After seeing off the Asu Cave Master, Zhù Ying’s schedule was not disrupted. She still went to the fields to take a look. Shan Ba and the others were all present, but Zhao the Elder, the local farming expert she had invited from the county, was nowhere to be seen.

Shan Ba and the others were sitting at the edge of the field chatting idly. When they saw her, they all stood up: “My Lord.”

“Where is Zhao the Elder?”

Shan Liu said: “He’s a busy man — had to head into the county to stroll around and have some tea.” He had barely finished speaking when Shan Ba jabbed him in the back with a finger.

Zhù Ying laughed despite herself, and chatted with them for a while. The crops growing in this plot varied in quality. Shan Ba said: “Some of them still aren’t quite suited to this place.”

They had discussed this topic several times. Based on generations of local experience, rice was the most suitable staple crop, and nothing else could be allowed to conflict with its cultivation. There was only so much arable land, and within a given season, only one crop could be planted. The best soil and irrigation had to be reserved for rice; other crops had to make do with whatever time was left over after rice, or with the land that rice did not need.

Zhù Ying’s hope was to plant two rounds of crops per year, thereby harvesting twice. This was not her own invention — she had heard that some places had managed it before. But hearsay and other people’s experiences could not be transplanted wholesale. The old saying about “the citrus tree south of the Huai River” was a fact the ancients had long understood: crops from the north would encounter similar problems when brought to the south.

With only this one plot of land, fitting in two harvests required precise timing, and the difference in climate between north and south meant that timing could not simply be borrowed from elsewhere. It could only be estimated — reasoning along the lines of “the south is warmer, so plant earlier” — and then tested through trial planting.

Zhù Ying said: “That is precisely why we trial plant.”

Shan Ba said: “We will do our very best, my Lord!”

Just then, Zhao the Elder came trotting over as well. These past few days he had been living at the county office, eating well and sleeping well, and had grown noticeably rounder. He would come to the fields for a turn each day to check that all was fine, then wander off to the county town to browse and see the sights. Hearing that Zhù Ying had come to the fields, he hurried over at a trot and arrived drenched in sweat. Seeing Zhù Ying, he quickly made his excuses: “My Lord is here? I just went to look at the fruit trees.”

The orange tree saplings that Zhù Ying had planted for trial bordered this very plot. The saplings had not grown tall or strong enough yet to conceal a full-grown person. But Zhù Ying did not expose him, and only asked: “How are they?”

He was quite old, brimming with experience, and spoke without hesitation: “Not bad, not bad. They won’t bear fruit in the first year — takes three to five years of growing before they settle in properly. As long as they don’t run into a frost when they do fruit, that’s all that matters! It’s a fine place here, there’s generally no frost.”

Zhù Ying said: “Carry on, then.”

She returned to the county office and marked out the varieties that clearly seemed unsuitable for local conditions this year. Next year she would select further from among the ones that had proven compatible. It always came back to the same point: there was only so much land, and only so many people to farm and clear it. She could only choose the best one or two crops to grow.

After recording all of this, she wrote a letter intended for the capital. The matter of the Asu Cave Master’s wish to open a trading market still needed to be reported to the court. She could hardly send something this significant on a private letter hitched to an official dispatch, could she? Negotiations with the Asu Cave Master would take some days, and she liked to prepare contingency plans. She wanted to have a reasonably complete proposal ready for the court to review, so she could dash off one letter a day over the coming days and bundle them all together to send at the end.

The letter she needed to write right now was to the Left Deputy Minister — to inquire after his situation. In the Left Deputy Minister’s last letter, he had complained that Su Kuang was arm-wrestling him again, and that for some reason Pei the Junior Court Minister had actually promoted Su Kuang, setting him up to go head-to-head against him. Zhù Ying had also received a letter from Hu Lian at the same time — they bundled their letters together as well and sent them along the postal route — in which Hu Lian mentioned something the Left Deputy Minister had not: he was also complaining that the Left Deputy Minister was not as prompt and efficient as Zhù Ying had been. For instance, things that should have been distributed were distributed under Zhù Ying’s management, but under him they were delayed. Those below were all murmuring that the Left Deputy Minister was probably holding the funds back to lend them out at interest.

Zhù Ying privately guessed that the Left Deputy Minister was unlikely to have done anything so conspicuous. Perhaps it was simply that he was still getting his footing after taking over, or perhaps the sheer volume of affairs had momentarily overwhelmed him. So she wrote to ask the Left Deputy Minister what he was unclear on.

She was in the middle of writing when she heard Tong Bo’s footsteps outside. He stood at the door until Zhù Ying had finished the letter, then came in to report: “My Lord, the restaurant on the eastern side of the city has prepared a menu for your review.”

Zhù Ying was hosting the Asu Cave Master for dinner that evening. As was her custom, whenever the county office held a banquet, food was ordered from the restaurant, since she had no decent cook of her own. Zhù Ying said: “Wasn’t it already settled?”

“You asked them to consult Young Master Zhao again — this is the revised version after they did.”

Zhù Ying looked over the menu and saw that a fish dish had been added. She said: “Tell them to choose a large fish with fewer bones.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

With the menu finalized, Zhù Ying also settled on the list of guests. There were no local gentry included — the language barrier made that impractical — the gathering would consist mainly of the county office’s own officials, figures such as Deputy Magistrate Guan, with Zhao Su added as interpreter.

For lunch she went home and ate simply, and took the opportunity to tell the household: “I won’t be back this evening. I’m hosting the Asu Cave Master out front.”

Zhang Xiangu exclaimed in surprise: “More of the mountain folk? I’ve noticed that you spend more time mixing with the mountain folk than with your own people these days.”

Zhù Ying said: “We should change how we refer to them. The ones visiting now are from the Asu family — they are of the Qixia tribe.”

Zhang Xiangu was bewildered: “What?”

Zhù Ying said: “Hmm, Mother, just think of them as neighbors. Shouldn’t we be on good terms with our neighbors?”

Zhang Xiangu said: “That’s fair enough. But I heard from A’Wang’s mother that the mountain folk are fierce and dangerous — when she was a child, there was quite a spell of trouble with them.”

A’Wang’s mother was a woman who ran a small tea stall on the county town street. Since Zhang Xiangu had grown able to understand the local dialect, she often sat there for a while and had a chat. Zhù Ying said: “I know. That is exactly why I’m working to prevent future trouble.”

Zhang Xiangu said: “All right then. Be careful.”

——

Come evening, Zhù Ying had the county office end the workday an hour early. The head chef from the restaurant brought along one apprentice and two helpers, carrying the prepared dishes and provisions over. Cold appetizers were ready-made; anything that needed long cooking was kept warm in the front office kitchen; ingredients for dishes requiring flash cooking were prepped and ready to go the moment the guests arrived.

Deputy Magistrate Guan and the others were already within the office compound. Outside, Zhao Su had come from the county school to the post station to escort his maternal uncle back to the county office.

When they arrived at the county office, dusk was just beginning to settle. The county office was in the process of lighting its lamps, everything proceeding in good order. The Asu Cave Master said to Zhao Su: “This county magistrate of yours is a capable person.”

Zhao Su said: “The incapable one has been hiding in the prefectural city for six years.”

It was Deputy Magistrate Guan who came to the gate to receive them. These past several days, because his immediate superior had placed such importance on the Qixia tribe, he had frequently been brought along with the Asu family members during meetings, and had been compelled to pick up a few words of Qixia. At the start he had learned them very poorly, and could only manage a simple greeting: “Cave Master, how do you do?”

The Asu Cave Master was amused: “And how do you do?”

That response Deputy Magistrate Guan could not understand at all, since Qixia sentence patterns followed different rules, and it was still Zhao Su who had to translate. Deputy Magistrate Guan no longer attempted to show off his meagre vocabulary, and instead said quickly: “My Lord has been awaiting you for some time — please, this way.”

The Asu Cave Master could understand “My Lord” and “please,” but the sentence as a whole eluded him. Zhao Su had to step in and translate once again.

They entered the gate, passed the main hall where court was held, and walked through to a reception hall. The room had been lit with many bright candles, copper mirrors placed behind the flames to throw their light across the whole space. Zhù Ying and Deputy Magistrate Guan and the others were already waiting at the front of the hall.

The two sides exchanged pleasantries, and Zhù Ying ushered the Asu Cave Master inside to be seated.

The Asu Cave Master observed that the hall consisted of three connected rooms in all. The banquet was laid out in the central one, with individual table settings for each guest. In the two flanking rooms, dimmer by comparison, men and women were playing music and singing.

Host and guest took their seats. Zhù Ying and the Asu Cave Master sat at the head, with the other guests arranged below. Zhao Su sat to the Cave Master’s lower hand, ready to translate at any moment. The Asu Cave Master was not of a similar age or background to any of these people. But through Zhao Su’s translations, they were still able to find common ground in conversation.

Zhù Ying said: “I have always owed the Cave Master thanks for the cattle and horses.”

The Asu Cave Master said: “The magistrate is a person of his word — payment was made, and our transactions have gone well.”

Deputy Magistrate Guan complimented the Asu Cave Master to Zhù Ying: “He is unlike the others. In all my years in this county, I have never known the Cave Master to harass the border.”

Zhao Su translated Deputy Magistrate Guan’s words for the Asu Cave Master. The Asu Cave Master laughed and said: “Oh, we did, at times. But later we sorted out who the real enemies were, realized it had nothing to do with you lot, and let it go.”

He then pointed to Zhao Su and said to Zhù Ying: “My sister married down here and has even borne children, yet they still do not believe it.”

Zhù Ying said: “Zhao Su is excellent.”

The two sides exchanged a round of polite flattery — not too deep, and nothing disagreeable. Zhù Ying said: “They won’t let me drink, which is a pity given the fine wine I brought from the capital. Today is a perfect occasion to open it for everyone to taste — rest assured, I won’t be drinking.”

Cups were raised and passed; delicate music rose. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious. Seeing that Zhù Ying was not drinking, the Asu Cave Master drank with Deputy Magistrate Guan and the others instead. By the end they were singing. Deputy Magistrate Guan, well into his cups, sang along with him, joining in with folk melodies from his hometown. Zhù Ying listened, then drew out a flute and played along for them. They all seemed as though old friends.

Toward the end of the evening, loosened by wine, the Asu Cave Master said: “If only I could gather with friends like this often.”

Deputy Magistrate Guan, his words slurring, said: “Enjoy each day as it comes.”

The two could not understand each other’s language and each was speaking for himself — yet somehow the conversation held up, it simply could not arrive at any conclusion.

When the night watchman’s clapper sounded outside and Deputy Magistrate Guan’s speech had grown thoroughly indistinct, the “Elder Brother Tree” who had accompanied the Cave Master began to look worried and exchanged glances with Zhao Su. Zhù Ying noticed first, and pointed at Deputy Magistrate Guan: “He’s drunk. Help him up, get a bowl of sobering broth into him, then send him home — otherwise his household will have his hide.”

Registrar Mo was also somewhat under the influence, unsteady on his feet, and said: “I’ll see him off.”

“Elder Brother Tree” seized the opportunity to say to Zhù Ying: “The Cave Master is also drunk. I’ll help him back as well.”

Zhù Ying said: “Safe travels. Zhao Su, see your uncle off.”

She rose to her feet and watched each of her guests make their way out of the county office one by one. Then she watched the restaurant staff collect and carry away all their wares before returning to the rear residence.

At home, Zhang Xiangu had no need to worry about Zhù Ying drinking, and asked: “The new neighbor — how did it go?”

“Pretending to be drunk.”

“Hmph! A belly full of scheming!” was Zhang Xiangu’s verdict. “It’s late. Get some rest. Pull down the gauze window — the insects are out.”

“Right.”

——

The Asu Cave Master was helped back to the post station by his attendants and his nephew. “Elder Brother Tree” said: “Drinking this much — his head will ache tomorrow.”

Zhao Su said: “He should have had some sobering broth before coming back.”

“Probably wouldn’t have helped…”

The Asu Cave Master abruptly sat up from his bed. “What are you two going on about?” He got up, wiped his face, and said: “This little county magistrate is not easy to deal with.”

“Uncle?”

“Heh heh! I came here to get things done — how could I have gotten drunk? Come here, child — there’s something I need to entrust to you.” The Asu Cave Master spoke.

This side of his uncle left Zhao Su at a complete loss. He obediently stepped forward and was promptly grabbed by the head and given a thorough ruffling: “Looking like a little old man. Well, it’s not your fault — you’re a child who has been wronged. I don’t blame you. What can we do? For our two families to be on good terms, we must form a marriage alliance. Marriage means children. Getting along well with those in the lowlands is what will spare you some hardship.”

This time Zhao Su felt not the slightest resistance to the word “our.” He said softly: “Uncle.” From childhood to now, his uncle had always treated him with more indulgence than even his own mother.

The Asu Cave Master said: “I still want to ask you plainly — this ‘adoptive father’ of yours, do you truly think he is sincere about wanting to be on good terms with our people?”

Zhao Su straightened. He had drunk a little wine himself, but the effects had mostly faded by now. He said: “Adoptive Father is a very good person.”

The Asu Cave Master said: “That’s good then, that’s good. Good to you means good to all of us.”

“Yes.”

“He must stay good to us from now on!” the Asu Cave Master pressed.

“Elder Brother Tree” said from the side: “He looks decent enough. If he lets us down, we simply go back to the village and endure. It would be harder, but there’s that.”

The Asu Cave Master gave a bitter smile: “Only if we can endure it, though. Child, go get some rest.”

This nephew of his had a somewhat prickly personality, yet he was a clever boy who should be a good judge of character. Combined with several transactions through which the Asu Cave Master had observed things for himself, he felt this little county magistrate could be trusted — and so he settled his mind and went peacefully to sleep.

The next morning he rose a little late. After breakfast he was in no hurry to go to the county office and press Zhù Ying, but instead wandered through the county town again. Zhao Su had been unable to attend school these past few days and came to keep his uncle company, doubling as his interpreter. The Asu Cave Master said: “You don’t need to accompany me — I’ll find a merchant who speaks the language.”

Zhao Su said: “They’re not as good as I am.” If a merchant had private interests of his own, or if something else went wrong, that would be inconvenient.

They went again to the market. The Asu Cave Master pointed at the character-inscription stele and asked: “I noticed this yesterday — what is it?”

Zhao Su explained: “A character-inscription stele. Adoptive Father had it written by Master Liu from the capital, then put the characters to a song. Anyone who can speak and sing can learn to recognize characters by singing the song and matching it against the stele.”

The Asu Cave Master stood before the stele for a long while, then said: “Why are all the capable people born in the lowlands?” He sighed for quite some time, and after that had no heart left to look at anything else, and said he wanted to return to the post station. Zhao Su assumed he was tired and said: “Shall we rest? Was the food last night good? I’ll go get some more for you, Uncle.”

The Asu Cave Master smiled warmly and said: “Good — let us eat some good food while we wait for your adoptive father’s reply.”

——

Zhao Su’s adoptive father was at the county office writing letters. Another one to Zheng Xi — apart from the usual greetings, she also wanted to ask Zheng Xi if there was anything he needed purchased from the south. Since she was in the south, she could source goods.

When the letter was finished, she summoned Deputy Magistrate Guan, the county commandant, Registrar Mo, and others, and announced something: “I intend to pay a personal visit to the Asu family’s village.”

Deputy Magistrate Guan and the others were stunned. Registrar Mo leapt to his feet. They all erupted at once with one voice: “My Lord, you must not!”

Zhù Ying said: “Tell me — what is it you think the Asu Cave Master came here for? He wants to open a trading market.”

Deputy Magistrate Guan said: “We have traded with them a few times and their reliability is passable. We can simply petition the court — why must my Lord personally venture into danger?”

Zhù Ying said: “Now there’s an interesting statement.”

“The ‘interesting’ is my near-dying-of-anxiety kind of interesting, my Lord.”

Zhù Ying said: “What do you mean by ‘venturing into danger’? If you believe it is dangerous, then how can you dare petition the court to open a trading market at all?”

“Then we simply won’t open one,” Registrar Mo said flatly.

Deputy Magistrate Guan shot him a look, thinking: you fool, can’t you read the situation? My Lord wants to use the mountain folk to build her political achievements — does she have any choice but to open it? This lord of ours has great ambitions!

Deputy Magistrate Guan did not mock Zhù Ying’s aspirations as wishful thinking. In his estimation, Zhù Ying was a person of real ability — perhaps she truly could pull it off. He was simply worried that this time his superior really was taking quite a risk. In all his years — no, in over twenty years — only a handful of merchants had perhaps entered the mountains and returned. The relationship between mountain and lowland had been mired in mutual distrust since the last upheaval.

All this talk of the Asu Cave Master giving his trust by marrying off his sister — Deputy Magistrate Guan’s instinct was not to believe it. Just look at those enslaved people exchanged not long ago — proof enough that each side had been taking advantage of the other.

If his superior came to harm, what good would come to any of them? Deputy Magistrate Guan was deeply worried.

Zhù Ying said: “Don’t worry. I still have the ability to protect myself. They have come down to us — we cannot refuse to take this on.”

Deputy Magistrate Guan said: “Perhaps… we could ask the prefecture to send soldiers as an escort?”

Zhù Ying said: “Nonsense.”

Beyond the capital’s imperial guards, the court maintained garrison armies at various locations. Fuluo County could loosely be considered a “border” area, but the mountain folk were not quite the same as the northern peoples, so it was not quite a “border” in the usual sense. The county had previously maintained very few garrison troops, primarily to watch over the convict labor camp. As the convicts had been transferred to the prefectural city, the soldiers had gone with them.

There were still troops available for emergencies, but they were stationed in the Southern Prefecture and based mainly at the boundary between Fuluo County and the neighboring county — one garrison watching over two counties. There had been no trouble for twenty years. Requisitioning troops required a formal request, and a formal request would stir up a great deal of noise.

Deputy Magistrate Guan refused with all his might. Zhù Ying said: “If the trading market is opened, the credit will certainly go to me. But if something goes wrong up there, I would be there and able to respond directly. If I leave, I’d only be abandoning a mess for someone else. I need to go and see the situation for myself. My mind is made up. There is no need to raise it again. I will propose it to the Asu Cave Master — once the terms are settled, I will go into the mountains. After I depart, the county will continue as before.”

As before meant that when Zhù Ying traveled, she sometimes went alone and sometimes brought a portion of the officials along, while a portion always remained at the office to manage affairs. This time Zhù Ying planned to go alone, since the others could not speak the language anyway. She would bring a few attendants as a token gesture — bringing too many would mean she’d have to rescue them if anything went wrong, which was not worth it.

Deputy Magistrate Guan’s eyes went glassy. He could not sit still. He thought about going to find Elder Gu and the others to discuss it, then reconsidered: what would be the point of going to Gu? Those wealthy men looked clever and cunning, but they had been thoroughly brought to heel from last year until now. What use were they? Besides, they were civilians and my Lord was an official — what difference could they make? He really was losing his mind!

Reluctantly he acquiesced. Registrar Mo shot him frantic glances. Deputy Magistrate Guan said: “Since my Lord’s mind is made up, we dare not obstruct further. We only ask that my Lord keep the people foremost in mind — if the situation turns unfavorable, do not linger, descend the mountain immediately. And let the county commandant station some able-bodied soldiers at the foot of the mountain to await my Lord’s return!”

Zhù Ying said: “Agreed.”

Registrar Mo wanted to throttle Deputy Magistrate Guan, and stared daggers at him. Deputy Magistrate Guan grabbed him and dragged him away.

Registrar Mo stumbled along until the two of them were inside Deputy Magistrate Guan’s room with the door and windows shut. Only then did Registrar Mo burst out: “Have you lost your mind?” Deputy Magistrate Guan said: “Quiet! Yes, that face you’re making right now — put it on and come with me to the rear residence!”

The look on Registrar Mo’s face at that moment dissolved into smiling delight: “Right! We go tell her parents!”

——

Guan and Mo did not know it, but Zhù Ying was not the sort of daughter who listened to her parents.

They were right about one thing, however: Zhù Da and Zhang Xiangu, upon hearing that their child wanted to go to a “mountain folk village,” both turned pale green simultaneously: “What?”

Guan and Mo said: “Elder and Madam, you heard correctly — my Lord is thinking of going up the mountain to have a look! Think about it — my Lord has already governed our county so well! Why risk it?!”

Zhang Xiangu murmured: “She can’t just go wandering into the neighbors’ home like that!”

“Exactly, exactly!” The two of them nodded furiously like chickens pecking grain. Seeing that the parents had understood, they pressed further: “Please don’t say it was us who told you.”

Zhang Xiangu said: “Don’t worry.”

Only then did the two take their leave.

The moment they were gone, Zhù Da and Zhang Xiangu began pacing the room. The circles they paced were in different directions. There was a thud as they collided. There was no time to scold each other; they went back to pacing separately, both muttering: “This won’t do, this won’t do.”

They had no ambitions for their child to rise to dukedoms or ministerial glory. What was all this hard striving for? She was already county magistrate! Yes, the place was a little hardscrabble, but her word was law there! Life at home wasn’t bad at all. Far from the capital, and safe.

“What is she trying to accomplish?” Zhang Xiangu fumed, hopping with agitation.

Huajie had been standing to one side all along. She was worried about Zhù Ying too, but seeing the two elders like this, she actually grew calmer. She said: “Godfather, Godmother — please slow down and hear me out.”

Huajie was always steady and reliable. Zhang Xiangu reluctantly said: “Go on.”

Huajie said: “When has Xiao Zhù ever done something without calculating it first? Think about it — when has anything she has set out to do turned out worse than expected? The thing looks difficult, yes, but this is Xiao Zhù we’re talking about. If she’s doing this, she has her reasons, and she has the ability to see it through. And besides, we haven’t even spoken to her yet. We’re letting two outsiders’ words send us into a panic before we’ve asked a single question ourselves. What if they misheard, or misunderstood? I know what you two are truly worried about — that particular matter. Xiao Zhù would not suggest something like this unless she had a plan. Rather than standing here fretting uselessly, why don’t we ask her? What do you think?”

Zhù Da said: “Right! Call her here and ask her. Don’t let her slip away.”

Zhang Xiangu said: “She hasn’t packed any bags — where would she slip off to?”

Huajie sent Du Dajie to go and fetch Zhù Ying back from the front office.

Although the two elders had their unreliable moments, whenever Zhù Ying was attending to serious business they were always quiet about it. This was the middle of the day when she handled official duties — being summoned now meant something was up. Zhù Ying walked toward the rear residence and along the way asked Du Dajie: “Is something the matter?”

Du Dajie shook her head: “I don’t know the details. Only that Deputy Magistrate Guan and Registrar Mo came to the house and didn’t let me stand by and listen, so only the two elders and the young mistress were there. Then the two men left, the two elders went into a panic, and the young mistress sent me to fetch my Lord.”

Ah…

Zhù Ying laughed despite herself. Du Dajie looked at her curiously — she was still laughing, as though something particularly amusing had happened.

So nothing too serious, then. Du Dajie relaxed. Ever since she had come to this household, nothing had ever been too much for my Lord to handle.

And so it proved.

The moment Zhù Ying reached the rear residence, Zhang Xiangu pulled her inside. Before shutting the door, she remembered to say to Du Dajie: “Du Dajie, go stand watch outside — don’t let anyone come near.” In doing so, she also shut Du Dajie out.

Once inside, Zhang Xiangu wasted no time on pleasantries. Left hand gripping Zhù Ying’s sleeve, right hand index finger jabbing at Zhù Ying’s forehead: “Look at you! You really don’t know how to write the character for ‘death,’ do you!”

Zhù Ying tilted her head to one side and dodged, saying: “Of course I know how to write it! Does Mother know how to write it?”

Zhang Xiangu grew even more furious and was about to start hitting — she had not done such a thing in more than ten years. Zhù Ying had no intention of standing there and taking the blows. She slipped free with a dart and said: “All right, all right, don’t be angry. Everyone come over here — let me explain. Father come over too, and Elder Sister.”

Seeing that she genuinely seemed to have something to say, all three moved closer with suspicious expressions. Zhang Xiangu’s mouth kept going: “Let’s hear how you spin this!”

But Zhù Ying lowered her voice and began to speak seriously: “I know what you’re worried about. There is no one by my side who can dress as a pageboy and stay close to me, and every attendant who travels with me is male. Mother and Elder Sister both want to be there to cover for me — I know all of this. But have you considered: there are thieves who steal for a thousand days, but no one who guards against thieves for a thousand days. I am both the thief and the guard. Better to prepare for one thing in ten thousand going wrong than to ignore it — what if I am exposed someday? Mother, when you first raised me as a son, did you have a plan for that?”

Zhang Xiangu’s mouth opened: “How would I have known to plan for the future? I was just dealing with things one day at a time!”

“No way out then?” Zhù Ying looked at Zhang Xiangu in surprise.

“Don’t change the subject!” Zhù Da had also put on a stern face. “That matter I choose not to pursue. But what if someone else pursues it? You still dare to go gallivanting around? Let me tell you — we came all this way here, you say one is one and two is two, everything is steady and reliable! Why are you seeking your own death? Our lives here are good!”

Zhang Xiangu said: “Is a mountain folk village a place anyone can just walk into? You go in — how many days before you can come back? What if the time comes and you don’t return? Or what if your timing goes wrong? No! If you want to go, I’d sooner die first.”

Zhù Ying said: “Hear me out. The worry is all about that one thing. Isn’t it? All right — I’ll be honest with you: what I am doing now is precisely for the sake of that one thing. Don’t interrupt. I need to prepare an escape route. Rather than living in constant fear of being exposed, it is better to plan for what to do after being exposed — that way there is nothing to fear anymore.”

Huajie’s eyes lit up: “Xiao Zhù…”

“Exactly. You have all been afraid of this for far too long, and I have thought it through. When the time comes, not even Lord Wang or Lord Zheng or Lord Chen will be able to protect me. Even if I rose to be Prime Minister, the foundation would be false — the moment it cracked, the whole tower would come down in an instant! My life might survive, but not without turmoil, and I could no longer hold any office, the household would be lost, I could never show my face again, all for nothing — that won’t do!”

Zhù Da and Zhang Xiangu both fell silent. Zhang Xiangu asked: “What does this have to do with you going up to the mountain folk village and making trouble for yourself?”

“You didn’t follow me. There is no one at court who would protect me, or protect my future, or protect our whole family. So I must do it myself. The capital offers nothing — so I look beyond the capital. Why else would I come all the way out here?

The ‘mountain folk’ are the escape route I intend to secure for us. I need to bind myself to them so tightly that they cannot do without me. Then, when the time comes, the court will still need to use me, and cannot hold too much against me — or even if they wish to, in the end they will have to tolerate me.”

Zhang Xiangu’s brow was deeply furrowed. Zhù Ying said: “Think of it like this — a person whose own family no longer has room for them. If the neighbor’s household cannot do without that person, even as a hired hand or odd-job worker, they can still find a decent enough place. And then their own family will weigh things up as well, won’t they?”

Zhù Da said in shock: “Rebellion?”

Zhù Ying said: “Who said anything about that? The mountain folk’s capacity for rebellion is not very great — I’ve done the calculations, rebellion is not really feasible. I am using other means to make the court unable to do without me if they want to keep this territory. I need to see the village with my own eyes before I can take the next step. Relying only on what I observe from down the mountain without ever going up — that simply won’t do.”

Zhù Da said: “Would those people cooperate so easily? They’d stand up for you?”

Zhù Ying said: “How would that work? I am helping them too. Right now they have matters they are coming to me for help with.”

Zhang Xiangu said: “You really do think big! Going ahead and doing this without telling us.”

Zhù Ying thought: when we were still running the fortune-telling business at home, I started saving money to open a tea stall without telling you either. What is there to be surprised about?

Huajie said: “Then you will have to work very hard.”

Zhù Ying laughed: “What is wrong with all of you — why do you always say things are hard for me? I enjoy this.”

Zhang Xiangu was more or less convinced by the “neighbor” analogy, yet still worried about her child’s safety. Zhù Ying said: “Your child has already walked out through the gates of death once. I have no desire to make that trip again. Rest assured — the moment I see something is wrong, I will run! I have always been good at running, haven’t I?”

Zhang Xiangu sighed: “This is all my sin.”

Zhù Da did not dare make a peep, crouching on the ground and tugging at the hem of Zhang Xiangu’s skirt.

Zhù Ying said: “So that’s settled?”

All three nodded in silence. Zhù Ying reminded them once more: “Good — and we all agreed: no more calling them ‘mountain folk.’ Zhao Su’s uncle is from the Asu family. Yes?”

“Fine.”

——

Zhù Ying had a plan for her parents and Huajie as well. If Guan and Mo had not told on her ahead of time, she would have spoken to the household herself later that evening.

Having explained everything, Zhù Ying did not immediately return to the front office and its duties. Instead she pulled the door open, went to the kitchen, rummaged until she found some fried dried fish, put a piece on a plate, ate one herself, then carried the plate to Huajie’s room to feed the cat. One piece for her, one piece for the cat — and when she found the cat had not yet finished the last piece, she simply ate another herself.

When Huajie came back, the cat was gazing at the empty plate with an aggrieved expression.

Zhù Ying set the plate on the table with no trace of guilt, dropped onto a stool, and said: “You’re back?”

“Yes. They’re not angry anymore — now they’re blaming themselves. Godfather doesn’t say anything, but he’s worried about you too.”

Zhù Ying said: “Don’t let them hoodwink you — keep a close eye on those two. If I step out the door and they get anxious enough to try following me, you must stop them at all costs. I can get away on my own, but I can’t run with them in tow.”

Huajie said seriously: “That dangerous? Then can’t you do something less dangerous first?”

Zhù Ying shook her head: “This is already the worst-case scenario. Now that we have been through several rounds of transactions to test the waters, it is far less dangerous than it was at the start. Think about it — the blood feud of a murdered father may not have been my doing, but the government did it, and then spent years sending in troops to suppress them. Even if it were me, I might have nursed thoughts of revenge — so how is it that they are cooperating this willingly? There must be a story behind it. Several transactions now, and they have shown no ill intent. I feel they are even more eager than I am. And furthermore…”

“Yes?”

“The Cave Master has four sons, yet he sent his daughter down the mountain, and this time came in person. Either I am unimportant and he could dispatch any daughter to deal with me casually, or his daughter is unimportant and it would not matter if something happened to her at my hands. But he has come personally. So neither of those is the case. Understanding the full situation is very important to me — which is why I must go.”

Huajie took Zhù Ying’s hand in both of hers.

Zhù Ying smiled, and patted the back of her hand: “I need to bury a fragment of my soul here. If one day I die in the capital or die back in the hometown, I can be reborn in this place.”

“Don’t talk about dying! You will absolutely succeed!”

Zhù Ying said: “One who does not plan for the long term cannot plan for the short term; one who does not plan for the whole cannot plan for a part. When I speak of ‘death,’ it is precisely to plan for ‘life.'”

“You will absolutely manage it!”

Zhù Ying said: “Even if it doesn’t work out this time, it doesn’t matter. A person has three souls and seven spirits — I can bury another one somewhere else and start again.

Don’t rush. I still have some confidence. They are also in a difficult situation, you know — look at those enslaved people who were exchanged back. They live far worse than the servants here. Why? Because people become cheap when there are too many of them — not enough money to feed so many, so they start cutting corners from the bottom. When I see their father and daughter looking for salt, iron, rice, and farming tools, and notice the blacksmith’s shop carries not just weapons but also farm implements, I know they do not intend to go on living like this forever. They want better, at least a little better.”

Huajie said: “When you put it that way, they do have aspirations. Those exchanged enslaved people were in such a wretched state… The books say that when people of the frontier tribes develop aspirations, the outcome is usually not good. I am also a little worried that if they grow powerful and rebel against the court, you would be implicated — wouldn’t that make things worse for you?”

“Worry about what?” Zhù Ying laughed. “Look at me — if I appear as my true self, the court cannot tolerate me as it is. Am I afraid of being implicated? No — but endless war and suffering cause too much misery. I don’t want things to come to that, and I will do my best to prevent it. Look — the enslaved people were exchanged back, weren’t they?”

Huajie said: “You’ve thought it all through, so that means there is a way. Since life is taking root here and we are to live well in this place from now on, then we must do our best. My medicinal formula is ready, and it seems to have some effect. I am afraid of dosage variances, so I started with small amounts, brewed into a cooling tea to taste. If it works well, I will publish the formula! That would ease some of the suffering in this ‘miasmal land’ and help more people stay. Will that help you?”

“Look at you! Everyone says I have a good heart, but I’m the one with self-interest — you are all pure good intention.”

“That’s because you protect me, which lets me be the good person,” Huajie said, growing shy. “Go on, busy person — I’ll watch over Godfather and Godmother with Du Dajie and Xiao Qi.”

Zhù Ying rose and said: “I’ll leave Xiao Wu here for you — he’s sharp-witted. I need to take Hou Wu with me. Cao Chang… I’ll take him too. If he stays here, he might end up following Father and Mother’s instructions and taking them out of the city.”

The two settled on their arrangements, and Zhù Ying went to pay a visit to the Asu Cave Master.

——

That day the sky was overcast, rain threatening but not yet falling.

When the Asu Cave Master heard that Zhù Ying had come, his heart leapt with pleasure. He got to his feet quickly, walked to the doorway, and then deliberately slowed his steps.

Zhù Ying stepped into the post station to find the Asu Cave Master standing on the entrance steps looking as though he were in no particular hurry. The Cave Master seemed genuinely surprised, and said: “The magistrate has come early — have you made up your mind?”

Zhù Ying smiled and said: “I have.”

“The magistrate is a forthright person! Come inside and let us talk!”

“Gladly.”

The two spoke rapidly. Zhao Su, standing to the side, almost failed to find an opening to even call out “Adoptive Father.”

Zhù Ying went inside and sat across from the Cave Master. Meeting the Asu Cave Master’s gaze, Zhù Ying said directly, without evasion: “Cave Master, I would like to personally come and see your village.”

The Asu Cave Master’s smile froze: “Wh — what?” In his shock he looked toward Zhao Su, and found his nephew equally stunned — Zhao Su had not known of this either.

Zhù Ying said: “There is no need to look at him. When I negotiate with you, I do not tell him in advance. He is already in a difficult position caught between two sides — if I had told him, he would have had to figure out whether to say something, and what to say. Let us speak only of our own affairs.”

The Asu Cave Master said: “Why?”

“You and your younger sister have both come, and this Elder Brother Tree has come as well. I have let you enter my county office freely. You may look wherever you wish throughout this town — the markets, the workshops, the fields, every shop — I have not instructed anyone to obstruct or guard against you. Is that not so?”

The Asu Cave Master’s expression remained unreadable.

Zhù Ying said: “I know trust is hard to come by. Two strangers find it difficult to trust each other, let alone when the Cave Master and the court have some grievances between them. So I have opened the door first — all my sincerity is laid out here. Should you not let me see a measure of yours? I cannot go petitioning the court knowing absolutely nothing.”

She gestured toward Zhao Su and said: “I will bring only my few attendants. I won’t require your sister or Zhao Su to remain in the county as hostages — we can depart together if you prefer. I am his adoptive father and you are his uncle — family paying a family visit. Is that acceptable?”

The Asu Cave Master said: “Is the magistrate determined to come to my village? You will refuse our arrangement if you don’t come?”

Zhù Ying said: “I understand your family’s history, and your wariness of government authorities is justified. I am trying my best to change that. Your mountain holds how many cattle, horses, and tea leaves? How much can be traded? Let me finish first. Fuluo County, though poor by some standards, is more abundantly supplied than your village. One plowshare is worth three of your enslaved people in trade — how many enslaved people do you have to exchange? Even if a trading market is opened, can such transactions be sustained? I worry that your output, measured against mine, may be too little — a few trades and you will have stripped your household bare, which would cause serious trouble. Let me go and take a look so I can plan more thoroughly. Whether you agree or not is your choice.”

The Asu Cave Master sighed: “Very well. You are a capable person, and a good-hearted one. If you had bad intentions I would already be dead. You are so capable — please stop speaking this honestly to other people. If someone heard you talking like this, they might want to kill you.”

Zhao Su quietly murmured: “Uncle.”

The Asu Cave Master said: “My nephew’s adoptive father, you are a good person. But the world has many bad people. A capable person — if they cannot be obtained, they must be killed, lest they be used by someone else or become your enemy. A precious treasure — if they cannot be obtained, it must be destroyed, lest another acquire it and flaunt it.”

Zhù Ying smiled: “I have teeth of my own.”

Only then did the Asu Cave Master break into a genuine laugh, and said: “The pigs at my home are very well-fed, and the wine is very sweet — a pity you do not drink.”

“If you are the host, I will drink.”