Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 210 Jealousy Abounds
Just as Cai Zhu'er had predicted, what Tan Li needed most right now was cash.

Both were profit-driven businessmen. He knew he couldn't push Caizhu'er to the brink, as that would only result in mutual destruction. So, after his sarcastic remarks, he stopped short and offered a high price for the shop transfer.

The price was definitely not fair, almost reaching Cai Zhu'er's bottom line. The two bargained for a while, using all sorts of tactics such as provocation, threats, and appeasement, and finally reached a solution that satisfied both parties.

Tan Li no longer dares to rely on his children.

The eldest son knew nothing but eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring; none of the shops entrusted to him could be managed well, and within two months they were in debt, with bad debts everywhere; he was heavily in debt, and Tan Li was too lazy to clean up his mess, determined to make him suffer enough to quit gambling, but Madam Tan felt sorry for her son being chased by creditors, and was still secretly using her own savings to help him out.

The legitimate daughter is somewhat clever, but she uses it in the wrong places. She fought with Caizhu several times, which ruined her reputation. Her husband and wife are estranged, and she argues and fights with her husband and concubines every day. In order to prevent the shops she brought with her dowry from being seized, she also got into a fight with her uncle and aunt. It was a complete mess.

If he hadn't been careful with Caizhu'er's two dowry shops, the Tan family would have been finished this time.

Tan Li often wondered, wasn't Shen Tu Zhuo also a playboy? Why was he able to achieve so much, while he, this spendthrift, was truly a good-for-nothing? And then there was Cai Zhu'er, who had only been his fake daughter for a few days, yet her cleverness and shrewdness seemed to have been passed down from the Tan family ancestors. She could revive any dilapidated shop, and money would flow in like water. Even if she were to become a widow in place of his own daughter, she could still become incredibly wealthy.

What sins did the Tan family commit? And what incredible luck did the Shentu family have?
Thinking about all this made him furious. The only thing that calmed him down was to frantically check how much cash he had gotten back from Caizhu. This was the Tan family's last bit of capital, and every penny had to be carefully calculated.
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Although the financial loss was painful, Cai Zhu'er was overjoyed to have finally severed all ties with the Tan family. Money could be earned back; she would have no worries about competing for the imperial merchant position later.

With businesses booming in Zhangye and Andu, the Salan Trading Company gradually amassed wealth, prompting Caizhu'er to plan her journey of trading beyond the Great Wall.

Whether by coincidence or fate, just as she was preparing to depart, Aisha sent a letter saying that he was returning to Mohe with his marriage procession. After a moment's consideration, Caizhu wrote back asking if he could give her a ride along the way. She had been away for nearly two years and it was time to return to the Naxi Valley, after all, that was her homeland.

She had her own agenda.

For caravans traveling to and from the western border to have a smooth journey, they must hire enough people to escort their goods. Even though the Zhenxi Army is patrolling and guarding the new trade route, the Zhenxi Army will not follow them everywhere or go too far. Caravans will inevitably get separated or stray from the route at times. If they encounter bandits or sandstorms, they may lose everything or even their lives.

Following Aisha was different. After all, he was the eldest prince of Mohe, and he had attendants and guards escorting the princess to her marriage. He was much more intimidating than an ordinary caravan, which made Caizhu feel more at ease.

It would take several days for Aisha to arrive in Hexi. Caizhu had already purchased a large quantity of goods, including six cartloads of silk, intending to make a fortune on this trip. She planned to then trade with Mohe, Yangma, Wuxu, and Yutian for local specialties such as spices, lacquerware, handicrafts, and jewelry, and then sell them in the Central Plains, making a huge profit.

She had it all planned out. If this business trip went smoothly, not only would Tan Li not be able to extort the money from her, but she could also afford to open a few more shops in Andu. And when the imperial merchants were selected again, she couldn't let Salan Trading Company be left out!

Cai Zhu'er was excited and happy, while the other person was full of worries.

Shen Tu Zhuo had been feeling down for several days. Seeing Cai Zhu'er eating tea and snacks while still peeking outside, clearly waiting anxiously, he immediately said sarcastically, "What are you looking at? No one will reply to you even if you keep looking!"

Cai Zhu'er deliberately teased him: "I'm not waiting for a person, I'm waiting for the eldest prince's sand eagle. That eagle is truly majestic, with eyes like torches and a beak like a knife. Even Qiao Mao was so frightened by it that he lost several feathers." "Don't say such things in front of Qiao Mao, or it will peck you in anger!" Shen Tu Zhu warned.

"Of course not, I know how much Qiao Mao cares about his image." As she spoke, Cai Zhu glanced at the sky again.

"Still looking! Are you really that eagerly anticipating this?" Shentu Zhuo said sourly. "He's just a prince, isn't he? He only sounds good in name. Everyone knows that the Mohe Royal Court is now controlled by the princess. If he were really capable, would he have been sent here to accompany his sister on a marriage alliance? He didn't even manage to save his sister, and now he's stuck in Da Xuan as a hostage. How pathetic!"

“Indeed, in our Mohe, everyone says that the eldest prince is both handsome and helpless. After the queen passed away, he still had to find ways to protect his sister, which is truly pitiful,” Caizhu sighed.

"What do you mean by both handsome and helpless? How does that evoke sympathy?" Shen Tu Zhuo said resentfully. "Are you Mohe people bewitched by his face? You're always saying good things about him!"

“Then you don’t know this…” Cai Zhu’er said with a smile, “It is said that the eldest prince and Princess Alan are being envied and oppressed by the princess. Although they live in the palace, they are not as comfortable as us commoners.”

"You can tell by looking at the treatment Princess Alan received when she was sent to marry a foreign ruler. When I first met her marriage procession, I thought the carriages and horses were magnificent, the jewels were dazzling, and the silks and satins were all of the highest quality. Now that I have seen more of the world, I realize that for a princess who came to marry a foreign ruler on behalf of the country, the dowry was already considered meager. No wonder when I was envious and amazed, the princess had a bitter smile on her face."

"As for the eldest prince, he is even more pitiful. He is so handsome, and his riding, archery and literary talents are all outstanding, but he is still unmarried. I heard that he used to have a very good marriage agreement with a noblewoman from our area, but later, for some reason, that noble family suddenly turned their backs on him and left him there, losing all face."

"The eldest prince seems to have many worries. He has politely declined all the noble ladies that the princess has found for him, and he has not discussed marriage with her since. So it has been delayed, to the point that his sister is about to be married off to a foreign land, while he is still all alone. Uncle, do you know how many women have fallen for Mo He and shed tears for him?"

"Hmph, I bet you're one of them too!" Shen Tu Zhuo said irritably.

“During the Monroe Festival, I also threw wildflowers at him, but unfortunately he was almost overwhelmed by them and didn’t even notice me,” Cai Zhu’er teased. “I saw a wildflower land in his mouth and I laughed so hard I almost fell over.”

"..." Shen Tu Zhuo was so angry that he didn't want to say anything.

“Well, he is indeed handsome, you have to admit that, right?” Cai Zhu’er teased him.

"He's not bad looking, but he's darker-skinned than me!"

“In our Mohe, skin with this color is the most beautiful and noble,” Cai Zhu’er said. “The nobles often apply a kind of fragrant oil to themselves and go to tan to get this color. Speaking of fragrant oil, I can bring some back this time. Perhaps someone in Da Xuan will also like it.”

"Putting aside his appearance, I don't think he's a good person!" Shen Tu Zhuo gritted his teeth.

"how you said that?"
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Next chapter: Why didn't Qiao Mao come to ask for food today?