“The price is very reasonable. As our boss says, we’re not making much profit here, just building a reputation.”
“Oh? Is your boss a local?” Zhou Peigong asked with interest.
Northerners referred to the master of the house as “dongjia,” while in some southern regions, the owner of a business was called “laoban.”
Lin Chen’s eyes flickered as he smiled and nodded, “Exactly, our boss is from Yizhen County, originally following his family in Yangzhou Prefecture.”
“After his family passed away, he returned to his hometown to live in the old house. Not wanting to sit idle, he started this business.”
Zhou Peigong listened to Lin Chen’s words and stepped into the inn with ease.
As soon as they entered, he and Zhou Er caught a whiff of a pleasant floral scent, which surprised them both.
Even though the south wasn’t as cold as the north, ordinary households couldn’t afford fresh flowers at this time of year.
The boss must be quite resourceful.
They didn’t see any fresh flowers, only some common evergreen potted plants on the counter and the small platform opposite.
Where was the floral scent coming from?
Zhou Peigong, at fifty-three, had been an official since he was nineteen and had retired less than two years ago.
With his years of experience in officialdom, he didn’t rush to ask.
Seeing Lin Chen’s eloquence and aggrieved expression, Zhou Peigong chuckled and had Zhou Er go ahead and pay the requested ten taels deposit.
He sat down calmly, waiting for the promised tangyuan and the complimentary New Year’s meal.
When Zhou Er returned, the table was laden with tangyuan, four-happiness meatballs, general crossing the bridge, crystal pork, shredded dried tofu, dragon beard spring rolls, and a large bowl of Wensi tofu soup.
The waiter serving the dishes smiled and said, “Today, our tangyuan have a surprise inside. Please eat slowly, honored guests.”
“If you find the surprise, we’ll treat you to a good show tonight.”
Zhou Peigong chuckled.
Having been an official for many years, he had even attended grand banquets in the palace.
What kind of show hadn’t he seen?
Zhou Er just muttered, “Wouldn’t it be better to give us a discount on the room fee?”
The waiter grinned, “Our boss says it’s only right to make our guests happy, but we can’t run at a loss either.”
“You can think of it as spending one portion of silver for double the comfort. Rounding it off, it’s like saving money, isn’t it?”
Zhou Er:”…..”
Zhou Peigong was amused and laughed heartily, “Alright, let’s see if we can get a lucky break.”
“If we can get a lucky break, the show doesn’t matter. I’d like to have a drink with your host. Meeting interesting people in far-off places is one of life’s greatest pleasures!”
Fang He, who was starving, sneaked to the back to eat some freshly fried small silver fish.
As she lifted the curtain of the back door and entered, she overheard Zhou Peigong’s words.
Curious, she peeked her head in and saw an elderly man with a medium-length, handsome beard.
He looked quite distinguished, somewhat like the officials Fang He had seen before.
She quickly pulled her head back.
Except for minor officials like the county magistrate, she had no interest in other officials.
Although she didn’t recall this person, what if someone had seen her with Kangxi and she hadn’t noticed?
Perhaps it was her age, but a few days ago, she actually dreamed of kissing Kangxi.
She was so angry when she woke up that she slapped herself, cursing her own lack of ambition.
She was finally about to start a carefree life.
As long as she could maintain a stable income, she would soon choose suitable young men for herself and Madam Liang to bring home, hoping that in the next life, she would have no more entanglements with Kangxi.
Fang He called Fan Yi, a young boy responsible for serving dishes, to her side.
“Come here, later go and tell Lin Chen to find out what these two guests do.”
These children were all orphans from the northern deserts who had lost their parents.
They didn’t want their old names anymore.
Since they were starting anew, they all took Fang He’s current surname.
Fan Yi responded crisply, entered the room to deliver the dishes to their small dining room on the first floor, and then relayed the message to Lin Chen.
When everyone had gathered, leaving one who had already eaten to wait outside, the others were ready to start eating when Lin Chen hurried in from outside.
He leaned close to Fang He’s ear, “They must have been officials. When I flattered them, they didn’t deny it, only said they had been commoners for several years.”
“I noticed a bit of melancholy in the old man, so he probably wasn’t lying.”
Fang He breathed a slight sigh of relief.
That was good.
Several years ago, her original self was still hiding in the imperial tea room.
Even if the guest could enter the palace, he definitely wouldn’t recognize her original self, let alone her now in disguise.
Feeling reassured, Fang He began to arrange for everyone to eat the tangyuan first.
She stood up, without any boss’s airs, stretching her arms, imitating Lin Chen by pushing others aside, and grabbed three bowls for Madam Liang, Naren, and herself.
As soon as she sat down, Fang He rubbed her hands together, scooped up a tangyuan, and stuffed it into her mouth, mumbling to urge everyone on.
“Quick, quick! Whoever gets the lucky break first will make a fortune next year!”
“Hey, I got it!” someone suddenly exclaimed.
Fang He’s already puffed-up cheeks swelled even more.
She quickly swallowed the tangyuan, “Who? Who’s so lucky?”
Everyone: “…………”
What does ‘lucky’ mean?
Lin Chen laughed heartily, pointing outside, “It’s that guard Zhou Peigong . He wants the boss to go out and have a drink with him!”
“You go, we’ll eat the rest of the tangyuan for you!”
Fang He: “…..”
“New rule at the inn, the boss sells skills, not her body, no accompanying drinks!”
Everyone laughed while eating.
Madam Liang asked curiously and teasingly, “What skills do you have to sell?”
Even Naren and Yunsheng looked up at her.
Fang He choked, quickly stuffing another tangyuan into her mouth, “I…………… can hiss!”
The crowd: “……”
Just get out already!
Fang He was pushed out by Madam Liang.
Finally, they had encountered someone who likely hadn’t met Fang He before but had once been an official.
This was the perfect moment to test Fang He’s acting skills.
If she couldn’t even deceive an official she had never met, she might as well never leave the house again.
In Jiangnan, there was no shortage of retired officials.
If it weren’t for Naren’s prior arrangements in this area, they wouldn’t have come to Jiangnan at all, as other places weren’t prepared.
Zhou Peigong looked up and saw a young man in a dark green robe stumbling out of a small private room, his face filled with indignation.
Zhou Peigong couldn’t help but smile.
This inn was full of interesting things.
The owner… the boss must be quite a character.
Fang He quickly composed herself, as if nothing had happened, and brought out a white porcelain wine jug from behind the counter, walking over with a smile.
Zhou Peigong stood up with a smile and cupped his hands in greeting.
“Zhou Chang, courtesy name Peigong, greets Boss Fan.”
Fang He stepped forward with a smile, lowering her voice, “This humble one is Fang Shaohui. Greetings, Master Zhou. You may call me Shuyu. Please, no need for formalities.”
Zhou Peigong gestured for Zhou Er to take the wine jug and pour the wine, while he picked up a cup and smiled as he observed the young man before him.
Her gaze was clear and upright, her smile open and carefree, exuding a sense of unrestrained charm.
Zhou Peigong nodded inwardly; this temperament suited his taste.
Stroking his beard, he asked with a smile, “Is the name Shuyu from Wei Yingwu’s ‘The Western Study in the Commandery’? It does match the leisurely air you carry now, doesn’t it?”
Fang He was momentarily stunned.
She was practically illiterate… she had never heard of it!
She awkwardly raised her cup, “Master, you flatter me. What leisure do I have? I’m just thinking that within books, there’s a beauty like jade, and I’d like to marry a lovely lady.”
Of course, it would be even better if there were a house of gold too.
Zhou Peigong and Zhou Er:”…..”
Both couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Zhou Peigong even shook his head, laughing at himself as he apologized to Fang He.
“It’s my fault. Perhaps these years of misfortune have made me a bit self-absorbed, thinking everyone else is as troubled as I am.”
Fang He knew her body couldn’t handle strong alcohol, so she had prepared a very low-proof plum wine.
She happily took a sip and waved her hand dismissively.
“Ah, Master, you’re too kind. Life is full of disappointments, but if you can afford to worry about such things, it means you’re in good health, with no worries about food or clothing. Isn’t that right?”
Zhou Peigong: “……”
Was this kid implying that he had nothing better to do and was just being idle?
Fang He also felt that her attempt at comfort might have come off as sarcastic, so she quickly poured another cup of wine and tried to smooth things over by saying:
“I tend to talk nonsense when I drink. Please don’t take it to heart.”
“Look at someone like me, even I can marry a lovely lady. It shows that as long as you have dreams, opportunities are everywhere. Master, there’s no need to trouble yourself. At least you have talent-writing books that will be remembered for generations is a fine pursuit too!”
In their previous lives, retired officials often enjoyed writing and publishing books, didn’t they?
Geng Shuning had hosted several such retired official salon gatherings at her hotel.
Zhou Peigong’s smile deepened as he listened, but as he continued to smile, he began to sense a profound truth in Fang He’s straightforward and simple words.
“Where there is a dream in the heart, opportunities are everywhere,” isn’t that so?
Reflecting on his own frustrations during his tenure as the Provincial Administration Commissioner in Shandong and the lingering resentment after his resignation, he suddenly felt a mocking laugh at himself.
Having lived to this age, he realized he hadn’t grasped the essence of life as well as a seemingly unremarkable young man.
It felt like he had wasted his years.
After finishing his New Year’s Eve dinner, Zhou Peigong send Zhou Er to deliver a letter to the Yu family.
And than he entered the upper room of a small inn.
Surrounded by the pleasant fragrance of flowers and plants, Zhou Peigong sat at a clean desk, and suddenly, inspiration surged like a spring.
This time, Zhou Peigong came to visit his old friend because the friend, who had already entered the Daoist path, had connections with the Governor of Yangzhou and the Cao family in Jiangning, which could provide him with more information about the court.
He had already learned from a letter that the Qing Dynasty was currently in a dispute with Korea over the Three Ditches incident and had sent Tong Guowei and Suo’etu north to negotiate with the Russians.
However, with no good news forthcoming, Zhou Peigong understood that complications had likely arisen.
He pondered the current situation of the Qing Dynasty and speculated that it might be related to the unrest in the western regions.
Although he had resigned from his official position, besides being well-read in literature, he had also practiced martial arts since childhood, making him both cultured and skilled in combat.
His health had always been good, and he found it hard to stay idle in his hometown.
His desire to serve the country and the people had never waned.
Now, with a clear mind, he swiftly wrote a memorial filled with loyalty, which quickly took shape on paper.
When Zhou Er returned, he informed his master that Old Daoist Yu was indeed not at home, having been invited to Jiangning to attend a farewell banquet for Young Master Cao.
Upon learning that Cao Yin was about to return to the capital, Zhou Peigong urged Zhou Er, “Please make the trip to Jiangning, find Old Daoist Yu, and give him my memorial. Ask him to help me present it to Cao Yin for submission.”
Having once held the position of a second-rank official, even though he never fully approved of the bureaucratic socializing, Cao Yin was a shrewd man and would likely grant him this favor.
When Cao Yin entered the capital, it was just three days before the Emperor’s Plowing Ceremony.
Although it had snowed on the Dragon Head Festival, the weather had been quite pleasant recently, with the days slightly warmer, and the streets were bustling with people.
Cao Yin asked the servant who came to pick him up, “Has anything noteworthy happened in the capital recently?”