Chapter 31: The Loser’s Grand Plan

Xiao Cui felt Meng Yuxi’s breath and turned bright red, only able to stammer, "Young Master, why do you say that?"

Inwardly, she wondered if he had taken offense at her being diligent in her studies, this frivolous young master.

Meng Yuxi, however, remarked, "Others spent the night looking for me and knew nothing of what happened at 'Heavenly Realm' or the Meng Estate. How is it that you also spent the night searching, yet you know everything so clearly?"

Xiao Cui thought to herself that the cursed thief Meng Yuxi always loved setting traps for her. If her identity had been exposed, should she remain in the Meng Estate, or should she seek instructions from her master? She froze for a moment, not knowing how to reply.

"I knew it. You were just going through the motions, weren't you? You snuck back to slack off during the night, didn't you?"

Xiao Cui agreed internally, but aloud she said, "Young Master, Xiao Cui was simply tired and went back to rest for a little while."

Meng Yuxi, his hand resting on her shoulder, pinched her pretty cheek. "Don't lie to me again. If I catch you again, I’ll strip off your clothes and spank you!"

Xiao Cui’s brow furrowed as she glared at Meng Yuxi. She thought that if it weren't for her master’s orders to protect him, she would have stabbed him right then and there.

"Did you hear what I said?" Meng Yuxi asked, his handsome face suddenly stern.

Xiao Cui felt a strange sensation under his phoenix-like eyes and turned her head away to avoid his gaze. When Meng Yuxi repeated the question, she could only nod slightly. Only then did he release her. Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, witnessing the interaction, could only pretend not to see.

The two men thought to themselves that the young master was at the age to marry. The eldest and second young masters, both older than him, already had children who could run errands, yet the young master remained single. Once the master returned, they would urge him to let Xiao Cui become a concubine for the young master.

As the group returned to Su City, Meng Yuxi noticed that the imperial decree issued yesterday had already been posted all over the streets by the new prefect. The city was filled with the pleasant, rhythmic sound of students reciting their lessons.

The people of Su City greeted Meng Yuxi warmly as they passed. Word had spread that he had berated the corrupt official Wang Lingxin in court the day before, leading to Wang’s death on the spot. Everyone felt a sense of relief, and they were grateful to Meng Yuxi. He returned each greeting in kind.

Observing the variety of goods in the shops along the streets—combs, silk, and other items familiar from his modern life—an idea struck him. He asked Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, "Is Su City the textile hub of the Great Li Dynasty?"

Having served Meng Hongchang for a decade, and knowing that Meng Hongchang managed the national textile production, the two were well-versed in the industry. "Yes, Young Master," they replied. "Su City has long been famous throughout the Great Li Dynasty for its light, thin, and patterned textiles. For a century, all the silk and fabric used in the imperial palace has come from here. The common people follow suit, so there isn't a cloth shop in the entire dynasty that doesn't sell Su City textiles."

"Good, good, good. 'Light and thin' is exactly what I need," Meng Yuxi laughed. He thought to himself, *Others who travel through time recite poetry or invent soap; it wouldn't be too much for me to sell high-thigh stockings, would it? If that's too much, I'll pair them with white stockings. I’ll start by having the girls at Heavenly Realm wear them.*

When Guo Lixuan, owner of the Valentino Textile Mill in Su City, saw the design for the stockings, his eyes nearly popped out. He asked respectfully, "Fourth Young Master, these stockings are as long as trousers. Won't they be too hot to wear?"

Meng Yuxi smiled. "Good question. You’re a true tailor. That’s why these must be thin. It doesn't matter if they snag easily or get holes; make them bold and thin. The more transparent and form-fitting, the better. But don't use only silk; it’s too expensive and lacks elasticity. You must blend in a small amount of material with better resilience."

Guo Lixuan nodded repeatedly as he looked at the design, though he didn't believe for a second that anyone would buy such a strange thing—or even take them if they were free. But since this was the fourth young master, whom Meng Hongchang doted on, he would have to make them, even if he were asked to make stockings that covered the whole body. He had to ensure Meng Yuxi was satisfied.

"Understood, received," Guo Lixuan said, patting his chest confidently.

Meng Yuxi explained the details repeatedly, with Guo Lixuan chanting, "Received," until finally, Meng Yuxi left the shop reluctantly. "Remember, they must be thin, smooth, and transparent! Best if they're easy to tear!" Meng Yuxi called back over his shoulder.

"Received! Fourth Young Master, rest assured, our Valentino silk is the best!" Guo Lixuan waved as Meng Yuxi departed.

Once he turned away, Meng Yuxi began to calculate. Once production started, he would buy out Valentino. Each pair of stockings would cost half a tael of silver to make, and he would sell them for five taels. He would launch them in Su City, and if successful, expand throughout the Great Li Dynasty.

The Valentino textile mill was only two streets away from Heavenly Realm. As the group arrived and Meng Yuxi stopped to admire his first property in the dynasty, he heard an argument breaking out inside.

"The top scholar of the special imperial examination for southern students will surely be our Su City’s Young Master Meng Yuxi!"

"Hmph, you keep boasting about Meng Yuxi, but he only has one poem to his name. The Great Li Dynasty is full of people like that; it was just a flash of inspiration. I doubt he’ll even make the top ten!"

"Oh, look at you arrogant students from the outer cities. You've never even heard Meng Yuxi’s poetry, have you?"

"I have heard it, and it is a good poem. But Meng Yuxi is over nineteen and has only produced one such work; it’s hard not to suspect him of being a fraud."

"Nonsense! Tell me, who in the entire Great Li Dynasty could have written that poem if not Meng Yuxi?"

"You Su City scholars are always using such crude language—it’s truly unrefined. The Emperor’s grace in granting us this extra exam is profound. Don't embarrass us southern scholars with your uncouth behavior!"

"Hey, stop arguing! If you ask me, the one who will truly take the top spot is our premier talent from the fourteen southern cities—the son of the Governor of Liangguang, the prize student of the great scholar Zhen Shan, Young Master Cui Xiucheng!"