Chapter 92: Warning (Part I)

"The matter with Siqing Fang has been settled with Manager Yu over there. We'll be able to deliver the goods before the sixth of October, and after that, there shouldn't be any issues. I was thinking..."

The heavy rain engulfed the Su family courtyard, with water droplets falling from the eaves like a curtain. In the brightly lit guest room, with oil lamps flickering, Xi Junyu was discussing the progress of the business with Su Tan'er. Meanwhile, Xing'er approached with a handkerchief for him to wipe off the rainwater on his clothes. Shortly after, Juan'er entered with a tea tray and placed a plate of snacks on the small table next to Xi Junyu.

"Please have some tea, Manager Xi."

"Thank you, Juan'er," Xi Junyu nodded with a smile, then continued talking to Su Tan'er about business matters. "Since things have started moving at Siqing Fang, I think we can invest about ten thousand taels in Yuanzhou to build two dyeing workshops and warehouses. This way, Yuanzhou can act as a hub to expand further around the area, and it should be almost certain to succeed..."

After finishing his point, he waited for Su Tan'er's response. The Su family's business expansion usually followed this pattern, but at this moment, Su Tan'er took a sip of tea, looked at him, and spoke softly, "Yuanzhou... although the timing is right, it's not the most pressing matter right now. We'll talk about it again later."

Su Tan'er's voice was gentle, and this response was exactly what Xi Junyu had expected. However, her gaze left him somewhat puzzled. When he had first met Su Tan'er, she was only a twelve-year-old girl, but as she had begun to take part in the family business, over the past few years, this girl, now a young woman who was formally married, often left him with things he couldn't quite understand.

Of course, it was just a slight feeling. He still understood most of her character—especially the pressure she carried and the effort she put in under such pressure.

A few years earlier, when Su Tan'er was approaching fourteen or fifteen, she began working alongside him and other managers, discussing various business strategies. Occasionally, she would have startling ideas, but most of the time, her suggestions were somewhat awkward. When pointed out, she would smile sheepishly and say, "Oh, so that's how it is..."

Her character was soft and humble, treating everyone kindly without ever losing her temper. If a servant made a mistake, she wouldn't be angry, and if others gossiped because of her gender, she didn't mind. Of course, sometimes she found herself in situations where she didn't know how to respond. After all, she was just a fifteen-year-old girl. At those times, she would remain silent, smiling faintly, her lips pressed together as she waited in silence.

Human emotions are strange; there's no clear dividing line. Xi Junyu himself didn't know when he decided to stay at the Su family's textile business. He had grown up in a poor family—his mother died young, and his father was sickly and a heavy drinker. He was exceptionally bright as a child, and originally thought he would have a good future by continuing his studies. But when he started working at the textile shop to earn some extra pocket money, he never imagined he would stay for so long.

Smart people are quick at anything. Xi Junyu was confident that he could excel at anything, not just business. After working in the textile business for a while, he began to understand human nature, and in his eyes, everything in the world came down to understanding these shifts. Studying was merely a side issue.

During his time working part-time at the shop, he helped close several deals, and the money he earned helped his family's finances. At that time, he still intended to go back to studying, but later... the reason he stayed at the Su family's shop had a lot to do with that young girl who kept running the shop.

He had thought it through—his family was poor, and pursuing the imperial exams would be troublesome. Just the costs of bribes and connections were unaffordable. The idea of having money was quite practical. Back then, he set a relatively ideal course for himself: work at the Su family's shop, become a manager, and then marry into the family. Once Su Tan'er took control of the Su family, they could share the power equally.

By then, he was already showing promise in the shop, and he worked very well with the diligent fifteen-year-old girl, complementing her efforts. Any slip-ups she made, he could fix quickly. When he realized that Su Biyong and Su Tan'er had plans for him, he understood that one day, Su Tan'er would need a husband to marry into the family. He clearly saw himself as the most ideal candidate and didn't mind this arrangement.

Incompetent people often look to their status or other inherent factors, but for truly capable people, they understand that their ability is what matters most. As for him, he believed that confidence would give him a chance to shine, no matter where he was. He couldn't change the fact that he came from a poor family, but entering the family through marriage wasn't something unacceptable.

Su Tan'er understood her own abilities, and he knew her personality as well. With such mutual understanding, after marriage, they would be the ideal partners. Some people might criticize him for marrying into the family, but that didn't matter. As long as his abilities were demonstrated, others would soon see his worth. In a year or two... facts would change everything. Su Tan'er also bore the weight of her responsibilities and would push forward with determination—why shouldn't he?

Unfortunately, things didn't go as he expected. The Su family must have considered him—surely they did—but in the end, after the patriarch made the decision, they chose an incompetent scholar.

The Su family... had only chosen him to control the family better.

Sometimes, being too capable becomes a flaw. Xi Junyu thought sarcastically. Then he thought, if he had been the one to arrange the marriage, Su Tan'er wouldn't have made an excuse to run away on their wedding day.

At the time, he was confident. When he learned that they had chosen Ning Yi, he was shocked. He had thought about confessing his love to Su Tan'er, but at that moment, he realized how distant she had kept him. Perhaps she had once called him "Brother Junyu," but soon after, she had started addressing him as "Manager Xi," and continued to call him that ever since.

She might have been gentle and kind, lively and charming, and sometimes even playful and humorous. But more often than not, this girl had kept part of her mind on the sidelines, observing. That part of her might have found things interesting or curious, and when she watched, she would smile cutely. But she always maintained an attitude of observing and learning. Smart people pick things up quickly, and Xi Junyu knew that from the start.

That was when he realized that his affection for her had become difficult to express, because she hadn't been as close as he had imagined.

He was also a proud person. If he had gone over to speak to her, the outwardly gentle girl might have appeared incredibly warm, soft, and even heartbreakingly sad. But the heart observing from the sidelines never took him seriously, and that was something he couldn't tolerate.

Later, after Su Tan'er married, she adopted the attitude of a wife, something he had already expected. The issue of identity had always been the primary reason for her marriage. He wasn't sure how things would unfold with that scholar, but Su Tan'er would never let on about any dissatisfaction on the surface. However, the scholar could never truly understand the inner workings of his wife.

Thinking back, it seemed both amusing and pitiable. They had never shared a bed, and though things had unfolded in an unexpected way, the scholar did seem to have some scholarly merit. But in any case, the outward harmony between them would certainly mask the underlying discord. No one, except for himself, could truly understand Su Tan'er. The heart hidden behind her exterior was one born of long-term pressure and loneliness, forced to become clear-eyed in order to cope.

To take charge of the Su family as a woman, there would always be resistance. Even when she cried, no one would genuinely sympathize. Even the managers under her, when guided by Su Boyong, would still be mindful of the fact that the head of the family was a woman. No matter how hard she proved herself, even if she became someone like Wu Zetian at the age of 45 or 50, people would still consider her a woman. She would have to maintain an absolute clarity behind the scenes.

[Wu Zetian (624–705 AD) was the only female emperor in Chinese history, ruling during the Tang Dynasty. Initially a concubine, she became empress consort and later declared herself emperor in 690 AD, establishing the Zhou Dynasty. Known for her intelligence and political reforms, she promoted meritocracy and supported Buddhism. Wu Zetian remains a significant figure in Chinese history, symbolizing female empowerment.]

It was somewhat cold, lonely, and pitiable. She needed someone who could truly support her through thick and thin. Xi Junyu liked that feeling, but for now, he could only like and accept the status quo. The facts had already occurred, and complaining was futile; what mattered now was what to do next.

Sometimes, he felt that the shadow deep within Su Tan'er's heart was something he couldn't quite see. She was constantly growing, but in some sense, Su Tan'er was almost like someone he had taught. In the coming years, she likely wouldn't lose control.

As for the situation in Yuanzhou, Su Tan'er had already made her decision. He was just the "Manager"—his identity need not be elaborated upon. When necessary, the two of them could converse freely. Now, Xi Junyu continued talking about some amusing stories he'd heard from the Manager of Si Qing Fang, and then he linked it to the recent situation with the refugees, analyzing possible events inside and outside the city. He knew what Su Tan'er liked to hear, and she was indeed listening attentively, nodding occasionally and asking a few questions with a curiosity that had not changed over the years. After all, this was still a time when news didn't travel fast, so many of the details he shared were new to her.

He casually mentioned the matter of Xiao Chan's father's funeral and when Ning Yi would return. He only touched on it briefly, hinting at his own existence and subtly differentiating himself from Ning Yi. Although some things might not have entered her heart, tonight they might chat longer, and with Ning Yi due back tomorrow, he wondered if he should express it more directly.

Just then, Xing'er ran in holding an umbrella, looking quite happy. She smiled and nodded at Xi Junyu before rushing over to Su Tan'er's side. "Master and Xiao Chan have returned."

"Really?" The first to speak was Juan'er, who stood behind Su Tan'er. Su Tan'er also raised her head, smiling, but furrowing her brow at the same time. "In this heavy rain, they came back so late? Did they get wet?"

"Not really. Oh, Dongzhu, who drove the carriage, got wet. Master told him to take a bath first, then ordered the kitchen to prepare some food. They've been on the road all day, so I'm guessing they didn't eat much for dinner."

"Mhm." Su Tan'er thought for a moment. "Xing'er, go tell the kitchen to prepare some of Master's favorite dishes, and make a bowl of millet porridge. I'm a little hungry myself. I'll go over later... Also, prepare some chilled snow fungus soup for Geng Huyuan and Dongzhu to help them cool down after their long journey. They don't usually eat this, but you and Juan'er can help yourselves to some if you'd like. I don't need any. After Master and Xiao Chan have dinner, they probably won't want any more. Um, Manager Xi, would you like some?"

"I'm fine. Since Master Ning and Xiao Chan have returned, I don't have anything urgent. I'll take my leave."

Xi Junyu smiled calmly, and Su Tan'er nodded in acknowledgment.

"Since that's the case, I'll walk you out, Manager Xi."

"No need, the rain's heavy."

"It's fine. Besides, I'd like to hear more about the plan for Yuanzhou that you mentioned earlier."

"You really want to hear?!" Xi Junyu couldn't help but smile inwardly, but as he raised the umbrella and walked with Su Tan'er and Juan'er outside, he continued to share the details of his plan, from Yuanzhou's local customs to the various officials and key points. Su Tan'er nodded and listened intently.

The sound of rain was deafening. At times, as they walked along these paths, the distant lights of the courtyards were barely visible, giving the impression that, in the vast Su family estate, it was just the three of them walking through the rain. As they neared the side door, they could see people rushing in and out, all in a hurry. His followers were waiting by the gatehouse. When they reached a covered corridor where they didn't need to hold an umbrella, Xi Junyu took a deep breath.

"In fact, in the past year, although the Su family seems to be growing steadily, money has been siphoned off from various places. I'm very clear about this. You've already made preparations. This matter is too big to ignore. You didn't want to mention it, and I shouldn't have either. But... it's really too big. If it fails, do you understand what that would mean?"

Su Tan'er stopped walking, looking at him silently for a moment. She pursed her lips, saying nothing. Her eyes were complex, almost apologetic, as if saying, "Sorry, I can't share everything with you. After all, I have to oversee everything..." Xi Junyu didn't mind this. He simply shook his head, sighed, and said,

"I don't know when you started thinking this way. Maybe it was a few years ago. You wanted to get the Imperial Merchant title. You wanted to be the Emperor's Merchant. Am I right?" He looked at Su Tan'er, pausing for a moment.

"A few years ago, it might've been easier. But since last year, the Xue family has been eyeing the Imperial Merchant title, and the Wu family has been considering it as well. Your plan, now, is running into the most difficult moment. Do you know this?" The warning in his words was sharp, like a thunderclap in the rain.