Chapter 268: Preparation
After Gu Yan saw Li Xiaonan off, he paced a few times in the courtyard and instructed for Mr. Zhou to be invited to the study for a talk.
Zhou Shennian arrived quickly.
Gu Yan gestured for Zhou Shennian to sit and said directly, “Something has come up.”
Zhou Shennian immediately became nervous, holding his breath and looking at Gu Yan.
“Mother likely knows about Miss Li’s situation. My marriage cannot be delayed any further. I plan to accompany Miss Li back to handle this matter before returning,” Gu Yan said without looking at Zhou Shennian.
Zhou Shennian was extremely surprised. He never expected that “something has come up” would refer to this, nor that Gu Yan would need to rush back to Jianle City for it.
“Young Lord, the cleanup of the Maritime Tax Bureau is at a critical juncture. If you leave, won’t it be abandoned halfway?”
“I invited you here, Teacher, to discuss how to stabilize the cleanup of the Maritime Tax Bureau,” Gu Yan looked at Zhou Shennian.
“How can it be stabilized without the Young Lord present?” Zhou Shennian was somewhat angered. To abandon important state affairs for personal romantic matters was simply outrageous!
“As Teacher knows, Miss Li and I are mutually in love. If I don’t hurry back, Miss Li and I will be separated forever. I will have to face a woman I don’t wish to marry, and Miss Li’s life might be in danger. If that were to happen, it would be too tragic, wouldn’t it? As for the Maritime Tax Bureau cleanup, if it can be properly arranged, it doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t be delayed,” Gu Yan bowed slightly, appearing extremely sincere.
Zhou Shennian was stunned for a moment, then sighed and nodded.
Gu Yan was slightly surprised; he hadn’t expected to persuade Zhou Shennian so easily.
“How does the Young Lord plan to delay it? Continue the progress at a slower pace, or temporarily halt it?” Zhou Shennian asked.
“What are Teacher’s thoughts?” Gu Yan countered.
“I believe it is not advisable to halt it, but if we are to continue, relying solely on Huang Xianzhou will certainly not suffice.”
“Teacher, you’ve spoken with Mr. Ge a few times. What do you think of Jiang Jianrong? Is he capable?” Gu Yan smiled; the suggestion to continue the progress aligned perfectly with his own plans.
“Mr. Ge is meticulous and cautious, and Director Jiang is also a careful person. He overthinks things, and I fear he might waver back and forth,” Zhou Shennian frowned.
“I’m not afraid of him wavering,” Gu Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, then continued with a smile, “Let Teacher take overall charge, how about it?”
“Regarding Mr. Dongxi’s intention to take Miss Li as a disciple, what are the Young Lord’s plans?” Zhou Shennian asked, not answering directly.
“A Nan doesn’t wish to become a disciple, and I also feel it’s unnecessary,” Gu Yan replied frankly.
Zhou Shennian frowned. “If that’s the case, Mr. Dongxi will need to be accommodated. With the Maritime Tax Bureau cleanup continuing, the sponsorship originally received from the Silk Guild for various academies and literary gatherings will undoubtedly be greatly affected. If Mr. Dongxi were in Jiangnan, he certainly wouldn’t stand by idly. If scholars were to cause trouble, or if other public sentiments arose, then…”
Gu Yan knitted his brows.
Zhou Shennian also furrowed his brow tightly. After a moment, a spark lit up in his eyes, and he lowered his voice, “Why not use the matter of discipleship to entice Mr. Dongxi to travel north with us?”
“If Dongxi travels north, then Teacher should not remain in Jiangnan, and what about the Maritime Tax Bureau…” Gu Yan interjected quickly, paused for a moment, then continued, “Hmm, there’s also one more person… Then it’s settled. Mr. Dongxi’s affairs will be entirely arranged by Teacher. For Jiang Jianrong, Teacher, please meet with Mr. Ge and speak frankly. Before I depart, I will meet with Jiang Jianrong.”
“Alright. When does the Young Lord plan to depart?” Zhou Shennian stood up and asked again.
“The sooner the better, within ten days,” Gu Yan stood up as well.
“Alright.” A hint of doubt crossed Zhou Shennian’s mind. Departing within ten days was too rushed. Was it solely because of the marriage?
…
Yao Wu and Wang Yuting returned to the inn after a day of running around, arriving at the same time as Li Jinzhu.
Seeing the three enter, Sister-in-law Yin quickly fetched a teapot from the warm room and poured three cups of tea.
“We’ve asked at all the weaving workshops in Hangcheng, big and small. A few heard of a fine cloth even finer than silk, but that’s all they heard. Others haven’t heard anything at all, and don’t know who could weave such fine cloth,” A Wu said, slumping onto a seat and picking up a cup of tea.
“When we said we wanted fine cloth even finer than silk, they asked why we wouldn’t just use silk. They said if you weave fine cloth finer than silk, it would be as expensive as silk, so why not use silk? I think they have a point,” Yu Ting added.
Li Jinzhu’s expression was solemn. After a moment of silence, she looked at Sister-in-law Yin and said, “We won’t look for weavers anymore. When A Nan originally wanted to do this fine cloth business, she wanted to make fine cloth that everyone could weave, fine cloth that was cheap and good, affordable for everyone. It wasn’t about weaving fine cloth that was finer and more expensive than silk. This path is wrong. We won’t do business like Gui Jin Workshop anymore.”
“The price at Gui Jin Workshop… Forget it, forget it. Yu Ting is right. Even if it could be woven, it would be too expensive. If we don’t do it, we don’t do it,” Sister-in-law Yin thought of the prices Gui Jin Workshop offered and waved her hand with a pang of regret. “You must all be starving. Let’s go down to eat first.”
“Wait,” Li Jinzhu looked at Yu Ting and A Wu. “Do you know where A Nan lives?”
Yu Ting and A Wu nodded in unison.
“Then go find A Nan and bring all the luggage and horses,” Li Jinzhu continued.
“What happened?” Sister-in-law Yin blurted out.
“You two hurry up,” Li Jinzhu urged Yu Ting and A Wu first.
A Wu leaped up. “You pack the things, I’ll go get the horses!”
Yu Ting looked at Li Jinzhu. Seeing Li Jinzhu wave her off, she quickly went inside to pack.
“What happened?” Sister-in-law Yin sat down next to Li Jinzhu.
“A Nan said she’s going to Jianle City with Fourth Mistress Wei and the Young Lord, and they’re departing in the next two days,” Li Jinzhu said, lowering her eyes.
“Ah!” Sister-in-law Yin exclaimed, “What happened? Why?”
“They say the Prince’s Estate is urging the Young Lord’s marriage. Let’s not talk about this. From now on, our business will rely on ourselves,” Li Jinzhu suppressed her overwhelming anxiety and worry.
“Is A Nan going to meet her in-laws? This is a good thing! A very good thing!” Sister-in-law Yin, also filled with anxiety, spoke a little louder, comforting Li Jinzhu and steadying herself.
“Let’s not talk about this anymore!” Li Jinzhu said forcefully.
“Alright, alright. We won’t talk about it. Let’s, yes, let’s go eat. We must eat! Let’s eat, and A Wu… I’m talking too much again. Let’s go eat! What do you want to eat? Just the two of us, one dish will be enough.” Sister-in-law Yin spoke incoherently, constantly chattering to suppress the indescribable fear and excitement in her heart.
…
The Prince’s Estate Villa. As dawn was just breaking, Gu Yan, escorted by his guards and servants, exited the villa gate and rode his horse straight towards Linhai Town.
At the entrance of the small courtyard where Li Xiaonan lived, next to the Imperial Examination Hall, A Wu led her and Yu Ting’s prized horses out. They mounted the horses and rode straight towards Li Family Market in Kunshan County.
