The man glanced at the calligraphy on the tall candle and, seeing the densely packed characters, nodded and said, "There are quite a lot of characters here, but I don't know what they mean."
It turned out that he was illiterate.
Zhenshu glanced at it and saw that it was a poem by Xin Qiji, titled "Qing Ping Le: Village Life." She smiled and explained to the man, "This is a poem by Xin Jiaxuan, 'Qing Ping Le,' which I am reading to you, sir."
The thatched eaves are low and small, and the grass is green by the stream.
In my drunken stupor, the Wu dialect sounds so sweet and charming; whose white-haired old couple are they?
The eldest son is hoeing beans east of the stream, while the middle son is weaving a chicken coop.
I love most the mischievousness of children, lying by the stream peeling lotus pods.
The man frowned upon hearing this, then shook his head and said, "This is not good, not good. My godfather is so noble, how could he like this kind of rural farming stuff?"
He paced around and looked at it again, then pointed to another piece and said, "This one is good. The characters are large and the scroll is long. It looks like a good piece."
Zhen read the book and found it to be a line from Su Dongpo's poem "Looking South of the Yangtze River - Chaoran Terrace": "Enjoy poetry and wine while you're young."
He nodded and said, "This line is also excellent. However, it is meant to wish someone a long and healthy life. If you were to give it to Your Excellency, the Qing Ping Yue you just recited would be better."
Seeing that Zhenshu was always the one answering, the man turned around and saw a beautiful young girl who was just the right age for jade. She spoke eloquently and calmly, and seemed to be a learned person. Zhao He, on the other hand, looked like a rough man. So he began to believe Zhenshu and asked, "Do you really think my godfather would like that painting?"
Zhen Shu said, "If it were a gift for an elder, I think that piece would have a better artistic feel."
The man hesitated for a long time before asking, "How much silver?"
This is Song Gongzheng's calligraphy from back then, and it's still worth money today. Zhen Shu didn't dare to speak, and looked at Zhao He. Zhao He was afraid that asking too high would scare away the only customer since the business opened, so he lowered his voice and said, "Fifty taels of silver."
The man then pointed to another painting, "Poetry and Wine in Youth," and asked, "This one?"
Seeing that he wasn't haggling over the price and didn't even frown, Zhenshu thought he didn't seem like someone who really wanted to sell, but rather someone who was just strolling around after a meal. So she took over and said, "Sixty taels."
The man waved his hand and said, "Wrap them all up!"
While Zhenshu was still stunned, Zhao He had already taken the support and taken the painting down, and then took out some oil paper from the counter and quickly rolled up the painting.
The man pulled a silver note from his pocket and slammed it on the table, saying, "Two pieces for one hundred taels. I won't haggle with you. I know you've made a fortune today."
Zhen Shu shook his head and said, "This is the calligraphy of the late Song Gongzheng. Its value should be higher than this. There is really no reason for you to ask for it."
The man snatched the painting and said, "Who is Song Gongzheng? I have no idea."
After saying that, he left in a hurry.
Zhenshu took out the silver note and looked at it under the lamp, then laughed and said, "This is actually our first time opening a business. We've managed to pay the rent for this month."
Zhao He was very pleased and said with a smile, "Second Miss is very good at entertaining guests. Why don't you be the manager in the future? Maybe our business will be better."
Zhenshu turned around and laughed heartily, "That's exactly what I was thinking."
Just then, Song Anrong walked in from the outer room, looking hunched over and clearly exhausted. Zhenshu waved the silver notes over and said, "Father, we've made a profit today, one hundred taels of silver."
Song Anrong was both surprised and delighted. He unloaded his things from his shoulders, took the silver notes, and said, "You've really opened for business? It seems I'm not good at making money. The money came as soon as I left."
Although no customers came after that day, the business had at least reopened, and everyone's mood was different. Song Anrong saw that his father, Song Shihong's, two pieces of calligraphy had sold for one hundred taels of silver. His calligraphy was no different from his father's and was also considered excellent calligraphy of the time. So he regained his confidence and started writing again. Zhenshu continued to help Zhao He in the inner room every day, making paste, handing over brushes, and delivering cutting tools, etc.
Suddenly, a young man in a blue cloth robe and a turban peeked in at the door. Zhen Shu, who was sitting behind the counter, thought he looked familiar. After looking closely, she smiled and said, "Isn't this Young Master Zhang? Why don't you come in?"
Zhang Rui then entered and bowed deeply, saying, "Third Miss Song, I apologize for any offense."
Zhenshu led him to sit behind the counter and asked, "May I ask what brings Young Master Zhang here?"
Zhang Rui rubbed his hands together and said, "I heard from Dou Wu that Huixian had suffered a disaster and that your whole family had moved to the capital. I was worried about you, so I came to see how you were doing."
Chapter 41 Clothing and Makeup
Zhenshu noticed that his eyes were darting around and that he kept staring at the stairs, so she poured him a cup of tea and handed it to him, watching him coldly to see how he would speak.
After looking for a while, Zhang Rui stammered and asked, "Why is your eldest daughter not here?"
Zhen Shu smiled and said, "She's upstairs making embroidery. If Young Master Zhang wants to see her, I'll go up and invite her down."
Zhang Rui smiled and lowered his head.
Zhenshu understood and went upstairs. She saw Su lying on the stairs like an upside-down bat, looking down with eyes as bright as a cat staring at a mouse. Afraid that Zhao He in the inner room and Zhang Rui in the outer room would see, Zhenshu helped her up and complained softly, "Mother is going to scare people to death like this."
Madam Su turned around and came in, lowering her voice to Zhenyuan, "No, no, you can't see her. I've already seen her. Her clothes are shabby and her appearance is even more shabby. She's obviously a poor distant relative of the Zhang family."
Zhenyuan was startled by her and put down her needlework, asking Zhenshu, "What's wrong?"
Zhenshu said, "When Zhang Rui came to find you, Mother had already scrutinized him from head to toe as a new son-in-law, and now she looks down on him."
Zhenyuan picked up the needle again, lowered her brows, and said, "I won't see her."
Zhenyi quietly rushed out and peeked out from the stairs. Zhang Rui also looked up and saw a little girl with thick eyebrows and red lips looking at him. He raised his hand and smiled.
Madam Su pushed Zhenshu away, saying, "Go and refuse him. I want to find Zhenyuan a respectable and well-off family. I won't consider poor relatives who are just after her."
Seeing that Su Shi still couldn't be persuaded, Zhen Shu went downstairs and smiled at Zhang Rui, saying, "It's really unfortunate, my eldest sister is feeling a little unwell and it's inconvenient for her to come down to see me. Why don't you come another day, Mr. Zhang?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Rui stood up, bowed, and said, "If that's the case, I'll come again another day."
Zhenshu saw him off at the door and then returned after walking quite a distance. As she entered, she saw the middle-aged man who had sold her paintings that day standing in front of the counter. Upon seeing her come in, he bowed from afar and said, "Young lady shopkeeper, how have you been lately?"
Zhenshu curtsied in return and asked, "May I ask what brings you here, sir?"
The man said, "Young shopkeeper, you have a discerning eye. The painting you recommended to me has indeed won the favor of my godfather. Now he specifically requests to see you and asked me to convey his message."
Zhenshu took two steps back and said, "We do business here, so recommending a painting is our duty. Besides, it was sir who chose that painting first, so I dare not take credit for it. If you like it, sir, you can send more in the future. I suppose his saying that he wanted to see me was just a casual remark, so you don't need to take it to heart."
The man frowned and said, "He did indeed instruct me to take you there, young lady. What should we do?"
Just as Zhen Shu was about to decline, Song Anrong came out from inside and bowed, saying, "This is my daughter. She is a beautiful young lady, but due to her family's financial difficulties, she is now in charge of the shop. However, although she is an elder, there is a difference between men and women, so I am afraid it is not appropriate for her to go out and meet guests. Please forgive her, sir."
The man paced back and forth, patting his head, looking particularly troubled. After walking around in front of the stage for a while, he put his hands behind his back and looked at all the calligraphy and paintings on the wall. He then pointed around and said, "How about this, I'll take all these calligraphy and paintings, no matter how much they're worth. Come with me, okay?"
Song Anrong thought his words were a bit too lofty and waved his hand, saying, "If you are not a true lover of calligraphy and painting, why bother with this? Please leave quickly."
The man bowed to Song Anrong and said, "Old shopkeeper, since my godfather has given the order and this is the first time he has asked me to do something, how can I be considered filial if I fail to do it? I'll sell your framing shop and you can give me the price, so that I can fulfill my filial duty this time, okay?"
Zhenshu listened to his words, each one filled with filial piety. She thought to herself that he was a complete illiterate man, yet he possessed such filial piety, and she felt a pang of guilt for not being able to let him down. So she smiled and said to Song Anrong, "If it is for the sake of filial piety, what is wrong with me going there?"
Although Song Anrong had lived in Huixian for more than ten years, as a man, he knew better than anyone the ways of the world. He turned around and waved his hand, saying, "I can't go."
When the man saw that Zhenshu had agreed, his eyes lit up, and he eagerly said, "It is precisely for the sake of filial piety that I hope the old shopkeeper will grant my request."
Hearing the commotion outside, Zhao He came out and said, "Since you are in such a predicament, sir, why don't I accompany you, young lady?"
Song Anrong thought to himself that Zhao He was skilled in martial arts, so there was nothing to fear. He nodded and said, "In that case, let's go and come back as soon as possible."
The man then said, "Not today. My godfather is busy right now and won't have time until early December. I'll come and invite you then, Miss Shopkeeper, would that be alright?"
He entered uninvited and sat down with Song Anrong and Guan Zhaohe in the inner room before saying, "My surname is Zhang, and my given name is Gui. I am from Qinzhou. In previous years, I also ran a small business, so I know the hardships involved. Fortunately, my wife is capable. Over the years, she has worked hard to expand the business for me. She is also very insightful. Back then, she bought many houses for me in the capital and a lot of land in the neighboring county. Now, we are quite well-off. However, with a large business comes great difficulties. Tax officials are watching us all day long, and street thugs are demanding protection money every day. It's tough!"
Upon hearing that he was also a businessman, Song Anrong lowered his guard somewhat and asked, "May I ask what kind of business Brother Zhang is in?"
Zhang Gui said, "I am not like you. Although I can make money, I have no refined taste. I make pastries."
Zhenshu came in and interjected, "So that Wang Cake Shop is owned by your family? There are several shops in the capital, and the pastries are indeed delicious."
Zhang Guiqian laughed and said, "Actually, it was originally called Jade Cake Shop, but some unreliable scholar wrote it as 'Wang' instead. I can't read, so it took me a long time to find out. Since it's already been called that, I can only make do with it."
His words made Zhenshu laugh: "If it were really called jade, it might not be possible to make it. It's precisely because it lacks this that we need your little treats to make it."
Zhang Guissu asked solemnly, "Is what you say true, young lady?"
Zhen Shu said, "It's true."
Zhang Gui said, “I have a son who is only sixteen or seventeen years old, and he is already a scholar. He keeps clamoring to add a dot to the character ‘王’ (Wang). I am a commoner, and he won’t listen to me. Since you have said so, young lady, I will go back and tell him, and he will surely listen.”
After he finished speaking, he repeatedly specified an auspicious day and time, and before leaving, he insisted on buying several paintings. The mounting shop of the second branch of the Song family had been open for three months, and its only customer was Zhang Gui from Wang's Cake Shop.
It was now the eleventh month of winter. Zhenyuan and the others were somewhat better off huddled upstairs, but Zhenshu sat behind the counter. Outside, the wind howled, and inside, the counter was freezing cold, as if it were an icebox. This was the hardest winter of her life. Su had made her two tiger-head shoes, as big as cannon barrels, with cotton lining three inches thick, but even after wearing them for only half an hour, she was still completely frozen. And all the shops on this street, all the shopkeepers, all the waiters and apprentices, had to endure the winter like this, year after year—a testament to the hardships of merchants.
In Huixian County, wealthy families who built new courtyards would invariably inscribe the three characters "耕读" (farming and studying) on the gate, signifying that their generation would farm and their descendants would study. They hoped that their grandchildren would also achieve academic success.
Among the thirty-six trades, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants are at the bottom. Merchants belong to the lowest of the nine classes, and this is largely due to their hardships.
From that day on, people frequently brought calligraphy and paintings to be framed, and others came to the shop to sell ready-made calligraphy and paintings. Perhaps because the New Year was approaching, and everyone needed important decorations for their homes, the framing shop's business gradually improved. It earned anywhere from three to five taels of silver a day to several dozen taels, and after paying rent each month, it even had a small surplus, so the business was considered to be doing well.
After the winter month ended and the twelfth month began, on the third day of the twelfth month, a light snow fell. Zhang Gui sent a coachman to the mounting shop in a horse-drawn carriage. He himself did not sit in the carriage, but walked alongside it through the snow.
When he arrived, he saw that Song Anrong and Zhao He had paid their respects inside the room before coming out to greet Zhen Shu, saying, "Miss Shopkeeper, I would like to ask you to condescend to come with me today."
Zhenshu had already changed into a new brocade round-necked cotton-padded jacket that Su had made for her two months earlier, with a brocade pomegranate skirt underneath and a long mulberry satin coat with tufts of fur on top. Su had also insisted on applying some lip rouge to her, and now she was dressed up gracefully, standing in the snow with her fur swaying in the wind, looking exceptionally beautiful.
Zhang Gui bent down and lifted the curtain, saying, "Miss shopkeeper, I've already warmed this carriage up nicely. I didn't dare sit in it because I was afraid it would make the carriage smell bad. Please come in."
Zhenshu lifted her skirt and got into the car. Su and Zhenyuan bent down and looked out from the small window upstairs. Seeing that Zhenshu had already gotten into the car, Su turned to Zhenyuan and said, "She is very particular about her clothes. She is fine normally, but she can show off when she wears something nice. It's a pity that she was born after you, and she is too stubborn and disobedient, so I have delayed her."
The carriage was indeed fragrant and warm, which made Zhenshu sneeze several times. The carriage traveled for an unknown amount of time, passing the Imperial Street and the Hanlin Academy, and then for more than two miles before stopping in front of a mansion by the moat outside the palace. Zhang Gui jogged over, lifted the curtain, and invited Zhenshu out of the carriage. After announcing his arrival at the gate, he led Zhenshu and Zhao He inside.
This courtyard is also a building on the south side. Upon entering, there is a screen wall with a few slender bamboos painted on it. Because it was snowing lightly today, these slender bamboos, set off by the snow, seemed to exude an extra chill.
Beyond the screen wall lies a large open space, presumably where flowers and plants will be grown in the summer. Surprisingly, there is no main building in this courtyard, only two side rooms with eaves on either side.
Zhenshu, having grown up to this age, had never seen a respectable family without a main house, and she was secretly amazed. The mansion was heavily guarded outside, and even more so inside. She followed Zhang Gui into the inner courtyard, where she saw only fourteen or fifteen-year-old boys, all with gentle and refined features, and she was again secretly amazed. Zhang Gui, however, was even more so; he bowed and clasped his hands to everyone he met, while the boys, as if used to it, simply nodded slightly and left.
Upon reaching a courtyard surrounded by bamboo, Zhang Gui stopped and called out to someone inside. A moment later, an older man emerged, dressed only in a coarse hemp coat in the dead of winter. After listening to Zhang Gui's whispered conversation, he glanced back at Zhao He and Zhen Shu and asked, "Which one of you?"
He was Mei Xun, and his voice was very strange, as if it had been scraped by a knife.
Upon hearing this, Zhao He suddenly stopped Zhenshu and said, "Third Miss, let's go back."
Before Zhen Shu could understand what was happening, Zhang Gui hurriedly ran over, cupping his hands and bowing, and said to Zhao He, "Manager, please give me some face, please give me some face."
Mei Xun walked over and said, "My master is waiting inside. Since you are the young lady who runs the Song family's mounting shop, please come with me. But the rest of you don't need to go in; just wait here."
Zhenshu turned to Zhao He and said, "Since you're here, you'll probably only be here for a short while. I'll be right back."
Zhao He reluctantly agreed and could only stand in the snow with Zhang Gui to wait.
Although Zhenshu and Meixun entered the courtyard, they saw a tall building surrounded by stone blocks, several feet high on both sides. It looked particularly gloomy in the overcast sky, making people shiver when they saw it from afar.
The building looked quite old, and it wasn't the kind of building that ordinary families in the capital would have. Its shape was something that Zhenshu, who came from the north, had never seen before. She felt a little uneasy. When she arrived at the door, Mei Xun didn't go in. He glanced at Zhenshu's two snow-covered shoes and said, "Go inside to the left. Take your shoes off outside and don't get the floor dirty."
Zhenshu entered and saw that the floor inside was clean and bright, the walls were covered with frayed wallpaper, and lights were lit everywhere, making it bright and spacious, completely different from the outside. There was no main seat in the main hall; instead, the walls were covered with calligraphy and paintings, but they weren't arranged in the usual square and orderly fashion; rather, they were displayed haphazardly, one here, one there. But for some reason, this arrangement of calligraphy and paintings evoked a certain feeling.
Ordinary paintings and calligraphy are hung in neat, square shapes, intended to decorate a room. But this disordered hanging method, while not decorating the room, better highlights the elegance of the paintings and calligraphy themselves. Zhenshu looked around and thought to himself that this was not the home of an ordinary person, but rather an exhibition hall selling paintings and calligraphy. If my mounting shop were arranged like this, it would surely have a certain elegance.
☆, Chapter 42 The Venerable One (Bug Fix)