Chapter 222: Everyone Has Their Own Abacus
Watching Yu Chengfu and Young Master Shi leave the hanging flower gate one after another, Old Master Xu’s face darkened. He snorted coldly and ordered, “Call He Wang over.”
Xu Daye, Old Master Xu’s eldest son, opened his mouth to ask but was stopped by Old Master Xu raising his hand.
He Wang entered almost immediately.
Old Master Xu ordered, “Follow Old Master Yu quietly and see which household he goes to.”
He Wang acknowledged and withdrew, hands clasped at his sides.
“Father? What do we do?” Xu Daye looked at his father.
“What do you mean, what do we do! That scoundrel Yu is always jumping around, has he ever been content? He probably thinks the opportunity has arrived. Look at him, his words always revolve around the Prince’s Estate, bah!”
Old Master Xu spat fiercely.
He detested people like Yu Chengfu who schemed their way to the top. He had never given Yu Chengfu a second glance, bah!
“Some of the things he said have a bit of sense,” Xu Daye said, frowning.
“Hmph, we don’t need him to say that!” Old Master Xu spat again. He was truly fed up with this Old Master Yu.
“Not collecting autumn silkworm cocoons, that’s nonsense! After this season of autumn silkworm cocoons, the next will be in April or May next year. Which weaving workshop can afford to be idle for half a year? Which one can wait until the spring silkworm cocoons? Humph!” Old Master Xu was furious.
He had already been seething with anger about the weaving workshops stopping work.
Normally, all the benefits were divided among those few families in the general store. Now that trouble had arisen, they were being told to stop work!
“If Yu doesn’t come, we’ll have to collect the autumn silkworm cocoons ourselves.”
“What about the trade association?” Xu Daye instinctively lowered his voice.
“Can’t you be discreet!” Old Master Xu glared at his son impatiently.
“Father is right to scold me.” Xu Daye quickly admitted his mistake. His father had been very short-tempered lately.
“You will personally oversee the collection of this year’s autumn silkworm cocoons. Choose reliable new faces, collect the cocoons, and send them to the manor that was my wife’s dowry to be reeled.”
It seemed Old Master Xu had already planned the matter of collecting autumn silkworm cocoons.
“Collect as much as you can, and drive down the price. There are plenty of fools in the trade association,” Old Master Xu said, leaning forward slightly and lowering his voice.
“Don’t worry, Father!” Xu Daye replied, stood up, and walked out.
Old Master Xu watched his son leave, crossed his legs, and slowly swayed, deep in thought.
In Pingjiang City, Xiangyun Workshop alone accounted for half the market. Although the Zhu family had no one in the Pingjiang Silk Trade Association, the Zhu family still called the shots there.
Moreover, even though President Zhu had been executed, the Zhu family still had an Old President. Furthermore, the Zhu clan had many talented individuals. Hmm, perhaps that Old President was currently in Pingjiang City. There was a villa belonging to the Zhu family in East City.
Hmm, let’s see which senior guild members Yu met. I’ll invite everyone Yu met over later to probe them. We’ll talk about the Zhu family’s influence and ideally scare them all. If they all remain inactive, after this incident, perhaps we can acquire one or two weaving workshops!
Among the senior guild members, Old Ren is the most cunning. How should I talk to him? I need to think carefully…
Old Master Xu knitted his brows, calculating meticulously.
…
Yu Chengfu, accompanied by Young Master Shi, visited the homes of seven senior guild members. The response from all seven was identical: this was a major matter, and they needed time to consider it before replying tomorrow.
The next morning, Yu Chengfu visited each household again.
This time, everyone had a reply, and they were all identical: although the Jiangnan Silk General Store was an honorary position, it was still a Sixth Rank yamen, and behind it stood an unknown power they could not afford to offend, so they dared not step forward.
Senior Guild Member Fang, being straightforward, directly stated that he would not be the one to stick his neck out.
However, Senior Guild Member Ren spoke to him warmly: he was old and could not withstand storms, so he asked Yu Chengfu for understanding. If Yu Chengfu was collecting autumn silkworm cocoons, could he also collect the quantity from their weaving workshop? Yu Chengfu would not need to advance any silver; he would send the silver notes to Yu Chengfu’s home shortly.
Yu Chengfu, filled with frustration, reluctantly went to the villa to report to Zhou Shennian.
…
Although Li Xiaonan had told Wan Jing that her Young Lord’s return had nothing to do with her, Li Xiaonan still stayed home and didn’t go out the day Gu Yan returned to Pingjiang City.
Around the time of Shen (afternoon), Wan Jing arrived to pick up Li Xiaonan, on the orders of her Young Lord!
Actually, Li Xiaonan didn’t need Wan Jing to say anything. Seeing the dish with three small pastries in the middle, she knew her Young Lord had returned to the villa.
“I’m exhausted these past two days!” Wan Jing twisted her neck. “I started busy as soon as I got back the day before yesterday. I’m considered lucky; those working in the Young Lord’s courtyard were scrubbing until midnight yesterday! My hands are all wrinkled!”
“Ah? That must be so dirty! Was it not cleaned since your Young Lord left?” Li Xiaonan asked in surprise.
“Look at what you’re saying!” Wan Jing gave Li Xiaonan a glare. “According to Uncle Hong, it’s not about being dirty or not. When our Young Lord returns, no matter how clean it is, it must be scrubbed from top to bottom. This is respect for the master!”
Li Xiaonan picked up the last pastry. “A waste of labor and resources.”
Wan Jing’s eyes darted around, and she chuckled, lowering her voice, “I think so too!”
“Shi Gun is back too?” Li Xiaonan looked at the empty dish, licking her lips.
She had just tasted it, and it was gone!
“Look at your question. When our Young Lord returns, how could Shi Gun not return?” Wan Jing gave Li Xiaonan another glare.
“Perhaps he was assigned a task or something. Is Shi Gun alright? He must be exhausted from this trip. Where is the Crown Prince? Has he left?” Li Xiaonan had no choice but to pick up her cup and sip tea.
“Shi Gun is tanned and seems to have lost a little weight. I didn’t ask about the Crown Prince; I forgot. Shi Gun was very busy. He rushed over, said to send his regards to you, and then ran off,” Wan Jing pouted.
“Did you see your Young Lord?”
“No, it was a servant from the second gate who passed on the message. He said the Young Lord dismounted at the second gate and immediately ordered me to come and fetch you.”
“If he was sending for me, there was no need to change clothes, so I came out quickly. I was still dozens of steps away from the second gate when Shi Gun ran over and said to bring my regards. There were still a pile of chests and boxes at the second gate,” Wan Jing whispered to Li Xiaonan.
“Then did you see that Mr. Zhou?” Li Xiaonan frowned.
Why was she being summoned so urgently? Had something happened?
“No! I only saw him when I delivered a letter to you last time. He is our Young Lord’s staff member. Uncle Hong said this, and we servants are not allowed to inquire about our Young Lord’s staff members!” Wan Jing took the opportunity to explain one of the countless rules of their Prince’s Estate to Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan gave an “Oh” and started talking about other gossip.
The cart quickly stopped inside the second gate of the villa. Li Xiaonan got out of the cart, and together with Wan Jing, followed the servant waiting at the second gate into the villa.
