The wisest course of action right now is to completely abandon the northern route, avoid the Huang family's sharp edge, and relinquish the title of "richest man in Beijing".
Tighten cash flow and lie low for three to five years, then seek other business opportunities to make a comeback.
Although the Huang family had made a quick move and had already helped several of their sons enter officialdom, Luo Huai believed that his family was far from being doomed.
The world is vast, and wherever there are people, there is bound to be business to be done. The Huang family does not yet have the ability to infiltrate every corner of the world.
“Although you and Fengming are not yet skilled enough, neither of you are incapable. I don’t believe that three to five years is not enough for you to figure out a new path.”
****
With her father's guidance, Luo Cuiwei suddenly understood. When she came out of the courtyard, she had shaken off yesterday's frustration and defeat. She was full of energy and sent a message to the shopkeepers in various places, instructing them to suspend the preparation of goods for the northern trade route after the spring.
"Sister, Luo Fengming has been waiting in your study for a long time. He looks so sullen, like someone owed him a hundred strings of cash and ran away." Luo Cuizhen smiled and came closer with her hands behind her back.
"Hey, what did your father say to you? Can you teach me too?"
Luo Cuiwei pinched her cheek. "I'm going to talk to Luo Fengming about something first. I'll tell you about it slowly when I have some free time."
Luo Cuizhen nodded, following behind her while secretly laughing: "Sister, didn't you originally plan to spend a lot of money to bribe the Prince Zhao's Mansion and send the goods through Linchuan via the northern route?"
As the New Year approached, the academy closed classes early and sent its students home. Luo Cuizhen had been at home for several days and had vaguely learned about the things she needed to know.
“This method is unethical and goes against moral principles, so I ultimately gave up on it,” Luo Cuiwei turned to look at her younger sister, who was half a head shorter than her, and asked seriously, “What are your thoughts?”
From the time Luo Cuizhen began her education, her teachers said that she was highly talented and that if she were properly nurtured, she would be an excellent candidate for both academic pursuits and official careers.
Therefore, Zhuo Yu never wanted Luo Cuizhen to get too involved in the family business and only wanted her to focus on her studies.
But Luo Cuizhen was, after all, a daughter of the Luo family, and many things seemed to be ingrained in her very being.
Although she was not involved in the family's business, she set her lifelong ambition at a young age, vowing to write a business classic that could be passed down through generations, and she tried every means to study some of its intricacies.
She dared not mention this to her own mother, but she never hid it from Luo Cuiwei and Luo Fengming, because she knew that although her elder sister and that unreliable brother often joked and played with her, they would never stop her from becoming the kind of person she hoped to be.
Seeing that her elder sister took her opinion seriously, Luo Cuizhen was very happy. She jumped over and hugged her arm, lowering her voice to say, "In my opinion, putting aside whether it's fair or not, even if this deal is reached, there's a big problem."
"What's the problem?"
“The book says that alliances forged with gold, jade, and immense wealth are like a mirage, destined to crumble as soon as the sun rises,” Luo Cuizhen said, raising her chin with a smug smile. “Isn’t the most stable and fastest way to form an alliance in this world through marriage, bringing good fortune to both families?”
Luo Cuiwei was stunned for a long time before she began to seriously consider whether she should take the time to check what strange books her younger sister was secretly reading.
"So, the reason why the Huang family was able to successfully strangle our family is ultimately because we are rich but not noble, and we don't have a reliable backer who is willing to protect us. If we want to resolve this problem in the shortest time, finding a prominent family to form a marriage alliance is the best strategy."
Although the Luo family were just merchants and commoners, she had read through the history books of Dajin and found that there were precedents of marriages between prominent noble families and commoners.
Seeing her speaking fluently and casually, as if she were standing there without any real experience, Luo Cuiwei glanced at her with a smile.
"We only have three children in our generation. You know Luo Fengming has someone he loves, so he definitely can't go through with the arranged marriage. That leaves just you and me. So, in your opinion, which of us is the unlucky one who's suitable for the arranged marriage?"
"I was just talking on paper, don't take it seriously..." Luo Cuizhen suddenly jumped back, scrambled to the eaves and hugged the pillar in fear, and gave a weak, silly laugh, "Sister, I'm still a child."
Her age, neither too young nor too old, is her biggest advantage; she can decide whether she's an adult or a child at any time depending on the situation.
Luo Cuiwei thought about it seriously for a moment: "Your idea is very good. However, after I go to the marriage, Luo Fengming will be in charge of the household..."
Luo Cuizhen was almost in tears. "Sister, I was just kidding, don't take it seriously! If anyone dares to force you to marry into an arranged marriage, I'll be the first to stand up and fight for you, believe me!"
Luo Cuiwei was always the one who would indulge her a little, but Luo Fengming never showed her any mercy! This is terrifying! Eldest sister can't leave!
Luo Cuiwei smiled noncommittally and went to the study to find Luo Fengming.
In her death throes, Luo Cuizhen cried out pitifully behind her, "Sister, please, just take a husband instead!"
She was destined to be a prolific writer and leave her mark on history; she was absolutely not suited to a life of begging with a broken bowl!
****
In the study, Luo Fengming was pacing back and forth in front of the desk, clenching his fists in anger.
"...The Huang family only sent one invitation! Just one! His Highness Prince Zhao is showing far too much favoritism!"
Luo Cuiwei held the honey-soaked tangerine tea in her hands, her tone very calm: "They are all merchants who came to our door to make friends without our knowledge. He can see whoever he wants and whenever he wants. There is no question of favoritism."
A faint coldness appeared on her beautiful face, and her eyes held a self-mocking chill.
Her gaze was fixed on the opened box of mixed fruit cakes on the table, the subtle turmoil in her eyes completely at odds with the calmness in her voice.
I understand the reasons, but I still feel uneasy.
Her chest was filled with disappointment, embarrassment, and a vague, inexplicable stinging pain, which made her mouth taste bitter and her eyes slightly sore.
“That’s true,” Luo Fengming was still indignant. He turned his chair around and sat down, folding his arms over the back of the chair, looking at his elder sister sitting across the table with a wronged expression. “But over the past few days, you and he have developed a decent relationship, haven’t you? When you meet the Huang family now, don’t you care about the feelings of a friend at all?”
“Perhaps he doesn’t know that the Huang family and we are mortal enemies,” Luo Cuiwei reached out, opened the pastry box, and took out a piece of mixed fruit cake. “Or perhaps he doesn’t really think I’m his friend.”
Heartless and ruthless. She actually helped her mortal enemy slap her in the face.
Her slender hand suddenly tightened, and the poor fruit cake was instantly shattered into pieces.
“Uh, sis, what you’re doing is a bit…” Luo Fengming leaned back, staring at her hands covered in “dismembered” pastries with disgust, and bluntly said, “Childish, pretentious, and useless.”
Why are you speaking such blunt truths? Can't you at least show some consideration?
Luo Cuiwei rolled her eyes at him, tossed the "shattered" pastry in her hand into the wastebasket under the table, patted the crumbs off her hands, and said, "...Never mind."
Her slender, delicate shoulders slumped down, and her red lips, which always curved into a smile in public, also drooped.