[Gold Powder GL] True Elegance Comes with Knowledge - Chapter 27

Qingqiu leaned back in the passenger seat and turned her head to look at Yan Hui, her heart beating rapidly.

She couldn’t quite put her finger on the feeling. Just when she thought Yan Hui had already done enough to astonish her, she would say or do something else—something unexpected—that made it impossible for Qingqiu to look away.

And yet, Yan Hui herself seemed completely unaware of this, as if these things were trivial and unremarkable.

Perhaps to her, they truly were.

Qingqiu used to think Yan Hui was like a window or a door—opening her eyes to a broader world. But lately, she increasingly felt that Yan Hui was more like a mirror, reflecting her, allowing her to see herself more clearly.

What kind of person she wanted to be. What kind of life she wanted to lead.

And so, she smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

Because she had decided to write something, Qingqiu observed everything with greater focus and care.

Everything she had seen and heard lately left a strong impression on her. From Yan Hui recruiting workers in the slums, to the various preparations required to open a garment factory—many of these were things Qingqiu had never encountered, or even imagined.

She finally understood why Yan Hui had no plans to take on this responsibility herself. Because certain things, when handled by them versus by Peifang, came with very different levels of difficulty.

In the past, Qingqiu’s understanding of the political world came solely from her imagination and newspaper rumors. Now, she finally had the chance to glimpse the inner workings. Naturally, she threw herself into studying the details with great enthusiasm. Peifang was fond of her and generously offered guidance.

Whenever Qingqiu had spare time, she acted as Peifang’s assistant, accompanying her in handling trivial matters.

But that spare time was rare—her schedule was already packed.

As her life became increasingly busy, Qingqiu found herself letting go of many complicated thoughts. She would only reflect briefly while lying in bed before sleep or just after waking up, before diving with even more energy into her work.

She now fully understood what Yan Hui meant when she said: Love is only one part of life—perhaps even a very small part.

When a person finds something truly worth striving for, romantic relationships and marriage don’t necessarily lose their appeal—but they do recede. What once occupied the entire heart of a young girl became… a kind of pastime or indulgence, reserved for moments of leisure.

Human energy is finite—investing more in one area naturally means giving less to another.

For most people, this might be a troubling realization, but for Qingqiu, it was just right.

She admired someone like Yan Hui, yet never thought of pursuing a relationship, nor did she plan to confess her feelings. As long as they could continue to walk side by side, discovering a broader, farther-reaching world together, that was enough to satisfy her.

Amid such busyness, the year finally drew to a close.

The garment factory had fully stabilized. Peifang oversaw day-to-day management, while Yan Hui and the Leng family had both contributed financially. Although it was originally Yan Hui’s idea—and Madam Leng was still responsible for designing the clothing—neither of them felt comfortable sitting back and collecting profits without contributing.

So, when the new year approached, Madam Leng hosted a banquet at home to show her appreciation and invite Peifang over for a festive evening.

Peifang was already a frequent guest—not only did she often have official matters to discuss with Madam Leng, she also lived alone. Despite having many servants, she lacked the warmth and companionship the Leng household offered. Besides, her own home was nowhere near as lively or relaxing.

Still, a dinner party was different from regular visits. Though Peifang found the formality a bit much, she appreciated the sentiment and arrived by car that afternoon.

Her pregnancy was now visibly showing, but rather than appearing fatigued from her many obligations, she seemed more radiant than ever. Upon entering the house, she greeted everyone with a bright smile, as if it were her own home.

Because of the cold weather, they had hotpot—steaming and satisfying. It was a private gathering, without any strict formality, and since there was a pregnant woman present, there was no drinking or rowdy entertainment. They finished the meal quietly and then sat down for tea and casual conversation.

Naturally, a day like this wasn’t meant for discussing business—that would dampen the mood. So, the conversation wandered aimlessly until, somehow, it drifted to the Jin family.

Although Peifang was divorced, she hadn’t completely cut ties with the Jins.

Of course, she only interacted with the women of the family now—mainly Madam Jin and Huichang, occasionally the three young ladies—and always in public. She hadn’t seen any of the Jin men in a long time. Still, information flowed freely, so she remained updated.

As for Jin Fengju’s mistress—unsurprisingly, she had not been brought home.

In the original timeline, Fengju had asked his father’s concubine, Aunt Cui, to speak on his behalf. Jin Quan, being morally compromised himself, had turned a blind eye to the household matters of the younger generation.

But this time, before the affair fully spread, it had already escalated to divorce—shaming the Jin family. Premier Jin was furious and placed strict financial controls on Fengju. It was said that his relationship with the mistress had turned sour, and now he had even moved back home.

Peifang found this amusing. Back when she was still around, Fengju had been so tired of home life that he refused to return, even creating a small household outside. Now, with no one left at home, he suddenly wanted to return and avoid the mistress.

At first, Peifang felt some petty satisfaction—knowing he’s miserable makes me feel better—but now, she didn’t care at all. The farther away she was, the clearer the joke became, and the more relieved she felt for getting out when she did.

But that wasn’t the biggest scandal. The more explosive news was that the second Jin son and his wife were also headed for divorce.

Second Sister-in-law Cheng Huichang was meticulous and bold. After Peifang warned her last time, she kept a close watch on her husband, Jin Hesun, and indeed discovered suspicious behavior—along with a stash of hidden photographs.

Not just one or two, and far more explicit than she imagined—intimate, private images clearly never meant for others to see. Judging by the handwriting on them, some had even been taken by Jin Hesun himself!

Although Huichang was a modern woman who believed in gender equality and progress, seeing those photos made her dizzy, breathless.

Among the three Jin brothers, the second son had always seemed the most obedient. Everyone knew he was afraid of his wife and usually deferred to Huichang’s strong will. Though they had occasional quarrels, their marriage appeared harmonious. Who would’ve guessed this?

Huichang, also pregnant, had sensed something was off—but unlike Peifang, who had been mentally prepared, she had no warning. The shock nearly caused complications in her pregnancy.

Instead of rushing to the hospital, she flung the entire pile of photos at Jin Hesun and demanded a divorce.

That set off a storm in the Jin household. Not only was it scandalous to have another divorce so close to the New Year, but with one son already divorced, now a second—what would people say?

Unlike Peifang, Huichang didn’t make a public announcement, so there was still room for negotiation. Though she caused a scene, the family urged reconciliation.

This, too, was a matter of personality. Peifang had seen the big picture—she cut clean and fast. Huichang, on the other hand, wasn’t suited to bottling up her anger and waiting for the right moment.

At the same time, she wasn’t easily swayed by others either. If Peifang hadn’t gone public and the Jin and Wu families had tried to persuade her, she wasn’t sure she could have stood firm. But Huichang had made up her mind. For the sake of the family’s face, she decided to wait until after the New Year to make it official.

That way, it wouldn’t look like the Jin family had suffered two broken marriages in one year.

In any case, although things would undoubtedly drag out, they now had the time to handle it carefully. Huichang was house-hunting and planned to move out right after the holiday, then begin divorce proceedings. She was in no rush.

But this experience gave Huichang a sense of urgency. Seeing how successful Peifang’s garment factory had become, she was inspired to invest in a business herself.

Previously, she had focused on philanthropy and co-founded a girls’ school. Funding came easily through the Jin family’s connections. But now, while she could still fundraise, she couldn’t ignore the need to generate her own income.

After all, she was still pregnant. Seeing how well Peifang managed everything, Huichang decided to follow her sister-in-law’s lead—putting her money to work.

Besides, industry, like education, was beneficial to the nation at this time.

Peifang mentioned all this to lay the groundwork. Though she managed the factory, the business was a joint effort—Yan Hui and Madam Leng had both contributed significantly. If she were to start a new venture, she naturally wanted to involve them.

Especially Yan Hui—who was even more imaginative and daring than Huichang. Her ideas were innovative yet grounded, always striking at real market needs. Without her proposed structure, managing the current factory would’ve taken Peifang much more effort and missteps.

Although Peifang’s finances were a bit tight now, making further investment difficult, her experience had taught her something important: a factory owner doesn’t need to hold the majority of shares. To make money and ensure smooth operations, it’s best to bring in more shareholders—who will naturally protect their own investment.

When the garment factory was established, many people were eager to join. Though things had remained calm so far, it was best to bring more people in early.

Who knows—those new connections might benefit the current factory too.