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But going out had attracted flies, and flies they could not afford to offend at that. Those eyes were on other people's faces; the two of them could hardly tell people to shut them. All they could do was keep him out of sight, which was why they had locked Ninglang at home.

That day, they closed the stall again at a quarter to eleven, and Zhou Jinian helped carry the tables and chairs back into the courtyard. A crowd of little youngsters who lived in the alley gathered around to help carry bowls and buckets, all to get close to the scholar who had topped the examination.

Lin Jin liked children and brought out a plate of roasted peanuts to share among them. They got along very well with their neighbors.

After locking the courtyard gate, Xie Ning went into the main room and sat down. He told his family, "Father, Dad, let's open a shop!"

Zhou Sanfeng chuckled. "Don't rush, Ninglang. We'll certainly open a shop, but we'll open it in the prefectural city."

"Let's open one in town first, partly for the income, and partly to give the townspeople something to look forward to." Xie Ning pursed his lips and continued a little sheepishly, "Everyone in town is hoping their children will get smarter from drinking our fish head soup. Once we move to the prefectural city, leaving a shop here would give the common people some peace of mind."

Zhou Jinian had once said that his young husband need only ask for whatever he wanted to do. He was a man of few words, but he kept his promises. "Let's open a shop. I'll write some encouraging poems on the walls."

"And who will have time to mind this shop once it's open?" Third Zhou was still reluctant. He felt it would simply burn through their silver.

With the head of the household opposed, Xie Ning did not dare speak again. He bit his lip and rubbed his hands against his legs.

Zhou Jinian took his hand and squeezed it, then said to his father, "We can hire someone. Father, I want to open this shop."

Zhou Sanfeng still frowned. His son was good in every way, except that he spoiled his husband far too much!

Lin Jin rubbed his wrist and said to Xie Ning, "Give them something to look forward to? You really are kindhearted, Ninglang, to have thought that far. Then let's open it, as our thanks to the townspeople for patronizing our stall over the past six months."

Fortunately, Zhou Sanfeng was not overbearing or unreasonable. With most of the family in favor, he could only nod his consent.

"Then I'll find time to talk to Fourth Brother and see whether he's willing to come live in town. We can hire him to look after the shop. Having family there would put our minds at ease."

It was getting late, and they had more or less finished their discussion. With little to entertain themselves, they simply returned to their own rooms to rest.

Colorful birds and trees were embroidered on the red-lacquered wooden screen in the room. Through it, the two occupants could just be made out on the bed inside, one lying on his stomach and the other sitting.

Xie Ning lay on his stomach, his cheek squashed against a square pillow, pushing up the flesh of his face. The family had a little money saved, and he had always loved his food. His husband spoiled him, too, making sure he never went a day without fish or shrimp, until his face had grown a little rounder.

His husband, Zhou Jinian, was sitting beside the bed massaging his lower back. So comfortable that he was drifting off, Xie Ning instructed him, "Jinian, carry me to the bathtub."

After attending to him, Zhou Jinian leaned over him and teased him, refusing to let him sleep. "I indulge you like this, and you won't show me even a little appreciation?"

His husband's hands set his body alight, and Xie Ning pressed close of his own accord...

The next day, while the husbands went to the property office to look at shops, an invitation from Plum Blossom Manor arrived in the hands of Third Zhou and his spouse, who were tending the stall.

Neither of them could read. They only heard the messenger say, "Master Zhu values talent and has invited the town's scholars to a banquet at the manor. The master specifically instructed us to present this basket of eggs to the examination's top scorer."

"This..." Zhou Sanfeng hesitated to accept it, his head still rather muddled.

The messenger was in a hurry and said hastily, "Master Zhou, just give this invitation to your son. He'll understand."

After setting down the eggs and invitation, the messengers left. They seemed to be heading out of town, presumably hurrying to deliver invitations to other villages.

"Oh my, Master Zhou, you've made it! That manor has grand red gates and a great courtyard. Even the door knockers are made of gold!" An old woman holding her grandson nearby smiled, her face creasing with wrinkles.

Zhou Sanfeng was quite embarrassed. "What sort of master am I? I'm just an ordinary commoner. Please don't call me that. I don't deserve it, I really don't."

Under the current dynasty, only wealthy households installed red gates. Someone like the owner of Plum Blossom Manor, with its grand red gates, great courtyard, and hundred mu of fertile fields, was a true master! A farmer like him would not dare accept the title.

Zhou Sanfeng called Lin Jin over to put the invitation and eggs away carefully. They would discuss it when their son returned.

25

Inside the Fragrance House, the scent of cosmetics assailed the nose. Those accustomed to it could not get enough.

Several wooden beams spanned the building, with countless long, colored ribbons tied to them. The ribbons drifted down, as thin as gauze, making the girls inside look hazy and lovely.

The madam of the Fragrance House was named Yuxiang and known as Xiangniang. At the sight of the enormous figure entering, Xiangniang's heart tightened. Young Master Zhu had been coming often lately, but he was getting harder and harder to please, tormenting the girls and gers under her until they complained endlessly.

"Young Master Zhu, what an honored guest! Come, upstairs, please." Xiangniang approached with swaying steps to welcome him herself.

"Girls..." Xiangniang called in a coy voice.

Zhu Dachang frowned. His attendant immediately caught on, shoved Xiangniang roughly, and barked, "What girls?"

Xiangniang knew how to read expressions, too, and immediately corrected herself. "Oh my, I'm so sorry. Just look at my memory! Please come to a private room, young master. I'll bring every ger in the house to you right away."

Choosing a shop went exceptionally smoothly. The townspeople all wanted a connection with the examination's top scorer, so the rents they quoted were very fair. If Zhou Jinian went on to pass the provincial examination, he would become a master juren within the official system. The authorities would give him a stipend, and some wealthy merchants would even give him silver and houses in return for his protection.

They settled on a shop across the street from Upper North Alley, with a monthly rent of three taels of silver. It was right beside the market. The shop itself was not large, but it came with a kitchen courtyard at the back, making the property a fair size overall.

The tables, stools, bowls, and chopsticks were all ready. Once the place was cleaned and Zhou Jinian had inscribed poems on the walls, they could open for business.

But Zhou Jinian had no time to spare that day. He rose early and, once Xie Yao and Zhou Liufeng arrived, set off with them for the banquet at Plum Blossom Manor.

Zhou Jinian knew his own standing very well. At present, he was merely a lowly xiucai. Even as the examination's top scorer, a mighty dragon could not overpower a local snake. He would just have a meal; at most, he could give an unremarkable performance at the banquet.

Master Zhu's actions were easy to understand. He had lost his power, but he had money. The imperial court, too, changed its members generation after generation. He was simply winning over scholars like them, giving them some grain and a little help. If one of them made his name known throughout the land in a single stroke and entered the court, he might remember Zhu's past kindness, allowing Zhu to successfully pave a path for his descendants.