The dim yellow light flickered, and time seemed to stagnate in this space above Green Ripple House. Gazes and opinions intertwined with each other in a complicated way, as if they were squeezing the air toward a certain direction or a nearly fixed result. With such a feeling of squeezing, He Fang's voice finally rang out again. "Last but not least, let the shopkeeper of our Su Family's Cloth Shop talk about the business of the shop in the past year, and also …"
After the slightly trivial words were said, almost everyone looked at the Su family. Su Zhongkan and Su Yunfang were quiet and slightly frowned. Manager Liao lowered his head and was silent for a while. Then he smiled and stood up. He cupped his hands to the people around him and prepared to go forward. Behind him, the servant girl named Xiaochan hesitated to take the brocade box under the young master's right hand, and then exerted some force.
But it didn't move.
Ning Yi just sat there with his head slightly tilted, as if thinking about something. His gaze looked indifferent and quiet. Of course, at this moment, it seemed a bit cold. Occasionally, he would glance at the Wu Family out of the corner of his eye. His right hand was placed motionlessly on the brocade box.
Manager Liao, who wanted to go forward, had already sensed Ning Yi's attitude. He was in a dilemma for a moment, then turned his head and tried to reach for the brocade box. "There's still a chance …" he said softly. Ning Yi smiled and then said coldly, "Let go."
"Young master, there's still a chance …"
It was quiet for a while. Perhaps the people couldn't hear the conversation between Ning Yi and Manager Liao, but no one said anything. They just sighed or sneered at them. After a while, Ning Yi's voice rang out in the hall.
"We … withdraw."
It seemed that the reaction everyone had been waiting for had finally appeared. Whispers sounded and people pointed at each other. It was just the beginning, and they could only feel the atmosphere. Manager Liao frowned, looked around, and said in a low voice, "There's still a chance, son-in-law, don't mess around …"
He had been busy with this matter under great pressure for more than a month and had done all the necessary efforts. These days, he thought that he had done all he could and there were not too many reasons for him to fail, so he was a little more optimistic. Just now, when the Wu Family took out the bright yellow brocade, it was hard to know how shocked he was.
Tonight's situation was complicated, but as the authorities, they could sort out a dark outline. The timing of the Wu Family's taking out the cloth, Lord Dong's arrangements and attitude, all of these were like a nightmare. In fact, tonight, Manager Liao, who really controlled the situation of the first branch of the Su family, was probably under the most pressure at this time. But even under such circumstances, he still restrained all his emotions and pulled Ning Yi back. At this time, he still planned to make one last effort to at least do what he should do. At this time, no matter how impulsive and stubborn he was, he couldn't change anything. When the situation was stronger than him, acting recklessly was actually useless. It would only make others feel that the Su family had no grace.
But at this time, Ning Yi still shook his head and repeated, "We withdraw."
Manager Liao restrained his anger and was about to speak again, but He Fang had already frowned and stood up. "Nephew Ning, today we just let the Su family participate in this gathering, talk about the achievements of the Su family, and communicate with everyone here. Our Jiangning Weaving Bureau is upright and upright, and we have never let people participate in any dishonorable circle. At this time, you keep saying that you want to withdraw. May I ask what you want to withdraw from? Young man, you have to think twice before you speak. "
After he said this, the people around him nodded in whispers. Someone chuckled and talked about how Ning Yi had lost his composure at this time. Manager Liao was a little anxious. Ning Yi had already slowly stood up and fixed his gaze on the Wu Family. Wu Chenghou and Wu Qilong also smiled and looked over. Everyone in the venue looked left and right. Suddenly, they heard Ning Yi shout, "You can't do this … shameless!" These words were not shouted hysterically, but contained anger.
"Ning Liheng, don't be presumptuous!"
He Fang stood up. Dong Decheng, who had been watching the situation with a smile on his face, patted his hand. "It's okay, it's okay. Nephew Ning is young and full of vigor. No matter who it is, no matter if they have a problem with today's banquet or the Weaving Bureau, just say it. I never stop people from speaking."
At the same time, because Ning Yi's words were directed at Wu Chenghou, some merchants who were close to the Wu Family also stood up and prepared to cooperate with the Wu Family to continue to bully the Su family. However, Wu Chenghou stretched out his hand. "Nephew Ning, are you talking about the Wu Family?"
On the other side, as soon as Dong Decheng finished speaking, Su Zhongkan, Su Yunfang, and Manager Liao's expressions changed slightly. They were afraid that Ning Yi would really be reckless and drag the Weaving Bureau into this mess. Just as they were about to speak, they saw Ning Yi glance at Dong Decheng and nod. He took a deep breath and smiled. From the beginning to the end, other than losing his composure when the Wu Family took out the brocade and cursed angrily just now, even if others could see that something was wrong with him, he had always maintained a quiet and elegant state. At this moment, he seemed to have finally restrained his anger and looked towards the Wu Family.
"Ah, that's good … Uncle, didn't you say that you wanted me to help you think of a poem? Coincidentally, I suddenly thought of a suitable poem. I will write it … Uncle, do you want to see it? "
"Haha, that's great." Wu Cheng Hou smiled and immediately replied. He looked around. "My Wu Family has been merchants for generations. Normally, we are a bit crude and uncultured. Nephew Ning is the number one scholar of Jiangning. Everyone knows that. If you are willing to write a poem for today, what problem can there be? Everyone, we are gathered here today at the top of Green Yi Pavilion. To be able to receive a poem from the number one scholar of Jiangning is truly a grand occasion. Come come come, quickly bring a pen and paper to my nephew … "
Some people smiled and stood up. Some people sighed in their hearts. At this time, no matter what they wrote, it would only make others laugh. Although Ning Yi was a great scholar, what use was there in this situation? No matter how well he wrote the poem now, when others talked about it in the future, they would only say that Ning Yi's business management had lost face. And no matter how much the poem cursed the Wu Family, others would only think that the family of merchants was like this. It was only to build up momentum for the Wu Family and lose face themselves.
But now that things had come to this, there was no way to take it back. Ning Yi stood there and looked at the people of the Wu Family. Two servants brought a pen and paper to his side, but he ignored them. After a while, he finally turned around, picked up the brush, and paused in the air.
A group of merchants surrounded him. It was slightly quiet inside, but there were still whispers outside. The aroma from below the restaurant wafted up. In the crowd, Wu Cheng Hou, Wu Qilong, and Wu Qihao smiled as they looked at the paper on the table. Finally, the tip of the brush fell.
Someone bent over and looked at it seriously. Then, with some doubt, he read the first line.
"Drinking wine and Pei Di …"
As the words spread out, someone looked around.
"Is there anyone called Pei Di today?"
"Old Mo, you're too shabby …"
"What?"
"This is an ancient poem …"
There was a commotion, and some people were already confused. Although everyone present was a merchant, many of them had some knowledge. "Drinking Wine and Pei Di" was clearly a poem by Wang Wei of the Tang Dynasty. Was Ning Yi just going to copy it? But with Ning Yi's strange style in the past, it was hard to say that he didn't deliberately make this name and write a new poem. But the next line had already overturned this guess.
"Drinking wine and Pei Di …"
Ning Yi's writing was quite fast. He couldn't be considered good or bad, but it was a little sloppy. Perhaps it was to prove the anger in his heart. When the poem was finished, there was only cursive writing on the Xuan paper that couldn't be considered good.
Drinking wine and Pei Di, human feelings turn over like waves. The White Prime Minister still presses his sword, the Vermillion Gate is the first to laugh. The color of the grass is all wet from the drizzle, the branches are ready to move, the spring wind is cold. What is there to ask about the floating clouds of the world, it is better to lie down and have a meal.
Without moving once, without changing a word, Ning Yi finished writing. He held the brush and looked down, "With Wang Mojie in front of me, I won't write randomly. How about this poem for Uncle Wu Family?"
Wu Chenghou looked at the poem and then at Ning Yi. The smile on his face didn't change at all. Then he smiled indifferently and said, "This poem is very good. Although it may sound unpleasant to the ears of ordinary people, it is in line with the way of business. My dear nephew is angry today because I have no intention to pursue this matter. But I will accept this poem and will take good care of it. "
Ning Yi also smiled, exhaled, and put down the brush. Then he turned around and said in a low voice, "Let's go." He grabbed the brocade box on the side of the table and threw it out of the window. He didn't seem to use much strength, but the brocade box flew straight out of the window. The lid opened in the air, and a smear of bright yellow flew from the corner of everyone's eyes and landed downstairs.
Xiaochan let out a low cry and quickly ran downstairs. Ning Yi had not reached the entrance of the corridor at this time. Wu Qilong walked over with a smile and patted his shoulder, saying in a low voice, "Brother Ning is brimming with talent, but why involve yourself in the way of business that you are not familiar with? Wouldn't it be better to stay at home and write poems and teach poetry? Haha."
Ning Yi looked at him with a smile and didn't answer. Then he continued downstairs.
The sound of discussion behind him began to grow louder …
The appearance of such an episode disrupted the steps of the gathering. Although the adults didn't stop it, the following fixed procedures had to continue. The people of the Su family could ignore the imperial merchants, but they still had to say what needed to be said. Everyone returned to their seats, and the discussion did not abate. During this time, there were two servant girls and children dressed as manservants who angrily stomped their feet and ran downstairs, but no one paid attention to such matters. Wu Chenghou had people put away the poem Ning Yi had written, "Drinking Wine and Pei Di," and conversed politely with some of the people around him.
The actions of the Wu Family had always been unhurried, but this time, it was quite neat, like listening to thunder in silence. From the yellow cloth that Ning Yi threw downstairs, most people had roughly guessed what had happened. But under such circumstances, even the Su family couldn't speak because they couldn't prove what was written. Others would only think that the Wu Family was really powerful. This time, it was really too powerful. The Su family had laid the foundation for a few years, and now they had worked hard for a month, but the Wu Family turned the tables.
From today on, the Su family would gradually withdraw from the pattern of the three families of Jiangning weaving. The one who would really be strengthened was the Wu Family. The Xue family could no longer compete with the Wu Family, and could only settle for the second place. Everyone was excited about this turning point, and they also began to reconsider the position of the Su family and some of the relationship with the Su family. As for Ning Yi, he was a pitiful person. He was just stuffed in the middle, and he could do nothing.
When someone looked down from upstairs, they saw the figure of the scholar in a green robe standing downstairs. He was looking back at them, probably trying to remember this building and say some pitiful words. All this was just the residual image of the dejected loser. Only the maidservant Xiaochan followed him. The people upstairs glanced at him for a while, and then turned back while talking and laughing with others …
Next, they had to adapt to a new pattern. For people in the cloth industry, it was more like they had to adapt to a new era. As for the loser, he would only exist in the after-dinner conversation, and it would be a waste of time to look at him.
Therefore, the atmosphere upstairs continued to warm up.
*****
"The crabs here seem to be good today. It's a pity that I didn't eat them …"
Downstairs, Ning Yi stood on the roadside, looking at the signboard of the Green Ripple House, and sighed with some regret.
"Then …" Xiaochan frowned, and she was a little embarrassed. "Should Xiaochan get some to pack?"
"You have a lump in your head …" Ning Yi laughed, and then patted Xiaochan's shoulder. "Let's go back. We've been busy for more than a month, and now we have nothing to do …"
The night wind blew, and the master and maidservant walked in the direction of the carriage. Behind them, Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu followed.
It was a rare, cool, and relaxing night …
*****
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
