Xu Han Ren then said: “Mother, when Han Ren was managing the silk shop, the shopkeeper mentioned that the quality of silk from the weaving workshop had deteriorated. Han Ren asked the eldest brother about this, but he was not concerned, saying it was because the silk cocoons from farmers were mixed in quality, so the silk would also vary.”
Yu Yi knew that since he brought this up, it was not that simple, so she asked: “Not really?”
Xu Han Ren said with some shame: “Actually, Han Ren thought at the time that the eldest brother was deliberately making things difficult, sending inferior silk to Han Ren’s shop. So he secretly investigated and discovered that the workshop’s chief manager Zhang was secretly selling good silk and buying inferior silk from elsewhere to weave, profiting from the difference. But Han Ren was self-serving at the time, thinking it was none of his business and wanting to see the eldest brother embarrassed. So he only told the manager Zhang not to send such inferior silk to his shop.”
He spoke while looking at Madam Xu, seeing her serious expression, and said nervously: “This was Han Ren’s mistake. Han Ren will go tell the eldest brother…”
Yu Yi stopped him: “Don’t tell Han Zhong or Han Xiao for now…”
Xu Han Ren looked at her in surprise: “Why?”
“Let me think about this carefully first.” After carefully considering the matter, Yu Yi said, “Han Ren, keep this matter hidden for now.”
Xu Han Ren asked puzzled: “Why does mother want Han Ren to conceal this? What if…”
Yu Yi then explained what she wanted him to do. Xu Han Ren listened carefully, nodded in agreement, and followed Yu Yi back to the Xu family home.
—
Xu Hanzhong had been less present at the weaving workshop in recent days. After his previous dispute with Hanxiao, he realized that simply managing the workshop was not enough. Without a large influx of business, he would not be able to overshadow Hanxiao in front of their mother.
However, the major merchants in the city all had fixed procurement channels. How could they easily change?
Xu Hanzhong was pondering how to overcome Hanxiao when he suddenly heard someone outside shouting, “Young Master, Young Master, something’s wrong!”
He hurriedly stood up and walked to the door, frowning and asking, “What happened?”
The person was Wu Yong from the weaving workshop. He rushed in from outside and, seeing Xu Hanzhong standing at the door, stopped and caught his breath, his face panicked as he replied, “Young Master, Manager Zhang has run away!”
Xu Hanzhong was shocked: “Why would he run?”
Wu Yong said anxiously, “I’m not entirely sure.”
I just heard from Xu Gui that Manager Zhang has run away with money, and he told us to find the Young Master quickly!”
Xu Hanzhong immediately ordered someone to prepare a carriage. When he arrived at the weaving workshop, he found Xu Gui and asked what exactly had happened.
Xu Gui was an old servant of the Xu family who had always helped at the weaving workshop. With a worried expression, he said, “Young Master, after discovering that Manager Zhang had run away, I went to check the account room and storehouse.”
Xu Hanzhong had already guessed part of the situation but still held onto a glimmer of hope as he asked, “How is it?”
Xu Gui replied, “The storehouse is almost empty. Manager Zhang secretly sold many raw silk and finished silk fabrics and ran away with the money.”
Xu Hanzhong’s face turned pale. After thinking for a moment, he asked, “When did he run?”
“I’m not sure. I saw Manager Zhang at noon yesterday, and then I didn’t see him again.”
Xu Hanzhong angrily said, “Immediately send people to find him and bring him back! Who were the people he usually associated with? And the other managers? Bring them here for questioning!”
Xu Gui immediately went to do so and soon returned with several managers from the workshop. One manager had run away with Zhang, but after questioning the others for a long time, Xu Hanzhong learned nothing.
Xu Gui asked, “Young Master, now that the raw silk is gone, the workshop is about to stop working. What should we do?
Xu Hanzhong had heard Xu Gui speaking but didn’t respond. Without enough raw silk to weave silk fabrics, the workshop was on the verge of stopping production. In the next few days, they still needed to deliver large quantities of silk fabrics to various shops, but the storehouse’s remaining supplies could not support this for more than a few days.
He frowned and said, “Xu Gui, you will now be the workshop’s chief manager. First, send people to collect silkworm cocoons or raw silk.”
Xu Gui agreed but, just about to turn and leave, remembered something and said, “But now is not a good time. Silkworm cocoons are hard to collect.”
Xu Hanzhong also knew that the spring silkworms had already emerged from their cocoons, and the summer silkworms had not yet formed cocoons. It would take at least half a month before silk farmers would sell cocoons. He sighed, “If there are no cocoons, buy raw silk directly. Even if the price is high, the workshop cannot stop working.”
Xu Hanxiao curved one side of his mouth and said: “Isn’t there still good silk fabric in my big brother’s shop? When it comes to money, Hanxiao isn’t necessarily asking for cash. Big brother can use the shops in the south of the city as collateral.”
Zhang, the manager, would not dare to exchange all raw silk for aged silk, fearing that Xu Hanyong would discover it.
It would be better to send more good quality materials to his managed shops.
Xu Hanyong was enraged by the smile on his face: “Hanxiao, are you taking advantage of the situation?”
Xu Hanxiao continued to smile: “Big brother’s mistakes have caused losses. Should Hanxiao bear the burden?”
Xu Hanyong trembled with anger, pointing outside the door: “Get out!”
Xu Hanxiao suppressed his smile and coldly said: “If big brother is unreasonable, Hanxiao will find a place that is reasonable.” After speaking, he stood up and left.
Xu Hanyong stared at his departing back, his chest heaving violently before calming down. Seeing a shadow moving outside the door, he thought Hanxiao had returned and angrily said: “What are you back for?”
But the person entering was not Hanxiao, but Hanren.
Xu Hanren said in surprise: “Again? Hanren has just arrived at big brother’s place.”
Xu Hanyong took a long breath and said expressionlessly: “Why has Hanren come?” Hanren’s shop had already been taken back by the old man and handed over to him to manage. However, since the deed was still in Hanren’s name, it could not be changed at the government office without Hanren’s consent.
Xu Hanyong thought, could Hanren have heard about the weaving workshop and come to take advantage of the situation, seeking to reclaim the shop?
As expected, Xu Hanren first mentioned the workshop incident: “Big brother, do you remember when Hanren mentioned that the silk fabrics from the workshop had deteriorated?”
Xu Hanyong snorted coldly: “Is Hanren here to mock me?”
Xu Hanren quickly waved his hand: “Hanren does not mean that. Big brother must not misunderstand. Hanren is here to apologize. At that time, Hanren thought big brother deliberately sent inferior silk to Hanren’s shop, so he secretly investigated. He discovered that Zhang, the manager, was secretly selling good silk and buying inferior silk from elsewhere to weave silk, profiting from the difference. However, Hanren had selfish motives at the time. On one hand, the shop had been reclaimed by grandfather, and he felt it was not his concern. He wanted to see big brother’s embarrassment and therefore did not tell big brother about this.”
He spoke while standing up and bowing deeply to Hanyong, apologetically saying: “The current situation is entirely due to Hanren’s selfishness. Hanren has let big brother down.”
