H! GVCP Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Action is Better Than Hesitation

Shopkeeper Qin hurried back to the Qin residence, requesting an audience with the Eldest Miss, Qin Fangdai.

The Qin family were not native to the capital. For Qin Baiwan to secure the title of Imperial Merchant in the capital was proof enough that he was a man of great capability. 

In earlier years, those doing business in the capital would say that Boss Qin’s methods were extraordinary.

However, that sentence was usually followed by another: "It's just a pity he only has one daughter; his future family assets will all end up benefiting that adopted son."

Qin Baiwan had only one legitimate daughter, Qin Fangdai, and one adopted son, Qin Sicong.

Everyone in the Qin residence knew that Qin Baiwan doted on Eldest Miss Qin Fangdai to an extreme degree, and they all assumed that Master Sicong would be the Miss's future husband. 

Qin Baiwan had never explicitly confirmed this, but he had never denied it either.

Qin Sicong and Qin Fangdai had learned the same things since childhood, managing the household, accounting, and business principles, Qin Fangdai had not lagged behind in any of it. 

Moreover, because Qin Baiwan loved his daughter dearly, by the time she reached her coming-of-age ceremony, she was already in charge of more than half of the Qin family's assets in the capital. She was now a mature successor to the Qin family.

Qin Fangdai’s style of doing things shared much of Qin Baiwan’s flair, yet she possessed a bit more of a young person’s sense of loyalty and righteousness than her father. 

The entire Qin household respected this Eldest Miss. This was precisely why Shopkeeper Qin asked to return to the manor to see her.

When Shopkeeper Qin arrived, Qin Fangdai was reviewing the mid-year account books. 

Upon learning that Manager Qin had urgent business, she had the books put away and invited her to the study.

Shopkeeper Qin recounted the events simply and quickly. 

After listening, Qin Fangdai gave Shopkeeper Qin a surprised look, but her face showed no sign of joy or anger. Seeing the Miss like this, Shopkeeper Qin felt uneasy, unable to gauge her employer's attitude.

Yet, having been immersed in the industry for many years, she naturally knew what kind of trend those two sets of clothes from the Little County Princess would trigger among the noble ladies of the capital! 

Just the thought that the Xiuluo Manor could use this opportunity to become the leader of the industry made her unable to suppress her internal excitement.

Just as Shopkeeper Qin was about to persuade the Miss again, she was left dazed by a single sentence from Qin Fangdai.

"Qiu-niang, you know that for all these years, the Qin family has remained clean and has never been involved with any powerful officials or nobility."

Qin Fangdai raised her eyes to look at Shopkeeper Qin. She wasn't considered beautiful, but her features held a natural air of steady composure.

Manager Qin—that is, Qin Qiu-niang, was suddenly shaken to the core by the Eldest Miss's words! 

A chill ran down her spine. It was true, for so many years, the Qin family had never associated with any power players. They had always been diligent and honest, minding their own business as Imperial Merchants...

Qin Qiu-niang’s legs went weak, and she knelt before Qin Fangdai, her face pale. "Miss... Miss, please forgive me! It was Qiu-niang, Qiu-niang was too reckless! What should be done now!"

Watching Qin Qiu-niang kneel before her, Qin Fangdai sighed inwardly.

The rights of the Imperial Merchant changed every three years, and this year happened to be the third. 

It just so happened that the Nichang Pavilion had been managed well these past few years and had a great reputation among the noble ladies, making them another powerful competitor.

It wasn't that Qin Fangdai hadn't worried about this. Her father, Qin Baiwan, conversely felt that the title of Imperial Merchant didn't matter, this year it's your house, next time it's mine.

Qin Baiwan believed that in business, nothing stays smooth forever, every competition for the Imperial Merchant title was like this.

Qin Fangdai, however, was not convinced, she truly wanted to fight for that title. And Qiu-niang’s request was likely for the same reason.

After all, the capital is large, and living there is not easy. 

While the title of Imperial Merchant was merely the icing on the cake for the Qin family, for those working under them, it was their rice bowl, the livelihood they relied upon.

Qin Fangdai remained silent for a long time, wondering if this matter was a coincidence. The Qin family needed a boost, and just then, the Little County Princess of the Prince of Zhennan’s Mansion sent a pattern to be custom-made, responding quickly and to her own advantage the moment Qiu-niang proposed buying the design. 

All of this looked like a coincidence.

Qin Qiu-niang had also realized this. She wasn't entirely sure of her own thoughts, her lips moved, but she didn't know if she should speak. If the Little County Princess had planned this all along, she was far too formidable! 

And she was just a fifteen-year-old girl!

The shock was written all over Qin Qiu-niang’s face, and Qin Fangdai saw it. She wrinkled her nose and finally asked, "Qiu-niang, do you think this is a coincidence?"

As soon as Qin Fangdai spoke, Qin Qiu-niang understood that her Miss's hesitation was the same as her own.

Qin Qiu-niang thought for a moment and said cautiously, "Eldest Miss, it didn't seem to me that the Little County Princess was insistent on cooperating with us. Rather, she just went with the flow of my words; it felt more like a spur-of-the-moment decision. It's just... I don't know if that Little County Princess has even greater schemes."

Hearing this, Qin Fangdai hesitated again. The Qin family usually stayed clear of any entanglements with the nobility, especially this time with the Little County Princess of the Prince of Zhennan’s Mansion. 

Although the Prince's Mansion held high prestige among the common people, Qin Fangdai had also heard rumors about recent events.

That Little County Princess did not seem like a simple character.

She feared that if the other party intended to use the Qin family, would the family truly be able to extract themselves? 

Thinking of this, Qin Fangdai decided to wait until her father returned at night to discuss it with him. If her father felt it was feasible, she would go meet this Little County Princess.

Qin Qiu-niang did not stay long, there was much to do at the Xiuluo Manor, and she had been out for too long.

Qin Fangdai also intended to bring her adopted brother along, so she called a maid and told her to invite him, so they could wait for her father to return together later. 

However, the maid said that Master Sicong had been leaving early and returning late these past few days and was not in the manor.

Qin Fangdai was not surprised. The Qin family had many properties and shops, it was normal for her brother to be busy. Since he wasn't there, Qin Fangdai didn't want to drag things out until evening. 

She immediately ordered the carriage to be readied to go find her father and discuss it in person.

Cutting through the mess quickly was the right way to go. This was Qin Fangdai’s principle of conduct, and it was taught to her by Qin Baiwan himself.

During dinner that night, after Yu Qizhi learned that his sister wanted to meet with the Qin family, he was somewhat puzzled by her frequent moves, vaguely sensing a nervous unease in her.

Unable to figure it out, Yu Qizhi called Yu Lingzhao to the outer study after the meal. Yu Xunyang wanted to follow, but was stopped by He Xuan. 

He Xuan knew the second brother cared deeply for his sister and that a detailed talk was bound to happen sooner or later. Since he chose this time, she would let them talk properly to set the second brother's mind at ease.

Yu Lingzhao hadn't realized she had let her second brother sniff out anything unusual, she still thought he just had something to tell her.

So, when Yu Qizhi asked the question, "Zhaozhao, what are you afraid of?" Yu Lingzhao was caught off guard, having been seen through.

Yu Qizhi, judging by his sister's shocked expression, determined that he had indeed guessed correctly. 

His Zhaozhao was afraid.

Yu Qizhi was both amused and exasperated. "Your second brother is already here. Is there anything I can't solve for you? What are you afraid of?"

— 

Jade: This chapter touched my heart, I really love the family relationship ~~

Author's Note- 

Yes, unlocking new characters~