Chapter 101 Defense is not as good as offense

The faint evening light shone through the open tents.

The hustle and bustle of the autumn hunt came to an end, and Song Yiqiu and her maid settled in a temporary room.

Bai Mei was efficiently packing her things for the day, while Qing Zhu was checking the medicine box to make sure that no emergency medicines had been forgotten.

A polite inquiry came from outside the tent:

"Sister Yiqiu~"

"Come in."

Song Yiqiu responded.

Ruan Tianxin lifted the tent flap, poked her head in, a bright smile on her face, and carried an exquisite food box in her hand:

"Sister Yiqiu~ I hope I didn't disturb you? Thank you so much for helping me mount my horse during the day, and... I really enjoyed watching that show!"

She came in, placed the food box on the table, and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"But Sister Yiqiu, I am truly impressed. How did you seem to know in advance that they would try to trip you up on the field? Your reaction was so fast, you predicted everything – the bowstring, the turf, you got it all right."

Song Yiqiu took the damp handkerchief handed to her by Qingzhu, wiped her hands, and smiled as she looked at Ruan Tianxin, who was filled with admiration:

"Half is on-the-spot reaction, the other half..."

She recalled Song Sanchun's subtle hint earlier and seemed to be deep in thought.

"It's just that someone gave me a heads-up beforehand, so I was a little more cautious."

Bai Mei, who was fiddling with the food box, didn't even look up. She snorted and summed it up quickly:

"If you ask me, the main problem is that our opponents are too stupid. Their methods are so crude it's unbearable to watch. Do they think we're fools?"

Ruan Tianxin burst into laughter at Bai Mei's words, nodding repeatedly and giving a thumbs up:

"Sister Bai Mei is right, they are overestimating themselves."

She opened the food box, revealing beautifully shaped lotus-shaped pastries inside.

"These are freshly baked at Zhentian Pavilion. They're sweet but not cloying. Have a taste."

Bai Mei immediately came over and said with a grin:

"Miss Ruan, you are too kind. If it weren't for our young lady's quick thinking today, she would have been terribly tricked by those black-hearted people."

She opened the food box while grumbling.

Qingzhu smiled and thanked her, handing Ruan Tianxin a cup of warm tea.

Ruan Tianxin took the tea, but the smile on her face faded slightly as she looked at Song Yiqiu with envy:

"Speaking of which, I really admire Sister Yiqiu. It seems like anything can be solved with ease in your hands. Unlike me..."

She sighed, her eyebrows drooping, her usual liveliness gone, and she looked rather listless.

“The shops and estates that my mother left me have recently been used by my dear mother as an excuse to take a 10% cut of the profits. She said it was for family common use and to cover expenses, but in reality, she was just trying to put the money into her own pocket.”

Song Yiqiu picked up her teacup, her brows furrowing unconsciously.

"I remember you mentioned that after your mother passed away, she was elevated to the status of a secondary wife, and Ruan Jiawen became the legitimate daughter, while you became a nominal illegitimate daughter. You didn't care about this title, but you felt that the family business was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, right?"

"yes."

As if she had found someone to confide in, Ruan Tianxin spoke with a mixture of grievance and helplessness.

“What I care about is my mother’s hard work. That’s what she left me to rely on. But now I live in the Ruan family’s house, and my food, clothing and daily necessities are all in their hands. If they want to find fault, they can always find a reason.”

"Today it's a 10% profit, tomorrow it could be the management rights of a shop. I'm like a child standing on the street holding a gold ingot, everyone passing by wants to touch it. And..."

Her voice was even lower, and there was a slight sob in it.

“I will eventually get married. When that time comes, should I take these properties with me or leave them behind? If I take them, the Ruan family will definitely object. If I leave them behind, wouldn't that be giving them away for nothing? I really... don't know what to do. I feel like I can't hold onto them no matter what I do.”

Bai Mei was filled with righteous indignation upon hearing this:

"This is outrageous! Miss Ruan, can't you be a little more assertive and argue with them?"

Ruan Tianxin gave a wry smile:

"Make a scene? Sister Bai Mei, what problem will making a scene solve? It will only make them think I'm stupid and easier to manipulate. My mother is the best at playing the weak and reasoning. If I really make a scene, I'll be the one who suffers."

It's not that she doesn't understand palace intrigue; it's just that she faces too many enemies, making it impossible to defend against them all.

Qingzhu seemed lost in thought:

"Indeed, maintaining a business is difficult, especially in a home surrounded by predators. Miss Ruan, have you considered... a different approach?"

Song Yiqiu put down her teacup, having listened to about seven or eight parts of the story, and had her own thoughts. She asked directly:

"Sweetheart, have you ever thought about why you feel you can't hold on to it?"

Ruan Tianxin was taken aback:

"Because...because they're always causing trouble, and I'm outnumbered and outmatched..."

"No,"

Song Yiqiu interrupted her.

"It's because you're only thinking about guarding. Guarding those inanimate objects, guarding the title and framework that the Ruan family gave you. Guarding can't last forever. Especially within rules set by others, you'll always be in a passive position."

Ruan Tianxin's eyes widened slightly. No one had ever told her these things before; they all told her to sacrifice herself for the sake of her family.

Song Yiqiu looked at her wide-eyed expression, ruffled her hair, and continued gently:

"Are you worried about losing your property after you get married? Then make it not belong to you before you get married, or rather, not completely belong to that easily manipulated second young lady of the Ruan family."

"Not mine?"

Ruan Tianxin was even more confused.

"Who does it belong to?"

"You belong to the future."

Song Yiqiu spoke with certainty.

“It belongs to you who is no longer constrained by the Ruan family. What you need to do now is not to hold on to it, but to liquidate these industries.”

"Wash it out?" Ruan Tianxin repeated the word, her heart inexplicably racing.

"That's right."

Song Yiqiu explained,

"Quickly sort out the assets you own. For those that are easy to liquidate, such as gold and silver jewelry and antiques, find reliable channels to sell them as soon as possible and get cash back."

“For items that are not easily liquidated, such as shops and estates in good locations but poorly managed, you can find a trustworthy money lender or pawnshop to mortgage them and obtain a large amount of working capital.”

Bai Mei was stunned:

"Miss, this... this has emptied our family's savings, hasn't it?"

Qingzhu seemed to be deep in thought:

"Does Miss mean... a cicada shedding its shell?"

Song Yiqiu gave Qingzhu an approving look and said to Ruan Tianxin:

"Exactly. Transform all active assets into liquid, easily concealable cash. Then, reinvest this money in real estate or deposit it into secret accounts in the name of an absolutely reliable person."

"Let this money completely slip out of the Ruan family's control. In name, those shops and estates may still exist, or even be poorly managed, but in reality, the core wealth has been transferred to a place where you can truly control it."

"Whether you get married in the future or fall out with the Ruan family, this money will be your real source of confidence."