Blossom

Dou Zhao's words resonated deeply with Chen Qushui.

At fifteen, he could never have dreamed that his scholarly ambitions would halt at the title of Recommended Man. At thirty-three, it never occurred to him that he would struggle even as an Adviser. At fifty-six, he thought he would fade into obscurity, dying alone in that cramped little house on East Lane Street—never imagining he'd move to this peaceful village instead. Now, amid snow and wind, he sat in a spring-warm room with underfloor heating and glass-paned windows, sipping Lu'an Melon Seed Tea with a twelve-year-old girl.

"So, although those assets are under your name, you can't access them?" Chen Qushui asked after taking a sip of the clear, amber tea.

"Unless I marry far away," Dou Zhao replied with a smile. "The stewards would have to follow me to my husband's household. Otherwise, replacing them would offend the second branch."

"What a shame," Chen Qushui sighed. "I've studied the inventory of assets under your name—shops spread across the land. If we could establish a code of conduct, those shopkeepers and clerks could become our eyes and ears in time. Nothing in the world would escape our notice then."

Dou Zhao was startled but laughed it off. "Businesspeople aren't necessarily skilled as scouts, and scouts aren't necessarily good at business. Finding someone who excels at both would be too difficult—and maintaining such a network would likely cost more than it's worth." Still, his words gave her pause. After a moment's thought, she added, "That's why I'm considering starting a separate venture outside the Dou family's existing businesses. It shouldn't require much capital, preferably something we can expand from the Capital to Zhen Ding—we need to keep an eye on Wang Yousheng and the Capital's movements to avoid being caught off guard."

Chen Qushui pondered this. "I noticed your ancestors built their fortune through loan sharking..."

Dou Zhao flushed slightly.

"Don't misunderstand, miss," Chen Qushui hurried to clarify. "I merely meant that if we want to stay informed about the Capital, the best approach is a business that allows us to maintain connections with the ministries' officials—and all those officials are scholars. Why not open a stationery shop? We could sell current essays, officials and gentry records, alumni records..." Here, he gave a peculiar smile. "And if anyone needs it, we could even offer short-term loans. What do you think?"

Dou Zhao considered this seriously and had to admit it was an excellent idea.

"But who would manage this stationery shop?" she mused. "Zhao Liangbi is too young to command respect. Besides, the Dou family mistakenly believes he's from the Zhao Family—they suspect he might be my uncle's informant, which is why they keep him in the loop. I want him to learn from the Dou family's experienced stewards so that if we ever clash with them, he can help manage things without chaos. He's indispensable. As for others... Cui Da won't do, and I plan to have Cui Shisan follow Dou Qijun..." She couldn't think of anyone suitable—or rather, in this lifetime, she struggled to find trustworthy people.

Chen Qushui observed, "You seem to place great trust in Third Master Xiu?"“Their family needs silver,” said Dou Zhao, “and they have the most male children. If disagreements arise within the family, there are more voices to speak up.” Of course, the main reason was Dou Qijun. Fifteen years later, his brilliance would rival Dou Shishu’s. She pondered whether, if Dou Shishu failed to outmaneuver Wang Xingyi, she should support Dou Qijun in opposing him.

In the past, she wouldn’t have dared consider it. But now, with help in external affairs, perhaps she could give it a try.

Wasn’t it said that fortune favors the bold while the timid starve?

As Dou Zhao mused, she heard Chen Qushui say, “Miss, whether in the family or in the court, the one who commands obedience isn’t necessarily the loudest voice, but the one whose words carry the most weight. Since you’ve decided to rely on your nephews within the family, we might as well start now by selecting a few key ones to cultivate relationships with…”

“Then I’ll trouble you with this matter, Mr. Chen,” she replied. The one she had in mind was Dou Qijun, but this life was already quite different from the last. Choosing a few more would only strengthen her position, and it would also test Chen Qushui’s judgment. Dou Zhao smiled. “I grew up in Dong Dou, and to me, they all seem outstanding. It’s hard to remain impartial.”

What kind of family was the Dou clan?

They had produced ten Presented Scholars over the generations—even the prestigious century-old families of Jiangnan wouldn’t dare look down on them. The thought of selecting promising candidates from among the Dou descendants made Chen Qushui’s long-cooled heart pound fiercely, as if anticipating the arrival of a blazing summer.

“Very well,” he said without hesitation. “I’ll present you with a list of candidates in a few days, and you can decide who is suitable and who isn’t.”

Dou Zhao was pleased. “Here’s what I think. Let’s open a stationery shop. Hire a proper merchant as the chief manager, and appoint Cui Shisan as the deputy manager. His main task will be to forge connections with influential figures in the court and keep us informed of developments in the Capital.” At this, she couldn’t help but chuckle. “This sort of thing is his specialty—and his favorite.”

After going in circles, Cui Shisan would still end up in her hands. But instead of being the respected chief steward of the Marquis of Jining’s Affairs Office, he’d be reduced to a mere deputy manager of a small shop. If he knew the truth of past and present, wouldn’t he be furious enough to jump in anger?

Chen Qushui hesitated. “Should we have him sign a certificate of dependency?”

“No!” Dou Zhao answered sharply.

In her past life, the Cui family, not wanting to burden her, had voluntarily submitted the certificate. Cui Shisan had followed her into the Marquis of Jining’s Mansion, serving her loyally, yet he was often mocked by Wei Tingzhen. It was a wound in her heart.

“But if any of the Cui descendants wish to pledge themselves to us,” she added calmly, “then they may submit the certificate.”

Chen Qushui nodded approvingly.

Dou Zhao braved the snowstorm and returned to Western Dou.

Qiukui was waiting anxiously at the Second Gate. “Master Jiang says if you don’t return to lessons soon, he’ll resign and return to his hometown.”

“Then let him resign and go back,” Dou Zhao replied indifferently. “Prepare hot water for me—I want to bathe, then I’ll visit Consort Cui for a chat.” She made it clear to Qiukui that she still wouldn’t be attending lessons today.

Qiukui didn’t dare disobey and dutifully assisted Dou Zhao with her bath.Jiang Yougong sat in the study, waiting until the lamps were lit without seeing Dou Zhao. Furious, his fingertips turned white as he gripped a book. He ordered a page to relay a message to Dou Zhao: "The Spring Festival is approaching. This old man hasn’t returned to his hometown in seven or eight years and wishes to close the school a few days early to go back for the New Year." Without waiting for a reply, he directly instructed the pages and maids to pack his belongings.

Dou Zhao sent Haitang with twenty taels of silver as Travel Expenses: "The journey is long and arduous. When spring arrives, the snow will melt. The master may stay in his hometown to enjoy the company of his grandchildren."

Jiang Yougong immediately smashed a teacup upon hearing this.

With the pretense of politeness shattered, Haitang didn’t hold back either. As she walked out, she muttered loud enough for Jiang Yougong to hear, "Doesn’t he realize where he is? That teacup was a new famille rose piece from the imperial kiln—a set costs ten taels of silver. And he calls himself a scholar? He has no discernment at all."

The pages, maids, and old women attending to him also changed their attitudes, dragging their feet in their tasks. After two days, his belongings still weren’t packed. In the dead of winter, the meals served were either cold or too salty and greasy, making them nearly inedible.

Since becoming a private tutor residing at the He residence, Jiang Yougong had never been treated like this.

He couldn’t bear it any longer. Hiring two men outside to help pack his luggage, he hired a carriage and returned to his hometown.

Only after arriving home did he remember he should have written letters to He Wendao and Dou Shiying.

But by the time his letter reached the He residence, He Wendao had already received a personal apology from Dou Shiying: "...My daughter’s knowledge is shallow, and she understands less than eighty or ninety percent of what Master Jiang teaches. Moreover, as a frail woman, she cannot attend daily lessons. I beg Master Jiang’s forgiveness for any disrespect. I have already sent five hundred taels of silver as Travel Expenses to Master Jiang."

He Wendao was deeply unsettled and recommended another tutor to Dou Shiying: "This man is mediocre in the Eight-legged Essay, but he excels in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. He is also skilled in composing poetry and painting, making him highly suitable for teaching your daughter refined and leisurely pursuits."

Dou Shiying repeatedly expressed his gratitude and wrote a letter to Dou Zhao: "This time, you absolutely must not drive the tutor away again. Once may be someone else’s fault, but twice or thrice—can it still be theirs? Some things need not be taken so seriously. Just treat it as keeping an idle helper at home."

Is this something a father should say?

What use does she have for an idle helper?

Dou Zhao tossed the letter aside.

Her grandmother summoned her: "The New Year is approaching, and the Bie family has no relatives nearby. It must be very lonely. Send someone with some New Year goods to visit them. Also, see if you can buy the Bie Family Martial Arts School. If they can die in their ancestral home, they won’t be ashamed when meeting their ancestors in the afterlife."

Dou Zhao, still angry at Dou Shiying, took advantage of the clear weather and brought Gan Lu and Su Juan to Zhen Ding Prefecture.

This was Gan Lu and Su Juan’s first long trip in this lifetime. Seeing Dou Zhao resting with her eyes closed, they quietly lifted the carriage curtains to peek outside, whispering Personal Savings to each other and enjoying themselves immensely.

At the Bie residence, they met Chen Qushui at the entrance, also laden with packages of New Year goods.

The Bie sisters were deeply grateful and hurriedly welcomed Dou Zhao and Chen Qushui into the firewood room, while Bie Sulan entertained Gan Lu and Su Juan with tea in the adjacent kitchen.

Bie Gangyi was already unconscious. His prolonged survival was entirely due to expensive medicine, most of which was paid for by Dou Zhao.

She handed the deed to the Bie Family Martial Arts School to the Bie sisters.The Bie sisters immediately burst into tears.

Dou Zhao smiled and said, "You should thank that Liu Zizhuang instead."

Liu Zizhuang was the person who bought the Bie Family Martial Arts School when Bie Gangyi was in financial difficulties. When Zhao Liangbi wanted to redeem the school, Liu agreed without hesitation and sold it back at the original price.

The Bie sisters nodded repeatedly, while Gan Lu and Su Juan looked at them curiously.

When Bie Sulan went to cook, Gan Lu helped tend the fire and quietly asked her what had happened.

Outside, a young man's clear voice rang out: "Junior sister, I've come to see master."

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Sisters, we're about to reach 600 pink votes again...o(n_n)o haha~

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