For Stephen Hawking, this chapter is posted earlier than usual.

"Ah Dung, what are you doing back there?" Dao-thi saw Lam Can Dung walking with Concubine Hoang, whispering to each other and not following her. She was very unhappy and turned to stare at Concubine Hoang. She raised an eyebrow. Her demeanor was as if she was scared that Concubine Hoang would seduce Lam Can Dung away.

Her own mother was narrow-minded, a bit childish, and overprotective. Lam Can Dung laughed, grabbed Lam Than Chi, and rushed towards Dao-thi. "Concubine said she wanted to make two pairs of shoes for me." Concubine Hoang's skills in shoe-making were the best, especially woman's shoes. Simply exquisite. No one could deny that not only were they pleasing to the eyes, the shoes were also comfortable.

This Fourth Young Miss was very quick-witted. Making two pairs of shoes? Concubine Hoang's views were completely toppled this morning because of this Fourth Young Miss. She stroked her earlobes and generously said: "This concubine also wishes to present Madam with two pairs. Wonder if Madam would grant this concubine this favor and give her some face?"

Dao-thi snorted and pointed her nose towards the sky: "The things I wear have to be rare." Something that this fox makes, why would she consider wearing it?

Lam Can Dung turned towards Concubine Hoang and smiled. The two understood that since their status and position were different, they would never be able to be intimate and close with one another. At most, they would only exchange things when necessary like a merchant and the customer. In the process of this cooperation, a slight carelessness would destroy the bridge. Therefore, the two was very careful. Currently, this was only the beginning. If they wanted to do business long term, they still had to sit back and observe.

Dao-thi lowered her voice and scolded Lam Can Dung: "Don't get too close to her. She is not a good person. If she had the intention of hurting you, you might not know. Don't tell her anything!"

Lam Can Dung smiled secretly and replied to everything Dao-thi said in an obedient manner. What she needed to do was make Dao-thi more relaxed. Why would she say things that made her unhappy?

Dao-thi said a few words, saw that her daughter was obedient, and placed this issue on the side. She quietly said to Ngo-thi: "A few days earlier, did Phuong Duong really take people out on a trip?"

Ngo-thi smiled so much her cheeks were glossy and red: "That's right." She stepped closer to Dao-thi and whispered in her ear: "Used grains and cloth made from silk in exchange for beeswax and deer musk, cistanche (also known as desert ginseng), and safflower. After bringing it all back to Thanh Chau, not even a day and everything was sold. The prices were very good. My older brother was very satisfied. I am just saying this to you; afraid if others knew, they might laugh."

The Dao family lived in Thanh Chau; it was quite far from Binh Chau. That area was close to the country Great Vinh and other tributary states of the empire. Great Vinh and the current dynasty had not gone to war for many years and there was frequent trade between the two. However, because of it being a border area, there were various bureaucratic restrictions and that could not satisfy everyone’s needs and wants. As a result, merchants took it upon themselves to do business. Not only were there commonly traded items not under official regulation, there were also black market items that were illegal. Many people made a fortune.

People always sought out more money. Binh Chau and Thanh Chau were good places at a good time. Of course, they will not let this opportunity to make money go. Whether it was a person from a scholarly family, an official, or a merchant. There are always people who have the guts to take risks. However, the nature of a person is given by the Heavens. Some people were more suitable for this job, others were suitable for that job. But the money came easy this way. It didn't matter who did it, money came flowing.

If an ordinary person wanted to do this business, they had to do more than have the courage. They had to find the way in, the way out. And behind them, they had to find a support. It wasn't that easy. Whether it was an official or a scholarly person, they did not need to make a personal appearance. They just needed to have money to invest. After, look for a reliable and capable person for the job. They could make money but still keep their face. But the patriarch of the family should know; otherwise, if others teased and provoked he wouldn't understand. Ruining the family would only be a matter of time. Dao Phuong Duong is the future patriarch of the Dao family. In order to do a good job, he had personally gone to understand the process. He is doing well and, naturally, this made Ngo-thi very happy.

Although people say that a scholarly person running back and forth doing a merchant's job is unacceptable, not keeping face, but Dao-thi was raised in a relatively carefree place like the Dao family. Her thoughts were not as traditional and stiff as the people of the Lam family. Seeing that her nephew had a bright future, she felt her spirits lifted. She whispered: "This is good. A person shouldn't be too rigid. It is better than people who could only read books and speak of empty morals." She was precisely picking on the men of the Lam family; the two women understood this and laughed. Laughing in front of Concubine Hoang, the concubine understood that they were laughing for her to see. She walked slower and tried to distance herself.

Lam Can Dung was quite close to the two. The two people treated her as an ignorant child that did not understand anything. Therefore, she listened very clearly. Each word entered her ears. Each word stayed in her heart. Her eyes suddenly brightened. Since she was reborn, she had spent the first few days in frustration, hatred, and sadness. After this pa.s.sed, she seriously thought hard about how she had fallen to such a miserable end.

The saying is true: there is a cause for the result. Why did people not bully others, but they had to bully her? Why was that she was the first person to be tossed aside even though she had treated the people of the Luc family wholeheartedly? Thinking more, after eliminating the other fundamental reasons. There was one. It is because she does not have the ability to do anything. Everything depended on others. Everything was requested from others. Therefore, regardless of how she treated them, in their eyes, she was not worth a copper. For example, if you had thousands of gold and silver in hand and someone gave you a copper coin? Wouldn't you give them a bewildered and condescending look? Would you cherish that coin? Of course not.

If one wants others to see you, you must have the ability and weight. Do not rely on others. Do not ask others. Not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk. You must master yourself. Force others to rely on you. Force others to ask you! If she wanted to accomplish this, the first is money. Previously, she had taken her own dowry out. This was her being careless and not knowing to protect herself. But this time, this will not be a problem. No matter what happens, she will not let others scam and cheat her, carelessly taking it out to spend.

The only solution is to have a lot of money. But where to find the money? The Lam family was in decline, though there is a dowry, it is restricted. A woman could not easily show her face. If she wanted to find a lot of money, it was easier said than done. This problem had caused her a headache for many days. At this moment, she heard Dao-thi and Ngo-thi's conversation, she suddenly felt awakened, as if she was lost and found a way out.

Although she did not know the exact steps to take, at least there was now a path. Her arms and legs were no longer tangled with no way out. She can walk slowly. She had a lot of knowledge that others did not. She knows what will happen in the future. There are many loved ones around her who love and would be hurt for her. She just needed to seize the opportunities and utilize it properly… Lam Can Dung is pleased with her thoughts; suddenly, someone screamed: "Auntie!"

Lam Can Dung looked around and saw Ngo Tuong, who was supposed to be with Luc Luan and others, wandered out from behind a group of maple trees. He smiled and saluted Ngo-thi, and then greeted Dao-thi and Lam Can Dung.

"Second Brother Ngo, why are you here?" Lam Can Dung smiled exceptionally bright, her mood was very good.

Ngo Tuong said: "I was playing chess with Older Disciple Brother Luc in the back pavilion." His words were not finished and a young man came out from the maple trees. He wore a light-green and blue robe. He had a quiet and calm aura.

A pair of still eyes like an undisturbed lake swept across the crowd. In a clear and smooth voice, he greeted: "This young nephew, Luc Giam, greets the two Aunts." The morning breeze carried his robes along, creating a vivid picture. He stood straight as a bamboo, glancing down at his robes. It was elegant but st.u.r.dy to the extreme.

A thread that had relaxed at first was suddenly pulled by someone. So sudden that the string could've torn. Lam Can Dung couldn't help but feel cold in her hands and legs. Her smile froze and she even forgot to breathe. She didn't know what Dao-thi, Ngo-thi, and Luc Giam were saying. Moreover, she couldn't even hear it.

Her brain was in chaos. All her thoughts: why was Luc Giam here? The first time they met was not like this! Wasn't he supposed to be talking to Old Madam Lam all comfortably and happily? Afterward, under the persuasion of Lam Ngoc Tran, he would show his grace, elegance, and knowledge in front of the women. Is it because she was reborn that there are things that have already changed? This change, how much will it change? Is it good or bad? Will other things also change?

The young man in front of her eyes stood under the blinding sun. The breeze blew. A smile that blended with the floating snow. Freezing cold. Gloomy evenings. The person in front, the people of the past. All together. It made a person unable to recognize what was real and which was the shadow. She wanted to cry, but couldn't. She wanted to smile, but her lips wouldn't lift. She wanted to ask him why, but the words wouldn't form. Logic ruthlessly pressured her.

She stood there thinking of the grief, misery, and indignation. Stiff to the extreme. In the eyes of others, she was staring at him. Staring until her soul left and she forgot herself.

Others say that Second Young Master Luc was first in appearance and talent. Putting such a sweet pot of honey there, would the bees and b.u.t.terflies be blind? Can't they smell the sweetness? Concubine Hoang smiled proudly. Dao-thi and Ngo-thi frowned. Ngo Tuong still laughed. And Luc Giam still held his expression without a change.