When Xueniang returned, Mudan was still sitting under the lamp playing double sixes with Yuhe, waiting for her. Upon her arrival, hot water and a late-night snack were served in succession. The snack was fragrant chicken soup with noodles. Xueniang sighed contentedly, narrowing her eyes in appreciation, “It’s so nice to have people around. You can eat delicious food without having to wait.”
Mudan smiled at her and said, “Eat and get to bed early. We need to head to the city early tomorrow.”
Xueniang stopped her chopsticks and looked at Mudan, her face full of reluctance. “We’re leaving tomorrow morning?” She hadn’t had enough fun yet. Although she had experienced the saddest event of her life here, overall, it was much more comfortable and free than staying at home in the capital.
Mudan said, “I have urgent matters to attend to, so we must return to the city tomorrow. I can’t leave you here alone. If you still want to play, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.”
Xueniang responded glumly, poking at the noodles in her bowl with her chopsticks. She carefully said, “Sister He, please don’t forget your promise to me. Remember to invite me to play often in the future.” She was very afraid that Mudan might gradually distance herself because of yesterday’s events and eventually stop associating with her.
Mudan stroked her soft, shiny black hair and smiled, “Of course. Don’t you remember? I’m going to invite you all to visit when the garden is finished.”
Believing Mudan’s words, Xueniang happily finished her entire bowl of noodles before contentedly going to sleep with a slightly protruding belly.
As dawn approached, the weather suddenly changed, with wind and rain picking up. Mudan was awakened by a loud crack of thunder, startling her into a cold sweat with a racing heart. After calming down, she felt thirsty and was about to get up for water when she heard Yuhe’s soft footsteps in the outer room. Yuhe entered carrying a silk lantern, moving quietly.
Mudan called out, “Yuhe.”
Yuhe lifted the curtain and brought the lamp closer to check Mudan’s expression. She reached into the blanket to feel if Mudan’s undergarments were dry, saying softly, “Danniang, you’re awake? Were you frightened? Your clothes are a bit damp. Should we change them? Do you want some water? Wait a moment.” Yuhe quickly went out and returned with a cup of warm water.
Even after all this time, Lin Mama, Yuhe, and the others still treated her like a sick child who needed care. This concern and thoughtfulness came from the heart, without pretense. Looking at Yuhe’s serene and gentle expression in the lamplight, Mudan felt touched. She couldn’t help but take Yuhe’s hand and moved over, saying, “Come lie down with me for a while.”
Yuhe smiled, assuming Mudan was afraid of the thunder. She took off her shoes and lay down on the bed. Mudan said softly, “This rain came so suddenly. I wonder when it will stop. How will we return to the city if it keeps raining like this?” Yuhe responded confidently, “Don’t worry. It came quickly and will leave quickly. By dawn, it will be sunny again.”
Although the rain was heavy, it indeed behaved as Yuhe had predicted, coming and going quickly. However, the next day wasn’t sunny but overcast and stuffy. People felt sticky, as if a layer of moisture clung to their skin, making them very uncomfortable.
The first thing Mudan did upon waking was to check the seeds she had planted the day before. Seeing that the straw covering was intact and no water had pooled, she felt relieved. She then called Atao and her brother Ashun, instructing them to take good care of the place and reminding them of things to pay attention to before preparing to leave.
Xueniang, being at an age where she loved to sleep and having played too much, coupled with being startled by the thunder, had not slept well. On horseback, she was still groggy, her eyes half-closed and her head nodding, causing Fu Mama great concern. No matter how much they called to her, Xueniang remained stubborn, nearly lying down on the horse’s back and hugging its neck to sleep.
Mudan found it amusing but also frustrating. Although she didn’t want to keep Jiang Changyang waiting, she had no choice but to have someone lead Xueniang’s horse, moving slowly. They hadn’t even left Yang County yet, so going slower wasn’t a problem. After dragging along, they finally reached the vicinity of the Jiang family estate. Mudan looked up to see Jiang Changyang and Wu talking under the shade of trees by the roadside, their horses freely grazing on the grass nearby. She wondered how long they had been waiting.
Seeing the group approaching at an unusually slow pace, Jiang Changyang was puzzled. Upon closer inspection, he discovered the reason and raised his eyebrows with a smile. This was truly a child who hadn’t grown up and hadn’t experienced hardship.
Mudan quickly rode over to apologize, “Master Jiang, I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting. Xueniang didn’t rest well and we couldn’t wake her up. We had to move slowly for fear of an accident. I’m afraid we won’t be able to travel quickly like this. Why don’t you go ahead, and I’ll take her home in the city before coming to find you?”
Jiang Changyang said, “Where I live is remote. By the time you’ve gone back and forth through various wards, it will be dark. It’s better if we travel together; it will be more appropriate.” He couldn’t help but glance at Xueniang, who was nodding off on horseback, barely managing to hold back his laughter.
Fu Mama, seeing Xueniang embarrassing herself in front of strangers, was both angry and anxious. She couldn’t help but move closer and whisper sharply, “Xueniang!”
Xueniang squinted at Fu Mama with a blank expression, not saying a word, her eyelids threatening to close again. Fu Mama, greatly distressed, patted her leg and pointed at Jiang Changyang and Wu in front. Xueniang glanced at them, her blank expression barely changing. Fu Mama sighed helplessly, having no choice but to let her be.
Mudan first conveyed Li Xing’s apologies to Jiang Changyang, who smiled slightly and said, “It’s not a big deal, no need to dwell on it.”
Mudan wanted to inquire about what Li Xing had asked of Jiang Changyang, but realizing that Li Xing hadn’t told her himself, she felt it would be inappropriate to ask Jiang Changyang directly. Instead, she changed the subject to ask about Monk Fuyuan: “Do you know if Master Fuyuan has returned from his travels? I sent someone to Fayou Temple recently, but he hasn’t returned yet. If we successfully purchase these stones, we’ll need his help in placing them.”
Jiang Changyang replied, “He’s back. I played chess with him a few days ago.”
Mudan worried, “I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble him greatly in the coming days. I wonder if he’ll have the time.” She couldn’t have Monk Fuyuan stay at Fang Garden alone, nor could she ask him to travel back and forth between the city and Fang Garden every day. She would have to trouble one of her brothers to stay at Fang Garden for a few days to host Monk Fuyuan.
As she was considering this, Jiang Changyang said, “I was thinking of inviting him to stay at my estate for a few days. He might get tired of seeing me every day. Having something to do will surely be welcome to him. You don’t need to go find him yourself. I’ll bring him over tomorrow. Just make sure to prepare some vegetarian meals, good fruits, and tea for him.”
Mudan was delighted and smiled, “See? I always say good things happen when I meet you.” After saying this, she felt a bit foolish, realizing that he was making an excuse to help her. Well, before even buying the stones, he had already returned the favor. She would have to put all her effort into successfully purchasing the stones, or she would be letting him down. The thought of not having repaid the old favor and already adding a new one increased her pressure immensely.
Hearing Mudan’s words, Jiang Changyang initially wanted to make a joke in response. But seeing Mudan suddenly turn her face away, looking somewhat embarrassed with slightly furrowed brows, though not knowing what she was thinking, he perceptively chose not to continue along that line of conversation.
Wu, observing from the side, encouraged Jiang Changyang to talk about his time in the military, but Jiang Changyang refused. Instead, he asked Mudan, “I’ve heard that highly skilled people can make a single peony tree bloom with flowers of different colors. The method sounds quite incredible, apparently involving burying cinnabar, vermilion, and other materials near the peony roots. I’ve always been skeptical. Does Miss He know if this is true?”
Mudan replied, “You’re talking about ‘Shi Yang Jin’, aren’t you? I haven’t tried the method you mentioned, so I don’t know if it’s effective. However, I do know of another method, which involves grafting many different varieties and colors of peony buds onto a single peony plant. Once successful, it becomes ‘Shi Yang Jin’, which is very beautiful. I plan to cultivate some.”
She had already begun preparations for cultivating ‘Shi Yang Jin’, just waiting for the grafting season to arrive to start the process. This would be a ready-made signature product. After all, what could be more eye-catching than several unique peony trees bursting with a variety of colorful flowers?
Jiang Changyang was quite surprised by Mudan’s frankness. He had only intended to make casual conversation to change the subject, not expecting her to share a method that others might consider a treasured secret, existing only in legends. Sharing one’s secret techniques with others either means the person is foolish or trusts the other party greatly. Mudan was not foolish, so it meant she trusted him.
Such an open and unguarded woman would easily earn the respect of an honorable man and receive the same in return. However, if she encountered someone with ill intentions, she might suffer greatly. Jiang Changyang felt quite moved and, after a moment of silence, said seriously, “I was just making casual conversation. This is the skill you rely on for your livelihood. In the future, it’s better not to share it easily with others. Even an innocent man can invite trouble by possessing a precious jade. As a woman, you should be even more careful.”
Mudan smiled and said, “Thank you for the reminder. I’ll keep it in mind.” She had shared because she felt it wasn’t a big secret within the industry. Currently, peony propagation relies mainly on grafting, and anyone who knows about grafting techniques could figure it out. However, the intricacies weren’t known to everyone, such as how to select suitable rootstocks and scions, how to choose good combinations, the appropriate timing and methods for grafting, and post-grafting management. These were all very particular, and she certainly wouldn’t casually share them with others.
It’s easier to change one’s nature than to alter ingrained habits. Jiang Changyang didn’t believe that Mudan had truly taken his words to heart, or even if she had, that she would genuinely pay attention to them. After careful consideration, he chose an example of someone who trusted others too easily, leading to the ruin of their family and themselves and told it to Mudan, intending to increase her vigilance.
In the past, parents and elders often used this tone to teach her. Mudan felt that Jiang Changyang was like a teacher earnestly instructing a student, with her being that student. Although she wanted to laugh, she appreciated his good intentions and pretended to listen seriously, occasionally asking a curious question or two to match the story’s plot. Seeing her listening attentively, Jiang Changyang was happy to make the story more vivid. As a result, the entire group received an education, and even Xueniang, who had been drowsy and focused only on napping, woke up and listened intently.
Wu Mingxian showed little interest in Jiang Changyang’s story, his eyes darting around restlessly. Among the listeners, expressions varied. He quickly noticed the differences, particularly Mudan’s lips, which held a faint smile. Her expression was oddly familiar—reminiscent of his wife listening to their child’s stories. Glancing at the engrossed Jiang Changyang, Wu felt a wave of helplessness. He hoped he was mistaken, reasoning that Young Lady He had always been prone to smiling.
As Jiang Changyang finished his tale, he turned to Mudan, intending to summarize. Catching that familiar smile on her face, he suddenly felt embarrassed. His face reddened as he quickly turned away. Mudan, unaware of her revealed emotions, persisted, “Is that all?”
Jiang Changyang reluctantly mumbled, “Yes, it’s over.”
Xueniang, eyes wide with wonder, exclaimed, “Master Jiang, you’re a wonderful storyteller, even better than my mother! The journey is still long; please, tell us another.”
Jiang Changyang, slightly flushed, remained silent for a moment before replying, “I’m not good at storytelling. That’s the only one I know.”
Undeterred, Xueniang turned to Fu Mama, “Mama, you tell a story.”
Seeing Xueniang return to her usual self, Fu Mama happily obliged. She chose one of her favorite tales about a flower spirit repaying kindness, which captivated everyone. Jiang Changyang sighed softly, gradually adjusting his dejected mood. However, upon meeting Wu’s knowing gaze, he felt a surge of anger, wanting to lash out at Wu. Sensing danger, Wu steered his horse closer to Mudan, avoiding any chance of retaliation.
Before they knew it, they had entered the city. After passing through Qixia Gate, they were near Lanling Ward. Knowing Mudan and Jiang Changyang had business to attend to, Xueniang declined their offer to escort her home and left with her companions.
Jiang Changyang, having regained his composure, led Mudan into Lanling Ward. They approached Yuan Shijiu’s residence, and Jiang pointed out the door to Mudan. He advised, “He’ll ask if you want to buy all or part of his collection. If you say all, he’ll likely lower the price. However, if he offers a lower price and you insist on paying more, he might become upset and refuse to sell. Remember, he’s quite eccentric. He’ll happily accept less from someone he likes, but he’ll deliberately make things difficult for those he dislikes.”
Mudan smiled, “So I should act picky to annoy him, but not so much that he refuses to do business with me entirely. When he tries to make things difficult, I should naively accept his high price and buy everything. Is that the plan?”
Jiang Changyang nodded approvingly, “Exactly. I’m sorry to ask you to play the villain, but I think it’s our best approach. Women are naturally more particular, so even if you overdo it a bit, he’s less likely to outright refuse a female customer.”
Mudan walked ahead a few steps before turning back, “Men can be just as picky as women. It depends on the individual, not their gender.”
Jiang Changyang awkwardly responded with an “Oh,” wanting to argue that women’s pickiness was more common while men’s was the exception. However, he held his tongue as he watched Mudan, Feng Daniang, and Yuhe ascend the steps to Yuan Shijiu’s door and knock.
After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, a thin, glum-faced servant boy of about twelve answered the door. Surprised to see women at the entrance, he rubbed his eyes and stammered, “Who… who are you looking for?”
Mudan held her chin high, saying nothing. Yuhe smiled and replied, “Young man, we heard your household has stones for sale. My mistress would like to see them and perhaps make a purchase if they’re suitable.”
The servant boy eyed them suspiciously. Mudan, impatient, snapped, “Well? Do you have them or not?”
The boy nodded quickly, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Without inviting them in, he dashed inside, shouting, “Master! Someone’s here to buy stones!” His joy was palpable.
Soon, the skeletal Yuan Shijiu slowly emerged. Already naturally thin and sallow, his yellow round-collared robe with narrow sleeves only accentuated his sickly appearance. He silently looked over the group, his gaze lingering on Mudan. She tensed, wondering if he recognized her.
Yuan Shijiu rasped, “You want to buy stones?”
Yuhe quickly responded, “Yes, my mistress is building a garden and urgently needs quality stones. We’ve searched the market for a long time but found nothing suitable. We heard your household has stones for sale, so we came to look.”
Yuan Shijiu asked flatly, “How many do you want? What kind?”
Mudan, noting his tone, replied coolly, “I doubt your courtyard holds many. Let’s see what you have first. Where are the stones?”
Yuan Shijiu frowned, his voice cold, “My courtyard may not be as grand as yours, but I assure you, it holds plenty of fine stones.”
Realizing he indeed remembered her, Mudan became more cautious. She furrowed her brow and said tersely, “We’ll see.”
Yuan Shijiu, clearly irritated, hesitated before leading them through the front courtyard to the rear. There, Mudan understood the source of his annoyance.
The back courtyard was unexpectedly vast, filled with an array of extraordinary stones. There were smooth, white, cow-like Lingbi stones; rugged, mountain-like Ying rocks; porous lake stones; ethereal, delicate white Shangkunshan stones; as well as agate, Luofu stones, and Tianzhu rocks. The collection rivaled the Five Sacred Mountains in its grandeur.
Mudan struggled to hide her amazement. Surely, Yuan Shijiu wouldn’t part with this collection unless necessary. She met his smug gaze, clearly expecting to impress her, and said nonchalantly, “Not bad. Passable.” She saw a flash of annoyance cross his face.
Suppressing her nervousness, Mudan deliberately picked up a small stone and tapped it against the largest, most beautiful Lingbi stone. The stone rang out with a clear, lingering tone.
Yuan Shijiu winced at her seemingly careless action, inwardly cursing her. But hearing the stone’s resonance, he reminded himself he was selling anyway and swallowed his anger. As he prepared to explain the stone’s origins and qualities, Mudan tossed the pebble aside dismissively.
“This can’t be a real Lingbi stone, can it? The sound is off,” she said disdainfully.
Yuan Shijiu nearly choked with rage, barely resisting the urge to throw her out. He sneered, “Don’t pretend to be an expert if you’re ignorant! If it’s fake, you can have my head!”
Seeing his barely contained fury, Mudan decided she’d pushed far enough. She said coolly, “If it’s real, it’s real. Why the grim face? Is this how you do business?” Her comment earned her a contemptuous glare from Yuan Shijiu.
Mudan made a show of inspecting the courtyard, tapping and knocking here and there. When she saw the veins on Yuan Shijiu’s forehead bulging, she finally said, “Name your price. I’ll take them all.” Then, unable to resist, she added, “I assume you wouldn’t dare sell fakes.”
Yuan Shijiu, thoroughly disgusted with her, was now scheming how to get back at her. He even considered refusing to sell. Rolling his eyes, he spat, “Five hundred million cash! Take it or leave it!”
Mudan nearly stumbled backward in shock. This old fellow was truly audacious, clearly despising her. She and Jiang Changyang had estimated a normal price of around two hundred million, with Yuan Shijiu likely willing to sell for one hundred million under normal circumstances. Now he had inflated it several times over. While she wasn’t concerned for herself, she wondered if the “sucker” waiting outside could afford such a sum. If not, she’d have to cover the difference. These stones would make a splendid addition to her garden. Still, not haggling would be out of character for both a businesswoman and a woman in general.
As Mudan pondered, Yuan Shijiu watched her expression coldly. Five hundred million cash, while not an impossible sum for the only daughter of jewel and perfume merchants, was certainly no small amount. He waited to see her next move, sneering inwardly at her presumed arrogance.
Suddenly, Mudan’s demeanor changed. She looked at him pleadingly, “Couldn’t you lower it a bit? It’s too expensive! It could bankrupt someone.”
Yuan Shijiu was momentarily stunned but still disliked her. After a pause, he said, “Four hundred million. If you can’t afford it, just leave.” He turned to go.
Mudan quickly called out, “Who says I can’t afford it? It’s a deal! Let’s draw up the contract right away!”