It was the hour of Wei, mid-afternoon. On such a scorching day, Official Street was quiet and deserted. Shop owners and clerks had brought out small stools and chairs, sitting in the shade of their doorway eaves, fanning themselves while chatting. It created a unique atmosphere of leisure.
At this time, outside the Li Family Ink Workshop, Old Madam Li sat on the bluestone steps under the eaves, talking with Chou Po while Zhenniang stood beside her Seventh Great-Grandmother, helping fan her.
Not far across the way, under the large locust tree beside the Yihousheng shop, Old Shopkeeper Li, Old Master Cheng Three, and Third Grand Uncle Luo had gathered to chat. Mostly it was Old Shopkeeper Li and Old Master Cheng Three doing the talking, with Third Grand Uncle Luo listening on the side. They spoke mainly about ink making, and Third Grand Uncle Luo, being a simple farmer, couldn’t join in.
“Zhenniang, take some melon over to your grandfather and the others,” Madam Zhao called, coming out of the workshop with a cutting board laden with sliced melon.
The melon’s skin was crisp and green, its flesh a bright red – just looking at it brought a feeling of coolness, let alone eating it.
“Mm,” Zhenniang responded, carrying the melon across the street. When she reached them, a quick-eyed clerk from Yihousheng promptly brought out a bench for the cutting board. Third Grand Uncle Luo didn’t stand at the ceremony, taking the melon and passing pieces to everyone.
Just as everyone was enjoying their watermelon, a carriage arrived at Yihousheng’s entrance, coming to a stop with a “whoa.”
Since Yihousheng was a money house, people came and went frequently, so no one paid much attention. However, when Wang Sifang stepped down from the carriage, everyone was somewhat surprised. Though he was Luo Wenqian’s uncle, their relationship was quite poor. He rarely visited – what could have brought him here?
Wang Sifang alighted from the carriage, casting a cold glance at those eating watermelon under the locust tree. His gaze finally fell on Li Zhenniang, and he gave a contemptuous snort before entering the money house.
His manner suggested ill intent. Zhenniang felt innocent, not knowing how she had offended him.
Luo Jiu was inside the money house, calculating accounts for some cloth merchants from Songjiang. Seeing Wang Sifang enter with a dark face, he didn’t say much, just had a clerk show him to a private room while he continued his calculations. Only after settling everything with the cloth merchant did he enter the private room.
Wang Sifang was already in a foul mood, and being made to wait had only darkened it further. When Luo Jiu entered, he spoke without a preamble: “Cancel your engagement to the Li family immediately.”
“On what grounds?” Luo Jiu replied coldly.
“On what grounds? You dare ask me on what grounds? Aren’t you supposed to be well-informed in Nanjing? Haven’t you heard about the Xu family making inquiries about the Li girl? Getting engaged to her now – aren’t you slapping the Xu family’s face? Do you still want to do business in Nanjing? You’re just a merchant – who do you think you are? You can court death if you want, but don’t drag others down with you.” Wang Sifang ranted furiously, his questions coming in rapid succession without pause for breath.
With the new emperor ascending the throne but lacking authority, Xu Jie held complete control over court politics. Just consider how Gao Gong, the emperor’s tutor, had been forced to retire due to conflicts with Xu Jie – even the emperor couldn’t protect him, though Gao had his shortcomings. To provoke such a powerful Xu family – wasn’t that like an old man hanging himself, seeking death?
“Wasn’t it the same when my parents came seeking your help? Don’t worry, everyone in Nanjing knows we’re uncle and nephew who act like enemies, and you’re favored by Second Master Xu. Whatever happens won’t affect you.” Luo Jiu’s lips curled in a sneer, his eyes full of mockery.
“You…” Wang Sifang was nearly choked with anger by Luo Jiu’s sharp words, and hearing him bring up his parents made his face alternate between pale and flushed. After a while, he managed: “I know you hate me because I didn’t take in your parents, leading to their disappearance at the hands of river bandits. But think about it – your parents were deeply involved with Luo Longwen. As a mere merchant, how could I have protected them even if I wanted to?”
Sighing, Wang Sifang continued: “Besides, after your parents’ incident, I did have people investigate. According to what I found, your parents might not be dead. Those ‘river bandits’ were likely pirates who had followed Luo Longwen. For all we know, your parents might be living overseas now.” Though he hadn’t taken in Luo Wenqian’s parents then, his mother was Wang Sifang’s only sister, so he couldn’t help but care somewhat and had made inquiries afterward.
Hearing Wang Sifang’s words, Luo Jiu’s expression softened slightly. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Tell you? Tell you what? From the moment you arrived in Nanjing, you treated me as an enemy. What was there to tell? Besides, these are just my guesses – no one knows for certain,” Wang Sifang said harshly.
Luo Jiu fell silent.
Wang Sifang spoke again: “You can’t go through with the Li family marriage. Listen to me – before the formal proposal, call it off. The foundation you’ve built for yourself wasn’t easy; don’t throw it away carelessly.”
“Impossible. My mother’s decision then is my decision now. Li Zhenniang will be my wife in this life,” Luo Jiu said firmly, enunciating each word.
Though the news that his parents might be alive somewhat lessened his hatred for Wang Sifang, it couldn’t erase Wang Sifang’s coldness toward him and his mother after the Luo family incident. Thus, he could hardly feel warmly toward him, let alone allow Wang Sifang’s few words to sway his determination.
“You…” Hearing Luo Jiu’s words, Wang Sifang was furious. This stubborn boy was just like his mother, refusing to change course once set.
“Also, Uncle, I have some heartfelt words: No flower blooms for a hundred days, no one prospers for a thousand years. The Xu family may be at their peak now, but remember – extreme prosperity leads to decline. Though Minister Xu maintains a clean reputation, many of his family members are unworthy. As for court factions, that’s beyond what people like us can comprehend. In business, we should maintain neutrality and integrity, not blindly curry favor.”
With that, Luo Wenqian clasped his hands: “I have matters to attend to, so I won’t keep you longer.”
He then returned to his own business.
Wang Sifang, having achieved nothing, left in anger – uncle and nephew parting on poor terms.
Luo Jiu stood at the entrance watching Wang Sifang leave, his expression dark.
Those cooling off outside could see that uncle and nephew had parted unhappily, though this was hardly surprising.
What they had discussed, no one knew, nor would they pry – every family had its private matters.
Thus, the next day being auspicious, with Old Master Cheng Three acting as matchmakers, the Luo family completed all the formal proposal ceremonies.
The surrounding shopkeepers came one by one to offer congratulations. The marriage arrangement was officially settled, joining the Li and Luo families.
By evening, the sunset clouds tinted Official Street red, adding to the joyous atmosphere.
On one side, Little Ya was collecting the stools that had been set outside for cooling off, while two clerks carried the door panels – it was nearly closing time.
Zhenniang stood at the entrance as Luo Jiu strolled over with a pot of wine. Tomorrow, the Seventh Great-Grandmother and Old Shopkeeper Li’s group will leave Nanjing for Huizhou. Li Zhengshen would stay behind, while Master Ma, Madam Ma, and Little Ya’s family of three hadn’t returned home for New Year’s. Now, during the ink business’s summer break, Zhenniang had given them leave to accompany Seventh Great-Grandmother’s group back.
Thus, there would be a farewell dinner that evening.
Though Zhenniang and Luo Wenqian were engaged, apart from the engagement day itself, they didn’t observe the usual taboos between betrothed couples. After all, they weren’t an official family – common people had to manage their livelihoods. Being engaged gave them proper status and daily interaction would no longer draw sideways glances. The period of separation would only begin about a month before the actual wedding.
“Zhenniang, I’ve spoken with Old Master Cheng Three – he’ll come by later, so leave the door open for him,” Luo Jiu said as he approached.
“Mm.” Zhenniang nodded.
Just then, the sound of carriage wheels arose again. Everyone looked over as the carriage drew near and suddenly stopped. Second Young Master Tian and Third Miss Tian Ronghua alighted.
Second Young Master Tian wore an arrogant expression, casually greeting the surrounding shopkeepers with clasped hands, his smug demeanor resembling “Hu Hansan returning triumphantly.”
Third Miss Tian Ronghua appeared thinner than before, but her bearing now carried a sharp and profound air. She walked straight toward Luo Wenqian and Zhenniang.
The surrounding shop owners’ wives and clerks all craned their necks, eyes gleaming with gossip. Everyone had heard about Luo Jiu and Third Miss Tian’s former engagement, and now that Luo Wenqian was engaged to the Li family’s daughter, how would the Tian family’s young miss react? Such matters inevitably drew everyone’s excited attention.
“Wenqian, Zhenniang, I heard you’re engaged. Congratulations!” Tian Ronghua said as she reached them.
“Thank you,” Luo Wenqian replied calmly, while Zhenniang nodded.
Tian Ronghua nodded and turned to leave, but suddenly turned back to face Luo Wenqian: “Were all those vows we made false?” After speaking, she raised her eyebrows at Li Zhenniang.
“You’d have to ask yourself that,” Luo Wenqian replied evenly.
“Ha, indeed, you hate me,” Tian Ronghua said, then mumbled: “But without love, where would hate come from?” She cast another glance at Zhenniang before turning to leave.
Though Tian Ronghua had appeared to speak only to Luo Jiu, her little arrows had been constantly shooting toward Zhenniang.
However, Zhenniang remained completely composed, silently watching everything, making Tian Ronghua’s punches land on cotton. Of course, if Zhenniang had wanted to counter-attack, she had many ways to do so, but she felt it pointless and would only give others a show to laugh at.
Better to defeat technique with no technique.
The Tian siblings soon entered the Tian Family Ink Workshop, and the onlookers, disappointed at missing out on drama, reluctantly returned to their own business.
At this point, Luo Wenqian stared at Zhenniang, who gave him an annoyed glance.
Luo Wenqian couldn’t help rubbing his nose: “I did like her back then, and we did make those vows. If my family hadn’t experienced that great misfortune, perhaps I would have already married her, and perhaps we could have been harmonious. But life has no ‘what ifs’ – feelings as fragile as flowers reflected in a mirror or the moon in water cannot withstand life’s vicissitudes, and grand vows cannot compare to facing hardships together and standing by each other silently. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“I understand.” Zhenniang nodded. Luo Wenqian’s ability to speak so frankly precisely showed that he had let go of the past.
“You don’t seem angry,” Luo Wenqian frowned worriedly, feeling somewhat disappointed.
“Who says I’m not angry? I’m very angry,” Zhenniang said seriously. Privately, though, she thought irritably that what else could she do in such a situation? If she had shown her anger, wouldn’t that have fallen right into Third Miss Tian’s trap and given others something to laugh about?
Watching the unyielding look in Zhenniang’s eyes, Luo Jiu chuckled softly. A woman’s heart – truly as unfathomable as a needle at the bottom of the sea, he mused.