Chapter 8: She Encountered a Mad Dog

Yan Chaonian ultimately went to pay homage to the Bodhisattva, not for Jiang Wencheng, but for her husband who was already on his way back.

When she left, her mother taught her obedient granddaughter to say goodbye.

Today, Yan Chaonian was still dressed simply as a weaver, blending inconspicuously into the crowd. The few guards protecting her mingled quietly among the people, neither too close nor too far behind her.

Why did she go out without carriages or horses? First, because the southwest’s brocade industry thrived, many women there could support their families, and thus the women of the southwest were generally more independent.

Secondly, it was because of Yuan Shen.

Though the southwest was prosperous and wealthy, it was home to many tribes and even spies from other states. Yuan Shen, as the southwest’s garrison commander, technically did not need to lead troops into battle, but no one knew what the higher-ups were thinking. In any case, his responsibilities were weighty and dangerous, and as his family, they had to avoid attracting attention.

Of course, the most important reason was that she needed to maintain a mysterious identity at the Chaijin Workshop. The more mysterious she was, the more people speculated and projected all sorts of stories onto her, which helped business greatly.

After walking for about the time it took two incense sticks to burn down, she arrived at the back door of the brocade workshop. The gatekeeper smiled and greeted her, “Master Yan is here?”

“Yes. Has the loom arrived?”

“It has. The chief steward and the second steward are inside.”

“Understood.”

Familiar with the place, she stepped inside. The newly arrived looms were all properly installed, and some weavers were already testing them. Li Chunchao waved to her, “Yan, come take a look. Two new types of looms arrived today, both improved compared to last year’s.”

Seeing his joyful expression, she knew the new machines must be excellent.

Yan Chaonian stepped forward to examine carefully. Li Chun introduced, “This loom can produce nine feet of cloth in an hour for a skilled user. Li Sanniang is trialing it now.”

“Take a look at this jacquard loom,” he continued, “It can handle eighty pedals at most. That means it can produce one bolt of brocade in eighty days. If the operator is nimble and focused, sixty days isn’t impossible. The key is that one person can operate it alone.”

He crouched down and moved the foot pedals, “But with eighty pedals, you can’t create more complex and grand patterns. For that, you need the flower tower loom.”

The flower tower loom was not something just any weaver could handle. It required not only superb skill but also strong mathematical ability—to compile pattern books, accurately calculate the size and lengths of each section, and determine the vertical and horizontal density and interlacing within each pattern area. Even a slight oversight could ruin all the work.

Over the years, only about a dozen weavers at their brocade workshop had mastered the flower tower loom. Although the exquisite and grand jacquard brocade was expensive, it was truly rare.

Yan Chaonian tried it out and said, “If the multi-pedal loom could handle a hundred pedals, it would create many more patterns. I have a few pattern books that I’ve improved. A hundred-pedal loom would allow for much denser and finer brocade.”

“That should not be a problem,” Li Chun said.

He fiddled with the looms and called over several weavers to test each machine. If something didn’t work, they would adjust it. Other weavers asked Yan Chaonian to look at problems they encountered.

“Master Yan, why do my warp threads keep breaking? I’ve checked many times but see no problem.”

“Try lowering the heddle frame and see.”

“Master Yan, why is my pattern skipping? Could it be that the sizing solution wasn’t applied well? I adjusted my heddle frame just right.”

“Let me see...”

Yan Chaonian examined each one. They were all minor issues, easily fixed with a slight adjustment.

The other weavers were busy without raising their heads. Though this work was profitable, it was physically and visually exhausting. Most weavers suffered from poor back and neck health.

“Are you going to the brocade competition?” Li Chun asked as Yan Chaonian was about to leave.

Yan Chaonian shook her head, “I won’t go. Just tell me the results later. I’ve arranged for Qin Niangzi to help me. I need to prepare at home so I can learn a thing or two from her.”

Li Xia’s eyes lit up, “You mean the weaving goddess Qin Xianren?”

She was the most famous weaver in Rong City, with profound knowledge of sericulture, silk reeling, dyeing, and weaving. Her skill was unmatched, and most classic patterns originated from her hand. Many brocade workshops sought her guidance.

“Who else besides this weaving goddess?”

This was someone even Yan Chaonian had to admit to inviting. Li Xia hurriedly said, “Then you focus on learning. We’ll handle the workshop affairs.”

“You all go ahead. I can get home myself.”

Her two brothers did not refuse either, too busy with their own matters.

After leaving through the back door and walking a few steps, Jiang Wencheng appeared in her sight. Both were surprised to see each other again.

Yan Chaonian had not expected his shadow to haunt her here. If she had known, she would have listened to her mother and prayed to the Bodhisattva for protection.

Jiang Wencheng stepped forward slowly. “Why are you here?”

Knowing that the workshop owner would leave by the back door, he had come specially to try his luck. “How come you came out from the back door of Chaijin Workshop?”

Yan Chaonian smiled faintly. “What, are you here to block me?”

“Seems your remarried life isn’t very happy. After all these years, you still think about me. You went to great lengths to find out about me and came all the way to the southwest.”

“Do you think that would move me?”

She could shamelessly flatter herself too. Why should only he disgust her?

Jiang Wencheng looked her over coldly and snorted, “You must have felt confident after I let you go, thinking you had the upper hand to negotiate with me?”

“I told you, your tricks of playing hard to get don’t work on me. Put away those schemes. If you don’t come with an apology, you won’t even get through the gates of the Bo residence.”

“Even if you get in, you’ll have to kneel and kowtow before my mother and beg for her forgiveness. Whether you stay depends on her goodwill.”

Yan Chaonian admitted, when it came to shamelessness, she was still far behind him. She didn’t even know who gave him the confidence to say such things. Was the Bo residence some precious prize?

“Dr. Liu from Chang’an Hall in the city is good. Go see him when you have time; don’t get hysterical and not even know it yourself.”

“Yan clan!”

Jiang Wencheng was furious. “Are you mocking Ru Zhen?”

Back then, when he met Ru Zhen, she was just as fearless of his identity and even told him to see a doctor.

“You heard about my meeting with Ru Zhen and now want to imitate her?”

“Completely ignorant. Who do you think you are?”

Yan Chaonian realized she had encountered a mad dog.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you had such a temper, so unlike ordinary people.”

What a despicable man, with such a despicable nature.

“If you have nothing else, please move. You’re blocking my way.”

“Yan clan!”

Jiang Wencheng’s face darkened. “You’ve crossed the line. You better think carefully about what you’re saying and doing. Don’t think I’ll treat you kindly just because I’m considerate toward Chongyuan. What you did back then hasn’t been forgotten.”

Yan Chaonian’s gaze grew cold. “When the time is right, I’ll settle accounts with you. Don’t think you can threaten me. Jiang Chongyuan is your son, I...”

“Master Yan.”

The weaver Li Sanniang hurried out, “Great, Master Yan, you’re still here. The loom I was testing had problems. I need you to come back and take a look.”

Yan Chaonian forced a smile, “I’m coming.”

Just as she turned to go, Jiang Wencheng called after her, “What is your relationship with Chaijin Workshop?”