The night passed in a haze. Ming Tan curled up in Jiang Xu’s arms, occasionally drifting into a fitful sleep only to be jolted awake by rain splashing on her or distant thunder. Faint cries of an infant sometimes pierced the night.
As dawn broke around five, the rain finally eased. The dim light revealed the room’s disheveled state – puddles on the floor, wet furniture, and a nearly full basin on the bed. A few tattered leaves lay on a chair, evidence of the window being blown open during the night.
Jiang Xu, still holding Ming Tan, rested with closed eyes against the headboard.
Thinking he was asleep, Ming Tan carefully extricated herself from his embrace. She slipped on her embroidered shoes and silently left the room.
Outside, the air was fresh after the rain. A fragrant breeze carrying the scent of grass and flowers wafted from the nearby forest. Birds chirped melodiously in the distance.
Ming Tan exhaled deeply. Before last night, she couldn’t have imagined enduring such harsh conditions. The room was worse than the servants’ quarters at Jing’an Marquis’s manor.
Recalling Jiang Xu’s words about seventy percent of Da Xian’s population living in even worse conditions, her emotions were complex.
Hearing the brisk sound of sweeping from the main room, Ming Tan stretched her stiff limbs and headed inside.
She found Sister Liu finishing the sweeping and starting to wipe down the rain-soaked furniture.
Liu had been up since four, and the main room was now tidy. A fire burned in the kitchen, cooking porridge.
Noticing Ming Tan’s dark circles and weary expression, Liu paused her work and asked apologetically, “Sister, did the leaky roof keep you up? It’s my husband’s fault for not fixing it. I’m sorry you and your man suffered.”
Ming Tan had barely slept, but she didn’t want to make their hosts feel bad for their hospitality.
She shook her head, “No need to apologize. I’m a light sleeper, often wakeful during storms.”
Changing the subject, she added, “By the way, I think I heard the baby crying last night?”
Liu sighed, “Yes, poor thing. The thunder and rain frightened him. It took half the night to calm him down. Did we disturb you?”
“Not at all,” Ming Tan quickly assured her.
Despite comforting the child most of the night, Liu seemed energetic as she continued cleaning.
Amazed at Liu’s stamina after a sleepless night, Ming Tan asked, “Aren’t you tired, Sister Liu? Wouldn’t you like to rest?”
“Rest? No time for that,” Liu replied without hesitation. “I got up as soon as the baby fell asleep to get things done. He’ll be up soon, wailing for milk. Such a handful. Besides, which woman in the village doesn’t work? Wang’s daughter-in-law next door is up at three every day, feeding chickens and pigs, tending the garden, and serving her in-laws. I’m lucky without in-laws to care for. We country women are used to hard work, unlike you city folk.”
She glanced at Ming Tan curiously, “What brings you and your man to Tonggang? You look like you’re from a wealthy families. This place is poor, and over the mountain to town, the sea wind blows constantly. Everything smells of salt and fish!”
“My husband and I…” Ming Tan hesitated briefly before improvising, “He wants to start a business and came to survey the coastal area.”
Liu’s eyes widened, “Sea trade?”
Ming Tan’s silence was taken as confirmation.
Liu waved her hands emphatically, “Sea trade is deadly! Don’t do it!”
“Why not?” Ming Tan asked, intrigued.
“You don’t know how dangerous the sea is! The wind and waves can kill you before you know it,” Liu warned. “If you want to work with ships, go to Ling Prefecture. They have big ships there. It’s safer!”
Ming Tan listened attentively.
“Our area isn’t desperately poor, but no one dares go to sea. Some men tried before, bringing back goods, but there’s no market here. They still had to sell in Ling or Yu Prefecture. But leaving this small place is difficult, the roads are bad.
“A round trip takes at least a year. By the time you return, your baby’s talking. And anything you bring back, those big ships in Ling can get too. When you take goods to the city, you can’t get good prices. It’s not worth it.”
Ming Tan nodded thoughtfully but said nothing more.
After finishing in the main room, Liu went to check on the porridge and asked Ming Tan to wake Jiang Xu for breakfast.
Liu worked efficiently, preparing a simple but appetizing meal – a small pot of meat porridge, a stack of pickled vegetable buns, and freshly made, fragrant rice milk. The spread on the small square table was surprisingly appealing, and Ming Tan found herself eating with unusual gusto.
Before they finished, Liu’s husband returned from hunting. Surnamed Zhu and the fourth son in his family, neighbors called him Zhu Si.
Zhu Si was a burly man with a kind face. His sudden arrival caught Ming Tan without her veil.
In this region, people like Ming Tan and Jiang Xu were unheard of. Zhu Si stared in momentary awe, whispering none too quietly to Liu, “Wife, these two look like immortals! Where did they come from? Why are they in our home?”
Liu whispered back briefly.
Truthfully, if Ming Tan and Jiang Xu hadn’t looked so noble and clearly above any suspicion of ill intent, Liu, alone with a child, wouldn’t have let them stay, no matter how hospitable she was.
Understanding the situation, Zhu Si nodded and warmly encouraged them to continue eating while he checked on his sleeping son.
These hunters spent two or three days in the mountains at a time. Last night’s heavy rain had forced Zhu Si and his companions to shelter in a cave. Worried about his wife and son with the leaky roof, he’d hurried back at dawn.
After seeing his son, Zhu Si joined them for breakfast.
Liu had already ladled out porridge for him, anticipating his pace. As one bowl emptied, she was ready with another large scoop, chiding gently, “I told you to eat slowly. No one’s fighting you for it. You’ll choke!”
“I won’t choke, don’t worry,” Zhu Si reassured her, but did slow down. He praised Jiang Xu and Ming Tan, “My wife’s porridge is delicious. Please eat more. We don’t have much else to offer, but don’t be shy. It’s really good!”
Liu elbowed him to stop his rambling, but her lips curved up in a satisfied, sweet smile.
After breakfast, Ming Tan and Jiang Xu prepared to continue their journey.
Ming Tan, ready to say goodbye to Liu, found her and her husband washing dishes together in the back of the main room.
They chatted about their plans – what to buy for the house after selling this hunt’s catch at the market, repairing the roof once the ground dried, and the new, thicker-soled shoes Liu had made for her husband’s frequent mountain treks.
Their conversation, though mundane, was filled with mutual care and consideration. Zhu Si occasionally paused to wipe sweat from Liu’s brow. Their simple life seemed vibrant in this exchange.
Watching them, Ming Tan felt a warmth and an unexpected stirring in her heart. She found herself wondering if such a life with her husband might be pleasant.
Of course, she wouldn’t wash dishes – her hands, pampered with milk and honey, would likely wrinkle from just one washing. But if her husband were to do the dishes, that would be nice.
Lost in these thoughts, Ming Tan realized the couple hadn’t noticed her. She quietly retreated, leaving a packet of silver pieces near Liu’s sewing box.
She’d considered leaving a bank note but realized that in this poor area, exchanging it might draw unwanted attention. Loose silver would be less conspicuous.
—
“So, to develop sea trade in Tonggang, we’d need at least one good official road. The current transportation is highly inconvenient. I’ve noticed that the terrain in Quan Prefecture seems much more complex than the flat, open expanses of Ling Prefecture.
“Moreover, the road to Yu Prefecture is closer than to Ling Prefecture. Yu Prefecture’s western region has strong ties with the Western Regions. If Tonggang’s sea trade develops over time, Yu Prefecture could become a hub connecting the Tea Horse Road and maritime trade routes.”
As they continued their journey, Ming Tan shared her thoughts on developing Tonggang’s sea trade with Jiang Xu.
“Also, Sister Liu mentioned that Tonggang’s wind and waves are much worse than Ling Port’s. Why is that? Is it due to the location, or is Tonggang too backward, lacking seafaring experience? If it’s inexperience in handling rough seas, that can be addressed. But if it’s the former, we might face bigger challenges.”
Jiang Xu didn’t respond directly, instead asking softly, “You’ve gleaned all this from a brief chat with that woman?”
Ming Tan looked back uncertainly, “Are my thoughts… incorrect?”
“They’re very astute. I’m just surprised by the Wang Fei’s intelligence.”
“…?”
“Did you previously think I was stupid?”