Steward Su lowered his head, thinking that he was also filled with displeasure.
Both of his sons had suffered unjust calamities because of the Su family's affairs.
His eldest son had already been exiled. If he hadn't used all his wealth to grease the wheels along the way, his son would have perished long before reaching the place of exile.
But the master had never inquired about these matters.
If it wasn't his son, it didn't hurt him, so it had nothing to do with him.
Steward Su's pale, plump face was clouded with gloom.
Su Baiwan had no time to concern himself with the mood of his steward. He was solely focused on resolving the matter of Tongchuan and defeating the "天下粮仓" (Tianxia Liangcang).
"Father, let me go. I am the most suitable. I guarantee I will handle it properly."
Su Jiamo straightened his body, suppressing the frivolous expression on his face.
For many days, he had been reflecting on these matters.
Su Xiaoqi had transformed from a mere beggar into the proprietor of the Tianxia Liangcang.
And she had managed the grain store with great success.
Yet he was still just a young master dependent on the Su family.
It was no wonder she had tried so hard to seduce him back then.
Now, she completely looked down on him.
He wanted to do something, anything, to prove himself to Su Xiaoqi.
Su Jiamo longed to do something to prove himself.
But Su Baiwan was not foolish. He glared at his son, "Study hard. You are already a Juren. Why bother with these mundane affairs?
Head to the capital next spring, compete well, and if you pass the Jinshi examination, our family can be like your uncle's family."
The Su family had been in business for generations, rooted in Mianzhou City.
However, after their long and arduous efforts, they had achieved nothing.
It was only in the past twenty years, under Su Baiwan's diligent management, that they had become "Su Bancheng" (Su Half-City) in such a short time.
One could imagine that in normal business circumstances, development would not be so rapid.
During this period, Su Baiwan had inevitably resorted to underhanded tactics.
Having invested so much of his energy and built such a vast enterprise, he certainly did not want to see it ruined.
He wanted to save himself.
Years of business experience had taught him that scholars were superior, and merchants were base.
That was why he had invested so much effort in nurturing his second son.
Now that his family was one step away from shedding their merchant identity, he would not allow anyone to disrupt it.
"Jia San, you go handle it." Su Baiwan, after weighing the pros and cons, pointed to the man with the goat-like mustache.
"Your subordinate understands." Jia San bowed and accepted the order.
After a period of consideration, Su Baiwan had regained his composure.
He instructed everyone to return to their respective shops. If any shop had too much grain, they were to return a portion of it and transport it to the northwest.
Winter was approaching there, and there was a great need for grain.
Other goods could no longer be allowed to spoil like before.
The people of Yizhou Prefecture were still watching them; not a single mistake could be made now.
Everyone received their orders and departed.
Su Baiwan sighed heavily. Su Jiamo watched from below him and also sighed deeply. The father and son exchanged a glance and remained silent for a long time.
As it was already the eleventh lunar month,
Su Xiaoqi was preparing winter clothes for her family.
With the arrival of successive cold rains, the weather grew increasingly colder.
She herself could not tolerate the cold, so she immediately took Guo'er to Zhao Xiaozhu's custom clothing workshop to collect the finished garments.
Although the custom clothing workshop was a shop, it did not sell clothes; it only accepted custom orders.
Its name was "Private Customization."
It only handled custom-made clothing.
This was a shop specializing in high-end custom clothing, a collaboration between Zhao Xiaozhu and the female proprietor of the Yu Yi Fang (Feathered Clothing Workshop), facilitated by Su Xiaoqi.
The Yu Yi Fang had no shortage of orders, but Zhao Xiaozhu had a great talent for embroidery. In more than half a year, her embroidery skills had advanced by leaps and bounds.
The embroidery she produced astonished Granny Wen, who had once been an embroiderer in the palace.
Su Xiaoqi took the opportunity to mention the idea of opening a shop for her again.
But Zhao Xiaozhu stated that her focus was not on managing a shop.
She only wished to dedicate herself to her embroidery skills.
Su Xiaoqi still felt it was a waste of her talent.
She then recalled the female proprietor of the Yu Yi Fang she had met at a banquet, a woman comparable to a strong businesswoman.
She invited her out to test the waters.
She discovered that the proprietor had a persistent concern: her shop did handle custom clothing for clients.
Because of the Yu Yi Fang's great reputation, they could receive orders for custom clothing from many influential families in Mianzhou City.
Although people in this era generally preferred to have their own sewing teams to handle their household's clothing,
Those who were kept within the estates, while possessing good embroidery skills, did not often have top-tier talent.
Therefore, when people wanted distinctive clothing, they would think of the Yu Yi Fang for custom orders.
Although her workshop had many capable embroiderers, it lacked top-tier talent.
And some ladies from affluent families were very picky.
If ordinary patterns could be made by the embroiderers in their own sewing teams, what need was there for them?
To receive orders from them, one naturally had to have unique skills.
Thus, someone with exquisite craftsmanship like Zhao Xiaozhu was naturally all the more welcome.
Initially, Yun Shang intended to hire Zhao Xiaozhu.
But Su Xiaoqi, considering Zhao Xiaozhu's personality and her long-term livelihood, acted as her spokesperson, stating that such talent preferred to work according to her own wishes and could not tolerate constraints.
Otherwise, the work would lack inspiration.
Having managed a clothing business for so long, Yun Shang naturally recognized that some individuals indeed possessed unusual aptitude in this regard.
So, after a moment of contemplation, she agreed.
Thus, Su Xiaoqi negotiated the terms with Yun Shang on Zhao Xiaozhu's behalf.
The Yu Yi Fang would receive the orders and assign them to Zhao Xiaozhu.
Zhao Xiaozhu would accept orders based on her own capacity.
The profits would be divided four-six.
The Yu Yi Fang would receive six, and Zhao Xiaozhu four.
Initially, Yun Shang agreed, largely out of consideration for her relationship with Su Xiaoqi.
But after collaborating once and seeing the finished garments completed by Zhao Xiaozhu, she was stunned.
"It's done so beautifully, the styles are novel, and the patterns are exquisite," Yun Shang exclaimed. She then voluntarily changed the profit share to fifty-fifty, an equal split.
Zhao Xiaozhu was somewhat dazed at the time, instinctively wanting to decline, as she had heard that making one such garment would earn her ten taels of silver from the Yu Yi Fang.
This was far too much for her.
Before this, she had never imagined her skills would bring her such benefits.
"Xiaozhu, this is what you deserve. Just continue to design beautiful clothes for Miss Yun in the future," Su Xiaoqi soothed Zhao Xiaozhu at the opportune moment.
Zhao Xiaozhu, in all her years, had been ignorant while living in the village, merely following her mother Madam Qian's instructions to make clothes for the family.
Unknowingly, she had honed her skill in tailoring.
Coupled with Granny Wen, the highly skilled embroiderer whom Su Xiaoqi had found for her, and most importantly, her ability to calm her mind and learn.
After becoming Granny Wen's disciple, she had secluded herself in the small courtyard, solely focusing on mastering her craft.
With her ability to remain focused, endure hardship, and her talent, she had, in just half a year, reached a level that others could not achieve in three to five years.