The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 181 Sisters unite
"It's late at night and the rain is pouring down. Your Excellency has taken time out of your busy schedule to come here. Is there something important you wish to instruct me on?" Shang Jinliang asked humbly.

"Bo Dong, gather the merchants and discuss important matters together." Prefect He put his hand on Shang Jinliang's shoulder, his eyes filled with earnest expectation.

Shang Mingshu looked at Shang Jinliang, showing neither agreement nor worry; her heart was equally calm at that moment.

The fact that the disaster was reported in advance was a blessing from heaven. Fortunately, we met a prefect like Prefect He who was wholeheartedly devoted to the people. He worked hard and tirelessly for this cause. Now he has begun to make the worst-case scenario plan. He has only been in Huizhou Prefecture for a year, and there must still be a deficit in the grain stored in the Changping Granary and Reserve Granary in the prefectural city.

What follows will be the relocation and resettlement of countless people, which the government's granaries cannot supply. Perhaps Prefect He has already sought help from the imperial court, but so many lives cannot be put on the back of the imperial court's relief grain.

Huizhou Prefecture was full of wealthy merchants, and at this time, they were the ones most needed to lend their help.

Prefect He still has too many things to deal with. If he, as an official, tries to mobilize the merchants, not to mention their reactions, the meaning of his actions will be distorted. Only a convincing and highly respected tycoon can step forward to represent him and rally the merchants' support, thus resolving this matter quickly and accurately.

Accepting Prefect He's request at this time would be unwise.

"Father, why did you take on this thankless task?" Just as Prefect He left, Shang Zishu, who had also been woken up, couldn't help but ask angrily. "Forgive my rudeness, but our Shang family has been enjoying great success lately. In terms of power, we can't compare to the Yang family of salt merchants; in terms of seniority, we can't compare to the Wang family of grain merchants; and in terms of wealth, we can't compare to the Cheng family of settled merchants..."

"Second sister." Shang Mingshu called softly, cutting off Shang Zishu's words, which were about to blurt out, "What right do you have to accept this?"

Shang Wenshu moved her lips, wanting to say that her father must have his reasons, but worried about angering her younger sister, so the words rolled around on her tongue and fell back into her stomach.

Before the Shi family incident, Shang Jinliang would have been furious. He would have been furious because Shang Zishu was presumptuous and didn't respect him as her father. But after learning about Shang Mingshu's painstaking efforts to maintain peace in the family, Shang Jinliang felt ashamed and reflected deeply. In the past six months, he changed his way of getting along with the women.

"Zishu, I know you're worried that I'll be made things difficult by them," Shang Jinliang said with a gentle smile. "Don't worry, I won't be wronged. Please trust me this once; I wouldn't have taken on this task if I wasn't confident."

Shang Zishu, who was prepared to have a big argument with Shang Jinliang, was taken aback. She then softened her tone and said, "Father, it's not that I don't trust you, but I feel that even if you handle this matter well, you won't get any credit. If you make any mistakes, you will definitely incur public wrath. Why bother?"

“Zishu, some things shouldn’t be measured by profit.” Shang Jinliang’s smile deepened. “It’s still early, go back and rest early, or you’ll probably have few peaceful days starting tomorrow.”

"Father, I..."

"Father, you should rest early too." Shang Mingshu responded to Shang Jinliang's words first, and then pulled one of her older sisters by the hand and headed towards the inner courtyard.

"We merchants, do we not measure our actions by profit?" Shang Zishu did not blame Shang Mingshu or her for breaking free, but she was still puzzled when she arrived at the inner courtyard.

“Second Sister, this matter concerns the people’s livelihood. Father tried his best to take the exam, but his aptitude was limited. He has a heart that wants to share the people’s burdens.” Shang Mingshu sighed softly. “Everyone in the world has their own aspirations. Second Sister is passionate about tea. She doesn’t mind the hardship of crossing mountains and rivers to try to make new tea, just to fulfill her heart’s desire and uphold her sincerity.” Shang Mingshu saw this point, which is why she did not stop Shang Jinliang. Also, although Shang Jinliang and Prefect He are of vastly different statuses, she knows that Shang Jinliang regards Prefect He as a close friend. Prefect He came in plain clothes in the rain, just like if one day Lin Yuanyuan came to her door seeking help, she would do her best to help her.

The reasons Shang Mingshu gave were enough to convince Shang Zishu, and Shang Zishu was somewhat annoyed: "Third sister, am I too prejudiced against Father?"

Although Shang Zishu was strong-willed and said one thing but meant another, she was not someone who didn't consider others. She often argued with Shang Wenshu, but when Shang Wenshu did something as laborious and thankless as checking Yao's accounts, Shang Zishu didn't stop her or feel that Shang Wenshu was taking on trouble for her...

This is because she knows Shang Wenshu enjoys fiddling with an abacus; Shang Wenshu can easily find a sense of accomplishment in her ledgers, just like she's developing a new tea. But she can't see Shang Jinliang...

"These are all mistakes Father made in the past, and have nothing to do with you." Shang Mingshu comforted Shang Zishu before changing the subject, "However, now that he has corrected his ways and you have noticed his change, perhaps you should be more tolerant of him in the future?"

"Okay, I'll listen to you. I'll try to make him less upset in the future." Despite the incessant rain, Shang Zishu's gloom was dispelled by Shang Mingshu's few words, and a smile returned to her face. She turned to look at Shang Wenshu, who was smiling at them, and said, "Thank you for being so forgiving today, elder sister."

Shang Wenshu was somewhat at a loss after Shang Zishu's words. She had always considered herself the eldest sister, respecting her elders and restraining her younger sister. In the past, whenever Shang Zishu talked back to Shang Jinliang, she would stop her. She was worried that it would damage Shang Zishu's reputation if word got out, and she was also worried that Shang Jinliang, being an elder, might resort to family discipline in a fit of anger, and that Shang Zishu would be the one to suffer.

Shang Zishu disliked her insistence on intervening "for her sister's good." Before, no one had told her what she was doing wrong. After she was with Du Zhong, Du Zhong told her that both her father and her second sister had their own way of getting along. Her insistence on interfering would only mess up things that could be easily resolved and make them even more uncontrollable.

Today she held back, and found that the argument between her father and sister vanished instantly, like never before...

This was the first time in so many years that Shang Zishu had spoken so kindly to her. Shang Wenshu was overjoyed and her words were somewhat slurred: "Second sister, I... I have been wrong in the past. Thank you for your understanding."

"What nonsense are you talking about, elder sister?" Shang Zishu affectionately took Shang Wenshu's arm. "In the past, we each had our own temperaments, and we just didn't get along. How could there be a right or wrong? Now that elder sister is willing to change for younger sister, younger sister will naturally move closer to elder sister."

As she spoke, Shang Zishu leaned her head on Shang Wenshu's shoulder.

Shang Wenshu subconsciously squeezed Shang Zishu's hand, her gaze towards her younger sister in the night was gentle and filled with maternal love.

"When sisters are of one mind, their strength can break metal." Shang Mingshu stretched out her hand.

Shang Wenshu and Shang Zishu exchanged a glance, then reached out their hands together, the three of them holding six hands in total, clasping each other in pairs.

"The first thing we sisters will do together is to help our father achieve his wish," Shang Wenshu announced.

The three sisters waited at Shang Jinliang's door early in the morning, intending to gather all the major merchants. To show their sincerity, Shang Jinliang needed to personally deliver the invitations and, if necessary, meet with them to persuade them. He couldn't be in two places at once, so the three sisters selected people they were close to and confident they could persuade from the invitations Shang Jinliang had written overnight.