Song Yuzhang: Chapter 51 - Design
Chapter 51: Design
Song Yuzhang was just coming down the stairs when Song Mingzhao placed a hand on his shoulder. “Xiao Yu, do you have any plans tonight?”
Song Yuzhang gave an evasive reply. “Fourth Brother, what's the matter?”
Song Mingzhao leaned in to whisper, “I’ve arranged a dinner with Director Qian of the Printing Bureau tonight.”
Song Yuzhang smiled at him, and everything was clear in that smile, so Song Mingzhao smiled, too.
The two brothers descended the stairs looking close and affectionate. Upstairs, two other brothers exchanged faint, ambiguous smiles. Song Jincheng said, “Those two seem to be getting along well.”
“They’re about the same age. It’s natural for them to get close,” said Song Yekang.
“Fifth Brother has been quite focused on the bank lately.”
“He's just putting on a show,” Song Yekang replied with a faint smile. “Everything’s actually being handled by Liu Chuanzong. Lately, he’s either out fooling around with Fourth Brother or… Eldest Brother, I’m sure you know about it, too?”
Song Jincheng squinted slightly. “What?”
“He’s gotten involved with Shen Chengduo as well.”
“Shen Chengduo?” Song Jincheng said in surprise. “That sordid man? He’s not even picky now?”
“Eldest Brother, people like us come from proper families, so naturally, we can’t understand the kinds of pleasures they seek.”
Song Jincheng shook his head and sighed. “In the end, he’s not good material.”
Song Yekang chuckled. “He’s still young, after all.”
At the bank, Song Yuzhang as usual handled some matters, but all final paperwork and signatures were left to Liu Chuanzong to deal with. Liu Chuanzong did it all without complaint—never asking why or refusing, following orders like a puppet on strings.
After wrapping up most of the tasks, Song Yuzhang capped his fountain pen, stood, and, while adjusting his clothing, said, “Have the driver get ready. I’m heading out.”
“Yes, sir.”
As he watched Liu Chuanzong leave, Song Yuzhang noted how thoroughly obedient the man looked—from head to toe the image of a docile servant, seemingly born to be humble and subordinate.
To have trained a household aide like that, Song Yuzhang couldn’t help but admire Song Zhenqiao’s skill.
The car arrived at the Nie household. While waiting outside, Song Yuzhang tapped his finger on the window glass in thought. Soon, the servant opened the gate, and a visibly delighted Nie Bonian appeared in Song Yuzhang’s line of sight.
Song Yuzhang stepped out of the car and smiled. “Bonian.”
Nie Bonian resisted the urge to throw himself into his arms, standing with composure instead. But he was so thrilled that it made him appear shy and bashful. “Brother Yuzhang, good afternoon.”
“Good afternoon,” Song Yuzhang replied with a smile, leaning down to scoop him into a hug. “Did you miss me?”
In the warmth and fragrance of his embrace, Nie Bonian completely abandoned any semblance of family decorum and replied without reserve, “I missed you so much!”
Song Yuzhang’s smile deepened. He gently kissed Nie Bonian’s pale, adorable cheek. "Good boy."
When Nie Bonian received Song Yuzhang’s invitation, he was so happy he nearly fainted. Afraid his father wouldn’t allow it, he asserted himself firmly: “I want to go horseback riding with Brother Yuzhang!”
To his surprise, his father only gave him a mild glance and said calmly, “Go, but be careful.”
Nie Bonian was overjoyed and even reflected on whether he might have misunderstood his father. Being a well-mannered child, he replied politely, “Thank you, Dad. I’ll be careful and come back early.”
He got into Song Yuzhang’s car, while two Nie family cars followed behind. Song Yuzhang held him on his lap, gently stroking his soft hair. “Have you learned horseback riding?”
“I have.”
“Oh?” Song Yuzhang said, “You look so delicate—I thought you wouldn’t know how.”
Nie Bonian replied earnestly, “Precisely because I’m delicate, I need to train diligently.”
Song Yuzhang laughed. “Very well. I’ll test your riding skills later.”
Haizhou had four stables, varying in size. Today, Song Yuzhang brought Nie Bonian to the smallest one. Though it was small, the location was central and it was well managed—making it the safest of all.
Song Yuzhang asked Nie Bonian if he’d been to this stable before. Nie Bonian said, “No.”
“Then where did you learn to ride?”
“In the garden at home.”
Nie Bonian clapped proudly. “My Daddy taught me.”
Song Yuzhang nodded.
The Nie residence wasn’t as close to the city center as the Song residence; it was a bit more remote but much larger. He hadn’t seen the inside himself—he had only sent a formal visiting card and didn’t go in. Even when Song Yekang and Nie Qingyun were engaged, they had avoided hosting the event at the Nie family estate to prevent complications.
Six servants from the Nie household accompanied the two of them. When Song Yuzhang helped Nie Bonian change shoes, a servant stepped forward to assist, but Song Yuzhang stopped them. “No need. I’ll do it.”
Receiving such affectionate care from Song Yuzhang nearly made Nie Bonian swoon. Of course, as a child, he didn’t know what swooning felt like, but in the fragrance and warmth of Song Yuzhang’s presence, he was absolutely giddy.
Worried about Nie Bonian’s riding ability, Song Yuzhang found a gentle mare for them to ride together. However, Nie Bonian was quite steady and confidently held the reins with him.
“Relax, Bonian,” said Song Yuzhang. “I’m here.”
“When riding,” Nie Bonian said, “the reins must always be held in one’s own hands. That’s what my daddy taught me.”
Song Yuzhang looked down at his round, chubby cheeks and smiled. “It seems your daddy taught you everything.”
“Some things were taught by my teachers, too.”
“Such as?”
“Chinese, arithmetic, English—those are from my teachers.”
“What did your daddy teach you?”
“My riding, music, calligraphy, and painting—those were all from my daddy.”
“Oh?” Song Yuzhang said with some surprise. “Your daddy knows all that?”
Nie Bonian proudly puffed out his little chest. “Of course!”
Song Yuzhang chatted casually with him, speaking one sentence after another without brushing him off just because Nie Bonian was only five years old. He used the same social skills he would in adult conversation. Nie Bonian already liked him quite a bit, and now after riding horses together, he was practically glowing with affection—his eyes nearly sparkling. Once he returned home, he wouldn’t stop talking to Nie Xueping about how nice Song Yuzhang had been to him. Nie Xueping listened patiently all the while. Under his father’s powerful tolerance, Nie Bonian began to feel that his own noisy enthusiasm was a little unseemly for a proper young gentleman. His voice gradually lowered, his eyes sneaking toward his father’s desk with an attempt at subtlety. In a soft voice, he said, “Oh, Second Uncle sent another telegram home.”
Nie Xueping ruffled the back of his head. “You're sweaty. Go get cleaned up and have something to eat.”
Nie Bonian sulked with an “Oh,” but as he turned away, he quickly circled back, unwilling to give up. “Daddy, I had such a fun time playing with Brother Yuzhang today.”
“Mm.”
“We agreed we’ll go riding again next time.”
“That’s fine.”
“Brother Yuzhang even said I’m really cute.”
Nie Xueping turned his head slightly, his gaze faint.
Nie Bonian stuck out his tongue, finally dropping the effort to show off his charm, and skipped away.
That evening, Song Yuzhang arrived at the dinner appointment right on time. Director Qian from the Printing Bureau was a lean man in his forties, with a goatee and a pair of round glasses. He was accompanied by another bureau director—Song Yuzhang didn’t quite catch which one, but it seemed to be someone responsible for managing Haizhou’s industrial affairs.
“Director Qian, Director Li, this is my fifth brother—just returned from Oxford in the UK.”
“A pleasure, a pleasure. Quite the outstanding young man, just like Fourth Young Master Song.”
After a few pleasantries, the four of them took their seats. In the presence of Song Mingzhao, Song Yuzhang behaved with polished modesty and spoke little. He quickly picked up that both directors had a fondness for gardening and plants—which was likely how they had grown close to Song Mingzhao. With his usual cheerful and talkative nature, Song Mingzhao lit up the entire table’s atmosphere without much help.
The conversation meandered across a variety of topics until Director Li mentioned two major pieces of news—both of which turned out to be connected.
“Chen Textile has made great strides since being handed over to the Meng family. Just before I came here tonight, I heard that their mechanical research has borne fruit. The modified equipment is already in operation and supposedly running all night tonight. If this really works out, the Meng family is about to rise even higher. When it comes time to nominate the Chamber of Commerce president at year-end, this young master of the Meng family is a strong contender…” Director Li paused, then added, “Of course, if Mr. Song’s health were better, then based on seniority and contributions to Haizhou, I believe the position of Chamber of Commerce President would naturally belong to Mr. Song.”
Song Mingzhao was clearly annoyed to hear more about the Meng family and quickly steered the topic away with a few offhand remarks, redirecting the conversation to his newly acquired orchid.
After quietly listening, Song Yuzhang was slightly surprised. Chen Hanmin had only said that the family’s factory had been sold—but he hadn’t mentioned it was sold to Meng Tingjing. Chamber of Commerce President… It seemed Meng Tingjing wasn’t just a strange, temperamental wild hare, nor one of those idle sons living off ancestral wealth. He was entirely different from someone like Chen Hanmin.
Song Yuzhang, now with a different mindset, immediately sensed the exceptional ambition in Meng Tingjing.
Nie, Meng, Song, Chen.
Once, the four great families of Haizhou had stood side by side. Now, the Chen family had collapsed, swallowed up by the Mengs. With one rising and the other falling, wasn’t the Meng family poised to become the new leader of Haizhou?
Song Yuzhang raised his glass and took a small sip. His heart was thudding violently in his chest—not from anxiety, but from a kind of stimulated excitement.
After the dinner ended, Song Yuzhang and Song Mingzhao rode home in the same car. In the quiet, Song Yuzhang suddenly said, “Meng Tingjing is quite capable.”
Song Mingzhao had worked hard to entertain the guests at dinner and had drunk quite a bit. Feeling a bit dizzy, he leaned on Song Yuzhang’s shoulder and murmured, “What do I care how capable he is? It’s not like he’s competing with us.”
Song Yuzhang smiled faintly at his narrow perspective, then wrapped an arm around his shoulder, thinking to himself, Silly boy.
They had both been drinking, so naturally they slept separately that night. Back in his room, Song Yuzhang stripped off his clothes as he walked into the bathroom. His expensive garments were strewn across the floor, and as he shed them, it was as though his now full and restless heart also slowly peeled itself bare.
He drew a bath and sat on the edge of the tub, lost in thought, mentally reviewing his entire plan in detail.
There were no flaws.
If all went smoothly… No—Song Yuzhang closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He couldn’t allow himself to imagine any scene of failure. For people like him, that was taboo. He had to believe in himself, believe that everything would proceed exactly as he intended.
He opened his eyes, shook his head, and smiled, thinking: He’s capable, but I’m no less so.
Two days later, Shen Chengduo invited Song Yuzhang for a few rounds of gambling. Song Yuzhang accepted. With his witty and easy-going demeanor, he quickly won Shen Chengduo’s favor. Shen Chengduo, who typically only surrounded himself with drinking buddies, found himself genuinely clicking with Song Yuzhang and invited him to see an opera the next day. “There’s a new Xiao Fengxian at the White Tower—not much worse than Xiao Yuxian.”
“No thanks, I already have plans,” Song Yuzhang said, placing a red dragon tile after the East Wind.
Shen Chengduo, never one for politeness, asked, “Doing what? Bring me along.”
Song Yuzhang smiled at him. “Can’t say.”
Being so bluntly refused, Shen Chengduo cursed with a laugh, “What, you a virgin maiden now? Can’t even say where you're going?”
Still arranging his mahjong tiles, Song Yuzhang replied calmly, “Who knows? Maybe I am meeting a virgin maiden.”
Shen Chengduo’s interest was piqued. “Who? Which family’s daughter?”
But Song Yuzhang just smiled and said nothing, refusing to answer no matter how much Shen Chengduo pestered him.
After Song Yuzhang left, Shen Chengduo was left itching with curiosity about who his new friend was secretly meeting. Out of sheer nosiness, he ordered his men to quietly find out.
With extensive connections, they quickly reported back: Song Yuzhang was at a horse ranch on the outskirts. Shen Chengduo immediately got in a car, excited and grinning around a cigar, thinking: If I catch him, I’ll make sure to give him a hard time.
But when he got there, the ranch was heavily guarded, and Shen Chengduo was stopped at the entrance.
“What’s this?” Shen Chengduo’s expression darkened as he looked ready to kick down the door. “I can’t go in? You think I don’t have money?”
“No, no, you misunderstand, Boss Shen,” the ranch owner was sweating profusely despite the early autumn chill. He lowered his voice and said, “There’s a VIP inside. Today’s really not a good time to receive you.”
Shen Chengduo laughed loudly, “I know—it’s the fifth young master of the Song family, right? I came to see him. Step aside.”
But the ranch owner, knowing full well that Shen Chengduo was a dangerous figure, quickly replied, “It’s not just him.” He looked around before leaning in and whispering the truth.
Shen Chengduo’s eyes widened in surprise. “Seriously?”
The ranch owner looked like he was in agony. “Would I dare lie to you?”
Shen Chengduo took a step back and glanced over the fence, as if trying to peek inside.
Of course, his gaze couldn’t pierce the walls. Shen Chengduo got back into his car, his heart full of surprise and curiosity—and decided to wait.
After nearly two hours, several cars slowly emerged from the ranch. Shen Chengduo leaned against his window and focused his eyes. The lead car was indeed Song Yuzhang’s. The other two he didn’t recognize, but the unfamiliar plates suggested high status.
Shen Chengduo turned his head thoughtfully, musing: Song Yuzhang… has ties with the Nie family?
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