Seven days later, the group finally abandoned their vehicle and switched to a boat, entering the Yangtze River basin.
The mighty Yangtze River flows eastward, its turbulent surface carrying cargo ships swiftly along, their sails billowing high in the river breeze.
The wind is strong and the water is swift, the boat moves fast, some are happy and some are sad.
Xu Zhuohua stood leaning against the mast, next to Chen Jianghai, the person in charge of the Yangtze River basin and Chen Sihai's cousin.
Chen Jianghai and Chen Sihai look very alike, but Chen Jianghai is older and more mature.
The Yangtze River basin has always been chaotic, and its proximity to Xinhai City makes it prone to trouble. The fact that Chen Jianghai was able to rise to a position of leadership shows that he has real skills.
Since boarding the ship, Chen Jianghai had been following Xu Zhuohua, giving him a general overview of the Yangtze River basin.
“Miss, we’ll be there soon after Suzhou. It’s just that the young marshal is in a hurry to get back. Otherwise, we could rest in Suzhou. You’ve never been to Suzhou before, have you? It’s so beautiful there. As soon as we dock in Suzhou, I’m sure I’ll go into the city for a stroll.”
Chen Jianghai's face showed longing, but Xu Zhuohua didn't listen very carefully. She wrapped her leather coat tighter around herself and looked at the two figures leaning against the railing at the stern of the boat.
Ever since Cheng Muyun learned of his wife's impending death, he spent most of his daytime hours by Luo Yunqiao's side, drinking tea and chatting, making Luo Yunqiao tremble with delight.
Xu Zhuohua was extremely annoyed. "Manager Chen, why are you telling me all this?"
Chen Jianghai said solemnly, "You are the eldest young lady, and you also have the Xu family's steward's jade pendant, so you are our boss."
Xu Zhuohua gently fiddled with the jade pendant hanging from her waist. Before Xu Jixin left, he specifically instructed Xu Zhuohua to hang the jade pendant in a conspicuous place, saying that it would be of great use.
So that's what it meant.
However, Xu Zhuohua did not want to get involved in the Eastbound South Route. Before long, the value of the Eastbound South Route would be even greater, and more people would want to compete for it. It was better for him to stay away from danger.
Xu Zhuohua smiled and said, "The jade pendant was given to me by my master for protection. It's for my convenience. Now that I'm married, the Xu family can't allow a woman to get involved in the Dongxing South Line."
After a pause, Xu Zhuohua looked at the figure at the stern of the ship, her heart aching, and said, "Manager Chen, you should save your enthusiasm for those who have influence."
Chen Jianghai has lived for forty years; how could he not know what Xu Zhuohua is feeling right now?
He coughed lightly and said slowly, "Is Miss referring to the young master?"
Xu Zhuohua felt a sharp pain in her heart and could hardly breathe. Although she didn't want to admit it, in this day and age, isn't it true that men's words carry more weight than women's?
She sighed, "Yes, Director Chen should convey the situation in the Yangtze River basin to Cheng Muyun."
Chen Jianghai turned around, rested his fingers on the railing, looked down at the rushing river below, and tapped his fingers lightly.
"Does Miss not know what the Xu family jade pendant represents?"
Xu Zhuohua finally looked away from the figure at the stern of the ship, her beautiful eyes fixed on Chen Jianghai. "Does that mean I'm a member of the Xu family?"
Chen Jianghai smiled, amused by Xu Zhuohua's naiveté; she truly didn't know what the jade pendant represented.
“Since the establishment of the Eastbound South Line, the owner has set several rules, the most important of which is ‘this line can change hands, and the jade pendant will be seen even if the person who came is not seen.’ This means that whoever holds the jade pendant has 100% say in the Eastbound South Line, and can even give the cargo ship away for free.”
Xu Zhuohua was stunned for a moment, her heart skipped a beat, and although she tried to remain calm, her voice betrayed her.
She asked, trembling, "This jade pendant?"
Chen Jianghai nodded. "The Kapok Jade Pendant, apart from the boss and the eldest young master, I have never seen anyone else wear it, not even the second young master."
Xu Zhuohua felt something explode in her mind. She recalled the resolute expression on Xu Shinong's face when he handed her the jade pendant.
Xu Shinong gave it to her willingly. Although he didn't explain the meaning of the jade pendant, as a seasoned businessman who had been in the business world for many years, he couldn't possibly not have imagined that someone would reveal its meaning.
But as an adopted daughter with no blood relation and having been away from home for many years, Xu Zhuohua could count the number of times she met and spoke with Xu Shinong on one hand.
Xu Zhuohua couldn't understand why Xu Shi Nong would entrust such an important jade pendant to her. Perhaps it was an urgent matter, and Xu Shi Nong was afraid that something might happen to Xu Ji Xin.
"This jade pendant came with me to Xinhai City and then returned to the Xu family. It's alright if you give it to me now." Xu Zhuohua reluctantly played with the jade pendant, knowing its significance, and was even more reluctant to part with it.
It's a real pity that I haven't yet enjoyed the rights that this jade pendant brings.
Chen Jianghai chuckled softly, and Xu Zhuohua looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Young Miss, the rumors have been circulating all along the way. You are the young master appointed by the master. If the master didn't want to hear such things, how could he let them spread like wildfire?"
Xu Zhuohua paused. She had received a lot of help along the way. Although many people listened to Cheng Muyun on the surface, they still asked her questions, but she just didn't bother to pay attention.
Thinking about it carefully, the Xu family gave Cheng Muyun a lot of shares and power in order to protect the Dongxing South Line. They probably weren't happy about it.
Although many things were sent using Xu Zhuohua's dowry, neither family mentioned it again for the sake of face. Cheng Muyun represented Xu Zhuohua on the Dongxing South Line.
After all, at this point, even a biological daughter can't compare to the weight of her son-in-law; only a man's words carry weight.
Xu Zhuohua appeared this time wearing the Xu family's jade pendant, a privilege not even extended to Xu Jixin, who had taken over the Dongxing South Line. What was he trying to declare?
Is Xu Shih-nong intentionally suppressing Cheng Mu-yun? Or is he really going to hand over the southern route of the eastward journey to him? What made him do this?
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