First Phoenix Lady - Chapter 35

Shi Anxia asked, “Is it Miss Wei who is managing the household affairs at the Wei Mansion these days?”

Wei Cailing replied with great modesty, “To be honest, Miss Shi, my family is small, our relatives are not in the Capital, and our property is limited. It can hardly be called managing the household-I am simply making do as best I can. The Maids who accompanied me that day, together with the old steward and the gatekeeper, are all the servants remaining in my household.”

“I suppose Miss Wei is familiar with account books?” Shi Anxia slid a ledger in front of her. “Would you please take a look and see if these accounts are correct?”

Wei Cailing agreed, calmly opened the ledger, and started reading, her expression relaxed and confident.

Time passed bit by bit. When Wei Cailing looked up, she found that Shi Anxia was also absorbed in an account book.

A strange sense of freshness and delight arose within her, as if she and Miss Shi were indeed old friends of many years.

After some thought, she said softly, “Miss Shi, on the surface, these accounts seem fine.”

“And if you look beyond the surface?” Shi Anxia asked, smiling warmly.

Catching the look on Shi Anxia’s face, Wei Cailing realized this was a test, not a genuine request for help.

She straightened unconsciously and replied seriously, “This shop sells porcelain, mainly Anzhou porcelain. The purchase prices are reasonable, but the selling prices for the last six months are questionable.”

Shi Anxia replied, “I asked about it. The clerk said they were selling at low margin and high volume to build a reputation.”

Wei Cailing responded, “Does Anzhou porcelain still need to build a reputation? Which noble or wealthy family in the Capital isn’t aware that Anzhou porcelain is the finest? Selling it at cost like this is just working for nothing. Unless… it’s not the shop that profits, but someone else – and what’s being sold isn’t really Anzhou porcelain.”

Shi Anxia nodded, “That’s exactly what I thought.” As she spoke, she looked to Bei Hui.

Bei Hui promptly brought over two small dishes that looked identical and placed them before Wei Cailing.

Shi Anxia said, “I wonder if Miss Wei can tell which is Anzhou porcelain, and which is not?”

Wei Cailing looked up in surprise. “Does Miss Shi know my mother is from Anzhou? My mother’s natal family runs a kiln there.”

Shi Anxia thought to herself, I know your family all too well – so well that we once ended up as rivals. But in this life, let’s support one another; otherwise, fighting only benefits others.

Ideally, if there’s mutual affection and Miss Wei could become my sister-in-law, she would truly become one of our own.

Shi Anxia was secretly pleased, not bothering to hide it. “I want to partner with your family in business, so naturally, one must know both oneself and the other party.”

Wei Cailing showed no displeasure, but replied honestly and with composure, “My mother’s family’s kiln isn’t well-known locally, and it’s small in scale. I’m afraid it can hardly live up to your high expectations, Miss Shi.”

With that, she began to examine the two dishes before her, feeling their texture, checking the color in the light, and tapping them lightly to listen to the sound.

After a moment, she picked up the dish on the left. “This one is fake.” Then she picked up the one on the right. “This one is also fake. But these two fakes are not from the same place.”

Shi Anxia laughed, “I really did find the right person. Then let me test you further, Miss Wei – can you tell where these two dishes came from?”

Wei Cailing had wanted to say everything before, but worried Miss Shi would think she was showing off, so now she held back a little. “The one on the left is from Gan Zhou, the one on the right is from Shu Zhou.”

Shi Anxia clapped her hands and laughed. “Excellent, Miss Wei – you can even tell that.”

Wei Cailing then shared some tips for distinguishing genuine from fake porcelain, and for telling their place of origin.

Shi Anxia was very pleased. “Then, may I ask Miss Wei to go back and discuss with Lord Wei and Madam Wei whether you would be willing to join the Marquis Mansion in the Anzhou porcelain business?”
Wei Cailing nodded in agreement. “Whether it succeeds or not, I am grateful for Miss Shi’s kindness.”

In truth, how could the Wei family be unwilling? Her Maternal Family’s porcelain kiln was clearly the best in the area, but because they lacked connections, they were often exploited and forced to sell at low prices.

Her Maternal Grandfather was a craftsman with extremely high standards for porcelain, so naturally, the pieces produced were of the finest quality. If they could cooperate with Miss Shi, it would truly be a stroke of luck for their family.

When Wei Cailing returned home and shared the news, to her surprise, the first to voice support was her brother, Wei Yuzhi.

Wei Zhongshi and Madam Wei exchanged glances, neither expressing an opinion.

Wei Yuzhi grew anxious. “What’s there to think about? If you’re worried about trouble, I’ll handle everything in the future.”

Madam Wei laughed. “You? Can you read the accounts? Can you tell which porcelain is from Anzhou? Can you recognize the techniques used on a piece?”

Wei Yuzhi was dumbfounded. “You have to know all that?”

“Otherwise, what would you do there? Drink idle tea or eat idle food?” Wei Zhongshi mercilessly shot him down.

Daughters should be cherished, but sons-well, toughened by scolding and discipline, they grow into men.

Wei Zhongshi was gentle with his daughter. “Cailing, what do you think?”

Wei Cailing replied, “I believe Miss Shi truly wants to pursue this business. Today, she even showed me the account books. It seems her staff have been passing off inferior goods and pocketing the Marquis Mansion’s money. She must be determined to reorganize her household, and knowing my mother’s family is from Anzhou, she deliberately tested me with several questions. I feel Miss Shi is very sincere, not just making empty promises.”

Madam Wei had read the letter Jiang Youshen delivered that day, and considering the recent developments, she understood that the young lady of Jian’an Marquis Mansion was genuinely looking out for her daughter, Cailing.

In her eyes, aside from her own two daughters, Miss Shi was the most beautiful, kind, and good-hearted person in the world. Not to mention partnering in business-even if she had to help Miss Shi without profit, she would do so willingly.

She decisively stated, “There’s no need to consult your Maternal Grandfather. I agree. Your Maternal Grandfather is struggling in Anzhou. In his letter last month, he said he had to dismiss more than half the workers at the kiln; it seems he can’t keep it running. But he’s stubborn and refuses to give up his craft. Especially since he has a unique technique that outsiders can’t replicate…”

Wei Zhongshi felt deeply guilty. “It’s my fault I couldn’t protect your mother’s family.”

Madam Wei shook her head. “Don’t think that way. My father said as long as our family is well, nothing else matters.”

Wei Cailing felt a strange sense of illusion, as if she had died too early and too tragically in her dream, while in reality, everything was going smoothly. Perhaps, in the future, she really could help her grandfather’s kiln flourish.

Suddenly, she was filled with strength, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. “Miss Shi is truly our family’s benefactor.”

Wei Pingting blinked her big eyes and asked, “Sister, next time can you take me to play with Sister Shi?”

Wei Cailing pinched her little nose. “Sure! Do you like Sister Shi?”

“I do!”

“How much do you like her?”

“A lot! I like her as much as I like you!”

“Then if both Sister and Sister Shi were bullied, who would you protect?”

“Of course I’d protect Sister! Sister Shi is amazing-she’d protect both of us…”

The whole family burst into laughter, gathering around the stove to drink and talk.

The warmth of everyday life drove away the chill of winter, leaving only spring-like comfort. This was truly the best way life could be.

Meanwhile, Shi Anxia was busy, having rounded up Shopkeeper Yang and his entire family after their attempted escape, tying them up at the shop entrance and attracting quite a crowd of onlookers.