Since the Chanyuan Treaty, the weaving industry's pursuit of becoming an imperial merchant has been a vexing issue due to the annual tribute paid to the Liao Dynasty, which included textiles.

The annual demand for 300,000 bolts of silk was not a small amount. If it weren't broken down into smaller portions, no single textile merchant could handle it. Yet even when divided, the imperial court still offered significant sums. However, the court's purchase price for such a massive quantity of textiles was never truly high; it wasn't considered a luxury item, and the price was often lower than the market rate.

Each year, some precious silks and satins were bought by the palace at luxury prices, offering profits, but the demand was insignificant compared to the 300,000 bolts. Becoming an imperial merchant certainly came with privileges, so some large merchants would set aside a surplus to take on the tribute orders, accepting meager profits or even foregoing them entirely, using the privileges granted by the court to develop their businesses elsewhere.

The Su family's foundation was somewhat lacking in this regard. Accepting a small portion was no problem, but actively seeking it would be quite troublesome. The Su family already had a vast amount of business to maintain. Once imperial orders were taken, the court wouldn't care about the need for a buffer period; delivery was expected on time. To avoid impacting existing, saturated supply and demand relationships, the Su family had to ensure sufficient supply capacity in advance.

This meant preparing new workshops and sourcing new raw materials. These ventures wouldn't offer much profit, though they might bring some privileges. However, the effort spent expanding these new workshops would push the Su family's expansion capabilities to their true limit. Even with privileges, they wouldn't have the energy to expand.

On the other hand, if they could take on a portion of the tribute textiles and had a superior fabric, the court might increase their demand for valuable silks. This smaller portion would be more profitable. Everyone wanted this business, but apart from a few nationally renowned precious silks, other textile merchants who wanted to present their valuable silks also had to bundle a portion of the less profitable tribute quota. Adding in the miscellaneous expenses of smoothing connections, it was difficult to make a pure profit on this. It was merely a means for super-merchants with the ability to expand their business after obtaining privileges.

There were many large textile merchants like this around Bianliang. Jiangning was also a prosperous weaving center, but the imperial merchant business was mainly handled by a few mid-sized textile merchants. They shifted to this area, enjoying prestige, and their status in the textile industry was no different from the Wu, Xue, and Su families. Of course, they occasionally distributed some of the business. It wasn't that the mid-sized textile merchants always took the tribute trade, but those who became imperial merchants ended up only being mid-sized, because the pressure from the tribute was too great and the profits were low.

The best way to solve this problem was through technological improvement. Xi Junyu could sense some of the efforts Su Tan'er was making in this regard. These efforts had been ongoing for several years, and it seemed she was on the verge of a breakthrough, but precisely now, the problem had arisen...

"If you could further reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of the tribute textiles in the past few years, you could take on all the business without any problem... Of course, there would be envious eyes within a year or two. But the problem is that starting last year, relations between the Liao and Jin states have become strained. Now, both are waiting for this war to begin. Once it starts, and the two tigers fight, our dynasty will definitely send troops. Afterwards, we will certainly no longer send tribute to the Liao people. These 300,000 bolts of cloth will be a loss that we can only bear ourselves..."

"But if there's no more tribute, all the imperial merchants will receive is the silk sent to the palace. The Xue and Wu families are definitely already following up on this. We might be able to beat the Xue family, but we can't beat the Wu family. They already have connections in the palace and are familiar with the officials of the weaving bureau. I know you've put in some effort to prepare in these past few years, but in the current situation, the chances of success are not high. The main issue is the tribute textiles. No matter how good the silk you present, the demand from the palace is not high. But if they don't want the tribute textiles, and you've invested in many new workshops, you'll be emptied out all at once. But if you don't prepare new workshops, what if the tribute still has another year of demand?"

After Xi Junyu finished speaking, Su Tan'er remained silent for a long time before saying, "Isn't the tribute textile issue difficult for the Xue and Wu families as well?"

"If there is still a year of tribute requirements, they plan to hold on, not adding chips, first giving up a portion of the market share. Next year or the year after, when the troops are dispatched and the situation changes, they will take back that silk business, along with the imperial merchant privileges, and reclaim the market share. But you are improving the looms, you are taking risks, and you are investing too much. If it were a few years ago, I would certainly support you, but now, you may not be able to compete overtly. This is no longer a surefire win, it's better to withdraw as soon as possible." He sighed, "This isn't your miscalculation, but the timing is unfortunate, there's nothing you can do..."

In the past, because of the tribute textiles, becoming an imperial merchant was not a desirable thing. For truly capable large merchants, they could become even larger, but for the Su family or smaller merchants, it was a burden, even poison. Precisely when Su Tan'er wanted to make a move, war was about to break out. They saw hope, the tribute textiles might disappear, and the Xue and Wu families also came to compete. The Su family's investment had become a joke.

Hearing Xi Junyu finish speaking, Su Tan'er frowned slightly and shook her head: "Manager Xi, what do you think... will happen after this war?"

"Huh?" Xi Junyu was slightly stunned, then said, "After the war..." He suddenly understood what the other party meant: "You this..."

"Since I was born, tribute has been given every year." Su Tan'er lowered her voice, "Some things are not glorious to talk about, but they seem to be endless. Of course, I also hope that we can win against the Liao people. But... we haven't won before. The Chanyuan Treaty more than sixty years ago, the Blackwater Alliance seven years ago, and now there's another Jin state. What will happen when they fight? It would be great if the two tigers fight to the death, but will it really be like this?"

Su Tan'er shook her head: "Everyone says the Liao people are barbaric and cruel, and the Jin people are crude and uncultured. When talking about our Wu Dynasty, they say it's a land of etiquette and righteousness. I... I also like to hear these stories. When I was a child, I went to teahouses to listen to storytellers, and I couldn't help but clap and laugh. But to say that's really the case... I don't believe it. There will be wise men everywhere. We can't beat them, which only shows that they are stronger than us. If they are stronger, we have to admit it..."

"Only those who are willing to admit defeat can win back. I am a merchant, and losing is losing. The money is gone. It's no use looking for excuses. Excuses are for others, to know what they will do so they don't lose, so you know how to defend against them. The shortcomings are for ourselves, so I can see myself clearly. Manager Xi, the Liao state was able to force us to make the Blackwater Alliance seven years ago, and the Jin state can now challenge the Liao state. When they fight, will no one pay attention to the Wu Dynasty watching from the sidelines?"

"Now, when I go to teahouses and taverns, I hear those men of letters discussing how my Wu Dynasty will reap the benefits, how the Liao and Jin states are barbaric, crude, stupid and mindless, discussing how to provoke the two countries to kill each other... Even if I were a woman, if I were in the Liao or Jin states, I wouldn't be so short-sighted. My dynasty has been bullied for nearly a hundred years, and they are still happily saying that the other side is a stupid beast. Have we been bullied by a group of stupid beasts for so long? Perhaps it is because these scholars and talents are constantly telling stories of Wu Dynasty knights defeating Liao barbarians that my dynasty has become so weak..."

Her expression dimmed: "If they really fight, the best outcome, of course, is that they really suffer mutual losses, and my dynasty will no longer have to pay any tribute. At that time, the improved looms will still be useful. But there are other results. If the Liao state wins, under the pretext of questioning, my dynasty will have to increase the tribute to the Liao state. If the Jin state wins, won't they want tribute? There's no such good thing. I heard that a large part of the friction between these two Liao and Jin states is because the Jin state wants to do business with my Great Wu. It is also possible that the two countries will cease fire, and my Wu Dynasty will not only have to pay tribute to the Liao state, but also to the Jin state. But only... it is impossible for them to give my Wu Dynasty tribute..."

"I also hope that my dynasty can win. If one day the army sets off, the government will definitely come to the family for money, and Grandpa and Father have also prepared. But if in the end we can't win, then... what to do..."

Xi Junyu was stunned for a long while. Now, the situation between the Jin and Liao states is tense, and the whole country is saying that if the two tigers fight, one will definitely be injured, and the Wu Dynasty's chance to breathe has arrived. Even if the result is worse, it won't be worse than the current situation. Unexpectedly, Su Tan'er was holding this kind of idea. Should he say she is too pessimistic or too clear-headed? Recalling this woman's previous style of doing things, her style was indeed extremely tough under her soft appearance. Really... his heart trembled slightly... too admirable.

But even so, in Xi Junyu's heart, he still holds the idea that the Wu Dynasty will not become worse. Improving the looms, using the freed-up power to take on a large amount of tribute business, reducing costs and increasing profits, this is indeed a righteous scheme. But such profits won't last long. Generally speaking, unique secrets in dyeing or needlework can often be maintained for a longer time, but the improvement of looms, in less than a year or two, the method will be spread, and people who are interested will know. When everyone improves, the profits will still be pushed down. Many times, you put in the effort, but often it's not rewarding.

He was about to say this when the sound of applause suddenly rang out next to him. A figure clapped in the darkness of the corridor. Su Tan'er was talking so seriously that Xi Junyu didn't notice the surroundings. At this time, Juan'er was surprised and said, "Son-in-law, why are you here?"

The person in the darkness was Ning Yi, holding an oiled paper umbrella in one hand and two strings of very rustic mountain goods, smoked dried wild rabbit or something, in the other hand. He smiled and gestured to the rear, to the direction of the small square where the carriage was parked: "I was originally waiting for dinner, I ran to the kitchen to take a look, and happened to pass by here and remembered that there were some things on the carriage that I hadn't taken... Ah, this is from Xiao Chan's fellow villagers for Guard Geng, so I just took it along, it's a favor, so as not to be taken away by the guy who cleans the carriage, and then I came over and heard you talking."

He smiled, pointed at Su Tan'er: "You're wrong, you don't love your country."

Xi Junyu originally planned to say a few words about this matter, but when he heard Ning Yi say this sentence first, he frowned slightly in his heart. This guy is also a scholar, even if his articles are well written, he is no different from the guy who likes to tell stories of Wu Dynasty knights defeating Liao barbarians all day long that Tan'er was talking about. Logically speaking, what Su Tan'er said just now was very reasonable, but it cannot be generalized with business changes.

He turned his head and saw that Su Tan'er couldn't help but laugh. Such a smile was extremely rare in Xi Junyu's impression, because faintly, the woman behind her seemed to be laughing too, merging into one with the Su Tan'er in front of him.

She smiled like that, twisting her head a little unhappily, her eyes still on Ning Yi, her tone slightly reproachful, but not coquettish, just a natural joke like a friend: "Husband..."

At the same time, in another part of the city, under the heavy rain on the Qinhuai River, a figure knocked on the door of the stilt house that was lit up. When Nie Yunzhu opened the door, she saw Yuan Jin'er, hugging her body, her whole body soaked by the rain.

She was wearing thin cotton pajamas when she jumped out of the Jinfeng Brothel today. She had been in the heavy rain all the way. Under the lights, the clothes were stuck to her body, making her look like she was transparent. Of course, in the eyes of Nie Yunzhu, who was also a woman, such a state only made Yuan Jin'er look more petite and weaker. This usually lively and cheerful girl showed a smile at this time, reached out and touched the rain on her face, then lowered her head and shook her seaweed-like long hair vigorously, splashing water everywhere, and then yawned.

"Ah... Sister Yunzhu, I'm so great, almost... uh, I swam all the way from the Jinfeng Brothel, even so... ha, I really want to sleep, Sister Yunzhu, where is your room? I'll sleep on the floor..."

She covered her mouth and yawned wildly, then coughed a few times, looking like she was extremely sleepy. Nie Yunzhu was only slightly stunned, and immediately reached out and hugged her: "No, you have to take a hot bath first... Hutu, hurry up and boil water..."

"Um... I don't want to take a bath... The water is so hard to drink, I'm almost soaked into a steamed bun... Hee, Sister Yunzhu, you're so warm..."

Yuan Jin'er was soft in her arms, hugging her neck with both hands, already closing her eyes, muttering and laughing, then rubbed her face on the clothes on Nie Yunzhu's shoulder, leaned there contentedly, looking like she was about to fall asleep. Then, there was another voice in the heavy rain: "Miss, Miss..."

Kou'er, who was also almost completely soaked, chased over with a small package.

Not long after, Nie Yunzhu looked at the woman who was stark naked and sleeping soundly in her bed with her quilt in her arms, and probably knew the ins and outs of the matter...

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Two chapters done!!! Eight thousand words today ^_^