Zhou Lijun said matter-of-factly, "He ntioned it."
She said, "Not only do I know about this, but Big Brother, Second Brother, and Fourth Uncle all know about it too."
The journey from the capital to the grassland passed through many places; they needed to purchase and sell goods along the way, and stayed together daily. Especially after entering the grassland, they camped together to guard against horse thieves.
She, being a young woman, had her own tent, but it was surrounded by their tents. When everyone gathered around the bonfire at night, wasn’t it natural to chat idly?
Serious matters were few, and there wasn’t much to say.
So, over ti, not only did the uncles and nephews learn about the Xiang family’s background, but Xiang Mingxue also learned about the Zhou family’s situation.
Moreover, the biggest secrets of both families overlapped and were openly resolved; what else could not be talked about between the two families?
Ms. Feng listened and thought deeply, "So we have mutual understanding..."
Zhou Lijun, fearing her mother might make a decision without consultation, quickly said, "Mother, such a big matter should be discussed with Auntie, shouldn’t it?"
She still manages Auntie’s farmland and the family accounts. Honestly, if societal norms didn’t forbid it, she really wouldn’t want to marry, mainly because she is doing well as she is.
Unfortunately, if she truly never marries, doing business in the future might beco difficult, especially business involving other won.
Zhou SiLang hurriedly went to find Xiang Mingxue.
Xiang Mingxue had already requested so wine and dishes from the kitchen in advance. Seeing Zhou arrive, he gestured, "Sit."
Zhou SiLang sat silently and stared at him.
Xiang Mingxue poured him a cup of wine and openly admitted, "I intend to pursue Lijun."
Zhou SiLang: ... I consider you a brother, and you aim to beco my nephew-in-law?
However...
Having seriously considered Xiang Mingxue, truthfully, after traveling to the grassland twice with him, Zhou SiLang privately endorsed this marriage. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have spoken highly of Xiang Mingxue before Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law.
But he couldn’t wrong his niece, so he drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, put down the cup, and asked, "Do you like my niece?"
Xiang Mingxue didn’t shy away and nodded. After a pause, he explained, "I truly considered Lijun as a niece before. Especially given my seniority over her from Imperial Doctor Zhou’s generation."
He wasn’t disingenuous from the start.
Due to the relationship with Zhou Man, Xiang Mingxue had always referred to Zhou SiLang and the others as peers, but last year, when they entered the grassland together, Zhou SiLang had reassured the nephew to call him uncle. Only when Zhou Lijun had to follow suit did he feel awkward.
He had t many people, but there was only one other girl like Zhou Lijun—Zhou Man.
However, Zhou Lijun’s capability was different from Zhou Man’s. Zhou Man seed like them; she was cultivated like a scholar, so her intelligence and competence often led people to disregard her gender, treating her as an equal.
Zhou Lijun was different; he saw the feminine resilience in her, the constraints and prejudices faced by won, and he perceived her striving to break free from these shackles.
Zhou Man was different, seeing too clearly, too unconventionally, never bothered by these constraints, thus avoiding the associated pain. But how many people could be like her in this world?
Probably only her.
And won like Zhou Lijun were scarce. Initially, Xiang Mingxue felt compassion, thinking this young girl was smart, resilient, and willing to endure, stronger than most n in this world.
Later, after spending over two months on the grassland together, seeing each other regularly, he unknowingly began to take more notice.
Actually, Xiang Mingxue hesitated primarily because it was a delicate matter.
As Zhou SiLang ntioned, he was significantly older than her, and there was a generational gap. Even though the families weren’t directly related, the friendship with Zhou Man preceded this, making them sowhat incompatible.
Yet, after hearing the conversation between her and Zhou Liwei today, he couldn’t resist acting.
On the way back, he had already decided, "If she is willing to marry , I will ensure her comfort and freedom, not confining her to the household."
Zhou SiLang, of course, knew his second niece’s ambitions and capabilities. Seriously speaking, Zhou Lijun’s business prowess was not inferior to his; last year’s trip with her had multiplied the family’s inco threefold, largely due to her continual trading activity.
He stared at Xiang Mingxue and asked, "Are you serious? After marriage, are you willing to let her go out for business, even joining us in the grassland?"
Xiang Mingxue nodded, "As long as she wishes."
Zhou SiLang, hearing this, rubbed his chin, considered briefly, then asked, "Do you mind if she continues handling family business after marrying?"
Xiang Mingxue: ...
He stared at Zhou SiLang, and the two exchanged glances for a long ti. Finally, Xiang Mingxue said, "Fourth Brother Zhou, aren’t you worried she’ll transfer the family fortune to her husband’s family?"
Zhou SiLang waved his hand, "Don’t worry about that; we’ll definitely formalize it with a contract then. Also, she shares in this, with accounts to verify. Besides, she’s not that kind of person."
The last sentence seed an afterthought.
Thinking it over, Xiang Mingxue said, "This depends on her own wishes."
Zhou SiLang beca excited, patting Xiang Mingxue’s shoulder over the table, gratified, "Good brother, it wasn’t for nothing I praised you before Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law."
He happily said, "If our families were truly united by marriage, we could do business together. We might even establish our comrcial route across the grassland."
Many major firms trading in the grasslands have fixed cooperative tribes, agreeing on trading tis, establishing their comrcial routes.
Xiang Mingxue shook his head, smiling lightly, "I’m afraid not."
He added, "I cannot take the imperial exam, but my son can. Thus, I don’t plan to expand the business too much. After Zhou SiLang’s next couple of trips, he should consider distributing so profits to subordinates as wages. If the court investigates, it will seem like a cooperative group effort, and given the Zhou family’s vast land, the household registration shouldn’t change."
Zhou SiLang: "The court hasn’t restricted rchants from taking the imperial exam."
Xiang Mingxue himself entered the academy with ambitions to beco an official, naturally aware. He said, "Though unrestricted, there are differences; entering service differs among commoners, noble families, and aristocratic lineage, especially for rchant’s sons. Few rchant-officials achieve third-rank, even fifth-rank is uncommon."
Becoming Pri Minister is nearly out of reach.
Thus, Xiang Mingxue wouldn’t allow his descendants to face such discrimination.
Zhou SiLang remained perplexed, while Zhou Lijun halted outside the door.
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