As mentioned before, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty was practically worth its weight in gold. The house where Zhao Chunmei lived was built wall-to-wall with the neighboring one. If the opposite room was also a bedroom, it wouldn’t be impossible for sounds to carry through from such a close distance…
With this thought in mind, she grew restless. As soon as dawn broke, she went outside to investigate. However, she hadn’t expected the neighbor’s wall to be slightly higher than her own. Though her height was considered quite tall for this era, even on tiptoe, she couldn’t see inside.
Just as Zhao Chunmei was about to try jumping, someone suddenly called out to her from behind.
“Who are you? Did that scoundrel Gao send you?”
Turning around, she saw a girl of about fourteen or fifteen glaring at her with a hostile expression. After looking her up and down, the girl snapped, “Well, well! When men don’t work, they send women instead. Let me tell you, my mistress will never give in!”
With that, she tried to shoo Zhao Chunmei away. Still bewildered and before she could react, a sturdy old man emerged from the gate. Seeing the scene, he immediately asked anxiously, “Jin’er, what’s going on here?”
Just as the maid was about to speak, Zhao Chunmei seized the chance to explain first. She straightforwardly said she had just moved in next door and had often heard a woman crying at night, suspecting it might be coming from their house.
The old man was taken aback. After a long pause, he sighed heavily and replied wearily, “It must be my daughter. She’s just gone through a major upheaval and has returned to her parents’ home to recuperate. I’m truly sorry for disturbing you.”
The maid named Jin’er also apologized profusely. Both promised to be more mindful. Since the matter was resolved, Zhao Chunmei couldn’t say much else. After exchanging a few words, she returned home.
Although it had taken some trouble, she had finally settled a nagging concern. Moreover, these past few days, to avoid staying home too much, she had spent her time wandering around and observing various trades. She already had a rough plan in mind for different industries. However, before putting it into action, there was still one urgent matter to attend to.
…
Outskirts of the capital, the vegetable garden of Great Xiangguo Temple.
It had been about four months since Lu Zhishen first came here to tend the vegetable garden. Don’t misunderstand—the term “vegetable garden” here doesn’t refer to the garden itself but to the person who takes care of the vegetable plots.
To be honest, although this place was remote, it was often lively with idlers like Zhang San and Li Si from the nearby area coming to chat and have fun. When he first arrived, the temple’s abbot told him that the vegetable growers had to contribute ten loads of vegetables daily, and the rest could be used for his own needs.
With such a large vegetable plot, producing ten loads of vegetables a day was naturally no problem. As for the remaining portion, if the vegetable growers took a little extra, Lu Zhishen turned a blind eye. He had always been generous and open-handed by nature, content as long as he had enough to eat and drink.
Being so kind and easygoing, everyone around was more than willing to get close to him.
With a thud, Lu Zhishen set down the wine jar. Amid the cheers of the idlers around him, he began recounting the story of how he escorted his sworn brother Lin Chong to his exile in Cangzhou: “…Those two bastards still wanted to harm my brother. I only taught them a lesson twice, and they cowered like cowards.”
His follower Zhang San, standing nearby, expressed some concern: “For the officials to act on the road, it must have been on the orders of that dog official Gao Qiu. That father and son insulted Instructor Lin’s wife first, then framed Instructor Lin afterward. Master, by intervening like this, I’m afraid you’ve made yourself a target for their grudge.”
Lu Zhishen snorted coldly, his heart filled with vexation. It wasn’t for his own sake, but rather the thought of his sworn brother Lin Chong’s plight that truly angered him. Waving his hand, he said, “What’s there to fear? At worst, we can leave this place. The sky is high and the sea is vast—surely there’s a place for me to settle.”
As soon as his words fell, a woman’s voice came from outside the fence: “Well said! Master, what remarkable courage.”
Then, a tall, elegant young woman with spirited eyes and brows walked in, smiling brightly.
The place was filled with laborers and idle men, with even elderly women rarely passing by. The sudden appearance of such a lovely young lady left everyone momentarily stunned.
Lu Zhishen, however, remained clear-headed. Frowning, he asked, “Whose daughter are you? Why have you come here alone?”
After looking her up and down, he suddenly slapped his forehead. “Ah, I remember now. Your surname is Zhao, isn’t it? A distant relative of the emperor.”
The newcomer was none other than Zhao Chunmei. Seeing this, the young woman bowed respectfully. “I haven’t yet thanked you, Master, for saving my life. I only just arrived in the capital and haven’t settled everything yet. Now that I have a moment, I came straight to find you.”
She then presented the gold, silver, and gifts she had prepared, speaking with utmost sincerity: “I know that with your character, Master, you naturally look down on such things. But I came in haste and only had these with me. Once I’m settled, I’ll pay you a proper visit.”
Lu Zhishen had helped countless people in his lifetime. Originally an official under the general’s command in Yan’an Prefecture, he had killed a local butcher who forcibly seized a commoner’s daughter, setting off a life on the run. To evade pursuit, he sought refuge in a temple and eventually made his way to Tokyo.
For the sake of a stranger, he had thrown away his promising future, transforming from a well-provided official into a fugitive hiding in the shadows. Yet, Lu Zhishen bore no regrets, and anyone would marvel at his magnanimity.
Thus, in response to Zhao Chunmei’s gratitude, he casually told her to take the gifts back, as a monk like him had no use for them. Still, he couldn’t help but ask curiously, “How did you find me?”
That day, after seeing Lin Chong off and taking a shortcut back, he happened upon bandits committing a crime. When the authorities misunderstood Zhao Chunmei’s identity, they were too frightened to pay him much mind, only briefly questioning him before letting him go. That she could trace her way directly to him was truly astonishing.
Zhao Chunmei smiled. How could it be otherwise?
Exceptional martial skills, a monk, tall and imposing, with a chivalrous heart… With all these factors combined, if she couldn’t deduce his identity, she might as well have never read Water Margin. Still, she simply said that most monks in Tokyo were connected to the Great Xiangguo Temple, so she went there out of curiosity to inquire—and unexpectedly found him.
As for this Master Lu, she held him in the highest esteem. And she wasn’t alone; scholars throughout the ages had praised him highly in their readings. The late Ming literary figure Li Zhi once lauded him as a “benevolent person,” a “wise person,” a “courageous person,” a “sage,” an “arhat,” a “bodhisattva,” and a “Buddha.”
These were nearly the highest praises one could bestow upon an ordinary person. However, even if Lu Zhishen truly knew of these accolades, he would likely just spit impatiently and curse, “What a flock of fancy titles!”
Zhao Chunmei’s grand ambitions had nearly been dashed before they even began. Had it not been for Lu Zhishen’s intervention, she might not have survived. Naturally, she had to come and express her gratitude.
However, Lu Zhishen showed no appreciation for this at all, and eventually grew so annoyed that he nearly drove the young woman out.
Helpless, Zhao Chunmei could only put away the money, offering instead several jars of fine wine and some essential provisions for heroes from the Water Margin—braised beef.
“Hehe, this is good, this is good.” At the sight of the wine, Lu Zhishen immediately broke into a smile, inviting Zhao Chunmei to sit down and ordering the idlers around him to slice the meat.
Zhang San and Li Si, who had initially hoped to curry favor with the pretty young lady, immediately became much more subdued upon hearing Lu Zhishen’s words and learning of Zhao Chunmei’s status as a member of the imperial clan. There was no helping it—in this era, ordinary people still held deep reverence for imperial authority.
Zhao Chunmei gracefully entered the courtyard and found that, although the facilities were simple, the environment was tranquil and serene. It felt like a good place to relax and unwind, and her expression softened noticeably.
“You’re still in mourning, so I won’t offer you wine,” Lu Zhishen said to the young woman, showing a surprising degree of thoughtfulness despite his rough exterior. “I’ve heard of the perpetrator from that day in the jianghu—he’s someone who kills indiscriminately. Your family was simply unlucky to cross paths with him. While Bianjing may seem orderly on the surface, there are still those rats lurking underground. You should be careful when going out at night. In a while, I’ll have these fellows escort you home.”
The “rats” Lu Zhishen referred to were the criminal elements in Bianjing City. Due to Kaifeng’s deep and extensive underground drainage system, which could accommodate people, many fugitives hid within it. They trafficked women and children, committed murders, and engaged in all manner of evil deeds. Although the court frequently sent people to clear them out, they could never be completely eradicated.
Although Zhao Chunmei had heard of this before, it was the first time she had learned about it in such detail. After listening, she nodded gratefully.
After a few bites of food, both sides gradually grew more familiar. Everyone saw that although Zhao Chunmei was young, her demeanor and speech were graceful and poised, and she showed no condescension or neglect due to her status, making them willing to converse with her.
Brother Zhang San set down his wine cup and advised, “Miss Zhao, if you want to stay in the capital, why not simply seek refuge with one of the imperial clans? After all, you share the same ancestors. Surely they wouldn’t refuse you a few meals?”
“We’ve been separated for many years now. How could I impose?” Zhao Chunmei shook her head with a smile. “Besides, I have my own hands and feet. Why not do something on my own and build a career instead of depending on others?”
“Eh? But how will you arrange a marriage, Miss?” Li Si chimed in with a grin. “Without elders to preside over it, finding a good husband in the capital won’t be easy.”
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Lu Zhishen kicked him. “You brainless fool, who said people have to get married to live? With Miss Zhao’s talents, how could she possibly struggle to find a husband?”
He then looked at Zhao Chunmei with great admiration. “I admire people with strong character the most. Despite your hardships, you still want to earn dignity and respect with your own hands. You’re truly remarkable. This cup, I toast to you.” With that, he downed the wine in one gulp.
Zhao Chunmei was not angered by the words of Zhang San, Li Si, and the others, for she knew they meant no harm. Their thoughts and concerns represented the common people of this era, while someone like Lu Zhishen was the exception.
Perhaps in his eyes, men, women, old, and young were all the same. No wonder he was praised for having a Buddha-nature.
Lu Zhishen was the type of person who, once he took a liking to someone, would find everything about them agreeable. Now, having come to admire Zhao Chunmei’s resilience, after a few cups of coarse wine, he slapped his chest and declared, “I don’t know what kind of business you’re thinking of, Miss Zhao, but if there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word.”
“Well… I haven’t quite figured it out yet,” Zhao Chunmei replied with a bitter smile. Though she was ambitious and full of ideas, she was still alone and had little foundation. Her first pot of gold not only needed to earn money but, ideally, wouldn’t attract envy from others.
Upon hearing her thoughts, the idlers around them burst into laughter. “Miss Zhao, whenever there’s money to be made, someone’s bound to be jealous. Unless it’s something like cleaning out latrines or scrubbing chamber pots—jobs ordinary folks can’t handle.”
Though the speaker meant no harm, the listener took it to heart. At this point, Zhao Chunmei seemed to recall something and fell into deep thought.
Everyone exchanged glances, while Lu Zhishen was inwardly astonished. His gaze toward the young woman gradually shifted from admiration to respect. He sighed and couldn’t help but say to Zhao Chunmei with heartfelt concern, “Money… can be earned slowly. Why go to such lengths?”
Zhao Chunmei: “…Huh?”