"Actually, when about to reach Jiangning, I'd already heard people talking about how formidable you are. They also said Tan'er recently secured the He family, turning clouds and rain with a flip of the hand¹, simply possessing supernatural abilities. Father said the He family's supply source wasn't originally the most important, but these two years they'd already committed to the Xue family—truly a situation no one could change. Now that Tan'er has secured them, the flexibility for dispatching supplies in several nearby regions next spring has more than doubled."

Walking forward, Cousin discussed these matters with Su Tan'er—she herself was a merchant family's daughter, married to a husband who was now also a Su family manager, so she was naturally familiar with these matters. In urgent situations, she could probably serve as half a manager. Hearing her mention this, Su Tan'er also smiled.

"Sister Hong, don't talk about this. Even now we're not very clear why the He family changed their minds. Moreover, the He family matter is still being discussed these days. Who knows if it's completely settled."

"It's already settled—when I just met Xi Junyu and Manager Luo, they came to report the good news."

After joking a few sentences, the two women entered the courtyard ahead—this wasn't the courtyard where Su Tan'er and Ning Yi usually lived, but it was only separated by a wall and was normally used to receive outside guests related to Su Tan'er. Occasionally when something urgent arose, several managers would gather here to discuss strategies. When Su Tan'er and Su Danhong entered, Chan'er was in the courtyard's living room, holding a tea tray while chatting and laughing with two managers. Seeing Su Tan'er arrive, she hurried out.

The two managers who'd come were one old and one young—the elder surnamed Luo was considered a Su family veteran who, when Old Master Su was young, had been an apprentice at the Su family, later following Su Boyong before being assigned to assist Su Tan'er. Experienced and steady in handling affairs, he was one of Su Tan'er's most reliable assistants. The young man beside him looked only a few years older than Su Tan'er, with refined and handsome features, confidence contained within. His name was Xi Junyu, extremely capable in business. Since becoming a Su family manager, he'd assisted Su Tan'er in completing several major deals. Reportedly the Wu family had once tried to recruit him, but he hadn't agreed. He was Su Tan'er's most outstanding assistant. Hardly anyone doubted that once Su Tan'er established her footing, this Xi Junyu would immediately become a regional head manager without question.

Cousin was also familiar with these two and had already greeted them earlier, so now everyone was casual, sitting down in the living room while Xi Junyu took out a contract from his chest and first smilingly told Su Tan'er the main business for coming.

"The business with the He family has been settled—honestly, I didn't expect it to go so smoothly. The He family was also straightforward, with prices basically following this year's precedent, but next year raw silk prices should rise. Calculated this way, it's equivalent to us pressing them down half a percent. The contract is signed. This matter is settled."

"That's good. Manager Xi, Manager Luo, you've worked hard."

Xi Junyu smiled and shook his head, looking magnanimous: "I don't dare claim credit for this. The business was secured by Miss... But speaking of which, actually if Miss hadn't visited that day, perhaps the He family would have sought us out anyway. It turns out they'd already been suspecting the Xue family would make moves these days. Probably because Miss said something that day, that's why they became so straightforward this time."

The girl in silver-white fox fur looked at the contract, then also shook her head with a smile: "This was already guessed at the time—it's just strange why they suddenly made up their minds."

Xi Junyu smiled happily, waving his hand again: "Actually these days we've also been analyzing the Xue family's movements and reached a conclusion—the news that the Xue family would abandon Luzhou to shift focus to Shouzhou... hehe, nine times out of ten it's false. They've indeed made some adjustments recently that look somewhat like it, but because it isn't true, they didn't notify the He family. Unfortunately He Jun of the He family is famously cautious and sensitive in business. I don't know much about these matters, but Old Luo should be very clear."

Manager Luo nodded: "Indeed so. In early years the He family had difficulties. Once the He family rejected a business deal worth nearly fifty thousand strings of cash because they feared risk. Others scolded them for lacking boldness. Who knew that half a year later, several merchants who'd taken on this business were all implicated. If the He family had accepted then, they'd probably have gone bankrupt long ago. He Jun has this kind of personality—he'd rather earn less but reduce risk to the minimum. Because of this, though the He family isn't the richest now, they indeed walk most steadily."

The old man also smiled as he spoke: "But this time they were indeed overly sensitive—if we'd talked with them a few days later, perhaps they'd have clarified matters and this contract would have fallen through again."

Xi Junyu continued: "Because of this, when negotiating conditions I pretended not to know, only appearing urgent to settle. I imagine that He Jun thought he was taking advantage of us, secretly delighted. Haha, in a few days, the Xue family people will probably be cursing."

This matter was inherently interesting—a business deal where everyone thought they'd gotten the advantage—and thinking of the Xue family's possible expressions after learning the whole story, everyone in the room laughed happily. But regarding the cause of this matter, it remained a complete mystery.

After joking a few sentences, Manager Luo seemed to be thinking about something, his smile the first to fade, and Su Tan'er sensed this change and smilingly inquired. Manager Luo looked at Xi Junyu, then at Su Tan'er, hesitating to speak. After a moment, he still smiled and spoke: "Regarding this business deal, yesterday I heard about something."

"Oh?"

"Yesterday at the East Market wine shop I met Manager Liu from Plain Silk House—chatted with him a bit, and we also talked about the He family matter."

Hearing him mention Manager Liu from Plain Silk House, Su Tan'er nodded: "Mm, that's right. He was also at the He residence that day, just left half a step early with the manager from Flourishing Fortune House—does he know something about this matter?"

"This matter is strange to tell. This old man isn't clear if it's really so. Manager Liu mentioned yesterday that Miss went with the Young Master that day. After Miss went to admire snow in the garden, He Tingguang was quite disrespectful to the Young Master, with many provocations in his words..."

At this point, Su Tan'er frowned: "I didn't notice this..."

"Heh, He Tingguang naturally wouldn't dare be impudent in front of Miss, but the Young Master has a good temper, speaking appropriately and acting composedly—though just simple sentences, that He Tingguang didn't find any opportunities. Only later He Tingguang kept chattering, and the Young Master casually said something, asking in his words whether the He family's business was in Shouzhou..."

"Ah..." Su Tan'er was slightly stunned, exchanging a puzzled look with her cousin, while Xi Junyu, who'd been sitting aside smiling and listening, focused his gaze, then adjusted his sitting position without showing any change.

"Regarding the specific words, reportedly the Young Master merely mentioned the Xue family simply, asking about Shouzhou matters—He Tingguang even mocked him for not understanding the silk and cloth business at all, saying their family business wasn't in Shouzhou but in Luzhou. Only then did the Young Master realize suddenly, frankly saying he didn't understand these things before, just casually got it wrong. According to Manager Liu, his words and expression truly didn't seem fake, probably mentioned casually, but after he mentioned Shouzhou and the Xue family, He Jun's expression became very complex and later he even said something to a manager... If this is true, this old man feels the Young Master's lucky hit might be the reason the business succeeded..."

The people in the room fell silent for a while—only Xiao Chan holding a tray beside them looked calm—and after a moment, Xi Junyu slowly spoke: "Could it be... the Young Master saw through these things... on purpose?" While speaking, he watched everyone's expressions.

Su Tan'er's brows furrowed more tightly, then looked toward Manager Luo. After all, she, her cousin, and Xi Junyu were all young people around twenty. No matter how outstanding, they couldn't compare to Old Luo's decades of experience. But Manager Luo shook his head.

"I think... it shouldn't be so. Junyu just said the Xue family replacing Luzhou with Shouzhou is itself false. This already eliminates the possibility of getting news from others. Moreover, even if it were true, the whole matter is truly hidden. We didn't notice anything improper at all. It's because the He family is involved in it, more sensitive to grasping matters, plus He Jun's own cautiousness, that they'd treat it as happening. I heard the Young Master isn't interested in business. These days accompanying Miss out, he only hears others' scattered words. To say someone outside the situation could grasp this matter just from idle chatter, could also perceive He Jun's thoughts at the He residence and say exactly that sentence at the right time, this person truly is..."

He thought about it and shook his head: "This is truly hard to believe."

The several people were all familiar with business and naturally knew how fantastical this possibility was. If everything originally had purpose, then whoever could do this simply wasn't human. But they naturally couldn't imagine that in such circumstances at the time, Ning Yi had just spoken irresponsibly and casually. After thinking a moment more, Su Tan'er finally smiled: "If such coincidences could come a few more times, that would be wonderful."

Everyone laughed in agreement, and after thinking about it, this understanding was indeed most reliable. They chatted a while more, discussing details of other matters like year-end unified accounting and verifying accounts, with Old Luo also inquiring about Su Yunsong's situation before they prepared to take their leave after idle chat. At this time, Juan'er ran into the courtyard through the snow, panting heavily and almost falling when she reached nearby.

Apparently there was urgent business—Juan'er had run too fast, supporting herself on the doorway pillar while gasping desperately for breath, and she didn't even have time to bow, though her face wore a smile. Looking around at everyone inside, she seemed somewhat disappointed: "Young... Young Miss... Xiao Chan, where's... where's the Young Master..."

Su Tan'er in silver-white had already walked out the door smiling, and seeing how hard she'd run, she even reached out to pat her back, smoothing her breathing. Only after hearing her question did she smile: "What's wrong? The Young Master... he's probably at the library pavilion in front now. Didn't they say Provincial Governor Song and the others are examining essays? He should be there now."

"No... not there..." Juan'er shook her head. "Juan'er just came from there. The Old... Old Master said to call the Young Master over..."

"Er..." Su Tan'er's expression froze. "What happened?"

"Could it be they're really looking for someone to scold..."

Cousin followed over, laughing softly from behind—earlier on the road she'd heard Su Tan'er talk about Ning Yi's teaching methods, actually spending half the time chatting and telling stories. This was clearly winning over those children's hearts, but since ancient times, strict teachers produced outstanding students, and the rod produced filial sons—teaching like this, how could there be any results?

Beside them, Juan'er shook her head forcefully, her chest heaving violently under the lake-green jacket: "It's not... it's not that... The Provincial Governor said... said Little Blackie and the others have insight—Miss, Miss, it's not that..."

Some matters had already been thought through many times in her heart, and Su Tan'er still hadn't heard the little maid's words, frowning while thinking whether she should do something—or simply say he wasn't there. After quite a while, certain information finally transmitted over, and the little maid was in front pulling her, desperately shaking her head.

"Er... ah?"

(End of Chapter)