novelSusiti Chapter 12 Who is the spendthrift, and who is taking the shortcut to success?
Chapter 12 Who is the spendthrift, and who is taking the shortcut to success?
Mother Feng suddenly realized, "So it's Xuan-ge. You silly child, since you've run into Xuan-ge, why didn't you invite his family over? That's right, we've been away serving as officials with your father for many years, so he probably doesn't know we've returned. I remember he's the same age as you, and we even discussed engagement with his mother years ago. Your father was also interested, but due to unforeseen circumstances, he learned of the passing of Mr. and Mrs. Li Meishi before anything could be finalized."
Feng Niaoniao held her mother's hand and said, "Niaoniao just wants to know what Xuan-ge is planning now. Is it because his family business has fallen into such a state, or does he have other plans? It's not because I have someone in my heart that I'm making you laugh, Mother."
Madam Feng covered her mouth and said, "Men should marry when they come of age, and women should marry when they come of age. You and Xuan-ge have known each other since childhood. Your father and mother are familiar with his family, so what's inappropriate? Oh, right, with both parents deceased, isn't your fate too strong? We need to go to Daming Temple to ask a high monk for guidance. Niaoniao, what did you mean when you said he had other plans?"
Feng Niaoniao suppressed her embarrassment at her mother's teasing and said softly, "Brother Xuan, the son of a salt official, should have had a wealthy family. How did he end up selling fish? Yingxun Bridge is an important bridge for entering and leaving Guangling City, with many high-ranking officials and dignitaries passing through. I wonder if Brother Xuan is using Yingxun Bridge as a shortcut to Zhongnan Mountain?"
The "Shortcut to Zhongnan" refers to the legend of the hermits of Zhongnan Mountain that circulated during the Great Yu Dynasty. The emperors felt that the talents in Chang'an City could not bring any surprises, and always fantasized about some extraordinary hermits hiding in famous mountains and rivers. Zhongnan Mountain, with its vast area and proximity to Chang'an, possessed the advantageous geographical position of being close to the source of the moon and the water, making it the first choice in the minds of the Great Yu emperors.
As a result, many people harboring illusions flocked to Zhongnan Mountain, building huts and living the life of hermits, hoping to one day be directly recruited by the imperial court, thus avoiding the pain of taking the imperial examinations and seeking favors through connections. Feng Niaoniao subtly implied that Li Xuan, as the descendant of an official, was deliberately sitting in a prime location at the bustling market selling fish to gain fame and fortune.
Madam Feng chuckled: "The Li family of Guangling is a scholarly family; how could they tolerate a member of their clan doing such a treacherous act? Well, even if Xuan-ge did it, it's understandable for a child who lost his parents to want to rise above others. Your father might help him out of respect for Li Meishi. However, if Niaoniao's guess is true, Xuan-ge's temperament will be problematic. Mother will not allow him to become our son-in-law."
Feng Niaoniao nodded; she thought so too. The Xuan-gege of the past had always left her with a good impression. Whether Xuan-gege, after the loss of their parents, had retained his former integrity and virtues remained to be seen. In relationships, character should determine one's standing. One must be extremely cautious when encountering those lacking in moral character.
After understanding what had happened, Madam Feng instructed her daughter, "Niao Niao, don't go out during this time. Don't ask Aunt Wang to inquire about Xuan Ge's affairs anymore; your mother will handle everything."
Feng Niaoniao asked curiously, "What will Mother do? Will she tell Father and ask him to send someone to the countryside to investigate?"
Madam Feng chuckled and said, "You silly child, you're just too worried. The Li and Feng families of Guangling have been on good terms for generations, intermarrying for over a hundred years. We have so many aunts from the Li family in our Feng clan, and the Li family has so many aunts from the Feng family. What's the point of inquiring about a young man from the Li family? We would never leak a single word."
Feng Niaoniao suddenly realized, but she was helpless. This was a relationship that only adults could use. As a virgin, even if she thought of this, she wouldn't dare to go to those older women.
Seeing that her mother's gaze was becoming increasingly strange, Feng Niaoniao quickly changed the subject and asked, "Mother just said not to go out these days. But what happened in Guangling City? Is it a military uprising or a civil unrest?"
Madam Feng's expression changed, and she complained unhappily, "It's not a military uprising, nor a civil unrest. This time it's an official rebellion. The newly arrived Prince Qi has a peculiar hobby; he loves to abduct young girls and married women in the streets. Your father, who works in the county, has encountered Prince Qi several times while he was traveling incognito. Whenever he feels like it, he and his entourage abduct any beautiful women who are willing to meet him on the street, regardless of whether they are married or not, or which family they come from. Prince Qi doesn't care about any of them."
Even if victims came to his door, King Qi would simply beat them out with sticks and demand a large dowry from them, otherwise it would be a catastrophe. Some families even filed complaints with the county government, but the county government was helpless. It is said that the prefect intervened and spoke with King Qi, offering to replace his theft and abduction with a selection of women for the imperial concubine selection. However, King Qi was delighted, saying that women chosen by others were unappealing, and only those he seized himself were satisfactory.
Feng Niaoniao's expression changed drastically, and she said in horror, "Is there no law left? Is there no one who can control King Qi?"
Feng sneered, "Manage? How can you manage him? The Prince of Qi is of noble birth and is in charge of pacifying Huaidong. The only one who can manage him is the Emperor of Jinling. Do you think that Emperor of Jinling would really care about the Prince of Qi's outrageous behavior? Niao Niao, you've studied history thoroughly, don't you understand?"
Feng Niaoniao took a deep breath, feeling how absurd the world was: "Whether the emperor is pleased with Prince Qi's actions depends solely on whether the rewards change. If there are more, it means the emperor is very satisfied with Prince Qi's debauchery. If there are fewer, then there is hope of bringing down Prince Qi. I think the emperor will definitely be satisfied. If the emperor is satisfied, the royal family will be harmonious, but it is the people of Guangling City who will suffer."
The Prince of Qi is the current emperor's younger brother, and is said to have a reputation among the imperial clan for being outspoken and daring. He was highly regarded during the reign of the late emperor. Whether the current emperor trusts or is wary of the Prince remains unknown. A minor official family like the Feng family dares not speculate and can only try to protect themselves.
Feng said, "Your father has already made arrangements in the countryside for this matter, and he will send you to hide there in a few days. So you must stay inside the house and protect yourself."
Faced with a tyrant like King Qi, no matter how ambitious Feng Niaoniao was, she dared not risk her reputation and life, and quickly agreed to her mother's request. From then on, she stayed at home peacefully, not even daring to leave her room.
Having understood her daughter's thoughts, Madam Feng went out and called Aunt Wang. Aunt Wang was Madam Feng's dowry maid; they had grown up together since childhood, which was why she had been able to obtain the position of purchasing manager.
How could Feng Niaoniao ask Aunt Wang for help without letting Madam Feng know? It's just that Feng Daoji's official position is small and his household is very simple, with only a few people in total. Besides Aunt Wang, Feng Niaoniao has no other trustworthy people to use.
Aunt Wang greeted Madam Feng with a smile, then asked with a gossipy look, "Miss, how did it go? Was it...?"
Madam Feng glared at her: "Watch your mouth. This matter must not be leaked in the slightest."
Aunt Wang patted her chest and said, "Don't worry, Miss, I haven't told anyone about this. Besides me, only Ying'er knows a little about it. It's absolutely a secret."
As Mrs. Feng walked gracefully, she asked Aunt Wang, who was following behind her, "You've met Xuan-ge a few times, what do you think of him?"
Aunt Wang smiled cautiously: "Miss, I only have some basic skills in judging people. I'm not qualified to be trusted."
Madam Feng smiled and said, "Speak as you're told. I know what's appropriate."
Aunt Wang then shared her impressions of him over the past few days: "Young Master Xuan has a dark complexion and many calluses on his hands. He's very efficient and always does things himself. Oh, by the way, he's tall with strong, powerful arms. He speaks kindly and is fair in his dealings, which has earned him high praise from customers. Miss knows that fishmongers are known for cheating customers by adding water to the fish. Young Master Xuan not only lets customers bring their own scales to weigh the fish, but he also proactively reduces the price by one ounce for each fish. Although he's only sold fish a few times, he's already earned the nickname 'Li the One-Ounce.'"
Madam Feng first felt sorry for him, then nodded with relief and said, "When he was little, he was as fair-skinned as a piece of jade. He would sit quietly to one side, never making a fuss, and was very lovable. Alas, his parents are gone, so he has to do everything himself. I wonder what hardships he has endured these past few years. Hmm, Li Yiliang, interesting, very interesting. At such a young age, he already understands the principles of knowing when to advance and retreat. He is indeed a good child."
Hearing the young lady's praise, Aunt Wang became even more confident and continued to reveal more: "Not only that, Ying'er said that after each transaction, Young Master Xuan doesn't go out to have fun, but instead reads with his servants under the trees. He uses sandboxes as paper and hairpins as pens to teach his servants to write. The children of scholarly families are truly extraordinary."
Madam Feng suddenly realized, "No wonder, no wonder." No wonder Feng Niaoniao suspected that Li Xuan was seeking fame and fortune. He was just a small landowner who sold fish, yet he was teaching his servants to read in the bustling Yingxun Bridge market. Wasn't he plotting something? Did the elders of the Guangling Li clan just watch their clansmen take advantage of this?
With many questions in mind, Madam Feng quietly dismissed Aunt Wang and entered Feng Daoji's room alone.
Feng Daoji was the son of the Feng family of Guangling, whose ancestral home was Bohai. He was fond of drinking, had a refined taste, was skilled in governing the people, and enjoyed mentoring younger generations. He was known as Old Man Ji.
After listening to his wife's explanation, Feng Daoji fell into reminiscence, and it took him a while to recover: "Brother Meishi and his wife passed away early, and without their parents' protection, it's not surprising that Xuan-ge has a difficult life and is somewhat impulsive. My wife knows that I once considered marrying Niaoniao to Xuan-ge. After returning to Guangling this time, I sent someone to inquire about the shops left by Brother Meishi. I only learned that Xuan-ge had sold all three shops that his parents left him. Because I disliked his selling off ancestral property and worried that Xuan-ge had changed his character and that I had entrusted my daughter to the wrong person, I have been hesitant to go and look for him."
Madam Feng criticized, "You were once a public official. How can you be a good father if you didn't thoroughly investigate potential sons-in-law, giving up halfway after only seeing a few scraps of information? How can you face the kindness shown to Brother Mei and his wife back then? Or do you think that Xuan's family has fallen on hard times and is now a commoner, and therefore doesn't match our family's official status, and thus don't want to marry your daughter off?"
Feng Daoji did indeed have this intention. Friendship was one thing, but he couldn't bear to let his daughter suffer for the sake of friendship. However, Feng Daoji didn't harbor any ill will towards Li Xuan; he was still struggling with the dilemma of whether or not to see Li Xuan.
Seeing Feng Daoji remain silent, Madam Feng was surprised to find that she was right and immediately pressed on, saying, "It is said that no one is without fault, and to err is human, to forgive divine. Xuan-ge is just a child. His parents have passed away, and we don't know what he has been through. We also don't know whether he sold the ancestral property for his own enjoyment or for some other reason that he urgently needs money. How can you, sir, judge him to be a spendthrift just because he sold the property?"
Besides, Xianglian (Aunt Wang) witnessed firsthand how Xuan-ge worked diligently and efficiently in the market, handling everything with ease and grace. He could never be some spendthrift playboy. Sir, you mustn't make another mistake. You should thoroughly investigate how Xuan-ge has fared these past years. Whether for our daughter's sake or for Brother Mei-shi's, we must assess the situation before making a decision; we should help as much as we can.”
Feng Daoji slapped his forehead in regret and said, "I was truly bewitched. Once selfish thoughts arose, it was as if a demon had taken over my mind. Madam is right. I should take good care of Xuan-ge for Brother Meishi, and I should also be responsible for the century-old alliance between the Li and Feng families of Guangling. I will go out now to find the Li family members and inquire about the situation."
While praising him, Madam Feng reminded him, "Don't forget about our daughter. If Xuan-ge is a good man, immediately hint to the elders of the Li family to propose marriage. It's heartbreaking to see our daughter marry into the countryside, but it's better than keeping her in Guangling City, living in constant fear. As long as Xuan-ge is a good person, we'll find him a job after the Prince of Qi leaves. What does it matter if he's from an official family or not? We don't even know how many more years the Emperor will reign."
Feng Daoji said, "I understand. You and Niaoniao shouldn't go out. Stay home and relax."
Madam Feng asked curiously, "It's fine if Niaoniao stays at home. I'm already an old woman. How could the Prince of Qi possibly take me away?"
Feng Daoji stamped his foot and said, "When the King of Qi goes crazy, who knows what he might do? These military men in chaotic times are unpredictable. It's better to be careful than to make a big mistake."
Madam Feng was startled, seemingly recalling the behavior of those military officers in Huainan and Huaibei, and couldn't help but feel lingering fear: "These damned bastards. When will this ever end?"
After changing his clothes and putting on his leather hat, County Magistrate Feng grumbled in a foul mood, "The Emperor will only stop when he reaches his breaking point with Prince Qi. It's pitiful. Before the Emperor of Jinling reaches his breaking point, how many households in Guangling City will still be intact? If I had known this would happen, I would have been better off taking up a post in Guazhou. What bad luck!"
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Li Xuan returned from Hailing with a fortune, and naturally wouldn't mistreat himself and Li Chang, who had suffered greatly. Local produce was cheap, and with the year drawing to a close, there was an abundance of pigs and sheep for the New Year.
Back when Li Xuan was still in Hailing, Li Yuantu had already set out with ten bolts of silk, returning with several pigs and sheep, and a basket of chicken, duck, and goose eggs. Li Yuantu and Li Ji then renovated the house, both inside and out, and slaughtered pigs and sheep to make dried and cured meat.
After Li Xuan and Li Chang returned with the salt, they worked together to pickle the chicken, duck, and goose eggs and seal them in jars. The following spring, they would be able to enjoy salted eggs in their golden millet porridge.
Throughout December and into January, Li Xuan's home was filled with the aroma of meat. The family cats were so happy they didn't go out hunting. Every day, besides meowing outside the kitchen at set times, they would eat their fill and then nap in the yard.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, Li Xuan happily said, "Thanks to my uncle and Chang-ge's help, and thanks to Ji-ge's help at home, I was able to find some business to do. Our family has already improved this year. With the arrival of the troops next year, we'll definitely reach even greater heights. Come, everyone, let's drink to our victory!"