Chapter 25: Cousin

To direct a business deal's trajectory with a single sentence—even with Ning Yi's previous life's background, equipped with a super-powerful intelligence analysis system and a large advisory team, such a business miracle could only occur under fairly extreme circumstances, and to change a business decision the other party had already made, without coordinated efforts from all aspects, was basically a pipe dream. However, the current situation was different.

What Ning Yi could sense certainly included his keen perception, but things within this scope represented the He family's vital interests—what Ning Yi could casually guess, they might have long suspected, and perhaps before Ning Yi and Su Tan'er's visit, these people were still troubled and suspicious about it. And Ning Yi's casual remark instantly gave them the signal that "the Su family already understands this situation." Unfortunately, Su Tan'er hadn't noticed at all, only certain that the He family's business deal had fallen through.

When it happened, Ning Yi looked helpless, feeling this conditioned reflex was truly unnecessary—he'd done business to the point of obsession, unable to escape calculations for a lifetime. Beside him, Su Tan'er was full of doubts, but a turnaround in the matter was naturally good. She then went back in to discuss business. Ning Yi, who'd originally planned to visit the bookshop in the east city, couldn't leave for the moment. When everyone returned together in the evening, Su Tan'er still looked puzzled in the carriage.

Several more days passed, and approaching the twelfth month, the Su family gradually became lively—though heavy snow fell, the New Year approached. Su family managers from cities near Jiangning began gathering in Jiangning to assess performance and determine bonuses. Additionally, some Su family cousins and relatives would come here for New Year and visits. Daily, people came and went through the front and back gates—already quite a scale.

There were many wealthy households in Jiangning, so such scenes weren't rare at this time each year. These past days, Su Tan'er was busy with dealings with the He family on one hand, while beginning to prepare and verify the year's accounts on the other. She also had to deal with relatives not seen for a long time. Even the three maids Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er had to bustle about constantly. Returning from outside this day, snowflakes still drifting, a row of carriages stopped outside the mansion gate. Su Tan'er entered through the main gate for business, letting her own carriage go to the side entrance. At this time, servants were carrying four or five large boxes through the main gate. She waited outside with Xing'er.

Su Tan'er wore a snow-white fox fur today, the fluffy collar framing her beautiful face, looking both somewhat girlish yet also with the self-possession and independence cultivated over several years—she now had some reputation in Jiangning's business circles. Before marrying in, she'd often worn men's clothing but hadn't overly concealed her female identity, and others viewing her didn't think her a merchant, even feeling she should be a noble lady from some scholarly family. Often after business was concluded, they couldn't sense much sharpness. Only after some time, considering the whole situation, would they secretly sigh that this woman was truly formidable. There were even sayings that if she'd been born male, Jiangning's cloth industry leader might no longer be the Wu family.

In this era favoring men over women, Su Tan'er's identity brought many inconveniences, though actually, men also felt somewhat uncomfortable discussing business with women—whether finding it strange, looking down on her, or being pleased. What made her more capable than others was probably being able to努力 turn these inconveniences into her own advantages, finding usable strengths from unchangeable weaknesses. Looking from Ning Yi's perspective, this might truly be a pitiable struggle. Of course, others couldn't sense this pitifulness, cuteness, or struggle. For those in the Su household, most had already adapted to this Second Miss's temperament—whether her shrewd side, beautiful side, delicate side, or the side gradually supporting the Su family's first branch like gentle rain. Seeing her standing outside now, a nearby manager soon ran over.

"You people, move aside quickly! Don't you see Second Miss has returned!"

The manager waved his hands to hurry people along, and Su Tan'er smiled and walked over: "Never mind, never mind, Uncle Qi. Let them go in first. They've already carried them halfway. Coming out again would waste effort. Go in first, go in first..."

With her word, the manager called Uncle Qi could only let these people slowly enter, and only then did Su Tan'er ask: "Uncle Qi, why aren't these going through the side entrance?"

"Things Third Master bought back—various decorations, said for New Year festivities. These go in the front hall, so seeing probably no one would come for a while, I had people quickly carry them in. Oh right, Second Miss, Provincial Governor Song arrived today. He's at the library pavilion now examining the students' learning..."

"Oh, the Provincial Governor is here?"

The Su family had long been in business, and though not counting as a scholarly family, they naturally had various dealings with officials—most of these relationships weren't very intimate, but with Song Mao, currently serving as provincial governor in the Shenzhou area, there were quite many connections. This was because Second Master Su Zhongkan's principal wife and Song Mao were originally cousin siblings—the Song family had produced several minor officials, and the Su family had also invested considerably when Song Mao rose to position. Thus this Song Mao now counted as one of the Su family's most reliable backers. Though a provincial governor's influence didn't extend to Jiangning, the Su family doing business in the Shenzhou area indeed had many conveniences.

On the other hand, for Song Mao to hold the provincial governor position, his own learning must be extremely outstanding, so these years as the Su family wanted to develop in scholarly directions, when Song Mao visited each New Year, Old Master Su would often arrange for the family's young students to gather once. Additionally finding some familiar teachers and scholars, they'd examine these children's academic progress. Song Mao was known for his upright personality. Each year's academic examination had few compliments, but with his insight, what he said were indeed the most reliable evaluations.

With such an official backer, when he came to Jiangning each year to visit other officials, he'd often reveal some connections with the Su family—naturally another benefit for Su family business. But Song Mao's relationship was ultimately best with Second Uncle's side, so after Su Tan'er heard this, she just nodded without being too delighted. As for examining learning and such, it was the same every year anyway. The Su family temporarily feared having no scholarly destiny. Moreover, her husband was messing around at the academy. Previous teachers wished they could use the entire day for teaching. Her husband only had people read for an hour, using the remaining time to tell stories. Pleasant to hear indeed, but truly hard to understand what benefit it had for learning. She just hoped he wouldn't be scolded this time.

The large boxes over there had been carried in with grunts and groans, then Juan'er, who'd originally stayed in the mansion, ran out panting: "Miss, you're finally back! Cousin Uncle and Cousin Miss have arrived. Cousin Miss is waiting for you... Oh, Manager Xi and Manager Luo just arrived too. It seems the He family matter is settled. They came to report the good news... Hee, Miss, doesn't this count as double happiness?"

The Su family had many cousins, but one Juan'er would address this way—probably only one family. Su Tan'er was the first branch's only child when young. Su Boyong had no sons and harbored some resentment toward producing this only "one without a handle." Though not to the point of frequent beating and scolding, hot and cold treatment was inevitable. After becoming sensible, Su Tan'er as a girl was reclusive for a period, also rebellious and strange for a period. Those who became her friends, besides the three maids Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er later, were probably only the eldest daughter of her cousin uncle Su Yunsong, who was then the Jiangning manager.

Su Yunsong's daughter was named Danhong¹, half a month older than Su Tan'er—in childhood she had an active personality like a boy's, but gradually became gentle as she grew up. Later Su Yunsong went to manage affairs elsewhere, his wife and daughter also leaving Jiangning. But returning each year, the close sisters would always excitedly catch up and talk about the future together. Last year this cousin married. Her husband was also a young manager in the Su family cloth business. Living happily, she'd given birth to a son during Su Tan'er's wedding this year and thus couldn't come. Now hearing from Juan'er that she'd arrived, Su Tan'er became happy: "Wonderful! Where is Cousin now?"

"At the courtyard. She just met Manager Xi and Manager Luo, chatted with them a while. Chan'er is there too."

Su Tan'er thought: "Good, I'll go first. Juan'er, you and Xing'er first deliver these account books. The ones on top go to the accounting office, the ones below to Master." Xing'er following behind carried a large stack of account books. Su Tan'er now gave instructions, parting ways with the two maids. She tightened the silver-white fox fur on her body, smiling as she headed toward the inner courtyard.

What two women gossip about together probably has no fixed pattern, though what two recently married sisters who haven't seen each other for many days gossip about would probably be matters concerning their respective husbands.

Passing through courtyards and snowy paths between gardens, before reaching her own residence, Su Tan'er saw her long-absent cousin—as if corresponding with her beautiful name, the beautiful and gentle woman still wore red even after marriage. After brief pleasantries, she asked about Su Tan'er's husband Ning Yi.

"Sister has wanted to meet this brother-in-law since early on. Unfortunately transportation was inconvenient during your wedding. Later I also heard some things, but... heh, how is it? How exactly is my brother-in-law?"

Chatting about her husband with such an intimate person, unable to be polite and perfunctory, Su Tan'er's face reddened slightly: "Hard to say. Didn't Sister Hong see Liheng when you came?"

"No, I originally thought he'd gone out with you. Asked Xiao Chan and it wasn't so. Just now I did see Xi Junyu and Manager Luo..."

Su Tan'er thought: "Oh, Provincial Governor Song also came earlier. The library pavilion is examining students' knowledge. Liheng is now an academy teacher, probably over there."

"Actually in previous years, I originally thought Uncle would recruit Xi Junyu for you..." Cousin said thoughtfully, then seeing Su Tan'er frown with a puzzled look, she smiled: "Let's not talk about that. About this brother-in-law, Sister has also inquired about some news. That Water Melody Prelude tune—Sister heard it sung daily even in Hangzhou. Originally thought it was just someone with the same name, but later learned it was actually family... But honestly, arriving here, I heard some strange talk..."

Evaluations of Ning Yi naturally wouldn't actively spread too much in society, but those with connections wanting to inquire could always get various opinions. Moreover, with her status, she could naturally learn quite a bit about Su Tan'er and Ning Yi's interaction mode after arriving. The sisters had deep feelings. She truly cared about Su Tan'er's thoughts in this area. Now she chattered about some things, then said: "Hearsay can't be fully believed. Whether this brother-in-law Liheng has talent, what his abilities are—let's not discuss that first... But what exactly you're thinking, Sister would like to know."

She was after all experienced, asking these things tactfully. Ultimately she still needed to know Su Tan'er's thoughts before saying anything. Su Tan'er was silent a moment, then lowered her head and smiled.

"Sister, you know Tan'er's previous thoughts. Husband... his learning, truly hard to say. But his temperament is indifferent. Speaking of suitable, he's indeed the most suitable husband for Tan'er."

Cousin looked at her several times, then smiled: "This sounds like accepting fate..."

"When bored before, idly fantasizing, naturally I hoped my future husband could be cultured and martial, with good temperament, and not prevent me from inheriting the family business. But this was ultimately fantasy. Looking at these days, if it can truly continue like this, I fear it's quite good. Husband... perhaps has some abilities, just an indifferent temperament. Sometimes he might do strange things, but doesn't gloss over faults or be evasive. Speaking of it, he's also open and honest..."

As she spoke, she raised her head—snowflakes were falling from the sky: "When married, thinking of the future, I felt afraid and angry in my heart, so I simply left Jiangning. When returning, I also gritted my teeth to make the decision. But thinking now, if it continues like this, I won't feel troubled. I suppose it's like this. Perhaps somewhat accepting fate, but indeed it's... not disagreeable..."

Endless snowflakes enveloped the entire Su family mansion, swirling to cover Jiangning city, and on this stretch of road, two women in red and white walked through the snow—after a moment of silence, the gentle woman smiled, turning from the serious topic.

"So saying, no business talent..."

"No... er, he's not interested..."

"No literary talent..."

"Also not really, but... heh, he teaches carelessly. His disciples are in the examination ahead. I fear they'll be scolded..."

"Ha, so saying... my husband wins!"

"...How can you compare like that... I won't compare."

The sound of laughter came, melting into the endless white dancing snow—vision swept across continuous large and small courtyards, gathering at the library pavilion in front of the Su mansion where heating braziers burned around and a family-significance academic examination was currently proceeding to its midpoint...

(End of Chapter)

1. Danhong: Literally "red cinnabar," a fitting name for someone who favors red clothing ↑