The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 134 The Silk Shop Steals Meng Yulou's Business

Three gongs sounded at the street corner, signaling the start of a street clearing operation! Immediately following, a yamen runner shouted in a gruff voice, "The magistrate is here—all bystanders, make way!"

The crowd parted like waves cleaved by a knife, clearing a path. A brand-new, blue-clothed sedan chair carried by four men landed steadily. The curtain was lifted, and the county magistrate, Li Datian, dressed in a brand-new official robe, stepped out, supported by his clerk, with a reserved smile on his face.

This caused an uproar throughout the entire street!

Magistrate Li's gaze swept over the plaque he had personally inscribed, which hung high in the sky, and then over the mountain of brocades and silks piled up inside the shop. His smile deepened. He glanced at Xiao Wang Zhaoxuan behind the official, bowed respectfully, and then spoke gently to the official:
"Master Ximen is a leading figure in the county's business community. This grand opening is truly cause for celebration. May this treasured shop see its goods turn over in a continuous stream, bringing in a fortune every day, and setting an example for all the merchants in the county." Having said this, he actually stepped forward, led by Ximen Qing, and entered the glittering shop!
This is the benefit of being Xiao Wang Zhaoxuan's adoptive father. Normally, even when I run my own business, I would only send a few trusted servants to make a show of it and put on a good show.

It's not that I don't want to come; given this kind of kinship, who wouldn't want to join in the fun? It's just that I'm afraid people will gossip and say that I'm hanging out with that merchant, promoting and selling for him. Wouldn't that lower my own status and damage the reputation of the officials?

But things are completely different now! This young Wang Zhaoxuan stands behind him; though she holds only a nominal third-rank position, she carries the title of a third-rank imperial consort—a prestigious and prestigious title in itself. Let alone coming to offer her support, even presiding over a ribbon-cutting ceremony would be a matter of dignity and prestige. She no longer needs to worry about being gossiped about behind her back, accused of violating official conduct and disgracing culture.

The ways of the world are fickle, and people's faces change with their status; such is truly the case!

Ximen Qing's sworn brothers, including Ying Bojue, Xie Xida, and Chang Zhijie, had gathered early, dressed in red and green, shouting and making a ruckus as they surrounded the entrance.

Inside, everyone was a powerful and influential person; these sycophants and hooligans didn't dare to go in and could only keep the atmosphere lively from the outside.

Ying Bojue, with his silver tongue, said, "Look at this spectacle, this grandeur! Who but you, Master Ximen, could have such an air of importance? Xia, the Prefect, Zhou, the Commander, He, the Magistrate… tsk tsk, all the leading figures of Qinghe are here! Today's opening will surely bring in a fortune, with wealth flowing in like the Yellow River!"

Everyone echoed his sentiments, showering him with flattery.

In an instant, the shop was packed with dignitaries, civil and military officials, eunuchs, and wealthy gentry. With their sycophants and shop assistants bustling about, it was a scene of unparalleled prosperity! Drums and gongs resounded, and firecrackers crackled.

Shortly after.

Surrounded by the most prominent figures, including Magistrate Xia, Eunuch Xue, Garrison Commander Zhou, and Commander He, Ximen Qing, beaming with pride, wielded golden scissors and swiftly cut the red silk ribbon blocking the doorway. The silk shop's doors swung open with a roar, revealing a dazzling array of silks and brocades piled high like mountains.

Only then did these powerful and influential people leave.

Under the sunlight, the brocades of Suzhou and Hangzhou, the silks of Luzhou, the brocades of Sichuan, and the crepes of Huzhou shimmered and shone with extraordinary beauty, drawing exclamations of admiration from the crowd who flocked to see them.

Amidst the clamor and smiles on everyone's faces, Xu Zhi, the silk shop owner, emerged from the back door, drenched in sweat and pale-faced. Ignoring all formalities, he seized a moment when Ximen Qing's entourage dispersed, leaned close to his ear, and whispered in utter panic:

"My lord! Something terrible has happened...something terrible has occurred!"

After seeing Ximen off, the smile on his face faltered slightly. He turned his head, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, and hissed, "What's the panic! Is the sky falling? Speak quickly if you have something to say!"

Fu, the shop assistant, swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "My lord, I just... I just got confirmation! Across the street, the third daughter of the Meng family is having a 'grand opening sale' today to celebrate our opening! Buy a bolt of Hangzhou silk and get a foot of Huzhou crepe for free; buy three bolts of Yun brocade and get a bolt of plain satin for free! They've even put up a sign that says 'Limited quantities available, first come, first served!'"

"Right now...right now, many of our regular customers who were originally going to come to our shop to look at the goods have...have all flocked to her! They've seized the opportunity to steal our market share and ruin our opening day!"

Ximen Da Guanren frowned and looked into the distance. Sure enough, there was a small commotion in the crowd. On the street, many well-dressed customers who should have been heading to their own shops were hurrying and whispering to each other as they headed toward Meng Yulou's cloth shop.

In front of that shop, there seemed to be eye-catching colorful ribbons hanging up, and the crowd of people made it look like a lively scene!
What a brilliant move by Meng Yulou! What a brilliant strategy of cutting off the fuel supply from under the cauldron!

That day, when Aunt Xue came to say that she had found another suitor, he didn't think much of it, assuming it was just a common occurrence among women. He never imagined this woman would have such methods and such audacity! She wasn't in such a hurry to get married at all.

Clearly, they had secretly stocked up on goods, waiting for the moment when Ximen Qing would open his business with great fanfare and attract the attention of the entire city, so that they could suddenly launch an attack, offer low prices, stab him in the back, and seize the limited share of silk in Qinghe County!

Just as I thought, since the number of people buying silk is fixed every year, and they all buy new clothes for festivals, then I'll take all the market share at a low price, leaving the other side with nothing to sell within a year.

Ximen Qing stood on the steps, scanning the dense crowd below. To completely crush Meng Yulou's arrogance, attracting high-ranking figures alone would not be enough.

He wanted to make sure that even the common people of Qinghe County remembered his "favors" and methods, Master Ximen! He also wanted to completely shut out the Yang family's cloth shop!

He raised his hand and gestured for the music to pause. His dignified posture gradually calmed the clamor of the crowd, and countless eyes—envious, curious, awe-inspiring, and expectant—focused on him.

"Dear elders of Qinghe County!" Ximen Qing's voice boomed, carrying a deliberately friendly and hearty tone, "Today, as my humble shop reopens, I am deeply honored by the presence of the esteemed officials of the county who personally unveil the ribbon. It is truly a great honor for my humble abode!"

The conversation changed:
"However! I, Ximen Qing, owe my success today to the support of the people of Qinghe County over the years! I must remember my roots, and on this joyous occasion of opening my business, how could I forget my neighbors?"

He raised his voice, like a thunderclap from a clear sky: "Come on! Bring out that batch of 'Hangzhou silk' from our shop! Let all the folks take a look!"

Before he finished speaking, four strong men dressed in brand-new blue cloth uniforms carried two bolts of smooth, delicate, and soft-colored silk and placed them steadily on the temporary platform erected at the entrance of the shop.

As the sunlight shines down, the unique warm luster of Hangzhou silk flows out. Although it is not the Yun brocade or Shu brocade on the top, its delicate smoothness is far superior to that of ordinary coarse cloth.

This is "Hangzhou silk," produced in Hangzhou, Jiangnan, and exclusively for middle-class families to make clothes and bedding. It is also a hot commodity in Qinghe County.

A stir ran through the crowd, especially among the ordinary people, whose eyes widened in astonishment. This Hangzhou silk was something that, in the past, when a daughter got married, a son got married, or during festivals, people would be willing to buy a few feet to make a decent dress; it was truly an extraordinary display of wealth and status.

The high-ranking official strode forward, personally stroking the smooth satin surface, his voice booming:
"Distinguished neighbors! Those in the know will recognize this as genuine 'Hangzhou silk,' manufactured under the supervision of the Hangzhou Prefectural Textile Bureau! It is exceptionally fine and soft, perfect for making clothes and bedding—both elegant and durable! In the past, when Master Zhang was in charge of this shop, a single bolt of this Hangzhou silk would fetch at least—"

He paused deliberately, building up the anticipation, before stating the price decisively, "Nine and a half qian of silver! And that's only for regular customers!"

"Nine mace and five fen?!" An incredulous exclamation immediately erupted from the crowd. This price, for an ordinary farming family or a small household, was almost half a year's worth of oil and salt! It was indeed a good product, but also indeed expensive!
Ximen Qing took in everyone's reactions, a smile of complete control playing on his lips, and waved his hand dismissively:
"Today! To thank my fellow villagers! I, Ximen Qing, am going all out! This Hangzhou silk, at a loss, is on special offer! Only—"

He paused again, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, taking in countless faces that held their breath, filled with longing, before announcing, word by word:

"—Seven qian of silver! One bolt!"

"Seven coins?!"

"Good heavens! It's more than two taels of silver cheaper than when Zhang the landlord was selling it?!"

"This...this is fine silk from Hangzhou! Seven qian? Did I hear that right?!"

The crowd erupted in an instant! Exclamations, whispers, and gasps blended together, even more enthusiastic than the firecrackers from before! Although seven qian of silver was still a considerable expense for ordinary people, it was a full two qian and five fen cheaper than the usual nine qian and five fen!

This is like a windfall! Moreover, this was said by Master Ximen himself, and it's a genuine old stock from Master Zhang's shop! Genuine Hangzhou silk!

"Master Ximen is truly benevolent!"

"He's a true bodhisattva! He's thinking of us poor people!"

"It would be against all reason not to take advantage of this!"

"It's even more expensive than the discounted silks sold at Yang's Cloth Shop across the street, but these are genuine Hangzhou silks! Who knows where Yang's comes from?"

The cheers thundered and echoed through the sky! This enormous sound wave, like a tsunami, instantly swept across the entire East Street.

The last batch of customers who were originally hesitating in the newly opened "Top-Surface Silk" shop of Yang's Cloth Shop, or tempted by the discounted price to buy ordinary silk cloth, were now the last batch of customers.

At this moment, they were also attracted by the deafening cheers and unbelievably low prices. They could no longer restrain themselves, put down the cloth in their hands, squeezed out of the door, and surged towards the crowd in front of Ximen Qing's shop.

At the edge of this surging crowd, a long-legged figure wearing a plain veiled hat and a slightly worn, light purple vest quietly disappeared behind several burly women. It was Meng Yulou. Through the thin veil, she stared at the triumphant Ximen Qing on the high platform, mentally calculating the costs—roughly equal to her own.

They had both calculated things perfectly, aiming to grab a share of the market while also making a large profit by selling off their stock. In this move, they were evenly matched. He won by a small margin, and by leveraging the momentum his opponent created, he could also sell a significant amount of stock.

Ximen Qing glanced at Meng Yulou's group, and after the crowd's jubilation subsided slightly, he slowly revealed the crucial condition:
"Esteemed neighbors, hold your joy!" His voice carried a hint of the cunning characteristic of merchants. "Since I, Ximen Qing, have promised this loss-making price of seven qian of silver, I will never go back on my word! However..."

He deliberately drew out his words, building suspense: "The quantity of this Hangzhou silk is limited, so that it truly benefits the neighbors and prevents speculators from taking advantage. Therefore, there is a small rule:"
"Ten people must form a group to buy together! Each group of ten people can only purchase one bolt of silk, and each person can only purchase one bolt of silk at a price of seven qian of silver!"

The crowd was stunned again.

"Ten people together?"

"Well... it's easy for us neighbors to contribute, but what if we can't raise enough?"

"Yes, yes, sir, these rules..."

Ximen Qing laughed heartily, appearing quite "reasonable": "Don't be impatient, everyone! I know you're all anxious. Here's what we'll do: anyone who genuinely wants to buy can gather people right now! Neighbors, relatives, friends, aunts, uncles—just ten people will do! Once a group is formed, we'll send one person to lead them over there—"

He pointed to one side of the shop entrance, where two long tables had already been set up, with the accountant sitting there, holding pen, ink, and ledgers.

"—Find my buddy to register! Pay the money! Write down the pattern you want! Once you've paid and registered, this seven-qian-a-piece Hangzhou silk is definitely yours! Register today, and come back within three days with the receipt to collect your goods. Cash on delivery, no cheating!"

"Please note that quantities are limited and will be available while supplies last!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several shrewd old women in the crowd immediately realized what was going on!

"Sister-in-law Li! Granny Wang! Aunt Zhang! Quick! There are ten of us, including my daughter and daughter-in-law! Come on over here!"

"Brother Zhao! Brother Qian! And you young men! Don't just stand there! If you want to buy cheap, good silk, hurry up and make up the numbers with me! Ten people! Quickly!"

"Count me in! Count me in! I want the light green one!"

The scene instantly became incredibly lively! People were no longer just watching; they were frantically searching for acquaintances, forming groups, and shouting to each other to join. Whether they knew each other or not, as long as they could gather ten people, women or men would immediately volunteer to be their representatives and push their way to the long table for registration.

"Hey buddy! Register! Our group of ten is complete! Here's seven taels of silver! We want the moon-white, lake-blue, and pea-green horses..." "Don't push! Don't push! We were here first! Our group is complete too! Ten people! Here's the money! Write it down, we want..."

The accountant was so busy he could barely lift his head, his brush flying across the ledgers. The shop assistants shouted themselves hoarse trying to maintain order. Silver coins jingled, and ingots of silver and strings of copper coins piled on the table.

Meng Yulou stared in disbelief, her delicate, round face draining of color, turning as white as freshly made Hangzhou silk.

Her two phoenix eyes were wide open, the pupils fixed in their sockets like two black jade chess pieces, and she wouldn't even blink. The abacus in her hand slipped off the counter with a "clatter," and she didn't even notice the sandalwood beads rolling into the cracks of the counter.

"Damn it! How could they have such methods!" Her heart pounded wildly, her cherry-like mouth slightly open, revealing a hint of her pearly white teeth, as if she had a hot chestnut stuck in her mouth, unable to swallow or spit it out. A kingfisher feather hairpin with pearls trembled at her temple, its gold threads shaking erratically, causing the red-gold clove earrings on her ears to sway wildly as well, making her look exactly like a frightened bird.

"What a ruthless scheme!" she gritted her teeth. "His vicious plan has driven all the lambs hesitating and choosing on the street into the tiger's den across the street! Those customers who were originally comparing prices here, now that they smell the aroma, won't they all rush to his counter?"

Thinking of the new silk that Curry was holding down felt like a huge boulder was pressing down on her heart, making her feel utterly lost and disoriented.

"It's over! It's over! All the goods I rushed to buy, are they going to rot in my hands, Meng Yulou, turning into a pile of stinking, unwanted foot bindings? What am I going to do? I've borrowed so much money! What am I going to do? What am I going to do??"

The deafening sounds of teams forming, payments being made, and registrations being made were more powerful than any gongs, drums, or firecrackers, definitively announcing Ximen Qing's complete victory in this business battle. In front of Yang's Cloth Shop, only a few dumbfounded employees remained, amidst a desolate scene of utter emptiness.

The official looked into the distance and sneered, then prepared to head to the capital on his own.

At this moment, white banners fluttered in front of the Rong and Ning mansions of the Jia family, and white lanterns swayed in the cold wind, reflecting the large copper nails on the doors, exuding a lifeless and opulent atmosphere.

As soon as Lin Ruhai's green sedan chair landed, the side gate creaked open, and a large group of people poured out—Jia She, Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen, Jia Lian, Xue Pan, and Jia Huan, along with a group of stewards and servants, all smiling as they came to greet him.

Lin Ruhai lifted the sedan curtain, his official boots stepping onto the ground. He looked up and saw the white lanterns hanging high and the newly pasted white paper under the porch. His brows furrowed involuntarily. Before he could speak, Daiyu, whose voice was as soft as falling snow, came out of another sedan chair behind him: "Father... Brother Rong is gone."

Lin Ruhai paused, turning his head to look at his daughter. Daiyu lowered her eyelashes, the long lashes casting a blue shadow beneath her eyes. Her cherry lips parted slightly, uttering a few words, but they seemed frozen by the cold wind, carrying a barely perceptible tremor and shame: "...to die...in a brothel."

She glanced quickly at her father, then lowered her eyes again, her delicate hands twisting the handkerchief tightly in her sleeve. Her voice was even lower: "Grandma... gave a strict order to keep quiet... but with hundreds of mouths in the entire household, how can we possibly keep them all shut?..."

Lin Ruhai could hardly believe it! Such a sordid thing had happened in the Jia family!

His body beneath his official robes stiffened slightly, his face ashen, and his gaze swept over the Jia family men in their fine clothes, their faces beaming with joy—Jia Zhen's eyes were puffy and swollen with the decadent look of indulgence.

Jia Lian's eyes and brows still bore traces of his past illicit affairs, while Xue Pan was fat and bald, with a foolish look on his face... His daughter was being raised in such a filthy place! How could he possibly let go of his precious daughter?

Seeing that his complexion was not good, everyone assumed that he was tired from the journey. Jia Zheng quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands and said, "Brother Ruhai, you must have had a long journey. The old lady has been waiting for you in Rongxi Hall for a long time." The crowd surrounded him and led him inside.

Passing through halls and courtyards, strolling along the covered walkways, Madam Wang and Aunt Xue, supported by their maids, stood in the drafty air, "enjoying the view." Aunt Xue's shrewd eyes had already scanned Lin Ruhai from head to toe, and she clicked her tongue in amazement.
"Sister, look! Is this the scholar Jia Min married? He is indeed a noble and dignified man, with an air of scholarly refinement, unlike the men in our household who reek of money and effeminacy."

Madam Wang held her prayer beads, a cold smile playing on her lips: "If it weren't for such a family background, why would the old lady have married Jia Min to him? What kind of person is Jia Min? Her father's family has been dukes for generations, and her mother's family has been marquises for generations. Before she was married, she was so pampered and precious. That was the proper demeanor of a true young lady. And look at the Jia family's sisters now, what are they like? They're no better than maids."

Aunt Xue clicked her tongue in astonishment, her jaw nearly dropping: "Oh my! No wonder Miss Lin is as beautiful as a fairy... But sister, why didn't you send Min-mei to the palace back then? With her looks and family background..."

"Foolish!" Madam Wang interrupted her, her prayer beads spinning rapidly in her hand. "In the palace, what good are looks and family background when it comes to gaining favor and winning the emperor's favor? What matters is the ability to secure and maintain that favor! No matter how deep your foundation is or how stunning your beauty is, can you possibly surpass the imperial family?"

"Gaining favor is easy, but to maintain a high position and intimidate the harem, one must rely on the real power and influence of one's maternal family in the court! Otherwise... humph, even if one achieves success, it's hard to guarantee that one won't end up 'falling into the water' or 'dying from illness and being thrown into a well'!"

As Madam Wang listened, the pent-up resentment that had been building up in her heart for many years finally surged up through Lin Ruhai.

A soft snort escaped from her nose, carrying undisguised mockery:
"Who doesn't know what the old lady is thinking?" Madam Wang's voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a needle chilled to the bone, piercing the oppressive atmosphere of wealth in the room.

"That old lady is obsessed with getting the Lin family's 'refined scholar' vine to entwine with our 'military family' old tree, so that she can use that bit of literary fragrance to 'whitewash' the Jia family from the root! From martial to literary? That sounds so elegant!"

"But doesn't she ever consider her own background? The old Marquis of the Shi family, he followed the founding emperor through mountains of corpses and seas of blood! His murderous aura could be smelled from miles away! Now, sitting on the golden chair of the Jia family's Duke's mansion, she finds the word 'martial' too pungent and looks down on those who wield swords and make a living through military merit?"

Madam Xue was terrified and dared not utter a sound or agree with her.

A glint of resentment flashed in Madam Wang's eyes, and her voice, lowered even further, sounded even more cutting:

"She looks down on martial arts? Fine! Then she shouldn't use the immense wealth she earned through military merit! She shouldn't use the Wang family's reputation! If it weren't for my own brother, I wouldn't be sitting in the capital garrison right now... Humph!"

"Do you think this Duke's mansion is still the same as it was when the old master was alive? Can it still keep those wolves in their backs? Can it still make Grand Tutor Cai and Grand Commandant Gao treat our Jia family with respect?"

She grew increasingly agitated as she spoke, her prayer beads spinning so rapidly they almost sparked.

"Prestige? Prestige is something that needs real strength! What good is it to just indulge in poetry and sentimentality? Lin Ruhai may be a man of noble birth and a third-ranked scholar, but what is his honorary title in the Hanlin Academy compared to real power? How long can he protect the Lin family?"

"The old lady is senile! She only sees the Lin family's 'literary air' floating on the clouds, but forgets what our Jia family's century-old foundation, our mansion full of fine clothes and sumptuous food, and the last bit of dignity that allows us to stand in the capital, are all based on???"

(End of this chapter)