Before the ink on the "proxy holding agreement" had dried, Shen Ruoxin threw herself into the actual affairs of the Jinxiu Pavilion. Inventory taking, checking old accounts, comforting the anxious colleagues, and making initial contacts with suppliers... There are countless matters to deal with, each one thorny and each one concerning life and death. She knew that the time left for her was limited. The three-year period seemed long, but to bring this mess back to life, every day had to be raced against time.
However, she soon discovered that the greatest resistance did not come from the silk and satin store on the verge of bankruptcy itself, but from that nominal "owner" - her good elder brother, Shen Zhongkang.
On this day, Shen Ruoxin was in the warehouse at the back yard, personally leading two old assistants to count a batch of damp and moldy brocade. All these were the goods that the Liu family bought at a high price two years ago. The patterns are long out of date and can only be treated as waste now. Each piece represents a waste of the white silver. She was frowning as she calculated the losses when Shen Zhongkang, with his hands behind his back, walked in slowly.
"Hey, sister, you're so diligent. You even do this kind of rough work yourself?" His tone was tinged with a hint of mockery. His gaze swept over the moldy fabrics, feign surprise as he said, "Oh dear, this batch of goods was bought at a high price. How could it have turned out like this?" Sister, you must be careful. Don't throw away good things as garbage. They are all our Shen family's money!
Just as an old fellow was about to explain that these fabrics were no longer usable, Shen Ruoxin gave him a look to stop him. She straightened up, brushed the dust off her hands and responded calmly, "Big Brother is right." It is precisely because it belongs to the Shen family that we need to be even more meticulous in our calculations. These fabrics are indeed severely damp and have no value anymore. Rather than occupying the warehouse space, it's better to clear it out earlier so as to free up space for storing new goods that can make money in the future.
"New goods?" Shen Zhongkang seemed to have heard some joke. "Sister, is there still money in the account to buy new goods now?" Why did I hear that the money owed to us by the outside world can't be recovered, and the money we owe others is almost blocking the door? Don't live beyond your means and rob Peter to pay Paul!
"Big brother, don't worry. The accounts have their own limits." Shen Ruoxin's tone remained unchanged. "The liquidation team checks every day, and the Third Uncle is also keeping an eye on it." The most urgent thing at present is to revitalize the inventory and recover the funds. As for purchasing goods, of course, we have to wait until the time is ripe.
"Is the time ripe?" Shen Zhongkang took a step closer and lowered his voice a little. "Sister, I've heard that you've been very close to those dyeing workshops in the south of the city recently?" Are you still planning to get the goods on credit from them? Do you know who the owners of those dyeing workshops are? One by one, they are vulgar and full of the stench of money! You, a girl who has never been married, are always hanging out with these people. What kind of rumors would it make you? If Father knew, he would surely jump up from his sickbed in anger!
His words seemed concerned, but in fact, they were a warning to Shen Ruoxin, suggesting that as a woman, she was not suitable to show herself in public, especially not to deal with those "vulgar" merchants, in an attempt to restrict her actions.
Shen Ruoxin sneered inwardly, but a hint of just-right difficulty and helplessness appeared on her face: "Big Brother taught me a lesson." The younger sister also knew that it was not appropriate for a woman to be in the public eye and interact with merchants. Just... Now, the eldest brother is also well aware of the situation at the Splendid Pavilion. Which of those long-standing debts doesn't require me to wear out my lips? Among those suppliers with poor credibility, which one doesn't require me to supervise the delivery and inspection in person? I'm not going. Do I expect an old man like Liu, the accountant, to go and bang the table with others and fight for benefits? Or... Is the eldest brother willing to step in personally to relieve the younger sister of her worries?
She kicked the ball back gently and skillfully.
Shen Zhongkang's expression froze for a moment. Let him deal with those difficult businessmen? Where does he have such ability and patience? He merely wanted to cause trouble for Shen Ruoxin, manipulate her, and preferably make her back off and return the power to him.
"Humph! I'm the boss, so of course I have more important things to worry about." Shen Zhongkang insisted, "But you can't, under the guise of being for the family, lose your sense of propriety and ruin the rules and dignity of our Shen family!"
In the following days, similar "tests" and "difficulties" emerged one after another. Shen Ruoxin made an appointment with an important supplier, but Shen Zhongkang insisted on going along, giving instructions and pretending to know when he didn't. Several times, he almost ruined the negotiations. Shen Ruoxin intended to adjust the layout of the shop and get rid of a batch of overstocked cheap cloth, but Shen Zhongkang came out to oppose again, saying that it was "selling ancestral property at a low price". Even when Shen Ruoxin promoted a capable young assistant to the position of manager, he would still interfere unjustly, saying, "I don't have enough experience to win the respect of the people."
He was like an omnipresent shadow, taking advantage of his status as the "owner" to constantly interfere and hold back, making Shen Ruoxin's rectification plan extremely difficult to carry out. He may not be capable of running the Splendid Pavilion well, but when it comes to destroying it, he is quite adept at it.
Shen Ruoxin understood that behind Shen Zhongkang, there was no lack of the instigation of Lady Liu. Although Liu was confined at home, her influence still remained. The mother and son intended to use this method of boiling a frog in warm water to constantly wear down her will, create trouble, and make the elders of the clan see that this woman was "indeed no good", and eventually they had no choice but to give up.
If she confronts them head-on, she will only fall into the other party's trap, making her, as a younger sister, disrespectful to her elder brother and even suspected of usurping power. She must find a more ingenious way to completely block Shen Zhongkang's excuse for interference, while at the same time being able to legitimately consolidate her own management rights.
Her gaze once again fell upon the invisible shackle that "women are not allowed to show themselves in public". This time, she is going to turn this shackle into her own weapon.
That day, Shen Ruoxin once again "happened" to be in front of her third uncle, showing a hint of exhaustion and difficulty.
"Third Uncle," she said in a low voice, carrying a hint of imperceptible grievance, "These days, my great-niece has really..." I feel a bit overwhelmed.
"Oh?" But what difficulties did you encounter? Uncle SAN asked with concern. He had also read the initial settlement results of the Jinxiu Pavilion and knew that Shen Ruoxin had taken over such a hot potato.
It's not about business operations. Those difficulties, my great-niece can still handle. Shen Ruoxin sighed, "Just..." My elder brother was also very kind-hearted. He was always worried that I, a woman, couldn't handle it. He had to follow me in everything and give me guidance everywhere. Take yesterday for example. I went to the west of the city to collect an old debt. The owner of that shop had already agreed to pay off part of it first, but the big brother insisted on going along and even put on AIRS as a young master, saying a few unpleasant words. As a result, he turned against me on the spot and refused to pay off a single cent...
She did not directly accuse Shen Zhongkang of causing trouble. Instead, she objectively stated the facts, attributing the outcome to "chaos caused by the elder brother's concern" and "inconvenient status".
A few days ago, during the contract renewal negotiation with Hengtong Fabric Store, the shopkeeper saw that his elder brother was also present and thought that I, his younger sister, couldn't make the decision. So he deliberately raised the price and made things difficult for him everywhere. The terms I managed to negotiate with great difficulty are at least ten percent higher than I originally expected... Alas!
She paused just right, leaving room for her third uncle to imagine.
"Nonsense!" Uncle SAN indeed frowned. "Is Zhong Kang showing concern?" I think it's causing trouble! He himself is not capable. Instead, he just tells others what to do!
Shen Ruoxin hurriedly said, "Third Uncle, calm down. My eldest brother is also afraid that I'm young and a woman, so I'm likely to be bullied." Just... The more he did this, the more outsiders felt that there was no one in my Shen family and that a young master needed to keep an eye on my sister all the time to do business. If this goes on for a long time, not only will business be hard to do, but the face of our Shen family...
She didn't say any more, but the meaning was already very obvious.
Uncle SAN fell silent. Of course, he understood that in the business world, the most taboo thing is to have different opinions within and hold each other back. Not to mention, it's really unacceptable to have a grown man follow his unmarried sister around doing business all day long and it's likely to draw criticism.
Then, in your opinion, what should be done? Uncle SAN asked.
Shen Ruoxin was waiting for this very sentence. She leaned slightly and spoke sincerely, "Third Uncle, when we signed the 'proxy holding agreement' back then, it was a sign of trust and test from the elders of the clan towards our great-niece." Now it is both a "proxy holding" and a "test tube". The great-niece earnestly requests that a clause be clearly stipulated in the agreement: During this three-year test tube period, unless it involves major events such as selling ancestral property or changing the name of the owner, all daily business decisions of the Jinxiu Pavilion, including personnel, purchasing, sales, accounting transactions, and external contacts, shall be fully handled and independently carried out by the great-niece.
She paused and added, "In this way, on the one hand, efficiency can be improved and business opportunities can be seized." Secondly, it's also to prevent my elder brother from constantly worrying and following me in the public eye, causing gossip. He just needs to stay at home and check the accounts and distribute dividends at the end of the year. In this way, it not only fulfills the brother-sister bond but also takes into account the dignity of the family. I wonder what the Third Uncle and all the elders of the clan think?
She wrapped her demands under the guise of "improving efficiency", "avoiding gossip" and "maintaining dignity", and targeted the two practical problems of "inconvenience for women" and "being held back by her elder brother", rather than directly challenging Shen Zhongkang's position as the "employer". What she desires is not a formal status but a genuine and undisturbed "right to operate the test tubes".
Uncle SAN was lost in thought for a long time. Shen Ruoxin's proposal was reasonable and indeed pointed out the current drawbacks. Letting Shen Zhongkang completely let go and allowing Shen Ruoxin to act independently does carry risks, but the benefits might also be greater. The most crucial point is that this can prevent the conflicts between siblings from becoming public and maintain the "harmony" within the family.
This matter... I'll discuss it with the other elders of the clan again. Uncle SAN said slowly, "What you said makes sense." When in a position, one should perform one's duties. Since you are entrusted with the position, you should be given the power to let go. I will also go and scold Zhong Kang.
Shen Ruoxin felt slightly at ease in her heart. She knew that with the words of her third uncle, things were basically about 70% to 80% done. She ingeniously took advantage of society's prejudice and restrictions against women, and in turn, gained herself a greater space for autonomy.
Sure enough, two days later, the liquidation team convened a small-scale meeting again. The Third uncle conveyed the "supplementary resolution" : reaffirming Shen Ruoxin's full responsibility for the daily operation of Jinxiu Pavilion during the proxy holding period, and asking Shen Zhongkang not to disturb unless necessary, and to wait calmly for the year-end dividend.
Although Shen Zhongkang was extremely reluctant, under the pressure from his third uncle and several elders of the clan, he could only admit it with a clenched nose. He looked at Shen Ruoxin with even more 阴鸷.
Shen Ruoxin met his gaze calmly. She knew that this was only a temporary victory. The game of interests has never ceased. Cold arrows from the shadows will only become more concealed and more vicious.