Chapter 151: Coldness

Leaving the inn, he returned to the Wu family estate as evening was already setting in. The Wu family mansion was brightly lit, both inside and out. For the past month and a half, a joyful atmosphere had enveloped the Wu residence, evident in the high spirits of every servant and household staff member. Perhaps only the household staff close to the most influential family members could sense a subtle unease. As he entered the gate, a servant guarding the entrance cautiously approached him.

“Young Master has returned. Second Young Master and Master arrived home half an hour ago. Also, Third Master, Fifth Master, Sixth Master, Manager Can, and Manager Nie are already here, currently discussing matters with Master in the side hall.”

It was shortly after dinner, a time when, for the past month or so, many household managers would usually be out entertaining until late at night. Only in the last two days had this routine changed. Wu Qilong nodded and walked silently towards the side hall. Just as he reached the corridor, he heard a ‘bang’ from inside, the sound of a teacup smashing to the floor.

“‘So it can’t be solved? After only three days? You’re saying it can’t be solved?’ The person who had just smashed the teacup and was speaking was his father, Wu Chenghou. It had been many years since he had been seen in such a state of agitation. The consequences of this problem were too severe, and the sudden turn of events had caught everyone off guard. It felt like a sudden blow, leaving everyone stunned. In the side hall, it was Fifth Uncle, a family elder, who was speaking with his father. Manager Nie was technically responsible for fabric dyeing, but Fifth Uncle was the primary supervisor. At this moment, he was probably the only one who could negotiate with his father.

“‘But... it really can't be solved. This formula wasn't developed by us. For two months since we acquired it, our artisans have tried to modify it, but the formula is incredibly sensitive; even minor changes drastically alter the color. The Su family even used some raw materials originally intended for dyeing blue fabrics. Now... it's not that it's impossible to solve, but perhaps with luck...’ Fifth Uncle, Wu Chengke, looked troubled. Wu Qilong entered the room. His father, seated at the head, glanced at him, casually waved him to sit nearby, then turned back to confront Fifth Uncle.

“‘...Luck?’ Wu Chenghou scoffed. ‘Ha, the Su family spent two or three years developing this formula, and we have no clue how to proceed. Master Chen and the others say... maybe we can only rely on luck...’ In the world of business, when faced with a problem, to be told that the only solution is luck was unprecedented. Wu Chenghou stared, his eyes wide, and the entire main hall fell silent. After a long while, Wu Chenghou opened his mouth several times before leaning back in his seat. ‘So, it's confirmed? It's not a problem on our end, but rather... we were indeed tricked by the Su family?’

Among the people in the side hall, no one dared to speak, no one dared to draw such a conclusion. Perhaps everyone had considered it, but if it were true, the subsequent cost would be terrifyingly high. Amidst the silence, Can Minzhi shook his head: ‘There's still something suspicious about this matter; it's hard to understand. If the Su family truly set up such a scheme, wouldn't it have been better for them to simply secure the Imperial Merchant status directly? Su Tan'er spent years on this, and everyone could feel it. Look at the Su family now; they're in disarray. Even if there's a real turnaround, the commotion over the past month and a half would have already caused them significant losses. Third Master, Manager Nie, and I have all considered that if there was any plot two months ago, the risk for the Su family would have been too great...’ Wu Chengyuan, the third-ranked in the Wu family, nodded from the side. ‘Brother Can is right. We never originally intended to use the Su family's formula; we only decided to do so on short notice two months ago. If the Su family truly had another formula, there's no way we wouldn't have known. Our subsequent multiple tests also confirmed that the brilliant gold brocade we used had no issues. To say the Su family set up this trap from the very beginning, how could they have been so certain we would fall into it? To say they planned it so flawlessly, I don't believe it. Su Tan'er doesn't possess such capability, and even Su Yu, despite his cunning, isn't that far-sighted...’ ‘But in any case, this is our current situation...’ Wu Qilong had been silent since entering the room, but he appeared dispirited, his gaze vaguely resting on the others in the side hall. Wu Qihao glanced at his elder brother several times, then sighed and began to speak.

“‘Since things are already like this, we must start considering our next steps. My father and I spoke with Lord Dong today, and postponing the delivery date shouldn't be an issue. However, the problem now is this: once we formally request a postponement from the Weaving Bureau, this matter will have to be officially documented, and at that point, Lord Dong won't be able to suppress it.

News of the Wu family's difficulties will inevitably spread, and it's hard to say what the repercussions will be. There are still ten days until the agreed delivery date; we need to decide how to handle things after that.”

He paused. “‘And whether we postpone for one month or two, ultimately, to solve this problem, we still need to perfect this formula. Fifth Uncle, Uncle Nie, whether it's through sheer effort or pure luck, we can only try. Additionally, if the Su family has the genuine formula, we'll probably have to attempt to acquire it. At that point... Elder Brother, we'll have to rely on you...’ Wu Qihao looked at his brother. On the other side, Sixth Uncle of the family shook his head. ‘If the Su family isn't behind this scheme, then indeed, that would be a viable approach. But we can't be certain yet.’”

“‘But for now, this is the only way to proceed,’ Wu Chengyuan interjected. ‘It’s true we can’t be certain yet, but if this isn’t the Su family’s scheme and merely a coincidence where we ourselves caused a problem and failed to address it, wouldn't we ultimately become a laughing stock?’”

During the somewhat hurried debate, Wu Qilong stood up under his brother's gaze. He patted Wu Qihao's shoulder: “‘Father, uncles, I... I've been busy lately handling the developments in the Northwest. I haven't really paid much attention to matters in Jiangning City. I know a little about this situation, but not in great detail. So, what exactly has the Su family been doing recently?’”

Wu Qilong possessed his father's demeanor. Although his voice was not loud, he clearly had reached some conclusions. Everyone looked at him. Wu Chengyuan thought for a moment, then sat back down. “‘There must have been an internal conflict.’”

“‘Things are not good. Su Zhongkan and Su Yunfang have been making their move, causing quite a stir right now,’ Wu Chengke added, shaking his head. ‘Su Tan’er is overwhelmed, apologizing everywhere and trying to maintain her existing partnerships.’”

“‘I heard... it hasn't been very effective, has it? Su Tan'er is capable, but she used to have Su Boyong backing her. Now, I hear Su Boyong is paralyzed and hasn't been able to leave his bed recently. The Li and Nian families are already preparing to end their cooperation with the Su family's main branch, and some smaller businesses have also been affected. Mainly, everyone is saying that Su Tan'er won't be able to manage the main branch's business for long. The Xue family has also been recruiting these people recently. Once the Su family's business shrinks, some less closely related parties would be better off collaborating with the Xue family first...’”

Everyone had been busy with other substantial matters recently and hadn't paid much attention to the specific details concerning the Su family.

Can Minzhi had been attending many banquets recently and had paid some attention to these matters. As everyone chatted haphazardly, Wu Qilong frowned. “‘What about Su Tan'er herself?’ ‘She's trying to maintain her previous collaborations,’ Wu Chengyuan replied with a smile. ‘With Su Boyong incapacitated and the second and third branches of the Su family seeing their businesses shrink, how could she possibly maintain the old business relationships that Su Boyong once managed?’ Wu Qilong's gaze remained steady as he looked at Third Uncle. ‘But what about the main branch of the Su family? What are they doing?’ ‘The entire main branch of the Su family, well...’ Wu Chengyuan looked at his nephew, gestured with his hand, then paused mid-air. After a moment, he shook his head without speaking, seemingly having understood something, or perhaps having thought of it earlier but being unwilling to voice it. The idea felt too outlandish and incomprehensible. The expressions on everyone's faces in the room changed slightly. What they were now thinking was not good.

“‘Actually...’ Wu Qilong's bitter smile was hard to describe as he slowly began to speak. ‘Actually... Third Uncle, Fifth Uncle, you might have already considered this a few days ago, haven't you?’"

“‘That's putting the cart before the horse; it's impossible,’ Wu Chengke said with a grim expression.

“‘There's no other way at this point, even if it means putting the cart before the horse...’ Wu Qilong shook his head. ‘Three years of preparation, a single investment of two hundred thousand taels of silver before the Imperial Merchant selection, and perhaps even more invested before that. Su Tan'er improved her weaving machines. Initially, we thought she was preparing for the high demand for annual tribute cloth, determined to secure the Imperial Merchant title. But after the Imperial Merchant affair, she didn't stop. Outsiders thought she had gone mad, caught in an inescapable situation, trying to increase production and flood the market with low-priced goods to target our Wu family...’ ‘A woman gone mad is capable of anything,’ Wu Qilong murmured. ‘But what if it isn't like that? Father, uncles, flooding the market with low-priced goods ruins the industry, and everyone would unite against her. That's why we were never afraid of her moves. But what if, from the very beginning, this woman was eyeing our Wu family's market share, waiting for us to vacate it ourselves? What then?’

Wu Chenghou, seated in front, stared at his son for a long time before speaking, his voice hoarse. “‘If that's truly the case, she must be nearly prepared by now.’” “‘Indeed,’ Wu Qilong said with a weary smile. The next moment, he raised his voice. ‘No one in the entire market is watching our Wu family right now. We're expanding, even walking over others, and everyone else is contemplating how to get out of our way. Led by the Xue family, everyone is eyeing the current Su family, waiting for it to suddenly collapse so they can divide its market share. But what if the Su family doesn't collapse at all? What if this woman has been waiting since we secured the Imperial Merchant title...?’ He waved his hand. ‘No, she was waiting even before we secured it. Once we encounter problems, all the fabric merchants in Jiangning who were focused on the Su family will become a laughing stock. The moment the Wu family's market share becomes available, before anyone else can even react, Su Tan'er will have already devoured most of it, leaving the others only to stare in helpless frustration.’”

“‘For a month and a half, we felt there were no problems, treating them as defeated opponents left far behind. But in reality, they had already diverted the focus of the entire Jiangning weaving industry, quietly making all their preparations. Su Tan'er upgraded her weaving machines, increasing the output rate that now seems useless. Everyone was laughing; only we, after realizing, found they had been preparing for over a month...’ An unspeakable sense of suffocation enveloped the entire side hall. After a moment, Wu Chengyuan still shook his head. ‘This is the worst-case scenario. If so, this scheme is too exaggerated. How could we not have sensed anything at all...’ Wu Chengke frowned. ‘Even if it's true, the Su family isn't having an easy time. How long can Su Tan'er last? How long can we last? At worst, we'll just delay, drag it out for two months, and wear her down...’ ‘Exaggerated or not, this is what we're facing, and...’ Wu Qilong looked at Wu Chengke. ‘Fifth Uncle, they won't wait for us to collapse on our own. Just two days ago, a problem occurred in the workshop, and Uncle Qin fell ill. Did you notice yesterday? Someone has been spreading rumors outside, saying that our Wu family encountered issues with the Imperial Merchant project... Of course, baseless speculation and rumor-mongering are common in business, but this was too fast. Everyone knows someone is spreading rumors behind the scenes, but for now, not many people are paying attention, yet...’ He took out a piece of Xuan paper from his sleeve. ‘Before I returned, I actually investigated Su Tan'er's actions over the past month and a half. Now, perhaps it's clearer. After the Imperial Merchant selection, all her adjustments and expenditures were meticulously aimed at our Wu family. For a month and a half, we blindly forged ahead while they silently positioned every blade, spear, sword, and halberd, each pointing directly at our vital points... Father, Fifth Uncle, have you felt it?’”

Wu Qilong smiled bitterly, shook his head, and looked towards the direction of the Su family residence. “‘That woman has secretly completed all her preparations... and has begun to make her move...’” The Xuan paper was passed around the hall. For over a month, these actions had seemed like a joke; as long as the Wu family faced no issues, all of Su Tan'er's arrangements would be meaningless. And why would the Wu family encounter any problems? It was with this conviction that they had surged forward, confidently heading towards what they believed was the best path. Only in the fleeting moment of doubt, upon realizing they were heading into a dead end, did they discover that they were already surrounded by sharp edges.

An indescribable sensation settled over them. Looking at the detailed layouts on the paper, outlining Su Tan'er's schemes against the Wu family over the past month and a half, everyone felt a chill creep up their spines, and a cold dread surged through them. If this were true...

“‘I still don't believe it,’ Wu Chengyuan suddenly waved his hand. ‘If that's truly the case, then we didn't walk into this ourselves; they lured us in. They've been calculating against us for over two months, or even longer? Su Tan'er spent three years setting up such a scheme? We did consider the possibility of getting a fake formula before, but if the whole thing had been deliberately manipulative, everyone would have seen through it! No one can set up a scheme like this! This isn't something you can just conceive of and execute. Everyone knows how difficult the entire process is and how many unexpected complications can arise. Su Tan'er couldn't do it, and Su Yu wouldn't risk something like this! If they could have secured the Imperial Merchant title, why didn't they? And if they couldn't, why did they create such momentum before, almost pulling off a trick that would have ensnared people? Just consider obtaining the formula: if it were too difficult, we wouldn't have acquired it; if it were too simple, we wouldn't have trusted it. We verified it countless times before confirming there were no issues. Who could orchestrate something to that extent!’ ‘She has already started her move. We'll find out in a few days. Honestly, I also hope I'm just guessing wildly...’ Wu Qilong sat there, quietly shaking his head. ‘But if I'm not, then reflecting on the entire situation... ha, it becomes quite interesting...’ Su Tan'er's illness at the time was real, and Su Yu was unable to handle such matters during that period; he is old, after all. But there's one person we might have overlooked, or rather, after the very beginning, we never took him seriously. Look at him... he seemed to do nothing throughout the entire affair, yet after Su Tan'er fell ill, he was actually handling everything. He led us in circles, daily seemingly just telling jokes. But behind all that, it was he who brashly came forward, proclaiming that the yellow cloth should be heavily promoted, announcing that their Su family was the most capable... Now that I think about it, there's something quite interesting. Both I and the Xue family, at the time, had a habitual thought: every time we spoke about Ning Yi's latest foolish antics in the taverns and tea houses, we never forgot to remind others: Su Tan'er is very capable, and the Su family is still using the most legitimate methods to secure the Imperial Merchant title, so don't be fooled by Ning Yi's performance. As a result, everyone, being clever, focused on the Su family's fabric.”

“‘Third Uncle, do you remember what you told me when I was a child? If you want people to see something, the best way isn't to put it in the most obvious spot, but to place it there and then cover it up, or bury it in the ground and cover it with a layer of sand. The more you try to hide, the more it's revealed; 'There's no silver buried here'... From beginning to end, Ning Yi was telling us that the Su family had the best fabric, the Su family had the best fabric, the Su family had the best fabric! And... we all considered ourselves clever, seeing the underlying message, slowly letting our guard down...’”

“‘He's a fool, a business idiot. Su Tan'er fell ill, so some oversights were inevitable. If Su Tan'er herself had been handling it, we might have been more vigilant, because she wouldn't have made such small mistakes. But he kept making small mistakes, and none of us thought it was unusual. Ha... In the end, he didn't really do anything; we just got the yellow fabric formula. He just watched, and then... like an old friend still holding a sword... he finished his task, discarded his tools, and left. For the past month and a half, he's been just as he was before, not even bothering to glance at business matters. But even now, no one knows that perhaps he never took any of it seriously...’” Wu Qilong finished speaking as if to himself, then sat there and chuckled sardonically. Wu Qihao, standing nearby, frowned. “‘Ning Yi? How could this be... It's impossible...’”

Wu Qilong looked up. “‘Ha, I also wish I were wrong, but do you know? Today, I went to speak with our informant placed in the Su family. He told me something: two nights ago, while chatting with Manager Zhou, who is in charge of the dyeing formula for the Su family, Manager Zhou got drunk and said one thing. He said that in the entire Su family, the person he admired, besides Su Yu, was their family's Ning, the son-in-law...’ Someone's eyes widened.

Wu Qilong paused. “‘In any case, we have a few days left. Within ten days, we must request a postponement from the Weaving Bureau. At that time, if the Su family truly laid this trap, everything will fall into place, and we'll know whether he was merely acting then or fully aware of his intentions. If that's truly the case...’” He looked at the darkness outside the door, recalling the scholar's figure. “‘I'd be somewhat afraid of him...’”

Recalling Ning Yi's actions during that period and more recently, the others remained silent, too stunned to speak, exchanging incredulous glances. But if it were true, that chilling sensation would indeed be unsettling to the extreme.

After a moment, Wu Qilong rubbed his forehead and let out a soft sigh.

“‘Poor Xi Junyu, he still has no idea...’”