The sound of the yamen runner’s gong reminded Zhen Niang that it was time – Emperor Jiajing had passed away. She had been so busy lately that she had completely forgotten about this matter.
At that moment, the crowd of onlookers, upon hearing of the Emperor’s death, displayed looks of anxiety on their faces. They hurriedly returned to their homes, securing their doors tightly.
In an instant, the street was nearly empty, with only Luo Wenqian, Zhen Niang, and a few others remaining.
“Proprietor Zhen, Happy New Year,” Luo Wenqian, clearly in good spirits, smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.
“Just arrived? Would you like to come in for some hot tea to warm up?” Zhen Niang returned the greeting with a curtsy, noticing how Luo Wenqian and his three companions stood in the snow, their black hair dotted with snowflakes, their temples appearing almost white. She couldn’t help but ask.
“No need, the clan members are waiting. You should head inside quickly – with the Emperor’s passing, there will surely be a curfew soon,” Luo Wenqian waved his hand.
“Very well then, you should hurry along too, the snow is getting heavier,” Zhen Niang nodded. In this era, an Emperor’s death was a significant event, though it didn’t much affect common folk. However, the yamen would certainly be on edge, especially since the local areas had been far from peaceful in recent years, making a curfew inevitable.
Just as Zhen Niang was about to bid farewell, a harsh voice called out from not far behind her, “Luo Jiu? What are you doing here?”
Zhen Niang turned to see her father, then glanced back at Luo Wenqian.
Luo Wenqian raised an eyebrow, narrowed his eyes, and replied with surprise, “Master Fu? What a coincidence. If you can be here, naturally, so can I.”
In the light of the snow and lanterns, Luo Wenqian studied Li Jingfu. He had heard that Master Fu had gone south but hadn’t seen him appear. He’d thought Master Fu had been delayed on the road, never expecting to encounter him in Huizhou.
Zhen Niang sensed the tension between the two men. Hearing Luo Wenqian address her father as Master Fu, she realized they knew each other. However, it was clear that her father didn’t know Luo Jiu was the Luo family’s young master, and Luo Jiu didn’t know that Master Fu was Li Jingfu of the Li family. So she introduced them: “Father, you don’t know? Luo Jiu is Young Master Luo Wenqian of the Luo family.”
“Young Master Luo Wenqian, the one who manages the Luo family business?” Li Jingfu was stunned. Though he had recognized Luo Jiu’s Huizhou accent in the north, they had been rivals. Luo Jiu was known for his ruthlessness, while Master Fu had the stubborn nature of a gambling addict. They had both kept their guard up, never revealing their true identities. Thus, Li Jingfu hadn’t realized this Luo was the Luo family’s young master. He had learned of the Luo family’s troubles later but never imagined that the refined young master had ventured north to work in the gold mines.
Meanwhile, when Luo Wenqian heard Zhen Niang call Master Fu “Father,” he rubbed his nose in surprise. So this Master Fu was Li Jingfu. Although he had once helped Li Jingfu redeem some promissory notes, Li Jingfu had already gone to Suzhou by then. While both the Luo and Li families were old acquaintances in the Huizhou ink trade, when the Li family’s eighth branch withdrew from the ink business, Luo Wenqian was still been a child. By the time Luo Wenqian entered the ink trade, Li Jingfu spent his days in gambling houses, so they had never formally met.
The two guards behind Luo Wenqian wore strange expressions, with one nearly crying out in surprise. They had both worked at the gold mine and knew of the rumors about Master Fu’s daughter. They never imagined that the capable Miss Zhen from Li Ink was Master Fu’s daughter. Thinking of the mine’s rumors that Master Fu’s daughter was plain-looking with a fierce temperament like the Lioness of Hedong, this was quite a revelation.
The northern miners would surely die of regret if they knew Master Fu’s daughter was so refined and capable. The two guards couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.
“Greetings, Uncle Jingfu. I am Luo Wenqian of the Luo family,” Luo Wenqian now politely greeted him, addressing him as Uncle rather than Master Fu, appropriately positioning himself as a junior – after all, excessive courtesy never hurts.
“Oh.” Li Jingfu’s face remained guarded. This Young Master Luo had earned the nickname “Smiling Fox” in the north. Though his fighting skills were modest, about equal to his own, the man was cunning and extremely patient. Once, when Li Jingfu and his men had forcibly occupied one of his mine shafts, this youngster hadn’t shown any reaction for half a month. Just when Li Jingfu thought it was safe and prepared to start mining gold, the young man ambushed them on the road and took him captive. His brothers had to pay a ransom to free him.
Initially, Li Jingfu thought that even though his brothers had to pay some ransom, securing a mine shaft was worth it. However, later investigation revealed that Luo Jiu’s earlier information had been completely false – the shaft was abandoned. Master Fu had not only failed to steal the chicken but lost the rice as well, becoming a laughingstock.
Therefore, when Luo Jiu now appeared with his humble smile, Li Jingfu suspected he must be plotting something. Seeing that Zhen Niang seemed quite familiar with this Luo fellow, he pulled her behind him and glared at Luo Jiu.
Luo Wenqian was now getting a headache. Seeing the amused expression on the Li family’s young lady behind Li Jingfu, he recalled how his Third Granduncle had mentioned arranging a happy event for him after the New Year. But now it seemed things might be complicated.
“Zhen Niang, call your father to come home,” Zhao Shi called from afar.
“Oh.” Zhen Niang responded, then turned to Li Jingfu and called, “Father…”
“Mm, let’s go home.” Li Jingfu answered, having nothing more to say to Luo Jiu – he had only greeted him earlier out of surprise.
Zhen Niang nodded at Luo Wenqian with a smile: “Elder Brother Luo, you should head back too, the snow is getting heavy.”
Luo Wenqian naturally bowed in farewell, making Li Jingfu even more uncomfortable and more convinced that this young man was up to no good.
The sky had completely darkened, and the snowflakes were falling in large clusters.
“Aiya, why did the old Emperor have to pass away at this time of all times?” Li Dalang and Xi’er walked ahead holding lanterns as the Li family’s eighth branch made their way along the ancestral home’s corridor toward their residence. Zhao Shi stamped her feet and muttered as they walked.
“Jingfu’s wife, mind your words,” Old Master Li turned back with disapproval.
“Yes,” Zhao Shi responded.
Li Jingfu had been drinking earlier. Though he had built up his tolerance, and the Li family mostly served fruit wines that couldn’t intoxicate him, he still felt some effects. At this moment, Li Jingfu paid no mind to watch his words and curiously looked at his wife: “What’s the old Emperor ever done to you?”
“What do you know? Zhen Niang is seventeen this year. If we don’t arrange her marriage soon, it will be too late.” To Zhao Shi, the Emperor’s passing was far less important than her daughter’s marriage.
“That’s true. Have you found any suitable families? Though it won’t cause much delay – when the new Emperor ascends the throne, there will be a general amnesty before long. If we find a good match, we can discuss it now and formalize the engagement during the amnesty,” Li Jingfu asked. His daughter’s marriage had always been a concern for him, which was why he would try to arrange matches whenever he got drunk. Afterward, though people would laugh at him, he never admitted to it when sober.
“Seventh Aunt just mentioned Luo Wenqian of the Luo family. Elder Master Cheng is helping to arrange it,” Zhao Shi said.
She then turned to ask Zhen Niang, “Zhen Niang, what do you think of Young Master Luo?” Zhen Niang was a girl with her own opinions, and Zhao Shi didn’t intend to make decisions without considering her daughter’s feelings.
“Ah…” Zhen Niang hadn’t expected her mother to suddenly bring this up. She was surprised and somewhat embarrassed. She fell into thought. Speaking of Luo Wenqian, he seemed quite good – he had the bearing of a scholarly merchant and, more importantly, matched her temperament well. However, she had never really thought about him in that way before.
Now, thinking carefully about it, although he could be cunning at times, he was quite decent.
“No.” Before Zhen Niang could respond, Li Jingfu flatly refused, making everyone look at him curiously, wondering how Young Master Luo had offended him. Zhen Niang pondered, recalling the earlier confrontational atmosphere between her father and Luo Wenqian – apparently, they hadn’t gotten along well in the north.
“Why not? I think they’re well-matched,” Though Zhao Shi had some doubts about Luo Wenqian, she questioned Li Jingfu’s outright rejection.
“That youngster is cunning. Do you think anyone who succeeds in the gold mining business is a good person? Every miner lives by the blade, and that boy is ruthless and cold-hearted. What if he bullies Zhen Niang? She’ll suffer,” Li Jingfu said angrily.
He then turned to Zhen Niang: “Don’t worry, daughter. I know many young men, I’ll find you a good match.”
“Pah! What kind of men do you know? They’re either drinking buddies or gamblers, or gold miners who are both – that would ruin Zhen Niang’s life,” Zhao Shi retorted.
“That’s not true! The Qin family from Shanxi is a great clan,” Li Jingfu argued indignantly.
“No way! Shanxi is too far – I won’t agree to Zhen Niang marrying there. Besides, Seventh Aunt should be in charge of Zhen Niang’s marriage arrangements,” Zhao Shi said.
Watching her parents argue about a marriage that wasn’t even settled yet, Zhen Niang rolled her eyes, though she was curious about what exactly had happened between her father and Luo Wenqian in the north.
Thus, despite the bickering, there was more warmth than the usual coldness as they made their way back to the eighth branch’s residence.
The night deepened, with only the soft sound of falling snow outside.
As for Li Jingfu’s return from danger and the tenderness between him and Zhao Shi, we’ll leave that untold.
Another year had passed.