Among the various sisters of the Ren family, Ren Yaoting was considered to have a rather arrogant temperament. If she weren’t eager to know what was happening with Ren Yaohua and Han Yunqian’s marriage arrangement, she wouldn’t have rushed over to seek out Ren Yaohua for a conversation like this.

“Fifth Sister, look how excessive Third Sister is! I hadn’t even said anything, and she made me suffer such treatment!” Ren Yaoting ultimately held back and didn’t storm off in anger. Instead, she complained to Ren Yaoqi.

“No wonder you used to dislike her so much, and Eighth Sister doesn’t like her either.”

Ren Yaoqi smiled and waited for Ren Yaoting to continue after her preamble.

“I was only asking out of concern for her. Yesterday, I heard that something happened to the Han family, and the marriage arrangement between our Ren family and the Han family might not work out.” Ren Yaoting looked at Ren Yaoqi as she spoke, asking probingly, “Have you heard anything, Fifth Sister?”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi frowned slightly: “Who did you hear this from?”

“What? Isn’t it true?”

Ren Yaoqi hesitated for a moment, then said quietly: “I only heard that Grandfather wants to wait until the Han family’s affairs settle down before discussing it again. He didn’t say we wouldn’t form a marriage alliance with the Han family. Both the Han and Ren families are prominent households. Marriage arrangements involve many aspects and are no trivial matter. How could they just call it off so easily?”

“Didn’t my second brother break off his engagement with Miss Liu? Besides, Third Sister and Young Master Han haven’t even formally discussed marriage yet.” Ren Yaoting argued.

Ren Yaoqi smiled and shook her head: “What kind of comparison is that? Why did the Ren family break off the engagement with the Liu family?”

The Ren family broke off the engagement with the Liu family because the Liu family no longer had any value to exploit, and this marriage arrangement offered no benefits to the Ren family. Although Ren Yaoting wasn’t as perceptive as Ren Yaoqi, she had overheard Concubine Yuan crying to her mother before, so she understood this in her heart.

The marriage alliance between the Ren and Han families was reportedly because the two families planned to jointly operate a salt field. So if the Ren and Han families still intended to cooperate, then reconsidering Ren Yaohua and Han Yunqian’s marriage was quite possible. Thinking this way, Ren Yaoting’s expression became somewhat dejected.

“I heard last time when Grandmother was chatting with First Aunt and the others that your maternal Su family is looking to buy a salt field in Xining?” Ren Yaoqi asked casually.

Ren Yaoting had indeed heard her mother and the nannies around her mention this matter, so she nodded: “I heard the original salt field owner, the Sun family, committed some offense and wants to sell the salt field. However, the Yun family also wants to buy the Sun family’s salt field. My eldest uncle has already negotiated with them several times without results.”

Ren Yaoqi said thoughtfully: “I think I heard that the salt well the Han family holds is also near Xining? If our Ren family goes back on our word and doesn’t want to cooperate with the Han family this time, we might offend them. I know you have a good relationship with Miss Han, Seventh Sister. I wonder if this will affect your interactions.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoting’s heart stirred.

She had just been thinking that it would be good if the Han and Ren families couldn’t cooperate, as then Ren Yaohua and Han Yunqian’s marriage wouldn’t work out either. But she had forgotten that she was also a member of the Ren family. If the Ren and Han families fell out, not only would Ren Yaohua’s marriage arrangement fall through, but she would also have no chance of marrying into the Han family.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, then suddenly tilted her head with a smile as if joking: “Actually, who knows how long the Han family’s troubles will drag on this time. Without the Ren family’s partnership, whether they can successfully operate their salt field is still questionable. They might as well sell it to someone else, for example… to the Su family? If the Han family doesn’t want to sell, they could also partner with the Su family.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoting was slightly stunned. She pondered for a long time, and the more she thought about it, the better this idea seemed.

If the Han family partnered with the Ren family, she definitely wouldn’t benefit. But if she could find a way to bridge the Han and Su families, not only would she help the Han family through this crisis and make the Han family look at her with new eyes.

And although the current Old Madam Su wasn’t her biological maternal grandmother, her maternal grandfather, eldest uncle, and eldest aunt doted on her.

It could be said that a partnership between the Han and Su families would be more advantageous for her than one between the Han and Ren families.

Thinking of this, Ren Yaoting felt that the dark clouds that had been hanging over her recently had all dissipated.

“Fifth Sister makes sense! We have a relationship with the Han family where we see each other often. How awkward would it be if things turned sour? I’ll go discuss this with Mother right away.” Ren Yaoting couldn’t sit still and stood up.

Ren Yaoqi seemed startled and hurriedly said, “Seventh Sister, I was just joking. This is a major matter for the elders; we shouldn’t interfere. Don’t take it seriously. If Second Aunt and the others find out I was talking nonsense here, they’ll surely blame me.”

Ren Yaoting smiled: “I just won’t tell anyone it was you who said it.” She wanted to curry favor with the Han family anyway, so it was perfect that Ren Yaoqi didn’t want to take responsibility.

Ren Yaoqi breathed a sigh of relief and asked with some curiosity: “Are you really planning to discuss this with Second Aunt, Seventh Sister? How would you persuade Second Aunt about such a major matter? Sometimes when I want to discuss something with Mother, she always thinks I’m too young and don’t understand, and won’t believe me.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoting sat back down while thinking.

“I’ll say that the Han and Ren families can’t let things turn sour over this small matter, but Great-Uncle and the others are cautious by nature, so if the Su family steps in, everyone would be happy?” Ren Yaoting said thoughtfully.

Ren Yaoqi shook her head and guided her in a soft voice: “You’re asking the Su family to step in, but you’re saying it’s for the benefit of the Han and Ren families? The partnership between the Han and Ren families is mutually beneficial. For the Han family, the Su family has more connections than the Ren family and has the backing of Prince Yanbei’s residence, so operating the salt field would be smoother. And for the Su family… isn’t the Su family competing with the Yun family for the Sun family salt field in Xining? The Han family’s salt well is also near Xining. If they can get this salt well operating, the Su family will have much more convenience and confidence in buying the Sun family’s salt field. Perhaps after consideration, Prince Yanbei’s residence might lean more toward the Su family’s side.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoting’s eyes lit up: “That’s a great argument! If Mother doesn’t agree, I’ll go talk to my eldest uncle. Fifth Sister, you’re so clever!”

Ren Yaoqi smiled and blinked: “How am I clever? I wouldn’t dare meddle in such major affairs. You thought of this yourself, Seventh Sister. Don’t blame me later and make me suffer Grandfather and Grandmother’s scolding.”

Ren Yaoting understood and also blinked: “Fifth Sister is right. I thought of this myself; it has nothing to do with you.” Saying this, she felt her relationship with Ren Yaoqi had grown closer.

However, with this matter on her mind and fearing the Ren family might immediately change their minds again, she stood up again with a smile: “Fifth Sister, I need to go back first. Thank you so much for today.”

Ren Yaoqi rose to see her off: “What are you saying, Seventh Sister? Third Sister has a straightforward temperament. Please don’t hold her words against her.”

At this point, Ren Yaoting no longer cared about Ren Yaohua’s cold words. She magnanimously said it was nothing and hurried away.

Ren Yaoqi watched her hurried figure disappear into the courtyard and smiled slightly.

No matter how much the Su family doted on Ren Yaoting, they wouldn’t disregard family interests for her sake. So, to draw the Su family into the game, only benefits could win them over.

Currently, the Su family was competing with the Yun family for the fat prize of the Xining salt field. The Han family’s salt well was quite enviable, and not only the Ren family would be tempted.

And given the Su family’s usual style, they wouldn’t be as cautious as the Ren family. Because with the Su family’s strength, they weren’t afraid of the Han family playing tricks behind their backs.

She just hoped that Ren Yaoting, who was going to deliver the message, would be competent enough not to mess things up.

Ren Yaoqi had just returned to her room and sat down when Ren Yaohua came back.

“What did you say to her? She looked so happy when she left.” Ren Yaohua sat directly across from Ren Yaoqi, looking at her with a frown.

Ren Yaoqi looked innocent: “She was just telling me about the Han and Ren family matters. Halfway through, she suddenly thought of something and hurried away.”

Ren Yaohua’s frown deepened, and she looked at Ren Yaoqi suspiciously: “You don’t know what it was about?”

Ren Yaoqi sighed softly: “Third Sister, why do you care so much about her? As long as she doesn’t think about opposing you or scheming against you behind your back, that’s enough.”

Ren Yaohua pressed her lips together: “Are you certain she’s not scheming against me?”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “She doesn’t have time to scheme against you now, and you shouldn’t provoke her in the future either. We’re not the same type of people. Let her make her troubles and we’ll live our lives – they don’t interfere with each other.”

Although Ren Yaoqi spoke in a gentle tone, her words were extremely cold.

Ren Yaohua was silent for a moment and ultimately didn’t ask any more questions.

After Ren Yaoting returned to the East Residence, she went straight to her mother’s main house.

Second, Madam Su of the East Residence was listening to a nanny beside her report on the affairs of the rear courtyard.

“Last month, Master stayed in Concubine Lan’s room for fifteen days, in Concubine Xia’s room for eight days, in Concubine Yuan’s room for five days, and spent two days in the main house. Madam, should we do something about Concubine Lan’s situation…”

Su Shi was sitting behind a desk, looking at account books, listening somewhat absentmindedly. Finally, without even looking up, she said flatly: “No need. The children in this residence have all grown up, and Old Madam complained a few days ago that the residence is too quiet and not as lively as the West Residence. It’s time to add one or two grandchildren for her.”

Seeing Su Shi agree so readily, the nanny felt uncomfortable: “Madam, you’re still young. This servant has asked the midwife – you can still bear children yourself. Why benefit those vixens?”

Hearing this, Su Shi looked up from her account book, revealing a very ordinary face. Her eyes weren’t large, her nose wasn’t prominent, and her lips were somewhat thick, though her fair skin added some beauty to her appearance.

“Stop Concubine Xia’s medicine as well.” Su Shi ignored the nanny’s words and instead instructed her: “After all, she’s served Master for so many years. Even if she has no merit, she has worked hard. Whoever gets pregnant first will depend on their luck.”

Su Shi’s voice was extremely flat, and her expression was peaceful and calm. Her outstanding bearing was very inconsistent with her ordinary appearance.