Chapter 10: Rich!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The Silk Pavilion sold silk and cloth. It did the same type of business as the Xu family, which Shen Lang was married to. However, it was of a smaller scale than that of the Xu family.
Although its owner, the Lin family, was not as wealthy within Xuanwu City, they were well-known in Xuanwu City and had outlets in more than ten cities nearby.
The most important thing was that the Lin family was Xu family’s competitor.
A staff went forward and greeted Shen Lang and Tian Thirteen when they entered.
“Hello, sirs, are you here to look at cloth? Give this newest cloth a touch, it’s soft and smooth.” The staff had sharp eyes and could immediately tell that Shen Lang was poor. Therefore, instead of promoting silk, he pushed for cloths.
Shen Lang was straight to the point. “Tell the owner of this shop that I want to do big business with the Lin family. This will allow him to earn at least 5000 more gold coins every year.”
After hearing this, the staff became stunned. Although he was smiling, he looked at Shen Lang in disdain. He looked so miserable. If he could bring them a business that would allow them to make 5000 more gold coins every year, why would he be so poor?
“Sir, don’t joke with me,” said the staff.
Tian Thirteen added, “I am Tian Thirteen from the Black Clothes Gang, please ask the owner of this shop to talk to us.”
After hearing that, the staff did not dare to not oblige.
Tian Heng’s Black Clothes Gang was famous in Xuanwu City. They owned gambling dens, brothels, and money-lending businesses. Although they didn’t have any connections with the Lin family, it was better for the Lin family to obey what they said.
The staff thought that Tian Thirteen was there to extort on behalf of the Black Clothes Gang.
“Sir Thirteen, welcome and sorry for not greeting you,” a plump staff member walked out quickly and thundered, “serve good dishes.”
The staff quickly brewed a kettle of tea and poured a cup each for Tian Thirteen and Shen Lang.
The staff said, “Sir Thirteen, you can tell me whatever you want to say to the owner of the shop. We have already established good relations with the clan leader Tian Heng. This is our small token of appreciation.”
Then, he pushed a box over. There were 20 gold coins inside. It was considered an enormous sum of money.
Tian Thirteen smiled. “Manager Lin, don’t think I am trying to extort; I really have a business deal to make with you.”
The manager was stunned and said, “A business deal, really?”
Tian Thirteen said, “Yes.”
The manager said, “I can’t make the decision?” 2
Tian Thirteen said, “You can’t?”
The manager said, “Then please wait for a moment, I will ask the boss to come over. Staff, give them some snacks.”
...
Shen Lang and Tian Thirteen drank tea and ate the snacks while waiting for Boss Lin Mo of the Silk Pavilion to come over.
After about 30 minutes, a middle-aged man wearing silk entered. He was Lin Mo, the richest man in Xuanwu City and the owner of Silk Pavilion. 2
“You have a deal to make with me?” asked Lin Mo.
He was not afraid of Tian Thirteen. Having established his business, he had supporters behind his back. Moreover, his son had entered the Martial Arts Institute of Tian Nan and had good results. After the Martial Arts examination, he would become a Martial Arts expert. Therefore, he was not afraid of Tian Heng, and both parties just had to mind their own business.
Shen Lang said, “Yes, a big deal! You will earn at least 5000 more gold coins every year.”
Lin Mo frowned. He really disliked teenagers who bragged. Moreover, he was a pretty boy and looked unreliable.
“Speak,” said Lin Mo.
Shen Lang said, “I have this formula to sell you for 2000 gold coins.”
After hearing this, Lin Mo’s expression changed and said coldly, “My time is precious, I do not want to waste my time on you, please leave!”
As he said that, he held up the teacup and was about to chase Shen Lang and Tian Thirteen out.
Tian Thirteen was shocked, too. 1000 gold coins were ridiculous enough, but Shen Lang asked for 2000 gold coins immediately. He was being ridiculous. Now, he regretted bringing Shen Lang to the Silk Pavilion.
Lin Mo stood up and walked away without giving Shen Lang any chance.
Tian Thirteen glared at Shen Lang and said coldly, “What the f*ck...”
Seeing that the wealthy man was about to leave, Shen Lang took out a piece of silk from his pocket and placed it in front of Lin Mo. He said, “Boss Lin, look at the color of the silk; do you think it’s worth 2000 gold coins?”
Lin Mo turned around and saw the silk Shen Lang was holding. It was as big as a handkerchief.
Tian Thirteen looked at it and thought that Shen Lang was out of his mind. He was trying to sell such a small piece of silk for 2000 gold coins?
However, the boss of Silk Pavilion widened his eyes and looked in disbelief. He walked over hastily and took the cloth. He stared at it and said with a trembling tone, “How... how is this possible? It’s gold, how is it possible!?”
Tian Thirteen was stunned. Then, he realized that the silk Shen Lang gave was gold.
Shen Lang said, “What did the Xu family use to get rich? That’s because their family’s silk is supplied to the monarch. That’s because their silk is completely gold.”
In ancient China, gold was only used for the royal family. Only the clothes of the emperor, empress, and other top-ranking concubines wore gold. 2
In this world, it was about the same-only the monarch of Yue State could use gold silk.
However, the gold color in this world was dyed using cape jasmine1. Although it was sufficiently gold, the color was dull and not bright enough.
However, the silk that Shen Lang took out was dyed using a brand new method. He used the extract of sophora and mixed it with potassium alum, giving it an incredibly bright gold color.
The robe of the emperor in the Qing Dynasty was dyed using this method. The robes displayed in the National Palace Museum looked incredibly regal, right?
When Shen Lang sourced herbs the day before, he plucked many sophoras. Since potassium alum was a herb, there were still some remaining at home.
When he was brewing the herbs yesterday, he made half a bowl of the gold dye. Then, he tore a piece of his silk innerwear and dyed it gold.
After dyeing and leaving it out to hang overnight, he heated it up with fire, and the gold silk was done.
After that, Lin Mo whipped out a piece of yellow silk that was dyed using the cape jasmine.
Without comparing, one couldn’t see how plain Lin Mo’s silk looked. Shen Lang’s silk was gold and definitely looked much better.
Shen Lang said, “I dyed this silk overnight last night; the color is actually not the best. If I have enough time and enough material, I can make the gold even brighter. Moreover, it will be even better if I dyed the threads before turning it into a silk cloth.”
Lin Mo was stunned. “You made it overnight and it’s already like that?”
Shen Lang said, “Yes, so if you know the formula, your silk will be even more golden. If you send this to the manufacturer of silk for the monarch, what will happen?”
Without thinking, one would expect the manufacturer to change its supplier from the Xu family to the Lin family.
Then, the supplier of silk for the monarch would become the Lin family.
How much he would earn was not the main issue. The main points were his reputation and political gains.
Shen Lang said, “Boss Lin, do you think I can help the Lin family earn more than 5000 gold coins a year?”
Lin Mo shook his head. “More than that.”
Shen Lang said, “So, do you think it’s too much for me to sell you this formula at the price of 2000 gold coins?”
Lin Mo said, “No, not too much at all.”
Tian Thirteen looked at Shen Lang in astonishment.
Evidently, when Shen Lang promised to trade his life with Tian Heng for 1000 gold coins, he had already thought of this plan. He was extremely confident.
However, he did not expect that he would earn 2000 gold coins!
Moreover, he could use it to take revenge on the Xu family.
That was right. Shen Lang was like this. Not only did he want to earn money, but he also wanted the Xu family to suffer. 3
When the Xu family lost their business, how much loss would they suffer? It was obvious!
Why couldn’t anyone beat the silk business of the Xu family? That was because they were the supplier for the silk manufacturer of the monarchs!
Lin Mo looked at the gold silk in awe as though he could not have enough of it. After a while, he said, “How can I believe that you made this dye? You could have picked it up from the floor.”
Shen Lang said, “I brought the materials over. Give me an hour, and I will make the dye for you. I promise that it will be better than the one I did last night.”
Lin Mo asked, “Seriously?”
Shen Lang said, “Yes.”
Lin Mo said, “Alright, I will give you the entire backyard. Tell us if you need anything. As long as you can make this gold dye on the spot and prove that this formula belongs to you, then I will make a deal.”
Shen Lang said, “2000 gold coins.”
Lin Mo said, “Deal.”
...
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