This was the first year when Zhao Luojing took over the family business.
Something happened to the Jun family. Zhao Luojing rushed back overnight to deal with it. Before he even had time to take a sip of tea, he had to hurry home again.
The next day, the first batch of new tea from the Zhao Family Tea House was going to be on sale. He had a lot to do.
At this time, Zhao Luojing was not yet twenty years old. His small frame was even shorter than the stone lions at the gate.
However, in terms of bearing, not to mention his peers, even few adults could match him.
Supported by his pageboy, Zhao Luojing got off the carriage. Before he entered the gate, he heard laughter coming from the courtyard.
It was the second wife of the Zhao family, teaching Zhao Luoming to walk unsteadily in the courtyard.
This concubine.
Zhao Luojing sighed.
He turned a corner and was about to return to the main branch's residence when he saw Zhao Luyu holding a handful of melon seeds, staring at the second wife and Zhao Luoming in the courtyard. Her expression was indignant as she muttered.
"Ever since this concubine entered our family, she has always gotten the best of everything. She even got two merged yards to live in by herself.
That's not enough for her. She even has to come to the main hall to teach the child to walk. It's not about taking care of the child at all. She's clearly trying to seduce father!"
Zhao Luojing bowed to greet her.
"Second sister."
"Luo Jing, you're back. Eldest sister was just thinking about you."
Zhao Luojing nodded and kindly reminded her at the same time, "Second sister, too much talk may lead to trouble."
Zhao Luyu had a fiery temper. She turned her head to one side and said, "So what if there's trouble? At worst, it'll be a fight to the death. There are five of us in the main branch, two more than those in the second branch! If we really fight, we have more people on our side!"
Zhao Luojing couldn't help but laugh.
It was not a matter of having more people on their side. In fact, they were in a vulnerable position.
"Luo Jing, do you think if I kill this concubine, we'll have a better life?"
Zhao Luyu was just such a hot - tempered person. Zhao Luojing didn't intend to pay her any heed. He just shook his head with a smile. As long as she didn't cause any trouble, it would be fine.
Unexpectedly, it was his indulgence that became the heartache of Zhao Luojing's life.
When the news of Zhao Luyu's accident came, Zhao Luojing was out discussing business. At such a young age, he was even shorter than the counter, but his imposing manner was in no way inferior. He was clear and concise about every clause, which left the shopkeeper, who had initially looked down on him, speechless.
Just as they were about to sign the agreement, a maid came to report that something had happened in the Zhao family.
Zhao Luojing rushed home and only saw half of the courtyard reduced to ashes. His eldest sister, Zhao Luoning, was standing alone in a daze in front of the scorched ruins. Her hands were bleeding from digging, and her clothes were covered in dust. She looked extremely disheveled.
"Eldest sister."
Zhao Luojing walked forward with a heartache.
Zhao Luoning couldn't hear him. Only when Zhao Luojing got closer did he hear her mumbling.
"Luyu, Luyu."
Zhao Luojing looked at Zhao Luoning with heartache. Due to the rules, he couldn't hug his eldest sister to comfort her. He could only watch as she seemed to lose all hope.
"Eldest sister, please mourn."
"Mourn... Hehe, mourn." Zhao Luoning laughed like a madwoman. "Luo Jing, why are you also trying to persuade me like this? She was your own sister. Doesn't your heart ache at all?"
Among the triplets, Zhao Luojing was always the most rational one. He was in a daze for a moment on his way back, but he quickly composed himself.
Whether at home or in the business world, the situation was complex. There was simply not enough time for him to feel sad.
"Eldest sister, you can't collapse. The most urgent thing is to find out the truth and clear Luyu's name."
"Hehe, she's already dead. What's the use of clearing her name?" Zhao Luoning slumped down in the ruins in a daze. Tears left streaks on her face.
She didn't notice that Zhao Luojing was standing behind her, bowing deeply to her.
How could he not be sad about Luyu's accident?
As a man, he was supposed to be upright, but he couldn't even protect his own sister.
"Sister, as long as I'm alive, I'll never let you be wronged again!"
From that day on, Zhao Luojing's way of doing things changed greatly.
The once gentle and elegant him became ruthless and decisive. In the business world, he would resort to any means.
At such a young age, he had become a terrifying figure.
Many people were both afraid of and jealous of him. They sent people to find out his preferences in order to curry favor with him.
He lacked nothing in terms of gold, silver, jade, and other treasures. He didn't want any women or playthings.
Only once, a tea farmer made a set of bamboo chairs. Zhao Luoning found them very comfortable to sit on.
Zhao Luojing accepted this "bribe" and bought the tea leaves from the tea farmer.
Within a few years, he had taken control of the Zhao family.
Contrary to the booming business of the Zhao family, his health was getting worse and worse.
Mrs. Zhao was worried when she saw this. She selected two girls from clean - background families and wanted to send them to Zhao Luojing as concubines.
Mrs. Zhao knew that Zhao Luojing was very opinionated. Over the years, she had tried to arrange concubines for him, but every time he had refused.
This arduous task fell to Zhao Luoning.
How could Zhao Luoning not understand her mother's intention?
Zhao Luojing had been weak since birth. Even the doctor had predicted that he wouldn't live past eighteen. Mrs. Zhao just wanted Zhao Luojing to have an heir so that the family would have something to remember him by.
Unable to decline, Zhao Luoning had to take the two little girls to the Zhao Family Tea House.
At the entrance of the tea house, Zhao Luoning left the two girls there and asked the tea - picking girls to take care of them. Then she went up the mountain alone.
Zhao Luojing's health was getting worse and worse.
In the past, every time Zhao Luoning came, he would be half - lying in bed dealing with business.
When she went up the mountain today, she saw that he had actually gotten up. Wearing a robe, he was standing on the hilltop, overlooking the tea gardens all over the mountain.
He was very thin. Due to his long - term illness, he was also shorter than boys of the same age.
He stood on the hilltop. The strong wind made his cape flutter. He was like a flagpole, standing in front of the main branch's residence, being the face of the main branch.
"Hey, you're in good spirits today."
Zhao Luoning walked forward.
"Mother sent you, right?"
"Hahaha, nothing can be hidden from you." Zhao Luoning didn't beat around the bush. She said to Zhao Luojing, "I've checked these two girls. They're not daughters of prominent families. They have good personalities and know how to take care of people."
"Yes, they're so full of vitality."
At the moment, the two little girls were at the entrance of the tea garden. They had already gotten along well with the tea - picking girls. Their silver - bell - like laughter came from the foot of the mountain, which made Zhao Luojing smile too.
Zhao Luoning leaned over to take a look. She was happy to see Zhao Luojing smiling.
"Look, he's smiling. That's good. Do you like them?"
"Who wouldn't like such young and beautiful girls?" Zhao Luojing turned around and said to Zhao Luoning, "Eldest sister, please send them back."
"Why? Don't you like them?"
Zhao Luojing shook his head and said, "I'd better not hold back others with my poor health."
Zhao Luoning was silent for a moment and said nothing.
Zhao Luojing's stubborn temper really worried people.