"My father said that Zeng Xianglin has been cunning and calculating since childhood, and he's also very bold. If we're talking about something unusual, there is one thing." Yu Weiwei smiled cheerfully, as if sharing happy news with a close friend. "My father said Zeng Xianglin's takeover of the Zeng family was very sudden. Before that, there were no signs that my uncle intended to pass the family business to his eldest son. He had even discussed a business deal with my father, but just a few days later, he suddenly announced publicly that he was handing the Zeng family over to his eldest son. After that, he rarely appeared in public."
"Have you seen him since then?"
"I'd see him a few times a year. After learning my father was poisoned, I considered this possibility. But my uncle's situation is different from my father's. My uncle suffers from intermittent headaches - he's perfectly fine when he's well, but whenever he exerts his mind slightly, he gets splitting headaches. That's why he had to let his eldest son take over early."
Yu Weiwei intimately leaned close to Hua Zhi's ear and openly whispered, "My father also mentioned another thing. Back then, he was optimistic about water transport and wanted to pull my uncle into partnership in this area. My uncle wasn't convinced and politely declined. But about half a year after Zeng Xianglin took charge, he approached my father saying he wanted to do this business."
Hua Zhi frowned, "But from our investigation, the Zeng family doesn't have any water transport operations under their name."
"This business has always been registered under my Yu family's name. Zeng Xianglin said his father didn't approve and didn't want to upset him, so they kept it secret from outsiders. If my father hadn't mentioned it, no one would know. Water transport hasn't been profitable these past few years, and my father considered withdrawing. But thinking that this was his original proposal, simply abandoning it would be unfair to Zeng Xianglin, so he kept putting it off."
Hua Zhi's heart stirred, and she confirmed, "So you're saying the Yu family's water transport business actually has Zeng Xianglin's half share?"
Yu Weiwei didn't know what Hua Ling wanted to find out, but she could vaguely tell this was very important to her. She quickly replied, "Yes, and for years now, it's been Zeng Xianglin managing it. He told my father that no business would fail in his hands, and he refused to believe the water transport business couldn't succeed. My father, afraid of discouraging him, simply stepped back and stopped managing it."
If Zeng Xianglin was providing cover in the shadows, while Zhu Ling and the then-official Yuan Shifang were opening doors openly, with the water transport route available, moving silver would be completely unobstructed!
Hua Zhi's heartbeat quickened. She leaned close to Yu Weiwei's ear and said, "This clue is very important, Weiwei. You've been a great help."
"I'm helping myself too." Yu Weiwei leaned against her. "Only when you succeed can the Yu family's crisis be resolved, and our whole family survive."
"Don't worry, whether we succeed or not, I'll do my best to ensure your safety."
Yu Weiwei smiled, "I trust your word, I really do. Ah Ling, are all the young ladies in the capital like you?"
"No, they're true daughters of noble families, while I'm just a businesswoman covered in the smell of money. In the capital, someone like me probably can't get married."
"Nonsense, do you think I'm easily fooled?" Yu Weiwei shot her a reproachful look, her expression showing rare relaxation after many tense days.
"Alright, you two, must you be so intimate? Yu Weiwei, I've finally seen your true colors. After knowing you for over ten years, you've never been this close with me." Wang Yu finally couldn't take it anymore, her words carrying a hint of jealousy. She was genuinely envious, filled with the crisis of feeling her best friend was being taken away.Yu Weiwei deliberately wrapped her arms around Hua Zhi’s neck, casting a provocative glance in that direction as she whispered, "What should I do next?"
Hua Zhi played along, embracing her in return and smiling as she quickly murmured in her ear, "Stop confining Qi Qiu. Keep an eye on him and figure out his relationship with Zeng Xianglin. Don’t take the risk of coming out yourself—I’ll have Ling Niang visit you tonight."
"There’s someone in my household who’s been bribed. I’ll leave the letter in the brush holder in the study."
"Alright."
Wang Yu slapped a tile down forcefully. "Yu Weiwei, I’m about to get angry!"
"So easily provoked." Yu Weiwei seized the moment to stand and move behind Wang Yu. "Here, let me lend you some good luck."
"You borrowed your own luck from someone else, and you have the nerve to say that." Wang Yu finally laughed, gesturing for her to draw a tile for her.
As luck would have it, Yu Weiwei drew exactly the tile Wang Yu needed to win, earning her a sizable pile of chips and puffing her up with pride.
Shaoyao, exhausted from the game, pushed her tiles away and stood up. "Weiwei, your turn."
"Fine, I’ll play a few more rounds before heading back. My father’s health is worsening, so I can’t be away for too long."
At this, the others fell silent. After all, the Yu family’s situation was far from ideal, and Yu Weiwei had gained a reputation as a shrew. Troubles piled up one after another, and it was only because Yu Weiwei was capable of handling such burdens that she managed—anyone else would have been at a loss.
Wang Yu glanced at her friend. "You still look terribly pale. Don’t overexert yourself; your health matters most."
"It’s just a lingering chill—I’ll recover with some rest." Yu Weiwei rubbed her forehead. She hadn’t noticed it before, but now that it was mentioned, her head felt heavy.
"Enough of this. In this state, why keep playing? Hurry back—I’ll see you home." Wang Yu pushed her tiles aside and helped Yu Weiwei up, turning to the maid waiting nearby. "We’ll settle our scores together next time."
"Yes." The maid promptly stepped forward, deftly placing their respective chips into boxes—a routine she was clearly accustomed to.
With two seats now vacant, Hua Zhi, whose character was known for her addiction to the game, couldn’t let the opportunity pass. After seeing the others off, she immediately returned and took one of the seats alongside Shaoyao. They played until their stomachs growled with hunger before heading home, as Hua Zhi never dined out.
It was well past mealtime, but Gu Yanxi had waited without eating first. As soon as she returned, he hurriedly ordered the dishes to be served. He personally wrung out a warm towel and handed it to Hua Zhi, then passed her the hand warmer the moment she finished wiping her hands and face—the day was still chilly.
Shaoyao pouted off to the side, a little envious.
"Apply the ointment before eating."
Shaoyao blinked in surprise at the jar of medicine held out to her, then beamed at Yan Ge and hugged the container, heading off to find a mirror.
"Shaoyao’s face seems to have improved a bit," Gu Yanxi remarked as he helped A Zhi sit down.
"The scars have faded further. Even if they don’t disappear completely, a little powder should make them hardly noticeable."
Gu Yanxi chuckled. "When has she ever had the patience for that? She’s fine as she is now."Yes, that's right, it's good. Hua Zhi leaned against the man's shoulder, silently comforting him. For as many years as Shaoyao had been injured, he had likely carried the same years of guilt. In his view, if it weren't for him, Shaoyao wouldn't have chosen to perish together with that woman, nor would her face have been slashed. Even though Shaoyao never blamed him, he blamed himself—for failing to protect his younger sister and instead letting her protect him. To him, this was his own incompetence.
That's why he cared more than anyone about how much Shaoyao's face could recover. He was far more diligent than Shaoyao herself in applying the ointment. The importance of this matter in Yan Xi's heart was probably no less than the threat of the Chao Li Tribe's resurgence.
PS: Pure substance, isn't it!
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