Li Shi had spent some time in the north and now had a sense of what the eastern, western, and central sections meant. She couldn’t help but exclaim admiringly, “This Liu family is truly wealthy! Such a large residence, occupying more than half the alley—it must be one of the finest in the capital, surely?”
Biyu stood to the side answering with a smile, saying, “How could that be! Only the western section belonged to Master Liu. The central section belonged to Master Li of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, while the eastern section belonged to Academician Zeng of the Hanlin Academy who had retired—Academician Zeng was from Anxi in Fujian and was Fujian’s largest tea merchant. It’s said that forty to fifty percent of Fujian’s tea plantations belonged to his family.”
This explained why Academician Zeng, a retired academician, had such a large residence.
But Li Shi gasped upon hearing this.
The Zeng family only had one section of residence here, yet Fourth Master Chi had bought three sections of similar size that were adjacent to each other in one go—this wasn’t something that could be accomplished with money alone!
Biyu seemed to see her amazement and continued with a smile, “Our Fourth Master put in considerable effort to acquire this residence. At first he wanted to simply buy one near Xingling Alley, but later felt it was too close to First Master and Second Master—he was afraid of being constrained by them—so he bought a residence in Yuqian Alley instead, thinking that in his leisure time he could visit Second Old Master. Who knew that the neighbors on both sides of the Yuqian Alley residence were unwilling to sell. You’ve been to Jiuru Lane—the entire lane belongs to the Cheng family, so how could Fourth Master get used to living there!
“It just so happened that Master Liu had lived in Huai’an for some time and decided not to return to his hometown in Jiangxi, choosing instead to settle in Yangzhou. Yangzhou is full of salt merchants, so finding a satisfactory residence wouldn’t be easy. He wanted to sell his residence in the capital, but the asking price was too high and he hadn’t found a suitable buyer. Our Fourth Master had dealt with Master Liu before. Knowing that our Fourth Master wanted to find a good residence in the capital, he sent his steward to approach us proactively. Our Fourth Master was satisfied after viewing it, but still felt it was too small. Master Liu had lived here for over a decade and was from the same examination year as his neighbor Master Li, so he stepped in to persuade Master Li to sell his residence to Fourth Master as well.
“The matter happened to work out just like that. When Academician Zeng retired, that residence became vacant. Given the Zeng family’s financial resources, they didn’t mind maintaining an empty residence. But then a nephew of Academician Zeng needed to come study at the Imperial Academy, so the Zeng family prepared to let him live in that residence. Who knew that this young master of the Zeng family was an eccentric person? When he saw that a peach tree was growing outside Academician Zeng’s study, with peach blossoms blooming brilliantly and radiantly, he was most displeased. As soon as he moved in, he had people cut down that peach tree and plant lady bamboo instead. Little did he know that peach tree had been planted when Academician Zeng first came to the capital to study at the Imperial Academy. It’s said it didn’t bloom for three years, and in the year it bloomed, Academician Zeng passed the imperial examination. Academician Zeng had always considered it auspicious. For Young Master Zeng to want to cut down his peach tree—wasn’t that taking his life?
“In his fury, he drove that Young Master Zeng out and invited flower farmers from Fengtai to transplant that peach tree back to his hometown in Fujian.
“The flower farmers from Fengtai came and went, but not one dared take on this task.
“Academician Zeng had no other option.
“He feared that after his death, whoever from the Zeng family moved in wouldn’t heed his warning and would cut down the tree. He also feared that since the tree’s fate was connected to the Zeng family’s prosperity and decline, someone might target it and harm his descendants.
“Our Fourth Master had dealt with the Zeng family before when doing business. Academician Zeng happened to hear that Fourth Master wanted to buy a large residence, and moreover that our Fourth Master was also a double-ranked imperial scholar, not yet thirty years old, and was First Master’s blood brother. He took the initiative to approach Fourth Master, asking him to promise never to cut down that peach tree in his lifetime, and he would sell the residence to Fourth Master at a discount.
“This was truly like someone bringing you a pillow when you’re drowsy. Our Fourth Master was just thinking that buying those two residences was still a bit small, when Academician Zeng came knocking.
“Fourth Master promised on the spot that not only would he not cut down that peach tree, he would also assign people to care for it properly.
“Academician Zeng was very pleased and sold the residence to Fourth Master at twenty percent below market price.”
“Fourth Master is truly fortunate!” Li Shi listened with great interest and said, “Is that peach tree still in the eastern section? Could we see it?”
Biyu’s responsibility was to properly receive Li Shi. Hearing this, she quickly said, “As long as Madam wishes to see it! Would you prefer to see the peach tree first or go boating first?”
“Let’s see the peach tree first, then go boating,” Li Shi said with a smile. “Peach blossoms are ephemeral things—everyone considers them frivolous. Using a peach tree to anchor a residence—this is the first time I’ve heard of such a thing.”
Zhou Shaojin, however, was concerned about Cheng Chi’s money. She said, “Then Uncle Chi must have spent quite a bit of silver buying the Li and Liu family residences, right?”
Biyu’s gaze flickered slightly.
She hadn’t expected that Zhou Shaojin would read between the lines and realize that buying the Li and Liu family residences had cost a great deal of money.
This matter was somewhat delicate to discuss, so she answered somewhat vaguely: “He didn’t spend too much silver. As you can see, the Liu family side has lush flowering trees, and the pond of living water in the garden was diverted from here. The Li family’s main hall is very imposing, with pillars all made from century-old trees—it could house several more generations without issue. All in all, it’s quite worthwhile!”
“But this residence is so large that if it ever needed to be sold, I’m afraid few could afford it,” Zhou Shaojin sighed.
If Uncle Chi truly needed to establish his own household, such a large residence would be beyond most people’s means. Not only would it be difficult to convert to cash, it would also require many maids and servants for cleaning, with considerable expenses.
The Yuqian Alley residence would be better!
“Since it’s been sold, it won’t be bought again!” Biyu said with a smile. “Jiuru Lane certainly doesn’t lack this bit of money.”
Only then did Li Shi realize just how wealthy the Cheng family was!
Even the Zeng family, which controlled forty to fifty percent of Fujian’s tea industry, couldn’t compare with the Cheng family.
No wonder people in Jinling called the Cheng family of Jiuru Lane the foremost family in Jinling!
Li Shi praised Biyu with a smile: “I didn’t expect that having just arrived in the capital, you already speak of the capital’s prominent families as if counting your own treasures.”
Biyu smiled and said, “I’ve heard quite a bit while serving by Old Madam Guo’s side. With a few pointers from Steward Qin, I know which family is which.”
She accompanied Li Shi and Zhou Shaojin toward the eastern section to see the peach tree, but her mouth didn’t rest idle. She said with a smile, “The alley we live in is called Fourth Alley—it’s the best location near Chaoyangmen. The Gu family of Haining’s residence in the capital is in Sixth Alley, two alleys away from ours—very close. The Yuan family of Tongxiang’s residence in the capital is in First Alley. Compared to the Gu family it’s a bit farther, but still only a quarter hour’s journey. But the Peng family that Third Young Madam married into is somewhat far from us. Even by carriage it takes three quarters of an hour, though going round and round we’re all in this vicinity… The Fang family of Shucheng is also in First Alley, though the Yuan family is at the alley head and the Fang family at the alley end. The Li family of Lujiang lives in Third Alley, right in front of our residence, but theirs isn’t as large as ours—it’s a five-section residence…”
She spoke at length, clearly and coherently.
Li Shi listened with growing admiration for Old Madam Guo back in Jinling!
She was merely a maid at her old ladyship’s side, yet after several years of instruction, she had such vision and knowledge. Even the matrons in charge of domestic affairs in ordinary families probably didn’t possess Biyu’s talents.
No wonder so many wealthy households liked to marry senior maids released from great houses.
Zhou Shaojin’s feelings were much the same as Li Shi’s as she listened.
Biyu said that Uncle Chi had brought the couple over for her sake. If Biyu didn’t have such abilities, even if she liked her, Uncle Chi probably wouldn’t have summoned them… However, Feicui by Old Madam Guo’s side was also very capable… Thinking of it this way, it seemed this matter really did have something to do with her.
While Li Shi was holding Zhou Chujin and examining the peach tree, Zhou Shaojin quietly asked Biyu, “What is Uncle Chi doing?”
Biyu also replied quietly, “Second Master has come!”
“Second Master?!” Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.
Her mind went blank.
Biyu reminded her, “It’s Second Master Wei. Fourth Master’s blood brother!”
Zhou Shaojin certainly knew this person, but in both her lifetimes, she had no particular impression of him!
Biyu thought for a moment and said, “It seems to be about matters in Jinling.”
Things had escalated that seriously!
Zhou Shaojin furrowed her brow. Her desire to see Cheng Chi became even stronger.
However, now was not a good time.
She said to Biyu, “I want to see Uncle Chi. Is that possible?”
Biyu smiled and said, “I’ll go check the study in a bit!”
Zhou Shaojin felt reassured and went with Biyu, smiling, toward Li Shi.
The peach tree that Academician Zeng regarded as auspicious was only as thick as a wine cup, surrounded by a knee-high fence. Its branches and leaves were extremely luxuriant. Though the flowering season had passed, one could still imagine the magnificent sight when it bloomed.
Everyone felt the tree had nothing particularly special about it. After looking for a while, they lost interest and went to the lakeside to go boating.
Zhou Shaojin had never been particularly interested in such things. Moreover, she was waiting for news from Biyu, so she sat in the waterside pavilion watching Li Shi take Chujin out on the lake, accompanied by a boatwoman who knew how to handle boats.
Xiao Tan stood beside Zhou Shaojin fanning her, saying with a smile, “If they planted more lotus flowers in the lake, it would be even better.”
The small lake on the western section side and the large lake here were connected. The small lake was full of lotus leaves, with lotus flowers just beginning to emerge, but this large lake only showed rippling silvery water, which looked rather hot.
Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “I imagine that side still has the Liu family’s old scenery, while this side is a newly opened lake!”
Xiao Tan smiled and said, “These two lakes, one large and one small, are quite interesting. I wonder what they’re called?”
A young maid nearby smiled and said, “They haven’t been named yet! Steward Qin said to wait a while before deciding.”
Xiao Tan said, “By tomorrow when we come again, it will surely be full of lotus flowers.”
The young maid smiled and said, “Steward Qin said that the small lake will be planted with water lilies in the future, while the large lake will be planted with lotus flowers. But whether that’s true or not, we’d have to ask Steward Qin to know.”
Chatting with a young maid like this—which Steward Qin could it be?
It seemed like Qin Ziping…
Didn’t Uncle Chi say that Ji Ying would come to the capital? Why hasn’t there been any news until now?
Zhou Shaojin smiled and asked, “What’s Steward Qin’s name?”
The young maid shook her head and said, “This servant doesn’t know.”
Zhou Shaojin laughed.
Biyu hurried in and said, “Second Cousin Miss, Second Master Wei has left. Fourth Master is alone in the study… and hasn’t had anyone attend to him!”
Was he unhappy?
Zhou Shaojin’s heart leaped with concern. She stood up and said, “Come, let’s go see!”