The actual date of Madam Cao’s birthday was September 20th. This year marked her 70th birthday, and the Cao family planned to celebrate it lavishly.
Madam Cao had been charitable throughout her life, building bridges and roads, and accumulating good deeds. Thus, from the beginning of September, the Cao family set up stalls in and around Lin’an City to distribute free porridge for a month. Madam Cao also enjoyed opera and lively events, so the family invited shadow puppet troupes, acrobats, and storytellers. They erected three stages in the inner and outer courtyards to entertain her for three days.
On her birthday, the Cao family would set up a continuous banquet on the long street outside their residence, lasting three days. Nearby residents, regardless of gender, age, or social status, were welcome to attend…
Such grand gestures made everyone praise the Cao family’s filial piety and admire their wealth.
Preparations for this birthday celebration began in early September. The entire residence, inside and out, needed renovation and decoration. Stages had to be built, various opera troupes booked in advance, and chefs hired for the continuous banquet. Besides the main chefs, they needed to employ about thirty workers for assistance, dishwashing, and serving. The Cao family’s servants were far from sufficient.
Consequently, the number of people entering and leaving the Cao residence increased significantly.
Madam Cao didn’t concern herself with these matters, leaving them to her son and daughter-in-law. The household was managed by the youngest daughter-in-law, Cao Hai’s wife. Naturally, the third branch of the family contributed the most money.
This birthday celebration would cost no less than ten thousand taels of silver.
Cao Hai’s wife had her unspoken worries. Her in-laws loved to put on a show, organizing this lavish birthday celebration without regard for their financial situation. Money flowed like water, yet all expenses fell on the third branch. Over the years, the Cao family had become like a bottomless pit, swallowing countless taels of silver from the third branch. There was no help for it; Cao Hai was the most successful in the family, and everyone relied on him for money. Whenever the household lacked funds, they came to her. Moreover, this was Madam Cao’s 70th birthday. If she suggested any frugality, it would reach Cao Hai’s ears and result in a scolding.
Cao Hai was a man who loved both luxury and filial piety towards his mother.
“Sister-in-law, don’t worry,” Ming Shu said gently to Cao Hai’s wife. “I know a master chef from a village who specializes in continuous banquets. His cooking skills are exceptional, and his apprentices are all talented. He has his team of workers from his village, which would be much cheaper than hiring from Lin’an’s taverns. They can handle food procurement, or we can provide a list for the household to purchase. If they procure the ingredients, they order directly from farmers and fishermen in advance, which is cheaper and fresher than the market.”
Cao Hai’s wife surnamed He, was a plump and straightforward woman. Ming Shu, having accepted Madam Cao as her adoptive mother, naturally called Mrs. He “sister-in-law.” Due to her relationship with Madam Cao, she had become acquainted with everyone in the Cao household. Today, she came to visit Madam Cao, who was meditating in her prayer room. While waiting outside and drinking tea, she encountered Mrs. He, who came to pay her respects, and they began discussing the birthday banquet.
Mrs. He had been fretting over the continuous banquet. A three-day event filling the entire street required numerous chefs, workers, and vast quantities of ingredients. She was overwhelmed by the logistics and costs. Too little would be embarrassing, but where to find suitable chefs? Famous restaurants were exorbitant, while lesser-known ones might serve poor food. It was truly vexing.
After Mrs. He shared her concerns, Ming Shu offered comforting words and practical solutions.
“The guests at the continuous banquet will be mostly residents. As long as the ingredients are fresh and the chef’s skills are good, that’s what matters most to them. Famous restaurants often prioritize appearance over taste, which ordinary people may not appreciate. The same money would be better spent on quality ingredients like abalone and sea cucumber. There’s no need for fancy gimmicks, don’t you think?”
“You make a good point. I’ve been so busy I hadn’t considered that” Mrs. He said, rubbing her forehead. “When can we meet this master chef you mentioned?”
“I’ll inquire about him as soon as I return home. Don’t worry, sister-in-law. Have him come to the house, prepare a menu, and do a food tasting. If you’re satisfied, you can discuss further whether to entrust everything to him or partially outsource the labor. Get all the costs in writing—chef fees, worker wages, and if they’re handling procurement, itemized ingredient prices. We can then compare with market rates. As the saying goes, comparing prices prevents regrets.”
Mrs. He felt greatly relieved after hearing this: “Shu, your explanation has given me some direction. No wonder mother often praises you in front of us, saying your words and actions differ from other young ladies. You truly have a clever mind. If you were here to help, it would solve so many problems.”
“You flatter me, sister-in-law. It’s my privilege to assist you and contribute to my adoptive mother’s birthday celebration,” Ming Shu smiled, then added, “Organizing mother’s birthday banquet is challenging—it needs to be impressive enough to satisfy the whole family while being mindful of expenses. It’s truly taxing for you.”
“Indeed. You’re the only one in the family who understands our struggles. The others have no idea of our hardships. They think the master has mountains of gold and silver at his disposal. Even if he did bring home such wealth, I fear they’d squander it all,” Mrs. He complained.
Mingshu sipped her tea and flattered, “Sister-in-law, you worry too much. General Cao is a man of great endurance. Surely his career will flourish, and immense wealth awaits you in the future. Why fret about better days to come?”
“Nonsense. It’s a blessing if he doesn’t drain our finances. Last year, he even came back asking for dowry money and personal savings for emergencies,” Mrs. He continued, her complaints now turning towards Cao Hai.
Some things were better left unsaid to in-laws. Having bottled up her frustrations for so long, she seized this rare opportunity to vent to a willing listener.
“Did he encounter some difficulties?” Mingshu feigned surprise.
“We women at home have no idea what men do outside. He won’t tell me when I ask. Who knows if he’s not spending money on those seductresses in Jiangning!” Mrs. He went on, then leaned in to whisper, “Xiu Niang, when you marry, make sure you choose a man who’s willing to let you manage the finances. That way, you’ll know if he’s up to any mischief outside. Don’t end up like me, forced to agree to a concubine. It’s infuriating. Now when he comes home, he either has business in the main house or spends time with that concubine. Hmph.”
Mingshu covered her mouth in feigned shock and whispered back, “Then… did you give your own money to General Cao?”
“I did. How could I refuse? Thankfully, he replenished it after the New Year and even brought it back…” She suddenly stopped, adjusted her hairpin, and laughed, “Never mind. Why am I telling a young lady like you all this? Just remember, men are unreliable. Money is the only thing you can count on!”
Mingshu lowered her head shyly, saying nothing.
“Xiu Niang, do you remember that nephew from my family?” Mrs. He changed the subject.
“You mean… Brother He Zhong?” Mingshu took a moment to recall. She had met him once when accompanying Old Lady Cao in the suburbs.
“I’m impressed you remember him. It must be fate,” Mrs. He smiled.
Sensing something amiss, Mingshu quickly said, “Sister-in-law…”
Mrs. He, anticipating her response, continued, “That boy hasn’t stopped thinking about you since he saw you. Like you, his father passed away last year, so he’s also observing a three-year mourning period. You’ll both finish around the same time. We’ve been thinking, since you don’t have elders to look after your interests and you’re considered part of our family now, we should plan for your future.”
Mingshu merely smiled and deftly changed the subject. When Old Lady Cao emerged, Mingshu greeted her respectfully, chatted for a while, and stayed for a meal before taking her leave in the afternoon.
Whether by Mrs. He’s arrangement or sheer coincidence, Mingshu encountered He Zhong at the Cao family gate. He was an unremarkable-looking man with an honest demeanor. Upon seeing Mingshu, his eyes lit up as if beholding a celestial maiden, and he eagerly approached. Noticing Mingshu struggling with the gifts from Old Lady Cao, he swiftly took them and placed them in his mule cart, offering to escort her home. Despite her protests, Mingshu reluctantly agreed.
They reached her home by dusk. He Zhong unloaded the packages from the cart and carried them to her door.
“Thank you for your help today,” Mingshu said, standing at the door.
He Zhong glanced at the closed door and wiped the sweat from his brow. “These are heavy. Shall I bring them inside for you?”
Mingshu shook her head. “No need, I can manage. It’s getting late, and the roads will be dark. You should head back soon.”
Although disappointed that his efforts hadn’t earned him an invitation inside, He Zhong reluctantly departed. Once he was out of sight, Mingshu turned to open the door and began moving the items inside.
A hand emerged from the dark doorway, effortlessly taking the packages she passed in.
Mingshu raised an eyebrow—Lu Chang had been away for a few days on business and was due back around now. Naturally, she hadn’t dared to invite guests in, and sure enough, he had returned quietly.
The door creaked shut, the bolt slid into place, and Lu Chang’s figure emerged from the darkness.
He never imagined he’d find himself in such a situation, hiding away in a humble abode, unable to show his face.
“That man went to the trouble of bringing your things home, yet you didn’t even offer him tea?” He had observed everything that transpired outside.
“You’re right. How inhospitable of me. Wait here, I’ll go bring him back,” Mingshu replied nonchalantly.
Lu Chang held her back. “No need. This house can’t accommodate another man.”
Mingshu rolled her eyes at him and went to pour herself a cup of water. “How did things go on your end?” she asked.
“I’ve met with Liu Zhi, the Xiangzhou Military Commander in Lin’an. He’s agreed to send troops to suppress the bandits, so we don’t need to deliberate further. Since Cao Hai is maintaining a private army, he must be spending resources on weapons and equipment. Judging from the arrows we encountered during our ambush, they appear to be privately forged military weapons. Currently, the court strictly controls weapon production.
All military equipment is manufactured by the Army Arsenal under the supervision of the Ministry of War and then distributed to the Imperial Army and local garrisons. Neither local authorities nor private workshops are allowed to forge military weapons. For Cao Hai to equip his private army, he’d need a substantial number of weapons. The black market couldn’t possibly supply such quantities, so either he’s purchasing them from the Jingdong Circuit or he has his weapon forge. I’m preparing to send people to Jiangning to investigate this matter discreetly.”
The Jingdong Circuit was known for its iron production, supplying nearly 90% of the Da’an Dynasty’s iron and weapons.
“Last year, Cao Hai asked his first wife to lend him her dowry and personal savings for an emergency. It must have been for some troublesome affair in Jiangning. If even he couldn’t resolve it easily, the impact must have been significant. Lu Chang, do you recall anything?” Mingshu pondered, recounting the information she had gleaned from Mrs. He.
“Last year…” Lu Chang recalled the contents of the Jian family robbery case file. While the file contained little information about Cao Hai, there was more about Gao Shicai’s appointment as Jiangning’s Deputy Magistrate. “Last year, a case of embezzlement of military salaries surfaced in Shanxi. The Emperor ordered a thorough investigation, dispatching Censorate officials and local deputy magistrates to examine the salaries and pensions of Imperial and local troops in various regions.
Gao Shicai was the Deputy Magistrate of Jiangning at the time, and no issues were reported. However, I recall hearing rumors in Jiangning about some military households complaining of delayed and insufficient salary payments. Your information today leads me to suspect that Cao Hai may have misappropriated military funds. When the court launched its investigation, he needed to fill the deficit quickly. Even with Gao Shicai’s cover-up, the presence of Censorate officials meant he had to plug the hole rapidly…”
“The Jian family vault contained 80,000 taels of silver, which was never recovered. It seems likely he used it to cover the shortfall. When you send people to Jiangning to investigate the weapons, have them look into the military salaries as well. It would be ideal if we could obtain the military supply ledgers.”
“Understood.” Lu Chang nodded, then added, “Moreover, whether he’s purchasing weapons externally or secretly manufacturing them, there should be traceable movement of weapons or raw materials. We should investigate the merchant caravans traveling between the Jingdong Circuit and Jiangning last year for potential leads.”
“I’ll leave Jiangning to you. I’ll find ways to keep Cao Hai occupied in Lin’an,” Mingshu said, exhaling slowly as she walked to the window. “Besides the 80,000 taels of silver, the Jian family also had a collection of valuable antiques and jade. These items are not easily converted to cash, and selling them in the market would arouse suspicion. Cao Hai wouldn’t risk liquidating them during such a sensitive time. I suspect… these items are still in the Cao residence.”
They talked for a long time, and outside the tightly shut window, night had fallen completely.
A pair of hands gently encircled Mingshu’s waist as Lu Chang embraced her from behind.
“Be careful during your investigation,” he cautioned.
“I will,” Mingshu nodded. “I’ve already mentioned the idea of a banquet to Mrs. He. Tomorrow, I’ll meet with Jiao Chunlu to arrange our entry into the Cao household.”
The arms around her waist tightened, and Lu Chang’s lips touched the top of her head, repeating his caution.
“Mingshu, please be careful.”