Hu Yulin

Biodata

Background

Hu Yulin is the only son of Mengshan County’s charcoal merchant and the future inheritor of the Hu Clan business. His father sent him to oversee Blackstone mining so he could become familiar with the family trade before assuming control. He had studied with Jiang Weiping for years, and their friendship endured despite the Jiang family’s decline. 2

While inspecting the Hu Clan coalfield, Hu initially refuses Rong Xi an audience after identifying him through Linxi’s rumors. He judges Rong Xi as troublesome and interprets Liu Zishi’s fear as further evidence against him. After accompanying Jiang Weiping to deliver a commissioned device and witnessing Rong Xi’s composed hospitality, Hu realizes that he had been wrong and becomes deeply ashamed. 2 3

Hu formally apologizes with a whole pig and wild birds, then spends the day discussing commerce with Rong Xi. Their shared interests develop into a close friendship, and Hu becomes one of Rong Xi’s most consistent commercial supporters. 4 6 17

Hu expands the Hu Clan’s operations beyond its traditional coal trade through the briquette-and-stove partnership, Gourmet Pavilion, glass, agricultural products, and later commercial collaborations with the Military Equipment Bureau. His work with Rong Xi and Jiang Weiping earns all three imperial commendation, gold, and silk, bringing exceptional honor to the Hu Clan. 6 14 24 28 41

As Rong Xi’s inventions and political importance grow, Hu remains supportive but becomes concerned that his friend’s exceptional talent will invite covetousness and danger. He continues to provide supplies and commercial assistance while recognizing that Rong Xi’s work has moved beyond ordinary private enterprise. 30 41

Appearance

Hu Yulin is a handsome young man with narrow, long eyes that turn slightly upward at the corners. His lips naturally curve to one side, though his smile becomes notably sincere around close friends. 2

• Wears silk robes with a coarse-cloth headscarf. 2
• Carries himself in a carefree, elegant manner around Jiang Weiping. 2
• Has a fox-like, narrow-eyed smile, especially when amused or pleased by a business opportunity. 5
• Is described as handsome and dashing, with his narrow eyes and raised lip corners lending him a naturally sly, cheerful expression. 29

Personality

Hu is sociable, sharp-minded, and highly responsive to unfamiliar ideas. His fascination with Jiang Weiping’s mysterious commission leads him to accompany the delivery, and his early interest in Blackstone reflects his instinct that the material held unrealized value. 2

His first judgment of Rong Xi exposes a tendency to trust widespread gossip, but he corrects himself once presented with contrary evidence. Rather than defend his earlier conduct, he apologizes sincerely and seeks to build trust through proper gifts, direct conversation, and business fairness. 3 4

Hu is ambitious without being narrowly profit-driven. He values the Hu Clan’s future reputation and influence as much as immediate earnings, supports ventures that can improve ordinary life, and repeatedly assists Rong Xi without demanding payment or credit. 6 12 17

He is charitable toward people in genuine hardship, as shown when he prevents a clothing merchant from exploiting the desperate Duan Changjin. He also recognizes the danger attached to Rong Xi’s fame and warns him that rare talent can attract malicious attention. 12 30

Hu’s concern for Rong Xi extends beyond commerce. Although initially unsettled by Qin Ke’s special treatment of Rong Xi, he directly asks Qin Ke whether he intends to marry, seeking assurance that Rong Xi will not be hurt by a passing attachment. Once Qin Ke makes his commitment clear, Hu accepts their relationship with grace. 36 43

Abilities & Skills

Commerce and Negotiation

Hu recognizes practical value quickly and can turn Rong Xi’s ideas into sustainable businesses.

• Purchased Rong Xi’s coal-briquette method for ten strings of cash, while offering a share of later profits before Rong Xi declined. 4
• Negotiated a formal coal-stove partnership: Rong Xi and Jiang Weiping each receive 30% of profits, while the Hu Clan retains 40% for production and distribution. 6
• Defended Rong Xi’s interests during the white-sugar negotiations and pushed Zheng Huaili toward a profit-sharing arrangement rather than a one-time purchase. 17
• Reopened Gourmet Pavilion with a brighter layout, individual dish-price tags, and a half-price promotion that drew enough customers to exhaust its ingredients within two hours. 14
• Recognizes the commercial usefulness of Rong Xi’s pencil despite its likely rejection by tradition-bound scholars, and asks to keep the first pencil he tests. 30
• Handles accounts skillfully and takes a strong interest in Rong Xi’s arithmetic methods, which he studies for their practical value in business. 36
• Helps market Rong Xi’s goods at favorable prices and participates in the expanding Thermos Flask trade connected to the Military Equipment Bureau. 36 41 43

Logistics and Expansion

Hu has the resources and initiative to execute large-scale projects.

• Expanded Hu Clan coalfields, hired additional laborers, and doubled Blackstone extraction while honeycomb briquettes were being developed. 7
• Coordinated the Hu and Jiang families’ large-scale production of coal stoves after the products became popular across the city. 11
• Obtained materials requested by Rong Xi through merchant networks, including unfamiliar goods, potatoes, corn, glassmaking supplies, tin foil, mercury, graphite, and clay. 12 21 23 28 29 30
• Located kiln workers and supplied materials for Rong Xi’s glass project, then continued funding experimentation despite repeated failures. 22 24
• Expanded the Hu Clan’s caravans after the success of its coal products and responded promptly when its horses were injured during long-distance transport. 23
• Arranged materials in bulk for Rong Xi’s pencil experiments, including the graphite and clay needed to create the writing cores. 29 30

Recognition of Talent

Hu values ingenuity and practical skill over rank or occupation.

• Treats Jiang Weiping’s craftsmanship and Rong Xi’s ideas as equally essential to their joint enterprise. 5 6
• Supports Liu Zishi’s development indirectly by recognizing Rong Xi’s effort to cultivate loyal, capable attendants. 8
• Believes new foods such as tofu should be available to ordinary people rather than reserved for elites. 20
• Recognizes that horseshoes could protect both Hu Clan caravan horses and Great Wei’s warhorses. 23
• Understands that glass, mirrors, pencils, and other unfamiliar products can become useful innovations rather than mere curiosities. 24 28 30
• Supports Rong Xi’s preference to develop useful inventions for public benefit, even when the work draws him into dangerous political attention. 30 41

Business Ventures and Projects

• Honeycomb coal briquettes and coal stoves — Hu purchased Rong Xi’s method, expanded coal extraction, and handled the Hu Clan’s production and distribution role in the partnership. 4 6 7
• Gourmet Pavilion — He helped save the struggling restaurant by partnering with Duan Changjin and introducing Rong Xi’s cooking methods through Jiang Weiping’s sister. 13 14
• White sugar — Hu supported Rong Xi’s negotiations with Zheng Huaili despite the Zheng Clan ultimately receiving the production method. 17
• Tofu workshop — He proposed bringing Rong Xi’s tofu to common people, helping establish Great Wei’s first tofu workshop. 20
• Potatoes and corn — He procured large quantities at Rong Xi’s request, triggering wider merchant interest in the unfamiliar crops. 21 22
• Horseshoes — He initiated development with Jiang Weiping after Rong Xi proposed iron shoes to prevent caravan horses’ hoof injuries. 23
• Glass production — He arranged kilns, workers, materials, and continued investment until usable glass could be manufactured for windows and doors. 22 24
• Glass mirrors — He procured tin foil and mercury for Rong Xi’s mirror-making process and immediately identified the mirrors’ commercial potential. 28
• Pencils — He supplied graphite and clay for Rong Xi’s experiments, then became an early user and advocate of the finished writing instrument. 29 30
• Thermos Flask and Military Equipment Bureau commerce — He joins commercial ventures linked to the Military Equipment Bureau, including the expanding distribution and profit administration of Thermos Flasks. 41 43

Relationships

• Rong Xi — Close friend, business partner, and “brother.” Hu initially dismisses him because of rumors, then becomes one of his strongest supporters after recognizing his character and abilities. He remains concerned for Rong Xi’s safety as his inventions bring him increasing political attention. 2 4 17 30 41
• Jiang Weiping — Longtime friend and former fellow student. Hu brings Jiang into commercial ventures and considers his craftsmanship indispensable. They later collaborate on horseshoes and other Rong Xi-led projects. 2 5 6 23
• Hu Yunde — Father and head of the Hu Clan. Hu presents Rong Xi’s coal method to him; Yunde recognizes both its commercial potential and Rong Xi’s integrity. Hu Yunde is later deeply proud when Hu receives imperial recognition alongside Rong Xi and Jiang Weiping. 5 28
• Duan Changjin — Gourmet Pavilion associate. Hu helps arrange the restaurant’s revival and works with him to promote Rong Xi’s dishes and white sugar. When Duan is forced to sell nearly new clothing, Hu purchases it at its original value rather than allow a shopkeeper to exploit him. 12 13 14 17
• Liu Zishi — Rong Xi’s attendant. Hu observes the boy’s growth under Rong Xi’s care and provides transport when Rong Xi and Liu travel to Mengshan County. 8 12
• Qin Ke — Rong Xi’s close companion and later lover. Qin Ke’s jealousy initially makes Hu cautious around him, but Hu directly questions Qin’s intentions out of concern for Rong Xi. After Qin Ke confirms his sincere commitment, the two treat one another with mutual respect. 36 41 43
• Golden Lucky — A member of Rong Xi’s wider circle whom Hu encounters through Rong Xi’s household and commercial projects. 53

Notable Quotes

“We are brothers. Helping you is only natural.” 17

“Eldest Brother, you are truly wonderful.” 28

“A man is guilty for possessing a jade ring; should someone with ill intent covet it, you may suffer harm.” 30