Chapter 38: A Pearl

  Hai City Li family is a branch of Zhaojun Li family, and also the maternal family of Wang Qifang's late mother, Mrs. Li. After Mrs. Li's father passed away, Li Changbo, the eldest son of the Li family, took over as the head of the clan. Later, Li Changbo had a smooth career path, rising from a low-ranking official to a powerful minister, and eventually became one of the trusted officials of the emperor.

  Li Changbo went to the capital to be an official, leaving behind his wife and third brother at their hometown to serve their parents and take care of the family business. This third brother, who was also Wang Qifang's third uncle Li Changshu, had no interest in taking the imperial examination and after barely passing the exam for a juren degree, he refused to continue taking the exams and instead turned his attention to managing the Li family's shops and estates.

  It's not that Li Changshu was unsuccessful in his studies, but he is absolutely a master of business. In just three years after taking over the family business, he expanded the various industries at home by nearly double or more. The shops under his name cover all sectors of Haicheng, and the annual profits are almost one-third of the entire city's total, making him the undisputed number one merchant in Haicheng.

  This is not all, in the fourth year of receiving his inheritance, coinciding with the five-year recruitment of Confucian merchants, Li Changshu relied on his innate business acumen and fresh ideas to win the only membership qualification for Confucian merchants in Shandong Province that year, becoming a leading figure in the province's commerce.

  "Rushang Association? Ah, no, it's not that... my uncle isn't the president of Rushang Association, is he? If Uncle really helps me out, won't that offend the Zhao family?"

  Qifang listened to Li's brief family history and thought of Zhao's house in Beijing, couldn't help but say with some worry.

  "Haha, don't worry!" Old Lady Zhao said a long passage, just thirsty, picked up the teacup on the kang table and drank two mouthfuls, moistened her throat and continued: "When the Confucian Business Association was first established, there were already complete rules and regulations. In addition to the president, there are also eight advisors below, these advisors are elected by all Confucian businessmen every year, representing the interests of all members of the Confucian Business Association."

  Whenever there are major changes in the Confucian Chamber of Commerce, or when recruiting or expelling members, there will be a president and eight advisors, totaling nine people, to make decisions. Only after more than five people agree, can this resolution be passed... The Confucian Chamber of Commerce is not something that can be decided by one person!

  "Oh, I see..."

  Wang Qifang nodded silently, and began to plan how to find San Shu to get in touch with her feelings. "Right, Auntie, what is the relationship between San Shu and my mother? Also, on which day are San Shu's birthday or Shu Mu's birthday?"

  To be honest, in the Li family, the relationship between Madam and Third Uncle was the best. In the past, after Old Lady Li gave birth to Third Uncle, she had Third Auntie two years later, but her body was weak, so Third Uncle almost grew up under the care of a wet nurse and his elder sister, Madam. When Madam passed away, Third Uncle cried bitterly and even quarreled with Old Master on the spot because he didn't show enough sadness!

  Madam Zhao sighed, recalling the past. As for Qī Niáng's question, Madam Zhao tilted her head, furrowed her brow and thought for a moment, "Hmm, if I'm not mistaken, Third Uncle's birthday is on April 16th." While speaking, she continued to calculate with her fingers, "...oh dear, today is already April 9th, it's just around the corner."

  "Alright, I know, besides, we should also send a message to Jingli!"

  Wang Qifang had already made up her mind and also mentioned what Zhao's mother-in-law had always wanted to do but didn't dare to say.

  "Send a message? Seventh Girl, are you saying you want to inform Master Gou about your pregnancy?"

  To be honest, at first, when Zhao's mother just knew that Qi Fang's child was not lost, she really wanted to tell the capital immediately, so that her husband and wife could take Qi Fang back as soon as possible. Later, after listening to Qi Fang's analysis, and thinking of Qi Fang's situation in the Zhao Mansion, she didn't want her to go back at this critical moment.

  Uh, going back is definitely going back, but not now. At present, Seventh Sister is a pregnant woman, the easiest to invite jealousy and hatred, and also the easiest to be harmed. If she really goes back to the Zhao residence now, with the viciousness and ruthlessness of those petty people in the mansion, even if she takes care of herself, the safety of Seventh Sister and her child are not guaranteed.

  Compared to the gloomy Zhao Manor, the remote mountain village is actually safer. Moreover, their farm has been tidied up and they can move in soon. By then, once the courtyard gate is closed, she and Seventh Lady can safely give birth to the child without any worries.

  After the child is born safely and smoothly, they plan to return to the palace, it's not too late, right?

  "Heh heh, Zhao Ayi, do you think that if I were to ask San Jiu for help, with his personality and deep affection for my mother, he would be able to swallow his pride?"

  Although she had never met this third uncle, Wang Qifang could still roughly understand his personality from Zhao's narrative. To say the least, he was able to pick out reason and question him to his face just because Mr. Wang was not sad enough in front of his late wife's memorial tablet, which showed that this person was extremely protective and cherished his family.

  "Huh?" Zhao's nanny hesitated for a moment, she hadn't seen Third Uncle for many years, but judging from his temperament, Qifang's worries weren't entirely unreasonable.

  If Third Uncle knew that his only niece was treated so coldly by the Wang and Zhao families, he would probably be furious, and might even send someone to reason with the Zhao family directly.

  At that time, Aunt Zhao had personally witnessed it once. Although she was suppressed by Wang Qifang's father, she also gave Zheng Taotai a severe blow, which made her honest for quite some time.

  "Hehe, Auntie, don't worry, as long as Third Uncle is willing to help me, the Zhao family's matter will be easily settled!"

  Wang Qifang raised an eyebrow as if hinting at something, and although she didn't say some things, Zhao's nanny understood them in her heart.

  "Oh~~right, right, right. Oh dear, you see, the old lady is really muddled up. How can't she understand such a simple truth? Then, who do you want to send to deliver the message?"

  Madam Zhao thought for a moment, then understood Xi Fang's words. She slapped her forehead and laughed, saying: "Oh dear, it's really because people in the countryside are too lax, even Qīniáng can think of things that she overlooked - isn't it precisely because Qīniáng is being ignored at the Zhao residence because she doesn't have the backing of her natal family? Once Third Uncle stands behind Qīniáng, not to mention a concubine who can't even appear in public, even the master of the house has to carefully consider his actions."

  "Who to send?" Wang Qifang repeated with a lost smile, she had only a few people in her hand, and the one who could really take on the responsibility of "delivering messages" was probably only one person, "Let's just say Chen Dongsheng, he's clever, his mouth is also nimble, plus he often runs on the street, and he's not afraid of strangers!"

  Hai Cheng, Li Fu, a dusty young man arrived at the gate.

  "Tai state? Zhao family?"

  Upon receiving the news from Guan's family, Li Changshu furrowed his brow and thought to himself, "Huh, they've been away from Taizhou for many years, how can there still be relatives?"

  "Oh dear, sir, have you forgotten that our niece Qīniáng is married to the Zhao family in Beijing? And isn't your elder sister's husband's family also in Taizhou?"

  Seeing her husband's bewildered expression, Madame Chen, the third wife of the Li family, hastily reminded him.

  "Qī Niáng? Eldest sister's daughter Qī Niáng?" Li Changshu heard this, his whole body suddenly stunned, a white and chubby vague shadow flashed in his mind, as well as the forever young and beautiful face of eldest sister.

  "I'm guessing it's my niece, right? Ah, Li the steward, does the visitor have a letter?"

  Compared to Li Changshu's nervousness, Mrs. Li appeared much calmer, she turned her head and asked Li Guanshi who was bowing his head waiting for orders.

  "Yes, yes, yes!"

  Li Guan's family heard this and hastily took out an envelope from his pocket, holding it with both hands to give to Chen Shi.

  "Huh? Why is it a blank paper?" Chen Shi tore open the seal, pulled out the letter inside, but found that there was not a single word on the brand new white paper. Along with the white paper, a pearl also came out. Chen Shi carefully pinched it between her thumb and index finger, took a close look, and after a while, finally saw some clues. "Master, take a look at this pearl, how is it exactly the same as the pearl pendant that Third Aunt gave to Her Highness?"

  "What's that, pearl? Let me take a look!"

  As he spoke, Li Changshu took the pearl from his wife's hand and looked at it repeatedly with his head down. After a while, when he raised his head again, his face was filled with nostalgia and sadness. "It's true, this is the mysterious dowry that Mother left to my elder sister and third younger sister, saying that it should not be used unless absolutely necessary... Seventh Lady? Has it already reached the point of 'absolutely necessary'?"