Chapter Nine: Which Law Forbids Women from Engaging in Business?

After finishing her words, Cheng Yingxue stared straight into the man’s eyes. Cheng Mingye fell into a long silence upon hearing her.

Everyone around was stunned by the little girl’s unusually bold statement; no one dared to speak for a while.

After a long pause, the middle-aged man seated at the head of the table slightly rolled up his sleeve, his eyes full of inquiry:

“What… do you mean?”

“I want to do business,” Cheng Yingxue said bluntly. “Uncle, I want to take over the business my father used to run.”

The moment she spoke, it was like water thrown into hot oil, instantly stirring up a roomful of bubbles.

Several members of the Cheng family could no longer sit still. Before Cheng Mingye at the head of the table could respond, they eagerly launched into a torrent of sharp rebukes at the little girl.

“Nonsense!”

“Yun Niang, what business can a girl like you possibly run? Since when have women been allowed to do business in this world?”

“Besides, you’re an unmarried woman. Shouldn’t you be staying home, sewing quietly instead of constantly thinking about showing yourself off?”

The clan members spoke all at once, trying to crush the girl’s spirit with words that struck like heavy blows: “Do you still care about your reputation? What about the Cheng family’s honor?”

“But Eighth Uncle, that’s not right,” Cheng Yingxue responded swiftly, turning her head without hesitation to retort, “Fourth Uncle’s remarks just now were baseless.”

“In the early days of our founding ancestor’s reign, the Ministry of Justice meticulously drafted laws, completed after seven years, promulgated throughout the land, consisting of thirty volumes and six hundred and six articles; twenty-two years later, the six ministries revised them again, and after thirty years, the new laws were completed, totaling thirty volumes and four hundred and sixty articles.”

“After the founding ancestor, Emperor Xiaozong, in the thirteenth year, added two hundred seventy-nine articles to the ‘Interrogation and Punishment Regulations’; in the twenty-ninth year of Emperor Shizong, another three hundred seventy-six articles were added.”

“And the current sovereign, just last year, added three hundred eighty-two more articles—altogether, these laws total one thousand four hundred ninety-seven articles.”

The girl, having recited the exact number of laws in one breath, eyes flashing sharply, challenged the assembled elders: “Esteemed uncles and elders, Yun Niang dares to ask—among these one thousand four hundred ninety-seven laws of our dynasty, is there any article that clearly forbids women from conducting business?”

“There is a rule that those who do not serve their in-laws may be dismissed; those who collude with traitors shall be punished with the cane. Yet Yun Niang has read all one thousand four hundred ninety-seven articles and has found not one that forbids women from doing business!”

“Moreover, life is uncertain, with old age and illness striking without warning. If the law truly prohibited women from business, wouldn’t all orphans and widows be doomed?”

Having finished, Cheng Yingxue turned her head back, looking straight ahead: “I advise the elders here not to distort our laws so recklessly!”

“Distort the law? I think you’re just…”

“Enough.” Seeing a few clan members about to speak, Cheng Mingye furrowed his brows and cut off the endless quarrel with a cold voice.

He pursed his lips, glancing at the girl who had knelt there for half a day but seemed more spirited by the moment, and suddenly recalled his late younger brother.

—Back when Cheng Mingheng was alive, it seemed he had indeed said Yun Niang had a knack for business.

And today, her quick tongue and unyielding stance… truly resembled her father.

So Cheng Mingye’s stern expression softened uncontrollably, his voice carrying a hint of unexpected calm: “Without proof, Yun Niang, how can I believe you?”

“Uncle, you can test me however you wish—Yun Niang will comply.” Having gradually seized the initiative, the girl relaxed slightly, knowing she was just one step from victory.

“Even if Yun Niang truly wished to marry, the entire process of three mediators and six betrothals would take no less than three months, certainly not less than half a year—that’s still a long time.”

“And under the Cheng family’s name, there are countless fields and shops. Even with annual losses, I can turn up at least a couple of viable options.”

Cheng Yingxue lifted her chin slightly. “Uncle, what do you think of Yun Niang’s proposal?”

*

When Cheng Yingxue returned from the main hall, she looked like a general fresh from a great victory.

At that moment, Madame Cheng Wang had just settled her emotions, a faint flush still lingering around her eyes. She turned and saw the girl bounding back, quickly standing to greet her: “How did it go, Yun Niang?”

“Did your uncle… not give you a hard time?”

“Don’t worry, Mother. With Uncle’s abilities, it’s not exactly a hardship.” Cheng Yingxue smiled faintly, then turned to meet the young maiden’s questioning gaze and beamed a bright, proud smile. “Sister Su, I succeeded!”

“Indeed.” Su Changling nodded approvingly. Madame Cheng Wang, however, looked utterly confused: “Yun Niang, what riddle are you and Xianzi playing? What do you mean by ‘you succeeded’?”

“It means, Mother, that I persuaded Uncle and secured an opportunity from him,” Cheng Yingxue’s eyes burned brightly. “An opportunity to prove that even if I don’t marry, I can still bring benefit to the Cheng family.”

“Uncle granted me one of the powder shops that has been losing money for years and is about to be shut down.”

The little girl briefly explained her agreement with Cheng Mingye: “He gave me five days to find out why this shop consistently loses money, to eliminate its problems, and to present a suitable and feasible plan for renovation.”

“As long as I complete this task within the time limit, I won’t have to worry about being forced into marriage anymore.” Her eyes glistened. “Uncle promised that if I succeed, he will support me in doing business from now on!”

“Sister Su, you were right—I should have fought for this a long time ago!”

“Do… do business?” Madame Cheng Wang was dumbfounded, never having imagined her daughter harboring such ambitions. “Yun Niang, you want to go into business?”

“Yes,” the girl nodded matter-of-factly. “What’s wrong with that, Mother?”

“In this world, who would…” Madame Cheng Wang sighed, cutting herself off. She didn’t want her daughter to marry into the Shen family and waste her youth in chastity anyway—besides, it’s just a powder shop. This time, she would let her be.

“But five days—isn’t that too tight a deadline?” Madame Cheng Wang fretted. Cheng Yingxue thought for a moment, puffed out her cheeks: “It’s a bit stressful, but it should be enough.”

“After all, the shop isn’t large, and I only need to find the cause of their losses and propose a practical solution.”

“All right, Mother, I won’t bore you with this anymore. Sister Su, you rarely come down the mountain. Today, I’ll take you to explore around here.”

Cheng Yingxue said, then immediately took Su Changling’s arm and happily trotted out of the courtyard.

The little girl, freshly victorious, was clearly exhilarated, pulling Su Changling from one street corner to the next, crossing stone bridges, and circling a small lake dotted with withered lotus leaves.

Only at dusk did she reluctantly lead her companion back to the Cheng family compound. Su Changling gazed at the once-familiar white walls and green tiles, now seeming transformed in her eyes—

Slowly, she placed her hand on the long sword concealed in her sleeve.