Chapter 56 is quite lively and enjoyable.
When Yu Man heard Gu Chengling say "not quite what I imagined," it sounded somewhat familiar, as if Chen Jingshu had said something similar before. Following up on the topic, she smiled slightly and replied, "Young Master Chengling, you also seem quite different from when you were solemnly tidying up the household affairs yesterday."
Upon hearing this, Gu Chengling's eyes flashed with a faint smile, neither confirming nor denying. He flicked his finger and gently tapped the smooth sandalwood table, the sound like shattering jade. His words carried a subtle, almost imperceptible, scrutiny: "Judging from what Lady Yu has said, are you willing to... speak with me privately?" He deliberately softened the word "privately," the probing intent beneath the surface was self-evident.
“Yes, but not now,” Yu Man answered clearly and unequivocally.
Meeting his scrutinizing gaze, she frankly analyzed, "To be honest, Young Master Gu, the prefectural branch has just been established and its foundation is not yet solid. It would not be wise to rush into opening a new branch in the capital at this time. I understand the principle of not trying to do too much at once."
Then, changing the subject, she offered her own thoughts: "That day, when I went to Jinhua Hall, besides discussing matters, I also took the opportunity to observe. The Gu family focuses on fine silks and clothing, and their guests are all wealthy and noble, with grand and imposing gates."
She paused slightly, and seeing that Gu Chengling's expression remained unchanged, which clearly indicated his tacit agreement, she continued, "The wealth of the world comes from the people, and in the final analysis, it all boils down to food and clothing. Since the Gu family has already achieved so much in terms of clothing, it is only natural that their focus can be placed on food."
Gu Chengling's gaze darkened slightly, a hidden current surging within his eyes. This was indeed a plan he and the old man had secretly devised. Jin Hua Tang's clientele was already secured, and although the profits were substantial, it was like an old tree with deeply rooted branches, finding it difficult to sprout new ones. However, food was the most important thing for the people, and the profits of the kitchen were like a hidden dragon in the abyss, its potential immeasurable.
Indeed, the restaurants in the capital are like a chessboard, with powerful figures backing each piece. If the Gu family were to forcefully place their own piece, they would not only have to overcome numerous obstacles, but they might also make enemies out of thin air.
The best course of action is to have a renowned and reputable expert like Madam Yu in the spotlight, while the Gu family remains behind the scenes as a supporter.
The old man and he understood the crux of the matter without saying a word. But his elder brother, who only knew how to fight for power and was short-sighted, couldn't even understand such a simple truth, forcing him to travel day and night from Zhuojun back to the capital to clean up this mess.
Thinking of this, he slightly bent his knuckles and tapped the table lightly, with a hint of helplessness and determination.
Intelligent people don't need to spell things out when they talk.
Knowing that Yu Man had already guessed most of it, Gu Chengling stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "Madam Yu is intelligent. The sincerity of the Gu family in cooperating with you is evident to all. If you have any insights, please feel free to speak them."
Seeing his straightforwardness, Yu Man stopped holding back and, after a moment's thought, said, "Since the Gu family wants to get involved in the food industry but shouldn't reveal it too early, why not start from the bottom? For example, using the name of Jinhua Hall, hold some seasonal tea parties and tasting gatherings, specializing in selling exquisite and elegant tea snacks and drinks at affordable prices? This would allow us to test the market response and also give ordinary people an impression of the Gu family's food and beverages, gradually transitioning the Gu family's reputation from clothing to food. When the time is right, we can then plan for a larger scale. Wouldn't that be more prudent?" Her method was intended to help the Gu family penetrate a wider circle of ordinary people in a subtle and gradual way, building up their reputation.
Upon hearing this, Gu Chengling's brows relaxed slightly, and his eyes showed even greater appreciation. This prescription was sound and feasible, just what he wanted.
"Madam Yu's plan is brilliant." He nodded in affirmation.
Immediately, he took out a beautifully crafted gold-embossed invitation card from his pocket. The card was inscribed with the words "Wen Le" and handed it to Yu Man, explaining, "The day after tomorrow, the business community of the capital will be holding a small banquet at Wen Le Tower. Although it is called a small banquet, all those who attend are well-known merchants, as well as foreign merchants who have traveled from overseas. If Madam Yu has some free time, you might as well go and take a look; you may find something of value there."
He paused, then added, "My lady, you only need to say that you are a distinguished guest of the Gu family." Clearly, he knew that Yu Man did not want to be associated with the Gu family at the moment, and this was a very thoughtful gesture.
Yu Man accepted the invitation, its warmth reaching his hand. Knowing this was a rare opportunity, he readily accepted it and said, "Thank you, Young Master Gu."
Seeing that the matter was temporarily resolved, Gu Chengling rose to take his leave, his demeanor remaining composed and polite. Yu Man sat for a moment, drank a cup of tea, and then led Xiao Tao downstairs.
As soon as Yu Man stepped out of the vermilion threshold of Huixian Tower, she subconsciously looked up and her gaze inadvertently swept over the still-parked, ornately decorated Gu family carriage in front of the gate. Then, she saw the two figures standing on the stone steps beside the carriage.
It was Gu Chengling; he hadn't left yet.
He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his black cloak fluttering gently in the breeze.
At that moment, a young girl of about the age of a teenager stood before him. She wore an extremely delicate pale yellow silk dress embroidered with gold thread, and over it was a flawless white fox fur cloak, which made her stand out in the still chilly early spring.
She wore her hair in a playful double bun, adorned with several small, exquisite, and shimmering pearl hairpins. Her face was bright and beautiful, with a pair of lively and spirited almond-shaped eyes. However, at this moment, her pretty cherry lips were slightly pouting, carrying an undisguised coquettishness and dissatisfaction.
She tightly gripped the cuff of Gu Chengling's dark cloak with her slender white hand, her voice crisp and bright, carrying the unique coquettishness of a young girl: "Cousin! Which lady were you talking to upstairs in the private room for so long? I've been waiting for you here for ages, my legs are getting sore!"
Gu Chengling looked down at her hand tugging at his sleeve, his face showing no sign of impatience. Instead, a faint, almost imperceptible indulgence softened his usually cool and composed demeanor. He let her hold his sleeve without pulling away, and when he spoke, his voice was noticeably gentler than when he was discussing business with Yu Man: "Don't make wild guesses. We're just business friends; you can't be willful."
Luo Wanxi didn't believe him at all. She wrinkled her nose, stepped on her exquisitely embroidered sheepskin boots, and looked at Yu Man and her servant who were walking out of the door with scrutiny and suspicion.
His gaze lingered deliberately on Yu Manqing's pretty face for a moment, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for Yu Manqing to hear clearly: "A friend from business dealings? Hmph... You are... quite good-looking. But cousin, you travel often, so don't be foolish and get tricked!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Chengling frowned almost imperceptibly and softly called out, "Awan."
Luo Wanxi didn't seem afraid of his expression, but she still reluctantly let go of his sleeve. Her little mouth was still slightly pouting in dissatisfaction. She lowered her head and muttered to herself. Although it was hard to hear clearly, her dissatisfaction was obvious.
Yu Man took in the whole scene and couldn't help but find it a little funny. The scene was just like what was often depicted in picture books—a thoughtful, steady, and self-possessed older cousin and an innocent, spoiled younger cousin.
She whispered to Xiao Tao, who was also watching the commotion, "Isn't it rumored that this young master of the Gu family is still unmarried?"
Xiao Tao also looked puzzled and whispered, "That's what they say... Maybe, a distant cousin?"
Yu Man smiled and stopped looking at it, thinking to herself that this melon tasted quite sweet. She took Xiao Tao and found a decent-looking noodle shop nearby, had a casual lunch, and then returned to the inn.
After resting for another day, on that day, Yu Man carefully packed and prepared to go to Wenle Tower to witness this grand gathering of merchants in the capital.
Wenlelou truly lives up to its reputation as one of the top restaurants in the capital. Today's merchant banquet, held on the top floor, is exceptionally spacious and luxurious. Yu Man handed over her invitation, and after the doorman checked it, his attitude immediately became exceptionally respectful. He bowed and invited her inside.
Upon entering, even Yu Man was surprised. The top floor was extremely spacious, with exquisite screens and antique shelves cleverly dividing the area into several sections, yet it did not feel cramped at all.
The place was now teeming with guests, their elegant attire and refined manners filling the air. The men, mostly dressed in silk gowns, were either conversing in hushed tones or exchanging pleasantries with clasped hands. The women, adorned with jewels and ornaments, gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing.
What attracted Yu Man's attention even more were the imported goods displayed in specific areas for people to view and trade.
There are crystal-clear glasswares that refract dazzling light under the lamps, with ingenious shapes; there are exquisitely crafted swords inlaid with exotic gemstones; there are spices such as ambergris and frankincense that exude a rich and exotic fragrance; there are even a few small clocks that occasionally emit a crisp chime, attracting many people to stop and watch.
Yu Man even saw some colorful, thick woolen fabrics, as well as a few crudely made but exotic enamelware items.
All she could think was, "This feels so familiar."
Yu Man strolled over to a stall displaying several glasswares, her gaze drawn to a simple yet flawlessly clear glass vase. The stall owner, a foreign merchant with a high nose and deep-set eyes, noticed a customer pausing, and seeing her refined attire, immediately began enthusiastically promoting his vase in somewhat broken Mandarin: "Your Excellency, you have excellent taste! This is top-quality glass transported from the far west, thousands of miles away. Look at the texture, the luster—it would be the most elegant piece for arranging flowers in your room!"
Yu Man picked up the vase; it was cool to the touch. Holding it up to the light, she saw that its purity was indeed quite good, with far fewer impurities than the locally made glass of the time. She casually asked, "How much silver?"
The foreign merchant's eyes darted around, he held up two fingers, quickly flipped them over, and said in a low voice, "Forty taels."
Upon hearing this, Yu Man remained expressionless, gently placed the vase back in its original place, turned around as if to leave, and moved swiftly and decisively.
"Hey, hey, hey! Madam, wait! Wait!" Upon seeing this, the merchant quickly went around the stall to stop her, his face full of smiles, and then quickly made a gesture, "Thirty taels! Thirty taels for you!"
Yu Man stopped and turned to look at him, a half-smile on her face, but she remained silent.
The merchant from Hu felt a chill run down his spine under her gaze. He gritted his teeth and, as if cutting off a piece of his own flesh, held up another number: "Twenty taels! The lowest price! Madam, this is truly a fine item!"
Yu Man then smiled slightly and said, "Five taels."
The merchant from Hu widened his eyes instantly, as if he had heard something unbelievable, and waved his hands repeatedly: "Five taels? No way! That's not even enough to cover the cost! My lady, you're haggling way too much!"
Yu Man was not in a hurry. She slowly said, "Although this item comes from afar and is difficult to transport, its material is fragile and not very practical for daily life. It is just a decoration. In the capital, there are probably not many people who know its value and are willing to pay a high price. Five taels of silver, if you are willing, I will take it. If not..." She glanced at the other stalls, "There seem to be similar utensils over there."
The merchant's expression shifted several times. He looked at Yu Man's confident face, then at the vase, but ultimately couldn't resist his desire to use connections. With a mournful face, he said, "Fine, fine! Let's just consider this a chance to make a friend and bring good luck! Five taels it is! You're quite the bargainer, madam!"
Yu Man smiled and paid the money, telling Xiao Tao to carefully put away the glass vase she had gotten for a bargain of five taels of silver. The two, master and servant, smiled at each other, both finding the bargaining process quite amusing.
Then, she strolled around the venue. She noticed several elderly men, each with a tassel made of crystal or transparent mineral pinned to their lapels, huddled together pointing at invoices or ledgers. She couldn't help but glance at them a few more times, thinking to herself that the capital city was indeed an economic center, even having tassels.
After browsing around for a while, she found an inconspicuous corner to sit down, ostensibly to rest, but actually to listen attentively to the conversations around her. At first, it was mostly talk about market prices, goods, and canal transport, until a conversation between a few people caught her attention.
They appeared to be several powerful business owners gathered together, their tone filled with excitement and calculation.
An elderly man with a round face twirled sandalwood beads and said in a low voice, "The Empress Dowager's birthday celebration will be held in two months!"
The tall, thin man beside him immediately chimed in: "This birthday celebration is extraordinary. I've heard that princes and nobles from all over the country, as well as those aristocratic families that haven't moved for hundreds of years, are all sending their direct descendants to the capital to offer their congratulations!"
The other man, with a goatee, stroked his beard and chuckled, "What's so new about this? Even the Shanyang clan, who usually keeps their doors closed to guests, has made an exception this time and sent their talented young lady. The Empress Dowager's majesty is evident."
"The Shanyang clan has actually come out of seclusion?" The last person gasped. "That's a family that has been living in seclusion since the previous dynasty... It seems that this birthday celebration is indeed extraordinary."
The tall, thin man counted on his fingers: "It's not just the Shanyang clan. The Jin clan of Taiyuan, the Chunyu clan of Qi County, the Zhang clan of Qinghe... these aristocratic families that are rarely seen on ordinary days, their caravans are probably already on their way to the capital. Such a grand occasion is truly a once-in-a-century event."
The goatee's eyes gleamed, and his voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "These powerful families are deeply rooted, and even a little money slipping through their fingers is enough for an ordinary business to live on for years. If we can take this opportunity to climb the social ladder, not to mention the gold and silver profits, we can even gain some connections and support that will benefit us for a lifetime."
Another person rubbed his hands together and muttered, "If only we could get a little bit of a way to procure the tribute goods..."
"Be careful what you say!" Goat Beard hurriedly tapped the table with his finger. "How can we speak carelessly about matters of the inner court? However, it is fine to take this opportunity to make connections with various wealthy merchants and families."
Yu Man listened quietly, understanding dawning on her. Chen Jingshu had mentioned before that the young emperor was still young, and the Empress Dowager was ruling from behind the curtain, wielding immense power. This birthday banquet was not only a display of imperial majesty, but also likely an important occasion for various factions to observe the winds of change and realign themselves.
These astute businessmen had already sensed the enormous profits at play. The Shanyang family, the Jin family, the Chunyu family… these surnames sounded vaguely familiar.
After lingering at Wenlelou for nearly two hours and gaining a general understanding of the current business trends in the capital, Yu Man quietly left with Xiao Tao.
Back at the inn, she brewed a pot of tea, leaned against the window, and watched the lights gradually come on below, her mind filled with countless thoughts. She called Xiao Tao over and instructed her, "Xiao Tao, have you heard any interesting stories or anecdotes about the capital while you were out there? Tell me about them."
Now she'd come to the right person. The little girl immediately perked up and began to tell the story vividly:
"My lady, you don't know how many exciting things have happened in the capital lately! A new opera troupe has opened in the west of the city, and their singing is wonderful. They say they've invited famous actors from Jiangnan!"
"And another thing, I heard that the third young lady of the Yongning Marquis's family composed a poem at the Hundred Flowers Festival a few days ago, which outshone many young gentlemen. Her reputation as a talented woman has spread throughout the capital!"
"Oh, right, the other day on Zhuque Street, two carriages accidentally collided. Guess what? One was the nephew of the Minister of Personnel, and the other was the nephew of the General of the North. Their servants started arguing right there in the street, and it wasn't until the Five Cities Garrison arrived that they were able to separate them. It was quite a scene!"
Xiao Tao spoke with great enthusiasm, then lowered her voice and said, "However, the most talked-about topic lately is still the Zhang family's affairs!"
Yu Man was just listening casually, but when he heard the name Zhang Shizhong, he subconsciously thought of Zhang Jian.
Xiao Tao continued gossiping: "I heard that a young man from the Zhang family, who had been studying abroad, returned a few days ago! It's that young master Zhang. You wouldn't believe it, but since he came back, the threshold of the Zhang residence has been practically worn down by matchmakers and people from all over the country who have come to inquire about him!"
Yu Man recalled the original plot, and Zhang Jian did indeed finish his studies abroad around this time, return to his family, and prepare to enter officialdom. Given his talent and family background, it was inevitable that he would be sought after.
Xiao Tao continued to chatter: "Everyone says that this young master Zhang is very learned, of good character, and extremely handsome. Although he seems a bit cold, his family background is too good to pass up! Many families in the capital with daughters of marriageable age are eyeing him!"
She then added the names of some of the most prominent students in the recent spring examinations, counting on her fingers. Sure enough, most of them came from aristocratic families, such as the Liu family of Hedong and the Wang family of Langya. There were very few students from poor families, and even if there were, their rankings were relatively low.
Yu Man listened quietly, and for some reason thought of Pei Ji, wondering how he did on the question.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com