It was the afternoon of August 25th. When Ning Yi returned home, the whole Su family's mansion seemed to be busy, but he didn't understand why it was still so busy. The weather was good. It was an autumn afternoon with a warm breeze. Some leaves had turned golden and had not fallen yet, swaying slightly in the wind. When he passed through the path between the courtyards to the small courtyard, he saw two servants rushing by. It was probably one of the stewards scolding someone because the voice came from the side.
The area of the first branch was relatively quiet, because there were not many people living here. When he was about to arrive, he met two cousins of the concubine coming over from there with their attendants. They probably just went to see Su Tan'er. When they met Ning Yi, they greeted him and chatted for a while. They faintly blamed Ning Yi for coming back so early. Because the success or failure of the royal merchant would be revealed tonight, many shopkeepers were now busy outside. At least at this time today, he should be outside.
After a brief greeting, they left. Ning Yi went all the way back to the small courtyard. It was quiet. Su Tan'er was wearing a long green dress and sitting in the pavilion in the middle of the courtyard. She was looking up at the leaves on a sycamore tree next to her. There were figures flashing on the second floor. It was probably Juan'er or Xing'er who were arranging something. Seeing Ning Yi's figure, Su Tan'er turned around and grinned, "Husband is back."
"So leisurely." Ning Yi walked to the pavilion and sat down.
"Husband is leisurely. He stayed in bed in the morning and refused to get up."
"It has nothing to do with me anyway." Ning Yi smiled, "I went late this morning and missed the morning meeting. Then I watched them busy preparing all kinds of things. I was thinking that there were not so many things to prepare … Well, Manager Liao sometimes came to chat with me. He said that I was usually very nervous at such times. I couldn't sleep last night and drank some wine. As a result, I almost couldn't wake up in the morning … About an hour later, Shopkeeper Luo also passed by and came to tell me that he was actually very nervous …"
Ning Yi said lightly. Su Tan'er had already burst into laughter. When she heard Shopkeeper Luo, she couldn't stop laughing and reached out to hold the railing next to her. Ning Yi shook his head. "They're all good people. They know that I can't get out of bed because I'm nervous, but they still came to comfort me even though I'm so busy. At noon, Manager Xi also told me how nervous you guys were when you were doing business in Jiangzhou …"
"Husband did it on purpose this morning."
"No, I really didn't get up. You see, this is the first time I've been late in a month. To be honest, every time I see everyone is so busy and I don't have anything to do, I feel sorry. Today is probably their busiest day. "
"Husband is not honest." Su Tan'er smiled subtly. Ning Yi shook his head, "You see, there is a deep misunderstanding between us. I was busy outside … Well, I was busy the whole morning, while you sat in the yard and looked at the scenery so leisurely. It is obvious who is diligent and who is lazy, and you still say that I am not honest …"
He spent the whole morning outside in a daze and wandering around, but he naturally didn't feel embarrassed talking about it. The two of them knew each other very well. Su Tan'er smiled and then lowered her head, "I am actually nervous …"
"Really?"
"After all, it was years of hard work, and there was such an accident. A few days ago, I really felt that my backbone was gone. Now … now it is much better, but I am still nervous. Just like Husband said, it is tonight. Just now, I was thinking about the things that happened in the past few years. I also expected that there would be such a decisive day, whether it would succeed or fail. I thought about how I would feel when the time comes, but I didn't think it would become like this … "She was slightly surprised," Husband, are you nervous? "
"Uh, of course you are nervous …" Ning Yi thought about it and nodded, "An appropriate amount of nervousness will help you focus."
Su Tan'er looked at him, "Husband is really calmer than anyone else …" Her words seemed to be a little jealous of Ning Yi's calmness.
"Heh …"
"After today, what does Husband want to do?"
"After tonight's matter is settled, of course I will go back to teaching. Anyway, you have recovered from your illness, so don't expect me to help you again. Obviously, I am not cut out for business. Everyone knows that. " Ning Yi smiled, "Moreover, I married into your family to live off of you. I don't have to worry too much, and I can still live the life of a rich person. Clothes are at my fingertips, and food is at my fingertips. Life is so good, and I don't have to be impatient with anyone."
"Sarcasm."
"The truth."
"Hmph, so … Husband will continue to live off of Tan'er? Really? "
"Heh, if there is no problem, I will not change … Actually, I think this is a good thing. You see, I can teach, and I can write poems. After all, I have the reputation of the number one scholar in Jiangning. If I go out and ask for a mistress, there will be quite a lot of rich women who will be willing, and I will have face when I go out. What do you think, if you miss this opportunity, there will be no more opportunities like this …"
Ning Yi joked for a while and was ready to sell himself as a commodity. This kind of joke was probably considered normal a thousand years later, but at this time, it was a little ahead of time. Su Tan'er could not help but laugh. She covered her mouth with her hand and lowered her head, blushing, "Husband, you are so shameless …"
"Your words hurt my heart. This business deal will be difficult …" Ning Yi shook his head and sighed.
"Uh, okay then." Su Tan'er forced herself to be serious, "Anyway, I am … I am …"
"Rich woman."
"Yes, I am a rich woman, so I will let Husband eat Tan'er's soft rice … This business deal is settled."
She showed the aura of a business deal, but Ning Yi smiled and shook his head, "How can it be so simple? You just hurt my heart. This business deal has to be restarted. There are so many rich women, why must I choose you?"
"Uh, but I … I am … I am married to Husband, I am …" Su Tan'er was ready to boast about herself with a straight face, but after thinking for a while, she finally gave up and lowered her head with a smile, "Husband …"
"Forget it, this is too complicated." Ning Yi smiled and waved his hand, "After today, let's go on as usual. I really don't plan to do anything. I just feel that it's troublesome."
"But I feel that I have let Husband down …"
"Huh?"
"I have never thought about treating Husband as a son-in-law. I have never thought about this. It's just … it's just that I have a strong personality. I have something I want to do, but it has become like this. Since we got married … Uh, anyway, I have never hoped that Husband feels … feels … I don't know what I am talking about …"
She organized her words with difficulty, and then finally showed a somewhat embarrassed and helpless expression. Ning Yi nodded, "I know."
Su Tan'er looked at him, and after confirming that he was not perfunctory, she breathed a sigh of relief, "I also know that this is not good. I am not like a lady from a respectable family, not like those … Ah, rich women, but Tan'er can only be like this …"
"This is a competent rich woman …" Ning Yi murmured, but Su Tan'er didn't hear it clearly. In this era, a rich woman and a strong woman were naturally two different concepts, and the concept of a strong woman was almost not formed. She thought for a while.
"Actually, when I was thinking just now, I remembered something that I wanted to tell Husband …"
"What is it?"
"When I got married to Husband, I secretly ran away. At that time, I did not want to show my power to Husband or anything, but because I did not know what to do. Tan'er … is also a woman after all … "She slightly lowered her head," Tan'er knows that it is wrong, but Tan'er will not apologize to Husband at that time. If it happens again, although I know that it is wrong, I may deal with it the same way … "
She raised her head and looked at Ning Yi, and Ning Yi nodded, "Because you did not know him at that time?"
"Yes, at that time, Tan'er did not know Husband, and Husband did not know Tan'er … But now, Tan'er wants to tell Husband that Tan'er will definitely not do such a thing again."
She was quite brave when she spoke, but after she finished speaking, she still lowered her head. After a long time, Ning Yi laughed, "Isn't it still an apology …" Although his voice was low, Su Tan'er still blushed a little when she heard it. It seemed that she could not hold back her embarrassment, but in the end, she did not refute.
The two of them sat in the pavilion for a while. Xing'er carried some things and looked down from upstairs. When she saw the two of them, she did not disturb them and went to do her own things. Near evening, Chan'er and Juan'er also came back. When Ning Yi stood up, he said, "If you are nervous, do you want to go to the banquet tonight?"
Su Tan'er smiled and shook her head, "No, Husband only wants to live off a woman. It is rare for him to do something. Husband has been hosting the banquet for more than a month. Today is the most important day, so it is better for Husband to host the banquet. I will be nervous while waiting for Husband's good news."
"Tsk, no problem. Today, I will go crazy and take back the imperial merchant's place in a high-profile! Then, I will retire. "
Ning Yi spread his hands and stretched himself in the sunset. Beside him, Su Tan'er stared at him with slight annoyance. The curtain of the imperial merchant's place was about to open. The small courtyard was quiet and blended into the warm sunset.
*****
When night fell, the small fleet of carriages drove out of the Su family's mansion. Ning Yi, Su Zhongkan, Su Yunfang, the first branch, the second branch, and a few members of the three parties were in this fleet. There were less than twenty people representing the Su family. Xiaochan followed Ning Yi and sat in a carriage. She was slightly nervous. Not long after the carriage drove, an unmarked carriage joined the rear of Ning Yi's carriage. Some guards of Prince Kang's Mansion were sitting in it. The Zhou siblings, who were dressed as manservants and maids, trotted to the carriage and entered Ning Yi's carriage. They were ready to see the final outcome of the imperial merchant incident that Ning Yi was presiding over.
Not long after, a restaurant called Green Ripple House, which was located by the Qinhuai River, came into view. Carriages after carriages arrived. Cloth merchants, including the Xue family, the Wu Family, the Chen Family, and the Lu Family … as well as some officials from the manufacturing bureau. This kind of thing was common in Jiangning. The passersby glanced at it and then ignored it. However, the people who were exchanging pleasantries and greeting each other were already tensed up.
What was going to happen tonight was definitely a big deal for the Jiangning textile industry. The focus was naturally on the competition between the Su family, the Xue family, and the Wu Family for the imperial merchant. Since the assassination a month ago, people with ulterior motives had already smelled the smell of gunpowder in this incident. They were waiting to see the outcome of this commercial war tonight.
Ning Yi opened the curtain of the carriage, took a deep breath, and walked out with a smile.
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