Danlu picked a nearby stool and placed it by the wall to sit on. When he saw Qiyang’s bewildered posture on what to do, he brought him a stool as well, before his attention fixated on the meeting again.

Manager Chen slammed the table. “I don’t care if they leave, but they’re making a mess as they’re doing so.”

“More than a mess.” Chu Su was reading the ledger the First Head Accountant handed to him. “Most of the damage has been prevented and the branches remain relatively stable. It is here, headquarters, where the problem is. Everything else can be solved, it is the contracts that are the problem.”

The Chief Legal Advisor spoke. “There is no way to prevent them. There might be no logic in them, but in every contract, the language is sound. They are entitled to their leaving benefit.” The Xiao Business Regulations made it clear.

“Work for just one or two years and they are promised this much. What kind of nepotism went on here?” Chu Su spat.

Manager Bao shifted uneasily. “They are all the Second Master and Fourth Master’s people.” Being a transportation business based in Luoyi inevitably meant they had many connections with the Xiao shipping industry and city businesses.

The problem was that they were leaving all at once. The large amount ate the reserves they relied on. The rate at which their funds decreased stopped accelerating and had begun decelerating, but it would still hit zero before the curve leveled out. Businesses need to keep their money flowing to remain functional. If workers can’t be paid, it’ll become a downward spiral.

“On the bright side, we’re cutting off all our rotten flesh at once,” Uncle Tiao said.

“Obviously, because they expect us to die in the process.” Manager Chen wanted to cry. He didn’t care about the power struggles of the Xiao Family, he just wanted to run a successful business.

The person who Danlu knew as Uncle Cao stepped inside, drawing everyone’s attention. They were all hopeful.

“How did it go?” Chu Su said. When any Xiao Family business had a problem in funds, they were supposed to borrow money from the estate.

Uncle Cao shook his head. “I was blocked in five different ways.”

The estate was managed by the Fourth Master.

Manager Bao sighed. “We have essentially lost the backing of the family, except for their name.”

A voice spoke. “We still have backing.”

Everyone’s head turned and realized that Danlu was sitting by the wall.

“The Ninth Master,” Danlu said.

Everyone exchanged gazes. They understood that the boy, Chu Danlu, had become the liaison between the business and their master.

“Not that I don’t appreciate our Young Master, but well, I haven’t even seen him since that day,” Manager Bao said.

Chu Su thought about the boy who did nothing but study. “He left management and the complete authority to decide on all matters of the business to us. There was never an easy way out. We face problems one at a time. Let’s solve reassignments today and meet again about funds tomorrow.”

Everyone nodded.

Danlu turned to Qiyang. “Do you still want to work here?”

“Even more than before.”

...

Yeon eyed Danlu while she picked up the spoon from her stew. Her lips scrunched up. “Too quiet.”

Danlu smiled silently.

“What do you think?” she said to Xiyun who was sitting next to her at the table.

Xiyun hummed. “Suspicious.”

Danlu pouted. “What about my father? Why don’t you find him suspicious?”

They took one glance at Chu Su who was eating normally and returned to Danlu.

“Spill it,” Yeon said. “Or I’ll torture it out if you.”

“You don’t know any torture.”

Xiyun picked a leaf of cabbage with his chopsticks. “I do.”

Everyone spent a moment staring at the boy.

“Just tell them already,” Chu Su said.

Danlu sighed and did. By the time he finished, the plates and bowls were being cleaned up.

“That isn’t a problem at all,” Xiyun said.

On her seat, Yeon leaned to her side while her arms crossed. “We still have three hundred taels of silver lying around. Is that enough?”

“Assuming we give up southern expansion and spend now until summer training inexperienced hires, we still need a few thousand taels if we want to survive,” Chu Su said.

Her eyes shifted to Xiyun. “Can you ask the Old Master for money?”

“It might work if you call him Grandpa,” Danlu added.

Xiyun imagined the concessions that the old man would demand and stood up. “No, but we can ask the other masters.”

Danlu looked up. “The least hostile master was…”

“The Seventh.”

Yeon grinned. “We’ll make a plan now and enact it tomorrow. I have so many ideas.”

Danlu matched her grin. “Really? I do too.”

Xiyun did not feel well.

...

The trio of youths stood outside a large building somewhere near the middle of the compound. It was decided that Chu Su would wait back at their courtyard.

Black smoke rose from the sky well within the building. The passing workers curiously spectated from a distance.

They already sent a notice saying that they would visit, so Xiyun raised the circular door handle and used it to knock.

“Come in.”

They did. Around was a large empty workshop where several types of furnaces lined up against each other. A shelf of heavy tools they didn’t understand. Barrels of water and coal. An entire storage section of metals.

Against a large cluttered table near the sky well and sunlight, stood the Seventh Master. The man was tall, thin, and broad-shouldered. Bristles covered his face and his hair was cut short. He had a smirk donned, waiting.

Yeon and Danlu pushed Xiyun forward.

Xiyun walked in front of the Seventh Master. “Uncle.”

“Uncle? Well then, hello Nephew. What does my little nephew need today?”

“I need to borrow money, Uncle.”

The man stifled a laugh. “Do you now? How much?”

“Ten thousand taels.”

The man lost his hold on the table and almost fell. He coughed. “What does Little Nephew need so much money for?”

Xiyun glanced at Yeon who just waved her hand for him to go on. “Second and Fourth Uncle are bullying my business. I want to throw money at the problem.” His voice was naturally soft. He didn’t even need to act.

The man raised his neck and laughed into the sky until he was satisfied. “Sorry, but I’ve recently gambled away all my money.”

Xiyun nodded. “I’ll be sure to tell Steward Qiu.”

“Wait, hold on, I’m kidding. Let’s sit down and talk.” He grabbed two nearby chairs and set them apart. “I’m Xiao Dalin. I swear Father just ran out of ideas and named me after Steward Qiu. At least Eighth Sister got Zhurong.”

“I’m Xiyun.”

“Han Yeon.”

“Chu Danlu.”

“So do you know what I do?”

“Metalworking,” Xiyun said.

“Correct.” Xiao Dalin waved his hand. “This place is just where I experiment and test new molds. The real production is outside of the city. Pots and pans. Tools and plows. But that’s not where the lucrative money comes from, besides nails anyway. Do you know where else?”

Xiyun didn’t even need to think. “Weapons.”

“Yes, contracts with the military. They come and go, often unexpectedly.”

“So you need a good reserve of funds to suddenly expand production or survive during low production,” Danlu said.

“You got it, kid. Xiyun, do you know much about the military?”

“I was taught everything about the Zhao military for two years,” he said referring to his time at the Liu Estate. It was also where he learned all about torture.

Xiao Dalin raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? Does a kid really know?”

“Taizong formalized three systems in Zhao, adding two to the existing one. The Intrepid Garrisons were the original. There are thousands scattered like stars. Without an imperial decree, the soldiers stationed are forbidden to be deployed. Rotating between active and inactive every year, they are the armor of Zhao. Then, the Circuit Guards. There are ten jurisdictions, one for each circuit road. Patrolling their territory, they are the shield of Zhao. Finally, the Banner Armies. There are a varying number of active armies, each led by a general. Fighting at the frontier and protectorates, they are the sword of Zhao.”

Xiao Danlin’s lips scrunched up.

Xiyun continued. “There are also the garrison forces of the Provincial Governors, but those are only significant at the border provinces-”

“Okay, If you want to be pedantic about it. The point is that I can’t take even the smallest risk of offending my military connections. So, I can’t help you, but I know who could. Fifth Sister.”

The FIfth Lady. She was the other master who was not hostile towards Xiyun.

Xiao Dalin continued. “She’s very business-oriented and has deeper pockets than me. To her, there are no likes or dislikes, which is both an advantage and a disadvantage. She won’t help you out of her goodwill, but she won’t disregard you either. You will need to give her a compelling reason to help you, or something that benefits her. Not only would she not loan money if she thinks you can’t pay it back, it needs to be worth the inconvenience.”

Yeon met eyes with Danlu. They knew who they were going to visit next.

“Do we need to return to the courtyard first?” she said.

“No, call Qiu Gaokang. We don’t need to make a plan. I already know what to do.” Xiyun stood up. “Thank you for your advice, Uncle.”

Xiao Dalin smiled as he watched the trio of youth’s leave. A contention with the Fifth Lady was something very difficult to win, and he anticipated hearing the news about it later.

He saw in them something the Xiao Family has lacked ever since he and his younger sister had grown up. Of course, he still considered Gaokang, Zhurong, and his antics as unsurpassable.

...

In the northeast corner of the Xiao estate was a house encircling the garden’s small lake. A slow-moving man stood on the building’s ledge above the lake’s water and fed the fishes.

Next to him, under the eaves, sat a girl, perfectly still. Her lips were expressionless. Her hands rested together on her lap. Her eyes stared outward like glass. She appeared frozen in place.

“Niece. Niece?” the man called when he turned around.

Xiao Xuexu blinked. “Yes?”

“The paint will dry soon.”

“Alright.” Her hand alone picked up the brush on the flat stand which supported a blank paper canvas. When it moved over the inks, it stalled until stopping. The girl froze again.

The man creased his lips. “Maybe we can just rest for today. Inspiration is also a part of art.”

“I apologize, Uncle, I am feeling unwell today.”

The Fifth Sir thought that she seemed the same as usual.

“And I’m having a hard time choosing colors, can we just use black?” Xuexu finished.

The Fifth Sir halted. “Curious that would mention that.” The corners of his lips tugged. Everything else escaped his mind which fell into a trance. He immediately sat down behind his own stand. “Recently, I’ve been trying out a new style that does not require color.”

He dumped his nearby cup of tea and scooped up pond water which he poured over his canvas. A puddle on paper. His wrist flicked his brush dipped in ink. Drops of black formed blotches, but they were on top of the water. The brush went down and a single continuous stroke created a mountain range in gradient.

“Uncle. Uncle?”

The Fifth Sir didn’t hear her, he was smiling instead. He produced pine trees at foreground until the monochrome painting was nearing completion

A voice behind him spoke. “Wu Jue, you’re supposed to be teaching her, not going off on your own, again.”

The Fifth Sir, Wu Jue, paused. His smile went rigid. “Tianling…”

The Fifth Lady, Xiao Tianling, shook her head. “How about you, Xuexu? How are you doing?”

She was given the choice, not that it was, to either learn calligraphy from the Sixth Madam or painting from the Fifth Sir. The preferable option was obvious. “I’m fine, Aunt,” she said softly.

“You don’t have to do anything here.”

Before Xuexu could reply, a maid ran towards them from a side path.

“Who wants to see me?” Tianling said before the maid even spoke.

“It’s… Mister Qiu and the Ninth Master’s party.”

“Let them in but have them wait out there for me.” Tianling handed Xuexu her bowl of dates, which Xuexu took but didn’t seem to want, and stepped into the house to dress properly.

A short time after the maid left, three youths followed by Gaokang arrived from the garden path. Gaokang had a frown but creased his lips in a bewildered manner when he took glances at Xiyun. Xiyun himself ignored the man and sat down on an extra cushion next to the water.

“I am Wu Jue,” the Fifth Sir said.

“Xiyun. Behind me is Han Yeon and Chu Danlu.”

“Have you ever painted?”

“No.”

“Do you want to try?”

He shook his head.

“I haven’t seen a painting like this one before. Will you sell it?” Danlu said.

Wu Jue smiled. “I do sell most of the works I make, all to other families and collectors. I might not sell this one. This style, I haven’t grasped its potential yet.“

Danlu grinned. “Then you should keep it. Once you become better known for a style, initial works will become greater in value.”

The man looked down and shook his head.

Yeon stopped next to Xuexu.

“What is it?” Xuexu said.

“The dates. Can I have one?”

She looked down and found the bowl in her hands. “My name.”

“What?”

“You can have it if you say my name.”

“Can I have one, Xiao Xuexu?”

“You may- That’s the entire bowl!”

“You want it back?”

She found the answer. “No.”

“Where are these from?”

“The west.”

Yeon smiled. “They’re sweet.”

The house’s door opened for the Fifth Lady to exit. A maid prepared a cushion across from Xiyun where she sat down.

“Greetings, Fifth Lady Xiao,” Gaokang said, remaining standing.

She hummed and opened her palm upwards. Yeon placed a date on it. She tossed it in her mouth. “It is Xiao Xiyun, correct? I am Xiao Tianling.” She waved her hand and the maid placed down another cushion. “Miss Han, please sit down as well.”

Yeon continued standing. Her eyes glanced at the lake, admiring it.

There was a silence which Xiyun didn’t find unnatural.

Wu Jue's expression changed. He stood up and took out a third cushion from behind the screen door and placed it down before returning his seat.

Yeon finally moved to sit down on her seat. “Danlu, you too.”

Danlu blinked and did sit down with a somewhat inclined head.

Tianling briefly closed her eyes. So that was it. “How did Her Highness treat you at the Liu Estate?”

“Okay.” Xiyun couldn’t judge anyway.

“I wonder why I haven't known you earlier. Although Father communicates with Princess Jiading, I would think I am closer to her. Or perhaps I’m looking at this the wrong way.” She took a glimpse at Yeon. “Her Highness might not be helping Father with a favor.”

“I wouldn’t waste time thinking about it.”

“Then, let’s get straight into the topic of your visit.”

“I want to borrow ten thousand silver taels.”

The spectating Wu Jue, Xuexu, and Gaokang all sat and stood straighter.

Tianling frowned. “Ten thousand now, and repay fifteen thousand in two years.”

Xiyun peered behind his left side, where Danlu shook his head. “Impossible,” Xiyun said.

“Can you even repay ten thousand in a year?"

“Maybe not.” It all depended on certain conditions, one of which was remaining at the estate until then.

Danlu smiled dryly at the boy’s business senses.

Tianling sighed. “This is not worth it for me at all. Twenty thousand in three years.”

Xiyun tilted his head.

“The price has risen,” she said.

“Then instead of borrowing, I want to sell.”

Everyone looked closer at the boy, except for Gaokang whose eyes widened.

“And what am I buying?” Tianling’s lips pulled upwards in amusement.

“A revenue share.”

She stilled. Her expression faded as she spotted Gaokang’s creased lips.

“It is true. The Old Master transferred ownership of his ten shares to the boy,” Gaokang recited.

Both Yeon and Danlu turned their head rigidly. Since when did this happen?

“The price is fifty thousand silver taels.”

“That is not worth it.”

Xiyun did not respond but his eyes obviously asked why not.

Tianling continued. “Revenue shares are only valuable within the family, but more importantly they are only valuable for a finite time, that is until the next head of the family is decided. Once that occurs, the Back Manor will change, management of the family will change, and revenue shares will become worthless. Will this occur in a year? Two years? Three? A revenue share is only worth how much longer it is usable. I offer twenty thousand.”

Xiyun closed his eyes. “It is true that the Old Master is considering the future of the family right now.”

Tianling nodded.

He continued. “Thank you for reminding me. I am not selling a single revenue share. I am selling an advantage in deciding the next head.”

Tianling’s eyes twitched. “What are you saying?”

“Revenue shares. Why are they split into a hundred? Why allow them to be traded within mainline family members? I believe they have to do with the succession.”

Gaokang spoke. “It is considered in the Old Master's will. Now that you mentioned it, I am required to inform you. In his unlikely death, the distribution of revenue shares will decide the next head. As for whether the Old Master will use revenue shares to decide at a time before then, I do not know.”

Xiyun hummed. “I received ten, a good number. I also believe most mainline family members have either five, ten, or fifteen and have not given any away. Therefore, a single revenue share is enough to break a tie.”

Tianling lips thinned. “Then fif-”

“Eighty thousand.”

“Th-”

“The price has risen,” Xiyun said.

The fish swam peacefully.

“I can sell to anyone,” he said.

“Sixty thousand.”

“Seventy-five thousand.”

“Qiu Gaokang, witness the verbal contract on behalf of the Back Manor,” Tianling said.

Gaokang nodded. “I hereby witness this transaction. The Ninth Master, Xiao Xiyun, trades one revenue share for seventy-five thousand silver taels from the Fifth Lady, Xiao Tianling’s, account. Do both parties acknowledge this?”

“I do,” Tianling said deeply.

“Yes,” Xiyun said without concern. He got up.

Danlu placed his shaking hand on Xiyun’s shoulder. His expression shifted every moment.

“Let’s go,” Xiyun said.

Yeon passed Xuexu as she followed. “See you again, Sp-”

“Don’t say it!”

The three youths and Gaokang left.

The Fifth Lady, Fifth Sir, and Fourth Miss remained sitting for some time.

“Tianling-” Wu Jue began.

“I am just thinking.” Tianling turned to glance at Xuexu. The girl was frowning, instead of expressionless. Her breathing was visible, no longer frozen. “What do you think about just now?”

Xuexu looked up. “To be honest, I think you got the worst deal, Aunt.”

“How so?”

“Did you see his expression when he agreed? From what I have seen of Xiyun so far, I believe he does not care one bit about the revenue shares or their value. If things went another way, if you had not set up the initial value being traded so high, if you were to ask for three or five percent of the shares, I think he still would have agreed. If you asked for ten shares, I still think he would have considered selling.”

The Fifth Lady laughed. “So I lost.” She smiled wearily. “Go play.”

“What about lessons?”

“You don’t need to care about my husband’s fixation. I’ll cover for you with your mother.” There is finally someone the girl’s age in the estate, and she acts completely different around them. “If you see the children again, you can inform me about what they’re up to.” Tianling pretended she had something to gain.

Xuexu froze. Doesn’t that sound like… “I am not a spy!” The girl ran out of the garden. Her vision blurred until she bumped into Xiyun in the back, as their party was discussing lunch.

“Hungry as well?” Yeon asked.

…

By nightfall, all the masters of the Xiao Family received word of what took place, the nine remaining revenue shares which Xiyun possessed, and Xiyun’s willingness to trade one away.

The hostilities of the Fourth Master subsided, for the time being, however, the actions of the Second Master did not seem to change.