Zhao Wan'er was inspecting a salt-making workshop in a village outside the city, which was the most lucrative industry under the name of the Zhao firm, supporting seventy percent of the Zhao firm's income.

This year, there was another friction on the border, and one of the best salt mines belonging to the Zhao firm was occupied by Meng Yuan. In desperation, Zhao's firm had no choice but to mine the second salt mine.

However, in this way, not only is it more difficult to mine, but the quality of the mined salt is also inferior. Even after many boiling, only a small part can become high-grade refined salt, and the rest is coarse salt.

Zhao Wan'er is gathering salt-savvy artisans in the salt workshop to see if she can improve the process and reduce costs while also increasing yield and quality.

At this moment, she suddenly heard that her father Zhao Chengwen urgently invited her back home. Zhao Wan'er first appeased the craftsmen with kind words, and also promised them heavy benefits. Only then did he rush back to Zhao's Mansion with the maids and a few guards around him.

Back in the house, as soon as she got out of the carriage, Zhao Wan'er rushed into her father's room. After receiving her father's urgent call, she thought something had happened to her father? Worried about breaking down along the way.

"Father, is there anything you have to do with bringing your daughter back?" When she entered the room, she saw her parents sitting in the room safely, and although they both had sad faces on their faces, there was no worst picture in her heart.

Zhao Chengwen handed her the letter in his hand, "Wan'er, this is a letter from your uncle, you can read it first." ”

Zhao Wan'er took the letter in confusion, and after reading it line by line and page by page, she was shocked, "Father, is what is written on this letter true?" ”

Zhao Chengwen nodded with a gloomy face: "Yes, this is indeed your uncle's handwriting, and there is also the code word agreed upon by the two of us." You don't care about the authenticity of the letter, so what do you plan to do next? ”

If he can't even deal with the things in front of him, Zhao Chengwen doesn't plan to let Zhao Wan'er take charge of the Zhao family's firm. It is better to take this opportunity to get rid of all the property in their hands, leave enough belongings for their mother and daughter in the next life, and find a small place to spend the rest of their lives.

It's better than being swallowed by those insidious and cunning people one day in the future, and finally ending up in a situation where the family is ruined.

Zhao Wan'er put down the letter in her hand, pondered for a moment, and said slowly: "If my uncle is really demoted, our Zhao firm will take corresponding measures. First of all, the main direction of the operation of the commercial banks should be changed, and the salt industry in their hands should be gradually contracted and transferred. ”

"Without my uncle's backing, we would never have been able to eat so much salt. But you can't let go completely, you have to keep one or two components in your hands, waiting for the day when your uncle will get up again. ”

Zhao Chengwen nodded as he listened, with a smile on his face. Wan'er's overall view is still very good, she is not blinded by the immediate interests, and she knows how to make trade-offs. The so-called how big the belly is, how big the meal is.

If you don't have the corresponding strength in your hand and hold on to it, what is the difference between it and a three-year-old child holding a gold ingot through the city? Except for attracting the prying eyes of hungry wolves, nothing good will end.

Zhao Chengwen continued to ask: "If it is a commercial bank transformation, where do you plan to start?" ”

Zhao Wan'er replied without hesitation: "Silk and tea." In Xining Prefecture, those merchants from the Western Regions purchase the most silk, porcelain, tea and other aspects every year. ”

"Porcelain, our Zhao family does not have the corresponding technology, and we can't fire high-quality porcelain. And porcelain is too troublesome to start from scratch, so it is better to make silk and tea. ”

Zhao Chengwen questioned: "Wan'er, have you thought about it, Xining Mansion is not rich in silk and tea. If it runs from the south of the Yangtze River, it costs a lot of money on the way, so the profit will be thin. ”

Zhao Wan'er said: "The wool is out of the sheep, and besides, our Zhao family business bank fleet is all over the whole of Daxia, and the cost will be much lower if we transport the goods by ourselves." Moreover, our Zhao family was originally born in the south of the Yangtze River and started to deal in silk, so we can do it with this foundation. ”

Zhao Chengwen bowed his head and said: "If you do what you say, how long will it take you to deal with all this?" ”

Zhao Wan'er hesitated for a moment, as if she was calculating something in her heart, and replied after a while: "It is expected to take more than a year." ”

Zhao Chengwen sighed, "Wan'er, do you know that you will turn twenty years old in two months?" ”

Zhao Wan'er was puzzled: "So what, my daughter has time to do this." ”

Zhao Chengwen glanced at her deeply, "There is an order in the imperial court, 'If a woman does not marry in her twenties, the chief official will be matched and her family will sit down.'" 'Do you know that the Xu family sent someone to the door again today. ”

"Huh?!" Zhao Wan'er immediately understood the meaning of her father's words, and her face immediately turned pale.

She finally knew the true meaning of the letter that her father showed her, and her uncle Zhao Chengming was demoted, and she was no longer able to protect herself. Seeing that he is about to turn twenty, if he does not marry again, he will be against the decree of the imperial court. Xu Xiuping can justifiably attack the Zhao family.

But if she gets married in two months, don't say that she hasn't thought about such a thing? Even if she is willing to marry, who would dare to marry? Besides, after getting married, can she still be in charge of the Zhao family business so freely?

Rao is Zhao Wan'er, who has always been calm and calm, also panicked at this time, "Father, this is ...... How is this good? ”

Zhao Chengwen didn't answer her question, the conversation changed sharply, and suddenly asked, "Wan'er, I heard that you came back from outside the city some time ago and saved an unconscious scholar on the way?" ”

Zhao Wan'er was stunned for a moment, and she didn't know why her father mentioned this at this time, "Yes, father, there is indeed such a thing." I wonder how you know? ”

Zhao Chengwen said: "When you weren't at home the day before yesterday, a talented man came to the door. He said that he was grateful for saving your life, and he also wanted to ask you if he had picked up anything in the place where he was unconscious. ”

"One thing?" Zhao Wan'er immediately thought about it, nodded and said, "There is indeed such a strange gadget, which looks like gold and not gold, and has a strange shape." At that time, the daughter was curious, so she put it in the room. Could it be that this is owned by the scholar? ”

Zhao Chengwen's eyes showed a little inquiring, "Wan'er, what do you think of that show?" ”

Zhao Wan'er said disapprerovantly: "It's okay, my daughter looks at the age of others, and she can actually be admitted to Xiucai." It is also rare in Xining Province. ”

"That'...... Do you want to recruit him as a son-in-law? Zhao Chengwen threw out a sentence in shock.

"Huh?" Zhao Wan'er stood stunned on the spot when she heard this, "Father, why did you say this?" ”

Zhao Chengwen sighed and said: "Even if your uncle is demoted, that Xiucai is young and promising, and he is a good match for you." Not to mention today. ”

Zhao Wan'er is a daughter after all, and when she heard her father mention her marriage, she couldn't help but blush slightly, revealing a little shame.

"Father, if you know this, why do you bring up such a topic? You must know that Xiucai Gong has a bright future and great ambitions, how can he marry the daughter of a merchant like me? What's more, you have to risk offending Zhizhou. ”

Zhao Chengwen said: "If that Xiucai Gong hadn't been injured, I would naturally not mention it." But Wan'er, do you know that my father has already investigated, and after Xiucaigong woke up, he actually suffered from soul loss, and it was very difficult to continue to gain fame. He asked you to get that thing back, just to see if he could use the soul conjuring technique to retrieve the lost soul. ”

Zhao Wan'er's face suddenly became embarrassed, "Father, do you mean that you want your daughter to use this thing to coerce him?" ”

Zhao Chengwen knew that his daughter seemed to be weak, but in fact, he was very assertive in his heart, and shook his head and said, "No, my father just wants you to talk to him." If he is really willing to marry you, it is best, if he is unwilling, he can also act in a play for the Xu family first. After getting rid of the property in hand, he left Xining Mansion and found another company. ”