Chapter 5

His father, Hu Yunde, learned of it and questioned him in private within his room.

"Coalstone mining has a fixed quota every year. Why are you doing this?"

The room was lightly scented with incense, its books arranged in neat order. The clear signs of browsing showed that its owner was a lover of books.

Though the Hu Clan traded in charcoal, their longing for poetry, books, rites, and music was no shallower than anyone else's.

Hu Yulin had originally intended to tell Hu Yunde everything in detail only after the matter was fully accomplished. But now that Hu Yunde had asked directly, he had no choice but to answer.

"Father, do not blame me." He had already written down the plan in his heart and now brought it before Hu Yunde. "This is your son's plan. Father, please look it over."

Hu Yunde possessed the talent to build a fortune and was no narrow-sighted man. With a rough glance, he understood the idea. If coalstone truly possessed the potential described on the paper, then the Hu Clan would surely rise to another level!

"Yulin, your mind is quick indeed, to have found such a method. If it succeeds, profit will be a small matter. The Hu Clan's name shall spread throughout the land."

After speaking, Hu Yunde threw back his head and laughed aloud. A wild cat in the courtyard was startled and sprang onto the wall with a whoosh, letting out several soft cries as though plaintively voicing its grievance.

"This method was conceived by my good friend. I already exchanged ten strings of cash for it. What does Father think?" Hu Yulin told him frankly.

Hearing this, Hu Yunde stroked his beard and pondered for a moment.

"Ten strings of cash is far too ordinary a sum." Hu Yunde was no petty man. Anyone capable of such ingenious thought could not be commonplace; ten strings instead gave the impression of cheating them.

Hu Yulin then relayed Rong Xi's words. Hu Yunde sighed deeply. "He sold it outright for ten strings and refused to tie himself to the Hu Clan's profits. To resist the lure of immense gain is truly admirable. Yulin, what is this man's name? Where does he live? I would like to make his acquaintance."

"Has Father heard that Minister Rong's son in the capital was sent away to the Rong family's ancestral home in Linxi over an unfounded accusation?"

Having been a merchant for many years, Hu Yunde was well informed about matters great and small throughout the Wei Kingdom. The Rong Clan of Linxi was already renowned in Mengshan County, and the matter of a Rong son being sent to Linxi had long become a favorite topic of gossip in the city.

But why had Hu Yulin suddenly brought this up? Could it be...?

"The person you speak of is actually the Rong Clan's son?" The instant the words left his mouth, he found them unbelievable.

Hu Yulin's narrow eyes curved slightly, and his smile was as sly as a fox's. It was truly rare for Father to show such shock. To witness it today, he truly had Eldest Brother to thank.

"Father, it is precisely the Rong Clan's Eldest Brother, Rong Xi."

Author's note:

The dishes mentioned in this text were mostly inspired by Yuan Mei's Suiyuan Recipes, or found on Baidu.

Chapter 5

Since his soul had arrived in Great Wei, Rong Xi had not washed his hair or bathed, as his body had yet to recover from illness and the autumn air was cool and cold.

Though autumn made sweating less likely, dirt could still be rubbed visibly from the skin. Rong Xi could not endure it and had Liu He bring out the bathing tub.

The tub was old, covered in dust and cobwebs. Only after it had been washed clean, sun-dried, and scalded with boiling water did Rong Xi carefully scrub himself clean.

The people of Wei disliked bathing, especially during autumn and winter. Since they sweated less, they became even less fond of washing. Setting aside officials and nobles, ordinary folk might bathe only once or twice over an entire winter, their bodies covered in grime and fleas lively in their hair, yet they did not care.

As far as he knew, the Liu Clan grandfather and grandson had not properly washed themselves for a month.

It was hard to go from extravagance to frugality. Rong Xi was unwilling to follow local custom in such matters. Since the Liu Clan grandfather and grandson were often by his side, he did not want those around him to be disheveled and filthy, so he ordered both of them to bathe thoroughly and change into new clothes.

Now that he held ten strings of cash, he had the means to improve their lives.

By the time he finished bathing, it was already time to extinguish the lamps. The room was pitch-black, with only faint moonlight glimmering beyond the window.

The Liu Clan grandfather and grandson shared a bed, and Liu He earnestly instructed him.

"The young master is kind-hearted. In the future, you must serve him with all your heart and never grow slack."

Liu He had guarded the ancestral residence for decades and witnessed many changes in the world and transformations of the human heart. He was loyal to his master's family. Though Rong Xi had been sent to Linxi over an accusation, Liu He had never neglected him, but neither had he been truly devoted.

Yet after living together for more than ten days, he realized that the young master was not arrogant or overbearing. He was kind, open-minded, and generous, with no trace of contempt for servants.

He was already old, with one foot in the grave. The one he worried about most was his own grandson. He had spent many sleepless nights, anxious and uncertain over his grandson's future. But now that the young master was compassionate and capable, if his grandson Zishi served at his side, he would surely live a secure life.

The young master was no creature meant to remain in a small pond. It would be good for his grandson to share in the aura of the Dragon Gate.

"Grandfather, rest easy. Your grandson will certainly serve the young master well."

Though young Liu Zishi was simple and honest, he could tell good from bad. The young master was remarkably capable, generous and easygoing, skilled in cooking, and had even given him new clothes. If the young master did not reject him, he would certainly devote his whole heart and strength to protecting him.

Rong Xi knew nothing of the grandfather and grandson's agreement. He only felt that the cold quilt was like iron. The hard, thin blanket lay over him without the slightest softness or warmth. Had he not aired it out during the day, it would likely have been even colder.

Great Wei had no cotton cultivation. In winter, people either used wool blankets or filled bedding with duck down and cashmere to ward off the cold, but such quilts were available only to wealthy households.

Ordinary people could only stuff willow floss, straw, or reed catkins into cloth covers and endure until winter passed.

In later generations, cotton was both fine and cheap, and people used it widely. Unfortunately, none existed here.

Rong Xi curled up for the night. Fortunately, his ample fat helped shield him from the cold, so he had not frozen into an ice stick. It was only autumn, yet the chill already cut to the bone. What would he do once winter arrived?

Ten strings of cash was not much, while down quilts were costly. Buying several would surely consume a great deal of money.

For now, the plan lay in opening new sources of income.

After the cool night had passed, Rong Xi rose in the morning. Before the first glimmer of dawn appeared, he was already jogging slowly in the courtyard.

The Liu Clan grandfather and grandson rose one after another. As instructed, Liu Zishi joined Rong Xi in the morning run. Liu He added firewood beneath the stove and boiled the water in the cauldron, so Rong Xi could bathe after finishing his morning exercise.

Though Rong Xi had slimmed down somewhat, he was still plump and round compared with ordinary people. After only one lap, he was panting like an ox, his heart pounding wildly.

"Young master, please go rest." Seeing his pale lips, Liu Zishi worried for him.

Rong Xi stood with his legs apart and bent over, bracing his hands on his knees as he gasped several times. Then he forced himself to finish another lap. His vision darkened afterward, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. With Zishi supporting him, he slowly walked half a lap before his strength finally returned.

By then, the hot water was ready, and Rong Xi entered the room to bathe.

Once he had dressed, he stepped beneath the corridor and saw Liu Zishi running joyfully in circles, sweat ready to drip from his forehead, yet without the slightest sign of fatigue. Rong Xi could not help but feel envious.