Chapter 152: Sister-in-law Yin’s Fury
The Jiangnan Silk General Store looked unremarkable, even its signboard was peeling with age.
In the slightly dim East Side Room, President Zhu, with heavy bags under his eyes, listened to Steward Han Qingji’s report, his expression growing increasingly grim.
“…The various foremen’s opinion is that the guild needs to contribute a bit.” Steward Han looked at President Zhu’s expression, gave a dry half-laugh, and swallowed the rest of his words.
“The annual contributions are all handled by you to each of their families; has a single copper coin ever been short?” President Zhu looked at Steward Han.
“Never short,” Steward Han quickly bowed his head in agreement.
“The porters’ wages, not just in our guild, but in other guilds too, have never been short by a single copper coin. Half is paid openly, and the other half is supplemented through these foremen. This has been the rule for many years.
“Not only has our guild never shorted their labor wages, but in other guilds too, have you ever heard of any of them shorting their money?”
President Zhu was very angry, his words filled with rage.
“Indeed, it has never been short,” Steward Han said with a wry smile.
“How many women does Foreman Zou have in his backyard? Tell him to keep fewer beauties and put some of that money towards his porters!” President Zhu snorted.
“Yes,” Steward Han dared not say more.
………………………………
Cai Lian Lane.
Although the Zhang family’s exterior looked the same as their neighbors, with two black lacquered courtyard gates, inside were three consecutive courtyards arranged side by side.
Old Woman Zhang had three sons. Her second son died of illness at fifteen or sixteen. Of the three courtyards, the central main courtyard was the residence of Master Zhang and Old Woman Zhang, and where the family ate and talked. The eldest son’s family lived in the East Courtyard, and the third son’s family lived in the West Courtyard.
The third son of the Zhang family returned an hour earlier than Ping. He sat in the main hall talking with his father, Master Zhang.
Master Zhang listened intently to his son’s words, looked at him, and frowned without speaking.
“Father, at least seventy percent of our warehouse business is fodder. Foreman Xiao has made a statement about this matter?” Zhang Lao San looked at his father with a pained expression.
“Just say what you want, it’s just us father and son.” Master Zhang leaned back against the chair back.
“Eldest Sister-in-law’s preserved egg business is doing so well, and fine cloth isn’t necessarily less profitable than preserved eggs. We can’t let a business that’s just starting out ruin our warehouse business, which has been passed down for two or three generations,” Zhang Lao San said, though with some difficulty.
Master Zhang glanced at his son and sighed deeply.
“You’ve always looked down on your elder brother.”
“I haven’t!” Zhang Lao San became agitated.
“Just assume you haven’t,” Master Zhang waved his hand. “You and your mother’s plans, you’ve long understood them, and your elder brother knows too. But why have I never agreed or spoken about it?”
Master Zhang leaned forward, looking at Zhang Lao San.
“Because Eldest Sister-in-law won’t agree,” Zhang Lao San replied reluctantly.
“Mm. It’s because of this that I haven’t agreed, nor have I clearly explained it to you. Now, let’s talk, father and son:
“Our family’s warehouse, from your grandfather’s shed to now in your hands, is not small, but it can’t withstand division. You and your elder brother and sister-in-law can’t get along, nor can you think together. If the warehouse were truly divided, your elder brother’s side would definitely be managed by your Eldest Sister-in-law. This warehouse would inevitably be split into north and south. If it were split into two, alas, our warehouse would likely be gone in a few years.”
Zhang Lao San gave a low hum.
“Back then, your mother and I went to great lengths to marry your Eldest Sister-in-law, seeing that she had learned all the skills of their Yin Family Preserved Egg Business. We originally thought that your Eldest Sister-in-law would do the preserved egg business, and once the business took off, the family would be easy to divide. The warehouse would be yours, and your elder brother and sister-in-law would have the preserved egg business, each doing their own thing.
“But your Eldest Sister-in-law is stubborn and has had her way for so many years. She’s finally come around, and the business is finally getting started. Now you want her to stop doing business for the sake of the warehouse.”
Master Zhang sighed.
“I’ll say it upfront: if your Eldest Sister-in-law doesn’t agree, the family will be divided equally, and the warehouse will be split in half. You and your elder brother are both born to your mother and me; this bowl of water must be kept level.”
“I didn’t say Eldest Sister-in-law shouldn’t do business. I’m just complaining to you, I don’t mean anything else,” Zhang Lao San quickly declared.
“You, you’re really not as good as your wife. Look at your wife; ever since your Eldest Sister-in-law started doing business, your wife has taken on all the household chores, cooks whatever your Eldest Sister-in-law wants to eat, and always puts your Eldest Sister-in-law first,” Master Zhang shook his head and sighed.
“I’m just complaining. Foreman Xiao said clearly that this is President Shi of the Silk Guild’s intention. President Shi is an official, Foreman Xiao doesn’t dare offend him. Father, what do you think, should I prepare some gifts and go visit Foreman Xiao’s home?” Zhang Lao San explained, then quickly changed the subject.
“Mm, gifts are never unwelcome. It’s good to go for a visit,” Master Zhang followed the topic.
………………………………
After the Li Sisters finished dinner and had just seen Li Yin Zhu off, Sister-in-law Yin came in with a small basket of bright red pomegranates.
Li Jin Zhu let Sister-in-law Yin in. Li Yu Zhu and Mei Jie busied themselves offering a chair and pouring tea. Li Xiao Nan rested her chin on her hand, watching Sister-in-law Yin.
Sister-in-law Yin’s complexion wasn’t very good; she was clearly angry.
“Has the Xiucai Scholar not returned yet?” Sister-in-law Yin took a sip of tea and looked around, making polite small talk.
“It’s almost Mid-Autumn Festival. Yesterday, he went to Kunshan County to deliver festival gifts,” Li Jin Zhu said with a smile.
“Your Xiucai Scholar is truly good, learned, good-tempered, and even better as a person. That girl from the Gao family is truly blessed,” Sister-in-law Yin said with emotion.
“Did Big Brother upset Sister-in-law?” Li Xiao Nan asked with a smile.
“Look at this little girl, see how clever she is!” Sister-in-law Yin smiled halfway, then stopped smiling and sighed, “When I was young, I loved listening to storytelling. Those stories often said that women have short hair and short knowledge, that women are weak and forget favors for profit. But in my life, from what I’ve experienced and seen, it’s all men who have short knowledge and forget favors for profit!”
Li Jin Zhu looked at Li Yu Zhu in surprise, hearing Sister-in-law Yin’s heavy words.
Li Xiao Nan rested her chin on her hand, waiting for Sister-in-law Yin to continue.
She loved talking with Sister-in-law Yin the most; she didn’t even need to speak, just listening to Sister-in-law Yin was enough.
“We’re not outsiders, so I won’t beat around the bush, I’ll speak directly!
“As soon as I got home, Da Bao’s father came over. You didn’t see his old face, all flushed and shining, his eyes practically glowing!
“He immediately started telling me that Old Yu Xing from the Silk Guild’s brother-in-law had found him. After this sentence, he went on to talk about Old Yu Xing, saying that the Silk Guild is an official guild, how powerful it is, how powerful it is, dozens of times more powerful than the Pingjiang Prefectural Yamen. This Old Yu Xing, only in his early thirties, has already become a Senior Guild Member, and not only that, but he’s President Shi’s confidant, no, his most trusted confidant! The most, most trusted!
“Pah!”
Sister-in-law Yin spat forcefully.
“As if by saying this, the other person’s abilities and brilliance would become his!”
“Then he continued, saying that the brother-in-law said I should go be the shopkeeper for their family, and that they would double what I earn here.
“You didn’t see his old face. I asked him, ‘Did you agree?’ He wagged his five fingers at me. I spat in his face right then and there. I said, ‘Then you go! They found you, you’re amazing, you’re incredible, you’ve become capable, then you go!'”
Li Jin Zhu tightly pursed her lips.
Li Xiao Nan chimed in, “Old Yu Xing’s family wants to poach you, why didn’t they come to the shop to find you? Why go through this roundabout way? Do they think Big Brother is an honest person and easy to talk to?”
“Because they are all men! Women are not people; men must be in charge! Pah!” Sister-in-law Yin spat again.
Li Xiao Nan slowly said “Oh,” and stared blankly for a moment, then suddenly exclaimed, “From now on, we’ll only do business with women!”
Sister-in-law Yin was startled by her shout, “What’s wrong with this little girl?”
“I’ve been thinking about how to make our fine cloth business different from others. Now I’ve figured it out. Look, we’re all women, right? Then we’ll do business for women! We’ll lend our looms to women, sign contracts with women, buy fine cloth only from women, and put the copper coins into women’s hands!” Li Xiao Nan’s voice soared.
“Oh, that’s wonderful! I like that!” Sister-in-law Yin exclaimed with a laugh.
