Chapter 138: Two Little Followers (Part 2)

“Don’t interfere, you’re not allowed to follow—!”

In a small alley by the road, Ning Yi felt a little helpless about this sudden situation. He shook his head, but these two "little rascals" in front of him clearly couldn't be dismissed with just a shake of the head.

“Why?” It was Zhou Pei who spoke this time.

“It’s a business secret. Is it something I can just tell you? You’ll know in the future. It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“Then... what does Teacher want to do? How can you persuade He Fang?”

“Don’t you see he doesn’t even want to meet me? What’s there to persuade?”

“Then... we can find a way for Teacher to meet He Fang...”

Ning Yi squinted slightly, looking at the child in front of him. Zhou Junwu also smiled and looked over. After a moment, he looked a little puzzled: “Uh, is that not allowed?” Ning Yi laughed: “You two, a little prince and a little princess, must be quite bored. Why do you care about these things?”

“No, no, we might be called a little prince and a little princess, but in reality, we’re just good-for-nothings and wastrels, quite useless.” Zhou Junwu explained, turned to look at his sister, then turned back and blinked, feeling he had belittled himself too much, and offered a correction: “Uh, it’s not that we’re useless, not useless... it’s just that Father doesn’t manage things, and in the future, we’ll have nothing to do. My sister and I don’t want to be like that. We want to do something great, so we want to learn from Teacher how to threaten people—uh, no, how to negotiate, negotiate!”

“But I’m not planning to threaten anyone.”

“Oh? Then how will Teacher get the Imperial Merchant title?”

“That’s complicated...”

Amidst their discussion, the one adult and two children negotiated with each other. After a while, they seemed to have finally reached an agreement. Ning Yi left the alley and nodded to a palace guard he seemed to have met before. The siblings then came out and got into a carriage, following from a distance. As they turned the street corner, in a nearby teahouse, Xue Jin and others sitting by the window on the second floor saw Ning Yi and started chatting and laughing.

What Ning Yi was doing wasn't the main point in itself. It was just that his visits to He Fang over the past few days, in his capacity as the manager of the Su family’s main branch, showed a clear "never give up until the goal is reached" attitude, which finally attracted some attention. Even fools doing foolish things can sometimes succeed through sheer persistence. Xue Yan had other business today and didn't come. Xue Jin and the others chatted and laughed in the teahouse, guessing whether Ning Yi would be able to enter and meet He Fang today, or if he could truly accomplish anything after meeting him.

Who knew that the developments on this third day would be beyond everyone's expectations? Or, in a certain sense, it could be considered within expectations...

“Ha, you mean he... gave up? Left after just half an hour?” That night, in Yancui Tower, Xue Yan, Xue Jin, and others discussed the interesting events of the afternoon. Xue Jin smiled and shook his head: “Originally, I even bet with Ah Xiang and the others that since it was the third day, He Fang might have decided to meet him. So I bet he could meet Sir He, but definitely wouldn't accomplish anything. As a result, I lost five taels of silver. No one expected him to stay for only half an hour today, then leave without even saying he’d return tomorrow. He just gave up like that...”

A cousin on the side also started laughing: “The most interesting part is that we inquired later. Sir He already knew about Ning Yi’s visits. Although he considered Ning Yi a son-in-law without much authority, he appreciated the sincerity of his continuous visits over the past few days. So, this morning, he instructed the gatekeeper that if Ning Yi waited for an hour today, just like yesterday, and still didn’t give up when leaving, the gatekeeper should let him in to hear what he had to say. Who knew... haha...”

“Scholars will always be scholars,” Xue Yan said, shaking his head. “When they want to accomplish something, they start with ambitions higher than the sky, but in reality, they understand nothing and have too many ideas. Such people are the most troublesome. I estimate Su Tan’er is also troubled at home right now. He’s like an ‘Ah Dou’ who can’t be helped – he may be talented, but he’s only fit for staying at home writing poems and enjoying leisurely pursuits. It’s like those poets and lyricists who worry about the nation and its people, complaining more than anyone else about their talents being unappreciated. But if you actually asked them to serve the country and its people, it’s not that they lack the heart, but rather the fundamental ability. Heh, mediocrity is mediocrity. All talk and no action...”

After a slight pause, Xue Yan laughed again: “However, it’s also a good thing for us that the Su family has such a mediocre talent. From now on, everyone should make an effort to get close to this Ning Liheng. Oh, by the way, Ah Jin, if you have the chance, invite him on my behalf. We’re all in the textile business; while business is business, friendships should still be maintained. Last time here, during our heated argument, Ah Xia and I were also a bit out of line. We can have a meal together, and I’ll personally apologize to him, hahahaha...” While Xue Jin, Xue Yan, and others were discussing the afternoon’s events, Su Tan’er, on the other hand, didn’t have a headache over it. The two other branches of the Su family reacted much more strongly to the news; it was said that Su Zhongkan slammed the table that evening and nearly broke things.

“Nonsense! He’s just a scholar who knows nothing. If he had persistently stayed and left Sir He with an impression of being forthright, that would have been one thing! But what is this? How will Sir He look at our Su family now? He’s... he’s practically sabotaging everyone!” This statement came from the Su family’s second branch and was discussed by people throughout the mansion all evening. However, neither the second nor third branch explicitly showed this attitude, and no one protested to the Old Master or sought out Su Tan’er for a chat. This was because the biggest issue at hand was Su Tan’er’s genuine desire to secure the Imperial Merchant title, which, for the second and third branches, could be considered a threat.

On the same night, even Nie Yunzhu and Yuan Jin’er, who had heard about the incident, were somewhat puzzled. Ning Yi had brought a pair of siblings to eat that afternoon and seemed completely unaffected. Perhaps at that time, Ning Yi didn’t even know that Sir He was already prepared to meet him.

“Sigh, Sister Yunzhu, I bet he’s very upset tonight.”

“I don’t think so... Liheng has an open mind.” “But even with an open mind, he’d be upset!” “And... it was just half an hour short; it’s truly a pity. Why didn’t he persist?” “Perhaps he thought Sir He really didn’t want to see him, or maybe those siblings were waiting outside, and he rushed out...”

“Who are those siblings? Could they be his children from outside?” “Nonsense, Liheng is only in his early twenties. How could he have children that old?”

“Maybe he had a child bride before he married into the family...”

Although well-intentioned, their conjectures weren’t far off from the general public’s. In Jiangning City at that moment, the only place with a different theory was perhaps the Prince Consort’s Mansion on one side of the city.

“He did it on purpose?” In the pavilion, Kang Xian listened to the siblings’ narration and was slightly stunned. The siblings had gone home, eaten, and bathed, and only arrived now. Kang Xian had already heard the news that Ning Yi had lost the opportunity to meet He Fang that evening, because he hadn’t stayed for the last half hour of the third day.

“Yes,” Zhou Pei nodded. The little girl, dressed in a fresh autumn dress, had a flushed face and was a little excited, as if she had participated in some significant event. On the way over that evening, she had already speculated many times with her brother in the carriage. “Grandpa Consort, why would Ning Liheng do that?”

“Heh, I can’t figure it out either.” Kang Xian thought for a while, finally shaking his head in confusion. “He didn’t tell you?” “No, he refused to say. Junwu said he could help him meet He Fang, but he immediately refused. This person... he never intended to meet He Fang from the very beginning. What I can’t figure out is how he knew He Fang would see him today, so he just decided to leave after half an hour.” “He didn’t know, but it was the third day...” Kang Xian sighed. “Liheng... he probably calculated the number three precisely. An ordinary person would usually persist for three days. After all, He Fang doesn’t truly refuse to see everyone; he just avoids discussing Imperial Merchant matters. If he really wanted to meet, it would still be possible, since the Su family is a major textile producer.

If he didn’t meet on the first day, and if he really intended to meet, appearing moved by the sincerity, he would likely wait until the third day or later. He deliberately gave the impression of giving up halfway, thus choosing the third day, and leaving half an hour early. Heh, this fellow...”

Kang Xian shook his head and laughed, but confusion still lingered in his eyes: “But what reason did he have for doing this? How can he resolve the Imperial Merchant matter by leaving such an impression on He Fang? Xiao Pei, Junwu, what else did you tell him?” “We made a trade,” Junwu chimed in with a laugh.

“A trade?” “Yes, he wouldn’t let us go in or help, which we found strange. We asked him if he could truly resolve the Su family’s crisis, because Uncle-Grandpa, you said he was very capable. He was probably afraid we’d cause trouble, but he eventually said he was indeed working on a solution, though it would take a long time, and things in business are unpredictable, so he couldn’t tell us exactly what he was doing. So we made a deal: we wouldn’t cause trouble, but for the next month, we’d often go and follow him to see what he was doing at the Su family’s. He agreed later, as long as my sister and I didn’t cause trouble. We plan to disguise ourselves as shop apprentices at a cloth store, or even as study companions. I’ll be Study Companion A, and my sister will be Study Companion B. Oh, wait... okay, Sister, you can be Study Companion A...”

Little Junwu prattled on with an innocent and pure face, then quickly corrected himself after his sister playfully hit him on the head. Across from them, Kang Xian’s eyes narrowed: “You two little rascals, you’ve been kept inside and forced to study all day recently, so you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” “No way! We just want to see how amazing the teacher you speak so highly of truly is...”

The little boy’s face was full of sincerity as he tugged at his sister’s clothes. Zhou Pei quickly nodded beside him: “Yes, Grandpa Consort, if we know he’s really capable, I’d willingly become his student. You also said the Su family’s current situation is very difficult to handle. If he can solve it without asking for help, then Junwu and I will admit he’s truly impressive... Hmm, we promise not to cause trouble, and not to run around recklessly.” “Mhm, mhm, mhm, mhm...” The little boy mimicked a pecking chick beside them.

Kang Xian squinted at them for a long time before chuckling exasperatedly: “Alright, every profession has its specialists. If he can’t solve it, that’s to be expected. But if he truly does solve it, you might as well observe the process. Since he agreed to this, I don’t suppose he’ll lead you astray. But remember one thing: once you’re out, you must never leave the sight of Guard Mu and the others. I will also frequently send people to check. If it happens even once, you two will not be allowed out until the city gates open again. Understood?”

“Mhm.” Both heads nodded vigorously, and then the siblings exchanged a smile. They were finally given some autonomy.

***

The Su family, after all, was one of the three major textile magnates in Jiangning. Consequently, Ning Yi’s actions over the past few days began to spread throughout Jiangning’s textile industry within a day and a night. Regardless of the immediate impact, the next afternoon, Ning Yi went to Zhuji to meet Nie Yunzhu, and then headed towards the Qin Residence. This was to fulfill their prior agreement to go and apologize to Elder Qin.

Earlier, Yunzhu had actually looked forward to this matter. Ning Yi taking her to the old man’s home to apologize seemed to hold some symbolic meaning. However, today, she felt little excitement or agitation. Due to her conversation with Jin’er last night, she now had many other emotions in her heart. Occasionally glancing at Ning Yi walking ahead, she considered some reassuring or comforting words amidst their desultory chat.

However, in the end, she didn’t utter those words...