Chapter 117: Truly, the Fledgling Calf Fears Not the Tiger!

Chapter 117: Truly, the Fledgling Calf Fears Not the Tiger!

If you wish to accomplish something, the more attention you pay to it, the more likely you are to find opportunities to succeed.

This was a theory Tang Shuyi had read about in a book from her previous life, known as the Master of Opportunities.

She had once been a practitioner of this theory, and her experience confirmed its veracity. Because when you focus on something, you explore and ponder over it, eventually uncovering opportunities. Of course, whether you can seize these opportunities and have the resources and capabilities to make the most of them is another matter.

Ever since she had the idea of having Qi Liangsheng mentor Tang Yuxin, Tang Shuyi had begun her research on the Qi family.

The Qi family, a prominent family in the capital during the previous dynasty, had faced decline with the change of eras, until Qi Liangsheng emerged, propelling the family back into the upper echelons of the capital's society. Moreover, given Qi Liangsheng's current trajectory, his potential entry into the cabinet in the future could elevate the Qi family even further.

A family rooted in the capital for generations was naturally large. The main and side branches of the Qi family could count several hundreds. However, Qi Liangsheng's immediate lineage was not extensive, with an elderly mother above, a legitimate brother and several married sisters below, followed by his own offspring.

Qi Liangsheng's late wife, Madame Chen, who came from a modest background, bore him two sons. He had two concubines, each mothering a daughter.

She had two sons; the elder was a scholastic prodigy, securing the prestigious 'jinshi' title in the imperial examinations at the tender age of eighteen or nineteen. He was currently burnishing his resume in the Hanlin Academy. The younger, having been frail since childhood and raised under his grandmother's indulgent care, had grown into a dandy.

Tang Shuyi mulled over the Qi family's situation repeatedly, ultimately concluding that the breakthrough lay with Qi Liangsheng's second son.

She had heard from Xiao Yuming that Qi Er, the second son, was keen on venturing into commerce. He had broached the subject with Qi Liangsheng, who said he would consider it. However, days had passed without any response. Tang Shuyi surmised that Qi Liangsheng was likely inexperienced in business matters and lacked the resources to support Qi Er, hence the lack of response.

Qi Liangsheng might lack resources, but she did not! She was a resource in herself. Moreover, for the club she planned to open, it might be worth considering a partnership with the Qi family—after all, Qi Liangsheng had connections and was quite a figurehead.

With a plan in mind, Tang Shuyi sprung into action. One day, while dining, she casually mentioned to Xiao Yuming, "It's been some time since I've seen Qi Er and Yan Wu. What are they up to these days?"

Xiao Yuming's internal alarm bells rang upon hearing her inquiry. Suspecting that she was fishing for information, he became nervous, though he tried to appear nonchalant as he replied, "Oh, nothing much, just staying at home."

Tang Shuyi paused momentarily while picking up her food, sensing something amiss with his answer. Those two young dandies, staying quietly at home? Highly unlikely. Yet, her expression remained unchanged as she said, "I've missed seeing them. It's rather odd."

Xiao Yuming's heart tightened; he feared their actions had been exposed.

"Bring them over in the next few days; I'd like to see them," Tang Shuyi added.

Xiao Yuming stammered, "Sure, sure." Their deeds were most certainly uncovered.

Mother and son harbored their respective thoughts, while Xiao Yuchen and Xiao Yuzhu watched the unfolding drama from the sidelines.

After dinner, the family of four sat together for a chat. Xiao Yuming was inwardly trembling, Tang Shuyi speculated what mischief the young dandies were up to, and Xiao Yuzhu and Xiao Yuchen continued to enjoy the spectacle. Thus, the post-dinner conversation ended on a seemingly pleasant note.

Once the three siblings had left, Tang Shuyi said to her maid Cui Zhu, "Find time tomorrow to have a little chat with our second young master, and see what grand affair he's embroiled in."

Cui Zhu responded with a smile, as did Cui Yun, who stood beside her.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yuming returned to his own courtyard and slumped into a chair, pondering how their secret had been uncovered. After a while, his gaze fell on the inkstone table beside him.

The inkstone table, feeling his intense stare, nervously asked, "Does the Second Young Master have any commands for his servant?"

"Was it you who spilled the beans?" Xiao Yuming inquired.

The inkstone table hastily shook its head, "No, I've been inseparable from you these past few days, it couldn't possibly have been me."

Xiao Yuming eyed him suspiciously for a moment longer, but the inkstone table maintained an air of innocence. He then turned to look at Shimo, who also hurriedly assured that he had not betrayed any secrets. Unable to come to any conclusion, Xiao Yuming eventually let the matter rest.

The next morning, as usual, he rose at the hour of Mao and went to the martial arts field for training, accompanied by the inkstone table. While Xiao Yuming practiced his martial arts, the inkstone table mimicked the movements on the side.

When Cuizhu arrived, the punching bag was being struck with vigorous blows. She stood behind the rockery for a while, watching, then peeked out and gestured to Yan Tai. At the sight, Yan Tai's heart tightened. When the head maid by the Marquise's side summons him, he dared not ignore it and could only steel himself to sneak over...

Not long after, Cuizhu returned to Shi'an Garden from the other side of the martial arts field and reported to Tang Shuyi the information she had gathered from Yan Tai:

"Not long after Liang Jian'an's death, the Second Prince took care of Princess Changping's chief attendant, Kong Wenzhe, as well as the imperial merchant Kong family. With the Kong family disposed of, the position supplying tea to the palace became vacant. The second son and his companions are using all their private funds to plan to take over the Kong family's role as the imperial merchant supplying tea to the palace."

Tang Shuyi was drinking tea when she heard the last remark. She couldn't help but spit out the tea in her mouth and even choked on it, coughing repeatedly. Cuizhu and Cuizhu hurriedly patted her back to help.

After a while, she finally caught her breath and asked Cuizhu, "How far along are they?"

Cuizhu replied, "After putting together all their private funds, the three young masters found it insufficient and are now planning to sell items from the house."

Tang Shuyi: "..."

The tea trade has always been a deep and murky business, let alone being an imperial merchant? These three inexperienced dandies are delusional about entering the trade and aiming directly to be imperial merchants. They truly don't know whether to live or die! Fortunately, they haven't started yet, or they would be in a predicament, losing even their underpants!

However, this could also be an opportunity, a chance to take control of the situation with Qi Er.

Breakfast was as usual, with the family of four dining together. After breakfast, Tang Shuyi kept Xiao Yuming back and said, "Call Qi Er and Yan Wu to our house later, I haven’t seen them in a long time and I've missed them."

Xiao Yuming: "...Mother, who told you?"

Tang Shuyi humphed, "They must have the courage of bears and leopards to want to sell tea and even become imperial merchants. Do they know the classifications of tea? Do they know where the best Longjing tea comes from? Do they know the optimal time to harvest Biluochun tea? Do they know how to process and preserve tea? Do they know..."

Bombarded by a series of questions, Xiao Yuming felt his head buzzing. After a pause, he said, "Yan Wu and Qi Er are looking to do business, and with the Kong family incident, we three thought that taking over the Kong family’s place was not impossible."

Tang Shuyi was at a loss for words, 'not impossible' indeed, as fearless as a calf facing a tiger!

"You know nothing and yet you’re not afraid of being swindled?" she asked.

Xiao Yuming's face showed a trace of defiance, "Who dares!"

Tang Shuyi thought: Well, the wastrel has the mindset of a wastrel.