Inside the clay kiln, the air seemed to have solidified into a solid substance.
Those faint yet clear footsteps, like drumbeats, struck everyone's heartstrings. Shen Ruoxin could almost hear the sound of her own blood flowing. She exchanged a glance with Wang Bo, and both of their eyes were filled with vigilance. Sun Dayong in the corner was like a cheetah ready to go, his muscles tense and his eyes fully concentrated on the only entrance.
Enemy or friend?
Time seems to be stretched out, and every breath is filled with unknown dangers.
The footsteps paused at the entrance for a moment. Then, a familiar voice rang out in a low voice: "Second Miss?" Uncle Wang? It's me, Afu!
It's Afu!
The tense atmosphere suddenly relaxed. Sun Dayong's hand holding the short stick slightly relaxed, and Shen Ruoxin and Wang Bo also heaved a sigh of relief in unison.
Afu's figure appeared at the entrance. He darted in sideways, with a hint of urgency on his face, but more importantly, a sense of security after completing the task. "Second Miss, Zhou Ping has already taken the things and your instructions, changed to a fast horse and headed for Huzhou." There shouldn't be any delay on the way.
"Ok." Shen Ruoxin nodded, and her worried heart was relieved by half. Zhou Ping set off. There was a temporary response in Huzhou, which made her feel a little relieved. But immediately after that, a deeper thought welled up in my heart.
The tension just now was like ice water pouring over her head, making her suddenly realize a deeper problem that was concealed by the numerous crises before her.
The plan that Wang Bo just came up with for the matter of Huzhou was truly ingenious. Taking advantage of the mentality of local bullies who bully the weak and fear the strong, they used the false and real signboard of "Shen Family of Pingjiang Prefecture" and paired it with just the right amount of money as a gift, using both soft and hard tactics to quell the incident at the lowest cost. This is undoubtedly the most reliable and efficient way at present.
But... Why does this method work?
Shen Ruoxin's fingertips unconsciously brushed across the rough surface of the stone mill. The answer is self-evident: Because of that "Lai Li Zhang" and the kind of people he represents, what they Revere is not how powerful the Shen family itself is, but the possible "gentry" power and "official status" connections behind the name "Shen Family". Even if this relationship is vague or even fictional, as long as it is associated with the "gentry", it can form an intangible deterrent.
This logic is effective when dealing with local ruffians and gangsters, and it is equally effective when dealing with rumors and gossip in Pingjiang Prefecture. Li Molan and Wang Xiuniang fought back against public opinion by packaging her actions as "filial piety" and "clan affection" that conformed to the moral norms of the "gentry". Even her elder brother Shen Yu, who was somewhat pedantic in his studies, did not immediately overturn the table to a large extent because he was concerned about the dignity of the "Shen family" and his reputation in the scholar circle.
She, Shen Ruoxin, as well as the Jinxiu Pavilion and the "Dandelion" project she leads, seem to be taking the initiative and advancing step by step. However, in reality, every move they make is deeply embedded in this vast social system dominated by the gentry class and bound by Confucian etiquette and human relationships. They are navigating, maneuvering and leveraging each other's strengths within the rules of this system.
This is like playing a game on someone else's chessboard. No matter how excellent one's chess skills are, they are ultimately constrained by the boundaries of the chessboard and the rules of the pieces.
This kind of dependence itself implies huge risks!
Shen Ruoxin thought of the little Cui who had vanished. A trivial insider caused the Zhangji Silk Workshop, which they had meticulously planned, to be ruined in an instant. This undoubtedly exposes the loopholes in internal management, but what about the deeper reasons? If the Jinxiu Pavilion itself had sufficient and irreplaceable strength, such as mastering a certain unique dyeing technology or controlling a certain scarce raw material, would the Zhang Ji Silk Workshop still be so easily poached by the Su Ji? Would Su Ji still choose to be the enemy of the Splendid Pavilion so easily?
I'm afraid not.
Ultimately, the core competitiveness of Jinxiu Pavilion at present still lies in the reputation left by Shen's father, some ancestral embroidery patterns, and her own business acumen that has not yet been fully exerted. These things do not have an overwhelming advantage in Pingjiang Prefecture, a place where merchants gather in large numbers. What they can rely on more is flexible strategies and the utilization of existing social rules.
And this kind of utilization is fragile.
Human feelings can change, one's dignity can be lost, and bluffing will eventually be exposed one day. The power of the gentry may seem powerful and reliable, but ultimately it is the power of others. Today they may "take care of" you for interests or rules, and tomorrow they might crush you for greater interests or turn against you ruthlessly. Entrusting one's life and fortune to such an unpredictable and uncontrollable system is no different from adding fuel to the fire or drinking poison to quench thirst!
"System..." "System..." Shen Ruoxin murmured in a low voice, her mind reverberating with the "information account" management method that Uncle Wang had just mentioned. The core of that approach is to establish an internal management "system" that does not rely on individuals and can operate and verify itself.
Can this train of thought be expanded?
Could a set of... be established? Let the Brocade Pavilion, let "Dandelion", and even let herself be able to break free from excessive reliance on the external social system... Self-protection "system"?
Once this thought occurred to her, it was like a seed that quickly took root and sprouted in her heart.
She needs strength, a kind of strength that truly belongs to her and can be held in her hands! A kind of power that doesn't depend on anyone or any class, and can enable her to stand firm in the face of adversity!
What should this kind of power be?
Is it money? Sufficient wealth can indeed bring a certain sense of security, win people's hearts and open up loopholes. But wealth itself is also prone to attracting covetousness. If there is not enough strength to protect it, even the most money may vanish overnight. Look at the Su family. They are rich and powerful. Don't they also have to rely on the breath of the Canal Transport office?
Is it connections? A wide network of contacts may be useful in peaceful times, but in the face of a real crisis, it is common for monkeys to disperse when the tree falls. The example of Yoo Seung-woo is the best warning. Moreover, weaving and maintaining interpersonal connections itself requires tremendous energy and resources, and is full of uncertainties.
Is it information? Wang Bo's "information account" gave her inspiration. Mastering information can indeed give one the upper hand in many situations. However, information itself cannot be directly transformed into power. It needs to be interpreted, utilized, and supported by strong executive power. Moreover, the acquisition and transmission of information itself also require a reliable network and strict systems to support it.
Shen Ruoxin's gaze involuntarily fell upon the unremarkable short knife at Afu's waist, and then she recalled the smoothed short stick in Sun Dayong's hand, as well as... Outside Fengqiao Town, those ruthless thugs raised by Zhao Babi.
In this world, the most direct and effective force is often still... Violence.
But this thought only flashed through her mind and was immediately rejected by her. Raising private soldiers? "Gathering and screaming for death?" That's a way to die! Not to mention that she was the daughter of a merchant, even a provincial official with a large military force could bring about a catastrophic disaster if she was not careful. This road must never be taken!
So, what else?
Shen Ruoxin's gaze slowly swept over everything simple in the clay kiln, and finally settled on a bundle of seemingly ordinary raw silk that had been casually discarded in the corner.
Silk... Splendid...
Ultimately, the foundation of her existence still lies in this craft and this industry.
If... What if she could do this to the extreme?
If she could master a kind of... A skill that others can't replicate? Or control a kind of... Raw materials that others cannot obtain?
If the Splendid Pavilion could produce a kind of... It made everyone flock to it, even the imperial court and those high-ranking noblewomen of the gentry, who had to lower their stance to purchase it... What about the exquisite embroidery?
When her product itself becomes a scarce and irreplaceable "hard currency", does she still need to overly rely on those illusory human feelings and facial benefits? Is there still a need to worry about being easily replaced and suppressed?
By then, the "system" she has established will no longer merely be internal management rules, but rather a powerful economic barrier supported by core technologies and unique products, capable of withstanding external risks!
This, perhaps, is the one that suits her best and is most likely to come true... A more stable path for self-protection!
This thought made Shen Ruoxin's heart race involuntarily. This is far more grand and challenging than mere business competition, intelligence covert warfare, or even the rescue of hostages! But the possibilities contained within have given her a glimmer of hope to get out of the current predicament and truly take control of her own destiny!
"Uncle Wang," Shen Ruoxin raised her head, her eyes shining with an unprecedented light. That light contained deep thought and a resolute determination to go all out. "You just said that you traded silk in Huzhou in your early years?"
Wang Bo was slightly taken aback, not understanding why the second young lady suddenly asked about this, but still nodded: "Yes." Huzhou silk has been renowned since ancient times. I had been there a few times back then and knew some mulberry farmers and silk dealers.
"Then do you know," Shen Ruoxin's voice was lowered very low, but it carried an unusual penetrating power, "is there anything near Huzhou or even further away..." Special silkworm breeds? Or... A distinctive mulberry tree? Be able to produce... Completely different from what is available on the market... Peculiar silk?
Her problem was so drastic that it seemed to have nothing to do with the current crisis.
But as Wang Bo looked at the burning flames in Shen Ruoxin's eyes, his heart suddenly stirred, as if he had understood something.
What the second young lady was thinking about was no longer just how to get through the current difficulties...