【Chapter 22: That Man Has a Mine at Home】
A young gentleman dressed in a flowing, sky-water jade-colored robe stood in the light, his sleeves fluttering gently as if he had brought the misty rain of Jiangnan with him.
His features were refined and handsome, his demeanor gentle and refined. With him standing there, the entire bustling West Market fell silent in an instant.
A Man was the first to react, quickly stepping forward to greet him. “Young master! W-what kind of fabric would you like to see? Our Cloud Silk Atelier has just received new…”
She trailed off mid-sentence, her gaze fixed on his face as she stared in a daze.
The young gentleman smiled faintly, a smile that instantly made A Man blush from her ears down to her neck.
“I am Murong Jin. I have an important matter to discuss with Manager Shen. May I have a word in private?” His voice was clear and gentle, his gaze passing over the stunned A Man and landing directly on Shen Nianyi.
Shen Nianyi finally snapped out of her trance, having to admit that she, too, had been momentarily dazzled by his presence.
She stood up and walked around the counter. “I am the manager, Shen Nianyi. Please come this way, young master.”
She led Murong Jin toward the tearoom in the backyard.
Pei Yanshu frowned. “Since this is business, I, as a shareholder, should naturally be present.”
Perhaps he walked too hastily, for he stumbled over the threshold, nearly performing an ungraceful fall. After awkwardly steadying himself against the doorframe, he glared fiercely at Murong Jin’s back—all because of this “sky-water jade”!
Murong Jin turned back, his smile still gentle. “It would be best if Young Master Pei joins us. We can discuss matters together.”
Inside the tearoom, the atmosphere was delicate.
When A Man brought in the tea, her hands trembled as if she had a nervous twitch, causing the teacups to clatter noisily. As she shakily handed the tea to Murong Jin, her voice even changed pitch. “Y-young master, p-please have some tea…”
Murong Jin took the teacup and gave her a gentle smile. “Thank you, miss.”
That smile left A Man feeling utterly dazed. As she turned to leave, she moved her arms and legs in sync, nearly walking straight into the doorframe. Fortunately, Da Chun happened to be passing by and grabbed her. “Sister A Man, watch where you’re going!”
But A Man seemed not to hear him, covering her flushed cheeks as she drifted out of the tearoom like a sleepwalker.
The tearoom door closed.
Murong Jin got straight to the point. “Just now outside, I overheard the two of you worrying about luminous stone powder. As it happens, my mine in Lingnan produces exactly that.”
Shen Nianyi’s eyes lit up—this was truly a timely rescue! She was about to speak when Pei Yanshu suddenly interrupted.
“Wait!” Pei Yanshu narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized Murong Jin. “Isn’t your appearance a little too coincidental? Could you be a spy sent by Chen Wanqing?”
“Pei Yanshu! Don’t be rude!” Shen Nianyi hurriedly stopped him, turning to Murong Jin apologetically. “Please forgive him, Young Master Murong. He’s just…”
She trailed off, unable to find the right words to describe Pei Yanshu’s inexplicable hostility.
Murong Jin tactfully took over, his smile gentle. “No need to apologize. It’s only natural for Young Master Pei to be cautious.”
Calmly, he retrieved a small brocade pouch from his sleeve. “I brought a sample. Manager Shen can see for herself.”
He opened the pouch and carefully poured a small amount of powder onto the tea tray. In the dimly lit tearoom, the powder emitted a soft, glowing luminescence on its own.
Shen Nianyi’s eyes instantly brightened. She couldn’t help but lean in for a closer look, even holding her breath. “The quality… it’s even better than what we have now! Young Master Murong, this is truly…”
She was so excited she was momentarily speechless—this was truly a godsend! With such high-quality raw materials, not only could the immediate crisis be resolved, but the quality of the Cloud-Dream Neon-Glow Brocade could also be elevated to an even higher level.
Pei Yanshu looked at her shining eyes and immediately felt alarm bells ringing in his heart.
He snatched the brocade pouch and deliberately nitpicked, “I think it’s just average, isn’t it? The luster is too glaring, not gentle enough. Nianyi, take a closer look—maybe it’s flour mixed with fluorescent powder!”
Shen Nianyi glared at him in annoyance. “What do you know? This quality is one in ten thousand.”
She turned to Murong Jin, her tone eager. “Young Master Murong, how much of this raw material can you supply? And what about the price?”
Murong Jin replied calmly, “To be honest, I am an admirer of Cloud Silk Atelier, especially appreciating Manager Shen’s unique creations, the Cloud-Dream Rainbow Glow and the Buddha’s Hand Gold.”
He gently placed a copy of a land deed on the table. “This is the mining rights document for three mines in Lingnan. Manager Shen need not worry about the supply—as long as my mines can extract it, Cloud Silk Atelier can have as much as it needs.”
“As for the price…” He deliberately paused and looked at Shen Nianyi. “It can be thirty percent lower than the market price.”
Shen Nianyi could hardly believe her ears. “Thirty percent lower?”
“However,” Murong Jin shifted his tone, his gaze sincere, “I hope to invest in Cloud Silk Atelier. Not only will I provide raw materials, but I am also willing to invest ten thousand taels of silver to help Cloud Silk Atelier expand its operations. After all…”
He smiled slightly. “Such fine fabric should not be limited by raw materials. More people should have the chance to witness Manager Shen’s ingenuity.”
“I object!” Pei Yanshu was the first to jump up. “Ten thousand taels and you want to invest? Who knows what your true intentions are!”
Just then, the teahouse door creaked open.
A Man rushed in excitedly. “I agree! Manager! Accept his offer!”
She had clearly been eavesdropping outside the door, her cheeks now flushed and her hands clenched tightly. “Young Master Murong is not only a good person but also so sincere! The raw materials are cheap and of high quality, and he’s even willing to invest so much money… This is truly a windfall!”
Pei Yanshu glared at her angrily. “A Man! Whose assistant are you, anyway?”
“I’m thinking of Cloud Silk Atelier!” A Man retorted righteously. “Should we just stand by and watch the Cloud-Dream Neon-Glow Brocade run out of stock?”
Pei Yanshu took a deep breath and suddenly calmed down. He straightened his collar and sneered. “Young Master Murong, under the guise of discussing business, are you actually trying to take our manager and the shop away together?”
“Pei Yanshu! What nonsense are you spouting again!” Shen Nianyi’s face instantly flushed crimson, a mix of embarrassment and anger as she glared at him.
Murong Jin maintained his gentle smile. “Young Master Pei, you jest. Miss Shen… is indeed both talented and beautiful, truly admirable.”
“You…” Pei Yanshu was caught off guard by his frankness but quickly countered. “Admirable? Young Master Murong’s admiration seems a bit too enthusiastic. Offering low-priced raw materials and ten thousand taels of silver—such generosity probably isn’t just about admiration, is it?”
“My sincerity is as clear as heaven and earth,” Murong Jin said, looking directly at Pei Yanshu. “It’s better than some people who pretend to be frivolous when they clearly have feelings for someone.”
Pei Yanshu, instead of getting angry, laughed and fanned himself, saying, “Being frivolous is still better than some people who appear gentle and refined on the surface but are secretly so calculating they might as well have abacus beads flying into their faces.”
“Young Master Pei, you are mistaken,” Murong Jin responded calmly. “When one treats others sincerely, what need is there to hide anything? On the contrary, Young Master Pei, being so secretive—could it be that you lack confidence in yourself?”
“Confidence?” Pei Yanshu seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, snapping his folding fan shut with a sharp “swish.” “I, Pei Yanshu, have been in Chang’an City for so many years. When I want something, I always compete for it openly and honestly.”
He took a step forward, locking eyes with Murong Jin. “Unlike some people who use business talks as a pretext to engage in underhanded schemes.”
Murong Jin’s expression remained unchanged. “Young Master Pei, you jest. Although I have only recently become acquainted with Miss Shen, I genuinely admire her talent. If we are to speak of competition…”
He smiled meaningfully. “It should be a fair contest, where each relies on their own abilities.”
Just as Pei Yanshu was about to retort, Shen Nianyi abruptly stood up. “Enough!”
Her face was as cold as frost. “If the two of you wish to discuss business, then do so properly. If you insist on this meaningless talk, please leave!”
The tearoom fell silent instantly.
Murong Jin let out a soft sigh and offered a gentle, somewhat helpless smile, bowing slightly to Shen Nianyi. “It was my fault for being rude and allowing Young Master Pei to steer the conversation off course.”
As he spoke, his eyelashes lowered slightly, his tone sincere. His demeanor clearly conveyed: He started it; I was merely responding.
Pei Yanshu gritted his teeth in frustration at this tactical retreat, but before he could speak, Murong Jin continued softly, “As for the matter of investing…”
“We will not discuss it today!” Shen Nianyi cut him off directly. “Please leave, Young Master Murong.”
Murong Jin did not insist, politely taking his leave.
Before departing, he deliberately cast a gentle, understanding look at Shen Nianyi, as if to say: It was all Young Master Pei’s mischief that prevented us from discussing serious matters.
A Man hurried forward. “Young Master Murong, let me see you out.”
She escorted him all the way to the door, returning with a dreamy smile still on her face.
Once he was gone, Pei Yanshu immediately moved closer to Shen Nianyi. “Did you see that look he gave you just now? He was clearly trying to drive a wedge between us!”
Shen Nianyi was so angry she almost laughed. “If you hadn’t insisted on stirring up trouble, would he have followed your lead? Pei Yanshu, did you come here today just to cause trouble on purpose?”
“Me, cause trouble?” Pei Yanshu reacted as if his tail had been stepped on. “That Murong Jin has been giving you suspicious smiles since the moment he walked in! Speaking softly, pretending to be gentle and refined—I’ve seen plenty of hypocrites like him! He…”
“Enough!” Shen Nianyi interrupted him. “I don’t want to hear any of this right now. Stop adding to the chaos.”
Pei Yanshu fell silent at her rebuke. He opened his mouth as if to say something but swallowed his words, simply watching quietly as she tidied the scattered tea utensils on the table.
Only the crisp clinking of porcelain echoed in the tearoom.
Seeing him suddenly so quiet, Shen Nianyi felt oddly unaccustomed to it, and her tone unconsciously softened.
“What’s the point of you two bickering like that? Everything you said was utter nonsense. Today was the first time I’ve met Young Master Murong. I don’t know him at all, and he doesn’t know me either…”
As she tidied up, she continued, “They were probably just being polite, and you guys had to go and…”
“Then in your heart,” Pei Yanshu suddenly interrupted, staring straight at her, “what position do I hold?”
Shen Nianyi’s hand trembled, nearly knocking over the teapot.
Could this person not stay quiet for even a second? Here we go again!
Her cheeks flushed, but she forced herself to remain calm. “What… what position? What relationship do we even have? Why are you saying such strange things…”
Before she could finish, Pei Yanshu suddenly stood up from beside her and walked out without looking back.
“Where are you going?” Shen Nianyi instinctively asked.
Pei Yanshu didn’t pause his steps, as if he hadn’t heard her question at all, and simply pushed aside the door curtain and left.
Shen Nianyi watched his disappearing figure, feeling utterly bewildered.
What’s wrong with him? Saying strange things, asking pointless questions, and now storming off for no reason. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She slammed the teaspoon in her hand onto the table—
“Fine, suit yourself!”