Chapter Seventy-Three: Curiosity

"Curiosity."

Fang Lan’s reply was unexpected.

"Curiosity?" Qin Zhen was momentarily taken aback.

"I heard there was a bold young man who dared to publicly embarrass Huang Dalang. I was very curious, so I came to see for myself," Fang Lan said with a smile. "Truly, a newborn calf does not fear the tiger. But that Huang Dalang is no good man."

"So you came here just to warn me about this?" Qin Zhen countered.

"Aren’t you afraid?" Fang Lan found this somewhat surprising.

By rights, as a native of Coastal County, Qin Zhen should be even more aware of how deeply rooted the Huang family’s power was.

Apart from the city lord and the distant governor in Wujiang City, there was no third person in all of Coastal County who could make the Huang family bow their heads.

This alone showed the strength of the Huang family’s influence!

And yet, a young man like Qin Zhen, with no power, no status, no backing—how did he dare to come into conflict with Huang Dalang?

"If I were afraid, would I have come here today?" Qin Zhen replied calmly, lifting his head to meet Fang Lan’s gaze. The serene depth in those dark eyes was enough to surprise even Fang Lan, who prided herself on her insight into people.

This boy had real courage!

But was it enough?

"Any seats left?" Fang Lan asked next.

Perhaps it was his imagination, but Qin Zhen felt her tone had grown much gentler.

"I have no idea. Have you seen the Fat Lump?" Qin Zhen glanced around.

"Fat Lump?" Fang Lan looked at him, puzzled.

"Huang Dalang. We all call him Fat Lump behind his back. Honestly, I think ‘Black-hearted Pig’ would suit him even better," Qin Zhen explained.

At this, Fang Lan couldn’t help but laugh at his earnest expression.

In all of Coastal County, perhaps he was the only one who dared call Huang Dalang that.

"Just don’t say that in front of him," she said, shaking her head helplessly. "As expected, Huang Dalang probably won’t arrange seats for you. If you don’t mind, you can join me."

Looking at the crowded Baiyang Restaurant, with so many landlords and rich men left standing, it was clear there would be no seat for Qin Zhen and his group.

However...

Fang Lan’s invitation left Qin Zhen somewhat uncertain.

"We’re not exactly close. Wouldn’t that be inappropriate?"

"Prudent," Fang Lan’s eyes briefly showed approval. After a pause, she said, "To be honest, I’m very interested in the batch of fabric you have. I know Huang Dalang has his eye on it too, but business is business—may the highest bidder win! So, little brother Qin, would you give me a chance?"

After a brief thought, Qin Zhen agreed cheerfully.

Huang Dalang was clearly a villain, while Fang Lan, though her depths were unknown, at least seemed more courteous.

Why not hear her out?

"What kind of cooperation does Miss Fang have in mind?" Qin Zhen asked.

"You must know what my family’s business is?" Fang Lan smiled.

"Textiles," Qin Zhen replied.

Who in Coastal County didn’t know that, aside from the Huang family, the textile business belonged to the Fang family?

"Compared to textiles, my family excels even more in sericulture," Fang Lan said with meaning. "More than half the weaving shops in Coastal County use silk from my family. I’ve seen your fabric; to make such fine cloth from ordinary hemp is impressive. If you used high-quality silk..."

Weaving required raw materials; it wasn’t something a loom alone could produce.

Generally, there were four types of raw materials for weaving: silk, hemp, animal hair, and cotton.

Coastal County, close to the sea, had an abundance of hemp. At present, the fishing village’s entire output relied on hemp.

But hemp was scarce and slow to grow, insufficient to support expanded production.

In other words, no matter how many looms Qin Zhen made, without enough raw materials, he could not produce more cloth. The extra looms would just gather dust.

Qin Zhen had come to the city not only to promote his village’s wares, but also to seek new sources for raw materials.

But these resources were monopolized by the great families. The Huang family, for example—the saying “rivals in the same trade are enemies” held true. The fishing village’s cloth might be good, but in Huang Dalang’s eyes, it was nothing but a small operation.

Without enough raw materials, the village’s yearly output would always be limited.

They could never claim a real share of the market. This current prosperity was just temporary noise.

Fang Lan was shrewd; she knew exactly what Qin Zhen wanted.

She had dangled silk before him as bait, making it hard for him to refuse.

"How much silk can you provide, Miss Fang?" Qin Zhen asked calmly.

"That depends on how much you need," Fang Lan replied with a faint smile. "Of course, the price is negotiable."

Unlike the fishing village, which lacked raw materials, the Fang family’s problem was an overabundance of silk.

The warehouses were full to bursting; they were eager to sell.

"Why not speak plainly, Miss Fang?" Qin Zhen said directly.

Silk could be sold to anyone—why seek him out in particular?

She surely wanted something.

"You are a forthright young man, so I won’t hide it," Fang Lan said straightforwardly. "I’ve heard you possess a remarkable kind of loom, capable of weaving several bolts of cloth a day? Would you let me see it?"

Anyone in the garment trade was sensitive to weaving tools.

After seeing the fine cloth from the fishing village, she knew such results were impossible without some extraordinary looms.

Her curiosity was not only about Qin Zhen himself, but about the technology behind his looms.

"It’s nothing but a trivial device," Qin Zhen replied serenely.

He knew well what Fang Lan was after.

She wanted the looms, and was willing to trade her surplus silk for them.

To be fair, the looms could be sold.

But not yet.

The village’s weaving industry had just begun, and the villagers were counting on those looms to make their fortune. If he sold them now, what would he have left to compete with the wealthy families?

"Perhaps you should reconsider?" Fang Lan persisted, undeterred. She knew the value of those looms in Qin Zhen’s hands—they could help her family rise again, challenge the Huang family, and maybe even push them down from their peak.

"Work with us, and you’ll have all the silk you want. Aren’t you planning to open a shop in the city? Good locations are hard to come by, but if you agree, you can choose any of three shops on the busiest street in the city center! I can even help you sell your cloth in Wujiang City—the profits will be far greater than—"

Before Fang Lan could finish, a harsh voice intruded.

"Miss Fang, this young brother Qin is my honored guest. It’s not quite right to offer hospitality with another’s guest, is it?"

Huang Dalang appeared, a genial smile pasted on his face, though his eyes were cold as they slid from Fang Lan to Qin Zhen, finally settling on the latter.

"Brother Qin, all the family heads are waiting over there. Please, follow me."