Tea Leaves and Diamond Bracelets

Work Day, Research, and Past Lives

Match Five: Work Day, Research, and Past Lives:

-Ju-

Despite being pregnant, I still have work to do. There is so much to do. The clan has to stay afloat. Szu and her parents need to be reassured that they will be fine. My uncle and Junjie are still on the loose. I took the time to warn Zhong about that.

"My men are on security for that little bastard," he told me over the phone. "We will be able to handle him."

"He's not alone this time," I said. "He's working with Jianjun. I don't know what they are plotting, but please be careful."

"Thank you for the warning," he said. "We can handle them from our end." That didn't sound so reassuring to me.

"Please be careful," I said. I worried about that man ever since he learned that Junjie wasn't his son. Zhong kicked his wife out of the house and filed for divorce. Word on the street was that she's not happy about that. I wouldn't put it past her to be on the scene for revenge. My uncle probably kissed up to her to get her on his side.

"He might have your ex on his side," I added.

"I will keep that in mind," Zhong said. "Goodbye." That would be the last time we would speak over the phone. I stared at the receiver.

"You shouldn't worry too much about it," Hen-to said. "Zhong is just as stubborn as the old man was."

"That's what I'm afraid of," I said.

"Don't be," he said. "You have other things to worry about."

"Right," I said. "Of course. What's on tap today?" Fei handed me the paperwork.

"We have three potential new trade partners," he said. I looked at all of the papers. All of them old school.

"Fei?" I asked.

"Hm?" he asked.

"We never seem to attract new blood to us," I said. "It's all the old generation of traders. We never support any independent or new businesses. Why is that?"

"I don't know," Fei said. "We've never tried it." I looked at the papers in my hand.

"Hm," I said.

"What's on your mind?" Yao asked. I lowered the papers and looked at my boys.

"Gentlemen," I said. "I would like to take a gamble today. We are going to being taking some new businesses under our wing." Hen-to, Fei, and Yao all stared at me.

"What?!" they asked. I put up my hand.

"Hear me out," I said. "There are so many businesses of the world working to make it. They barely get the chance because of the old generation taking up every opportunity. I don't want this clan to be just like the old guard. If we are not careful, this clan could end up falling behind with no way to support itself. We have to grow and evolve to stay alive. If we have to open our arms out to new blood, I'll take that chance."

"I don't think we can do that legally," Yao said.

"We can be silent partners to them," I said. "I just want to encourage growth to the little guy."

"What about the trade partners right now?" Fei asked.

"We will check them out and pick the best ones for us," I said. "We're going to need all of the money and support we can get to give back to the little guys." I spread the papers out on the desk.

"What's in this year?" I asked. How are we going to keep up with the season?" This should do it. The paperwork and meetings shouldn't be too much. I knew as the months wore on, the mothers would come up with ways to make me stay home and let the men do all of the work. It just doesn't feel right to do that. I am the leader of this clan and I have to provide for them. Just because I am a woman and pregnant do not mean that work slows down.