“Do I really look that much like a fool?”
At the largest teahouse in Anping County, during his day off, Magistrate Zhang sat at one end of the table while Pei Zhu sat at the other. Wang Chuo and Zhang’s subordinates were seated nearby, and lingering behind them was the inescapable Zhao Bingwen, ever vigilant of Pei Zhu’s every move.
Magistrate Zhang had really not wanted to come. After finally getting a ten-day rest, who would want to waste it on such nonsense? He had already refused once when the people from Yongning County came to invite him. But the Yongning folks had incredibly thick skin—they refused to leave no matter how many times they were shooed away. Fearing endless pestering, Zhang begrudgingly came to have a cup of tea.
At first, he had intended to speak calmly with Pei Zhu—until Pei Zhu laid his plan bare, asking for money to build a fragrant soap workshop. Zhang could barely contain his anger. “So I’m just that easy to fool?” he thought.
This was too much!
“Sir, please don’t be hasty. I came today with complete sincerity to discuss this with you,” Pei Zhu said, seeing Zhang bristle at the mention of money. He quickly poured him another cup of tea and pushed the fruits on the table toward him, smiling in a flattering way. “Please hear me out about the workshop plan before deciding. I even brought a sample of the fragrant soap. There wasn’t time to make a model, but its effectiveness is right here. You can try it first.”
Zhang coldly looked away. No amount of flattery would work. He simply said, “No need. Anping County has no money. Go ask someone else.”
“Oh, but no one is as suitable as you! Anping County is the closest to Yongning County, making trade most convenient. Moreover, among all the magistrates, only you and I have a close relationship.”
Zhang felt like he might vomit from hearing this and cut him off. “Flattering words won’t work.”
He stood up without waiting for Pei Zhu to try to stop him, signaling to his subordinates. If they didn’t leave now, they’d never get out!
The subordinates immediately understood, grabbed his hand, and in an instant, Zhang vanished.
Pei Zhu: “…That was a bit too fast, wasn’t it?”
Looking at the box of fragrant soap in his hands, he regretted his timing. If he had known, he would have skipped all the explanations and just presented the soap directly.
Wang Chuo noticed Pei Zhu’s disappointment and comforted him: “Sir Zhang doesn’t want to spend money. Even if you had put the soap out first, it wouldn’t have helped.”
Pei Zhu couldn’t know that reasoning, yet he still refused to give up.
With someone like Zhao Bingwen from the prefectural office monitoring him, borrowing money was out of the question. And as for wealthy people in Yongning County, there were barely any, so borrowing from them was impossible. Zheng Xingcheng guarded him like a thief. His only hope was to try the magistrates of other counties.
Magistrate Zhang was the best choice—but he wouldn’t even let Pei Zhu finish speaking.
After returning that day, Pei Zhu unsurprisingly faced Zheng Xingcheng’s teasing. When Pei Zhu decided to ask Zhang, Zheng had poured cold water over the idea. Now seeing him return quietly, Zheng knew he was right. If Pei Zhu had succeeded, he would have been over the moon.
But Pei Zhu was undeterred. That night, he and Wei Ping carved a delicate peony mold and used the remaining ingredients to make a new fragrant soap.
It smelled delightful and was even more refined than the first one—tempting enough to take a bite.
Before dawn the next day, Pei Zhu had the ox cart loaded and rushed to Anping County’s magistrate office.
Zhao Bingwen had not expected him to leave so early. By the time he woke to monitor Pei Zhu as usual, he was gone.
Asking around, Wang Chuo politely but distantly claimed ignorance. Wei Ping rolled his eyes. Only Zheng Xingcheng smiled knowingly: “Where else could he go? Naturally to Anping County. Our Pei Sir never backs down from anything.”
That wasn’t quite right—Pei Zhu never turned back, no matter what. He was stubborn and determined.
When Magistrate Zhang saw Pei Zhu arrive at the office, his cheerful morning expression vanished. Smiling warmly was impossible.
“Why are you here again?” Zhang asked coldly, not even offering tea.
Pei Zhu was unfazed by the chilly reception. Smiling, he greeted Zhang and the other Anping County officials politely.
Though they knew Pei Zhu had cost them quite a bit, one doesn’t hit the smiling face. Besides, he had traveled from afar—they could only make small talk.
After a while, Zhang no longer wished to entertain him. Dismissing the others, he said bluntly, “Pei Sir, if you’ve come for money again, please leave. Anping County truly cannot spare a cent.”
Pei Zhu wasn’t deterred. Seeing that Zhang hadn’t sent him away immediately, he leaned confidently over the desk. “It’s not about money! This is cooperation—a win-win!”
Then he produced the fragrant soap from his sleeve: “Here is the soap I mentioned. It can be used for washing and also has whitening and moisturizing effects.”
The aroma wafted out—sweet like candy, yet rich like winter plum blossoms. Zhang looked down at a palm-sized, pale yellow soap in a wooden box. Though he hadn’t touched it, he could already feel its smooth texture.
It was similar to the soap beans his wife usually used for washing. Originally a Buddhist item, it became popular in noble households. Ordinary people made do with simpler, locally available ingredients, like soapberry or rice water.
Zhang picked it up and rubbed it between his hands.
Pei Zhu enthusiastically recommended, “Sir Zhang, would you like to try? After using it, your hands will carry a lingering fragrance.”
“Is it made from pork pancreas?” Zhang asked.
Pei Zhu didn’t want to reveal everything so soon. “If you’re willing to cooperate, I can share the formula in full.”
Zhang set the soap down, reasoning that even without pork pancreas, it must contain oils—so it wasn’t cheap. Its use was much like soap beans. Whitening or fragrance didn’t interest him.
As an official, mixing with commercial matters was inappropriate. Hesitating, Zhang finally said, “Pei Sir, though this is fine, Anping County is struggling. We absolutely cannot participate. Any further attempts will be futile.”
Without waiting for Pei Zhu’s response, he rose. “I have a case to review, so I won’t see you out. You need not trouble yourself here again.”
Taken aback by the direct rejection, Pei Zhu stood, embarrassed. The soap was excellent, and he had worked so long on it, yet Zhang avoided even trying it.
He really wasn’t liked? But that couldn’t be—he had always been the most charming child at the orphanage.
In awkward moments, small gestures multiply. Pei Zhu fumbled with the soap, laughed at himself, and sank into gloom.
Seeing this, Zhang thought perhaps Pei Zhu wasn’t so bad after all, and that he had been too harsh. “If you truly want to cooperate and open a workshop, try Huai County. It’s wealthier; maybe you’ll have better luck there.”
Huai County? Too far. Pei Zhu sighed, realizing negotiation was over for today.
He didn’t take back the soap, instead placing it into Zhang’s hand: “This one is for you to use first.”
Then he left, fearing Zhang might even refuse to keep it.
Zhang looked at the exquisite soap in his hand but had no intention to use it. A rough man, he couldn’t appreciate such things. But as a gift, he couldn’t discard it, so he instructed a servant, “Give it to my wife to use.”
The servant, puzzled, asked, “Sir, what is this?”
“For washing hands,” Zhang replied succinctly. No matter Pei Zhu’s elaborate explanation, it was just soap in his eyes.
Pei Zhu’s first two attempts had failed. On the way back, he sighed repeatedly.
The road to Anping was decent, but after crossing Yongning County, it became bumpy. Sighing produced a few uneven notes, yet Pei Zhu was too frustrated to even sigh.
Though both counties were poor, Anping’s shops and streets were far behind Yongning’s.
Near the county office, a little girl accidentally bumped into Pei Zhu’s arms.
She looked up and smiled sweetly.
A man behind her scolded her, but Pei Zhu waved him off, lifted the child, and patted her head: “Be careful next time.”
Noticing her faded hair ribbon, he paused.
The girl, emboldened, hugged his arm and sniffed deeply. “Sir, you smell so nice—like candy.”
Children had a deep fascination with sugar, especially those who rarely got any.
Pei Zhu felt guilty. If he had candy, he would have shared some. “It’s not candy. I made a fragrant soap yesterday, so the scent probably rubbed off.”
“What’s fragrant soap?” the girl tilted her head.
“It’s the same as soap beans,” he explained.
“Soap beans?” she asked, even more confused.
Pei Zhu, seeking the simplest explanation, said: “It’s for washing hands.”
“Wow!” the girl exclaimed. “Something for washing hands, like soapberries, and it can smell so good? You’re amazing to make something so fragrant!”
The people of Yongning County trusted Pei Zhu inexplicably, and the children admired him. Tall, handsome, neatly dressed, gentle-spoken—any child wanted to hold his hand. “When I grow up, I want to be as amazing as you.”
Pei Zhu smiled, the confidence returning slightly, and ruffled her hair. “You will.”
Children in border towns needn’t be poor. One day, he would make sure every child there could use fragrant soap, enjoy sweets, stay safe from war, learn to read and write, and grow up happily.
All of this required money. He still had to work hard. Tasks awaited him, and a few setbacks wouldn’t deter him.
“None of you will fail to become great,” Pei Zhu promised solemnly.
After a brief farewell to the girl and her father, he entered the county office, full of energy.
Facing Zheng Xingcheng and Zhao Bingwen, Pei Zhu revealed nothing. He even handled accumulated trivial matters and set new rules for the clerks, establishing county office regulations—all officials, including himself, must follow.
His bold actions left Zheng Xingcheng and Zhang Rusheng exchanging worried glances.
Was he succeeding or failing?
Only Wang Chuo and Wei Ping knew: Magistrate Pei had once again returned empty-handed. It made sense—this venture required significant investment, and impoverished Yongning County relied on outsiders to fill the gap. Zhang had already been lenient by not sending them away.
The next day, thinking the trouble was gone, Magistrate Zhang finally sat in his hall, only for a clerk to report: “Sir, Pei Zhu from Yongning County is here again.”
Soon, Pei Zhu appeared with his excessively radiant smile.