After nightfall, Shao Shuyi arrived at the Old Locust Tree.
Disembarking, he glanced back at the river. The lights and fishing fires were densely packed—a magnificent sight. Liu Family Port, Taicang, and indeed the entire Pingjiang Route remained the wealth centers of this world, peerless in their prosperity.
He walked straight to the back of the greenware shop. The deeper on duty, Cao Tong—known as Shitou—heard the movement, lit an oil lamp, and opened the door.
"The Accountant returns quite early," he said softly.
Unsure if this was sarcasm or something else, Shao Shuyi gave a vague nod.
"Didn't the Accountant have a robe made?" Cao Tong asked.
"Hm?" Shao Shuyi looked down at his clothes.
He had two sets of clothing: the new set Zheng Fan had taken him to buy, and the patched set he was wearing now. He had intended to buy another, but alas, he was broke. His wages, received in kind, were long gone. Having given Wang Huadu over ten strings of banknotes, he truly had little money left on him.
Thinking of this, Shao Shuyi felt a tinge of annoyance; playing the generous, heroic "Big Brother" was no easy feat.
"Why the concern?" He forced a smile. "Lead the way."He pointed to the oil lamp in Cao Tong's hand. Cao Tong fell silent, keeping his head down as he led them inside.
"Shitou, anything happen at the shop today?" Shao Shuyi asked suddenly when they were halfway there.
Cao Tong started. "The doors weren't open, so not much. The Manager took a rest day, leaving the Warehouse Officer in charge. Around noon, someone from the brokerage came by. Said greenware is selling well over in the Qingyuan Route; many foreign merchants are short on stock and asked us to prepare more. Officer Wu has already gone to the Manager's house to report it."
"The Manager can decide on such major matters?" Shao Shuyi asked in wonder.
"Perhaps he will go to the old residence at Yantietang tomorrow to ask for instructions," Cao Tong mumbled.
Shao Shuyi let out an "Oh" and said no more.
They soon arrived outside the accountant's room. Shao Shuyi murmured a thanks, fished out a fire striker by the dim yellow light, and lit a candle. Seeing nothing else was required, Cao Tong bowed and departed.
Holding the candle, Shao Shuyi gave the room a cursory sweep. Seeing the furnishings were as before, he set his mind at ease. He placed the candle on the table, removed his shoes, clasped his hands behind his head, and leaned back on the couch to think.
It was his habit to periodically review his goals, plans, and their execution status.
For the moment, he had undoubtedly achieved his preliminary goal: improving his own circumstances. On this foundation, he had made extra progress by finding Cheng Ji of the Crossroads Force to teach him martial arts. This was absolutely necessary, for no one could guarantee they wouldn't fall into a situation where they had to fight for their lives. Acquiring the skills to kill would greatly enhance his safety.
In addition, he had found a secret channel to purchase military equipment on a small scale—though perhaps it wasn't that secret, given that the starving soldiers of the Crossroads Force dared to sell anything, and surely not just to him.
As for the future...
Let it be. He should settle this mess at the shop first. Regarding some matters, he decided to "play dumb." As long as Zheng Song didn't force his hand, he could pretend for a long time.
…
"I heard the Accountant has been rushing about and must be weary. Today I made qima gruel to replenish your strength."
It was another early morning, and the cook brought over a large bowl of thick millet gruel, her face beaming.
Shao Shuyi glanced around, seeing that he was the only one in the dining hall. He sat down, picked up the bowl, and asked, "Where did this yellow millet come from?"
"Some folks in Liu Family Port plant it," the cook said. "Few in Jiangnan eat millet, but we bought three or five dou for a change of taste; hardly worth a trip North."
Shao Shuyi nodded and looked into the bowl again.
This was his second time eating the so-called "qima gruel." He’d heard it replenished the spleen and stomach, boosting qi and strength; Manager Wang Sheng was quite fond of it. Whether it truly had those effects or not, the millet was thick, boiled in meat broth with shredded meat, scallions, and refined salt. The taste wasn't bad, and it certainly felt restorative—perfect for a growing youth.
"Your accent sounds much like the Manager and the Warehouse Officer. Are you a Quzhou native?" Shao Shuyi asked casually after finishing the first bowl and signaling for another.
"Indeed. We are all from Xiazheng Township," the cook replied nimbly as she took the bowl, hips swaying as she left.
Shao Shuyi fell into deep thought.
When the cook returned with the second bowl, he smiled again. "Xiazheng Township must be quite the place. Is Guard Zhang from there as well?"
"He isn't. He's from Longyou County. As for his men, they aren't from Quzhou either; most are locals of Liu Family Port," the cook replied.
Shao Shuyi laughed heartily and took the bowl to eat.
The woman was obviously not sharp; otherwise, she wouldn't be lighting fires and cooking meals. Her words revealed a chain of disdain: taking pride in her identity as a Xiazheng native, she looked down on Zhang Neng—from Longyou, a fellow county under Quzhou—and even more so on the people of Taicang.
Yet Accountant Shao, whom she served, was a Taicang native—at least in this life.
"I've been at the shop for twenty days, and business is desolate. We haven't sold much greenware. How can we go on like this?" After slurping down half the bowl, Shao Shuyi squeezed out a fretful sigh.
Unknown if she was purely dense or deceived by Shao Shuyi's acting, but the cook actually began to comfort him. "Accountant, set your heart at ease. This shop won't collapse. In a few days, Squire Sun of the brokerage will come. Greenware will sell by the thousands and tens of thousands; it will be gone in the blink of an eye. The few pieces sold daily mean nothing to the masters."
Shao Shuyi feigned shock. "Squire Sun is merely a broker; does he really have such capability?"
“Squire Sun is formidable.” Seeing that the book‑learned accountant, skilled in calculation yet ignorant of worldly ways, looked puzzled, the cook grew slightly smug. “Of the foreign merchants and sea guests who come to Liu Family Port, dozens have dealt with him. This one comes this year, that one next year, but whenever they arrive, they recognize only Squire Sun. Every sixth month, he takes his sons to the wharf to watch the sea guests disembark from afar, then leads them straight back to his home to stay as guests, drinking together in close intimacy.”
"Whose greenware Squire Sun says is good, the sea guests buy. If he says one string, the foreign merchants will not give two. Even Young Sir Zheng and Manager Wang must stay on good terms with him.
"Relying on this relationship, Squire Sun has accumulated who knows how much money. His two sons have also become brokers, but I heard he will only let one of them enter the greenware brokerage. I wonder if anyone has arranged a match for this Little Master..."
Seeing the cook's thoughts wandering, Shao Shuyi hurriedly guided her back. "So, Squire Sun is close with Young Sir Zheng and Manager Wang? Young Sir Zheng seems rather cold and arrogant, while Manager Wang is amiable. Presumably, Squire Sun is closer to the Manager?"
"Isn't that the truth!" The cook sat down, full of enthusiasm. "When the Manager purchased a residence by Tai Lake, Squire Sun presented fifty ingots as a congratulatory gift."
Shao Shuyi remained composed on the surface, but inwardly, he was shocked. Fifty ingots—what a generous hand. What sort of friendship warranted that?
"Accountant, you are fifteen this year. Do you have a young lady you fancy? If not—" Having chatted at length, the cook grew bold. Looking Shao Shuyi up and down, she seemed intent on matchmaking.
"It's a bit early for that," Shao Shuyi refused hurriedly, feeling awkward.
"Not early!" The cook looked incomprehending.
In her view, plenty of men and women had children at fifteen; it was the age to take a wife or marry a husband. At fifteen, one was no longer a child but an adult who shouldered family responsibilities. One could be an official, do business, till the fields... why couldn't one take a wife? She didn't understand.
"The qima gruel is delicious; may I trouble you for another bowl?" Shao Shuyi hurriedly finished the remaining gruel and handed the bowl back with a smile.
The cook wanted to speak but stopped, ultimately agreeing and walking toward the kitchen with the bowl.
After eating three large bowls in succession, Shao Shuyi returned to his room to retrieve his "toolbox" and account books, then walked toward the counter in the front courtyard.
He actually regretted it a little.
The cook wasn't smart, but Wang Sheng and Wu Youcai were shrewd. Although there were no outsiders present, if his remarks reached their ears via the cook, it wouldn't be good.
On a small scale, he was being gossipy and prying into private matters. On a large scale, he harbored bad intentions and was secretly eyeing his colleagues.
However, since things had come to this, sighing was useless. Knowing was better than not knowing; at least he wouldn't be kept in the dark and muddled to death by others.
Sitting down at the counter, Shao Shuyi began a new day of work.