Chapter Fifty-Two: Attracting Clients

Drunken Flower Pavilion was about to host a grand exhibition of new garments.

This immediately piqued the interest of many; such a spectacle was entirely new to them. The publicity was nothing short of spectacular—every corner of the city buzzed with the news. From the choice of fabrics to the selection of tailors and the intricacies of design, not a detail was overlooked. Crowds soon flocked to the establishment.

"The Drunken Flower Pavilion has a new proprietor, truly someone who understands the people’s hearts! The place is transformed, offering something novel each day!"

"Isn’t that so? This is far more delightful than listening to the same tunes every night," people outside murmured, all eager to see what wonders would be unveiled.

But when this news reached Second Young Master Bai, he could no longer stay still. Why was their family's business looking so downtrodden of late, while others flourished with vibrancy every day? He would allow no such success for the Drunken Flower Pavilion.

The Bai family, too, had interests in silks and satins, though their usual practice was to ship directly to Luo Capital.

"Have them think of something—find a way, lest the Zhao family outshine us!" he said coldly.

He had suffered losses at Han Qing’s hands before, and by now should have learned his lesson. But without their imperial merchant status, the family patriarch would surely place the blame on him. If he did not atone and bring down the Zhao family, the Bai family’s textile business might never find its footing in North County again.

"Yes, Young Master," the servant replied, carrying his orders to the shopkeepers.

Resentment toward Han Qing festered in Bai’s heart. "Hasn’t that Han boy been acting strangely lately? Wasn’t he just a destitute wretch not so long ago? Yet in less than half a year, he’s built his own enterprise?"

He resolved to investigate Han Qing thoroughly, determined not to tolerate him any longer.

Meanwhile, Miss Zhilian was busier than ever—both attracting clients and training the young women. She was mindful that, when displaying these new garments, their movements should not be too frivolous. She remained baffled by the so-called "catwalk" that was mentioned.

"Put on these outfits, ladies, and walk for me," she instructed.

The effect was truly pleasing to the eye. Some styles were vibrant and grand; others, serene and elegant. Once unveiled, the exhibition would surely become a unique spectacle in North County, inspiring the daughters of noble families to imitate them.

For Zhao Chengzhang, this was an unexpected windfall—nothing could stand in his way now. The ready-to-wear shop, once on the brink of being abandoned by the old master, had been revived against all odds.

The exhibition instantly seized the city’s attention. Never before had anyone seen garments in such a dazzling array of designs. In a single day, the Zhao family’s shop’s profits surpassed those of the preceding half year.

While the shop was bustling, Han Qing did not join the excitement but tended quietly to his flowers and trees in the Tinglan Courtyard.

"You really have it easy, don’t you? Our great benefactor, why not go and see for yourself?" Young Master Zhu asked unexpectedly.

"I only made a promise to Old Master Zhao. Now that the job is done and I’ve received my due, there’s no need," Han Qing replied, shaking his head, as if merely fulfilling a commitment.

Yet this left Zhu perplexed. Surely, a good reputation with Old Master Zhao could bring even greater benefits in the future.

"You truly have no interest in going?"

"None at all," Han Qing answered coolly, his indifference clear. If not for the hope that his wife might broaden her horizons, he would have refused the old master outright. No matter how prosperous the Zhao family’s business became, it would never pass into his hands, nor did Han Qing have any appetite for coveting what belonged to others. Besides, the Zhao family’s internal relations were intricate; though the old master wielded great power, his brothers could easily make things difficult.

"What a peculiar talent you are," Zhu mused. Yet it was precisely this peculiarity that drew his attention.

"There’s another matter—are you planning to open a medical clinic soon?" he inquired, having heard rumors.

Given the sheer number of enterprises under Han Qing’s name, it was inevitable that envy would follow.

"I did consider it, but after observing the industry in North County these past days, there are already quite a few clinics," Han Qing replied thoughtfully. Once an industry reaches saturation, breaking new ground becomes exceedingly difficult. Besides, with the imperial examinations only a few months away, if he were not to return home, what would become of his other ventures?

"Then you’re not going to open one?" Zhu asked, puzzled.

"No."

"But the matter of the Bai family’s gambling house remains unresolved," Zhu pressed.

They had received only a few anonymous letters regarding the issue, with no clue as to what other problems might exist. Still, Zhu had managed to gather some intelligence from Luo Capital. Last time, when court officials visited, the city’s qualification for imperial merchants was revoked—rumor had it that the Bai family’s gambling house was involved. The repercussions seemed far-reaching, yet no one dared intervene.

"It’s said the loss of imperial merchant status was because of the Bai family’s gambling house. An investigation found nothing amiss, at most some underhanded dealings where patrons would leave with empty pockets—but there were no clear rules against it," Zhu related.

"But you’re looking in the wrong direction," Han Qing countered.

Zhu was momentarily taken aback.

"The operation of the gambling house is not the issue—the real question is, how did this business manage to rise so quickly in just a few short years?"

He had almost forgotten. While the Bai family had become dominant in North County, it was not a legacy of generations past but a meteoric rise within three or four years—very different from long-established merchants.

"You mean I should look back three years? But at that time, there were no major cases involving the gambling house, and everything appeared stable," Zhu said, seeing no apparent flaw.

"The safer and more reliable something appears, the more likely there is a problem," Han Qing remarked.

This alone was enough to make Zhu take the matter seriously. There was wisdom in those words.

Zhu quickly arranged for an investigation and sent his suspicions to Lord Wen in a letter. If a case had indeed occurred three years prior, the Court of Judicial Review would certainly have records.

When Lord Wen received the letter, he was surprised by its contents. Hadn’t the Bai family’s gambling house always operated above board? Why should it be so entangled in trouble? Though skeptical, he personally checked the files from several years ago, but found not a single clue.