Love Brain was impossible.
Xu Xie's mind was filled with thoughts of how to manage the family business and revive the clan. At first, he had placed a heavy bet on Wu Xian. Later, after meeting Shen Tang and receiving her favor in promoting him, he invested another stake in Shen Tang. At the time, the stake was small—just one Xu Quan.
As a qualified merchant, Xu Xie naturally had no shortage of cunning and slickness in his bones. This could be seen from the fact that he had not invested money in Shen Tang, but had instead sent her a younger cousin. This cousin was greatly favored, and Xu Xie's weight as the Xu Clan's representative in Shen Tang's faction was sufficient. If Shen Tang won, Xu Xie's investment would yield a tremendous profit. If she lost, he would only lose Xu Quan.
As Xu Quan's elder cousin, he would be devastated.
But as the Xu Clan's Patriarch, this was the choice that maximized their interests. Xu Xie had discussed the pros and cons with Xu Quan. As a son of the Xu Clan, Xu Quan had no resistance to it whatsoever. Everything he had learned had been given by the clan; dedicating himself to the clan was only natural.
[The Lord carries Heaven's mandate. Brother, you can rest assured.] When Xu Quan corresponded with his elder brother, all his words about his own lord were full of praise. Then he added regretfully, [If not for the clan holding you back, Brother, you wouldn't have needed to serve Duke Zhaode. If you were serving the Lord...]
One of the two cousins was advancing in the army, while the other helped the Lord manage his businesses and industries. How could they worry that the clan would not prosper?
Perhaps after