A son-in-law was a guest of honor.

Elder Lin, hearing his son-in-law had come, dared not be negligent. He set the matter of the Fellow Townsmen’s Guild aside for the moment, giving his full attention to receiving this distinguished guest properly.

Father and son reached the gate of the house to find quite a number of carts and horses outside, and several servants unloading gifts from the carts — things the daughter and son-in-law had brought with them. The Lin family’s compound suddenly overflowed with people, some servants drifting outside to lounge around. In the gatehouse, one servant leaned against a pillar, boasting to other servants: “Would I lie to you? The Master’s generosity — oh, I get my share of wine too!”

Elder Lin barked, “What are you doing here? Where’s Second Son? Has he come too? Who’s keeping watch at home?”

The servant gave a start and quickly made a deep bow. “Elder Master! Second Son is inside too. This servant came with Second Son. Fifth Son stayed home to keep watch.”

Second Son was one of the sons Elder Lin had posted to the countryside to manage family property. Elder Lin himself lived in the county seat with his eldest and youngest sons. His family was large and prosperous — of the sons who had grown to adulthood, there were eight of them — with enough family members that there was no need to hire outsiders. The grown sons were divided between those watching over the rural estates and those attending school in the county seat. Elder Lin took pride in having so many children and grandchildren, but also fretted that with so many sons the family property would never stretch far enough, and he was always thinking of new ways to open up opportunities.

So his son-in-law was especially worth cultivating.

Elder Lin straightened his robes, cleared his throat, and only raised his voice once he was nearly at the main hall. “Is it my good son-in-law who has come?”

Inside, his son-in-law Huang the Twelfth and his son Lin the First and the other brothers had heard him coming and all came out together to greet him. “Father-in-law, I hope you are well.” “Father.”

Huang the Twelfth was a man of about thirty, slightly heavyset, with a rounded belly — a solidly built figure with a waist that would have taken ten hands to encircle. A leather belt sat low across the belly, hung with several ornaments. He was a little on the short side, with regular features and perfectly courteous manners.

The entire Lin family treated him as something to be handled with great care. The brothers ushered Elder Lin and Huang the Twelfth together into the hall — father-in-law and son-in-law at the head, brothers ranged below. Servants brought fresh tea, and Elder Lin asked, “My good son-in-law, what brings you here this time?”

Huang the Twelfth moved with easy assurance in the Lin household. He said, “There is actually something I came to ask of my father-in-law, though I am not sure how to bring it up.”

Elder Lin had expected there must be some purpose to the visit. Huang the Twelfth’s estate in Sicheng County was extremely comfortable — if he wanted to clear his head, he went to the prefectural city or the provincial capital. He didn’t visit every year even for Elder Lin’s birthday; to come at an unremarkable time like this, there had to be a reason.

Elder Lin had food and wine brought, saying, “Come — tell me slowly.”

The banquet had begun to be prepared the moment Huang the Twelfth stepped through the door, and a word from Elder Lin sent a stream of manservants filing in — carrying tables, setting out seats, arranging dishes. Father-in-law and son-in-law graciously gave way to each other over the seats of honor before settling in. Lin the Eighth poured wine for his father and his brother-in-law, filled their cups, then returned to his own place, and the manservants took over the wine flasks.

Elder Lin and his son-in-law both raised their chopsticks together; only then did the Lin brothers take up theirs. They quickly set them down and began exchanging toasts. After a few more cups the real subject came up. Huang the Twelfth set down his chopsticks again, wiped his hands, and said to Elder Lin, “This son-in-law wishes to transfer his household registration here, and further asks my father-in-law to kindly make the introductions — to the county magistrate and to the prominent families of the county.”

Elder Lin was greatly startled. “For what reason?”

Huang the Twelfth smiled a little, picked up an orange from the table, and said, “In winter one doesn’t notice — now it seems like quite a rare thing. Father-in-law, why the surprise? This son-in-law holds fields and property in both Sicheng County and Fulu County — saying I’m a Fulu County household would not be wrong at all. It’s simply that the registered household was previously in Sicheng County, and now I’d like to move it to Fulu County.”

Huang the Twelfth held property worth a fortune and land stretching from boundary to boundary. He was the only son in his family — the name “Twelfth” was chosen for good fortune, with eleven elder sisters before him. The Huang family had been in Sicheng County for over a hundred years, a household of known wealth. That they had married outside Sicheng County and chosen a bride from Lin’s family in Fulu County showed they had been looking for something in particular — Elder Lin’s ten sons, three daughters, with eight sons and one daughter surviving to the present day — the exact mirror image of the Huang family. It was Elder Lin’s family that had married up in this arrangement.

Elder Lin still found it inconceivable. “My good son-in-law — your family has been in Sicheng County for how many years? How can you abandon your ancestral home so lightly?”

Huang the Twelfth laughed. “Father-in-law, what do you mean by that? I am only changing my household registration — does that constitute abandoning my ancestral home? I intend precisely to expand and develop it!”

“And how do you figure that? You must explain this clearly, son-in-law.”

Huang the Twelfth made no attempt to conceal things. “I have seen something in the county magistrate — she has considerably more ability than the magistrate of Sicheng County. Coming here is not a bad deal.”

Lin the Eighth said, “Quite so! Our Magistrate Zhù is exceptionally capable.”

Elder Lin shot a quick sideways glance at his youngest son, then thought for a moment. “Son-in-law, when it comes to winter wheat — I hear Sicheng County’s Magistrate Qiu and the others are also preparing to plant it, and it isn’t only Fulu County that will be growing it. Magistrate Zhù doesn’t keep these things to herself — she shares the planting methods. The new prefect, I’m told, has a prior acquaintance with Magistrate Zhù. With things as promising as they are, the prefect will certainly want to have achievements to show for himself too, and will push for it — perhaps this very winter it will be planted in Sicheng County as well…”

He was the sort of elderly person who tended to ramble, and at bottom he believed that one’s native place and ancestral registration were not things to be lightly discarded.

But Huang the Twelfth said, “Winter wheat? I’m not particularly interested in that — they’ll come to me when they want to plant on my land.”

Lin the First glanced at his brother-in-law, sighed inwardly, and bowed his head to pick up a chopstick-load of food and stuff it silently into his mouth. Huang the Twelfth had that kind of confidence — in Fulu County, no single landlord could dominate, but in Sicheng County, Huang the Twelfth was a landowner everyone knew. When something happened in Fulu County, anyone who wouldn’t cooperate could only watch others eat their fill; in Sicheng County, it was very hard for anyone to ignore Huang the Twelfth.

Comparing people makes you miserable!

Elder Lin said, “Then what is it? Son-in-law, you must be honest with me, otherwise I can’t very well speak on your behalf either. Not to hide anything from you — Magistrate Zhù has sharp eyes and a clear mind. Once your household registration transfers here, the tax situation is not going to be the same as in Sicheng County. That land of yours that hasn’t been declared — I’m afraid that will be a problem.”

Huang the Twelfth’s landholdings were mostly in Sicheng County, with some in Fulu County and another county as well — and naturally a portion was undeclared. Even someone as sharp as Zhù Ying couldn’t walk every inch of the county herself. Fulu County still had fish that slipped through the net, and every so often Zhù Ying had to stir up the gentry and shake a bit more out of them. A situation like the Huang family’s — land straddling two counties — was even more complicated. Huang the Twelfth was registered in Sicheng County, and Fulu County in the past had been a chaotic mess, with no one paying proper attention. After Zhù Ying arrived, she hadn’t known about Huang the Twelfth at all, so his land and tenants in Fulu County had never appeared on the county’s rolls. He had been invisible.

Now he was jumping out on his own — wasn’t he practically asking to be embarrassed?

Elder Lin was thoroughly puzzled. This son-in-law didn’t look like a fool — so what was he playing at?

Huang the Twelfth said, “I hear the new prefect has a prior acquaintance with Magistrate Zhù.”

“You mean…?” Elder Lin thought he had guessed the reason.

Huang the Twelfth said with a distant, contemplative air, “I’ve been watching Fulu County from the sidelines for two or three years now — ever since my father-in-law mentioned it to me. I’ve formed some thoughts. I would ask my father-in-law to help make this possible.”

Lin the Eighth half-rose from his chair, then was grabbed by the arm and yanked back into it by Lin the First. Lin the First gave his younger brother a look. “Can’t even sit still to eat!” This boy was always too impulsive — those who studied at the county school tended to have an extra measure of admiration for the county magistrate, and hearing about someone coming to seek her out had him acting like he couldn’t contain himself!

Was Huang the Twelfth the sort to be carried away by enthusiasm?

Elder Lin sighed. “Who wouldn’t want in? Everyone in this county does. Son-in-law, you’ve come rather late. And you can’t expect to cut in line, either. Furthermore, you should not hold out any false hopes — taxes are one thing, but Magistrate Zhù tends to keep things scrupulously fair. You can scrape the bowl clean but not lick it. Your temper is not a small one, and the magistrate’s eye will not tolerate grit in it.”

Huang the Twelfth said, “Is my father-in-law unwilling to help me?”

“How could that be?” Elder Lin said. “Since you’ve come to me, I have a duty to give you my honest counsel, as your father-in-law. Tell me the truth now — is there anything else beyond this? For just this alone, it wouldn’t be worth it. Even without transferring the household registration, you could come by more often, stay here with me for a spell, and I could find a suitable moment to make an introduction.”

“A dog, however fierce, is still a dog that guards the gate. As long as the dog belongs to the household, the master has nothing to fear. This son-in-law wants to belong to this household.”

Elder Lin’s face went dark. Lin the First’s chopstick dropped the piece of chicken straight into the dish. The Lin brothers froze as if rooted to the spot.

“Slap!” Lin the Eighth slammed his palm on the table and shot to his feet. “Huang the Twelfth! Those are extraordinarily rude words! You are in our family’s home and you talk like this about our magistrate. If you weren’t my brother-in-law, I’d have hauled off and hit you by now.”

Lin the First set down his chopsticks and said, “Huang the Twelfth, Magistrate Zhù is a just and upright person. These past years our family has not had any particular special favors from her, yet we have been eating her rice all the same. In our home, such rudeness cannot be tolerated.” The other brothers all nodded in agreement. Those like Lin the Seventh who felt too awkward or didn’t quite dare offend their brother-in-law nodded and then shifted uncomfortably, giving a low cough or two to clear their throats.

Elder Lin’s voice came out heavy and low. “Eighth Son.” He reined in his youngest son first, then turned to Huang the Twelfth, speaking seriously. “Magistrate Zhù has a deep hold on the people’s hearts. With that kind of casual arrogance, son-in-law, you would be asking for trouble the moment you arrived in Fulu County — I fear you would regret it when it was too late. Your father, on his deathbed, also entrusted me to give you good counsel afterward.”

Huang the Twelfth waited patiently until Elder Lin finished, then said, “All right, all right — shall we say it was my mistake? Admit I was wrong?” He took the wine flask from a manservant and refilled Elder Lin’s cup himself. “Father-in-law is right to correct me. I’ve been spoiled and indulged since childhood and don’t always watch my words. Many thanks for the lesson.”

Elder Lin’s expression softened a little. “Son-in-law, your family is doing smoothly in Sicheng County. Coming to a new place means starting all over again from the bottom — why put yourself through that? And if it’s simply about an introduction, there’s really no need to do all this. Even without registering your household here, you could come by more often, and I can find a moment to introduce you.”

Huang the Twelfth and Elder Lin clinked cups and both drank. Then Huang the Twelfth said, “There’s something to what you say. But my father-in-law seems quite content in Fulu County.”

“Indeed — when things come from far away they are precious, but a person who wanders far from home is worth less. Of course one’s home county is best.”

Huang the Twelfth said, “The Fellow Townsmen’s Guilds are not in our home county either — and yet they’re quite good, aren’t they?”

Elder Lin felt a prick in his heart. Lin the First also asked, “Father, is there truly no changing it?”

Elder Lin let out a sigh. “The magistrate has already taken those people with her to the prefectural city — how would we change anything?”

Huang the Twelfth said, “What a pity, what a pity. I should have transferred the household registration sooner.”

Elder Lin said, “You? So that’s the plan you had?”

Huang the Twelfth had no choice but to say, “Father-in-law’s correction stands — who would transfer a whole household registration just to meet the prefect? That was my intention too, but it’s not too late. Think about it: a neighboring county has a guild, the prefectural city has one too, and now the provincial capital as well — next, I imagine, it’ll be the capital itself?”

He smiled placidly, and it was only at this moment that the Lin father and sons felt they finally understood what he meant. A Fellow Townsmen’s Guild was no easy thing to establish — you needed a location, you needed your fellow countrymen’s trust, you needed to be able to hold your ground. Left to voluntary, informal gatherings of people living away from home, it could take until the year of the monkey before anything took shape, and might be squeezed out before it ever did. The difference with Fulu County’s Fellow Townsmen’s Guilds was that they had the county yamen’s backing.

Huang the Twelfth had land and money, that was true enough — but once he left his home registration, his word didn’t carry the same weight. He couldn’t set up a guild by himself, and even if he could, who knew how much he’d have to spend buying his way through. Attaching himself to Zhù Ying’s coattails, on the other hand — the benefits were simply too great. As for taxes and such, Huang the Twelfth wasn’t worried. Zhù Ying was already in her second term; someone this capable was clearly heading for higher things. Get the benefits first, and when Zhù Ying left, he’d either shift his registration back or simply use his connections in the capital — that was also perfectly manageable. He had ambitions, even inclinations toward officialdom, and kept certain thoughts concealed even from his father-in-law.

Huang the Twelfth said, “My father-in-law is the elder of Fulu County. A fine opportunity like this should by rights fall to you. I suspect it is only a shortfall in capital that has held you back. How about it — father-in-law and son-in-law working together, and we set our sights on a better path next time.”

Elder Lin’s interest stirred a little. “You think it’s possible?”

Huang the Twelfth said, “I can see Magistrate Zhù is really quite capable! Since she came, Fulu County has improved so much. An exceptionally devoted son couldn’t have done better for the family’s sake. Raising them for old age — even a son isn’t always quite this useful!”

Elder Lin set his wine cup down on the table with a sharp clunk, wine jumping out in a little wave. “You’re drunk!” He had asked about their working together to go after a better guild spot, and his son-in-law had gone off into wild declarations instead.

Lin the Eighth jumped up again — this time his brother didn’t pull him back, because Lin the First had also lurched to his feet. “Huang the Twelfth!”

Huang the Twelfth was always quite at ease in his in-laws’ home and was not frightened. “The words are unpleasant to hear — but is the logic wrong? A good official truly does bring more benefit to a household than a capable and devoted son can provide. All right, all right, I was wrong, I’ll mind my words and conduct carefully from now on.”

And then in a single sentence he stopped the whole Lin family in their tracks: “If not for my sake, then for your nephew’s sake — can’t you be lenient?”

This left the Lin father and sons without a word to say. The Huang family had married a Lin daughter but afterward she had first gone years without producing a child, then produced two daughters. Huang the Twelfth himself was an only son; the Lin family felt privately that they had wronged him. The “nephew” Huang the Twelfth mentioned was actually born of a maidservant concubine, but called the Lin daughter “Mother” — all the complicated inner details were not for outsiders to know.

Elder Lin said, “Only a parent would love and look after their child like this! How can you turn it around and say it the other way? Living here, I have peace of mind. The magistrate cares for everyone — even peasants are valued and given weight. When there were bandits crossing the border to commit crimes, the magistrate personally went and caught them. You have no idea how much at ease we feel here.”

“Yes, yes, that is also what attracted me to it.”

Huang the Twelfth stayed in the Lin household for a few more days, lavishing gifts on everyone in the family and spending a good few days patiently wearing down Elder Lin with conversation. At last Elder Lin relented and agreed to make the introduction on his behalf.

Elder Lin said, “The magistrate has gone to the prefectural city — even Old Master Feng went along — it will be some time before they return. Wait for word from me.”

“Much obliged. I hope Magistrate Zhù has a smooth journey,” Huang the Twelfth said with a leisurely air.

……

And smooth it was, for Zhù Ying’s journey to the prefectural city went quite well. They arrived in just a few days.

They first settled into the relay station, and Zhù Ying, in no hurry to set up the Fellow Townsmen’s Guild, had Xiao Wu go to the prefectural governor’s residence and submit her calling card requesting an audience.

Xiao Wu went and came back swiftly, and with him was a man he had just newly met — Master Xue.

Master Xue had water glittering at his temples and hairline, and had arrived fanning himself the whole way. Outside the door he tucked the fan away at the back of his belt before entering. Zhù Ying had changed out of her road-damp clothes and sat in the room waiting for Master Xue. As he came in, he found her in a clean, cool set of clothes, looking nothing like his own disheveled, sweating state. “Magistrate Zhù is truly heaven-favored!” he said.

Zhù Ying said, “Where does that come from? Please sit, Master Xue.”

Master Xue clasped his hands in greeting, then took a seat further down. “The residence received your calling card, and when this servant saw it, I hurried over immediately.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

“It is somewhat embarrassing to explain. There is a matter involving some old accounts. Don’t misunderstand — it is nothing serious. Old accumulated debts, as everyone knows, and then there are some irregularities from the period when no one was at the helm these past few months, and we’ve already unearthed a good deal over the last month. Old Master Dong is fully capable of handling it. But our Prefect — well — he is somewhat impatient by nature. The heat has also made him irritable, and so…”

Zhù Ying understood. “I see.”

Master Xue said, “The Prefect truly does care about the people — but he doesn’t quite grasp the workings of everyday life. He wants to govern this prefecture well, yet can’t find a foothold, and this…”

Apart from his fear of examinations, Master Xue was sharp in every other respect, and it was really something that he found himself speaking in halting, roundabout sentences to a young person like this. The truth was that Leng Yun, having convinced himself that Prefect Lu had left him a pit, and then finding genuine irregularities in the accounts, had blown the thing up into a major affair. He had sworn to not lose a single scrap of what was his and had nearly fired off a memorial to the court. Master Xue and Master Dong had been frightened half to death and talked him down only with great difficulty. Leng Yun then had Master Qian draft an official document, summoning Zhù Ying to come and have a thorough discussion.

Master Xue sighed. “In truth, from the deputy prefect on down, they are capable workers — genuinely — and each also has his own motives. Our Prefect is only looking at Prefect Lu’s trace right now and hasn’t yet realized that it is those men who are the real pit Prefect Lu has left behind. The irregular accounts? The minor clerks of the residence could probably explain where each discrepancy started — but none of them will say a word. To govern through non-action, one must actually see clearly. Otherwise what is the difference between non-action and being sidelined?”

Zhù Ying understood perfectly. These were all things she had already perceived but could not properly say to Leng Yun’s face — including herself, who could also be counted as one of Prefect Lu’s pits.

She said, “It will improve. His Excellency is not the sort of person who refuses to listen to good counsel. Besides, are there not still the Masters here? I trust the Masters’ abilities to help His Excellency govern through non-action. By the way — is His Excellency free now? Let’s go and pay a visit first. I’ll not conceal from you — my father and mother have been thinking about His Excellency very much.”

Master Xue said, “Excellent, excellent! Everyone says Magistrate Zhù is someone who attends to everything — she will certainly be able to ease the Prefect’s burdens. But before that, this servant still has a matter to entrust to you.”

“Please speak, Master Xue.”

“His Excellency has given his instructions — do not let the work be done too quickly. A nobleman’s son — inevitably some degree of willfulness.” He leaned close and murmured in Zhù Ying’s ear, and his meaning was simple: gradually wear down Leng Yun’s temperament, and don’t let things go too smoothly for him. If things always worked out without a hitch, he would conclude that being a prefect was nothing at all and no trouble whatsoever — and who knew what he might take it into his head to do next.

Master Xue particularly emphasized: “It is because His Excellency’s nature is genuinely good that we, his advisors, must worry all the more.”

“I understand.”

Leng Yun’s character was not bad — otherwise Zhù Ying would have set him up to take a fall long ago. Setting up Leng Yun really was far too easy.

Zhù Ying’s family of four carried their attendants and their gifts and went with Master Xue to the prefectural governor’s residence. Master Xue, looking at all the gifts, said, “What is all this?”

Zhù Ying smiled. “It looks like a lot but it’s all local produce. The gifts are modest, but the sentiment is genuine. Don’t look down on them — there are shares for you all too.”

“I absolutely won’t accept — truly.” Master Xue declined with genuine sincerity. He had accepted plenty of gifts from others, but he was a little wary of accepting from Zhù Ying. This young person was not easy to deal with, and accepting her favors? Master Xue felt a certain unease about it — it didn’t seem like a simple matter.

Zhù Ying said, “You will accept.”

Master Xue waved his hand. “I really won’t. I am perfectly sincere with Magistrate Zhù — nothing false about my declining.”

“It’s freshly harvested winter wheat. Well? Do you want it or not?”

“I want it!”

Zhù Ying laughed a few times, and Master Xue went red in the face, saying, “I won’t hide it from you — we really have been having some trouble with the food. Even the Prefect has been thinking about it.”

Southern food at this time had almost no wheat flour — any you wanted had to be shipped from the north. The cost aside, the process was complicated. Shipping wheat flour meant spoilage and difficulty in storage along the route, so generally they shipped whole wheat and ground it as needed. Leng Yun hadn’t thought of this at first, and it was only after settling into the residence for a while and thinking of the soups and pancakes and baked breads he was used to that his mood went further downhill. Having something comfortable to eat, while not capable of keeping Leng Yun entirely calm, would at least reduce the number of things he found to pick at.

Arriving at the prefectural governor’s residence, the list was handed to the accounts office and the gifts carted off to the storeroom. Before Master Xue even had time to ask him to go and inform Leng Yun, there was a shuffling, slapping sound of feet, and Leng Yun himself came running out. “What are you all dawdling out here for… aren’t those Old Master Feng and Madam?” He called out. “You’ve really come! Sanlang’s word is always as good as done! Come in, come in, this wretched weather — hot as anything! Don’t let the heat get to you! How have you two been living here these past years? You’ve suffered.”

Zhang Xiangu and Zhù’s father had gone stiff with unease the moment they walked into the governor’s residence, and were still nursing a grudge in their hearts. Going inside and having to bring gifts — they had never seen Zhù Ying give gifts in person before, only knowing it happened, and seeing it in practice now made them feel their daughter was deeply wronged. They hadn’t expected Leng Yun to come out to meet them in person, asking after their health, and the two of them couldn’t quite hold themselves stiffly apart. They both shot a glance at their daughter: you said he was difficult — we think he seems exactly the same as he did in the capital.

Zhù Ying: …

Zhang Xiangu and Zhù’s father smiled with genuine warmth, several degrees more genuine than before. “Prefect Leng! Three years in this place, and we’ve finally come across a familiar face!”

Leng Yun said, “Come, let’s go to the flower hall. Oh — bring ice!”

Master Xue shook his head in resignation. “Magistrate Zhù, after you.” He also murmured a reminder in Zhù Ying’s ear not to forget her promise — and not to keep indulging the Prefect.

Zhù Ying nodded.

Into the flower hall — Leng Yun first had Zhù’s father and mother sit, then Zhù Ying took the seat opposite, with Huajie seated to her side. Leng Yun turned to Zhang Xiangu. “Warm? There’s chilled sour plum soup.”

Zhang Xiangu and Zhù’s father, though they believed their daughter, still couldn’t help slipping back into the easy warmth they’d had with him in the capital. They were visiting, after all — and once you bring gifts, you want the host to know it. So Zhang Xiangu said, “The fabric Your Excellency gave us made up into fine clothes.”

Leng Yun said, “Nothing remarkable — just glad you like it.”

Zhang Xiangu said, “What we’ve brought doesn’t compare to what you give, and we don’t know if you’ll like it.”

Leng Yun asked, “I’ll like it all. Hmm — what is it?”

Master Xue passed up the list. Zhù Ying had brought two bags of milled flour and also a cartload of wheat — to be ground fresh as needed. Leng Yun saw the character for “wheat” and, not thinking of eating, asked immediately, “The wheat is growing? Hmm — didn’t the court ask you to promote wheat cultivation? Stay a few more days — let’s get this settled! Don’t worry about the counties below — if you need anything from them, just say the word! I’ll send out the official documents!”

He rubbed his hands together, glanced at Master Xue, then turned back to Zhù Ying. “I hear that some places had a bit of a delay in spring plowing this year and that it may affect the people’s livelihoods — would growing an extra crop of grain solve it? No wonder you pushed for winter wheat. The Council of State was so pleased, and the Emperor wanted to award you the scarlet robes.”

Master Xue was mildly surprised: it seemed the Prefect did have some flashes of genuine insight, after all.

If only one crop of rice was grown, and that one crop failed — whether from flood, drought, or anything else — it was over. Landlords ate from their stores; the poor who had nothing stored would flee as refugees or survive on bark and grass roots and starve to death. But if winter wheat was added — even if something went wrong with the rice, there was still that one crop to fall back on. If both crops failed, then there was nothing to be done — but everyone had done their best. It was like having two sons — one smarter, one less so. If something happened to the smart one, at least there was the other to hold things together.

Leng Yun had run into a real problem himself, and had actually managed to work it through. Master Xue felt somewhat less anxious and despairing than before.

Zhù Ying nodded. “Very well.”