Early the next morning, after breakfast at the Tang household, Xie Yushu headed to Shengfeng Teahouse with Tang Zhiyi.
Ye Youchun didn’t go—Xie Yushu told her to rest well.
The Merchant Alliance meeting was held on the second floor of the teahouse. The private rooms by the windows were all arranged elegantly, with the latticed windows half-open, letting in the chill of late winter and early spring. The fragrance of tea drifted through the air, creating an atmosphere more like a gathering of literary scholars than merchants.
The business owners who hadn’t yet taken their seats chatted in small groups, their hushed voices carrying hints of probing and formality.
Xie Yushu swept her gaze around, mentally taking stock.
The purpose of this trip was simple: to spread her goods’ reputation even further and earn more money—she wanted to give her base workers a raise this year.
She was fairly confident that a few people in this teahouse might have heard of Xie’s Seafood. After all, her products were undeniably good, and these people had sharp eyes for quality.
Tang Zhiyi was considered a leading figure at this gathering. She didn’t give Xie Yushu any special treatment by seating her beside her; instead, seats were assigned according to seniority.
By the time everyone had arrived and taken their seats, Xie Yushu’s place was toward the back, grouped with those less experienced or shop managers of smaller establishments.
Xie Yushu was young, with a clear, sharp aura and striking looks—she stood out like a sore thumb among the rough-and-ready merchants. She looked too clean to be a businesswoman, more like a scholar studying at an academy—like a bright moon or a star, conspicuous among them.
Some couldn’t help but steal extra glances, their gazes lingering on her with curiosity and scrutiny.
Many were relieved there were no men present—men spoiled by their households only cared about looks; they’d be crowding around her, asking if she was married.
These old, out-of-shape businesswomen liked to think they’d been dashing and spirited in their youth too, but seeing such a young, good-looking boss today made them a little uncomfortable.
“She’s the owner of Xie’s Seafood.”
“So young?”
“Seems you’ve heard of Xie’s Seafood too.”
“Anyone in business would have. She came out of nowhere this year—never heard of her before.”
“Her dried kelp is almost a household name in the county. I heard she came out with something new around New Year—called dried laver—and it’s all supplied to the Tang family. No one else has it. I could only get my hands on a bit of loose stock, and it’s really good.”
“I heard she’s from a small town.”
“Right. To have been invited by Boss Tang, she must have some real skill.”
Tang Zhiyi was younger than them, yet her Shanhai Trading Company was not only known throughout the county but also famous in the prefectural capital. Everyone genuinely respected her.
As they were talking, one of the older family heads let out a loud hmph. Holding her tea, she didn’t even glance in Xie Yushu’s direction, not lifting her eyelids, using the lid to stir the tea leaves as she slowly spoke: “Just someone from a small place—hardly worth all this fuss.”
The room fell silent for a moment.
Everyone present was a businessperson, skilled at saying the right thing. Most of the talk about Xie Yushu had been positive until now. No one expected someone to openly humiliate her.
Then a sycophantic voice chimed in: “Madam Huang is right. Everyone here has built their foundation over ten or twenty years. Unlike some who get lucky and become insufferably arrogant.”
Xie Yushu had sharp ears. The murmured comments drifting from all directions reached her clearly.
She could hear the mixed opinions—praise and disdain, envy and contempt, some just waiting for a show. And then there were these two inexplicable women.
Had she offended them?
She hadn’t even lifted the lid from her teacup.
Which of their 20/20 eyes had spotted any arrogance in her?
Madam Huang set down her teacup, lifted her eyelids just enough to slant a glance at Xie Yushu, then quickly looked away. Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried to the surrounding tables: “Getting old, getting old. When I was her age, I already had several shops under my belt. Business isn’t about relying on a pretty face—what good is that? Coming from a small place, she just hasn’t seen much of the world.”
She paused, took a sip of tea, and continued: “Boss Tang did warn me ahead of time not to make things hard for a newcomer junior like her. But—” she drew out the word, “the business world is a battlefield. At the end of the day, real skill is what matters. All that superficial fluff won’t get you far. Being here to see the scene and soak it all in is already good enough.”
Got it. These old relics were suddenly seized by some disease of spite, taking shots at her for no reason.
Old has-beens.
Xie Yushu took a breath, her expression still calm.
Trying to pull rank on me, huh.
Thick-skinned too, picking up that scalding tea barehanded—must have calluses three or four layers thick from years of work.
Your family handed you your fortune on a silver platter. The original me? Not so lucky. And you’re acting superior?
This was the first time since transmigrating that Xie Yushu felt truly irritated.
Everyone watched, waiting to see how she’d react to being dressed down by the industry’s old guard.
Would she panic? Get flustered? Turn red and run away?
Then, a calm, unhurried voice cut through the chatter—not loud, but clear enough for everyone to hear, like a window opening in a musty old room. It was Xie Yushu, speaking slowly:
“Though small, the place has everything it needs. Songwan Town’s reputation for abundant resources is well-known—and well-deserved.”
After this, Xie Yushu’s gaze drifted casually over Madam Huang’s face. She let out a faint, fleeting smile, as if nothing had happened, her tone still composed:
“My family was originally poor. I never relied on ancestral wealth, nor did I have anyone to pave the way for me. I built this humble business entirely on my own.”
“I’m not particularly talented—just know a little about drying seafood. I’ve been fortunate to have skilled hands working with me. Thanks to the patronage of various bosses here, I’ve received a few orders, and my business has gradually grown. My family has found a way forward.”
“I’m grateful that Boss Tang thought highly enough of me to invite me here. I had hoped to have pleasant conversations and become business partners with everyone. I didn’t expect to face such inexplicable criticism.”
Xie Yushu held that cool, clear gaze of hers steady in Madam Huang’s direction: “As a junior with limited experience, I had assumed this Merchant Alliance meeting was a place to discuss goods and trade. I never imagined I’d first have to argue about age and family background.”
“You’re right,” she said with a polite, practiced smile. “I’ve certainly seen quite a scene today.”
Her words were impeccably diplomatic, her demeanor neither obsequious nor defiant—she showed no trace of embarrassment at being put on the spot. Many in the room were captivated.
They admired not only her courage to stand up to an industry veteran but also her poise and composure.
There wasn’t a hint of fear in Xie Yushu’s smile, yet everyone could hear the irony beneath her words.
She was calling out Madam Huang for building her empire on family wealth, now using her seniority to bully a junior—utterly shameless.
The younger bosses in the room silently cheered her on.
Such eloquence—was she really a merchant, or a scholar who’d switched careers?
The room buzzed again. The bolder ones began criticizing Madam Huang openly, saying she’d forgotten what kind of occasion this was, so used to throwing her weight around at home that she couldn’t keep her mouth shut in public, making a fool of herself.
Madam Huang and her flunky were left red-faced, unable to retort. Having lost face before everyone, she flicked her sleeves and stormed out in fury.
Tang Zhiyi reappeared then—she’d been called up to the third floor to discuss something urgent. When she returned and took her seat, she sensed the atmosphere had completely changed from when she’d left. She asked her attendant what had happened.
After hearing the full story, she watched Xie Yushu, composed and unruffled as if nothing had occurred, and just shook her head with a smile.
This woman—always so consistently intriguing.
Afterward, Tang Zhiyi chaired the Merchant Alliance meeting, and everything went smoothly until they dispersed at noon.
Xie Yushu took her leave from Tang Zhiyi, saying she wanted to wander around the county on her own.
Stepping out of the teahouse, Xie Yushu felt quite pleased with herself.
She’d been targeted out of the blue today, yet after some quick and eloquent talking, she’d landed several orders—and a few bosses around her age had even approached her wanting to be friends, exchanging name cards.
Not a loss at all—a net gain.
In high spirits, Xie Yushu turned down another street. It was lively in the morning, and she wanted to buy something for Su Chi.
She’d only walked a few steps when someone called out from behind:
“Miss, please wait.”
Xie Yushu turned to look—was she talking to her?
There was no one else around, so it had to be her.
But she didn’t recognize this person—she hadn’t seen her on the second floor either.
When Xie Yushu turned around fully, the woman’s gaze suddenly froze, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Xie Qi finally saw Xie Yushu’s face head-on. She’d only glimpsed her profile before—now, with her full face before her, it was unmistakable.
She looked so much like her eldest sister.
If her eldest sister had a daughter, her features, her age—this is exactly what she’d look like.
Could there really be such a coincidence in this world?
Xie Qi didn’t believe in coincidences.
Xie Yushu noticed the woman’s strange expression and the redness creeping into her eyes. She hadn’t been nervous on the second floor, but now she felt a flicker of unease.
What was going on?
The woman asked on her own: “Is your name Xie Yushu?”
“Yes, it is.” Xie Yushu admitted openly, then asked, “Do you know me?”
“Not yet—I just overheard it on the second floor.” Xie Qi spoke slowly, her eyes never leaving Xie Yushu’s face, and carefully confirmed: “Is it the ‘shu’ for ‘book’ (書)?”
If it was that character, it would fit the naming pattern of their generation in the Xie family—Yu Mo, Yu Yan, Yu Jing. If she was Yu Shu, it would all match.
She would be her eldest sister’s daughter. Her eldest sister wouldn’t have chosen wrong.
“No.” Under the woman’s hopeful gaze, Xie Yushu denied it coldly.
“It’s the ‘shu’ for ‘shallow’—as in ‘shallow learning’.”
Seeing the woman’s anxious expression, Xie Yushu suddenly understood—this was likely a relative from her original mother’s side of the family, trying to find out about her.
The original and she did share the same “Yu Shu” name. But right now, she didn’t want to admit it.
She’d had her fill of relatives. Who knew if this one meant her harm? Better to be cautious.
Hearing that answer, Xie Qi’s brows knitted in disbelief.
How could it be that character?
“No, it’s the ‘shu’ for ‘book’!” Xie Qi insisted.
Xie Yushu looked slightly helpless: “This is the name my family gave me. I wouldn’t misremember it. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”
This woman was strange—too strange. She had to get away.
Leave a Reply