WSMTATMC C33

Chapter 33

Chen Rong trembled with fury, tears streaming down her face. “What kind of father is this? Poor Qiu’er must have accumulated misfortune from eight generations past to be saddled with such an unprincipled man!”

Wang Ying gently poured her a cup of water, and it took some time before she was able to calm down.

“Forgive me for making you witness such an ugly scene—the very first time you come, and it happens to be like this.”

“What words are these, Third Aunt? We are your mother’s family. With Father-in-law gone, it is I and Qingyan who shall serve as your support. We have come to stand behind you.”

Hearing this, Chen Rong’s eyes brimmed once more, and she seized Wang Ying’s hand tightly. “Good child—no wonder my elder sister-in-law favors you so much. You truly are understanding and considerate.”

Wang Ying pressed a handkerchief into her hand to wipe her tears.

These days, Chen Rong had been brooding with grief; she could not confide household matters to outsiders, nor could she burden her two sons. All her frustrations had been bottled inside. Now, finally, she had a listener who shared her heart, and so she poured out her woes to Wang Ying.

“That man… all his life, he dreams of pies falling from the sky! In youth he despised merchants, putting his entire hope into examinations and office. Our family supported him for more than ten years, yet he did not even manage to pass a fart’s worth of degree.

Now, growing old, suddenly he wishes to do trade. He shut down his good private school for no reason, and insisted on opening a shop himself—only to lose a large sum of silver in the venture.”

The Lin household had once been well-to-do, for families able to support a scholar were never poor. Yet even wealth cannot endure such squandering. While Old Master Lin yet lived, he could restrain his son. But once the old man passed, Lin Zhangbin gave free rein to his ways.

Chen Rong drew breath and continued, “Now he works as an accountant at the pawnshop. I had thought he might finally settle down, but instead he has entangled himself with that family.

Do you know what sort they are? In Longquan County their name is infamous, stinking to the street gutters. With a little dirty money, they do all manner of wickedness. Which respectable family would ever give their child to such people? Would we not be condemned and mocked by everyone behind our backs?”

“At present the marriage characters have not even been formally matched, so don’t be anxious, Third Aunt. In these few days, we shall try to reason with Uncle.”

“Can you stay for a few days then?”

“We will see. We had meant to go to the county tomorrow, find a courier to send your Fourth Uncle’s New Year’s gifts to Laizhou, and after that we must return. It is year’s end, and our shop cannot remain closed long.”

Chen Rong sniffled. “Earlier you spoke of opening a shop—how fares the business?”

“It is passable. Enough for a family’s upkeep, life more comfortable than before.”

“That is what matters. Whether more or less, as long as you live with peace of mind. You and Qingyan should also hurry to have a child.”

Once, Wang Ying would have felt nettled at these words. But ever since their relationship had shifted, they no longer seemed so jarring. He consented softly with a nod.

Inside, Lin Zhangbin still smoldered with fire. As he picked dishes, he muttered, “Your Third Aunt is too shortsighted. Find a decent, steady man for Qiu, and life would be settled. Food and firewood, rice and salt—doesn’t each one take money? Without money even food cannot be eaten—what life is that?”

“Uncle, that is not right. Leave aside wealth: character is the first and most crucial. If Cousin were married only to suffer beatings and insults, what use then is all the silver?”

“Bah, don’t listen to your Third Aunt’s nonsense. That Second Son of the Fang family isn’t as bad as people say. He enjoys a drink and flower wine, but isn’t that because he has no one at home? Once married, how could he still go out to carouse?”

Chen Qingyan’s patience finally broke. Uncle was at least a licentiate scholar—how could he utter such foolish words?

“Drink, whoring, gambling—such things once a man dabbles in, he never escapes in a lifetime! My Second Uncle’s eldest cousin was obsessed with gambling, squandered the entire family fortune, and even had three fingers chopped off by the gambling den—yet he knew no repentance. How can you assume this Fang Second Young Master will miraculously reform when wed?”

Lin the Scholar understood now—this nephew had come as advocate for his aunt.

“Enough talk—eat and drink.”

“Uncle, marriage is no matter to decide carelessly—”

Bang! Lin Zhangbin slapped his chopsticks on the table, seized his hat, and stormed out.

Qingyan made to pursue him, but was restrained by his aunt. “Leave him. Let him go.”

“But where could he go so late at night?”

Third Aunt gave a cold laugh. “He never lacks places to stay. You two, wash up and rest. Sleep in the east room; I will take the children in the west.”

When the lamps had been extinguished, the two men lay restless, unable to sleep.

In another’s home, they dared not join their bodies, so Wang Ying rose, threw on a robe, and asked, “Tell me, what is it that Uncle truly means?”

“I do not know. Perhaps that Second Young Master truly has some merit?”

Wang Ying shook his head. “Unlikely. I suspect the Fang fellow has promised Uncle some benefit. Otherwise, why would he be so eager to toss his son as a concubine of another man’s household?”

Qingyan mused, “But Uncle still has his own sons. When Cousin Qiu is married out, he and Cousin Sui remain. What need has he for such ‘benefits’?”

“True—but then why is he so determined to foist Cousin on them?”

“I cannot understand either. I have the constant feeling there is some hidden matter within.”

“Enough—with only our blind guesses, nothing will come. Better tomorrow we seek out Cao Kun. He has wide connections in the county and should know this Fang family.”

“Agreed.”

At dawn, Lin Zhangbin returned, radiant and cheerful, greeting them as though nothing had happened.

Third Aunt did not ask where he had spent the night; but the atmosphere was taut—permeated with gunpowder, ready to ignite at the smallest spark.

After breakfast, Wang Ying proposed to go out. Third Uncle wished to accompany, but Wang Ying declined.

“No need to trouble you, Uncle. We will walk about and return later.”

Lin Zhangbin did not insist. In weather this cold, he had no wish to trudge about anyway.

Instead, Third Aunt said, “Qiu, go along with them. They are unfamiliar with this place; do not let them lose their way.”

Lin Sui also wanted to follow, but his mother’s glare left him obediently behind.

Lin Qiu donned a thick padded coat and followed them out. The boy was reserved and did not speak a word on the road, tagging silently at their backs like a shadow.

Wang Ying took the initiative. “Cousin, do you know where the couriers in town are?”

Wrapped around with scarf, only his large eyes peeking out, Lin Qiu pointed southward. “Keep straight ahead; you’ll see it.”

After walking half an hour, they reached the courier company. Several flat carts were parked at the door, porters loading and unloading goods.

Wang Ying stepped forward, stopping one of the workers. “Brother, may I ask, is there a man named Cao Kun here?”

The porter bellowed, “Deputy Chief! Someone’s come to see you!”

The men around burst into laughter. Out from within came Cao Kun. Seeing who it was, he nearly leapt, scolding loudly, “Don’t talk nonsense, you idiots! Shopkeeper Wang, what brings you here?”

“I came on a small matter. I wish to send some goods to my Fourth Uncle in Laizhou. There are no couriers in town who go that far, so we came here to the county to ask.”

Cao Kun thought to himself: Doesn’t your household receive produce from Laizhou daily? Couldn’t you send those things along in return?

Wang Ying seemed to perceive his thought. “We only receive vegetables midway. We’ve never traveled to such distant counties. And we have only one mule—if we send it as far as Laizhou, how could we continue receiving produce?”

“It’s cold out. Come inside to talk.”

Chen Qingyan and Lin Qiu followed them in. The warehouse was wide, goods stacked in plenty, and six or seven workers busily occupied—the business thriving.

Cao Kun led them into a side room and closed the door.

“I thought Shopkeeper Wang meant to open business here in the county,” he laughed.

Wang Ying knew the implication—that with vegetables fetching such high prices, Cao feared he might cut out the middlemen to sell directly.

“No—we are strangers in the county, and we have little capital. Those thoughts have not entered our minds.”

Cao Kun brightened. “And what would you like to send to Laizhou?”

“Five baskets of edibles—nothing precious. What would be the cost?”

“In a few days, I’ll send them along for you, free of charge.”

“Business is business. What should be paid must be paid,” Wang Ying answered.

“Then, two strings of coins will do.”

That was fair. Wang Ying had already heard that sending goods even to neighboring counties might cost as much as one string.

“I’ll write down the address later, and have the servants send the goods to you.”

“Of course. You may rest assured, they will be safely delivered.”

“There is one more matter in which I’d trouble Boss Cao,” Wang Ying said. “I wish to inquire about a person. Might you know of the Fang family here in town?”

“There are many of that surname in town. Which one does Shopkeeper Wang mean?”

“He is second born in his family, I hear they are wealthy, owning quite a few shops.”

Lin Qiu’s head jerked up suddenly, realizing his cousin-in-law was making inquiries on his behalf.

Cao Kun rubbed his chin, thinking. “Do you mean Fang the Second? His family are gold and silver merchants—also dealing in antiques and calligraphy. They own five or six shops.”

Lin Qiu nodded anxiously. “That’s him.”

Cao Kun lifted his gaze. Their eyes met briefly—the timid deer-like eyes of that boy startled him for a heartbeat, before he quickly looked away.

“And what of his character?”

“I cannot say by personal knowledge; I have hardly dealt with him. But I hear he often haunts the houses of pleasure, spending prodigally on courtesans. In the whole county, he’s known as a dissolute wastrel.”

Hearing this, Lin Qiu nearly burst into tears again.

Chen Qingyan too grew dark of face, but for his cousin’s dignity, he held his tongue.

Wang Ying asked, “Where could such a man be found?”

“Either at the Drunken Flower Pavilion or the Autumn Moon House—you will surely meet him there. May I ask what business Shopkeeper Wang has with him?”

“Merely a private matter. I thank Boss Cao.”

He took his leave. Cao Kun walked them to the door, but could not help casting one more glance at the quiet boy by their side, following him with his eyes until they vanished down the street.

Afterwards, several workers crowded around, joking, “Deputy Chief, who were those men?”

“An old client. The tall one is his husband. Next time, hold your tongues.”

“Eh—but you yourself need to hurry and marry too! Otherwise even a stick will rust from disuse!” They laughed boisterously.

Cao Kun, enraged, kicked one sharply. “Scram, scram! Mind your work—stop prying where it stings!”

On the way back, Lin Qiu could not stop weeping. He had never imagined his father would betroth him to such a man. In despair, he even thought it might be better to hang himself and end it all.

Wang Ying’s heart ached. If it were some stranger, so be it—but this was his cousin. He could not watch him be delivered into a fire pit.

Chen Qingyan halted suddenly. “No. I must see this man with my own eyes. If he proves as vile as others say, why then does Uncle insist on marrying you there?”

Wang Ying agreed. He promptly led Lin Qiu to a nearby tailor’s shop, where they bought rough men’s clothing to disguise themselves and slip into the brothels.

In this society, ge’er generally wore robes resembling women’s attire—straight-fronted jackets with skirts. Men, by contrast, wore crossed-front short coats or long gowns. The two of them each bought plain blue-grey short coats, tied their hair into topknots with bands, and concealed Qingyan’s faint birthmark on his neck and cheek. In appearance, they resembled fresh-faced youths of fifteen or sixteen.

“Come! Let us meet this Fang Second Son face to face!”

notes

: Four-six not-a-person (四六不的) is a colloquial curse, meaning a man who does not act like a proper human—irresponsible, unreliable, and selfish.

: Eight Characters not yet written (八字一撇) is an idiom meaning the marriage is not yet settled—the “eight characters” refer to the birth dates of bride and groom used for matchmaking.

: Flower wine (花酒) means wine drunk in the company of prostitutes and courtesans at brothels.

: Filling the house (填房) refers to remarrying a widow or bringing in a spouse to replace a deceased wife or husband, often implying lower status for the newcomer.

: Two strings of cash equals approximately 2,000 copper coins, since one string (贯 guan) represented about 1,000 coins threaded together.