Teng County, the Zhang Family residence.
Zhang Shiping told his father, Zhang Xian, everything he had seen and heard at the Gu Family home.
Zhang Xian had a square, upright face and bright, piercing eyes. Holding his tea bowl, he listened closely to the entire account before asking, "What do you make of Gu Zhengchen?"
Zhang Shiping replied solemnly, "His schemes run deep, and his cunning is frightening."
Zhang Xian took a sip of tea and set down his bowl. "In so little time, he persuaded Liang Fengyang and Sun Bing to speak on his behalf, and even staged a trick of deceiving heaven to cross the sea outside the Sun Family gates. He certainly has ability-and a calculating mind."
Zhang Shiping looked worried. "That is precisely why I am unwilling to grow close to the Zhao Family. It would be unwise to make Gu Zhengchen harbor resentment against the Zhang Family over a woman."
Zhang Xian looked at Zhang Shiping, his face stern. "Are you backing down of your own accord because you fear stirring up trouble?"
"Father..."
Zhang Shiping wanted to explain.
Zhang Xian slapped the table and rose, rebuking him coldly. "You intend to enter the court as an official. There is nothing wrong with dealing tactfully with others, but you must never shrink from trouble. Today, you abandon the Zhao Family because Gu Zhengchen was once betrothed to Zhao Ya'er. When you face a high-ranking official in the future, will you abandon your colleagues and family to save yourself?"
"I..."
Zhang Shiping grew flustered.
Zhang Xian fixed him with a solemn gaze. "You must learn to shoulder responsibility."
Zhang Shiping steadied himself and bowed. "I will heed your teachings, Father."
Zhang Xian nodded slightly and summoned the steward, Zhang Guang. "Ask Granny Xu to inform the Zhao Family that we will choose an auspicious day for Shiping and Zhao Ya'er to sign their marriage contract, and hold the wedding in the seventh month."
Zhang Shiping lowered his head, his hands gripping the front of his robe.
The Liang Family residence.
Reeking of wine, his face flushed, Liang Fengyang entered the rear courtyard. Before his father could lose his temper, he handed over a bundle. "Father, this is the sole reason Landlord Sun is supporting the Gu Family."
Liang Heng examined the white sugar and listened to Liang Fengyang's explanation, his anger finally subsiding. When Liang Fengyang explained that Gu Zhengchen took only half a tenth as his share, and distributed it among the villagers, he could not help praising him. "He acts cautiously and repays kindness. It seems I did not misjudge him after all."
Liang Fengyang asked cautiously, "What do you think of the white sugar business, Father? If there is anything improper about it, I will send someone to inform Landlord Sun at once and leave it entirely to the Sun Family."
Liang Heng tasted a little white sugar, his aged face creasing into a smile. "Though commerce is not as loosely regulated under the new dynasty as it was under the Yuan, the emperor does not prohibit trade, and has even granted merchants many favorable accommodations. You have heard about the Temporary Warehouses built in Nanjing, haven't you?"
Liang Fengyang nodded slightly.
Jinling housed countless soldiers and civilians. Living quarters were cramped, and houses lined the streets as densely as fish scales and comb teeth. When itinerant traders and merchants from elsewhere arrived in Jinling, they could find no warehouses for their goods and had to leave them aboard their boats.
Upon hearing of this, the Hongwu Emperor ordered the Ministry of Works to build a group of houses along the waterfront outside Three Mountains Gate, specifically for merchants to store goods temporarily or lodge in. These buildings were called "Temporary Warehouses." Providing such conveniences was itself a measure to protect merchants and develop commerce.
In the First Year of Hongwu, the emperor had also issued an edict: "All commercial taxes shall take one part in thirty. Those who exceed this shall be punished for violating the decree."
Commercial taxes were very low.
Liang Heng looked at the snow-white sugar and cautioned him. "There is no harm in doing a little business. But remember: not a single tax owed may be shortchanged, and not a single required procedure may be skipped. The court's Code of Laws is strict. You must not violate it."
Liang Fengyang accepted the instruction. "Rest assured, Father. I will never act against the law."
Liang Heng tapped the armrest of his chair and hummed, "Who can see through-the gathering twilight haze? Who could have foreseen-the young commanding such respect..."
Dusk fell.
The curling cooking smoke dispersed, and households emerged from their doors.
Men in short tunics, sweat towels draped over their shoulders, gathered at the Declaration Pavilion alongside women leading children by the hand and waving palm-leaf fans.
The Declaration Pavilion, a pavilion for proclaiming moral instruction, was where the wards and neighborhoods of prefectures and counties read the laws, explained proper conduct, commended good and curbed evil, settled minor disputes, and assisted the administration of criminal justice. East of it stood the Merit Pavilion, where good people and their good deeds, as well as evil people and their evil deeds, were recorded to encourage virtue and warn against wrongdoing.
Dayan Village's Declaration Pavilion had been completed in the eleventh month of the fifth year of Hongwu, exactly half a year earlier.
Yan Sanjing was a village elder of Dayan Village, charged with providing moral instruction.
Minor disputes among villagers concerning households, marriages, farmland, or fights were usually discussed here and settled by the village head or an elder. They were rarely taken directly to the authorities.
"Elder Yan, what will you be teaching us today?"
Uncle Wang called out at the top of his voice.
Supporting himself with a cane in his left hand, Elder Yan stood before the Declaration Pavilion and raised his right hand with a chuckle. Once everyone had quieted, he said kindly, "Today is not a day for instruction. Besides, lessons are held in daylight. I gathered everyone at dusk today at Zhengchen's request."
"Zhengchen?"
Everyone was puzzled.
Gu Zhengchen stepped forward and looked at his familiar neighbors, his voice filled with emotion. "Uncles, aunts, and sisters-in-law, I remember every kindness you have shown the Gu Family. Uncle Yan gathered one string, one tenth of a string, and fifteen copper coins from all of you. I will repay it tenfold!"
"What?"
Everyone was stunned.
"Tenfold? How much is that?"
"More than ten strings, I reckon?"
"Heavens, I've never even seen ten strings of coins."
The villagers clamored.
Aunt Wang stood and called out, "Zhengchen, every family falls on hard times. It is only right for us to help one another. We would never dare ask for repayment."
Uncle Liu slapped a mosquito dead. "That's right. If we fall on hard times, the Gu Family can lend us a hand in turn. We don't want this money."
Aunt Liu reached out and gave Uncle Liu a vicious pinch. This was money! How could he turn it down?
"I want it!"
Auntie Li shot to her feet with a whoop.
Uncle Li covered his face. I can't go on living! How humiliating! Why can't this woman show a little restraint?
Everyone burst into laughter.
Gu Zhengchen laughed along, then raised a hand to quiet everyone. "The Book of Songs says, 'You gave me a quince; I repay you with precious jade. Not merely to repay you, but to cherish our friendship forever!' I feel the same. Anyone who refuses this money today is saying they do not wish to remain forever on good terms with the Gu Family. Isn't that right, Mother?"
Gu Shi came forward with a bundle and looked at everyone gratefully. "Every day we live is a day to repay your kindness. Please do not refuse. Elder Yan, please distribute this money."
Chuckling, Yan Sanjing took a sheet of paper from inside his robe, unfolded it, and called out, "Wang Daniu's household gave twenty-six copper coins and will receive two hundred and sixty!"
Wang Daniu stood up, scratching his head, and his wife pushed him forward.
Gu Zhengchen bowed deeply to Wang Daniu, while Gu Shi and Gu Qingqing bowed beside him.
Startled, Wang Daniu repeatedly protested that he could not accept such a gesture.
Under the court's ceremonial rules, a provincial examination graduate essentially belonged to the ranks of officials. Commoners bowed to such graduates, not the other way around.
But Gu Zhengchen insisted on bowing, to repay their kindness.
Elder Yan counted out the coins and handed them to Wang Daniu, who was deeply moved. Only last night, his wife had refused to let him sleep in their bed over those twenty-six coins. Just one day later, they had become two hundred and sixty!
"Wang Wuyue gave thirty-one copper coins and will receive three hundred and ten..."
Outside the Declaration Pavilion, torches illuminated the gathering, and laughter filled the little village.
There were only thirty-odd households, so the money was soon distributed. While the villagers were still basking in their delight, Gu Zhengchen cleared his throat. Once everyone quieted down, he asked, "Now, uncles, aunts, and sisters-in-law, do you want to get rich?"
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