Chapter Nineteenth: The Clan Matriarch

  "Everyone, please be quiet for a moment." His voice was thick and magnetic, with great penetration power. As soon as he spoke, the main hall immediately became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, our embroidery shop is open for business, and we value harmony. Harmony brings wealth, doesn't it? Since everyone wants to buy this embroidered piece, we welcome you all to make a purchase. However, since there's only one piece available, I'm at a loss. I'd like to come up with a solution - do you think you could agree on something?"

  Everyone heard this and said in unison: "What method does Manager Fan have? Let's hear it!"

  "Everyone wants to buy, and our embroidery shop can't be partial. If we only sell it to this person, others will have to go home disappointed. I've decided that whoever buys this embroidered item will be decided by all of you!" The crowd exclaimed: "What do you mean?"

  Fan Yicheng smiled slightly, scanning the crowd around him. The misses and maidservants whose eyes met his all showed a bashful expression, lowering their heads one after another.

  "Today, whoever offers the highest price can take away this embroidery with the poem I wrote!" said Fan Yicheng.

  Everyone looked at me, I looked at you, no one made a sound. It was the woman who had just bought embroidery for the first time who said: "I'll give 1,000 taels of silver." The scene fell silent for a few seconds, and soon someone said: "I'll give 1,500!" Then another person said: "I'll give 2,000 taels!"

  "I'll give 2,500!"

  "I'll give three thousand taels!"

  "I'll give 3,500 taels!"

  ……

  "I'll put up 10,000 taels!"

  The last voice overwhelmed all the voices, and Xuming Jin was overjoyed to see who it was, with such good eyesight. At a glance, she found that it was the woman who had asked Fan Yicheng to introduce her embroidery products. Xuming Jin looked at her must-have attitude, as well as her sneaky glances at Fan Yicheng, and knew that the most beautiful peach blossom in her uncle's life had bloomed unexpectedly.

  Fan Yicheng was also shocked.

  The crowd was also shocked by the woman's wealthy and arrogant appearance. Someone said, "The daughter of the Yan family is indeed rich and arrogant. Forget it, let's go see other embroidery products." The crowd turned around to look at other embroidery products, leaving only the woman in front of Fan Dui. The woman smiled and said, "My name is Yan Yuwei, I didn't bring so much silver with me today, can I take the embroidery back first and send the silver tomorrow?"

  Fan Yicheng said: "The young lady is joking, you may leave."

  Yan Yuwei smiled slightly and instructed her maid to pack up the embroidery, then took her leave.

  Xu Mingjin was overjoyed, her embroidery shop had only made a total of 1,000 taels, but now they had suddenly earned 10,000. It was too exciting! After Xu Mingjin finished celebrating, her eyes fell on Mrs. Xu who was staring at the "Clear River and Mountains" painting in a daze. Another money-making opportunity! She immediately instructed Chun Xiang to teach Zhang Shuo a sentence: The minimum price for the "Clear River and Mountains" painting is 50,000 taels!

  When Zhang Duanzi told Fan Weiqing this, he was immediately shocked and his mouth was agape. However, before he could fully digest the news, he saw a noblewoman slowly walking towards him. Fan Weiqing recognized her as the wife of Xu Shi, the head of the Xu clan, whom he had just met earlier. He bowed and said, "Greetings, Mrs. Xu."

  Mrs. Xü stood before him, sizing him up with her eyes, that inquiring gaze making Fan Yicheng feel uneasy all over.

  After a long while, Madam Xue slowly said: "The owner of this embroidery shop is your younger sister?"

  Fan Yicheng heard this and his whole body shook. He could feel that Mrs. Xue was not here for good. However, he wasn't easily intimidated. Fan Yicheng said calmly: "Madam overestimates my sister. She's just a stay-at-home person who doesn't even step out of the house. The owner of this embroidery shop is someone else."

  "Mrs. Xü looked at him disdainfully: 'Don't pretend! I know everything about what happened! You don't need to put on a show! My purpose in finding you is not to expose this matter.' Fan Weichen remained unmoved: 'Mrs. Xü, you're joking. This really isn't my sister's embroidery shop. A person with integrity doesn't fear the shadow of their own actions. If you have something to say, just say it directly.'"

  Mrs. Xü's nose was twisted with rage! No one had ever been so disrespectful to her before! She said viciously: "No matter what you say, I'm convinced that this is the embroidery workshop of Fán Yùjiāo. Go back and tell her that the clan has decided to confiscate this 'Clear River and Mountains on a Clear Day' painting. It will be sent to the capital soon, and Xü Shàngshū will present it to the Emperor. He's sure to get promoted, and Fán Yùjiāo will also benefit from it, won't she?"

  Xu Mingjin stood not far away, closely watching this side. She also heard Madam Xu's words and for a moment was so angry she couldn't help but laugh. What is called relying on power to bully others? What is called strong taking by force? Today she has seen it all!

  Fan Yicheng remained calm and composed: "If Madam Xu thinks so, she is greatly mistaken. However, it seems that you want the 'Clear River and Mountains' painting. Originally, it was a treasured item in our store, and the boss said it's not for sale. But since esteemed Madam Xu wants it, and you plan to send it to Beijing as a gift for Minister Xu, this is a big matter, and I am not authorized to make decisions. How about this: Madam Xu, please follow me upstairs to the elegant room and sit down for a moment, while I go invite the boss to come over?"

  Mrs. Xü looked at Fan Yicheng with suspicion, could it be that her conjecture was wrong? In any case, she had to get that "Clear and Peaceful River" painting! And see what kind of tricks he was up to. After thinking for a moment, Mrs. Xü nodded slightly, then, supported by the maid, slowly went upstairs.

  Fan Yicheng watched as Madam Xu's figure disappeared into the corridor, only then did he reveal a look of anxiety. He couldn't help but glance at Xu Mingjin, and saw that Xu Mingjin gave him a slight smile, indicating for him not to worry. Fan Yicheng asked in puzzlement: "Do you have a way?"

  Xu Mingjin quietly handed a thing to Chun Xing, and remotely mouthed two words to Fan Yicheng: 50,000. Then he turned around to look at other embroidery products.

  When the thing arrived, Fan Yicheng only knew that it was a pair of fish-shaped jade pendants. He was puzzled and didn't understand why Xu Mingjin gave him a jade pendant. Zhang Shuo quietly said in his ear, "Master Fan, Miss said that you just need to show this jade pendant to Mrs. Xu." Fan Yicheng still had some doubts, and Zhang Shuo said, "Just believe Miss!"

  Hearing Zhang Duanzi's words and thinking about what Xu Mingjin had done, he suddenly gained a lot of confidence.

  "Hurry back to Jin'er's place, she might have something else for you to do. I'll leave first." Fan Yicheng sent Zhang Duanzi off and called another reliable partner to watch the counter, then he went upstairs to look for Mrs. Xu.

  Mrs. Xü was already impatiently waiting in the room, and when she saw that only Fan Yicheng had come up, she immediately showed a mocking smile: "Where's the boss you invited? I said so, this embroidery shop is indeed Fan Yuexiang's, and you still say it isn't, trying to cheat me? There's not even a door! Hurry up and put away that 'Clear River and Mountains on a Clear Day' painting downstairs, I want to take it with me."

  Fan Yicheng took out the jade pendant that Xu Mingjin had entrusted to Zhang Shuozi and handed it over, flashing it in front of Mrs. Xu.

  Mrs. Xu's eyes widened in shock, her face a picture of incredulity.

  Fan Yicheng's heart finally fell into place, and he smiled faintly, saying: "Mrs. Xu, my boss is currently in Beijing and cannot come to see you, I apologize for the inconvenience."

  "No, no need to apologize, you, your boss is the prince?" Mrs. Xu stuttered.

  Fan Yicheng was shocked, he didn't expect that this piece of jade pendant would have such a big background! Then how did his niece get this jade pendant? Was it picked up?

  Fan Yicheng was surprised for a moment before regaining his composure and asked, "Does Madam Xue have any other questions? Do you need me to wrap up that 'Clear and Bright on the River' painting for you?"

  "No, no, it's all right." Madam Xue was nowhere near as spirited as she had been just now when she was downstairs.

  Fan Yicheng smiled slightly and said, "Madam Xu, you misunderstood my meaning." Seeing Madam Xu immediately looking over, Fan Yicheng spoke even more slowly and deliberately: "The things in this embroidery shop, my master has already spoken about selling them. That 'Clear River on a Clear Day' embroidered piece, I see that you truly like it and sincerely want it. Considering the face of Minister Xu, I'll give you a discount, five thousand taels to sell it to you."

  Mrs. Xu's mouth twitched, fifty thousand taels? It's better to go rob!

  Fan Yicheng said: "Madam Xu, you also saw that just now, such a small lotus flower painting was sold for 10,000 taels. This 'Clearing Up the River on a Spring Day' is the only one from ancient times to the present! The patterns on it are so complex, and the figures are embroidered so vividly and lifelike. Madam Xu, have you ever seen it?"

  Madam Xu shook her head dazedly, Fan Yicheng sneered in his heart but didn't show it on his face. He said solemnly: "To say that it is priceless would not be an exaggeration. Our master originally wanted to sell it for 100,000 taels, but looking at Minister Xu's face, we gave you half the price! If you leave this village, there won't be another shop like this! Madam Xu, think carefully!"

  Mrs. Xu was indeed moved by the words, but 50,000 taels is not a small amount! She felt some pain for that silver, according to her original plan, she was going to take it away without spending a single penny.

  Fan Yicheng looked at Mrs. Xu's expression and guessed that she was hesitant because of the high price, so he added fuel to the fire: "Mrs. Xu, after today, there won't be such a good deal anymore. From tomorrow on, our embroidery shop will spread the word out, ten million taels of silver, I believe there are not a few people who can afford it."

  Madam Xü finally gritted her teeth and said: "Alright, 50,000 taels, I'll buy it!"

  Fan Yicheng's heart was bursting with joy, but his face remained calm and composed, showing no signs of excitement. He said to Lady Xu, "Madam, would you like us to escort you back to the mansion, or...?"

  "Let me take it back myself!" Even at this point, she still had an unyielding heart and wanted to muddy the waters and frame Fan Wencheng.

  Anyway, the crown prince is far away in the capital, she can slander Fan Daimin, she has already given him silver, it was he who lost the silver, she doesn't believe it, Fan Daimin is just a small shopkeeper, can the crown prince not believe Xu Shangshu but believe him?

  How could Fan Yicheng not see through Mrs. Xue's thoughts? He said calmly, "Then please let Mrs. Xue pay the silver first before taking the embroidery!" Mrs. Xue angrily said, "I didn't bring that much silver today, I'll take the embroidery back first and have my servant send the silver over later."

  Fan Yicheng said, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Xu, the Qingming Shanghe Map is too precious, to be on the safe side, you'd better go back and get the silver ticket first, then come back for the embroidery!"

  "Are you saying you don't believe me, the matriarch of the Xu family?" Madam Xu said angrily.

  Fan Yicheng said: "Madam Xue, I'm not doubting your words, but this is the rule of our embroidery shop." Madam Xue heard this and sneered: "What about Miss Yan from the Yan family just now? Didn't you let her take away the embroidered goods?" Fan Yicheng said: "Madam Xue, it's different. You're taking our shop's treasure, while Miss Yan only took a small lotus flower picture with a few lines of crooked poetry that I wrote. They can't be compared. Besides, Miss Yan has already sent someone to deliver the silver." Fan Yicheng was deceiving Madam Xue - how could the silver arrive so quickly?

  "Really?" asked Mrs. Xü in a suspicious tone. Fan Yicheng nodded. Mrs. Xü finally had nothing to say. She stood up from her chair and said, "I'll send someone with the silver note later, and then take the 'Qingming Shanghe Map'." As she spoke, her heart was in extreme pain - 50,000 taels of silver! That's half of her dowry!

  Mrs. Xu painfully came out of the room, went downstairs. Fan Yicheng was both happy and suspicious in his heart, he really didn't know how Xu Mingjin got involved with the prince? With doubts, he went downstairs, Fan Yicheng found that more than half of the embroidered goods in the embroidery shop had been sold! Those gifts were also given away almost all. Today is indeed a lucky good day, and the wealth is rolling in! Fan Yicheng put aside his doubts, thinking that he would ask Xu Mingjin about the prince's affairs when he was free, he handed the jade pendant to Zhang Shuozi, watching him hand it over to Xu Mingjin, before returning to the counter again, continuing to do his job conscientiously. Those girls and maids saw him appear, and they surrounded him again.

  Xu Mingjin had already toured the embroidery workshop from top to bottom, inside and out. She accepted the jade pendant and looked at the big girls and young wives surrounding Fan Yicheng, those shy little faces, and was delighted to discover that she had indeed found the right person when she asked Fan Yicheng to be the manager of the embroidery workshop!

  Xu Mingjin sighed and then called Zhang Shuozi to tell Fan Yicheng that she was going home.

  From the moment she left Jinxiu Zhuang, until she got into the carriage, Xu Mingjin was still very excited. Suddenly having 60,000 taels of silver in her pocket, who wouldn't be moved by such unexpected wealth? Xu Mingjin was no exception. At this time, Mrs. Xu couldn't help but exclaim: "Miss is like a bird out of its cage today, so happy!" Xu Mingjin playfully stuck out her tongue.