Adrian Hawthorne returned a few days before the summer harvest, later than he had anticipated. As a result, his plans had to change. He wouldn't be able to help with the harvest anymore. He had to unload the goods on hand. For a businessman, the greatest fear is accumulating dead stock. Once you have excess inventory, you have to clear it out, even at a loss. Otherwise, it just keeps piling up, and all your capital gets tied up.
As soon as he got back, he learned of Howard Thorne's good news. Adrian Hawthorne's family had also received packages of white sugar and longan. The engagement gifts for both the bride's and groom's families were the same, all prepared by the groom's side. It was like an invitation; accepting the gift meant you were obligated to attend the wedding banquet. It was a matter of etiquette.
