Manbao was startled, "Pearls? Do we have that kind of capital at home?"
Zhou SiLang laughed and said, "Of course we do. Last year, we made quite a bit of money from those cattle and medicinal herbs, and I've been saving it with Lijun."
Manbao frowned, "How did you come up with the idea of getting into the pearl trade?"
Such precious items are risky to get involved with.
Zhou SiLang said, "It was Bai Wu's suggestion. He wanted both families to work together, but I turned him down."
He smiled and said, "I know what they have in mind. They're just trying to use your connections to get in touch with other people in the palace, to make the business more solid."
Manbao looked at him doubtfully, "You don't want to bring them along?"
Zhou SiLang shook his head, "It's not that. I just feel their family isn't very upright. It's fine to drink and eat together, occasionally help each other with small favors, but deep financial involvement like this isn't necessary."
