Chapter 301: Planning to Reopen Overseas Trade
Unsurprisingly, when Old Madam Luo brought up the matter with Qiu Rongrong as an elder, Qiu Rongrong agreed without a second thought.
Old Madam Luo’s considerations were far more comprehensive after all, and she asked, “In that case, do you need to inform your parents about this as well?”
Qiu Rongrong was radiant with happiness nowadays, no longer having to maintain a rigid posture as she had in the Xie household. Since she was living on the estate, she had taken off all her lavish clothing and jewelry. Appearing completely unadorned and dressed in simple clothes, she actually looked even younger than before.
She smiled and said, “Grandma, I sent word to my parents in Jiangnan yesterday. In a few days, they will arrive with the betrothal gifts from the Xie family. It won’t be too late to tell them when they get here.”
Old Madam Luo’s brows knitted slightly, and Wen Yao immediately chimed in, “Sister Qiu, you’re actually returning those betrothal gifts to them? Pah, why should you? What a scumbag, a total loser!”
Qiu Rongrong looked at her with curiosity. “Yao Yao, what is a loser?”
Wen Yao: “…Uh, anyway, it just means he’s a piece of trash.”
“Oh, oh! Then he really is quite a piece of trash. But I don’t lack these things right now anyway. I’ve seen through that mother and son of the Xie family completely. When they cast shame aside, no one can stop them. To avoid trouble in the future, if returning the gifts settles it, then so be it. Neither my family nor I lack these items,” Qiu Rongrong said with absolute composure.
Wen Yao couldn’t say much about such matters, so she could only leave it to Qiu Rongrong to arrange as she saw fit.
Wen Yao then asked Qiu Rongrong about her plans for the future.
Qiu Rongrong looked at the clear sky outside, her mood open and cheerful. Free of all her previous resentment, she felt thoroughly refreshed. Smiling at Wen Yao, she said, “My plan for the future is to focus entirely on my career and make as much money as possible. Doesn’t Yi’er dislike studying anyway? In the future, I’ll have him take over my businesses. As for me, once I’ve earned enough money, I’ll travel everywhere to enjoy the sights and behold all the magnificent mountains and rivers of our Annan Kingdom!”
Wen Yao felt a surge of emotion in her heart. Another character from the original novel had been subtly changed because of them; she wondered if the subsequent storyline would end up completely derailed because of these shifts.
As for Qiu Rongrong having Xie Anyi take over the businesses in the future, Wen Yao could only say she possessed exceptional foresight. After all, the swift and resolute methods the grown-up Xie Anyi employed when doing business were truly beyond what ordinary people could match.
The affair regarding the Xie family quickly spread among the upper-class circles of Yunwu Town, with many people gossiping behind their backs. Old Mistress Xie cursed Qiu Rongrong in their estate every single day, and Xie Yushan grew so annoyed by his mother that he simply hid outside. The Xie family was now in complete chaos, and even the household servants were no longer as obedient or manageable as before.
These details were actually passed along secretly to Qiaoyan by former servants of the Xie estate. Back when Qiu Rongrong was in the Xie household, though strict, she had treated the servants well. Thus, the moment she left, many of their hearts went along with her. However, since they were slaves belonging to the Xie family, they had no way of leaving with Qiu Rongrong and could only remain in the Xie household, though slipping a few updates about the Xie family’s situation to Qiu Rongrong posed no problem at all.
Nowadays, Qiu Rongrong merely laughed off the Xie family’s situation, pouring her whole heart and mind into doing business alongside Wen Yao instead.
Having left the Xie family, she was freed from all restrictions, and many of their previous ideas could finally be put into action—the primary one being the general store for northern and southern goods at the docks.
On this day, the two girls came to the docks with Li Yi to check on the renovation progress of the general store, while taking the opportunity to observe the market at the port.
After all, the foot traffic at the Yunwu Town docks had multiplied several times over compared to before, which was also linked to Annan Kingdom’s booming commerce. With the nation peaceful and its people prosperous, many had begun to venture into business.
Sitting in the backyard of the milk tea shop, Qiu Rongrong asked Wen Yao and Li Yi, “I know one of the merchant ships that arrived this time carries Western goods brought from the south. Do you want to go take a look?”
Wen Yao’s eyes lit up. “Let’s go!” She wanted to see what Western goods looked like in this era as well. Though they certainly couldn’t compare to the items in her spatial storage, seeing them would give her a clear picture, making it far easier if she wanted to introduce new items in the future.
Seeing her so interested in these things, Qiu Rongrong recalled something mentioned in a letter her eldest brother had written to her earlier.
Since the two sisters were now as close as a single person, Qiu Rongrong naturally wouldn’t hide anything from Wen Yao.
“My eldest brother wrote to me before, saying he was prepared to visit the coastal cities to take a look. Our Emperor intends to reopen overseas trade, and many people are eager to give it a try. My eldest brother wrote to ask if I wanted to invest some money so our Qiu family and a few others could charter a merchant ship to test the waters.
“I originally planned to find a time to tell you, but then the Heir of Prince Fu arrived, and along with that mess from the Xie family, I completely forgot about it.”
Hearing this, Wen Yao simply couldn’t sit still any longer.
“Really? Is the news reliable?” In the original book, the female lead and Xie Anyi had indeed engaged in overseas trade and earned a massive fortune, but that was something that happened a dozen or so years later. Right, it was recorded in the original novel that the Emperor had indeed reopened sea trade, but the results had consistently been far from ideal.
When it first opened, many people did indeed attempt it, but most vanished without a trace, never to return. Instead, quite a few merchants from foreign countries arrived in Annan Kingdom, though according to their accounts, the journey had been fraught with peril as well.
It was not until the female lead collaborated with Xie Anyi later on that overseas trade was truly opened up. As for knowledge regarding maritime trade, it was learned from books the female lead had bought from her spatial system. Armed with that nautical knowledge, she provided tremendous help to Xie Anyi, bringing about a qualitative leap in Annan Kingdom’s maritime commerce.
So maritime trade had been reopened around this time? Didn’t that mean Annan Kingdom’s maritime trade in the original novel had lagged behind other countries for over a decade? After all, regarding the female lead… no one knew if she had even been born yet, as the original book never mentioned when she was born.
Since the spatial system is still on me, she probably hasn’t been born yet, right?
No wonder the female lead and Xie Anyi made all the money later on—the profits from maritime trade were truly substantial!
What Qiu Rongrong’s eldest brother implied in his letter was also just a possibility, so Qiu Rongrong truly didn’t know whether it was certain to open or not.
“It should be true, I suppose,” Qiu Rongrong said, growing uncertain from Wen Yao’s pressing question.
Wen Yao turned her head to look at Li Yi. With a ready-made source of information right here, why were they sitting around guessing?
“Li Yi, is this true? Have you heard His Majesty mention it? When will it open?” Wen Yao’s eyes shone brilliantly.
Only then did Qiu Rongrong react—right, there was a ready-made insider right here! Over this period, Li Yi hadn’t put on the slightest air of a noble heir, making her completely forget that he was the Emperor’s biological nephew.
“Yes, Heir of Prince Fu! If you know anything, don’t hide it from us. We’re all in the same boat now, earning money together!” Since Qiu Rongrong had figured out Li Yi’s temperament, she spoke her mind directly.
Seeing how eager both of them were, Li Yi waited a moment before nodding his head. “Imperial Uncle indeed mentioned wanting to reopen maritime trade, but…”
The hearts of the two girls leaped into their throats instantly.
Li Yi took a long breath before continuing, “However, the court is divided right down the middle between those who oppose it and those who support it. After all, once maritime trade opens, it means opening the nation’s borders to welcome people from the outside world. By the same token, it will also attract numerous sea pirates, which is disadvantageous to our country. Imperial Uncle is still weighing the matter.
“Yet the records left by the previous dynasty regarding maritime trade are truly far too tempting. Annan Kingdom’s current national strength truly needs money.
“This matter has always been under dispute and has never been firmly settled. However, several southern ports have gradually opened up, and some foreigners have arrived one after another. But none of them are allowed to leave the ports, and only small-scale trading of goods is permitted.”
