That night, Zhenzhen stayed at Rongqiu Garden according to Zhao Ai’s arrangement, while Zhao Ai indeed followed Lin Hong back to Shiyi Garden. He politely declined Lin Hong’s offer to prepare a guest room for him and repeatedly requested to share a room with Lin Hong. Left with no choice, Lin Hong had A’Che lay out bedding on the tea bed in his own room for Zhao Ai’s use.
Lin Hong’s sleeping couch was separated from the tea bed by about two zhang. After both had lain down, Zhao Ai took the initiative to chat with Lin Hong, inquiring about matters between Lin Hong and Zhenzhen. But Lin Hong glossed over this with a few light words and instead turned the conversation to the disaster situation and Shaoxing refugees, talking with him for half the night and asking him to report the true situation to His Majesty upon returning to the capital.
Hearing that many Shaoxing refugees had come to Suzhou with no fixed abode and often reduced to begging on the streets, Zhao Ai asked: “Ever-Normal Granary funds and grain can be used for disaster relief. Why don’t the prefectural governments open the granaries to take money and grain to settle these disaster victims?”
Ever-Normal Granaries were warehouses established by prefectural governments everywhere. Each year, they extracted a certain percentage from collected taxes, purchasing large quantities of grain when prices were low, then selling at relatively low prices when market grain prices rose, to stabilize grain prices while also storing grain for famine relief.
Lin Hong replied: “Opening Ever-Normal Granaries for funds and grain requires prior court approval. Suzhou also had disasters this year, and the prefectural government already reported to the court and opened the Ever-Normal Granary once. Now these refugees come from other regions, so the prefectural government probably considers them outside their jurisdiction and doesn’t wish to use local Ever-Normal Granary resources for relief.”
After hearing this, Zhao Ai appeared thoughtful and gradually had nothing more to say.
The next day, Zhenzhen came from Rongqiu Garden and saw A’Che leading several servants in dividing stored grain from the garden’s storehouse into many small bags, working busily. She immediately understood and asked A’Che: “Teacher Lin had you use the garden’s grain to help disaster victims, didn’t he?”
A’Che confirmed this, then sighed: “This grain was stored by the young master previously. It looks like quite a bit, but there are too many disaster victims—I’m afraid it will be distributed quickly.”
After thinking, Zhenzhen didn’t go to see Lin Hong first but found Shi Huai’en and Mo Sijin, telling them: “Write down the news that Xuanyi Lang will distribute grain at Shiyi Garden to help disaster victims. Quickly find a workshop that can print newsletters, print a thousand copies, and have people distribute them throughout Suzhou’s major streets and alleys.”
“A thousand copies?” Shi Huai’en stared wide-eyed. “Is that necessary? I see Shiyi Garden doesn’t have that much grain either. If just a few people receive some and spread the word, soon all the disaster victims will know and come to receive grain. There’s no need to print newsletters at all, and even if we did, a thousand copies is too many.”
Zhenzhen smiled: “That’s right, a thousand copies. Just do as I say and print them quickly for distribution.”
Shi Huai’en and Mo Sijin looked at each other in confusion. At this moment, Zhao Ai appeared at the doorway, pacing in with hands behind his back and a knowing smile, telling them: “Do as Food Preparation Manager Wu says, but a thousand copies is too few—print three thousand… I’ll pay for the printing.”
The next day, the grain was ready and the newsletters were printed. Shi Huai’en had people distribute them everywhere as Zhenzhen instructed. A’Che and others moved the packaged grain to outside Shiyi Garden’s main gate, calling disaster victims to collect it. Soon the gate was surrounded three layers deep with many people.
Lin Hong stood atop the small hill formed by the artificial mountain stones in the garden. The elevated position allowed him to observe the scene outside the main gate. Soon Zhenzhen also climbed the hill, standing beside him to observe the disaster victims receiving grain together. Zhao Ai had told Lin Hong that morning he was going to the prefectural government office and left early, not returning for half the day.
More and more people came to receive grain. Many held the newsletter in their hands, and judging by their clothing and accents, many were local residents, not disaster refugees. By noon, the prepared grain had been completely distributed, yet many waiting people hadn’t received any, and more people holding newsletters kept streaming in continuously.
A’Che bowed to the crowd in apology, saying today’s relief distribution was finished and asking everyone to return home. The crowd refused to listen, waving their newsletters and saying his master had widely publicized the grain distribution but only prepared so little—wasn’t this seeking fame and deceiving the people?
Having no choice, A’Che picked up a newsletter and rushed back to the garden to show Lin Hong, explaining the situation. Lin Hong unfolded it and immediately frowned, turning to look at Zhenzhen: “You did this?”
Zhenzhen didn’t hide it and frankly admitted: “I had it printed. Teacher Lin wanting to provide disaster relief on behalf of the prefectural government stems from kind intentions and is originally a good deed, but you’re not as wealthy as Tao Zhu. With thousands upon thousands of disaster victims, how could you alone provide relief to them all?”
Lin Hong turned his head aside, speechless. Zhenzhen moved a step closer to him and advised: “I heard His Majesty say that the name Canglang Pavilion comes from ‘When the waters of Canglang are clear, I can wash my cap-strings; when the waters of Canglang are muddy, I can wash my feet.’ A gentleman in the world serves when encountering good governance and withdraws when encountering chaos. If the emperor is incompetent and the court corrupt, a gentleman naturally conceals his talents and lives in seclusion, which is beyond reproach. But now His Majesty is enlightened and has worked diligently since ascending the throne, hoping to employ worthy ministers and eliminate corruption to strengthen the nation and enrich the people, making the realm more stable. He thirsts for talent, and you have ability and the heart to benefit all under heaven. Why not go to the capital to serve as an official, directly express your political views to His Majesty, and become a worthy minister who can influence His Majesty’s decisions and help revitalize the nation?”
Lin Hong pondered silently without answering. Zhenzhen continued: “When I was at the Wenqiao Inn, you often advised me to treasure things, saying that everything in the world, from conception to maturity, experiences a long process. We must know how to cherish, use properly, apply to real purposes without waste. You studied hard for over ten years—is your talent merely for composing a few poems and essays? Having talent but remaining in obscurity, not sharing it with the world, is the greatest waste.”
At this time, the people outside the main gate demanding grain only increased, blocking the main road completely. Several local ruffians mixed among them, loudly leading the crowd in demanding grain. When A’Che went out again to explain that the garden had no stored grain left, the ruffians shouted: “Since your master built such a large garden, he must have considerable money saved. If there’s no grain, bring out money to distribute.”
A’Che said his master wasn’t wealthy and the garden had no ready cash, but those people didn’t believe him at all, each clamoring that they must receive money or grain today. The other refugees’ emotions were also stirred up, and led by the ruffians, they actually rushed into the garden.
Seeing the situation turning bad, Lin Hong on the hill immediately pulled Zhenzhen down the mountain and took refuge in a cave within the artificial mountain stones.
The cave had winding paths and originally led to the rear buildings used as living quarters, but seeing the people who had rushed into the garden all heading toward the buildings, Lin Hong didn’t dare risk returning. He found a darker, more concealed spot deep in the cave where he and Zhenzhen temporarily took shelter.
Soon there was commotion outside, with footsteps sounding as if someone was quickly entering. Zhenzhen was startled and without time to think, turned and pushed Lin Hong into a recessed corner, standing with her back to the outside, shielding him with her body.
Lin Hong was stunned, then immediately understood her action was to protect him. He instantly embraced Zhenzhen’s waist and in a lightning-fast moment had pulled her to switch positions with him, holding her tightly and locking her in his arms, not letting her move.
The two held their breath and stood close together. Fortunately, the people who entered the cave quickly ran out along the main path without discovering them in the recessed area.
After a long time, the commotion outside the cave gradually subsided. Not knowing whether those people had dispersed after looting, the garden seemed to have returned to its former tranquility. Lin Hong relaxed slightly, gently patted Zhenzhen’s back, and said: “We can go out now.”
But Zhenzhen began to sob: “I’m sorry, I didn’t expect them to rush in…”
“It’s alright,” Lin Hong said gently. “You were right—my little bit of relief grain is indeed a drop in the bucket for disaster victims. I thought too simply before. Today’s incident is a lesson.”
But Zhenzhen felt increasingly sad, her shoulders slightly trembling, unable to suppress her crying, tears falling continuously.
Lin Hong coaxed and comforted her, occasionally patting her with gentle words, but Zhenzhen cried even louder. Lin Hong’s heart was in turmoil, at a loss. After a moment, he pulled her back into his embrace and lowered his head to kiss away a tear that had just emerged.
This touch made Zhenzhen’s entire body tremble, and her sobbing stopped abruptly. She stared at Lin Hong in a daze for a long while, seeing Lin Hong smile at her, his eyes still bright as stars in the dim light as he gazed tenderly at her.
She suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and raised her head to kiss his smiling lips.
She clumsily captured his lower lip, but then didn’t know what to do next.
He seemed shocked by her action, his body stiff and motionless, let alone responding.
She thought about it and bit his lower lip with neither too much nor too little force.
He couldn’t help but feel pain and instinctively pushed her away, then couldn’t help but turn his head aside and smile. He approached her again, lowered his head to look at her, and silently raised the corners of his lips again.
She seemed more confused than shy, eyes wide as she continued to examine his lips.
It appeared she needed his guidance in this matter as well. Like being suddenly struck by a warm wave, this thought made his heart flutter. For a moment, all prohibitions and concerns were forgotten. The next instant, he closed his eyes and slowly kissed her moist eyelashes.
Her heart pounded as she quickly closed her eyes.
He gently kissed her right eyelid, then turned to kiss her left eyelid, giving her no chance to open her eyes. Then he lowered his head slightly, letting his lips touch her lips.
Just a light touch before moving away, like two fish kissing in water.
Her lips were moist and tender, with the texture of fresh lychee flesh. Her breath was sweet, with the fragrance of benzoin candy.
Like tasting fine wine, he felt somewhat intoxicated and couldn’t help but continue approaching her for the next attempt.
But before he could touch her this time, he heard someone cough heavily outside the cave, then call out loudly: “Come out, it’s safe now.”
Lin Hong recognized A’Che’s voice and immediately took Zhenzhen’s hand to walk outside. Reaching the cave entrance, they saw A’Che waiting there. Seeing them, he smiled somewhat awkwardly, then pursed his lips forward, gesturing for them to look.
Lin Hong and Zhenzhen looked in that direction and saw Zhao Ai holding a sword, sitting with legs apart on the opposite rocks, his face dark as he coldly stared at them.