Chapter 2921 - 2922: The Art of Business

Chapter 2921: Chapter 2922: The Art of Business

Bai Ruozhu was eager to return home, but Bai Zepei and his wife insisted that they stay for a few days. After all, once they left the Capital City this time, who knows how long it would be before they met again.

In the end, Bai Ruozhu relented, saying they would leave after three days.

Si Yihuan was particularly cheerful and sent invitations to their familiar friends, hosting a banquet at the Bai Residence, bringing together friends who hadn’t seen each other in a while to enjoy the lively occasion.

The young women they knew before had all married, and many were already mothers. Leng Wanhua even came with a prominent belly.

One of Si Yihuan’s cousins also came, bringing along her little daughter who was only about a year old and particularly adorable. Bai Ruozhu, fond of daughters, held the baby in her arms, reluctant to let go.

Jiang Yichun didn’t join the women’s banquet but went out to visit friends.

When the evening ended and everyone had dispersed, Si Yihuan pulled Bai Ruozhu into a room to talk.

"Ruozhu, how did you find the little girl today?" she suddenly asked.

"So cute, but sadly I don’t have a daughter." Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but lament again.

Si Yihuan smiled, "My cousin is the daughter of a Jiangnan scholar, very cultured and refined, capable of raising a good daughter. A few days ago, my aunt mentioned wanting to match them closely."

Bai Ruozhu realized that Si Yihuan was asking if the one-year-old little girl would be suitable as her daughter-in-law.

She felt a bit awkward, "Isn’t it too early? The children are so young."

"Betrothal is common. When the families frequently interact, the children play together often, and their relationship naturally becomes unusual," Si Yihuan said with a smile.

Bai Ruozhu frowned; as someone with a modern soul, she found such an arranged marriage and close kin marriage unacceptable.

But she couldn’t criticize Si Yihuan for this, as it was a long-standing custom among ancient people; it wasn’t wrong in Si Yihuan’s eyes since it was a common practice.

"Dear sister-in-law, I’m a medical student, and I know that children of close relatives who marry are likely to have poor health and might also affect intelligence," she said, pointing to her head, "like your cousin’s daughter, she qualifies as a close relative."

"Ah... is there such a thing?" Si Yihuan was shocked, "Then, then I’ll go back and tell my aunt."

Bai Ruozhu breathed a sigh of relief, glad that Si Yihuan listened to her and planned to reject her Aunt’s proposal.

"The children are too young; it’s never too late to choose slowly later," Bai Ruozhu added.

"True, if the families have good relations, it doesn’t necessarily mean they must marry," Si Yihuan realized, not feeling that the adorable little girl was necessarily suited to be her daughter-in-law.

The next day, Si Yihuan sent someone to tactfully refuse her aunt.

Si Yihuan’s uncle by marriage, surnamed Wu, held a position at the Ministry of Rites, coming from a scholarly family.

When Madame Wu received the news, her face changed, but she quickly suppressed her displeasure.

Once the messenger left, Madame Wu said to her daughter-in-law, "Yihuan refused, so don’t bring it up again."

Her daughter-in-law Deng Shi was somewhat disappointed, "Didn’t she seem quite willing before? At the banquet yesterday, she held the little one tightly, and even that Bai adult liked our little girl very much."

Deng Shi was a Jiangnan native, speaking with a Suzhou dialect, soft and tender.

Unfortunately, Madame Wu didn’t appreciate her tone of voice.

"Just because we like her doesn’t mean we’ll marry into your family? Don’t you see what your status is? You’re reaching too high," Madame Wu said rudely.

Deng Shi’s face flushed, "We’re all relatives; how can you look down on people like this? Didn’t they say that Bai adult also came from a farming family?"

"Don’t mention Bai adult. I guess it was her who disagreed; otherwise, Yihuan liked the little one so much, only she could change Yihuan’s mind," Madame Wu said.

"This... Bai adult clearly liked the little one, could she really disdain me?" Deng Shi was a bit angry but soon calmed down.

"I still want to ask her," Madame Wu said irritably.

Soon it was the next day, and Prime Minister Si Yuanhang’s family held a home banquet, inviting Bai Zepei and Si Yihuan, as well as Bai Ruozhu and their group.

Bai Ruozhu and their group arrived punctually for the banquet, and since it was a family affair, they brought Gao Zhou, Chushuang, and Little Dengdeng.

The two families, being in-laws and very close, made the gathering particularly lively.

"Ruozhu, I am getting old, planning to retire and return to my hometown," Prime Minister Si suddenly said, startling many in the house, as the Prime Minister was the pillar of the Si family, and the family reputation would be significantly different without a Prime Minister.

Bai Ruozhu was quite curious why he told her this. If he wanted to tell colleagues, shouldn’t he speak with second brother or Achun?

"Prime Minister is hearty and healthy, how could you retire so early?" Bai Ruozhu chose her words carefully.

Si Yuanhang waved his hand, "I know my body best. Worrying too much isn’t good. I just want to return home and do some small business; lately, I’ve found business somewhat interesting. You are skilled in business, can you guide me a bit?"

So it turns out he wanted her advice, but aren’t scholars usually disdainful of the stench of money from merchants? Prime Minister Si was indeed unique.

"I’m not qualified to guide, but we can discuss it," Bai Ruozhu said with a smile, "I wonder which aspect interests you, what is the situation in your hometown now?"

"My hometown is not far from the Capital City, called Xuzhou City. It’s near water transport, so the transportation is convenient, but it’s not very prosperous, with a small flow of people," Si Yuanhang began discussing with her. Earlier, some wanted to persuade the Prime Minister not to be impulsive; now they simply listened attentively.

Everyone knew Bai Ruozhu was very successful in business, having started from scratch and now wealthy.

It’s often said that scholars don’t like the stench of money, but who doesn’t like money? The same noble family, rich ones are truly powerful, while poor ones are empty shells.

"I think don’t be in a hurry; you can arrange for someone to do market research first, to understand the local situation, such as what kinds of shops are there, how the business of these shops is. What kind of business mainly depends on local market demand, for instance, in a relatively small city, there are already two medicinal material shops, opening another one simply divides the market."

"Additionally, it should be based on local consumption levels. For example, the Beauty Pavilion I opened in the Capital City is doing well, but if located in a small Town, how many people are willing to spend silver on beauty?"

She spoke a bit, and Si Yuanhang kept nodding, "It’s like scholars participating in the Imperial Examination, some are smart and understand the preferences of the chief examiner, and when answering, they combine it with the examiner’s preferences for a better score. Also called catering to one’s preferences."

"Prime Minister grasped the concept instantly; I feel embarrassed to boast further," Bai Ruozhu joked.

"No, if this business is decided, what other matters should be considered later?" the Prime Minister asked.

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Today was truly exhausting...