Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Fan Changyu’s temples twitched as she pushed open the door. “Ningniang.”

“Ah… Ah, Big sister.” Changning, who had just been so full of herself a moment ago, immediately put on a guilty, obedient expression, her large, dark eyes darting nervously, avoiding Fan Changyu’s gaze.

Xie Zheng followed her into the room, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. When he saw the boy in the satin jacket inside, his eyes flickered briefly as he asked, “Whose child is this?”

The little boy’s face was still chubby with baby fat, looking no older than five or six. His eyes were large and round, with the outer corners drooping slightly, like a little puppy’s. His clothes were embroidered with gold thread, and his small waistband was studded with gems.

Standing beside Changning, he looked honest and simple, just like the foolish son of a rich landowner.

After Xie Zheng’s question, the boy puffed out his chest and said, “These houses all belong to my family.”

Fan Changyu recalled Chef Li telling her that Yu Qianqian had a child. This boy claimed these houses as his own—could he be Yu Qianqian’s son?

Just as this thought crossed her mind, a voice called from outside the courtyard. The housekeeper called out, “Young master, where have you been hiding?”

The child called back, “Nanny Fang, I’m here.”

The housekeeper quickly came over upon hearing the voice. “Young master, why are you hiding here? You’re making it hard for me to find you…”

Seeing Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng there, she felt a bit apologetic. “The young master is still young and accidentally wandered into your rooms. I apologize to both of you.”

Fan Changyu said it was no trouble, then asked, “Is this Manager Yu’s child?”

The housekeeper smiled and said yes.

Fan Changyu learned from the housekeeper that the boy’s name was Yu Bao’er, but everyone in the building called him Brother Bao’er.

In Fan Changyu’s experience, families that were at least moderately well-off usually gave their children names that sounded cultured. Yu Qianqian’s child being called simply Bao’er surprised her.

But thinking of Yu Qianqian’s personality, she suddenly felt it all made perfect sense.

The group headed toward the main hall of Yixiang Restaurant. Along the way, Changning grew bolder, occasionally bickering with Yu Bao’er. Xie Zheng walked at the back, frowning as he watched Yu Bao’er’s retreating figure, his eyes dark and unreadable.

When they reached the main hall, Yu Qianqian learned that Yu Bao’er had been playing hide-and-seek and had ended up hiding in Fan Changyu’s room. She couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head.

When she asked Yu Bao’er about his studies, she saw Changning and casually asked Fan Changyu, “Has Ningniang started learning yet? If not, you can just send her over to me. I’ve hired a private tutor for Bao’er. Teaching one child or several is the same. The staff in the building who have kids all send them here to study together. We’re not expecting them to become top scholars or anything, but it’s good if they can recognize a few characters.”

Fan Changyu’s respect for Yu Qianqian grew a little more. Though tempted, she knew the journey from the town to the county seat was quite a distance, and Changning was still young. If she were to come to Yu Qianqian’s place to study, someone would have to escort her back and forth. Besides, she wasn’t even a staff member at Yixiang Restaurant and had already received a lot of kindness from Yu Qianqian. She couldn’t just take that goodwill for granted.

She said, “Thank you for your kindness, Manager Yu. She’s learned a few characters from her brother-in-law, but it’s not really formal schooling yet. She’s still young and a bit afraid of studying. Let’s wait until she’s a bit older.”

Changning immediately chimed in, “Ningniang can already write her own name!”

As she spoke, she used chopsticks to gesture in the air: “Wood, double-cross, wood, big — Fan.”

Yu Qianqian laughed heartily and praised, “Ningniang is really smart.”

Her gaze shifted to Fan Changyu with a teasing glint. “I forgot, you have such a talented husband at home. Ningniang doesn’t need anyone else to teach her.”

Fan Changyu had originally said that to politely decline Yu Qianqian’s offer. Now that she was teased about it, she just smiled quietly without replying.

Xie Zheng glanced at her but said nothing.

Yu Qianqian then started chatting with Fan Changyu about other matters. “That shop outside my restaurant can be leased to you long-term. If you’re too busy to manage it yourself, I can have my restaurant staff help sell your braised meat. Other tenants either pay a year’s rent upfront or give me a two-tier profit share. If you’re interested, I can offer you a discount on the rent.”

Fan Changyu had witnessed firsthand how booming the business was at the shop outside Yixiang Restaurant.

She said, “You’ve been too kind to me, Manager Yu.”

Her words made all the staff at Yixiang Restaurant laugh.

The accountant said, “Our manager has the heart of a Bodhisattva and treats all the staff well. Madam Fan, don’t be so formal.”

Yu Qianqian added, “I choose my friends by feeling. The moment I saw you, I liked your nature. Don’t be shy with me. Just say whether you want to set up shop at Yixiang Restaurant.”

Fan Changyu replied, “I do want to. The rent doesn’t have to be cheap, but I really can’t watch over the shop myself. If I borrow your staff’s help, I’ll pay them extra wages.”

Yu Qianqian laughed and asked the staff in the building, “You all heard that, right? Anyone willing to earn some extra wages can step forward now so Boss Fan can put a face to the name.”

Fan Changyu blushed at the title “Boss Fan” but also found it strangely novel.

Unlike how the townsfolk called her simply Changyu, this new title felt like a different identity. Like a small boat that, though tiny now, could carry her to faraway places.

The staff whispered among themselves for a moment before a capable-looking woman spoke up, “I’m willing to sell the braised meat at the shop out front.”

Fan Changyu recognized the woman. She seemed to specialize in attending to female customers, always organized and sweet-talking her way through tasks.

Yu Qianqian said to her, “This girl’s name is Fuling. She was sold as a servant when she was little, but she saved up and bought her freedom. Then, when we were hiring in the building, she came to work here. She’s competent. What do you think?”

Fan Changyu nodded. “She’s the one.”

Fuling, quick-witted, immediately put on a humble act: “Thank you, Manager Yu. From now on, please take good care of Boss Fan.”

Yu Qianqian pointed at her and smiled at Fan Changyu. “See? She’s quite the chatterbox.”

Fan Changyu couldn’t help but smile.

After finishing their meal, Fan Changyu took her leave from Yu Qianqian. She had rented the best shop in the county town and would need to supply braised meat there long-term. She had to consider whether to hire a cart or buy an ox cart outright. She also had to deliver cured meat to the Fat Manager later that afternoon.

Yu Bao’er followed his mother to the restaurant entrance with Fan Changyu and the others. The adults had their conversations, and the kids had their own.

Yu Bao’er said to Changning, “Next time you come over, I’ll take you to see my study. There are so many books inside, plus clay figurines, wood carvings, and coral decorations. They’re really beautiful!”

Changning clutched Fan Changyu’s sleeve tightly, pursed her lips, and thought hard before coming up with something to brag about: “When you come to my house, I’ll show you my sister’s pig-killing knives! More than a dozen, big and small! If you’re lucky, you might even get to see my sister slaughter a pig! Have you ever seen a pig being slaughtered?”

Yu Bao’er shook his head, eyes full of admiration.

Changning gestured with both hands, “My sister can knock a pig unconscious with just one slap!”

Fan Changyu smiled awkwardly.

Facing the shocked looks from Yu Qianqian and her son, she quickly cleared her throat. “Ningniang, let’s go.”

Only then did Changning start walking out with her in small steps, but she held her head high and chest out, like a proud rooster that had just won a fight. Fan Changyu tried hard to keep a straight face, but her ears were flushed red, as if she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Xie Zheng glanced at the two sisters out of the corner of his eye, a faint, subtle smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

When the three of them rode the ox cart back to town, Fan Changyu couldn’t stop marveling at how kind Yu Qianqian was.

Xie Zheng just snorted lightly.

Fan Changyu frowned and asked, “Did I say something wrong?”

Xie Zheng lifted his eyes coolly. “You were sold by someone else, yet you’re the first to rush to count other people’s money.”

Fan Changyu felt a flash of displeasure inside. “Manager Yu is a genuinely good person. Why do you have to slander her?”

Xie Zheng was ruthless. “Don’t forget, she’s a businesswoman. You do business with her, but you haven’t gained much from her. Now you’re just blindly grateful.”

His gaze grew colder. “You’ll probably never learn how she wins people over.”

Fan Changyu liked Yu Qianqian a lot, so hearing Xie Zheng say that made her unhappy. “Why do you always think the worst of people? Manager Yu really has helped me a lot…”

Xie Zheng cut her off. “Helped you with what?”

Meeting his sharp gaze, she was momentarily speechless, then said, “I just started selling braised meat. If it weren’t for Manager Yu giving me a chance, I wouldn’t have been able to do business with Yixiang Restaurant so quickly.”

Xie Zheng asked, “You’re not the only one selling braised meat in all of Qingping County. Why did she pick you?”

Fan Changyu said, “It was Master Li who recommended me…”

Xie Zheng stared at her silently, and her voice gradually grew softer.

After a moment of silence, Xie Zheng said, “The chef did recommend you, that’s true. But if your product wasn’t decent, they wouldn’t have chosen you. Businesspeople don’t pick inferior goods out of sentiment. They only favor those who have an edge among goods of equal quality.”

Fan Changyu clenched her hands tighter and continued, “Today, Manager Yu didn’t even want to take the money I earned from selling braised meat. I insisted repeatedly before she accepted just the cost.”

Xie Zheng asked, “How much did you really make? Maybe not even as much as she earned from one table.”

Fan Changyu pressed her lips together. “It’s not about the money. It’s her goodwill.”

Xie Zheng frowned and said, “I’m not telling you to take her kindness for granted. I’m just saying that the favor she’s done you isn’t equal to the gratitude you feel toward her. You can remember her kindness, but there’s no need to lower yourself everywhere just because of it. Besides, today, you and she both got what you needed. Her support for you is also meant to suppress Wang’s.”

Fan Changyu fell silent.

Xie Zheng knew she was pure-hearted; when others showed her kindness, she always thought she owed them many times over.

He paused for a few breaths and said, “I’m not trying to slander Manager Yu by telling you this. Once you see everything clearly, maybe then you can truly become close friends with her. If all you remember are gratitude and favors, then you’re no different from the honest workers under her.”

Fan Changyu had never been taught these things in her life.

After her parents passed away, aside from Aunt Zhao’s family helping her out, she had borne everything herself. Suddenly receiving so much kindness from Yu Qianqian was like a person nearly frozen to death in a harsh winter suddenly finding warmth. Instinctively, she gravitated toward that warmth.

After a long moment, she finally said, “Thank you.”

Her voice was a bit muffled but not defeated. She knew she still had a long way to go and much to learn. Now that she understood some things she hadn’t before, it wasn’t too late. When she looked at Xie Zheng again, her eyes were full of a thirst for knowledge. “Yan Zheng, please teach me more. I want to become someone as capable as Manager Yu someday.”

Xie Zheng gave a faint smile and said, “You’d better forget about doing business. Like I told you, her greatest strength lies in how she manages people.”

Fan Changyu put on a posture of eager listening.

Xie Zheng didn’t want to say more but still continued, “Just like today, when she lent you one of the women working in her building, you naturally think well of her. But she only gave you what you needed at the moment. Strip away all the favors and you don’t owe her anything. You paid rent for her shop, and you paid wages for the worker she lent you. On the contrary, having her own employee oversee the shop you rented is all benefit and no harm to her.”

His eyes darkened slightly. “She just wants to know your accounts, that’s all it is.”

Fan Changyu said, “I believe Manager Yu isn’t that kind of person.”

But the shock in her heart made her fingertips tingle. Before, she only thought Yu Qianqian was kind, but now she realized that beneath her kindness, Yu Qianqian was also very clever. She actually admired this side of Yu Qianqian even more and suddenly understood how Yu Qianqian, a delicate woman, could single-handedly open two large banquet halls in just a few short years.

Xie Zheng sneered, “That’s just how she handles her subordinates. The way she deals with merchants and officials? You could study your whole life and still not learn it.”

Though Fan Changyu was taken aback by his sharp words, she didn’t hold it against him. After all, he had taught her so much already. Instead, she said, “Yan Zheng, teach me to read.”

Xie Zheng looked at the two of them, both propping their chins on their hands and sighing like young lions fresh from the den, bruised and a little pitiful, but stubborn to the core.

As he had promised before, he replied lightly, “Alright.”

When the ox cart reached the town, passing by a bookstore, Xie Zheng bought paper and ink, along with five books.

Fan Changyu was a bit stunned. “Buying so many?”

Xie Zheng handed her four thick volumes and gave a thin one to Changning. “The Three Character Classic is for your little sister, and the Four Books are for you.”

Fan Changyu flipped through them and noticed that although he had said before he wouldn’t teach her the Analects and Great Learning, he had still bought those two books. She couldn’t help but smile wryly. This guy was mostly just sharp-tongued.

She hugged the books happily. “I’ll start studying hard tonight!”

Changning, clutching the Three Character Classic and wearing a scowl as if she didn’t want to study, saw this and swallowed her complaints, feeling a bit wronged.

When they reached home, Fan Changyu unlocked the door. Changning was eager to be the first inside. After pushing open the courtyard gate, she started cheering, “Sun-sun! Sun-sun’s back!”

The gyrfalcon, which had flown all day and only returned to the courtyard at dusk, found no bowl of meat scraps waiting as a reward. Only a cold, heavy lock on the door.

From inside the broken bamboo basket, it saw the three finally returned and poked its head out, its few ruffled down feathers sticking up.

Changning lunged forward to protect Sun-sun’s neck, her face flushed with excitement. “Brother-in-law wasn’t lying to Ningniang! Sun-sun really came back!”

Fan Changyu was also quite surprised. She had thought Yan Zheng was just teasing the kids that day.

She looked at Xie Zheng. “You’re really that good at taming birds?”

Xie Zheng calmly shrugged off the credit. “Or maybe you just fed it too well?”

Fan Changyu’s almond-shaped eyes widened. “…That’s even possible?”

She then turned to the gyrfalcon, which was being cuddled by Changning but fixed its little beady eyes on Fan Changyu, as if silently asking when dinner would be served.

Fan Changyu stubbornly walked toward the main house. The gyrfalcon pecked at the ground with its beak, then casually followed her, finally settling in front of the large bowl inside the house where its minced meat was waiting.

Fan Changyu: “…”

Xie Zheng watched this scene and, turning slightly to the side, let the corners of his mouth curl into a barely noticeable smile.

Accepting her fate, Fan Changyu went to the kitchen, found a piece of meat, chopped it finely, and put it into a bowl for the gyrfalcon. Then she went to the town’s carriage shop to rent a cart and deliver the cured meat that Fat Manager had ordered.

Fat Manager was well connected. When he learned that Fan Changyu had rented a stall at Yixiang Restaurant to sell marinated meat, he chuckled and asked, “This cured meat is from Madam Fan’s family, right? I’m planning to sell it under the Fan’s name. What does Madam Fan think about that?”

Having heard so many twists and turns from Xie Zheng, Fan Changyu’s mind had become sharper. She said, “That’s fine, but if you sell it at a higher price than usual, you can’t show me fake accounts.”

Fat Manager quickly promised he wouldn’t.

Fan Changyu and Fat Manager split the profits. As long as he didn’t sell it at a low price, she wouldn’t lose out, so she didn’t press further.

On her way back, she ran into a squad of soldiers. Fan Changyu recognized the leader as the general who had helped her family survive an assassination attempt before.

He rode a tall horse, and below him, the soldiers were escorting a dozen or so people tied up tightly. Judging by their clothes, those bound were also soldiers, but clearly wearing different uniforms from this group.

Fan Changyu looked closely and realized they were the same soldiers she had seen earlier that day with Yan Zheng, the ones sent to collect grain.

Many villagers standing along the fields on both sides of the official road saw this scene and cheered and applauded: “Our Ji Prefecture has a true just official!”

“Lord He is the real good official who sees the suffering of us common folk!”

Fan Changyu recalled what Yan Zheng had said at noon and, looking at the grain-collecting soldiers being taken away in bonds, felt quietly pleased in her heart.

Back home, she told Xie Zheng about what she had seen on the road. Xie Zheng’s eyes darkened slightly, then he turned the page of his book with a long finger. “Keep studying. Tomorrow night at this time, I’ll test you on the ‘Xue Er’ Chapter.”

Fan Changyu stiffened her neck. Like Changning, she frowned and went back to reading.

She truly wanted to study seriously, but the classical texts overwhelmed her, so she had to force herself to keep going.

The window was left open, and cold drafts kept blowing in, making people hunch their necks to keep warm, just enough to stop Fan Changyu and her sister from falling asleep while reading.

Xie Zheng seemed oblivious to the cold. He paced to the window, hands clasped behind his back holding the scroll, gazing into the distant night. His long hair and robe fluttered in the breeze, his eyes dark.

He Jingyuan had openly tied up Wei Xuan’s men, clearly showing he had no intention of sparing Wei Xuan any dignity.

Knowing Wei Xuan’s vengeful nature, before Wei Yan’s orders arrived, he would surely go mad trying to tear into He Jingyuan.

His own men were ready to act as well.