Chapter 169 Siblings
Shen Yanhuai was not unfamiliar with the name Xiecuifang.
He was in the northern desert during the last dyeing competition and couldn't make it back in time. When he returned and heard that the newly won shop was an unknown little workshop, he was quite surprised.
Since then, he has paid close attention to Xiecuifang, but unfortunately, he didn't have much time in Suzhou Prefecture. Seeing that the shop didn't cause any trouble, he stopped paying attention to it.
I never expected that my first visit to Xiecuifang would be like this.
Shen Yanhuai alighted from the carriage and stood in front of the Xiecuifang gate, examining it closely.
While not the best location on Wanbao Street, Xiecuifang's location was quite advantageous. The main gate was made of ebony and carved with auspicious patterns commonly used by merchants.
Shen Yanhuai glanced at it twice and strode inside.
Luo Bai was already waiting in the hall. When he saw the man, he smiled and said, "Boss Shen, our boss is waiting in the upstairs room."
Shen Yanhua nodded, but his gaze swept over the bustling Xiecuifang.
With just one glance, he became certain of his guess.
The fabrics in Xiecuifang are stacked differently than in other fabric shops, where rolls of fabric are piled up in one place or hung high, with a section hanging down from the wooden frame for people to choose from.
A towering huanghuali wood frame was erected here, with Western-style hinges on the side. When the waiter pulled the hinges, all the fabrics on the entire wooden frame could be seen.
A string of "cloth-like" objects were hanging in front of the wooden frame.
It allows customers who enter the store to touch and feel the different fabric textures.
In the center of the main hall stands a wooden frame display stand, on which hangs the "Longevity and Prosperity" brocade that he saw today.
The four walls are lined with display shelves, and the items on display are mostly small and exquisite, or peculiar and eye-catching.
It's obvious from a glance that the person behind this is a woman, and a young girl at that.
Because too many things no longer conform to the old-fashioned rules.
Shen Yanhuai watched, unsure of his own feelings, or perhaps he was completely oblivious, his heart undisturbed.
"Our boss is waiting inside. I'll go make some tea for you two."
Luo Bai bowed and gestured for him to leave, then turned and left.
Shen Yanhuai stood in front of the side room door, remaining motionless for a long time.
It took him a while to push open the door.
Inside the room, Shen Yuanzhu sat at the table, fiddling with an abacus and doing accounting.
She looked serious and worked quickly and accurately on the abacus. Shen Yanhuai glanced at her for a few moments, then walked over and sat down opposite Shen Yuanzhu.
Shen Yuanzhu stopped what she was doing and pushed the abacus aside.
She said, "Brother."
Shen Yanhuai, who prided himself on being eloquent and worldly-wise, could only nod at this moment, unsure of what to say.
When he saw the "Longevity and Prosperity" brocade at the Textile and Dyeing Bureau, he had some guesses and even had countless questions he wanted to ask.
But now, sitting in front of Shen Yuanzhu, facing his younger sister who was still a child in his eyes, he couldn't say a word.
Although they were siblings, a deep-seated hatred for each other lay between them—the murder of their mother…
Although it had nothing to do with Shen Yuanzhu, he found it difficult to treat her the same way he treated Shen Yuanqiong.
As for asking about Xiecuifang...
He was not unaware of the grudges between his mother and Ji Zhiyi back then.
When Ji Zhiyi passed away, he was already old enough to take over the Shen family. He couldn't judge the affairs of the previous generation, and it was difficult for him to do so. Therefore, Shen Yanhuai never forced Shen Yuanzhu to give him the dyeing manual she had.
He thought that Ji Zhiyi's death would only leave Shen Yuanzhu the "Shen Family Dyeing Manual" and a storeroom full of dowry, but he never expected that there would also be the Xie Cui Fang.
Thinking of this, Shen Yanhuai's brows relaxed.
Since Ji Zhiyi was able to seal all the rare dye vats of the Shen family before her death, it doesn't seem to surprise him that she can now allow Shen Yuanzhu to take another path and inherit the Shen family's technology and industry.
Shen Yanhuai sat in front of Shen Yuanzhu for a long time, and found that those questions were swirling in his mind, so he lost the desire to ask them again.
Shen Yuanzhu looked up at Shen Yanhuai, and occasionally, she could see a resemblance to her father from her memories on his face, but also...
That's all.
Since Shen Yanhuai had nothing to say, she had even less desire to talk to him.
With soldiers coming from the left and right, and water coming from the right, no one can touch the Cuifang.
The two remained locked in this stalemate for a long time without exchanging a single word.
After a long while, Shen Yanhuai said, "That 'May you enjoy longevity and happiness' painting is well-woven."
Shen Yuanzhu never expected that he would say such a thing after holding it in for so long.
He tilted his head and thought for a moment before saying, "It's pretty good."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yanhuai smiled faintly.
He stood up and walked around the room, his expression calm, his eyes filled with appreciation.
After a long pause, he spoke again: "This Cui Fang is also quite nice."
Perhaps fearing that Shen Yuanzhu might misunderstand, Shen Yanhuai added, "Over the years, I have been traveling around, firstly to expand the Shen family's business, and secondly to search for dyeing methods in various places."
"Different regions use different dyeing methods, and the resulting dyeing effects vary greatly."
"But I must say that the recipes I selected, recorded, and improved, as well as those I found in ancient books, are all quite good."
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Shen Yuanzhu's eyes.
But it quickly became clear.
Since Shen Yanhuai could say such a thing, it's likely that Ye Yunyi has been acting under someone else's authority all these years.
Shen Yanhuai said, "The dyeing formulas I collected from various places have now been compiled into a book. It can be said to have gathered the strengths of a hundred places, each with its own advantages and charm."
Shen Yuanzhu looked into his eyes but didn't say anything.
This means that he will neither compete with me for "Shen Family Dyeing Manual" nor have he set his sights on Xiecui Workshop.
Shen Yanhuai was telling herself that what her mother left behind was hers and no one would touch it.
Shen Yanhuai continued, "Now the dyeing recipe is taking shape. After a few more dyeing methods are tested, we can officially start using it."
"So I won't take the Shen family's dyeing manual, so you can rest assured."
“It’s my mother’s dyeing pattern.”
Shen Yuanzhu said, "It's not the Shen family's dyeing recipe, it's my mother's dyeing recipe."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yanhuai smiled faintly and did not argue with her.
The "Shen Family Dyeing Manual" was indeed recorded by Shen Yuanzhu's maternal grandfather and compiled by Shen's father.
But those dyeing formulas were determined by their father through repeated experiments and adjustments over many years.
So it is indeed Ji Zhiyi's dyeing manual, and also the Shen family's dyeing manual.
only……
Shen Yanhuai had no intention of arguing with her.
He silently stood up and looked at the child...
Shen Yuanzhu, who was indeed still a child, nodded slowly.
"Then I won't bother you any longer, Mr. Shen. I'll be going now."
After finishing his sentence, Shen Yanhuai turned to leave.
With one hand resting on the door, he suddenly asked, "Have your sister-in-law treated you badly while I've been away all these years?"
It's probably not as good as he thought.
That day at the Xie family home, he said he wanted to take Shen Yuanzhu and Li home. Ye Yunyi readily agreed, and then asked for the dyeing manual. This made him think about the relationship between the two sisters-in-law in a different way than before.
Shen Yuanzhu bluntly stated, "It's very bad."
No wonder.
Shen Yanhuai nodded.
This explains why Shen Yuanzhu was so cold to him.
But Shen Yanhuai didn't say anything. He just paused for a moment, then pushed open the door and went out.
Shen Yuanzhu stood by the window of the side room, watching Shen Yanhuai walk towards the carriage and then drive out of Wanbao Street.
She watched quietly until Mrs. Luo and Luo Bai entered the room.
"Miss, what did Shen Yanhuai say? Does he want your dyeing manual and Xiecuifang?"
"If he uses any means..."
"No."
Shen Yuanzhu shook her head: "There's nothing there."
She looked at Madam Luo and said in a flat tone, "He calls me Master Shen."
Luo Bai asked, puzzled, "What does that mean?"
Shen Yuanzhu said, "I am not Yuanzhu, not my sister, and no longer an innocent child."
“Master Shen is the owner of a shop. He is a worthy opponent for us when we meet again in the future.”
Shen Yanhuai meant that the sibling-like affection that the two of them never had should be abandoned.
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