considered beautiful. Ladies and young misses wished they would never see the sun so they could maintain their fair complexion forever.

The milk tea shop's business was also booming. Although there were hardly any customers at the outdoor tables now, people had gotten used to buying steaming hot drinks and delicious cakes to bring home, sharing the warmth and sweetness with their families by the fireplace. The arrival of winter hadn't made the land desolate; on the contrary, shops were already gearing up for Christmas, eager to sell even more goods during the holiday.

Ever since Christmas two years ago, when the castle's owners gathered to celebrate together, this day had gradually become an important festival in Sardinson — unrelated to religion, but rather a day for people to reward themselves for a year's hard work and to reunite with friends and family.

This year, the holiday notice had been announced early, and everyone was looking forward to it.

The children, of course, were the happiest. You could even say they had been waiting for this day all year long. Whether it was the Christmas feast or the presents, both were things they eagerly anticipated. On Christmas, the adults would set aside work to take the whole family into town to play and enjoy a full day together.

There was nothing more exciting than that.

So even though Christmas was still some time away, as soon as December arrived, many people in Sardinson began their preparations.

Following the example set by the castle, they went into the woods to find a suitable Christmas tree, dragged it home, secured it, and decorated it with beautiful ornaments. Wreaths and garlands made of mistletoe and holly berries were hung on doorways and fireplaces.

Just like the commoners, everyone at Sardinson Castle was also getting ready for Christmas. However, this year, they would not celebrate in the castle. Instead, they planned to celebrate in the villa that Wei Wei had built but had left vacant ever since its completion.

The villa didn't have many rooms, so Wei Wei continued to stay in the master bedroom with her son. Dolores and Caroline temporarily shared one room. Crown Prince Edward and Miss Campbell each occupied a guest room. The remaining servant quarters were divided among the butler couple and the other servants.

Before the snow started, Wei Wei had already moved in with her people. Meanwhile, the castle began renovations. Most of the ordinary servants stayed behind to maintain daily life and guard the vaults and warehouses. Wei Wei didn't bring many servants over — including the cooks and general helpers, there were fewer than twenty. Among her maids, she only brought Penny and three little maids. Qin and the others stayed at the castle to handle their duties. The three young maids mainly helped look after her son; otherwise, Wei Wei would have reduced the number even further.

This couldn't be helped. The villa was only so big, and accommodating over twenty people was already pushing its limits. Except for the masters, the servants had to squeeze several to a room to fit.

The entire villa had been decorated by Butler Barton and his team, exuding a full festive Christmas atmosphere. They didn't just decorate the living room — they also adorned everyone's bedrooms, other areas, and even hung wreaths along the hallways. Red, green, and gold decorations became the theme of the month, bringing a lively energy to the snow-covered scene.

Crown Prince Edward and Miss Campbell were very interested in how they celebrated Christmas. As they watched the servants decorate, they couldn't help but approach, asking about everything with great curiosity. In previous winters, the crown prince had always stayed in warmer regions. Regardless of day or night, he had to stay in bed, unable to even wander around the house or warm himself by the fireplace. The smell of smoke would trigger his asthma, and any mistake could mean he might not make it through the winter.

This year, however, his condition was much improved. After winter arrived, he no longer felt that deep, bone-chilling cold despite wearing many layers, as he had in the past. As long as he dressed warmly, he could walk around the villa freely. During breaks in the snowfall, he could even stroll in the garden to admire the snow. The fireplace burned smokeless charcoal specially prepared by Wei Wei. All of it was reserved for the crown prince so that he could enjoy the warmth of the fireplace and chat with everyone comfortably.

During these days, the bond between the crown prince and Miss Campbell grew deeper. At the same time, they developed a close friendship with the Williams family. Even Dolores, who was usually shy and introverted, would occasionally chat and laugh with them. As for the somewhat bossy Caroline, she had become so bold that she would climb into the good-tempered crown prince's lap and demand he tell her stories.

Such warm, joyful days also made Wei Wei miss Felix even more.

Felix had gone north, where it was even colder than Sardinson. When they had their first snowfall, his region might already have been covered in ice. Wei Wei worried about his safety and whether he would make it back in time for Christmas.

Though Felix had written, saying he would return before Christmas, the recent weather had disrupted carrier pigeons, forcing them to rely on servants to deliver letters. A single letter now took several days to arrive. With the heavy snow, delivery times got longer and longer. In recent days, Wei Wei hadn't received any news from Felix for half a month.

So, as Christmas drew closer, her worry only deepened.

Even though she knew Felix was traveling with a large entourage and unlikely to encounter danger, she still couldn't help but worry.

Every day, she stood by her bedroom window, gazing at the road stretching north — the same road Felix had taken when he left and the one he would use to return. Wei Wei hoped that one day she would see a convoy flying the Williams family crest coming toward them from the horizon.

As Christmas approached, this yearning grew stronger. She didn't want Felix to miss this day; otherwise, she would worry he had encountered some unexpected trouble on the road.

But even by Christmas Eve, Wei Wei still didn't see his convoy return.

This year's Christmas weather wasn't ideal. Though it wasn't snowing, they woke up to a rare heavy fog. The fog was so thick that it was hard to see even ten meters ahead. Wrapped in her thick rabbit fur coat, Wei Wei pulled back the curtains but saw only a dense wall of white. She sighed in disappointment, then turned back to the bed to lift her already-awake son from his crib and dress him in a bright red Christmas outfit and a little red hat, transforming him into a little Christmas angel.

She kissed his chubby cheek, and the clever baby immediately leaned over to give her a milky, soft kiss in return.

"Baby, Daddy didn't come back today either. It looks like we'll have to celebrate Christmas on our own."

Who knew if he truly understood, but little Anthony nodded vigorously and babbled, "Daddy, come back!"

"Yes... If he doesn't come back today, there'll be someone missing from our reunion feast."

Sharing her feelings with her son, Wei Wei, then tucked away her worries. Wearing a gentle smile, she carried her son downstairs.

Today was Christmas — she couldn't let her own sadness affect everyone else.

On Christmas morning, everyone gathered around the Christmas tree to open gifts. When Wei Wei came downstairs, the others were already in the living room. Caroline was excitedly digging through the pile of presents that had been placed under the tree the night before.

At just over four years old, Caroline couldn't yet read. Each time she picked up a gift box, she would ask Dolores, "Is this one mine?"

"No."

"This one's mine!"

Then she would hand it over to Dolores.

"And this one?"

"Yes, that one is yours. Now see what else belongs to you."

"And this one?"

"That's Madam Nancy's."

Off went another gift.

"And this one?"

"That's Anthony's."

When she saw Wei Wei coming down, Caroline picked up Anthony's gift and ran over to hand it to her before returning to her search.

Finally, after all the adults had mischievously left her boxes for last, Caroline found all her gifts.

Not just one, but a whole pile. Every adult had prepared gifts for her and Anthony, so they had the most.

With all her gifts in hand, Caroline happily sat on the carpet to open them. She didn't need help at all, impatiently untying the ribbons, opening the boxes, and taking out the presents inside. With each gift, she let out a delighted gasp and then ran over, soft and sweet, to thank the giver, melting everyone's hearts with her adorable smile.

Since Felix wasn't here, all his gifts were placed in front of Wei Wei. Together with Anthony's share, the pile in front of her looked like a small mountain.

Children naturally love opening presents. Even though Anthony was only about a year and a half old, he was just as curious as Caroline. Sitting on Wei Wei's lap, he eagerly bent forward, reaching for the gift boxes on the floor. Wei Wei had to set him down so he could join Caroline in playing with the boxes.

Unfortunately, he was still too young to figure out how to untie the ribbons. His random tugging only made them tighten into unbreakable knots.

Before he could try to force them open, Wei Wei deftly loosened the knot.

When she lifted the lid, the gift inside stunned her.

It was a wooden sculpture depicting a family of three — a handsome father in a suit, a beautiful mother in a wedding dress, and a lively baby dancing in their arms.

It was them on their wedding day, and little Anthony at his first birthday.

"This was carved by Master Felix," Butler Barton approached and said softly. "He spent a long time learning from a carpenter to get it right. He said that if he didn't make it back by Christmas, I was to give it to you."

The butler knew that Master Felix would surely be regretful not to deliver it personally, but there was nothing to be done — he simply didn't make it in time.

Wei Wei caressed the sculpture, which was not very lifelike but carefully polished. A gentle smile spread across her face.

He always knew how to surprise her. He always had, and still did now.

But an even greater surprise was yet to come.

With a loud bang, the villa's front door was suddenly pushed open from outside.

A man cloaked in snow entered, shook off the flakes, lowered his hood, and revealed a handsome face she hadn't seen for so long.

His sky-blue eyes looked toward the black-haired woman among the gifts. Seeing the astonished joy in her gaze, he raised a bright, warm, and doting smile.

He opened his arms to welcome his beloved, rushing into them.

"My dear, I'm home!"

"Welcome home."

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