Hong Xi was merely showing formal politeness to Yuan Yunzhong, so he paid no further attention to his emotions.
He beamed at Song Jiyun and said, "It’s somewhat of a pleasant surprise, isn’t it? I’ve returned from Suzhou and am unfamiliar with Liang County, but having a senior here holding an official position gives me someone to consult with in future matters."
At this point, he also exclaimed pensively, "It’s beyond me why the finance inspectors went mad this time, seizing our family’s goods; otherwise, I wouldn’t have met Lord Jiang."
Song Jiyun exchanged a few pleasantries with him, and then Registrar Wang began to invite everyone to take their seats.
This time, Magistrate Jiang did not directly mention Song Jiyun by name, and Registrar Wang, fearing she might become too conspicuous and invoke jealousy, intentionally seated her in a corner, along with Yuan Yunzhong, for the meal.
The ones sitting at the same table as Song Jiyun included some raw material suppliers for the Song Family Kiln Factory, who had been planning to visit her after the seventieth day ceremony of Song Youliang’s passing. Now that they had met, they discussed each other’s businesses, essentially getting acquainted ahead of time.
After the midday feast, Registrar Wang organized an event for Lord Jiang to enjoy music and flowers, but Magistrate Jiang tactfully declined, chatted with those who attended the flower-viewing about their respective situations, had dinner, and then dispersed.
Everyone kept inviting Magistrate Jiang to visit their homes.
Magistrate Jiang gladly accepted, telling everyone to arrange a time with his legal advisor before he boarded his sedan and left.
After sending off Lord Jiang, the people still lingered, gathering in small groups in front of Wensi Building, discussing their impressions from meeting Lord Jiang today.
Hong Xi found Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong waiting for their sedan.
"Miss Song!" he said, "I heard that the kiln is opening tomorrow, may I come and watch?"
Song Jiyun had arranged for the kiln factory to start firing the custom porcelain for the Hong Family the following day.
She replied awkwardly, "Young Master Hong, I apologize. I have to meet Registrar Wang tomorrow. Perhaps another day?"
Each kiln factory has its own porcelain firing methods, and it is not common for outsiders to ask for a tour.
Song Jiyun was unsure whether Hong Xi was unaware of this convention or if he thought it wouldn’t matter since they were firing porcelain for his family.
Hong Xi could not hide his disappointment.
Yet Song Jiyun deftly changed the subject with a smile, "I didn’t expect Lord Jiang to have heard of me before. I saw you signaling to him earlier; you weren’t recommending me to Lord Jiang, were you?"
Hong Xi smiled nonchalantly, "I didn’t say much. It just came up while chatting with Lord Jiang casually, but unexpectedly, he remembered."
"Thank you, Young Master Hong, for your attention," Song Jiyun graciously thanked him, "In the future, if you need any assistance, I will definitely do my best to help."
Hong Xi modestly waved his hand.
A servant boy, looking panicked, pushed through the crowd and approached Hong Xi, "Young Master, the old master has returned. The chief steward is asking you to hurry back home."
Hong Xi was quite surprised, "Has the second young master returned as well?"
The servant boy shook his head, "The second young master will arrive later with his classmates and teacher from Crane Mountain Academy; the old master came back early to prepare for the second young master’s coming-of-age ceremony."
With an apologetic smile towards Song Jiyun, Hong Xi excused himself and hastily left with the servant boy.
Yuan Yunzhong stood still, staring after Hong Xi for a long time without speaking, until Song Jiyun called him to get into the sedan, at which point he finally looked away.
*
The next morning, Zheng Quan went on behalf of Song Jiyun to oversee the firing at the Kiln Factory while Song Jiyun visited the home of Registrar Wang—who had taken such good care of her the day before. She wanted to explain their intentions early and finalize the collaboration between their two families.
Registrar Wang had pushed for his brother-in-law to partner with the Song Family, with the Song Family providing the funds and labor for production and the Wang Family handling sales, splitting the profits seventy-thirty, with seventy percent for the Song Family and thirty for the Wang’s.
This was the custom in Jingde Town.
However, Song Jiyun proposed that the Song Family supply the goods, while the Wang Family would handle sales in Liang County, Poyang County, Wannian County, and other surrounding areas: "I don’t care how much you sell them for, I will give you a wholesale price and guarantee to supply you exclusively."
Registrar Wang was very tempted, but as someone not accustomed to business, he always acted with the belief that "pie never falls from the sky" and was afraid of being cheated whenever he couldn’t understand something, thus he hesitated.
Song Jiyun could see where his concerns lay and, smiling, shared her plans with him: "Ceramics vary greatly in price depending on the route taken, and some traders earn even more than we kiln factory owners. With your connections, you are no ordinary trader. I think, you should try being a trader. If it’s too hard, we can always revert to the usual contract arrangements!" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
Registrar Wang murmured, "I need to think about it."
His brother-in-law, however, had a knack for business and was eagerly persuading Registrar Wang to accept Jiyun’s proposal.
After weighing the decision back and forth, it was not until the afternoon that they finalized everything.
Meanwhile, Yuan Yunzhong stood in the small garden behind the Liang County Yamen, his face stern as he coldly gazed at Lord Jiang, disdainfully asking, "Where is Jiang Qin?"
Lord Jiang, sitting comfortably under the camphor tree in the Drunken Master’s Chair eating some freshly available green jujubes, finally responded, "What do you need?"
Yuan Yunzhong’s face looked displeased.
Lord Jiang teasingly blinked and said, "I am Jiang Qin!"
"Don’t start your tricks with me," Yuan Yunzhong said coldly. "What are you doing in Liang County? Where has Jiang Qin gone?"
"What does it matter where he has gone?" Lord Jiang rocked the Drunken Master’s Chair and continued, "The matter you asked someone to remind him about last night, I, not having missed a single detail, completed it for you."
Yuan Yunzhong scoffed coldly.
Lord Jiang reminisced about the time they studied together when Yuan Yunzhong had an unstained vision, and how Yuan Yunzhong had specifically come to warn Jiang Qin for the sake of a woman. He could not help but laugh, thinking it was a rare opportunity not to tease Yuan Yunzhong, and surely, he would regret not taking it.
"What I could never have expected," he feigned surprise, "is that you suddenly became someone’s fiancé. I wonder if our respected teacher, knowing this, wouldn’t rush here overnight in shock."
"What does that have to do with you?" Yuan Yunzhong warned, "Stick to your own duties, tattletale!"
"Little junior brother, you hurt me," he clutched at his chest, playing the wounded, "Remember, it was I who first helped you understand the ’Nine Chapters’. You can’t forget your elder brother just because your rank is higher than mine!"
Yuan Yunzhong glanced at him and turned to leave.
Lord Jiang froze, then sighed bitterly and hurriedly stood up, calling after his retreating figure, "Little junior brother, Lord Xia thinks the matters in Jiangxi are very complicated, and Jiang Qin is too mediocre and incompetent, so he sent me to keep an eye on the Imperial Kiln Factory."
Yuan Yunzhong did not pause for a moment, his retreating figure was both free and cold, mixed with a sense of irrevocable finality, and he was about to leave the garden,
Lord Jiang, thinking of something, suddenly laughed loudly, calling out to Yuan Yunzhong’s retreating figure, "Little junior brother, you have arranged so much, yet Miss Song seems oblivious to all of it."
Saying this, he shook his head and sighed, "I see Young Master Hong has been quite diligent; hopefully, Miss Song won’t misunderstand anything."
Yuan Yunzhong’s majestic form faltered slightly.
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