Stockpiling rice and flour during famines, hoarding medicinal herbs during plagues, accumulating coarse salt when salt prices soared—such practices were common, whether for personal consumption or opportunistic profiteering, both offered substantial benefits.
Collecting antiques of non-monetary yet valuable nature was also an excellent means of wealth management.
Yet, the first term that sprang to He Yunzhao's mind upon hearing these was 'Pig Butchering Scheme'.
Meeting Mother He's gaze, He Yunzhao settled onto the couch and leisurely began a tale: "There was a merchant in the previous dynasty who dealt in antiques…"
Once, this merchant acquired a jade plate of exceptional appearance, but upon obtaining it, he discovered something amiss.
The only method to verify the jade plate's authenticity was to drip water onto it; if the droplets scattered like pearls across a plate, it was deemed superior jade.
This test originated from the poetic line: "Strident then soft, like large and small pearls dropping on a plate of jade."
The merchant anxiously tested it, and indeed, the jade plate proved counterfeit.
But he had already spent a considerable sum to purchase it. Letting it go to waste would be no less devastating than suffering broken bones and torn tendons.
Thus, the merchant devised a scheme: coating the jade plate with a thin layer of oil film. With this coating, water droplets would scatter like pearls.
Next, the merchant concocted a story—about a fallen noble family, a lost heirloom, tragic tales associated with the jade plate, and so forth.
With such packaging, the jade plate was sold.
"And then…" He Yunzhao paused briefly. Old Madam He, utterly captivated, eagerly asked: "What happened next? Was the jade plate exposed?"
He Yunzhao smiled. "Naturally, it was sold at a high price. The storied jade plate changed hands repeatedly. Whether those who acquired it midway discovered its falsity remains unknown."
"But those who did discover it didn't want the plate to become worthless in their possession, while those who remained unaware had bought it purely for profit and wouldn't simply keep it."
"The jade plate was resold again and again, its price rising with each transaction. Yet, the oil film would eventually wear off, and the deception would inevitably be uncovered."
She raised an eyebrow meaningfully at Mother He. "Whoever held it when the truth came out would be the one left holding the worthless piece."
This 'Rolling Water Droplet' plate had its own terminology: the Rolling Water Droplet Scheme from the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gates Scheme. Here, the jade plate served the role of a lotus leaf—gathering water without absorbing it.
First, find an object. Its authenticity or intrinsic value matters little; what truly matters is the packaging, making people believe it is valuable and will yield greater profits in the future.
Yet, once the object is in someone's hands, its actual worth becomes irrelevant—the risk has already been transferred to the recipient.
Mother He wore a complicated expression, still struggling to believe. "How could your aunt deceive me? Perhaps she was deceived herself."
He Yunzhao tilted her head to look at her mother. "It might be real, it might be fake. Perhaps Aunt was indeed misled. But regardless, this deal should not be pursued."
If one aims to profit from antiques, finding a way to sell them is inevitable. The 'Rolling Water Droplet' scheme preys on human greed.
Old Madam He picked up a warmly roasted tangerine. With a meaningful glance from her, He Yunzhao rose, straightened her robes, and took her leave. "Grandmother, Mother, I shall go study now."
Such is the complexity of human nature. Before her marriage, Mother He had quarreled with her parents over her dowry, accusing them of favoritism. Yet after marrying, she often found herself missing them.
When the children were born, the Yao Family, Mother He's maiden family, sent many gifts, ranging from silks and satins to children's toys. Even the Prickly Ash Teething Stick that He Yunzhao used as a child was sent by the Yao Family.
Deep down, Mother He didn't truly believe that her sister-in-law from her maiden family would think of her in such a good matter, which was why she hesitated to mention it. Had she truly believed it, she would have already taken out the silver to pay the deposit.
Old Madam He usually didn't involve herself much in household affairs, but at times like this, she understood the situation clearly. She first asked Yunzhao to leave, to preserve Mother He's dignity.
He Yunzhao, who had been raised like a boy since childhood, naturally didn't understand the intricacies of such matters.
Old Madam He, however, understood perfectly and sympathized with her daughter-in-law. When her own family disregarded and deceived her, her first reaction was one of shame.
Especially when this was exposed in front of her own children, it made it even more unbearable for her.
As soon as Mother He heard the sound of He Yunzhao closing the door, her tears instantly fell, splashing down one by one. Furious, she gritted her teeth and cursed, "Those ungrateful wretches struck by thunder, how dare they deceive me!"
Old Madam He sighed and comforted her, "Perhaps they weren't fully aware either. As long as we don't fall for it, it's fine. We can remind them when we have the chance."
The Yao Family was not some insignificant household. Mother He's grandfather had once served as the Left Censor-in-Chief, and back then, the two families were well-matched in social status, with the groom talented and the bride beautiful.
Now, the head of the Yao Family was Mother He's father, who served as an Assistant Censor-in-Chief in the Censorate. He still relied on the Censorate's influence, but being honest and cautious, he could advance after a few more years. However, compared to Mother He's uncles, he was not particularly remarkable.
Mother He had an elder sister and a younger brother as her full siblings. Her mother favored the eldest sister and the youngest brother, leaving her caught in the middle and feeling distressed.
She didn't believe that her sister-in-law Wen Shi had come without her younger brother's instigation, and it was this thought that made her cry.
Over the next half month, Wen Shi sent her personal maid several times to deliver messages, but Mother He politely declined each time. Wen Shi soon realized that her sister-in-law would not purchase the antiques, and her attitude changed abruptly, no longer sending anyone over.
Her change in demeanor was faster than the weather in June, which annoyed Mother He even more, though she refrained from mentioning it in front of the children.
As the year drew to a close, New Year's gifts from various families arrived one after another. He Jinmo accompanied his mother in sorting through the gift lists and writing letters to send in return.
He Yunzhao was to take the Prefectural Examination the following February, and Mother He placed great importance on his studies, not wanting him to expend too much effort on these matters.
But times had changed. He Yunzhao had already gained some renown, and the exchange of New Year's gifts was more than double that of the previous year. Even their maternal uncle's family, far away in Jiangnan, sent a generous gift, prompting Mother He to hurriedly prepare a return gift.
He Yunzhao had no choice but to convert a small hall in the gatehouse outside the main courtyard's study. Servants and stewards would leave the gift lists there, while Yang Xiaoman organized the lists and chatted with people. He Yunzhao listened from inside the room.
If someone needed to relay a message, they were invited into the room, and He Yunzhao would listen to a few words.
Perhaps because they sensed that the next generation of male heirs in the He Family was rising, old relatives and former friends tentatively sent New Year's gifts and letters.
Many of them were friends who had some connection with Father He. While they might not be able to help in times of need, they could still maintain communication and exchange favors.
He Yunzhao responded with humble and low-key letters, and through back-and-forth exchanges, the families gradually resumed their interactions.
The Qu family also sent a New Year's gift, clearly intended for her, mostly items that a scholar could use. He Yunzhao immediately understood that the Qu family was still holding onto their pride.
The New Year gifts included all sorts of items—silk fabrics, dried fruits, and preserved fruits were indispensable, as were various tonics. In other words, everyone’s preferences were taken into account.
The Qu family only sent items useful for He Yunzhao’s studies, implying that they acknowledged only the friendship between Qu Zhan and He Yunzhao, with no need for interaction between the two households.
He Yunzhao looked expressionlessly at the gift list and returned a similar one, unchanged, with items suitable for Qu Zhan.
On the Lantern Festival, the Qu family sent someone again to deliver an assortment of brocade satin and precious tonics as a supplement.
The steward who came wore a simple, honest smile and repeatedly apologized, "The household servants were so busy they became confused and left out these items. Our lady was startled when she checked, and we only then realized we had missed sending these."
"Everyone knows our second young master and your third master are close friends. If the carelessness of the servants were to affect their relationship, it would be an unforgivable offense."
"Our lady instructed early on to make up for the gifts on the Lantern Festival. We beg your household’s forgiveness."
Yang Xiaoman narrowed his small eyes and accepted the gifts with a smile. After reporting the matter, Mother He exclaimed in surprise.
She told He Yunzhao, "There must be some trouble behind this—most likely, their household is also unsettled, which led to this situation."
The Qu family’s vast wealth meant they would not lack these New Year gifts. If they truly looked down on others, they would not have sent supplementary gifts. There was likely more to the story.
He Yunzhao neither agreed nor disagreed.
On the eighteenth day of the first month, after the New Year, He Yunzhao arrived early at the academy to begin studying.
It was the coldest time of the year. Unlike at home, where heated brick beds could be built, the academy relied on a few stoves for warmth.
She skillfully carried a small wooden bucket to the back room next door, used iron tongs to fill it with charcoal, and returned to the study.
The quality of the charcoal was average—not as good as expensive smokeless charcoal, but not particularly poor either.
When she first arrived at the academy, she made a habit of waking up early to review what she had learned. In the winter, when it was too cold, she would hold a small charcoal stove to warm her hands while huddling in a chair to read.
The night watchman, seeing the small child bundled up in thick clothing and studying early in the morning, felt a pang of sympathy. After reporting to Mr. Liu Yuan, he tacitly allowed He Yunzhao to light the stove herself.
Starting the stove early while studying also helped warm her up.
She took out a tinderbox from the cabinet, blew into it gently, and soon sparks emerged.
He Yunzhao waited in the courtyard for the charcoal to catch fire before carrying the stove back into the room. If brought inside immediately after lighting, black soot would fill the air, and after a morning of studying, her nostrils would be black.
Ding Hanzhang mentioned privately, "Yesterday at court, two officials impeached each other—one from the northwest, the other from the south. This may affect the selection of examiners for next month’s Prefectural Examination."
In the Imperial Examination system, the rivalry between the north and south had long existed. The fertile lands of the south allowed people to focus on studies once their basic needs were met. With more scholars, literary traditions flourished, producing many officials.
The north, however, was barren, and populations dwindled further after droughts and floods. Fewer scholars meant fewer successful candidates.
Moreover, with the influence of clans and factions, mutual promotions gradually led to the emergence of factional strife.
During the previous emperor’s reign, one year, all fifty-six Presented Scholars in the Second Class of the metropolitan examination were from the south. This enraged the emperor, who investigated the chief examiners rigorously, resulting in numerous executions. After appointing new examiners, sixteen northern candidates made the list.
There are indeed objective differences between scholars from the north and south. The late emperor had tacitly allowed more southern candidates to pass the examinations, but leaving none for the northerners was simply going too far.
As for claims about differences in ability, that was even more absurd. The exams consisted entirely of subjective essays. Every candidate who made it to the metropolitan examination was profoundly learned—how could one possibly judge them as inferior based solely on subjective evaluation?
With the current court disputes, compounded by recent cabinet reshuffles, no one could predict how things would unfold.
He Yunzhao speculated, "Perhaps they will select an examination commissioner from outside the capital."
Her words proved prophetic. On the second day of the second lunar month, the chief examiner was appointed—an education commissioner originally from Zhili who had been recalled from the southeast. Moreover, the quota was increased to eighty successful candidates.
Upon hearing the name, Ding Hanzhang remarked, "This official is upright and impartial, unlikely to show excessive bias. However, he particularly dislikes scholars who flaunt their talent arrogantly and despises overly ornate writing styles."
During the Prefectural Examination, some candidates would submit their papers early whenever possible to impress the examiner. But this approach would backfire with this particular official—he preferred meticulous scholars and valued rigorous writing styles.
He Yunzhao was startled—this was crucial information. She always wrote quickly and favored elegant prose. Had she not learned this and submitted early, she would have stepped right into a trap.
Seeing her comprehension, the old man smiled meaningfully. "Few know about this. Don't spread it casually."
As for how he knew? Well, the chief examiner Jiang Jinghuai had passed his examinations when Ding served as Education Commissioner of Suzhou—the old man knew all the details!
He Yunzhao felt a sudden spark of understanding.