A thin middle-aged man with a small mustache answered the door.
When Ji Yingying entered with Ling’er, Master Sheng was kneeling before a desk, working on an abacus. The wooden beads made crisp sounds as they collided, moving rhythmically with his fingers.
He paused briefly and, without looking up, said: “Clerk Jin, bring tea.”
Clerk Jin invited Ji Yingying to sit in a circular chair at the lower end and personally served the tea.
Ji Yingying sat properly, unable to control her curiosity as she secretly glanced over. When she had seen Master Sheng in the Zhao family, she had been certain he was a wandering swordsman. He had said he went to the Zhao family that day hoping to take advantage of the wedding crowds. Today, however, she realized she had been wrong.
He wore a black wide-sleeved deep robe. The collar and cuffs were embroidered with intricate endless swastika patterns, giving it a dignified air. The black fabric shimmered like scattered pearls as he moved. Only brocade could have such texture and luster. She had never heard of a carefree wandering swordsman wearing such expensive brocade clothing. And Clerk Jin was standing attentively behind him. What wandering swordsman employed a legal clerk? Yet if he wasn’t a wandering swordsman, why had he sneaked into the Zhao family wearing night-walking clothes?
Thinking of the hundred-year ginseng, Ji Yingying suddenly wasn’t sure if she could persuade him to sell it at a low price.
His long fingers finished their rapid calculations, and Master Sheng closed the account book, nodding to Clerk Jin. Jin swiftly gathered the books into a bundle and excused himself with a bow.
Master Sheng raised his face to look at Ji Yingying, his deep eyes full of amusement: “Yesterday your household manager already brought gifts to express thanks.”
For her mother’s illness, Ji Yingying suppressed all her doubts. She knelt behind the desk and bowed: “I thank Master Sheng again for saving me. I’ve come not only to express gratitude but also to make a request.”
Master Sheng’s expression showed some displeasure: “Second Miss Ji, that night when I took you from the Zhao family, you can consider it a sudden act of kindness. That I didn’t ask for payment doesn’t mean you can take advantage. Asking me to do anything requires payment. That’s my rule.”
Ji Yingying’s face burned at his words. She gathered her courage and said: “I understand. I’ve come because my mother is gravely ill. Yizhou City has no ginseng of sufficient age for the prescription. I heard Master Sheng happens to have some. So I wanted to ask what price you would be willing to sell it for.”
“Ginseng?” Master Sheng asked knowingly, smiling slightly: “I do indeed have a hundred-year-old ginseng root. I was planning to present it to the Military Commissioner. However, I could substitute another gift. The key is, what price can you offer?”
“Six hundred guan.”
This was the maximum amount the Ji family’s accounts could produce. As long as it could cure her mother. Even if they had to mortgage the dye house, residence, and shop inventory, the Ji family would have a chance to rise again. Ji Yingying believed that with her skills, she could certainly gather enough money to repay the Jucai Chamber within two or three months.
Master Sheng shook his head with a laugh: “Second Miss Ji, Renhe Hall is not far from here and has an excellent reputation. Why don’t you inquire there first?”
She knew that hundred-year ginseng was incredibly rare and would be worth three to five thousand guan. She stammered: “This is all the money I have. Mother’s… treatment is urgent.”
Why would a stranger she had met by chance sell her at a discount something meant as a gift for the Military Commissioner? She knew it was wishful thinking. Yet she still hoped he would help her again without payment, as he had at the Zhao family.
Master Sheng remained silent, his fingers lightly tapping the desk.
The silent tapping seemed to strike at her heart. He was thinking, he hadn’t directly refused. Ji Yingying felt hope.
After a while, Master Sheng finally spoke: “I am a businessman. I deal in everything. But I never make losing trades. I know that night Huanhua Dye House caught fire, and your mother fell ill from the shock. The Ji family’s losses are severe, and six hundred guan is already a large sum. Considering it’s for saving someone, I can sell it to you on credit. But you’ll need to provide collateral. After all, this is hundred-year ginseng.”
Hearing the word “credit,” Ji Yingying felt as if she’d been bitten by a snake. The Zhao family had collected debt notes for silk bought on credit. Jucai Chamber was demanding payment for dyes bought on credit. Now Master Sheng said he could give her hundred-year ginseng on credit. Was he also after the Ji family’s secret formula? She shook her head vigilantly: “No, I cannot take any more credit.”
Master Sheng appeared unconcerned: “I can’t cut the hundred-year ginseng into pieces to sell to you. You have neither money nor collateral. And you don’t want to owe me. Second Miss Ji, what exactly do you want?”
Indeed, she could hardly expect him to give it to her for free, could she? Her mother was coughing blood; her condition couldn’t wait. Ji Yingying gritted her teeth and said tremulously: “Master Sheng surely knows that our dye house burned, and all the goods in storage were destroyed. Now all we have for collateral is an empty dye house, a two-courtyard residence, and a street-front shop. Which would you like?”
Master Sheng glanced at Ling’er without speaking.
Ji Yingying understood and ordered: “Wait outside the door.”
After Ling’er left, Master Sheng rose and walked to stand before Ji Yingying. He bent down, hands on the desk, leaning close to her: “I don’t want any of those.”
The pressure of his downward gaze felt like a mountain. His black wide sleeves spread like dark clouds enveloping her. Ji Yingying nervously leaned back: “The Ji family only has these…”
“There’s you.”
Ji Yingying froze like lightning-struck wood, completely stunned.
His pupils were like his black brocade robe, dark eyes gleaming with pearl-like radiance. He was so close, his forehead almost touching hers.
Ji Yingying was so nervous she could barely breathe: “Me?”
Master Sheng straightened up, a faint smile spreading across his lips: “What would I do with the Ji family’s dye house, residence, and shop? I only know you. It’s just lending you some ginseng, seeking a guarantee. What, don’t you have confidence you can repay me?”
Ji Yingying’s eyes brightened. How could she compare him to Zhao Xiuyuan and Manager Wu? As long as he wasn’t after the Ji family’s secret formula, as long as there was a deadline, she would certainly be able to repay.
“One year, two thousand guans including interest. If you can’t repay it, I’ll have to come collect my debt in person,” Master Sheng said half-jokingly.
One year! Ji Yingying secretly clenched her fists. Suddenly remembering Jucai Chamber’s credit terms, she quickly said: “One year it is, but you cannot demand repayment before the due date.”
“As you wish.”
After carefully reviewing the contract, Ji Yingying signed it, pressed her fingerprint, and left with the hundred-year ginseng after expressing her thanks.
Clerk Jin came from the next room, saw the contract’s contents, and couldn’t help but be surprised: “Master, you’re not after the Ji family’s secret formula?”
Master Sheng said coolly: “Startling the snake in the grass when Second Miss Ji doesn’t even understand the formula – how could she agree? Being able to help the Zhao family reclaim the Brocade King title they lost over twenty years ago, Second Miss Ji’s value is no less than the Ji family formula. Have the people from the Baron’s mansion in Yichuan, Chang’an set out?”
Clerk Jin respectfully replied: “The escort agency sent word that they’ve passed Jianmen Pass and will reach Yizhou Prefecture in the next day or two.”