Bathhouse Incident

On this day, Shen Yan, who rarely had time, personally escorted a batch of newly made special-effect soaps to the government office for handover.

As soon as he entered the ceremonial gate, he was surrounded by a group of officials who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

The leader was Liu Tongpan, who was in charge of criminal cases and litigation.

He held Shen Yan's hand affectionately, as if they were old friends, his face full of grateful smiles.

"Oh my! Mr. Shen! We've been waiting for you!"

"You are truly a lucky star for our Linzhou! This medicated soap is miraculous! Absolutely miraculous!"

Judge Liu spoke with great enthusiasm, his voice booming.

"You have no idea what the smell is like in prison... After going in once, you wouldn't be able to eat for three days afterward!"

"Ever since we started using your medicated soap, hey! The prisoners are washing more frequently, and we even sprinkle soapy water on the cells to wipe them down. The smell has been reduced by more than half! Even the jailers are getting stomach aches less often! It's a great product! It's really a great product!"

Zhao, the registrar in charge of the post station, also squeezed forward and echoed his sentiments.

"Yes, yes, yes! Lord Liu is absolutely right! The post station is just as good! There are so many people traveling between the north and south, and I used to worry about them bringing sick people in. But now it's all good. Every postman and groom has a bar of your medicated soap and washes their hands frequently. The guest rooms are also cleaned with soapy water. I feel much more at ease now! Manager Shen, you've really done a great service!"

Other officials chimed in with their own praise, showering the officials with compliments.

Shen Yan was surrounded by people in the middle.

Looking at the officials who had scoffed at him for "opening a bathhouse" not long ago, and even secretly obstructed him, now showing heartfelt gratitude and admiration on their faces, he felt an indescribable sense of comfort rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head!

The frustration stemming from the setback of the "Bathhouse Project" vanished instantly.

He slightly raised his chin.

On that incomparably handsome face, a bright, smug, and slightly childishly boastful smile appeared.

He cleared his throat, his voice not loud, but clearly drowning out the surrounding noise, carrying a sense of self-righteous pride.

"Your Excellencies flatter me! I am but a businessman, doing my bit in the small way."

He paused, his peach blossom eyes scanning the room, his smile deepening.

"The recipe for this medicated soap, and the principle of washing hands frequently and bathing regularly to prevent epidemics, were devised by my wife, Ling Zhan! She figured them out when she traveled around many years ago! She often said, 'Illness enters through the mouth, and disaster arises from dirt.' When a person is clean, illness naturally decreases! How could my wife's methods be wrong?!"

He emphasized the words "my wife".

It was as if it were announcing the source of this truth to the whole world.

His expression was just like that of a peacock spreading its tail feathers, with its tail pointing skyward.

He wished he could have the name "Ling Zhan" engraved on his forehead so everyone could see it.

The officials were taken aback by his sudden display of affection for his wife.

They immediately realized what was happening and burst into even more enthusiastic agreement.

"So it was Madam Ling's insightful opinion! My apologies for not recognizing you!"

"The Shen family is a loving couple who care deeply about the people's livelihood; they are truly role models in Linzhou!"

"Madam Ling is truly a female Zhuge Liang, with exceptional insight!"

"Master Shen is so lucky! So lucky!"

Listening to all this flattery.

Shen Yan felt comfortable from every pore of her body, and the fatigue from the past few days of travel was swept away.

He smiled smugly.

He was enjoying the moment when he was surrounded by people and his wife's wisdom was being praised by everyone.

He didn't care whether those officials truly believed what "the lady said."

He thought, "Look how amazing my wife is! How good my judgment is!"

After receiving a barrage of compliments at the government office, Shen Yan was in a great mood, and his steps became lighter.

However, this ease did not last long.

I just got back to the villa and haven't even had a sip of tea yet.

Zhou Wenqing hurried in, his face showing a hint of seriousness.

"Master, I just received news. Several small tribes in the north, near the grasslands, have seen a sudden surge in horse trading before winter, and the trading partners are quite diverse, unlike the normal purchasing by large tribes."

Zhou Wenqing spoke quickly as he handed a thin, confidential report to Shen Yan.

"Prefect Chen has also received some information, and it seems that... it is inextricably linked to the remnants of the Eshui Gang in the Ciyun Temple case."

"He invites you to his residence tomorrow to discuss border trade and... potential border troubles."

Shen Yan took the secret report, quickly glanced at it, and his brows gradually furrowed.

My good mood instantly plummeted.

The Eshui Gang? Their ghosts linger! Border trade changes, unrest stirs on the grasslands…

The undercurrents beneath the calm surface have never truly ceased to surge.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, and was about to speak when Uncle Yang's voice came from outside the door again.

"Master, a message from the Snowbird messenger at the Qingzhou branch has arrived. Also, Manager Su of Jinyun Manor sent someone to inquire about the expedited shipment of 'Xiayingxiao' embroidery thread we mentioned last time. When will it arrive in Jiangnan at the earliest?"

Shen Yan: "..."

He glanced at the secret report in his hand, thought about Chen Qinian's invitation, and then about the letter from Qingzhou and Su Wan's lead...

I felt my body, which had just been light and airy, suddenly feel like it was being crushed by an invisible boulder, making it hard to breathe.

This is a business empire that is expanding rapidly.

A complex web of relationships, hidden crises, and children scattered under different roofs...

Each and every single thing was like a strong thread, wrapped around him and pulling at his energy.

"knew."

His voice was heavy with weariness. He waved his hand and said to Zhou Wenqing, "Tell Chen Qinian that I will be there on time tomorrow at 1-3 PM."

Then he turned to Uncle Yang.

"Put the letter from Qingzhou on my desk; I'll read it later. As for the embroidery thread... have Su Wan urge Jiangnan again, ask for more money! And have them use the fastest shipping service!"

After the two left, the study fell silent once more.

Shen Yan let out a long, silent sigh and slumped back into the large armchair.

He closed his eyes, as if trying to shut out all the chaos.

However, my mind involuntarily began to make plans.

The medicated soap production line needs to be expanded further; orders from various regions are overwhelming.

Can the workshop's cotton production be increased again? The Ministry of War's winter clothing orders are of paramount importance.

The remnants of the Eshui Gang must be eradicated as soon as possible, otherwise border trade will be unstable and the workshops' source of raw materials will also be affected.

And that kid Shen Xing... I heard he got into another fight at school?

I'll have to ask Uncle Yang later... No, he's been overseeing the trial production of the new loom, I'll have to go myself...

A myriad of thoughts, like a dense spider web.

He was firmly bound to the center of this enormous chessboard called "Shen Family".

But he didn't want things to continue like this.

Leaning back in the solid wood armchair in the study, the crisp scent of medicated soap lingered on my fingertips.

He closed his eyes, pressed his thumb firmly against his throbbing temples, and felt a bit weary.

"Master."

Uncle Yang walked in silently, paused, and then softened his voice: "The young lady's new embroidery designs were sent over by her personal maid this afternoon. She said she wanted you to take a look and give her your opinion when you had time. The maid said that the young lady stayed at Yunshangji until very late and was looking at them... with great care."

He deliberately mentioned Shen Wansu, trying to distract his master from his tense nerves by talking about the child.

Sure enough, Shen Yan's eyelids twitched and he slowly opened them.

The bloodshot in her peach blossom eyes had not yet faded.

But when he heard "Miss" and "embroidery pattern," the gentleness that belonged to a father finally seeped out, easing his fatigue.

He picked up the embroidery pattern draft—a few exquisite sketches outlining intricate and lively lotus and cloud crane patterns, with smooth lines and ingenious design, showing that a great deal of effort had been put into it.

“Susu…has grown up.”

As Chen Yan's fingertips brushed across the blueprints, his voice carried a hint of hoarse satisfaction.

He recalled his daughter's calm and composed demeanor on the day Yunshangji opened, and felt a surge of comfort, only to be overwhelmed by immense guilt.

How long has it been since he, as a father, truly looked at his daughter? How long has it been since he listened to her little thoughts about fabrics, embroidery threads, and designs? The cranes on the drawings seemed ready to take flight, but he felt as if he were bound by invisible threads to this cold desk, unable to move.

"When Xing'er was leaving school today, she had a few words with the young master of the Li family at the gate of Jixian Academy. They didn't fight, and my wife and the guards persuaded them to stop."

Uncle Yang cautiously added a sentence about Shen Xing, who had taken the initiative to follow his child.

Shen Yan's fingers tightened slightly as she held the blueprint.

Xing'er, that kid, has been clever since he was little, but he has a temper; he gets angry easily.

He should spend more time with the child himself, he should ask what happened, he should... he should act like a normal father.

Instead of sending the children away and then abandoning them!

An indescribable sense of irritability and powerlessness suddenly gripped him.

He slammed the blueprints onto the table with a light thud, but with a sense of pent-up frustration, like a trapped animal.

"Uncle Yang," Chen Yan's voice was filled with exhaustion. He leaned back heavily in his chair, looked up at the exquisite carvings on the beams, and for the first time, a look of bewilderment appeared in his peach blossom eyes. "Tell me... what am I working so hard for?"

Uncle Yang was startled.

"For money? We have enough money to last us." Shen Yan gave a self-deprecating twitch of his lips.

"Seeking power? In the eyes of the bigwigs in the court, he's nothing more than a useful money bag and a shield."

"To gain fame? Isn't the reputation of 'Chen Ji' enough?"

His gaze fell on a square piece of medicated soap on the table.

The faint scent of medicine brings a sense of cleanliness and peace of mind.

"Actually, all I want is... for the children to be carefree, to wear whatever pretty clothes they want, to take a nice bath whenever they want, to fly kites and catch crickets with them, instead of like this now..."

He raised his hand and wearily wiped his face.

"Like a donkey pulling a millstone, even when Xing'er has a quarrel with someone, she has to wait for the guards to tell her!"

The study fell silent, with only the occasional soft crackling of the lamp wick.

The accusations, though seemingly harsh, acted like a key, unlocking the anxieties that had been building up in Uncle Yang's heart recently.

He looked at Qingying under his eyes, and at the tense lines of his shoulders and back that he couldn't hide even when he was sitting, and finally made up his mind.

"Master."

Uncle Yang's voice was unusually calm, carrying a clear understanding born of experience, "You... can loosen your grip a little."

Shen Yan looked at him, her eyes flickering slightly.

“Our Shen family ship is big enough now. If you steer it alone, day and night, there will eventually be a time when you are exhausted.”

Uncle Yang said slowly, “Look at Miss, Yunshangji is managed very well, and her designs and embroidery are ingenious. She is already capable of handling things on her own. Manager Su at Jinyun Manor is even more adept at handling things, and everyone is obedient to her. Even the Su family in Jiangnan has run into trouble. As for the workshop, Madam was originally in charge of the core. The new crossbow and the water power improvement were all done without her. Now that she has gone to the mountaintop, some things that are not urgent can wait, and I can keep an eye on the other aspects. As for Old Zhou, he is an expert in the workshop, the granary, and the accounting, and he is gradually getting the hang of things.”

"And the original staff of Shen Family Workshop, Accountant Wang, Steward Liu Quan, and Commander Ling Feng of the Shura Guard, can all stand on their own now."

He paused, looking at Shen Yan's thoughtful expression, and continued, "This old servant dares to say that your greatest skill, Master, is not doing everything yourself, but rather... recognizing people, employing people, and trusting people. You have placed people in the most suitable positions, and they are all capable of taking on the responsibilities. If you insist on doing everything yourself, firstly, you will exhaust yourself, and secondly... the people under you will never grow up, always feeling that you are supporting them, which will only make them feel constrained."

“Since your ‘ambition’ is not in the court, nor in dominating the trade routes, all you want is for your family to be safe and sound, and to live freely as you please, why not hand over all those tedious and relinquishable things?”

Uncle Yang's gaze was encouraging. "Let them go out and try, let them make mistakes. You just need to grasp the most crucial thread, set the general direction, and give occasional pointers. Use your free time to look at the embroidery patterns that Miss has drawn, pick up the children from school more often, and when Madam comes back, spend more time with her taking a bath... oh, I mean, a bath."

Uncle Yang made a rare little joke in an attempt to ease the tension.

Shen Yan fell silent.

Uncle Yang's words were like a basin of cool water poured over his heart, which was burning with anxiety and exhaustion.

Yes, he pushed himself too hard.

Without him, will the Shen family's ship capsize?!

But look at Su Su, look at Su Wan, look at Ling Zhan...aren't they all capable of holding up the sky?

And then there's Uncle Yang, the true pillar of strength, who has always been quietly there to protect him.

"Then...how should we put it?"

The somber voice carried less confusion and more inquisitiveness.

"Simple."

A glint flashed in Uncle Yang's eyes, clearly indicating that he had already prepared a plan: "Everyone will still manage their existing affairs, but a 'rotating head' can be appointed."

"Rotating employer?" Shen Yan raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly."

Uncle Yang nodded.

"Jinyun Manor is under the full management of Manager Su Wan. She only needs to summarize key accounts and major decisions to you once a month."

“Yunshangji is originally the eldest young lady’s business. Let her run it freely and bear the profits and losses herself. You only need to give her guidance when she is really unsure.”

"Madam Ling will definitely be in charge of the core affairs of the workshop. She is better at technological innovation and production scheduling than you are. I will take over when she is not around. As for external liaison, dealing with government officials, large-scale fund allocation, and strategic direction, you will naturally be in charge of those as well. As for Zhou Wenqing, this old minister will directly liaise with him, and will filter out useful information before reporting it to you."

"Each month, you only need to set aside one or two days to have detailed discussions with Manager Su, Miss, and Madam Ling to grasp the overall situation. The rest of the time..."

Uncle Yang smiled slightly, "Whether you want to study the newly tailored brocade robes or personally pick up the children, it's up to you. If you encounter a truly momentous matter that your subordinates can't decide, they will naturally come to you first. You just need to conserve your energy, and when the crucial moment arrives, you'll make the final decision!"

As Shen Yan listened, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

This "rotating employer" system sounds like... a lazy person's perfect solution tailor-made for him!

It allows you to control the overall situation while also getting rid of those tedious details!

He could almost see himself wearing a new robe that shimmered with light and color.

Lying leisurely in a rocking chair, watching the children chasing and playing in the yard... that was the life he had been longing for!

"good!"

Shen Yan slapped his thigh suddenly, the weariness on his face vanished, and his peach blossom eyes regained their bright light, carrying an excitement of being about to be freed from their shackles.

"Uncle Yang, do as you say! Tomorrow... no, tonight, give the notice! The rotating employer takes effect immediately!"

He stood up and felt much lighter, even the mountain of documents in the study didn't seem so oppressive anymore.

"First, bring me Susu's embroidery pattern, I want to take a good look! Also, tell the kitchen to add some dishes tonight! I want to have a little wine!"

He sounded like a child who had finally received holiday notice, his voice filled with excitement.

Seeing his boss's sudden change in demeanor, Uncle Yang felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders.

A relieved smile appeared on his face: "Yes, boss!"

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