“Brother Mo, you were ill at the time, and I couldn’t tell the proprietress either, so I consulted with Aunt Qin. Aunt Qin said it would be too much of a waste for such a fine woman to fall into the world of flowers and willows. Better to lend her the silver—Wangqiu Pavilion would also gain a treasure. Only then did I take out one thousand five hundred taels. Xu Jiu was quite straightforward. He took the silver, left Young Master Lin, and oh yes—he also ate a meal at our pavilion, paid for it, then left. And so Zhen Niang became Chen Niang. It really isn’t my fault.” Cen Er looked like he truly had no other choice.
Having heard the whole story, Mo Zi sighed. This Lady Lin Zhen’s fate wasn’t much better than her own. However, this arrangement was still better than Lin Zhen Niang being sold by her brother. So she said nothing more.
The two came back around, only to unexpectedly run into Lin Zhen Niang, who was looking around everywhere.
Upon seeing Mo Zi, Lin Zhen Niang immediately curtsied deeply. “Brother Mo, please forgive Zhen Niang for deceiving you.”
It turned out that Lin Zhen Niang had seen Cen Er and Mo Zi from the stage earlier and had hurried out to find them after finishing her song.
“You had no choice.” Mo Zi was dressed as a man and didn’t dare help her up. “But how did you recognize me?”
“That day when Brother Mo came, I happened to see you and only felt your face was familiar. After asking the chief steward and Aunt, I learned of my poor judgment. I feared Brother Mo wouldn’t approve of my decision to become a Geqiu and would think I was degrading myself—” Lin Zhen Niang already knew Mo Zi was a young woman, and she was quite moved that a woman could conduct herself so freely and openly. To be honest, her determination to take the stage and perform was deeply influenced by Mo Zi. With her parents long dead and her brother unable to make anything of himself, she no longer wanted to live timidly, pitifully, and alone.
“You may have misunderstood. The Geqiu profession was my proposal in the first place—how could I look down on Geqiu Ladies? Whether Zhen Niang or Chen Niang, dust that doesn’t fall to earth can still have a noble heart. I admire you for taking the first step toward self-reliance, and I admire even more your sense of loyalty and righteousness.” To outsiders, it might seem better to abandon such a heartless brother, but to the person involved, he was ultimately blood kin from the same lineage. Being resolute about severing ties was very difficult.
“Well said—’dust that doesn’t fall to earth can still have a noble heart.'” Someone applauded from behind a row of flower trellises.
Upon hearing this, Mo Zi found the voice familiar. Was it Xu Jiu?
Sure enough, a burly man with a bronze mask emerged, a one-inch-wide silver band clasped on his arm, still bearing the leopard pattern.
Lin Zhen Niang was clearly afraid of Xu Jiu and couldn’t help but take a step back.
Cen Er also frowned, thinking the other party had come to cause trouble again, wondering whether he should go find the guards.
“Master Jiu has taken a liking to our Wangqiu Pavilion’s fine wine and food, I see? How about it—would you like to get a VIP card? It’s convenient for reservations and the prices are more favorable too.” Only Mo Zi wasn’t afraid. That day at Wuyou Pavilion, she had already made her position clear. They might not be buddies or friends, but they shouldn’t be enemies either.
“I was just thinking that. To speak honestly—and you mustn’t tell Wuyou—this wine and food, Wuyou Pavilion can’t compare. Also, these chairs are comfortable to sit in, the scenery is lovely, calling the servers is convenient—just pull the bell—who thought of all this?” Xu Jiu counted off the good points on more than ten fingers.
Since Wangqiu Pavilion opened, it had taken quite a bit of business from Wuyou Pavilion. Mo Zi knew this, but the two establishments were fundamentally different. In the long run, they posed no threat to each other.
“Cen Er, did you hear that? In a bit, get Master Jiu a card. Master Jiu is a man whose word is worth nine tripods—what he says absolutely counts.” The other meaning was that the matter with Zhen Niang was already in the past.
Cen Er understood and quickly agreed.
Xu Jiu laughed heartily, his ape-like arm sweeping out to put his arm around Mo Zi’s shoulders.
Zhen Niang let out a low cry, her eyes going round.
Xu Jiu mistakenly thought Zhen Niang was still worried. He patted Mo Zi’s thin shoulder with a slap. “Brother Mo, does this little lady have feelings for you? Is she afraid I’ll flatten you? No wonder she wouldn’t marry Huo Lao Ba.”
Mo Zi gave a dry laugh. Disguising herself as a man, she inevitably encountered this sort of thing—she was quite used to it. It was just that this Xu Jiu fellow was slapping so hard—was he doing it on purpose?
“Where does Master Jiu get such ideas? I’m Brother Mo, just a nobody—how would I be worthy of such a beautiful young lady? Master Jiu, have you come here purely to eat, or are you looking for someone?”
Speaking of coincidences, this was a bit too coincidental.
Xu Jiu continued with his arm around Mo Zi’s shoulder. “I came to eat, but also to find you. Little brother, come to my room—let’s have a talk.”
Cen Er was dumbfounded, thinking this was outright kidnapping, and called out “Brother Mo!”
Mo Zi saw that though Xu Jiu’s mouth was smiling, his eyes weren’t, and knew he truly had business. However, she didn’t want to go alone to the meeting. She turned to have Cen Er call Zan Jin and Chou Yu, then followed Xu Jiu.
“Brother Mo is afraid I’ll harm you?” Xu Jiu was somewhat dissatisfied.
“Not afraid you’ll harm me—just afraid Master Jiu has something requiring my brothers and me to help.” She was considering things for him. Last time she’d said she could lend him a hand.
Xu Jiu squinted one eye. The arm hooked around Mo Zi tightened, and he laughed loudly again. “Brother Mo is truly clever—I, Xu Jiu, bow down in admiration.”
“You’re too kind.” Mo Zi rolled her eyes—he was about to break her bones.
“But I see that compared to last time, Brother Mo, you’ve gotten much paler. Did you powder your face?” Xu Jiu lowered his head and leaned in to look closely.
After all, he was a man of the jianghu—his behavior was rough and unrestrained, saying and doing whatever came to mind.
Mo Zi reached out to lift one of his fingers, smoothly removing his large palm from her shoulder. Before Xu Jiu could open his mouth in confusion, she said, “Master Jiu’s divine strength—my shoulder is about to shatter.”
Xu Jiu expressed deep understanding of this explanation. “You scholars—smart in the head, but your bodies can’t take much handling.”
When he mentioned scholars, Mo Zi thought of Zhong An. She herself was definitely not that kind of romantic figure. She shook her head in denial. “I’m not any kind of scholar—I just know how to read and write.”
Following Xu Jiu into a private room, there was another person at the table she hadn’t seen before.
“This is Mei Shan, a scholar who usually gives me advice. He doesn’t know martial arts.” A simple introduction.
Mei Shan had also been at Wuyou Pavilion last time, but he’d been guarding outside and hadn’t gone in. Mo Zi hadn’t noticed him, but he had seen her. He stood and cupped his hands, calling her Brother Mo. From his expression, he also seemed somewhat puzzled about Mo Zi’s paler complexion.
Mo Zi made up her mind not to say much about her facial color change. In any case, everyone would get used to it after looking. There was no need to tell a lie to every person she met. Fortunately, men were obtuse and didn’t care about details. She wasn’t anyone of great importance—without explanation, no one would pursue the truth. At most, they’d just feel puzzled in their hearts.
The three took their seats.
“Master Jiu, let’s get straight to the point. What help do you need from me this time?” Mo Zi didn’t stand on ceremony with him either—once was unfamiliar, twice was familiar.
Xu Jiu looked at Mo Zi with appreciation. “Brother Mo, that method you mentioned last time—the more I think about it, the better it seems. Now everything is ready, we only lack the east wind. I came to find you because I want to borrow a venue from you.”
Upon hearing this, Mo Zi thought: Last time she’d said that Huo Ba was lustful, so they should set a trap he couldn’t escape once he jumped in. Xu Jiu saying everything was ready clearly meant he’d already prepared the snare. Borrow a venue from her? So this would take place at Wangqiu Pavilion?
“Master Jiu, this matter isn’t for me to decide. At Wangqiu Pavilion, I’m neither a steward nor the proprietress. Had I known you’d ask this, I should have had Cen Er come along earlier. He could make the decision.” The matter seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. She didn’t know if it could be hidden from Qiu Sanniang.
“Brother Mo, now you’re not being forthright. With Chief Steward Cen, isn’t it just a matter of one word from you?” As Xu Jiu’s strategist, Mei Shan had some wisdom.
Mo Zi smiled. So they had come after making thorough inquiries.
“If Master Jiu weren’t a gentleman and just staged this show directly at Wangqiu Pavilion, what could I say? I could only blame my bad luck. But Master Jiu has opened his mouth, which gives me face—informing me beforehand. So I must speak honestly too. Wangqiu Pavilion has only been open a few days. If this sort of thing happens, what family’s women would dare come through our doors? Moreover, if anger is directed at us and the shop is shut down, even if it reopens in the future, the reputation would be ruined. I’m hesitant in my heart, so how can I be forthright? I can only deflect.”
Xu Jiu liked Mo Zi’s honesty. “Brother Mo, as you said, at this Wangqiu Pavilion you’re neither steward nor proprietress—whether it’s the reputation or the business, what does it have to do with you? I’m borrowing from you only because I want to use this opportunity to make friends with Brother Mo. If you say no, I, Xu Jiu, absolutely won’t force it. It’s all in one word from you.”
This gave Mo Zi plenty of face.
“May I ask Master Jiu, why have you specifically set your sights on Wangqiu Pavilion? Places like temples and festivals would all be good locations. Tomorrow is the seventh day of the seventh month, the Qiqiao Daughters’ Festival. Even the wives and concubines of princes and nobles might come out to play—wouldn’t that be a good opportunity?” Wangqiu Pavilion wasn’t hers, but this person was trouble she’d provoked. If Qiu Sanniang had bad luck, could she herself be fortunate? They were tied together on the same rope.
“Not bad—the seventh of the seventh month, a good day. That woman reserved a private room at your Wangqiu Pavilion five days ago to listen to songs, watch dances, and enjoy your fireworks. She’s not the type to burn incense and worship Buddha, nor does she like the bustle of crowds—she loves refined tunes and elegant pleasures.” Xu Jiu had also chosen the seventh of the seventh month. “Brother Mo, rest assured. After the incident occurs, aside from both parties and us, it won’t be spread around. As for the authorities, even if Brother Mo doesn’t trust me, you should trust Magistrate Yuan. Everything has been arranged. If Huo Lao Ba is finished, I’ll take the position of gang leader. From then on, Wangqiu Pavilion’s affairs will be my affairs—who would dare come looking for trouble?”
Oh? He wanted to become Wangqiu Pavilion’s backing? But this way, she hadn’t received any direct benefits. Mo Zi couldn’t help playing a small trick, digging at Qiu Sanniang’s wall for once.
“Master Jiu, Wangqiu Pavilion’s reputation is well-known—we’re not really afraid of jianghu people coming to make trouble. To speak presumptuously, if Wangqiu Pavilion collapsed, no one could open a second one this excellent. I’ll soon be starting a new enterprise, and perhaps I really will need Master Jiu’s help in the future. I don’t know if Master Jiu would be willing?”
Xu Jiu was quite interested and asked, “What enterprise does Brother Mo want to start?”
Mo Zi stated directly, “A shipyard. Currently lacking people and customers, I’m having a headache not knowing how to begin.”
Xu Jiu was indeed knowledgeable about this business. “Brother Mo, it’s not easy to get an official permit to open a shipyard. The capital investment is large, there are many restrictions, but those who can get in have never failed to make a fortune.”
Mei Shan had sharp eyes. He smiled and said, “Master Jiu, since Brother Mo has mentioned it, the permit must already be in hand. From now on, we’re all one family.” The Boat Gang and the shipyard—one managed boat navigation, the other boat construction.
Seeing Mo Zi’s smile, Xu Jiu knew Mei Shan had guessed correctly, so he readily agreed, telling Mo Zi to just come find him if there was anything in the future.
The three had a round of drinks, conversed very pleasantly, and discussed the specifics of their division of labor and cooperation.
However, what Mo Zi hadn’t anticipated was that earlier at Cloud Song Stage, while she had been greatly shocked that Zhen Niang was Chen Niang, there was also an acquaintance who had seen through her true identity and been greatly shocked.
Dust, dust—it too could be noble.