The ox cart swayed its way into town, and the warm-hearted aunt tugged Shen Ziying along toward the bookstore.
To maintain her image in front of outsiders, Shen Ziying followed her, but the way she turned her head back every few steps made her look like someone deeply in love and reluctant to part.
After the others got off the cart, they exchanged a few words of farewell and dispersed in different directions. Only Shen Ruo remained standing where he was; his impression of the town had already grown very faint, and he needed to think carefully about which way to head next.
The man driving the cart was called Shen Hansan. During the famine years, none of his family survived, and now he was the only one left. Later, he worked in town hauling goods and saved up a little money, eventually buying an ox and hitching it to a cart to carry passengers each day and earn a living.
“Be back here before youshi in the afternoon (five o’clock). After that, I won’t wait,” he reminded Shen Ruo, who rarely rode in his cart.
“All right, thank you, Brother Shen,” Shen Ruo replied.
Only after everyone else had left did Shen Ruo get his bearings and stride quickly toward the southern streets of town. There were many little shops there selling trinkets; his father had once brought him there.
He wondered how much the place had changed over the years.
The Shen Dashan family was too poor and rarely came into town, scraping by in the fields instead. Yet they did not realize that only by going to broader places and seeing more of the world would there be opportunities to make money.
In this era, merchants earned the most money, and opportunities were everywhere. Shen Ruo had confidence in himself.
Today he had brought along the small carp handkerchief with the gradient fishtail that Liu Shan had embroidered yesterday, as well as the one with the cat paw pad design, planning to find a shop to consign them for sale. At the same time, he could promote the stall his family was about to set up.
Last night, Shen Ruo had asked his sister-in-law to cut long, narrow strips of cloth and embroider a name onto them. He intended to create an embroidery brand called “[1]Nianbao (念宝) is a name made from two Chinese characters: 念 (niàn) and 宝 (bǎo). Together, it carries a warm and affectionate meaning that roughly conveys “a treasured one who is always in … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1842807_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1842807_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });Nianbao.”
Since the original owner of this body was illiterate, Shen Ruo drew the two characters “Nianbao” in a decorative style: he turned the “heart” component beneath the character nian into a heart shape, transformed the dot above bao into a gold ingot, and added cloud patterns on both sides of the words, making it look even more delicate and charming.
Liu Shan fell in love with it at first sight.
“Nianbao” was the formal name Shen Ruo had given to Xiao Yuntun. He missed his former life, yet he had no desire to leave, because he now had such a precious treasure.
Shen Ruo deliberately had Liu Shan leave this “trademark” strip a bit longer. In ancient times, a handkerchief tucked into one’s clothing could easily slip out by accident. Although that had given rise to many tales of scholars picking up a fallen handkerchief and returning it to a fair lady, those were only stories. If it were truly lost, blown by the wind or trampled underfoot, it would be hard to find again.
So the longer strip bearing the trademark could be tied to the belt. That way, the handkerchief would not merely be a handkerchief, but also serve as an ornament.
Or it could be tied to the fastening ribbons on the outer lapel. Taking inspiration from the way consorts in Qing palace dramas tuck their handkerchiefs, Shen Ruo felt it would probably look quite nice.
After all, everyone likes to show off that they own something pretty and delicate, but if a handkerchief is stuffed inside one’s clothes, who can see it? If you want others to notice it, you’d have to very deliberately take it out to dab at something and intentionally reveal the pattern inside. If it were worn on the outside, wouldn’t that allow one to show it off without making it obvious?
After looking around and making inquiries, he made up his mind.
Shen Ruo had no interest in going to the shop managed by Shen Hong. Instead, he went to another jewelry store called “[2]“Lanshan” (闌珊 / 阑珊) is a Chinese word that often appears in poetic or literary contexts. It generally describes something fading, waning, scattered, or sparse, especially in relation to … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1842807_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1842807_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });Lanshan.”
The shop was grandly decorated, filled with jade ornaments and exquisitely crafted hairpins and hair sticks. Most of the customers who came here were the wives, concubines, and children of wealthy gentry or rich merchants in town.
At this hour there were not many people inside, just past seven in the morning, and the store had only just opened. A shop assistant was yawning as he wiped down gold ornaments with a dry cloth.
He glanced at Shen Ruo and, seeing his shabby clothes and judging him unlikely to afford anything, did not even bother with proper courtesy, merely calling out lazily, “If you can’t afford it, don’t touch.”
Shen Ruo did not get angry. “I’m not here to buy anything,” he said.
“Then what are you here for? Go, go, don’t interfere with my business,” the assistant said impatiently, trying to drive him away.
“I want to discuss a deal with your shopkeeper,” Shen Ruo replied.
“You? As if,” the assistant scoffed, clearly unconvinced.
“Please ask your shopkeeper to come out,” Shen Ruo said. “I have a way to make your business better, better than the one in the north of town—”
“I think you’re still half asleep and dreaming. You’re just some country bumpkin, what do you know about doing business?” the assistant said disdainfully.
“And the rice you eat, wasn’t that grown by country bumpkins? If you look down on us so much, then stop eating rice!” Shen Ruo snapped, anger rising. With a clerk this arrogant and contemptuous, it was no wonder “Lanshan” couldn’t compete with the long-established jewelry store “Jinzhu”!
The reason Shen Ruo had not gone to “Jinzhu” was that its shopkeeper had been running the business in town for decades and had always followed the same model. On top of that, being older, he was unlikely to be flexible. The chances of successfully striking a deal with him were rather slim.
As for “Lanshan,” its shopkeeper was said to be only twenty-eight, young and promising. The fact that he had managed to keep the shop open for four years without being crushed by “Jinzhu” showed that he was highly capable in business. Even if he wasn’t, that would only mean he had very strong backing.
Either way, Shen Ruo wanted to try negotiating a deal with him.
As soon as he finished speaking, a deep, magnetic male voice sounded from behind him. “Well said. Ah Fu, why aren’t you apologizing to the customer? You’re not allowed any supper tonight as punishment.”
“Young Master… I…” The assistant called Ah Fu looked embarrassed, wanting to defend himself but unable to find the words.
Shen Ruo turned around, the anger still lingering on his face, his gaze fierce.
It was the first time Lan Fan had seen someone so interesting. So pretty, and even a young ge’er at that, yet he was boldly claiming in his shop that he could improve their business.
How amusing.
And those phoenix-shaped eyes of his, glaring right now, made him look like a little cat whose fur had bristled from being provoked.
“I am the shopkeeper here, Lan Fan. What’s your name?”
“Shen Ruo.”
Lan Fan paused for a moment upon hearing the name, then said in surprise, “You’re that Shen Ruo who chased after Gu Yun relentlessly, loving him to the point of life and death?”
…There was really no need to add that many qualifiers.
“I am Shen Ruo, and I have nothing to do with Gu Yun,” Shen Ruo replied coldly. He had no intention of having his name tied to Gu Yun ever again. From now on, he was simply Shen Ruo.
“Hahaha, very well. Scholar Gu is handsome beyond compare and refined in bearing; it’s only natural that you’d fancy him,” Lan Fan said with a laugh, somehow producing a folding fan and fanning himself in an affected manner.
Shen Ruo frowned. Was this man incapable of understanding plain speech? He had already made himself perfectly clear, he no longer had anything whatsoever to do with Gu Yun!
“Young Master Lan certainly keeps his eyes and ears open around town, even knowing every detail of what happens in our tiny Shenjia Village?” Shen Ruo said in a tone thick with sarcasm, implying: how nosy can you be, prying into even such trivial matters?
“I wouldn’t say I know every detail. Scholar Gu and I were classmates; we studied together at the private school in town,” Lan Fan replied with a smile.
Shen Ruo said, “So Gu Yun complained about me to you, is that it?” That would at least make sense. After all, if someone you didn’t like kept pestering you, it was only natural to vent a little to a friend.
“What does ‘complained’ mean?” Lan Fan had never heard the word before, though he could roughly guess its meaning. “It wasn’t Zinuo who… ah, complained. It was other students who used the matter to mock him. After all, though he came from a farming family, his learning far surpassed theirs…”
Lan Fan did not continue, but Shen Ruo understood.
People in town looked down on villagers, just like that shop assistant had. Yet those who considered themselves superior could not outperform a country-born student at the private school, so they had to seek a sense of superiority elsewhere. The easiest target became Gu Yun’s most ridiculed “joke”, the former Shen Ruo’s relentless pursuit of him.
No wonder he had disliked him so much. To be honest… the fact that he hadn’t slapped him twice already showed remarkable restraint.
Shen Ruo remembered that although Gu Yun had always treated him coldly and never given him a pleasant expression, he had still shown basic courtesy and had clearly rejected him more than once. It was just that the original Shen Ruo had been so blinded by love that he believed as long as he stayed by Gu Yun’s side, one day he would move him.
Being love-brained was truly a terrible thing. If someone doesn’t like you, they simply don’t like you. [3] “A forced melon will never be sweet” is a metaphor meaning that if something is forced, unnatural, or done against its proper course, it will never turn out well or be satisfying. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1842807_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1842807_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });A forced melon will never be sweet.
Black lines practically crossed Shen Ruo’s forehead as he said, “I’ve already apologized to him, and I won’t pester him again. As for what happened at the private school… I’ll try my best to make it up to him in the future.” Although in truth, Shen Ruo suspected Gu Yun probably didn’t care for any compensation at all, keeping his distance would be more than enough.
“Yes, there’s no shortage of fragrant grass at the ends of the earth, why fixate on a single flower?” Lan Fan narrowed his fox-like eyes and grinned mischievously. “A pretty little ge’er like you would have plenty of suitors lining up. Want me to play matchmaker?”
Shen Ruo glanced up at the plaque inside the shop. It clearly read “Lanshan Jewelry,” not “Matchmaker’s Hall.”
“You’re so well-informed about gossip, don’t tell me you haven’t heard that I’ve already had a child?”
Lan Fan was so startled that his folding fan dropped to the floor. He. Said. What!?
“Th-That… I really didn’t know,” Lan Fan stammered.
Shen Ruo continued, “Thank you for the kindness, but there’s no need. I have no plans at the moment to find my child a stepfather.”
Lan Fan sized him up. No matter how he looked at him, Shen Ruo didn’t resemble someone who had borne a child. But the conversation had already strayed far off course. Earlier, he had been listening outside the shop doors for quite some time, and he was genuinely interested in the method Shen Ruo kept claiming could improve their business, even surpass “Jinzhu.”
Everyone in town knew that “Lanshan” and “Jinzhu” had been locked in competition for over two years. If one introduced a new design, the other had to come out with something even better, each determined to outdo the other at all costs. At the mere thought of the difficult old man from “Jinzhu,” Lan Fan felt his head ache as if it had doubled in size.
At times he wanted to simply go with the flow, but “Jinzhu” would aggressively provoke them. Merchants pursued profit, either the east wind overwhelmed the west wind, or the west wind overwhelmed the east. No matter what, he wanted to succeed and prove himself to his family. At the very least, he couldn’t end up starving.
Lan Fan put away his playful grin and said, “Young master Shen Ge’er, I’m very interested in the method you mentioned. Let’s go upstairs and discuss it in detail.”
Author’s Note:
Lan Fan: QAQ I don’t even want to compete this fiercely, but that old man at Jinzhu doesn’t play fair!
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