It was midsummer, and the sun at 9 am was already getting increasingly scorching. With every step you took outside, it felt like you were wrapped in another layer of soft, fine cloth. It was so hot that you felt like you could start a fire on the spot.
Fortunately, the old lady of the Xu family specially chose a shady corner of the courtyard to receive the guests. It was shaded by trees outside, and ice basins were placed under each of the four corners of the hall. Someone was holding a large banana leaf fan and fanning the ice basins, which filled the room with cool air. Compared with the scorching heat outside, it was simply a paradise on earth.
The old lady of the Xu family was a kind-faced old woman. Seeing that Luo Cuiwei was so hot that she could hardly speak, she first took her hand and led her to stand in front of the ice basin for a while so that she could cool down a bit.
Perhaps because there were no other people around, the old man was completely at ease with her, patting her hand affectionately and chatting with her as they stood in front of the ice basin.
The old man is seventy-nine years old and seems to be in good spirits, but his memory seems to be a bit confused. He remembers things from long ago clearly, but he seems to forget things right in front of him as soon as he says them. He also repeats the same things over and over from time to time.
Facing such an elderly person, Luo Cuiwei showed no impatience whatsoever. The two chatted about this and that, with questions and answers, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Since she was there to celebrate a birthday, Luo Cuiwei specially chose a cloud-purple high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a plain gauze robe over it. Her complexion was elegant and bright, without giving off a frivolous or ostentatious feeling. This was exactly the kind of look that the elders would like to see.
Seeing the sweat on her forehead, the old lady took out a silk handkerchief, smiled kindly, and raised her hand to wipe it for her, saying with emotion, "I always said that when Xiao Cuiwei grows up, she will definitely be as beautiful as your mother."
The old lady suddenly mentioned her biological mother, which made Luo Cuiwei pause for a moment.
"But her personality must be just like your father's, lively and energetic." The old lady added with a smile, then raised the back of her hand and touched her forehead.
Seeing that she was no longer burning up, the old lady took her hand and led her to a chair. "Once you're cooler, stay away from the heat. Don't let yourself get too cold, or it will harm your health."
Luo Cuiwei nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"Come on, have some snacks," the old lady said, pushing a plate of pea flour cake that she had prepared in front of Luo Cuiwei. "You loved eating this when you were little."
Luo Cuiwei immediately smiled and picked up a piece with her fingertips, "Since the old lady has gone to such trouble, I won't be polite."
She hadn't visited the Xu family for over a decade, and her memory of the old lady was somewhat hazy. She also didn't remember ever liking this sweet, slightly cloying dessert.
But the old lady's familiar, kind, and affectionate demeanor at this moment still vaguely reminded her of some scenes from her childhood. She vaguely remembered that whenever she came to the Xu family, the old lady would always give her some snacks.
The blurry images brought a lump to Luo Cuiwei's throat and warmed her heart, so she obediently accepted the old man's hospitality.
Who would have thought that once this favor was accepted, it would never end?
Whenever she finally managed to swallow a piece of pastry, the old lady would see that her hands were empty and assume that she had forgotten to offer her a pastry, so she would immediately and kindly offer her another one.
Luo Cuiwei ate until her mouth was so sweet it tasted bitter, and she almost fainted from the savory taste, but she could only endure it and not show it on her face.
Finally, a member of the Xu family came to say that Xu Yan had something to say to the old lady, and the old lady reluctantly let Luo Cuiwei leave, telling her to come again when she had time.
****
Overwhelmed by the sweetness, Luo Cuiwei hurried out, intending to bid farewell to the Xu family head before leaving. However, she unexpectedly ran into her nemesis, Huang Jingru, under the covered walkway.
The two met face to face and were both taken aback.
Luo Cuiwei had no interest in paying attention to her, but she asked the Xu family servants who were accompanying the two of them to leave first, as if she wanted to talk to Luo Cuiwei.
"You must already know about what happened in Songyuan," Huang Jingru said bluntly as soon as the waiters left, without even exchanging pleasantries. "I thought I had finally succeeded in squeezing you out of the northern trade route, but I didn't expect to suffer such a big setback in the end. It's as if I helped your Luo family escape a disaster."
Luo Cuiwei didn't speak, but simply raised her lips slightly, looking at her with a half-smile.
A hint of annoyance flickered in Huang Jingru's eyes. "Luo Cuiwei, you must feel very satisfied, right?"
“I didn’t feel much at first,” Luo Cuiwei chuckled, “but seeing how much you’re holding a grudge today, I suddenly feel very happy.”
"You!" Huang Jingru was so angry that she suddenly became speechless and didn't continue speaking for a long time.
Luo Cuiwei rolled her eyes impatiently, finding the whole thing ridiculously funny: "I was just thinking of pretending not to know you and letting it go with a laugh, but you insisted on keeping me talking."
As a result, the person who started the trouble got angry first.
“Don’t be so smug. You’ve completely lost your family’s authority. From now on, there will be no more Luo Cuiwei in the business world of the capital,” Huang Jingru gritted her teeth, straightened her neck and raised her chin. “As for me, even if I’ve failed on the northern front this time, I still have a chance to make a comeback.”
"Oh, congratulations."
Luo Cuiwei gave a perfunctory smile, the sweet taste in her mouth turning into a bitter one, and the hot weather gradually wore down her patience.
Enraged by her arrogant attitude, Huang Jingru angrily pointed at her, "Luo Cuiwei! I've considered you my rival for so many years, but now I realize you're not worthy at all!"
Among the well-known merchants in Beijing, only two young women, Luo Cuiwei and Huang Jingru, are capable of taking over the family business at a young age.
People of similar age, in similar circumstances, and engaged in the same trade are bound to be compared by others.
Over time, as Huang Jingru listened to others' comparisons and evaluations, she secretly began to compete with Luo Cuiwei in her heart.
"I never expected that you would rather hastily marry a prince and easily hand over the family headship than have the courage to compete with me."
"So that's what you've always thought? But I've never wanted to compete with you," Luo Cuiwei said, surprised by her disappointed accusation. "After all, I've never taken you seriously."
Outsiders were unaware that Luo Cuiwei's decision to temporarily assume the position of family head was due to circumstances. Neither she nor her father, Luo Huai, had ever intended for her to become the next family head.
Because the head of the family has too many responsibilities and constraints, and Luo Cuiwei is naturally good at attacking but not good at defending.
For example, in the past three months, she has single-handedly built the Zhaowang Mansion from scratch, which makes her feel more satisfied and proud than simply guarding the legacy passed down from her ancestors.
However, she didn't feel it necessary to explain these things to Huang Jingru.
"Whether the name 'Luo Cuiwei' will still exist in the business world of Beijing in the future is none of my concern," Luo Cuiwei said, too lazy to reason with her anymore. "If you feel you've won... then whatever makes you happy."
After saying that, he turned and walked away.
Just as the two brushed past each other, Huang Jingru said coldly, "Luo Cuiwei, after thinking about it for the past few months, I finally understand why you approached Prince Zhao's mansion in the first place."
Luo Cuiwei paused in her tracks.
"Back then, you wanted to borrow a route from His Highness Prince Zhao so that your caravan could bypass Songyuan from the military defense zone, right?"