From the beginning of the eleventh lunar month, the cold weather enveloped Jiangning City. On the eighth and ninth days, snow began to fall, and the ancient city was quietly wrapped in a white blanket of snowflakes, like goose feathers.
The snowfall wasn't yet heavy enough to hinder travel, but according to past experience, once it began, it could continue until spring. For two to three months, snow would intermittently fall. For poor families, such weather made it nearly impossible to go out; in some areas, people lacked winter clothing, and when heavy snow blocked the mountains, they could only wrap themselves in blankets and stay on the kang for days. For most people in this era, winter was far from easy.
Larger cities like Jiangning fared better, as commerce was thriving and many families were reasonably well-off. In the days following the first snow, the school remained open, though students from the outskirts did not attend, which was common. The teacher had a small brazier for warmth, and students relied on the doors and windows to block the wind. Luckily, they were all young and full of energy, so it wasn't too difficult. The two female students each had a lovely warming pot to hold against their chests. Although their families had initially discouraged them from attending school, they couldn't bear to miss Ning Yi's storytelling, so they still came to listen.
Old Master Qin's chess stall, of course, had stopped setting up as the weather grew colder. Ning Yi visited his home a few times, though not too frequently. For the old man, having someone to talk to was a good thing, and once he encountered Master Kang, who brought over some ancient paintings for Qin to appraise and seal with his stamp.
After the heavy snowfall, Ning Yi built a snowman in the Su family's yard. At night, the scenery of the Su residence was the most enchanting; from the second floor, he could see warm, glowing dots moving between the courtyards, vibrant and picturesque, resembling an exquisite oil painting. If he had a camera, Ning Yi would have liked to take a few aerial shots as keepsakes. However, the wind was strong on the second floor, and after a while, Xiao Chan had to come and call him down.
Ultimately, it was much more enjoyable to sit by the fire in the living room downstairs, chatting, playing games, and reading. Su Tan'er and the maidservants selected fabrics and did some embroidery. The relationship between Ning Yi and Su Tan'er, as well as her maids, had naturally improved; they often played Five-in-a-Row together. Curious Xing'er would occasionally share interesting gossip from the manor, while the younger maids debated Ning Yi's stories. Who was fiercer, the fox demon or the general? Did General Xiahou really have a beard? Were the female demons who got killed really innocent? The discussions varied widely, and sometimes they'd run over to ask Ning Yi to judge the arguments.
Su Tan'er gradually grew fond of the simple rules of Five-in-a-Row. Every few days, she would check the accounts, sitting nearby with an abacus, while three little maids would occasionally help. When playing chess with Ning Yi, they would casually share amusing anecdotes about the relatives in the manor, revealing snippets of their connections.
There were also occasional visits from relatives during the snowy nights. After the snow fell, some of Ning Yi's students would stop by to pay their respects, likely hoping to hear some stories. Su Tan'er, enjoying these narratives herself, would take needle and thread to embroider while listening to the tales.
Sometimes younger siblings would come by, calling Su Tan'er "Second Sister," often looking for money or to complain about their troubles. Su Tan'er treated them well, and they knew that as long as they were reasonable, she would likely help them. If they asked for a hundred strings of cash, they could usually count on getting sixty to eighty, though they would have to endure some of Su Tan'er's advice and nagging. With that, they could enjoy a few nights of fine wine along the Qinhuai River.
These excuses presented by the relatives sounded like ambitious justifications, but even for Ning Yi, who wasn't very familiar with them, the truth was clear. Su Tan'er remained quite patient; regardless of the excuses given, she always acted as if she believed them wholeheartedly, offering sincere suggestions and reminding them not to waste money. When addressing them as older brothers, she maintained a lowly posture, embodying the image of a dutiful younger sister. Occasionally, she would joke, "When will that girl from Chunfeng Courtyard become my sister-in-law?" Her friendliness was overwhelming, and once they left, she would tuck away her small box of silver notes with the same bright, kind smile. Then she would share amusing stories about these cousins with Ning Yi, all good things, her pride radiating with deep familial affection.
Ning Yi found these scenes amusing. While familial bonds may exist, he also understood why there were comments about the third generation of the Su family lacking capable individuals. Su Tan'er's marriage had been delayed for a few years; At nineteen, she was already considered somewhat older for an unmarried woman. However, to Ning Yi, she certainly didn't seem so. The woman who had begun to take charge of the Su family's main house still possessed the appearance and demeanor of a girl, speaking and smiling with a hint of youthful innocence. Yet, the way she handled various situations showed a remarkable level of maturity.
Being able to gather every day to play chess, tell stories, and discuss everyday matters made the atmosphere between Ning Yi and Su Tan'er feel more natural than just sharing meals. Subsequently, Su Tan'er invited Ning Yi to occasionally accompany her to visit important acquaintances.
The Su family's textile business was substantial, with numerous affiliated merchants, both reliable and unreliable. It was always better for Su Tan'er to have a man accompany her on visits for business discussions. In fact, these visits before the New Year weren't overly necessary, but once the holiday passed, it became crucial for them to go house-to-house to pay New Year's greetings. This invitation was also meant for Ning Yi to become familiar with such matters. A few days later, she would be pleased to find that he was quite competent as a mere decoration.
Ning Yi had little interest in business dealings. When others discussed business, he pretended to sip tea, admire calligraphy, and smile absently. If someone tried to engage him in conversation, he would resort to his usual tactics of polite indifference, appearing as a courteous bookworm. Su Tan'er only asked that he handle the small talk naturally enough to avoid leaving a bad impression. These people all had some business connection to the Su family and knew of Ning Yi's marriage, so they wouldn't make things difficult for him. Some had heard of his reputation and wanted to casually chat about poetry and literature, so Ning Yi found it easy to engage in light conversation.
Which families to visit was usually conveyed by Su Tan'er the day before or on the way there, filled with playful banter about their backgrounds—some were respected predecessors in the business world, some current partners, and others were opportunists swaying with the wind. In this way, their relationship flourished, and once they were out, she would smile and share the outcomes of their visits, making jokes or teasing him lightly with comments like, "Old fox, you won't let a breeze in, will you?"
Most of their outings were filled with such mundane tasks, though there were occasional exceptions. For instance, the visit on November fourteenth left Ning Yi feeling utterly bored...
"...The He brothers have a decent silk business; they're capable, but they've never been very steady. After completing the last business deal with them, I heard they've already negotiated a collaboration with the Xue family. Today, we're just here to show some courtesy..."
On the carriage, Su Tan'er twirled a small bead chain in her hand as she spoke. Ning Yi nodded.
"So, I should just make small talk?"
"Feel free to make small talk," she said with a smile, slipping the bead chain onto her wrist. She lifted her head, tilted it slightly, and reached back to smooth her hair. "After that, do you have any plans for this afternoon?"
"I plan to check out the bookstore in the east of the city to look for some Tang dynasty classics."
"I'll take my leave this morning and accompany you."
"Sounds good."
This visit was merely a courtesy call for a business deal that likely wouldn't go through, and as Ning Yi said, just making small talk would suffice. However, if the process of casual exchanges was interrupted by a buzzing fly, it could be quite off-putting. This afternoon's visit to the He family included not just Su Tan'er and Ning Yi, but also representatives from two other businesses. Thus, the eldest of the He brothers, He Jun—whom Su Tan'er referred to as "Uncle"—was hosting everyone in a side hall adjacent to the garden. Several large stoves filled the space with warmth, and the snowy landscape outside was visible from the room, creating a refined atmosphere.
Alongside the host was his son, He Tingguang.
There were two key figures in the He family's business: besides He Jun, the second brother, He Feng, was the more talented merchant. Su Tan'er had only come to say hello; after a while at the tea gathering, she joined three maids and a few others to admire the snow in the garden. It was there that she ran into He Feng, and from a distance, they began chatting.
As the side hall grew quieter, He Tingguang started to pester Ning Yi about his poetic skills. He probably didn't believe Ning Yi had much talent and wanted to test him. Unfortunately, He Tingguang wasn't particularly gifted himself. Ning Yi offered a few perfunctory remarks while He Tingguang rambled on, suggesting connections with the great poet Xue Jin and mentioning a few of Xue Jin's new works for Ning Yi to critique.
This guy is quite the lightweight… Ning Yi felt bored. He Jun, He Tingguang's father, seemed to think his son was saying something trivial and stepped in to help steer the conversation. Ning Yi naturally followed suit: "I've heard from Tan'er that the He family's silk business is quite impressive, especially in the Shouzhou area, right?"
He Jun frowned, but He Tingguang had already started laughing: "Just so you know, we primarily operate around Luzhou and Chao Lake. If you ever have the leisure to travel, make sure you don't get it mixed up…"
Ning Yi paused for a moment, then nodded: "Oh, I see… Luzhou isn't far from Shouzhou, so raw silk can be transported there…"
He Jun suddenly seemed to remember something and furrowed his brow deeper: "Why did you bring up Shouzhou?"
"Well, I recall that Xue's workshop is in Shouzhou, managed by that Mr. Yan. I thought I heard someone mention it last time… so I assumed the He family's business would be in Shouzhou…"
He Tingguang burst into laughter: "Brother, if you don't know much about this, it's best not to make wild claims. Mr. Yan is indeed responsible for matters in Luzhou. Everyone here likely knows that. If you don't believe me, you can ask a few of the uncles present, haha…"
As he spoke, the representatives from the other two shops also laughed in agreement. Ning Yi smiled and nodded, saying, "I don't understand these things; I just occasionally hear some bits and pieces, and I got it mixed up…" Everyone knew about his status as a son-in-law and didn't find it strange; they just chuckled. However, He Jun's expression grew serious as he remarked, "I wonder where my dear nephew heard these bits of information."
Ning Yi glanced at He Jun's serious expression, feeling somewhat puzzled. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head in confusion: "I just… occasionally hear people chatting about things, uh… but I'm not sure of the specifics. Sorry to make you laugh, Uncle. Tan'er knows more about business; I don't really understand it and don't have much knowledge about the Xue family. I just got Luzhou and Shouzhou mixed up, haha…"
His casual remarks made the situation feel a bit strange afterward. He Jun furrowed his brow, seeming to contemplate something significant. He then called over a steward and whispered a few words. Ning Yi frowned, wondering if his offhand comment had somehow hit the mark…
These past few days, as he accompanied Su Tan'er, he hadn't had much interest in discussions about business. However, he gradually managed to build a rough outline in his mind: who was doing what in their trades and how the overall situation operated. These matters, whether he deliberately thought about them or not, would present themselves clearly or vaguely before him, forming a potential picture. When he mentioned Shouzhou, it was merely to steer the conversation away from He Tingguang's topic. He had sensed, from idle chatter over the past few days, that there might be some changes in the Xue family's business, possibly shifting the focus of Luzhou to Shouzhou. There was also another silk merchant in the Shouzhou area that could create competition with the He family… These thoughts were just hazy outlines in his mind, lacking solid conclusions, but he could keenly sense a critical point. In retrospect, it indeed felt as though he had inadvertently touched on something important…
Not long after, as they prepared to bid farewell to He Jun and get into the carriage, He Feng suddenly rushed out from behind, exchanging a serious glance with He Jun. "Please wait, my dear niece. Regarding next spring's silk, I wonder if the Su family has made any plans in the nearby areas. If you have time today, I'd like to discuss a batch of spring silk business with you…"
Su Tan'er turned around, looking puzzled, not understanding the sudden change. With his back to them, Ning Yi rolled his eyes in boredom.
"Damn it… I spoke too freely…"