After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

Yang Chunhua waited at home until dark before changing into clean clothes. She then had the steward pack several bundles of cured meat brought from her hometown in Sichuan, and boarded a sedan chair to head towards Yang Tinghe's residence.

The sedan chair came to a stop at the gate of the Yang residence, and the steward prepared to knock on the door.

Yang Chunhua stopped them, straightened his robes, and personally stepped forward to tap the door knocker.

The gatekeeper came out and asked, then went back to report. Soon after, Laifu came out to greet him.

"Master Yang, what brings you here? Please come in!"

Yang Chunhua smiled and nodded: "Is your husband here?"

Laifu said, "Yes, yes, I just got back from my shift and I'm reading in the study."

Yang Chunhua followed Laifu across the front yard to the door of the study.

Lai Fu lifted the curtain: "Master, Chairman Yang is here."

Yang Tinghe put down the book in his hand, stood up, cupped his hands and smiled, "My cousin has arrived, please have a seat."

Yang Chunhua returned the greeting, entered the study, and sat down in the chair at the lower end.

Laifu brewed the tea, brought it over, closed the door, and left.

Yang Tinghe smiled and said, "My cousin is a rare guest. What brings you here today?"

Yang Chunhua sighed and said, "I have come today to ask you for a favor."

Yang Tinghe picked up his teacup: "Please speak, cousin."

Yang Chunhua then recounted the conflict between the cloth merchants' guild and the sweater shops in detail.

Speaking of Zhou Youcai and his gang seizing raw materials, poaching craftsmen, and causing trouble with their employees, only to be arrested by the Shuntian Prefecture instead, Yang Chunhua felt somewhat embarrassed.

"Master Yang, as you know, it's not easy for us merchants from Sichuan to make a living in the capital. Over the past ten years or so, we've weathered many storms and managed to set up our businesses and gain a foothold."

Yang Tinghe nodded without saying anything.

Yang Chunhua continued, "But once these sweaters came out, they completely disrupted our business. In the first month of winter, sales of cotton-padded clothes dropped by 50%! The shopkeepers were so anxious that they lost their minds and came up with those underhanded methods."

Yang Tinghe remained silent, only taking a sip of tea from his teacup.

Seeing his expression, Yang Chunhua felt a pang of anxiety, thinking that he was unwilling to help.

He leaned forward and lowered his voice, saying, "Master Yang, we're all from the same village, you can't just stand by and watch all the hard work we've built up over the years go to waste!"

As he spoke, he took out a stack of silver notes from his sleeve and placed them on the table.

"This is just a small token; take it and use it to bribe officials. If you can get through to Shuntian Prefecture and resolve this matter, you'll be richer in return."

Yang Tinghe glanced at the stack of silver notes, frowned slightly, and pushed them back.

"Brother, take the silver back first."

Yang Chunhua was stunned for a moment, then felt even colder inside.

He pushed the silver note forward again, his voice tinged with earnestness: "Master Yang, do you remember when you came to the capital to take the imperial examination at the age of nineteen, the villagers pooled together your travel expenses?

Yang Tinghe nodded and said, "Of course I remember. I will always remember this kindness."

Yang Chunhua continued, "You've prospered these past few years, and you're practically on your way into the cabinet. We villagers are proud of you, but...you can't forget our fellow villagers!"

Yang Tinghe sighed, his expression complex.

"My cousin is a merchant who came from our hometown. He travels all over the country, and it hasn't been easy for him. Over the years in Beijing, I've helped him as much as I could, but..."

Yang Chunhua thought he thought it was too little, so she quickly said, "I know you don't think much of this amount of money, but our guild is also having its difficulties. Business hasn't been good this year. Don't worry, I'm planning to donate some money to start a school in our hometown. In the future, the children's education will depend on those of us who work hard outside!"

Yang Tinghe waved his hand: "It's a good thing that my cousin is starting a school, but this matter really..."

Yang Chunhua said urgently, "We don't want you to do anything illegal, we just want you to step forward and scare that sweater seller! That widow must have someone behind her, but we don't ask you to offend anyone, we just ask you to say a word so that the Shuntian Prefecture will stop keeping an eye on us..."

Before the words were finished, footsteps came from outside the door.

The curtain was lifted, and Yang Shen walked in.

"Father, I'm back."

Yang Shen was still holding several account books in his hand. When he saw that there were people in the room, he was stunned for a moment.

Yang Chunhua turned her head and saw a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old, with delicate features and a refined demeanor.

His eyes lit up, and he stood up, saying, "Oh my, this must be Shen'er! I've long heard of your son's reputation as a child prodigy, and seeing him today, he truly is a handsome and talented man! Come, let me take a look!"

Yang Shen paused, looked at Yang Tinghe, and looked completely bewildered.

Yang Tinghe said, "This is an elder in the clan; you should call him uncle."

Yang Shen quickly bowed and greeted him, "Greetings, Uncle."

Yang Chunhua smiled broadly as she looked Yang Shen up and down, growing to like him more and more with each glance.

He took out another silver note from his sleeve and stuffed it into Yang Shen's hand.

"Good boy, this is the first time your uncle has met you. Here's some money, use it to buy some new clothes!"

Yang Shen looked down and saw that the silver note said fifty taels.

He held the silver note, unsure whether to accept it, and then looked at Yang Tinghe.

Yang Tinghe was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Now that Shen'er is back, you can talk to Shen'er about this."

Yang Chunhua was stunned, thinking she had misheard.

"What?"

Yang Tinghe looked at Yang Shen, his expression calm: "Your uncle wants to talk to you about some business matters."

Yang Shen was even more confused: "What kind of business?"

Yang Tinghe didn't answer directly, but instead introduced him: "Your uncle is the president of the Beijing Cloth Merchants Guild. In recent years, he has mainly been engaged in the cotton and silk business. He comes from our hometown, Xindu, Sichuan. He has traveled all over the country these years, and it hasn't been easy for him."

He paused, then continued, "I heard that his people and your people have some conflict."

Yang Shen blinked and finally understood.

It turns out that this kind-looking elder in the clan was the one behind those mischief-makers.

Yang Chunhua was completely dumbfounded.

His people? Are they in conflict with Yang Shen's people?

He looked at Yang Shen, then at Yang Tinghe, his face full of questions.

Yang Tinghe stood up and straightened his robes.

"We're all neighbors, so let's look out for each other. If there's any conflict, let's try to resolve it. You two can talk."

After saying that, he walked out of the study with his hands behind his back and closed the door behind him.

Only Yang Shen and Yang Chunhua remained in the room, staring at each other.

Yang Shen placed the silver notes on the table and bowed to Yang Chunhua.

"Uncle, please sit down."

Yang Chunhua sat down in a daze, her mind still replaying Yang Tinghe's words.

Yang Shen sat down opposite him and got straight to the point.

"Uncle, I'm the owner behind that sweater business."

Yang Chunhua suddenly looked up, her eyes wide open.

"What...what did you say?"

Yang Shen said, "The sweater shop, and the workshop behind it, all belong to me. The embroiderer is the manager in charge of me."

Yang Chunhua opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything for a long time.

Yang Shen continued, "This business isn't just mine alone. As for who my partner is, Uncle, please don't ask. Anyway, the Shuntian Prefecture wouldn't dare offend them."

Yang Chunhua gasped.

He finally understood why the Shuntian Prefecture was so decisive in arresting people, and why that constable spoke so forcefully.

This isn't just about the prefect's face; it's about a face that's even greater than the prefect's!

Seeing the change in his expression, Yang Shen said, "This is not my fault. I didn't know they were my uncle's men. If I had known, the Shuntian Prefecture wouldn't have needed to get involved."

Yang Chunhua smiled bitterly, thinking to herself, "If you had known earlier, what could have happened?"

Yang Shen noticed his doubt and said, "Uncle, don't worry, I'll have them released tomorrow. But you have to promise that you won't do those underhanded things again."

Yang Chunhua blushed and waved his hands repeatedly.

"I'm so ashamed! I failed to manage my subordinates properly. I will definitely discipline them severely when I get back... No, no, I'll disband the cloth guild as soon as I get back!"

He stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said, "Well... I'll take my leave now."

"Uncle, please wait!"

Yang Chunhua turned around, at a loss for what to do.

Yang Shen stepped forward and asked, "Uncle, if I may be so bold as to ask, what is the current situation of the cloth guild?"