To influence the course of a business deal with a single sentence is a rare commercial miracle, even for Ning Yi, with his background and access to a powerful intelligence analysis system and a large team of aides, and that would only be possible under extreme circumstances. Changing someone's already decided business decision without meticulous cooperation on all fronts is basically a pipe dream. However, the situation before him was different.
Ning Yi's ability to perceive these nuances certainly stemmed from his keen insight, but for the He family, these matters were directly tied to their interests. While he might casually guess a few things, they had likely been mulling over them long before Ning Yi and Su Tan'er paid a visit. Perhaps, prior to their arrival, these individuals had been troubled and suspicious about the situation. Ning Yi's offhand comment now sent the signal that "the Su family is already aware of this." Yet, Su Tan'er remained oblivious, simply convinced that the He family's business was doomed.
As the events unfolded, Ning Yi felt helpless, thinking that his reflexive responses were unnecessary, as if he had become overly fixated on business. Beside him, Su Tan'er was puzzled, but a twist in events was certainly good news. She resumed discussing business, and Ning Yi, who had initially planned to visit a bookshop in the eastern part of the city, found himself unable to leave. By the time they all returned in the evening, Su Tan'er still wore a confused expression.
A few more days passed, and as December approached, the Su household grew livelier. Despite the heavy snowfall, the year-end was nearing, and the managers from various Su family businesses in nearby cities began to gather in Jiangning for performance reviews and profit-sharing discussions. Additionally, some distant relatives of the Su family arrived to celebrate the New Year and visit, resulting in a bustling atmosphere at the family gate.
Jiangning was home to many wealthy families, and such scenes were not uncommon during this time of year. Over the past few days, Su Tan'er had been busy with interactions with the He family while also preparing to review the year's accounts. She had to deal with relatives she hadn't seen in a long time, and her three maids, Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er, were kept busy as well. One day, upon returning from outside, with snowflakes still drifting down, Su Tan'er noticed a line of carriages parked outside the gate. Since she had matters to attend to, she let her carriage go through the side entrance. At that moment, some house servants were moving four or five large trunks inside, so she waited outside with Xing'er.
Dressed in a snow-white fox fur coat, Su Tan'er looked stunning, the plush collar accentuating her fair complexion. She exuded a mix of youthful innocence and the poise developed over the years. Now making a name for herself in Jiangning's business circles, she had occasionally donned men's clothing before her marriage, yet she never overly concealed her feminine identity. To others, she appeared more like a refined lady from a scholarly family rather than a merchant, often showing little of her sharpness until business deals were struck. Only after some time did people realize her true capabilities, with some claiming that if she were a man, she might very well be the leader of the Jiangning textile industry instead of the Wu family.
In an era that favored men, Su Tan'er faced many challenges, yet when men engaged in business discussions with her, their reactions ranged from awkwardness to skepticism, or even amusement. Her greatest strength was her ability to turn these inconveniences into advantages, finding usable strengths in what seemed like insurmountable disadvantages. From Ning Yi's perspective, this might appear as a charming struggle for survival. However, others were unaware of her struggles or charm. Within the Su family, most had adapted to the second miss's unique temperament—be it her shrewdness, beauty, fragility, or her quiet determination in upholding the family's reputation. As she stood outside, a steward soon approached.
"Make way, you lot! Don't you see the second miss is back?"
The steward waved his hand to urge everyone to get moving, and Su Tan'er smiled as she walked over. "No need for that, Uncle Qi. Let them go in first; they've already carried half of it. It'll just be more work to come back out, so let them inside."
With her words, the steward known as Uncle Qi had no choice but to let the people carry the items inside at their own pace. Only then did Su Tan'er ask, "Uncle Qi, why aren't they coming in through the side door?"
"The things bought by the Third Master include various decorations, large and small, meant for the New Year celebrations. These need to be placed in the front hall, and since it seems like no one will be passing by for a while, I had them brought in quickly. By the way, Second Miss, Lord Song arrived today; he's currently assessing the students at the library..."
"Oh, Lord Song is here?"
The Su family had been in business for quite some time, and while they couldn't be considered a prestigious scholarly family, they maintained various interactions with officials. These interactions weren't particularly close, but they had numerous connections with Song Mao, who was currently serving as the magistrate in Shenzhou. This was because the late wife of the Second Master, Su Zhongkan, was a cousin to Song Mao, who had several relatives holding minor official positions. The Su family had made significant efforts to cultivate a relationship with him when he rose to power, making Song Mao one of the Su family's most solid allies. Although the magistrate's influence didn't reach Jiangning, it certainly facilitated the Su family's business in Shenzhou.
On the other hand, Song Mao's position as magistrate was due to his outstanding scholarly accomplishments. The Su family aimed to develop a literary direction over the years, and each New Year, when Song Mao visited, Old Madam Su would often arrange gatherings for the young scholars in the family, inviting knowledgeable scholars to assess the students' progress. Song Mao was known for his straightforwardness, often offering few compliments after evaluations, but his insights were considered the most reliable assessments.
Having such a political ally was beneficial. Whenever he visited Jiangning to meet other officials, he often hinted at his connections to the Su family, which certainly aided their business. However, Song Mao's closest ties were with the Second Master, so Su Tan'er simply nodded upon hearing this and didn't express much excitement. As for the assessments, it was the same every year; the Su family was unlikely to produce any scholars anytime soon. Moreover, her husband was somewhat lackadaisical in his teaching approach, often spending most of the time telling stories instead of focusing on academics. While entertaining, it was hard to see how much good it would do for their education; she just hoped they wouldn't be criticized this time.
Meanwhile, the large boxes had been laboriously carried inside, and just then, Juan'er, who had remained at the estate, ran out, panting. "Miss, you're back! The elder uncle and cousin are here; cousin is waiting for you... Oh, and Managers Xi and Luo just arrived as well. It seems the matters with the He family have been settled, and they've come to share the good news... Hehe, Miss, isn't this double happiness?"
The Su family had many cousins, but the one Juan'er referred to in this way could only be one. Su Tan'er, as the only child of the main branch, had faced some resentment from her father, Su Boyong, for being the only "unmarried girl." While he never abused her, he was certainly inconsistent in his treatment of her. After becoming more aware, Su Tan'er had gone through phases of being withdrawn and rebellious. The only friends she made aside from her maids, Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er, were the daughter of her cousin Su Yun Song, who had been the manager in Jiangning.
Su Yun Song's daughter, named Danhong, was half a month older than Su Tan'er. In her childhood, she was lively and boisterous like a boy, but she gradually became gentler as she grew up. Later, when Su Yun Song went to manage affairs in another region, his wife and daughter left Jiangning with him, but they returned every year, and the sisters would excitedly reminisce and discuss the future. Last year, Danhong married a young manager from the Su family's textile business, and they lived happily together. This year, she had a son around the same time Su Tan'er was getting married, so she couldn't make it. Hearing that she had arrived, Su Tan'er felt delighted. "That's wonderful! Where is cousin now?"
"In the courtyard over there. She just ran into Managers Xi and Luo and chatted with them for a bit. Chan'er is there too."
Su Tan'er thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll head over first. Juan'er, you and Xing'er take these ledgers over. The ones on top are from the accounts office, and the ones below should go to the Master." With that, she gave her instructions and split from the two maids, tightening her silver-white fox fur coat as she smiled and walked toward the inner courtyard.
When two women gather, their gossip can be unpredictable. For two recently married sisters who hadn't seen each other for a while, the conversation naturally revolved around their husbands.
As Su Tan'er walked through the snow-covered paths between courtyards and gardens, she soon spotted her cousin, whom she hadn't seen in ages. The beautiful and gentle woman, dressed in red, seemed to embody her melodious name. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, she asked about Su Tan'er's husband, Ning Yi.
"Did you want to see my brother-in-law from the start? Unfortunately, with the travel difficulties during your wedding, I heard some things later, but... so, how is my brother-in-law?"
Talking about her husband with such an intimate person made Su Tan'er blush slightly. "It's hard to say. Didn't you see Li Heng when you arrived?"
"No, I thought he would come out with you. I just asked Xiao Chan, and I did see Xi Junyu and Manager Luo..."
Su Tan'er considered this. "Oh, Lord Song came by earlier; he's currently testing the students' knowledge at the library. Li Heng is a teacher there, so he's probably with him."
"Actually, a few years ago, I thought my uncle might arrange for you to marry Xi Junyu..." her cousin said thoughtfully. Seeing Su Tan'er frown in confusion, she laughed. "Forget that. I have heard some news about my brother-in-law. The tune of 'Shui Diao Ge Tou' is sung daily here in Hangzhou; I initially thought it was just a coincidence with the name, but later learned they are actually related. However, I have heard some strange comments since coming here..."
While Ning Yi's reputation wouldn't spread widely in society, those with connections could glean various opinions about him. Given her cousin's status, she likely had heard a lot about the dynamics between Su Tan'er and Ning Yi. Their close sisterly bond meant she genuinely cared about Su Tan'er's thoughts on this matter. After chatting for a while, she gently asked, "What do you really think about him? I'd like to know."
As someone with experience, her inquiry was subtle, seeking to understand Su Tan'er's feelings. After a brief silence, Su Tan'er lowered her head and smiled.
"You know my past thoughts, sister. As for my husband's talents, it's indeed hard to say, but his temperament is quite calm. If we say he's suitable, he truly is the best match for me."
Her cousin looked at her for a moment before chuckling. "That sounds almost like resignation..."
"In the past, when I was bored, I wished my future husband would be both scholarly and martial, kind and supportive of my inheriting the family business, but that was just wishful thinking. Looking at it now, if things continue like this, it might not be so bad. My husband... perhaps he has some talent, but he has a laid-back nature. Sometimes he does peculiar things, but he never hides the truth. In fact, he's quite straightforward..."
As she spoke, she lifted her head, watching snowflakes dance down from the sky. "When I got married, I felt scared and frustrated, so I left Jiangning. Coming back, I steeled myself to make that decision. But now, looking back, if things continue like this, it doesn't feel burdensome. It may seem like resignation, but truly... it's not unpleasant."
The snowflakes enveloped the entire Su family residence, covering Jiangning city in a white blanket. As the two women in red and white walked through the snow, they fell silent for a moment before the gentle woman changed the serious topic with a smile.
"So, it seems he has no business talent..."
"None... well, he doesn't pay attention to it..."
"And no literary talent..."
"Not exactly, but... he does go about teaching haphazardly. Some of his students might get in trouble during the assessment..."
"Haha, so that means my brother-in-law won!"
"...W-what? That's not how it's compared! I'm not comparing at all!"
Laughter echoed, mingling with the swirling snow. As their eyes swept over the sprawling courtyards, they arrived at the front of the Su family's library, where warm fires crackled. A family-wide assessment of knowledge was underway, right in the midst of it all...