Upon seeing Jiang Changyang’s wilting peonies, Mudan couldn’t help but sigh repeatedly. The leaves were yellow, some partially eaten, and not just one plant had died – the others were close to death as well. Mudan instructed the gardener to uproot the dead plant for inspection. As expected, it showed severe root rot.
The gardener nervously glanced at Jiang Changyang, whose face had darkened, and quietly asked Mudan, “Miss, do you know what disease these peonies have?”
Mudan didn’t answer his question directly, instead asking, “Did you fertilize after the flowers bloomed?”
The gardener replied in surprise, “Why fertilize after the flowers have withered? That would just encourage new growth and affect next spring’s blooming.” He sized up Mudan, thinking to himself that this delicate young lady couldn’t possibly know much about gardening. He assumed she was just pretending to know about flowers to please her master, and his tone became somewhat dismissive.
Mudan immediately recognized his lack of expertise.
Mudan fertilization should be based on the plant’s size, density, growth, and natural cycle of “spring blooming, summer dormancy, autumn root growth, and winter dormancy.” Fertilizer should be applied three times a year: first in early spring after budding to promote flowering, mainly with nitrogen-rich fertilizer; second after flowering to encourage flower bud differentiation, the most crucial application, with a balanced mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; and third before winter to protect the plant and promote new root growth. Mudan knew that some people even buried animal bones around peonies or sealed them in jars with water, later diluting the decomposed liquid to water the peonies for larger, more vibrant blooms.
But this man not only failed to apply the most important fertilization but also confidently contradicted her with his amateur knowledge. He had probably claimed to know about flower cultivation to please Jiang Changyang, seeing it as an opportunity to shine, but ended up causing trouble and wasting these valuable plants, each worth thousands.
Realizing this, Mudan looked at the gardener with a wry smile and said, “Perhaps your flowers are different. In my home, we always fertilize after blooming.” She then turned her attention to examining the other flowers without looking at Jiang Changyang.
Jiang Changyang, hearing this exchange, frowned at the gardener. Realizing he was in trouble, the gardener quickly avoided Jiang’s gaze and moved forward to assist Mudan, saying flatteringly, “Miss is indeed an expert. Please teach this humble servant. It’s my first time seeing such a strange disease.”
Annoyed by his pretense, Mudan’s expression darkened. “Haven’t you seen any insects around these flowers? This is pest damage.”
The gardener stubbornly insisted, “All plants attract insects. Peonies have sweet roots that naturally attract them. Eating leaves is one thing, but look, the roots are rotting.”
Mudan sighed and asked for a small trowel. She carefully dug around the peony roots and shortly unearthed several insect molts and pupae. Placing them on the ground, she explained, “These are the culprits. The small ones eat the roots, and the larger ones eat the leaves. Because peonies have many large roots, they usually consume one plant nearly to death before moving on. The root rot is due to severe damage from feeding.”
These peonies were suffering from a chafer beetle infestation. The larvae’s damage created numerous wounds in the roots, allowing soil-borne Fusarium to invade, leading to severe root rot. This caused the peonies’ decaying roots, weakened growth, and death. However, Mudan couldn’t explain Fusarium to them, so she simply stated that the larvae had caused severe damage.
The gardener continued to argue, “These molts can be found anywhere. How can you be sure they’re responsible?” He feared that if his master learned the expensive flowers had died due to his incompetence, a beating would be the least of his worries – he couldn’t even afford to replace them.
Mudan fell silent and looked at Jiang Changyang. Jiang gave the gardener a cold glare and said harshly, “Shut up!” He hadn’t brought many people with him, and this man was sent by a friend, originally just a handyman. When Jiang mentioned needing a gardener, he had volunteered, claiming expertise. Jiang had believed him based on his seemingly knowledgeable answers. Who knew he was barely more than a novice? The gardener shrank back, not daring to speak further. Jiang earnestly asked Mudan, “Is there any way to save them? It would be such a shame to lose them.”
Mudan smiled and said, “These pests overwinter in the soil. If we don’t treat them this year, they’ll likely cause more damage next spring. I have a few methods we can try.”
Jiang Changyang quickly called for paper and pen to take notes. Seeing his serious demeanor, Mudan couldn’t help but smile. “It’s not complicated, very simple actually. No need to write it down. You could have people catch them, but that’s labor-intensive. There’s an easier way. These insects, like moths, are attracted to light at night. Just fill a large basin with water, place a few bricks in the middle, and put a glass lamp on top. It’s best to add a little arsenic to the water so the insects will die when they fall in. You can also make a mixture of one spoon of sugar, one spoon of vinegar, two spoons of white wine, and twenty spoons of water, add some arsenic, and put it in small wide-mouthed bottles. Fill them about two-thirds full and hang them around the flowers to lure and kill the pests.”
Jiang Changyang was sweating profusely. “You’re speaking too fast. Please slow down.”
Mudan couldn’t help but laugh and repeated her instructions. This time, Jiang Changyang was able to recite them back correctly. Mudan then added, “If you catch any insects, it’s even easier. Crush the dead insects, seal them in a thick paper bag, and leave them in the sun or a hot place to dry. Once they start to smell, grind them into powder, soak them in water – use plenty of water – then filter the liquid and dilute it at a ratio of one spoon of concentrate to fifty spoons of water. Spray this on the branches and leaves. It’s very effective.” Many animals in nature avoid eating or even approaching the scent of their own dead, and Mudan had used this method successfully many times before.
This time, Jiang Changyang remembered clearly but asked Mudan sheepishly, “Do you know any good gardeners? I’m willing to pay a high price for their help.”
Mudan replied hesitantly, “I’m afraid I don’t. I manage the flowers at home myself, or my maids do. There are quite a few people in the capital who know how to care for flowers. Large households have specialists for peonies, or there are flower farmers, or even masters in temples and Taoist monasteries. You have many friends; perhaps you could ask them?”
Jiang Changyang agreed, then smiled and said, “There are a few more plants over there that are doing well. One of them I haven’t seen anywhere else in the capital. It was sent by a friend from afar. Since you like peonies, would you like to take a look?”
Hearing this, Mudan was naturally eager. She turned to ask He Zhizhong, “Father, shall we go take a look?” He Zhizhong, knowing her personality, gave her a reproachful glance but politely said to Jiang, “Young Master Jiang probably has other matters to attend to. We shouldn’t delay you further.”
Jiang quickly replied, “I’m not busy. It’s a good opportunity to learn about flower cultivation, which will please my mother when I return home.” As he spoke, he led the group around a small pond full of blooming lotus flowers, past a large, intricate white Kunshan rock planted with irises, to a spot half in sun and half in the shade where several healthy-looking peonies grew.
Upon seeing these peonies, Mudan could hardly believe her eyes. Without waiting for Jiang to speak, she eagerly stepped forward to examine them closely. One plant, about four feet tall and already bearing fruit, looked different from the others.
It was hairless, with dark purplish-red young branches and several scales at the base. The leaves were bipinnately compound, with broad ovate or ovate leaflets that were pinnately divided into lanceolate segments. Turning over a leaf, Mudan saw its underside was grayish-white, confirming her suspicion. She asked, “Might this be a purple peony?”
Jiang Changyang was somewhat surprised. “Indeed it is. How did you know? Pan Rong once told me you were an expert who could identify flowers just by looking at their leaves and branches. It seems she was right.”
“It’s just an exaggeration,” Mudan replied, embarrassed. She had merely read a few books and grown peonies for a few years, allowing her to distinguish some varieties. She quickly asked Jiang about the origin of this peony.
Jiang explained, “This was sent by that distant friend I mentioned. He heard my mother loves peonies, so he brought them from Nanzhao. The flower isn’t very pretty, but he said the roots can be used medicinally. The root bark, called ‘chi dan pi,’ can treat coughing blood, blood in urine, and dysentery. The peeled root, known as ‘Yun bai shao,’ can treat chest, abdominal, and rib pain, as well as diarrhea and spontaneous or night sweating.”
It was indeed a purple peony from northwestern Yunnan! Jiang Changyang had omitted one detail – the root bark could also treat menstrual pain, probably because it was a women’s health issue he was uncomfortable mentioning. Having confirmed the peony’s identity, Mudan was excited. Without this opportunity, she might never have seen such a treasure from so far away, let alone obtained one.
Mudan’s heart raced with desire, but she struggled to find the right words. She had come to express gratitude, and Jiang had refused any gifts. It seemed inappropriate to now covet his possessions. Yet she couldn’t bear to miss this opportunity. But how could she ask?
Mudan furrowed her brow, circling the purple peony repeatedly. Recognizing his daughter’s behavior, He Zhizhong cleared his throat forcefully.