The lamplight flickered dimly, and time seemed to congeal within the space of the Green Ripple Pavilion. Gazes and opinions intertwined complexly, seemingly compressing the air towards a certain direction or a nearly fixed outcome. With this sense of compression, He Fang's voice finally rang out again: "For the grand finale, let's have the manager of the Su's Clothier tell us about the clothier's business in the past year, and also..."

After these somewhat trivial words, almost everyone was looking towards the Su family. Su Zhongkan and Su Yunfang remained silent, their brows slightly furrowed. Liao, the manager, lowered his head and remained silent for a moment, then revealed a smile, clasped his hands towards the crowd, and prepared to step forward. Behind him, the maid named Xiao Chan hesitated to take the brocade box pressed under the Young Master's right hand, and then applied force.

But it didn't budge.

Ning Yi sat there, only slightly tilting his head, as if thinking about something. His gaze seemed indifferent and quiet, though at this moment it appeared somewhat cold. His peripheral vision occasionally glanced towards the Wu family. His right hand remained motionless on the brocade box.

Liao, the manager, who wanted to step forward, had already noticed Ning Yi's attitude. He hesitated for a moment, then turned back, trying to reach for the brocade box: "There's still a chance..." he said softly. Ning Yi smiled, then said coldly: "Let go."

"Young Master, there's still a chance..."

The area fell silent for a moment. People might not have heard Ning Yi and Liao, the manager's words, but no one spoke, only watched with either a sigh or a sneer. After a moment, Ning Yi's voice rang out faintly in the hall.

"We... withdraw."

It seemed that the reaction everyone was waiting for had finally appeared. Whispers arose, a subtle murmur of pointing fingers, just beginning to feel the atmosphere. Liao, the manager, frowned, looked around, and then suppressed his voice: "There's still a chance, Young Master, don't act rashly..."

He had been working under immense pressure for over a month for this matter, making every effort he should have. These past few days, he thought he had done all that he could and had few reasons to fail, only to be utterly shocked when the Wu family produced that bright yellow brocade.

The situation tonight was complex, but as one in the thick of things, he could roughly discern a dark outline. The timing of the Wu family's fabric, Lord Dong's arrangements and attitude, all pressed down like a terrifying nightmare. In fact, Liao, the manager, who truly controlled the Su family's affairs, probably felt the greatest pressure at this moment. But even in this situation, he had still suppressed all his emotions, pulling Ning Yi back, and still intending to make a final effort, at least to do what should be done. At this point, impulsiveness, stubbornness, and bookishness would not change anything. When the situation was stronger than the person, recklessness was useless, only making others think the Su family lacked grace.

However, at this point, Ning Yi still shook his head and repeated: "We withdraw."

Liao, the manager, suppressed his anger and was about to speak again when He Fang had already stood up with a frown: "Nephew Ning, today we are only allowing your Su family to participate in this gathering, to talk about your Su family's achievements, and to exchange ideas with the gentlemen present. Our Jiangning Weaving Bureau is upright and honorable, and has never allowed anyone to participate in any disreputable circles. You are saying that you want to withdraw here, may I ask what exactly you want to withdraw from? Young man, you must think thrice before you speak."

After he said this, people nodded in agreement amidst the whispers, and some chuckled, talking about Ning Yi's loss of composure. Liao, the manager, was somewhat anxious. Ning Yi had already stood up slowly, his gaze fixed on the Wu family. Wu Chenghou and Wu Qilong also looked over here with smiles. The crowd in the venue looked left and right, and suddenly heard Ning Yi shout: "You can't do this... shameless!" These words were not shouted hysterically, but contained anger.

"Ning Liheng, do not be presumptuous!"

He Fang stood up. Dong Decheng, who had been watching the situation with a smile, patted his hand: "It's alright, it's alright. Nephew Ning is young and vigorous. No matter who has an opinion on today's banquet or our Weaving Bureau, let them speak their mind. This official never stops anyone from speaking."

At the same time, because Ning Yi was speaking to Wu Chenghou, some merchants close to the Wu family had also stood up, preparing to cooperate with the Wu family to continue bullying the Su family. However, Wu Chenghou stretched out his hand: "Nephew Ning, are you perhaps talking about my Wu family?"

On this side, as Dong Decheng's words fell, Su Zhongkan, Su Yunfang, and Liao, the manager, all changed their expressions slightly, fearing that Ning Yi, in his recklessness, would drag the Weaving Bureau into it as well. Just as they were about to speak, they saw Ning Yi glance at Dong Decheng, then nod, take a deep breath, and laugh. From beginning to end, apart from the slight loss of composure when the Wu family produced that brocade and this shout just now, he had remained in a state of quiet composure. At this moment, it seemed that he had finally suppressed his anger and looked towards the Wu family.

"Heh, alright... Didn't Uncle say he wanted me to help him think of a poem? Coincidentally, with today's events, I suddenly thought of a poem that is most suitable. I'll write it out... would Uncle like to see it?"

"Haha, that's excellent." Wu Chenghou smiled and immediately replied. He glanced around: "My Wu family has been merchants for generations, and we are usually quite crude, lacking in literary grace. Nephew Ning is Jiangning's first talent, as everyone knows. If you are willing to write a poem for today, what could be wrong with that? Everyone, we are gathered here at the Green Ripple Pavilion today, and to have Jiangning's first talent compose a poem is truly a grand occasion. Come, quickly bring pen and paper for the talented nephew..."

Some people smiled and stood up, while others held sighs in their hearts. At this time, whatever he wrote would only be laughed at. Although Ning Yi was a great talent, what use could it be in this situation? Even if he wrote the poem well now, in the future, others would only say that Ning Yi had lost face in managing the business, and even if the poem scolded the Wu family severely, others would only think that merchant families were like that, only creating momentum for the Wu family in reverse, and losing his own face.

However, now that the words had been spoken, there was no way to take them back. Ning Yi stood there looking at the Wu family. Two servants presented paper and ink and placed them beside him, but he ignored them. After a long while, he finally turned around, picked up the brush, and paused in the air.

A group of merchants gathered around. The inside was slightly quiet, and there were still whispers outside. The fragrance from the lower floor of the restaurant wafted up. In the crowd, Wu Chenghou, Wu Qilong, and Wu Qihai smiled and looked at the paper on the table. Finally, the brush fell.

Someone leaned over, looking carefully, and then read out the first line with some confusion.

"Drinking wine with Pei Di..." (Zhuo Jiu Yu Pei Di)

The words spread out, and someone looked around.

"Is there someone here named Pei Di today?"

"Mo Lao Si, you are really ignorant..."

"What?"

"This is an ancient poem..."

Voices were chaotic, and some people were already confused. Although everyone present was a merchant, many still had some learning. "Drinking Wine with Pei Di" was clearly a poem by Wang Wei of the Tang Dynasty. At this time, Ning Yi was just going to copy it once? However, given Ning Yi's strange style in the past, it was hard to say that he wouldn't deliberately use this name but write a new one. However, the next sentence had already overturned this guess.

"Drinking wine with you, may you ease your mind..." (Zhuo Jiu Yu Jun Jun Zi Kuan)

Ning Yi was writing quite quickly at this time. His handwriting was not good or bad, slightly scribbled, perhaps proving the anger in his heart. After the poem was finished, the calligraphy on the rice paper was just an average piece of cursive script:

*Drinking wine with you, may you ease your mind,*
*Human feelings are as fickle as waves.*
*Old acquaintances still hold swords,*
*Newly arrived dignitaries laugh at those who remove their caps.*
*The color of the grass is soaked through by the drizzle,*
*The branches of the flowers seem to sway in the cold spring breeze.*
*Why ask about the fleeting affairs of the world,*
*Better to lie high and eat more.*

Without moving once, without changing a single word, Ning Yi finished writing, holding the pen and looking down: "Wang Wei's jade is in front, so I won't write randomly. I will send this poem to Uncle Wu, how about that?"

Wu Chenghou looked at the poem, then looked at Ning Yi. The smile on his face did not change at all. He then smiled indifferently: "This poem is very good. Although what it says may not sound good to the average person, it is in line with the way of business. I have no intention of investigating the cause of your anger today, Nephew, but I will accept this poem and cherish it well in the future."

Ning Yi also smiled, exhaled, and put down the brush. Then he turned around and said in a low voice: "Let's go." Grabbing the brocade box from the table, he threw it out the window. He didn't seem to use much force, but the brocade box flew straight out the window, the lid opening with a whoosh in the air, a flash of bright yellow passing through everyone's eyes, falling to the floor below.

Xiao Chan cried out "Ah" softly and ran quickly downstairs. Ning Yi had not yet reached the stairwell when Wu Qilong walked over with a smile, patted him on the shoulder, and said in a low voice: "Brother Ning is talented, but why bother with the unfamiliar way of business? It would be better to write lyrics and teach poetry at home, wouldn't it? Hehe."

Ning Yi smiled and glanced at him, not answering, and continued downstairs.

The sound of discussion behind him began to grow louder...

Such an interlude disrupted the steps of the gathering. Although the adults did not stop it, the fixed program still had to continue. The Su family could ignore the imperial merchants, but the words that should be said still had to be said. Everyone returned to their seats, the discussion unabated. During this time, two children dressed as maids and servants stomped their feet angrily and ran downstairs, but no one paid attention to such things. Wu Chenghou asked someone to collect Ning Yi's poem "Drinking Wine with Pei Di" properly, and spoke politely with some people around him.

The Wu family's actions have always been unhurried, but this time, the matter was quite neat and tidy, like a thunderclap in silence. From the roll of yellow cloth that Ning Yi threw downstairs, most people probably guessed what had happened, but in such a situation, even the Su family could not speak because they could not prove anything. Others would only think that the Wu family was truly powerful. This time, the matter was really too powerful. The Su family had been preparing for several years, and then painstakingly laid out for a month, only to have the Wu family turn it over in one move.

From today onwards, the Su family would gradually withdraw from the three-way dominance of the Jiangning weaving industry. The one who truly grew stronger was the Wu family. The Xue family could no longer compete with the Wu family and could only remain in second place. Everyone discussed the excitement of this turning point and began to reconsider the Su family's position and some of their relationship with the Su family. As for Ning Yi, he was a pitiful person who had been squeezed in the middle and was originally powerless.

When someone looked down from the building, the scholar's figure in a blue robe was standing downstairs, looking back at this side, probably to remember this building and say a few pitifully harsh words. All this was just a desolate afterimage of the loser, with only the maid Xiao Chan by his side. The people upstairs looked at it for a few moments, then turned their heads back, talking and laughing with others...

Next, they had to adapt to a new pattern, which for the people in the cloth industry was more like adapting to a new era. As for the losers, they would only exist in the after-dinner talk. It was a waste of time to look at them for a moment longer.

So, the atmosphere upstairs continued to heat up.

**********************

"The crab here seems to be good today, but I didn't get to eat it... what a pity."

Downstairs, Ning Yi stood by the side of the road, looking at the sign of the Green Ripple Pavilion, and sighed with some regret.

"Then..." Xiao Chan frowned, somewhat embarrassed, "Should Xiao Chan go and ask for some to pack up and take back?"

"You have a brain..." Ning Yi laughed, then patted Xiao Chan on the shoulder, "Let's go, let's go back. After being busy for more than a month, it's good to be free..."

The night breeze stirred. The master and servant walked towards the direction where the carriage was coming from. Behind them, Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu followed.

A rare, cool, and relaxed night...

*****************

Rarely go out once a year, the annual meeting lasts three days, adding up to only seven hours of sleep, tsk, and finally encountered the beginning of the climax, the inspiration is there, can not bear to break the update. Uh, for such diligence, ask for monthly tickets, recommendation tickets ^_^ (To be continued, if you want to know what will happen next, please log in for more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!)