Chapter 104: Warning (Part 1)

Angry Banana

“The matter with Siqingfang has been settled with Shopkeeper Yu over there. We can deliver the goods to them before the sixth day of the tenth month, and after that, there will be no more problems. I have an idea…”

The Su family compound was enveloped by a downpour, with raindrops falling from the eaves like curtains. In the reception room, lit by an oil lamp, Xi Junyu was discussing the business’s progress with Su Tan’er. Soon after, Xing’er brought a cloth for him to wipe the places where he had gotten wet in the rain. A moment later, Juan’er came in carrying a tea tray and placed some refreshments on the small table beside Xi Junyu.

“Shopkeeper Xi, please have some tea.”

“Thank you, Juan’er.” Xi Junyu smiled and nodded, then continued discussing business with Su Tan’er. “Since we’ve already started with Siqingfang, I think we can invest about another ten thousand taels in Yuanzhou to build two dyeing workshops and warehouses. This would allow us to develop outwards from Yuanzhou as a hub, making success almost guaranteed…”

After he finished speaking, he waited for Su Tan’er’s reply. The expansion of the Su family’s business usually followed such steps, but at this moment, Su Tan’er took a sip of tea, looked up at him, and said in a low voice, “Yuanzhou, although it’s time for it, is not our most immediate priority. For now... let’s talk about it later.”

Su Tan’er’s voice was gentle, and such a reply was already within Xi Junyu’s expectations. However, her gaze left him somewhat puzzled. When he first met Su Tan’er, she was just a twelve-year-old girl. But ever since Su Tan’er began getting involved in the family business, over the past few years, this girl, who has gradually grown into a young woman and is now nominally a wife, has always had aspects that he couldn’t quite grasp.

Of course, that was just a slight feeling. He was confident that he understood most of this woman’s character, including the pressure she endured and the efforts she made under such pressure.

A few years earlier, starting roughly when Su Tan’er was fourteen, approaching fifteen, she worked alongside him and several other shopkeepers, discussing various business strategies. The young girl occasionally had astonishing ideas, but most of the time she was a little clumsy. Most of her ideas couldn’t be used, and when they were pointed out, she would often laugh awkwardly, then exclaim in surprise, “Oh, so that’s how it is...”

Her nature was gentle and humble; she was amiable to everyone and never lost her temper. She didn’t get angry if servants made mistakes, nor did she get upset by gossip from others because of her female status. Of course, there were times when she encountered situations she didn’t know how to handle, after all, she was just a teenager. At such times, she would remain silent, with a smile on her face, her lips pressed tightly together, waiting in silence.

Human emotions are strange; there’s no very clear dividing line. Xi Junyu also didn’t know when he decided to stay at the Su family’s cloth shop. When Xi Junyu was young, his family was poor. His mother died early, his father was often ill and an alcoholic. He was intelligent from a young age and originally thought that continuous study would lead to a good future. Later, he went to work as a helper at the cloth shop, initially just to earn some odd wages to supplement the household income. Who knew, he just kept doing it.

Intelligent people do everything quickly. Xi Junyu was confident he could excel in any profession, not just in business. After being in business for a long time, you gradually come to understand human nature and desires. In his view, everything in the world was inseparable from the changes in these things. Studying, on the other hand, became a secondary matter.

Even when he was just doing odd jobs at the Su family’s cloth shop, he helped close several deals, and the money he earned was enough to make his family comfortable. Of course, at that time, he still planned to go back to school. Later... it’s hard to say how much his reason for staying with the Su family was connected to the girl who frequently visited the cloth shop, but a significant part of it certainly was.

He had actually thought it through clearly: His family was poor, and truly pursuing an official career through imperial examinations would be very troublesome; just the cost of gifts and networking would be unbearable. And the feeling of having money was quite practical. At that time, he probably set a relatively ideal path for himself: he would work for the Su family, become a shopkeeper, then a head shopkeeper, and then marry into the Su family. Once Su Tan’er gained control of the Su family, he would be able to share power and influence with her.

At that time, he was already making a name for himself in the cloth shop. He worked in great synergy with the constantly learning fifteen-year-old girl, and he could very promptly patch up some of Su Tan’er’s blunders. Ever since he learned about Su Boyong’s and Su Tan’er’s intentions, he understood that one day Su Tan’er would need a husband who would marry into her family. He was clearly the ideal candidate, and he himself didn’t mind such an arrangement.

Incompetent people always look to status or various innate factors—which, of course, do have an influence—but for truly capable individuals, they know that their own abilities account for a significant portion of their standing. For him, he was confident that no matter where he was, he would have the opportunity to distinguish himself and always command respect. His humble birth, an innate factor, was certainly unchangeable. Therefore, marrying into a family was not at all unacceptable.

Su Tan’er would understand his capabilities, and he understood her character. With such a mutual understanding, they would be the most ideal partners after marriage. Some people might initially talk about his status, but that didn’t matter. As long as his abilities were demonstrated, others would naturally look at him with new respect. One year, two years... facts would change everything. Su Tan’er also bore shackles and could grit her teeth and push forward. Why couldn’t he do the same?

It was unfortunate that later developments were beyond his expectations. The Su family must have considered him. They must have. But in the end, the Old Master made the final decision and surprisingly chose such an incompetent scholar.

The Su family... simply wanted a man who would be easier to control.

Sometimes, being too capable turned into a disadvantage, he thought sarcastically to himself at the time. He also thought, if he had been the one arranged for marriage, Tan’er certainly wouldn’t have found an excuse to run away on their wedding day.

He had originally been very confident and wasn’t worried when he knew the Su family was considering Ning Yi. It was only when they suddenly decided on Ning Yi that he felt bewildered. He had once thought of directly confessing his affections to Su Tan’er, but by then, he realized the distance the young girl had always kept from others. She might have once called him ‘Brother Junyu’, but soon after, it became ‘Shopkeeper Xi’, and that was the address she consistently used.

She might be gentle and mild, perhaps lively and lovely, or even playful and humorous, but more often than not, this young girl actually kept a part of her mind on the sidelines, observing. That part might still find things interesting, feel curious, and would smile sweetly when observing. However... she always maintained an attitude of observation and learning. Intelligent people learn things very quickly if they put their minds to it, and Xi Junyu had known this all along.

It was then that he realized his admiration was somewhat unspeakable, because she wasn't as approachable as he had imagined.

He was also a proud person. If he had gone and spoken, the girl on the surface might have been incredibly kind, incredibly gentle, or even incredibly saddened, but the heart truly observing from the sidelines wouldn't have cared about him at all. This was an outcome he couldn't bear.

Later, after marrying, Su Tan’er adopted the demeanor of a wife. This was something he had long anticipated. The issue of status was originally the main reason for Su Tan’er’s marriage. He wondered how that scholar would fare with her; Su Tan’er wouldn’t outwardly give anyone an unpleasant impression, but that scholar surely wouldn’t be able to discern what his wife’s inner world was truly like.

He found it interesting and pitiful to think about; they didn't even share a room. Although later developments were somewhat beyond his expectations—that scholar actually had some genuine ability, at least in academics—it was certain that they were estranged in spirit, despite outward appearances. Apart from himself, no one could truly understand Su Tan’er. The heart she kept hidden was a forced clarity born from prolonged pressure and loneliness.

To govern the Su family as a woman, there would always be resistance. Even if she cried, no one would truly sympathize. Even the shopkeepers under her, helping her at Su Boyong’s instruction, would still, during every business transaction, consider the issue of the household head being a woman. Even if she continuously proved her capabilities, and reached forty or fifty, or even became a figure like Empress Wu Zetian, people would still consider her a woman. Behind all this, she could only maintain absolute sobriety.

It felt somewhat cold, lonely, and pitiful to think about. She needed someone who could truly share life’s hardships with her and overcome difficulties together. Xi Junyu liked this feeling—at present, he could only like and accept the current situation. Facts had already unfolded; complaining was useless. The only option was to consider what to do.

He sometimes felt that the figure deep within Su Tan’er’s heart was a little hard to discern. She was also constantly growing, but regardless, in a sense, Su Tan’er was almost tutored by him. For the next few years, she wouldn’t spiral out of control just yet.

Su Tan’er had already made a decision regarding Yuanzhou; as merely a ‘shopkeeper,’ he didn’t need to say more. When necessary, both could be very talkative. At this moment, Xi Junyu spoke of several interesting anecdotes he had heard while chatting with Shopkeeper Yu of Siqingfang, and then linked them to the recent situation of the disaster victims to analyze what might happen inside and outside the city. He knew what Su Tan’er usually liked to hear. Su Tan’er, holding her teacup, was indeed listening intently, occasionally nodding and asking a few follow-up questions. Her girlish curiosity hadn’t changed in years. After all, these were times when news didn’t travel widely, and many pieces of information were indeed useful. What Xi Junyu spoke of was often unknown to her.

Then he casually brought up the matter of Xiaochun’s father’s funeral, and mentioned roughly when Ning Yi might return. He touched upon this matter only briefly, hinting at his own presence and his difference from Ning Yi. Although it seemed some things hadn’t quite registered with her, he thought he might be able to talk more with her tonight. Ning Yi would return tomorrow, and he had some thoughts today, considering whether to state them explicitly.

Just then, Xing’er came trotting in from outside the courtyard, holding an umbrella. She looked quite happy, nodded and smiled at Xi Junyu, then ran to Su Tan’er’s side and said, “The young master and Xiaochun are back.”

“Really?” Juan’er, standing behind Su Tan’er, was the first to speak. Su Tan’er also looked up, a smile spreading across her face, but at the same time, her brow furrowed: “Such heavy rain, and coming back so late? Did they get wet?”

“No, not them. Oh, Dongzhu, who drove the carriage, got wet. The young master is outside, telling Dongzhu to go bathe first, and he instructed the kitchen to prepare some food. They’ve been traveling all the way back, so they probably didn’t have a good dinner.”

“Mhm.” Su Tan’er thought for a moment. “Xing’er, go tell the kitchen to prepare some dishes the young master likes, and also prepare a bowl of millet porridge. I’m a bit hungry too; I’ll go over later... Also, prepare some chilled tremella soup. It’s mainly for Guard Geng and Dongzhu to cool down after eating it tonight. They don’t usually eat this often. If you and Juan’er want some, prepare it yourselves. I won’t need any. The young master and Xiaochun probably won’t feel like eating this after dinner... Uh, Shopkeeper Xi, would you like some?”

“No, thank you. Since Young Master Ning and Xiaochun have returned, and I don’t have any pressing matters, I shall take my leave now.”

Xi Junyu smiled calmly, and Su Tan’er also nodded.

“If that’s the case, I’ll see you out, Shopkeeper Xi.”

“No need, the rain is heavy.”

“It’s fine. Besides, I’d still like to hear more about the Yuanzhou plan you just mentioned, Shopkeeper Xi.”

As if you really wanted to hear it... Xi Junyu chuckled inwardly. But then, as he opened his umbrella and walked out with Su Tan’er and Juan’er, he still articulated a series of plans and ideas. Whether it was about the local customs of Yuanzhou, various connections, or information on officials, everything was quite detailed, and Su Tan’er nodded as she listened.

The rain roared. Sometimes, walking on these paths, one could only faintly see the light from distant courtyards. It felt as if, in the vast Su family mansion, only the three of them were walking in the rain. It wasn't until they neared a side gate that they could see people still rushing in and out there, all in a hurry. His attendant was also waiting in the gatehouse there. When they reached a covered walkway where umbrellas weren't needed, Xi Junyu took a deep breath.

“Actually, for more than a year now, although the Su clan’s development appears unchanged, funds have been diverted in various places. I am perfectly clear about all of this. You’ve already been preparing. This matter is too significant. If you don’t want to talk about it, I shouldn’t have brought it up. But... it really is too big. If we lose everything, what would that mean? Have you thought it through?”

Su Tan’er stopped walking, looked at him quietly, lightly pressed her lips together, and said nothing. Her gaze was somewhat complex, as if apologizing for not being able to tell him these things. After all, she had to oversee the entire situation... Xi Junyu didn’t mind this; he just shook his head and sighed.

“I don’t know when you came up with this idea. Perhaps you’ve been thinking about it for years... You want to obtain a court permit; you want to become a royal merchant. That’s... correct, isn’t it?”

He looked at Su Tan’er and paused slightly.

“A few years ago, it might have been easier. But since last year, the Xue family has also been eyeing the royal merchant status, or perhaps the Wu family has already been considering it. Your idea is now encountering the most difficult time. Are you aware of these things?”

Under the rainy night, this was almost the most severe warning. Xi Junyu’s considerations were well-founded...

Apologies for missing yesterday’s update.

I originally intended to push through this month with extreme efforts to maintain updates, but, much like the title suggests, over the past few days, my body has been issuing serious warnings: palpitations, stomach aches, diarrhea, scalp-numbing fatigue—a variety of discomforts and pains. My writing style is probably the most laborious and unrewarding kind. Each chapter requires several points to be set, possibly very subtle ones: subtle emotions, hints, foreshadowing. It's not just about setting a plot and following a straightforward line. Any insufficient emotional development or changes in certain vocabulary could make these points go out of control and make the entire chapter tasteless. If these subtle points are not successfully conveyed, writing a hundred thousand characters a day would be meaningless for me. Padding content is almost an impossible feat for me; when I write those seemingly trivial chapters, the emotions I need to grasp and the mental effort I expend are several times greater than when writing the main storyline.

It sounds a bit complicated, but this is the kind of article that gets written. In short, to avoid collapsing before finishing this book or ending up in the hospital next month, I’ve decided to grit my teeth and change my daily routine. I will definitely go to bed at eleven p.m., wake up at seven a.m., and post in the book review section every morning and evening. Everyone can supervise me.

I will try my best to maintain updates.

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