Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Brocade Pavilion was a shop that sold silk and fabrics. It was in the same business as the Xu Clan—the family of Xu Qianqian, whom Shen Lang had previously married into—though on a slightly smaller scale. The Lin Clan, owners of Brocade Pavilion, while not as prominent as the Xu Clan, were also a well-known wealthy family in Xuanwu City, with branches in a dozen surrounding cities.
Most importantly, the Lin Clan was a competitor of the Xu Clan.
Seeing Shen Lang and Thirteen enter, a clerk came forward to greet them.
"Welcome, sirs. Are you looking for fabrics? We've just received a new shipment. Please, feel it. It's light and soft."
The clerk was skilled at customer service; noticing Shen Lang's shabby appearance, he recommended cotton fabric instead of silk. However, Shen Lang paid the clerk no mind and said, "Tell your master that I'm here to propose a big deal, one that will earn the Lin Clan five thousand gold coins a year."
Hearing this, the clerk was momentarily stunned. He kept a smile on his face, but inwardly, he was filled with contempt for Shen Lang.
"Sir, you must be joking."
"I am Thirteen of the Black Clothes Gang. We have a business proposal, so bring me the master of the Lin Clan."
Upon hearing this, the clerk could no longer ignore Shen Lang. Tian Heng's Black Clothes Gang were infamous ruffians in Xuanwu City. They usually avoided clashing with other families or fighting over territory, so there was rarely any reason for friction. But today, the atmosphere felt different. The clerk assumed Thirteen had come on behalf of the Black Clothes Gang to extort money from the Lin Clan.
A portly manager quickly walked out and said loudly, "Master Thirteen, my apologies for the discourtesy. Bring tea. The good tea."
The clerk hurried off and brought back a pot of high-quality tea made from young leaves, pouring a cup for both Thirteen and Shen Lang.
"Master Thirteen, you can speak to me. My master has long wished to establish a connection with Gang Leader Tian Heng. This is but a small token of our sincerity."
He offered a box containing twenty gold coins. It was indeed a large sum.
Thirteen chuckled.
"Manager, do you think I've come to extort you? I'm truly here to discuss business with your master, not to shake you down for money."
The manager was taken aback.
"Business, truly?"
"Do you think I would lie?"
"N-No, of course not. If you don't mind my asking, could you perhaps discuss it with me first?"
"I must speak with the head of the family."
"Then please, wait here for a moment. I will go and fetch the master. Bring some refreshments for our guests."
* * *
Shen Lang and Thirteen sipped their tea and ate refreshments while they waited for Lin Mo, the owner of Brocade Pavilion, to arrive. About half an hour later, a middle-aged man dressed in silk entered. He was Lin Mo, a wealthy merchant of Xuanwu City and the master of Brocade Pavilion.
"You are the ones who wish to discuss a big business deal with me?"
He showed no fear of Thirteen. As a man who ran a large business, he had his own backing—his son. His son was a student at the Tiannan Martial Academy with excellent grades, and he was expected to pass the military examination and become a military official. Thus, there was no need for conflict; they simply had to avoid encroaching on each other's territory.
Shen Lang spoke.
"That's right, a big deal! It can earn your family at least five thousand gold coins a year."
Lin Mo frowned. He disliked boastful young men, and Shen Lang, with his pale face, looked anything but trustworthy.
"Speak," Lin Mo said.
"I wish to sell you a secret formula, Master. For two thousand gold coins."
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Lin Mo's expression hardened.
"I've wasted my precious time on this nonsense. Show our guests out!"
Lin Mo picked up his tea, ready to dismiss them. Thirteen was dumbfounded. Asking for a thousand gold coins would have been absurd enough, but two thousand? It was utter madness. He regretted bringing Shen Lang to Brocade Pavilion.
Lin Mo stood up, intending to leave without giving Shen Lang any further chance. Thirteen shot Shen Lang a cold glare.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Seeing the head of the Lin Clan about to walk out, Shen Lang took a piece of silk from his robes, placed it before Lin Mo, and said, "Master Lin, wouldn't you say the color of this silk is worth two thousand gold coins?"
Lin Mo turned and looked at the handkerchief-sized piece of silk in Shen Lang's hand. Thirteen thought Shen Lang had lost his mind. Selling such a tiny scrap of silk for two thousand gold coins? But the owner of Brocade Pavilion's eyes widened. With a look of disbelief, he strode over, held the silk before his eyes, and spoke in a trembling voice.
"H-How is this possible? It's truly golden-yellow. How can this be?"
Thirteen was shocked. Only then did he notice that the silk Shen Lang had presented was a shimmering golden-yellow.
Shen Lang said, "Why do you think the Xu Clan is so large? It's because the silk they present to the royal family is a very distinct yellow."
In the old dynasties, yellow was a color reserved for the imperial family. Only the emperor, empress, and imperial consorts could wear garments of yellow. This world was similar. In the entire State of Yue, only the royal family could use yellow silk.
However, the yellow silk in this world was dyed with gardenia, so while yellow, the color was pale and not sufficiently bright. The silk Shen Lang presented, however, was dyed with a new secret formula. It was dyed using pagoda tree sap mixed with alum, resulting in such a bright hue that it appeared golden-yellow.
The dragon robes of the Qing Dynasty emperors were dyed with this very same substance. One could see such noble and splendid dragon robes at the Palace Museum.
When Shen Lang had gathered medicinal herbs the day before, he had also picked pagoda tree buds. Alum, a type of traditional medicine, was something he had at home. While decocting the medicine yesterday, he had also boiled half a bowl of this golden-yellow dye, torn a piece from a colorless silk undergarment, and dyed it. After letting it dry overnight and gently warming it by the fire, this golden-yellow color was produced.
Lin Mo quickly brought out a piece of his family's gardenia-dyed yellow silk. Placed next to each other, it was instantly clear that his family's silk was a tacky yellow. The silk Shen Lang had brought, now on the right, was a vivid golden-yellow. The difference in quality between the two was stark.
"I made this silk in a hurry last night, so I'm not entirely satisfied with the color. With enough time and materials, I can produce an even brighter golden-yellow. It would be even better if we dyed the thread first and then wove it into silk."
Lin Mo was astonished.
"Can you really create such a yellow in a single night?"
"Yes. If you obtain this secret formula, you will be able to dye splendid silks of an even more distinct golden-yellow. After that, what do you think will happen when you send this golden-yellow silk to the Royal Weaving Bureau?"
Without a doubt, the Royal Weaving Bureau would discard the Xu Clan's silk and use the Lin Clan's instead. When that happened, the business of supplying silk to the royal family would belong to the Lin Clan.
This wasn't just about the money earned from the contract. The benefits were far greater. It was an opportunity to gain the prestige and political connections the Lin Clan needed.
"Master Lin, would this business be able to earn the Lin Clan five thousand gold coins a year?"
Lin Mo shook his head.
"Just five thousand gold coins?"
"Then is two thousand gold coins too expensive a price for me to sell you the secret formula for this golden-yellow dye?"
"No, not at all."
Beside them, Thirteen stared at Shen Lang in amazement.
In truth, the person whose heart was pounding the hardest right now was Shen Lang himself. He couldn't believe that his plan had earned him two thousand gold coins in one fell swoop. But what pleased him even more was that he had chosen a method that allowed him to make money and get revenge on the Xu Clan at the same time.
That was right. Since he was using his wits, he wasn't satisfied with just making money; he wanted to deal a heavy blow to the Xu Clan. What would happen if the Xu Clan lost its exclusive right to supply silk to the royal family?
The answer was as clear as day. Why had no one been able to stop the Xu Clan's silk business from dominating several provinces until now? Wasn't it because their family supplied silk to the Royal Weaving Bureau?
Lin Mo was captivated by the golden-yellow silk, unable to look away. After a moment, he spoke.
"How can I believe that you created this dye? Isn't it possible you just found this piece of silk?"
"I've brought all the ingredients. Give me two hours, and I will create the golden-yellow dye for you. The quality will be even better than last night's."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Very well. You may use the rear courtyard, and tell me if you need anything. If you can produce the golden-yellow dye here, that will prove you know the secret formula. We will make the deal then."
"Two thousand gold coins."
"I won't haggle over the price."