Chapter 83: Slightly Drunk (2)

Shen Xiling noticed his meaning and smiled, lips pursed. She gently tugged at his sleeve and said, “Master, please sit.”

The “ya” at the end of her sentence was pronounced softly and faintly, almost imperceptible if one wasn’t paying close attention. Precisely because of this subtlety, it carried an especially endearing quality—exuding a coquettish charm that was hard to define, even more captivating than the soft Wu dialect.

No one could resist it—not even Lord Qi, who was usually known for his cold-hearted demeanor.

He had no choice but to yield to her gentle tug and sit down, close to her. He sat on the seat by the railing, while she remained on the ground. Their positions—one high, one low—meant she had to slightly tilt her face upward to look at him.

She actually enjoyed looking at him like this. For some reason, she liked it a lot. Perhaps it was because his knees were at the level of her cheek, and with just a slight turn of her head, she could lean against them, much like how Xuétuán nestled on his lap.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t Xuétuán; she couldn’t brazenly or unapologetically do such a thing. Shen Xiling knew such behavior wouldn’t be appropriate between them, and besides, he probably wouldn’t allow it anyway. So, after a quick glance, she averted her eyes.

Qi Ying didn’t notice her fleeting glance. Instead, he glanced at the small stove and asked, “What are you making again?”

At his question, Shen Xiling perked up. With her face slightly tilted upwards, she looked at him and gave a mysteriously coy smile. Then she turned her head to check the cooking progress. Judging it was about right, she retrieved a cloth from the seat behind the railing and lifted the lid of the small steamer.

A puff of white steam immediately escaped. Qi Ying glanced over and saw that she had steamed two crabs.

He raised an eyebrow, chuckled, and asked, “Why did you suddenly decide to eat crab?”

In truth, Shen Xiling didn’t particularly crave crab. She just thought that since it was his birthday, she should do something a little different from usual.

In previous years, she had given him birthday gifts, putting considerable thought into them. However, she found it difficult to gauge his preferences—his attitude towards material things always seemed indifferent, showing neither particular fondness nor dislike. This made it challenging to choose an appropriate gift.

At the time, she reasoned that since it was her first time buying him a present, she shouldn’t be too stingy, lest it appear insincere. Her business had just started to pick up, so she spent most of her savings—a significant sum—to purchase an authentic painting and calligraphy piece by Bao Pu Gong. The artwork depicted a serene rural scene from his reclusive life, with a few lines of his own poetry inscribed as well.

Back then, she believed the gift was both thoughtful and valuable, thinking there shouldn’t be any issues. But when he received it, he didn’t seem particularly pleased. Instead, he scolded her for being extravagant and told her not to buy him any more gifts in the future.

She felt a bit hurt at the time, thinking he didn’t appreciate her effort. Only later did she realize he didn’t want her hard-earned money to go to waste. Moreover, he had a peculiar mindset—he seemed to think it was only natural for him to spend money on her, but when the roles were reversed, he became uncomfortable.

It was a sentiment Shen Xiling still found difficult to fully understand.

Though she didn’t grasp it completely, she had no intention of opposing him. Seeing that he didn’t like receiving gifts, she stopped giving them altogether. Instead, she began using other subtle gestures to amuse him on his birthday, hoping to give this perpetually hardworking man a moment of respite.

These thoughts were not meant to be shared with others. When he asked her now, Shen Xiling simply smiled and replied softly, “This time, while passing through Suzhou, I heard their lake crabs were famous, so I took a detour to buy a few. On the way back, I was worried they might die and lose their freshness, so I kept them alive.”

She blinked and said, “I thought I’d bring them back for Master to try.”

Qi Ying wasn’t unfamiliar with Suzhou’s lake crabs. However, he had always been rather plain in his dietary preferences and didn’t have much of a taste for such delicacies. Initially, he hadn’t found them particularly delicious. But now, seeing Shen Xiling’s bright eyes fixed on him, eagerly awaiting his praise, his heart softened. His smile deepened as he said, “Mm, it’s been a while since I’ve had them—I’m starting to miss them.”

Hearing his words, she visibly cheered up, her eyes crinkling with joy.

He glanced at her, his expression gentle, and asked, “Why didn’t you eat them together earlier in the flower hall?”

Shen Xiling was momentarily taken aback by his question. She looked at him but didn’t respond.

She had intended to bring the steamed crabs there, but she knew that apart from them, there would inevitably be others present—and she… wanted to spend some time alone with him.

It had been half a month since she last saw him.

She missed him.

She didn’t voice these thoughts aloud, but her silence at this moment carried a deeper significance. From the glance she gave him, Qi Ying perceived a faint yet intricate emotion—more indescribable than when she was younger. It was like a strand of golden thread grass lightly entwining around his heart, causing a small, tingling sensation to arise within him—a delicate, electric feeling.

He thought perhaps Qingzhu hadn’t added enough water to his wine tonight; he was indeed a bit drunk.

Qi Ying coughed softly, dispelling those unusual feelings, and changed the subject, asking her, “Did you encounter any trouble during your trip?”

Over the past three years, Shen Xiling’s business had seen significant growth.

It all started with that small fabric shop.

Three years ago, she followed his advice and didn’t immediately replace Manager Lu. Instead, she first focused on clearing out the backlog of fabrics, reclaiming a decent profit. In the process, she discovered new business opportunities.

Song Haotang, originally responsible for dyeing fabrics at the shop, was quite knowledgeable. He had traveled extensively in his youth, venturing as far as the Guanxi region. Guanxi connected to the Western Regions, where cotton (referred to as “white迭子”) was first introduced from India. Song Haotang had seen foreign textiles made from cotton, which were excellent for winter insulation—far superior to hemp or silk and more practical than fur coats.

However, while cotton came from the north, it thrived in southern climates. Due to decades of warfare between the north and south, its circulation was hindered, and it hadn’t gained much traction in the Jiangnan region. Though some merchants traded in it, it remained a niche product, far from reaching ordinary households.

Shen Xiling recognized this as an opportunity but faced two challenges: cotton cultivation hadn’t yet spread widely in Jiangnan, and the textile production techniques were still underdeveloped.

Coincidentally, Manager Lu proved helpful in this matter.

Having managed the fabric shop for many years, his network was broader than Shen Xiling had anticipated. He happened to know a merchant named Tian who cultivated cotton on his estate in Fujian and Guangdong. Despite believing it to be a lucrative opportunity, Tian’s investment had gone sour, leaving him desperate. Thanks to Manager Lu’s introduction, Tian eagerly agreed to sell a batch of cotton to Shen Xiling at a price 20% lower than hemp or silk.

This marked Shen Xiling’s first independent decision.

Oddly enough, despite her gentle and quiet nature, she could be remarkably decisive and bold when making choices.

She knew full well that Tian’s cotton wasn’t selling well and that the risk was substantial. Nevertheless, she invested all the profits she had painstakingly reclaimed from clearing the fabric stockpile. Additionally, she borrowed a significant amount from a moneylender to purchase the entire batch of cotton. She also negotiated two conditions with Mr. Tian: first, the transportation costs to Jiankang would be borne by him, and second, for the next five years, he couldn’t raise the price of the cotton he sold to her.

Facing potential financial ruin, Tian found Shen Xiling’s terms harsh but had no choice. After lengthy negotiations, he reluctantly agreed, and the deal was struck.

Shen Xiling entrusted Song Haotang with researching the textile production techniques. His wife, Meng Yingying, an experienced embroiderer, examined the foreign cotton textiles her husband had gathered. Not long after, she developed a specialized weaving method. The resulting fabric was fine, beautiful, lightweight, comfortable to wear, and highly insulating.

It was autumn at the time, but after much deliberation, Shen Xiling decided to launch the fabric in winter.

The fabric was of exceptional quality, and thanks to the low cost of the raw materials, the finished products weren’t expensive. Logically, they should have sold well, but introducing a new product always took time. Recalling what Qi Ying had taught her, Shen Xiling reflected on human psychology.

Revisiting an old strategy, she employed the same tactic she used to clear the excess fabric stock. She sold the cotton textiles alongside traditional hemp and silk fabrics, applying the principle of pricing bundles attractively (e.g., two for two coins, three for three coins, seven for five coins). As a result, the initial batch of cotton textiles was snapped up quickly, creating a supply shortage and generating quite a stir in Jiankang.

This marked Shen Xiling’s first success. Over the next three years, her business grew exponentially like a snowball.

She was astute and forward-thinking.

Although Mr. Tian sold her the cotton at a low price, transporting it from Fujian and Guangdong took a long time, with significant losses along the way. Shen Xiling began searching for suitable estates in Jiangnan to cultivate her own cotton.

Her once-small fabric shop grew increasingly profitable, eventually becoming a large establishment with several branches. However, she didn’t indulge in luxury, reinvesting most of her profits into purchasing estates. Now, she was a wealthy merchant with considerable influence in the Jianghuai region.

The once-struggling fabric shop had transformed into a thriving enterprise in less than three years under her management—an outcome Qi Ying hadn’t anticipated. Initially, he doubted her quiet nature suited commerce, never expecting her to excel in running the business. To his surprise, away from his watchful eye, she seemed like a different person. According to Mr. Ding, she was decisive, resilient, hands-on, and meticulous—an extraordinary talent.

Mr. Ding even remarked, “Master, Miss Fang is very much like you.”

Like him?

Upon hearing this, Qi Ying recalled her delicate and frail appearance as a child, chuckling softly. He marveled at the mysteries of lineage, thinking it no wonder she was the daughter of a seasoned politician—despite never being taught, she possessed a natural aptitude for business.

Impressed by her successful management of the fabric shop, Qi Ying gradually began entrusting her with other ventures. After all, the industries left to him by her father were extensive, including tea and salt, and her knowledge of fabric alone was insufficient. She needed broader experience to avoid being overwhelmed when she eventually took over.

This trip, she went out partly to collect debts and partly to oversee the scattered businesses across various regions.

Author’s Note: This couple is truly hopeless—they can’t even break such a thin layer of tension! Seriously, it’s so fragile that a mere breath could shatter it!