Chapter 20 The Benefits of Borrowing Momentum

  "You little scamp, you're getting more and more glib!" Old Master Yao listened to his daughter's words of admiration, looked at her adoring gaze, and was deeply pleased in his heart. He couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Dad didn't know before that Hui'er had such a clever tongue!"

  "Father is teasing us!" Yao Cunhui smiled shyly and took over the tea bowl handed to her by Hong Lian, presenting it to Old Master Yao with both hands: "Father, please have some tea!"

  What good tea do you have here? Old Yao smiled and lifted the lid, but instead of the familiar aroma, a pungent smell hit his nostrils. His eyebrows slightly furrowed, and he didn't say much, casually fiddling with the tea cover before putting it aside.

  Yao Cunhui seemed to be completely unaware of his movements and expressions, still smiling calmly and telling him about Yao Shizan's situation. When she got excited, her eyebrows and eyes curved, and her small face was full of smiles.

  Mr. Yao observed her words and expressions, secretly feeling at ease, his heart was even more delighted, and he felt that it was right to entrust his son to this daughter-in-law's care.

  Old Master Yao was delighted and became more generous to his daughter, laughing: "Hui'er is getting more capable! You've been taking care of your brother with so much hardship, if there's anything you want, just tell Father and I'll satisfy you!"

  Yao Cun Hui's heart was secretly laughing coldly, but her eyes sparkled with a bright light. Her beautiful autumn water-like eyes blinked, and she tilted her head in surprise and delight, asking: "Really?"

  Looking at her lovely and innocent appearance, Old Master Yao's heart softened, and his gaze involuntarily showed two points of tenderness, smiling: "Of course it's true, can Father deceive Hui'er?"

  Yao Cun Hui smiled and said, "Hui'er is now living a life of luxury, having just had new clothes made, her sister gave her many accessories, and her mother has the kitchen cook bird's nest congee every day to nourish Hui'er's body. It seems that Hui'er really doesn't lack anything! However," she winked mischievously and smiled playfully, "Hui'er can't disappoint Father's good intentions, right? So, Hui'er requests of Father, I want to go to Father's study to find a few books to pass the time, I wonder if Father will permit it?"

  Mr. Yao listened to her talking for so long, looking at her expression already smiling uncontrollably, but when she said she wanted to go to her own study to read, he was stunned, staring at her in surprise.

  He thought she would ask him for clothes, jewelry, cosmetics or antiques, but he never expected her to ask him to read books.

  Mr. Yao couldn't help but take a closer look and reevaluate this daughter who had never been important to him before.

  Was I mistaken about myself? Is this a pearl covered in dust?

  "What kind of books does Hui'er want to read?" Mr. Yao asked with a smile, neither agreeing nor refusing.

  "Yeah, Hui'er wants to take a look at some books about geography, local products, and customs of various places. Father must have them, right?"

  "Oh?" Old Master Yao raised an eyebrow, even more astonished.

  He thought she would ask him for some poetry or legendary stories, but no!

  "How did you know that your father has those things?" Mr. Yao asked with a smile, his sharp eyes gleaming with even more interest.

  This daughter, it seems he has indeed neglected her for a long time!

  Yao Cun Hui smiled and said, "Father must have them! Father's business is so big, with goods going out, coming in, being transported, and circulating between so many cities and towns. How could he not understand the regional characteristics and products of each place beforehand? Father is a Confucian merchant, how can he be compared to those short-sighted and inferior small merchants? So Hui'er is certain that father must have these books."

  "Rushang? Rushang?" Old Master Yao was shocked by his daughter's words, but what shocked him the most were the two words "Rushang". He muttered to himself, his eyes shining brighter and brighter, a smile spreading across his face, his heart racing with excitement. Suddenly, he felt as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and everything became clear and transparent!

  Scholar-merchants! Isn't that exactly what they are? Aren't they scholar-merchants themselves? Not only imperial merchants, but also scholar-merchants! Who says merchants are inferior to scholars? Merchants can also be learned and cultured, with knowledge comparable to those literary men and Confucian scholars!

  "Marvelous, it's really marvelous!" Old Master Yao savored the taste endlessly and couldn't help but slap his thigh with a loud "haha", bursting into laughter. Once he lets this phrase out in the business world, who knows how many people will look at him with new eyes!

  Mr. Yao became more and more pleased with himself, and he also looked at Yao Cunhui with increasing favor.

  "Dad?" Yao Cunhui's face was filled with confusion and perplexity.

  Mr. Yao snapped back to reality, intending to ask her how she came up with such a wonderful phrase, but then thought again that maybe it was just a coincidence, otherwise why would she have this expression? Mr. Yao put the question aside and nodded with a smile: "Since Hui'er likes it, let's go to my study later and pick out a few books! After finishing them, we can exchange for new ones!"

  "Good, thank you Father!" Yao Cunhui's eyes lit up and he quickly got up to bow and thank him.

  Mr. Yao smiled and raised his hand, originally intending to suggest that she follow him to learn how to do business, but after thinking twice, he felt that Zan was more important at the moment, so let her focus on taking care of Zan, learning to do business can be said later! During this period, he also took the opportunity to test and observe her, see how her learning ability is, how she handles things, and whether she is worth cultivating. So, the words that came to his mouth were swallowed again.

  Yao Cunhui racked her brains, actually also harboring the idea of learning from her father how to do business. The principle that economic foundation determines superstructure is universally applicable throughout history and geography, and Yao Cunhui naturally regards it as a golden rule. Only by participating in the family business can she grasp connections and power in her hands, and thus have the capital to protect herself; otherwise, she would be like a bird in a cage, constantly preparing for the possibility of being crushed by its master at any moment!

  Yao Cun Hui saw that Old Master Yao wanted to say something but stopped himself, and in the end, he just smiled and said nothing. She was extremely disappointed in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face at all. Instead, she warmly invited her father: "Dad, since it's already this time, why don't you stay for lunch with Hui'er today? After lunch, Hui'er will go to Dad's study and pick out a few books, okay?"

  Since the long-term development goal cannot be achieved for the time being, she should get some immediate benefits.

  "Alright, alright, Papa will stay for dinner with Hui'er today!"

  "Really? That's great! Thank you, Father!" Yao Cunhui was overjoyed and smiled with curved eyebrows. Then she said: "After talking for half a day, Father must be hungry too. The swallow's nest congee that Mother sent earlier hasn't been used yet. Hongzhi, go get the swallow's nest congee that Mother sent over and serve it to Father!"

  Yao Cun's eyebrows were raised, and he gave a stern order, almost scaring Hong Zhi's heart out of his chest!

  Can such "swallow's nest congee" be served to the old master? It would be strange if he didn't get angry! The old master got angry, went back and blamed his wife, and his wife would have her skin peeled off!

  Hongzhi didn't dare to go and pick up the "燕窝粥", she knelt down, bowed her head and trembled as she said: "Reporting to Second Miss, this servant girl was careless and spilled the porridge, please forgive me, Second Miss!"

  Old Yao's eyes suddenly lit up, and his sharp gaze swept over Hong Zhi's head. Although Hong Zhi didn't see it, her body stiffened inexplicably, feeling a chill run down her spine.

  "What a clumsy servant!" Yao Cunhui frowned, waved his hand and scolded: "Alright, get up! Be more careful next time, or it won't be just a few words of reprimand!"

  "Yes, thank you for your kindness, Second Miss!" Hongzhi got up with a sigh of relief and smiled obsequiously: "I'll go to the kitchen right away to hurry up lunch. Please wait a moment, Master and Second Miss!"

  Yao Cunhui glanced at his father and nodded towards Hongzhi: "Go on, let them get ready quickly!"

  "Yes, Second Miss!" Hongzhi responded with this one sentence and hastily rushed towards the kitchen.

  If the kitchen continues to send that kind of food to Second Miss's place at noon today like they usually do, it won't just be her who dies!

  Yao Cunhui's heart was clear, and she knew what Hongzhi wanted to do, which coincided with her own intentions. From today on, Ma Shi should be more restrained, right? She looked forward to tonight's dinner and tomorrow's bird's nest congee!

  It turned out that Yao Cunhui was right, Ma Shi did not dare to take this risk, and did not dare to deduct the food for Luomei Courtyard again, including the bird's nest congee delivered every day, although it was not as good as her own top-grade food, but it was also a very good thing.

  Yao Cunhui was chatting with her father, who was in a good mood, and asked him to tell her some interesting business stories. The father-daughter duo got along very well.

  The lunch was sumptuous, and Yao Cunhui accompanied her father to eat, sat for a while, and then got up with him to the study to fetch books.

  Out of the house, Yao Cunhui looked at the wall and saw a row of blooming jasmine flowers. She shouted loudly: "Hongzhi, these jasmine flowers have fallen all over the ground and made a mess of the whole yard! Where are Xiaoli and Xiao Xing? Tell them to clean it up quickly!"

  Hongzhi listened and hastily agreed.

  What's with the Gardenia? Old Master Yao couldn't help but stop in his tracks, his narrow phoenix eyes half-closed and icy cold as he gazed over. He swept his gaze around, scanning the entire small courtyard. Only then did he discover that, apart from the gardenia, there were no other flowers or trees in this small courtyard!

  Old Master Yao's heart suddenly burst into flames! Gardenia, others may not know, but in his free time, he loved to arrange flowers and plants, personally planting, pruning, and cultivating them to relax his body and mind. How could he not know that every part of this plant, from its leaves to its roots, stems, and flowers, contains highly toxic substances? Especially the milky white sap, which can be fatal if ingested by humans or animals, causing skin irritation and ulcers upon contact. The fragrance emitted by its leaves and flowers can even numb a person's nerves, leading to dizziness, shortness of breath, and spiritual emptiness...

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