WSMTATMC C150

Chapter 150

While Chen Qingyan and the others went to sit the exam, Wang Ying and Lin Sui opened the shop as usual.

Because of Shopkeeper Wei’s matter and moving to the new house, the shop had been shut for a few days; after opening today, there were no customers all morning.

Ice is a seasonal commodity: when it’s hot, supply can’t meet demand; when the weather cools, no one buys.

But Wang Ying wasn’t anxious. These last months’ profits already surpassed a typical shop’s annual take, and since all the ice had been frozen by himself, it was essentially a no-capital trade—by any reckoning, still profit.

By afternoon, a big order arrived: Old Master Li, a senior degree-holder in the city, had passed away, and the household sent for two hundred ice blocks.

At three hundred cash per block, that made sixty strings—nearly a month’s revenue for an ordinary shop.

After taking the deposit, Wang Ying immediately sent the ice.

Ma Qianzi and Tian Ju delivered ten blocks first, then morning, noon, and evening deliveries each day, stopping only after seven days when the funeral procession would leave; any unused ice money would be refunded or made up.

This Old Master Li had another identity—he was the grandfather of the Marquis of Wuping, Li Mu.

Although Li Mu had long severed ties with his father, there was no reason not to go for his grandfather’s passing—if people mentioned it, there would be fingers pointed behind his back.

So that afternoon he took his mother and daughter back to the Li residence; upon entering, the madam of the house had men stop him from coming in. Relatives persuaded for a long time before allowing Li Mu to enter with his daughter; his mother, Madam Luo, having left the Li household, could not enter again.

Li Mu turned to leave, but his mother caught him. “Mu’er, don’t go. She only wants to use this to taint your name.”

The emperor prizes filial piety; as a general granted a marquisate by exception, Li Mu had many eyes on his back. One misstep, and someone would memorialize against him.

After a moment’s thought, Li Mu understood. “It puts mother to grievance.”

Madam Luo shook her head. “No grievance. I’ve no wish to see those people.”

In earlier years, because Li Mu was born inferior in status, Madam Luo had suffered scorn at the Li house—husband’s neglect, women’s bullying; the worst was winters without even charcoal—mother and child huddled under quilts counting the days.

Now, her son had brought her out; food and clothing were no worry, with maidservants and old retainers to wait upon her. Where was the grievance?

After a few words, Madam Luo took the carriage back; only Li Mu, carrying his daughter, entered the compound.

He had not returned since the great uproar three years ago. Seeing the familiar sights of the courtyard, his feelings were mixed. This was where he had grown up, and also where he had suffered most; now, seeing those familiar faces in the yard, his stomach turned with nausea.

“Third Young Master, please come this way to change dress.”

An old servant came up, reaching to take the girl; Li Mu angled her away. “No need. I’ll hold Qing’er.”

Changing dress was just putting on coarse mourning linen over the outer clothes, with a white sash at the waist. He was neither eldest son nor eldest grandson, so he did not need the mourning cap; his daughter only wore a simple white cloth.

At the mourning hall, many knelt on the ground. A few aunts cried in droning tones; the madam Jiang covered her eyes with a handkerchief, squeezing out insincere tears.

The only true sadness was likely his father’s. Compared with three years ago, he looked much older—his beard gone white.

Seeing Li Mu, he neither struck nor cursed as before—just cast a cold glance and pointed to the side. “Burn some paper for your grandfather.”

Li Mu knelt and set his daughter down. “Bow to great-grandfather.”

Little Qing’er obediently kowtowed. After their bows, Li Mu began to burn paper.

In truth, Grandfather had never favored him. The Li clan was a large house with many descendants—four grandsons from their branch alone; the second uncle had three sons; the third, also three. With so many grandsons, and he neither legitimate-born nor eldest, and with the inborn blue nevus marking half his face and marring his looks, the old man had little liking for him.

He remembered one New Year’s: he and his brothers went to offer greetings; the old master gave red envelopes one by one, but when it came to him, he skipped right over.

As a small child, Li Mu had been terribly hurt—he went back to his mother and cried for half the night, then sobbed in his sleep, making Madam Luo grieve and fall ill.

Recalling all those things, there was nothing to cherish—only hatred.

After burning a bundle of paper, Li Mu took his daughter from the hall. His elder brother, Li Chen, came to exchange greetings.

He was one of the few normal people in the Li household. In earlier years, he had secretly aided mother and son; when their father sent Li Mu to the barracks, Li Chen had knelt and begged on his behalf—Li Mu remembered his kindness.

“Third Brother—we haven’t met in so long. Are you well in the army?”

“Thanks for thinking of me, Eldest Brother. All is well.”

“Sigh… these years have been hard on you. I know you still resent Mother and Father, but after all—”

“I’ve long laid it down. No need to bring it up.”

Li Chen nodded. “And this is Qing’er, yes?”

Li Mu said, “Call ‘Elder Uncle.’”

Qing’er shook her head.

Li Mu said, “She’s four now, but still doesn’t speak—though she understands everything. For some reason, her mouth won’t open.”

“Haven’t seen physicians?”

“We have. They say her throat is fine—perhaps a late talker.”

Li Chen patted her head. “A poor child… Have you thought to find another wife? There’d be someone to care for her.”

“In time. But even if there were another, those not one’s own may not give full heart.”

As they spoke, Li Chen’s children came out—three sons. The eldest was seven; the twins, five.

Qing’er had never seen so many children her age; she wriggled to be put down and play.

Li Mu hesitated, then set her down. “Only one round—then father takes you home.”

She nodded, smiling, and ran off with the three boys into the courtyard.

“Don’t worry,” said Li Chen. “There are nursemaids watching—nothing will happen. Perhaps she’s too isolated—maybe playing with her brothers will make her speak.”

Watching his daughter smile, Li Mu’s brow eased. Perhaps it was as he said.

But most of the time, the three children were raised by the old madam; their natures did not take after Li Chen. Outwardly, they warmly invited Qing’er to play; out of the adults’ sight, their true faces showed.

The eldest said, “Are you mute?”

Qing’er shook her head.

“Then why don’t you speak—won’t you call me big brother?”

She still shook her head.

The second and third smirked and reached to pry open her mouth. “Hasn’t she grown a tongue?”

She covered her mouth and ran; the three chased, giggling.

The nursemaids nearby took no heed, smiling at the chase.

From afar, Li Mu thought she was at play with them and took no notice, continuing his talk with Li Chen about the army.

Li Chen now served as Jizhou’s transport commissioner; taxes and grain were under his hand. If war came, one would manage the interior and the other the field; mustering grain depended on this elder brother.

“I hear the court is discussing reopening the Longxi Tea-and-Salt Ancient Route. Likely within the year there’ll be troops to sweep the surrounding bandits and remnants of the northern Qiang.”

“You have word?”

He shook his head. “Only my estimate—whether it opens depends above. But I’ve had men below prepare grain; if Jizhou’s army is called up, we won’t hold you back.”

Li Mu’s smile was genuine. “Thank you, Brother.”

“We brothers needn’t say such.”

Elsewhere, Qing’er ran in panic from the three, and ducked into a room.

It was a cold, dark ice store; she huddled in a corner, sobbing.

Just then, Ma Qianzi and Tian Ju arrived with ice. They carried down blocks and stacked them neatly, then went to find a steward to tally the count.

While they were gone, Qing’er slipped out and, seeing a carriage outside, strained with all her might to climb aboard.

There was straw on the cart for bedding ice. The little girl burrowed into it and hid.

The two finished and failed to notice the extra passenger; only back at the shop, when Tian Ju tidied the cart, did he find the little girl sitting on it—startling him.

“Whose child is this?!”

—

At the Li residence, Li Mu did not yet know his daughter was gone. After half an hour of talk, he judged it late and went to call her to go home.

“Stay for the meal—Second and Fourth will come later.”

Li Mu shook his head. He had no fondness for the other two brothers and little interaction. “Qing’er—done playing—time to go.”

Calling twice, and no child returned, he went into the yard, puzzled; the children were nowhere to be seen. Panic rising, he went toward the inner court.

There, nursemaids also searched for Qing’er; just now she had been within sight—now gone in a blink.

Li Mu hurried over and grabbed a familiar nursemaid. “Where is my daughter?”

She stammered, “She was chasing with the young masters—perhaps hid in some room.”

His face changed at once, and he cried out, “Qing’er! Come out—come home with father!”

Li Chen followed, heart pounding, and had his three sons brought. “Where is the little sister who played with you?”

They all shook their heads. The eldest said, “She wouldn’t talk. We told her to speak and she ran. We chased and she disappeared.”

Holding down his anger, Li Mu said, “Will you send men to search—or shall I bring soldiers to scour?”

“Third Brother—don’t be rash. I’ll have people search—room by room!”

Sweat beaded on Li Chen’s brow—what he feared had come. He had just mended a little of the rift with his brother; if the child came to harm here, Third Brother might overturn the entire Li household.

He called the household steward and sent pages, maids, and nursemaids to search—turn the place over if they must.

Li Mu did not wait. He asked his nephews where they had last seen her.

Frightened by his fearsome expression, the twins burst into tears; the eldest, though not crying, trembled and pointed to the ice store. “There… over there…”

Cold as it was, if a child were shut within, she would surely catch a chill!

Without a word, Li Mu ran over and, before the servants fetched a key, kicked the door open. “Qing’er—are you inside?”