Out of concern, Steward Wu also made inquiries about these matters.
He immediately said, "I heard that all the notable bosses from Jingde Town have been invited."
He also speculated, "Could it be because of our family producing Old Blue and White porcelain?"
"Eight or nine out of ten, it’s because of this matter," Song Jiyun said.
This time, she caught Eunuch Wan and Song Tao off guard, and given their characters, they wouldn’t let it go so easily.
However, if they wanted to make things difficult for her, it wouldn’t be so easy.
Song Jiyun coldly chuckled and tossed the invitation onto the desk beside her.
If they wished to employ some underhanded tactics, she wouldn’t mind playing along with them!
Not only had she quietly purchased a large number of quota permits in a blitzkrieg fashion, but she had also fired up two batches of Dragon Kilns in one go, slashing the price of Old Blue and White porcelain once again.
Next, she would continue firing up Dragon Kilns to produce Old Blue and White porcelain.
In the shortest time possible, she would use up all the quota permits.
And the price would continue to drop.
It would keep dropping until the Liangyu Kiln Factory wouldn’t receive a single order for the next nine months!
It was uncertain if Old Master Hong would continue to support Song Tao after reviewing the Kiln Factory’s accounts.
She had these nine months as a buffer period, enough to relocate Wan Xiaoquan somewhere else.
Next, it would be seen how much silver Liangyu Kiln Factory had to withstand her onslaught.
What she hadn’t expected was that when she thought buying those quota permits from the kilns and workshops serving Liangyu Kiln Factory would face resistance, not only did they not refuse her, but some even approached her secretly to sell their permits to her.
It was evident that although Song Tao had the skills, he lacked the capability.
Song Jiyun instructed Steward Wu, "Invite Old Master Yan and Old Master Wu for dinner at our house tonight."
As for Li Zixiu, that opportunist, forget it.
Who knew which side he would really fall on.
Steward Wu agreed and hurriedly sent out the invitations.
Everyone knew why Song Jiyun invited them, and they arrived early.
Seven or eight people gathered around the large round table in the open hall of the Water Pavilion, talking.
The fine, silky rain fell on the willows which had yet to sprout leaves, creating ripples on the lake surface stirred by the koi.
Only when the rain stopped and the banquet ended, and the moon rose above the willow tops, did Yuan Yunzhong and Shao Qing still not return.
Song Jiyun was in the study, writing furiously, until the midnight drum sounded. Only then did she stretch and stand up wearily and opened the window lattice.
The bright moonlight spilled into the courtyard, covering it in silver.
*
Yuan Yunzhong stood at the bow of the boat, with the clear moonlight falling on his shoulder, as if it had dusted it with frost.
The dark river surface gleamed, yet appeared unfathomably deep.
Shao Qing came out of the cabin and said, "Sir, there are hidden reefs ahead. The captain said he’s not at all sure we can get through smoothly. I think we should find a place to dock and rest here for the night."
Yuan Yunzhong said nothing, his tightly pursed lips revealing his displeasure.
Seeing this, Shao Qing couldn’t help but complain, "There’s nothing else we can do. Who knew there would be pirates on Poyang Lake! They say the world is at peace and the seas are clear, don’t they? If we hadn’t come out with you, we would’ve never known there’s so much underhandedness going on here!"
Yuan Yunzhong ignored him and instead turned to call the captain to inquire, "Can we make it to Jingde Town by tomorrow?"
The captain, trembling, replied, "No, we can’t! At the earliest, it would be the morning after tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, a chill flashed in Yuan Yunzhong’s eyes.
The captain of the boat was so terrified that his legs went weak, and he almost knelt down when Shao Qing walked in and said, "Young Master, are you worried that we won’t finish making the paper kites in time for the Dragon Raising Head festival?"
"Noise!" Yuan Yunzhong replied, clearly impatient.
However, Shao Qing chuckled and, raising a paper kite in his hand, proudly said, "Wasn’t I thoughtful? While you were busy in the city, I bought several paper kites nearby. One of them even resembles a hundred-legged centipede. Just in case we run out of time, we can use it. After all, that young girl Jixue won’t notice!"
After a while, Yuan Yunzhong softly "Hmm"ed.
*
Early the next morning, spring rain began to drift down from the sky.
The distant mountains, forests, and residences appeared hazy, as if soaked in a thin mist.
Song Jiyun, holding an umbrella, boarded a mule cart.
She had no intentions of becoming a target for Eunuch Wan and precisely timed her arrival at the Temple of the Wind God.
Even so, as soon as she arrived at the Temple of the Wind God, people from nearly all the kilns and workshops came running out from the open hall, holding umbrellas, and greeted her respectfully, calling her "Boss Song."
Song Jiyun smiled and nodded to everyone, but she constantly felt a strong gaze fixed on her, following her wherever she went.
She looked over discreetly.
It was Song Tao.
Holding an oil-paper umbrella made of Xiangfei bamboo, she stood under the Arhat tree next to the temple’s main hall. She had neatly trimmed her bangs to eyebrow length, making her eyes appear even larger. Yet, the hatred and jealousy in her eyes were more apparent than ever.
It seemed that in her past life, she and Song Tao were adversaries.
However, she did not know why they had become adversaries.
She did not think there was anything about Song Tao worth targeting.
Song Jiyun did not spare her a glance and proceeded directly into the main hall of the Temple of the Wind God amidst the crowd.
In the Temple of the Wind God, the Wind and Fire Immortal Lord was revered. A wooden statue, about a meter tall, wearing a Taoist robe and seated on an intricately carved Taishi Chair, looked down benevolently at the congregation. The sides of the spacious hall were lined with statues of the master craftspeople in various aspects of pottery-making. Green silk banners embroidered with patterns of green clouds hung on either side, with incense smoke curling up.
Song Jiyun handed her umbrella to the Temple Supervisor, offered incense to the Wind and Fire Immortal Lord, and then began softly exchanging pleasantries with the gathered crowd.
Someone quietly informed her, "Eunuch Wan came early, and when he saw you hadn’t arrived, he went to rest in the side hall."
Another person warned her, "That Song Tao came with Eunuch Wan. You should be careful."
Song Jiyun thanked these people without changing her expression.
A moment later, someone outside announced, "Eunuch Wan has arrived!"
Everyone fell silent, stepped aside, and cleared the aisle, exposing Song Jiyun, who was standing in front of the statue.
Song Tao, supporting Eunuch Wan, walked in.
Upon seeing Song Jiyun, Eunuch Wan gave a cold smile.
Undaunted, Song Jiyun stepped forward to greet Eunuch Wan, "It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Are you well?"
"Good, good, good!" Eunuch Wan replied with a feigned smile as he entered the main hall, "Jingde Town hasn’t been as lively without Boss Song."
Song Jiyun, not bothering with him, simply smiled and said, "A crowd does liven things up."
Eunuch Wan gave her a cold glance and then sat majestically on the Taishi Chair below the statue of the Wind and Fire Immortal Lord.
This time, Song Tao unreservedly took her place behind Eunuch Wan.
Eunuch Wan gave a sign to the Legal Advisor beside him.
The Legal Advisor stepped forward and gestured for the Temple Supervisor to strike the cloud board.
The crowd fell silent.
He then spoke unhurriedly in a high voice, "Today, at the command of Lord Wan, we have gathered everyone here in the Temple of the Wind God to discuss a matter of critical importance to everyone here and to the fate of Jingde Town."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
