Chapter 148: Things Are Not Over Yet

The Son-in-Law

Readers, please remember to rest your eyes. Those things first spread from a small workshop in the Wu family...

In the eyes of many, the Jiangning textile industry has always boasted numerous shining figures. Talented business people, skilled in commerce and calculation, are active on various stages, showcasing their abilities. Examples include Su Tan'er, Xi Junyu, the brothers Wu Qilong and Wu Qihao, as well as Wu Chenghou, Xue Sheng, and even the older generation's Su Yu. All have achieved commendable successes, which have earned them their current standing.

These business prodigies could likely achieve success in any industry. Additionally, there are also individuals skilled in technology; each family or household possesses its own strengths to varying degrees. To some extent, the industry also relies on the support of these technical experts. Among them, the most renowned is likely the Wu family's 'Divine Needle' Can Minzhi.

Can Minzhi of the Wu family is one of the most important elders within the Wu family, the leading textile merchant in Jiangning. Now in his early forties, he once single-handedly pushed the Wu family's weaving techniques to their peak. In recent years, while the Su, Xue, and Wu families have stood as a tripod, each with its own strengths, relatively speaking, the strengths of the Su and Xue families are not so pronounced as to create a decisive lead. Only the Wu family's weavers, especially in high-end products, have consistently been considered a cut above the rest. All of this is due to Can Minzhi's efforts over the years.

Currently, this steward of the Wu family usually no longer manages too many trivial matters. He enjoys frequenting brothels, has a fondness for wine, thrives on adulation, and possesses a somewhat uninhibited personality. Of course, in weaving, he is undoubtedly brilliant. The Wu family has given him everything he desires; he simply needs to focus on maintaining their lead in weaving techniques. However, recently, he has become slightly busier.

As the most trusted steward of the Wu family, Can Minzhi has recently been in charge of matters concerning the imperial merchant contract, specifically overseeing the workshops and warehouses. At this moment, this task is less a responsibility for him and more an honor, as all technical aspects, from weaving to dyeing, have already been resolved. His role is merely to supervise the production of the fabrics destined for the imperial palace, ensure they are strictly inspected, stored in the warehouse, and prepared for dispatch to Bianliang as the first batch of goods in the near future.

While the responsibility appears heavy, the Wu family has plenty of capable individuals. Can Minzhi is nominally the supervisor for this project. The actual work is naturally handled by the stewards already in charge of these workshops and warehouses. Can Minzhi only visits once daily, while his eldest son, Can Xia, oversees things for the rest of the time. This arrangement also serves to help Can Xia build relationships with the various shopkeepers and stewards, preparing him for future entry into the Wu family's management.

Can Xia did not truly inherit Can Minzhi's genius for weaving. However, having admired his father since childhood, he is at least commendable for his diligence. Even if he lacks pioneering spirit, he is more than capable of maintaining existing achievements. Following a step-by-step path to becoming a conventional shopkeeper presents no major issues for his life plan. Furthermore, with the Wu family poised for large-scale development, now is precisely the time for him to make his mark.

Having been entrusted with this responsibility by his father, he diligently worked to build good relationships with the many shopkeepers and stewards, preparing for his future. Beyond that, his daily inspections were meticulous, though, truthfully, there wasn't much practical or technically demanding work involved. He understood, of course, that with these matters, no problems arising was the norm. His father had sent him here simply to meet and build rapport with the other seniors, not expecting him to do anything substantial. However, the young man, who had already worked at the Wu family textile shop for several years—mostly learning minor managerial tasks in the weaving workshops under his father—was finally given a significant assignment. Yet, his days were more monotonous than before, with seemingly nothing for him to do. He felt a degree of disappointment, but on the other hand, he could only console himself with the business principle that those who achieve great things must be able to endure boredom.

For a month, he followed the routine, conversing daily with a few seniors, mostly about Can Minzhi. The reason the Wu family secured the imperial merchant contract this time was twofold: first, through the clever maneuvers of Wu Qilong and others, they acquired the dyeing formula originally belonging to the Su family. The other decisive factor was Can Minzhi's weaving expertise. Without it, if it were merely fabric of the same color, the Wu family would not have had much of an advantage, nor could they have so easily caused the Su family's understanding of the situation to lead to their dispirited retreat. At the banquet a month ago, a Su family member named Ning Liheng, understanding these dynamics, furiously threw his family's fabric out the window—a direct testament to the existence of the 'Divine Needle' Can Minzhi.

Of course, while the young man felt proud discussing his father all day, endlessly repeating these stories to others could also become rather dull. Some shopkeepers would talk to him about pleasure quarters. Though already married, Can Xia was certainly not naive in such matters, but being honest and upright, he felt slightly embarrassed discussing these topics with those older, seasoned uncles and patriarchs, or visiting such places with them. Every day, he would routinely tour the various workshops and warehouses, making his methodical notes. These places were overseen by his uncles and elders, leaving no room for him to dictate. Perhaps it was due to this very nature that one day in late September, he first discovered something amiss.

"Father, the brilliant golden brocades in that small warehouse by Qinming Tower seem to be fading a bit…"

He mentioned this with a touch of uncertainty during dinner that evening. Fading was a serious matter. Can Minzhi paused slightly, then replied, "Qinming Tower? Those were from the first batch. Shopkeeper He from the dye house also said they might not be very good. But… where did you see them?"

"In the corner."

"In the corner… Those are scrap fabrics, from the very first batch, and they were deemed unsatisfactory by Steward Chen and me, so we just tossed them there. Corners are also damp, so it's unavoidable. Hmm, we'll go take a look tomorrow morning."

Lately, the Wu family had been planning for expansion once the imperial merchant contract was secured. As one of the Wu family's most renowned figures, Can Minzhi had been busy with banquets and social engagements. A month had passed since the preparations began; any problems should have surfaced long ago. Many in the Jiangning textile industry had all but forgotten about the Su family. In such a stable situation, what further complications could possibly arise?

Nevertheless, Can Minzhi was someone who understood the gravity of matters. Since his son had reported this, he accompanied Can Xia to the small warehouse near Qinming Tower the next morning. Indeed, the brocade was from the very first batch made immediately after they acquired the dyeing formula, which he had discarded after experimenting with weaving methods and finding them unsatisfactory. Scrap fabric, left in a dark, damp corner, would inevitably get a bit dirty and messy. The fading wasn't too noticeable. He reassured his son, and the matter was dismissed.

Can Minzhi didn't give these scrap fabrics another thought, and Can Xia also temporarily put the matter out of his mind. He continued his daily rounds among the workshops and warehouses. The imperial merchant contract was settled, and in about a month, the first shipment of 220 bolts of brilliant golden brocade would be dispatched. This type of brocade was currently the Wu family's signature product and could not be mass-produced freely. These small workshops were working day and night, continuously trying to improve and refine the process. The initial batches of brocade produced also had some pieces discarded due to various imperfections. Every day, watching the weaving, the dyeing, and the finished cloth, with those resplendent golden colors, Can Xia one day returned to the scrap fabric warehouse at Qinming Tower.

The fading of the fabric in the corner had become evident. Although it was normal for fabrics stored in corners to fade, an ominous premonition still flickered through Can Xia's mind. On a nearby shelf, there were actually several more discarded brocades that had been better preserved. He opened their boxes and saw that a few of them no longer retained their brilliant golden hue.

"These were just made after getting the Su family's formula; there are bound to be flaws. This batch couldn't possibly be shown to anyone…"

This was what his father had said earlier. Can Xia thought about it, then went back to inspect some of the other finished fabrics. True to the name 'Brilliant Golden Brocade,' all the fabrics he saw were a dazzling golden-yellow, incredibly opulent. However, over the next few days, those few faded fabrics kept lingering in his mind, making him feel somewhat distracted. Time had now entered October. One day, he went to the warehouse and directly opened the brocades that had already been sealed in boxes, taking them out one by one and arranging them. When Steward Qin, who oversaw this warehouse, arrived, the silks were already stacked over two meters high on the table, so resplendent they were almost dazzling. No one could stop Can Xia; he continued his work. And surprisingly, several of the warehouse workers were also there, unboxing.

"Can Xia! You—" Steward Qin's words trailed off because he too had now seen it: amidst the pile of brilliant golden silks, two bolts distinctly showed a different color. Can Xia, holding a bolt of fabric, turned around.

"Uncle Qin, the first batch of brilliant golden brocade has a problem…"

Steward Qin hesitated for a moment, then abruptly waved his hand: "Unbox them! Unbox all of them!"

When news of the problem with the first batch of brilliant golden brocade reached Can Minzhi, Wu Qilong, and others, they were greatly alarmed. Fortunately, the rest were still fine. When all the fabrics were placed together, those few bolts showed obvious fading, but the others were perfectly consistent. This at least proved that the later brocades were fine, and the issues stemmed from the Wu family's initial unfamiliarity with the dyeing formula.

"We still don't know exactly where the problem lies. We've made some adjustments to the formula in recent days, so we'll just have to investigate what caused these issues. Well, finding it in time is still the best-case scenario." The unfaded fabrics were stacked together, appearing like an unyielding golden wall. Wu Qilong, relieved, ordered an investigation into the cause, after which the fabrics were to be re-boxed. Minor setbacks are common in business, and now that this one was seemingly resolved, Can Xia was rewarded for his discovery. With twenty days left until the first imperial merchant delivery, the remaining tasks were few, and the workshops continued to work feverishly. No one mentioned the fading issue again. The warehouse door where those fabrics were stored was closed, with Steward Qin personally holding the key. However, just a few days later, the problem metastasized.

On the afternoon of the ninth day of the tenth month, a worker passing the warehouse door noticed that the very warehouse only Steward Qin had been allowed to enter for the past few days was open. He walked inside. In the dimly lit warehouse, Steward Qin sat on one side. He was already somewhat old, with white hair and beard, and had looked quite haggard these past few days, which others attributed to his recent busyness. But it was at this moment that certain things finally revealed themselves.

Sitting there, Steward Qin's gaze was dull, his expression haggard, and one hand trembled. He stared intently at the stacked fabrics on the other side, as if he had seen something terrifying.

The worker called out to him, but the old man didn't react, so he turned back and shouted, "Someone, come here!" When he looked back at the pile of fabrics, he was startled to see that in the dim room, the wall of fabric, which had originally appeared uniform, now showed stark, uneven contrasts. Approximately half of the fabrics mixed within had changed color to varying degrees, no longer retaining their original brilliant golden hue. The faded fabrics, interspersed within the fabric wall, now looked like a grotesque face, with two eyes, one higher than the other, and a twisted mouth, grinning in the room. Even the daylight seemed to have faded, blocked outside the door, reluctant to enter. The scene that had perhaps unfolded in the Su family's textile workshop several months ago was now, piece by piece, being replicated here as if by a copy.

In the nearby workshops, workers were still toiling enthusiastically, bolt after bolt of new fabric being dyed. Stewards mingled among the crowds, discussing and laughing. Everyone was working according to the predetermined plan, preparing to move towards a brighter future…

When the news arrived, Wu Qilong and Can Minzhi were drinking tea in an exquisitely decorated teahouse, discussing innovations for the second batch of imperial fabrics and an evening meeting with a major fabric merchant to resolve issues of annual cloth shortages and replenishment. A worker approached and quietly informed him of what had happened.

"What did you say?" The voice was too faint for Wu Qilong to hear clearly, so he asked for it to be repeated.

"Steward Qin… Steward Qin collapsed, and… the fabrics are fading…"

"Wh-what fabrics are fading?"

"Those brilliant golden brocades…"

"I know they're brilliant golden brocades! Haven't the faded ones already been separated?! We still haven't found the cause, what exactly are you talking about—" "But…" The worker repeated the situation from the workshop and warehouse. Even after this second explanation, Wu Qilong found it hard to believe. He understood every word, yet he couldn't form a concrete image in his mind. With little more than ten days left until delivery to the royal family… all the fabrics… perhaps they all had problems? Fading?

"You, what exactly are you saying?" He tilted his head, his gaze wavering, then turned back. "What exactly has faded…"

A month and a half had passed. By this point, something had finally accumulated enough power to shatter the deliberately created illusion of a blissful paradise that had lasted for a month and a half. And then, it began to mercilessly drag everyone back…

At this moment, Ning Yi emerged from the small laboratory next to the academy. On this late autumn, early winter afternoon, he closed the door, ready to go home. Lately, he had no social engagements, and he didn't even need to greet many family members when he saw them, enjoying an exceptionally leisurely life.