Chapter 106: Fish and Dragons Mixed Together
The station master informed everyone that Red Candle Town had no night curfew, and there was a market in the western part of the town—small but complete, with all sorts of miscellaneous goods. Upon learning that Chen Ping'an and his group intended to purchase items needed for their study tour, Station Master Cheng Sheng volunteered to act as a guide, claiming it could save them a lot of trouble, at least preventing merchants from demanding exorbitant prices. Chen Ping'an glanced at A Liang, who had visited Red Candle Town once before. The man in the bamboo hat nodded, saying he was only familiar with the scenery along both sides of the river, not the market.
The station master looked at A Liang, and the two older men exchanged a knowing smile.
Nearly a hundred large and small painted boats were docked at Fu Shui Bay. Every night, they would leave the bay, follow the river into Red Candle Town, circle around, and return. During this time, men would constantly board those painted boats, buying both drink and pleasure.
In Red Candle Town, the boat women of Fu Shui Bay and other courtesans were all registered as part of Da Li’s lowly registry, but the former were always directly managed by the Music Bureau of the capital in terms of household registration. Even the county magistrate, as the local parent official, had no authority to change a painted boat woman’s status from lowly to respectable. Thus, rumors had long circulated in Red Candle Town that the ancestors of the five surnames in Fu Shui Bay were once members of the Divine Water Dynasty’s imperial family or meritorious nobles.
With the local station master Cheng Sheng leading the way, Chen Ping'an and his group headed toward the market in the western part of the town. The farther west they went, the noisier the streets became. Learning that traveling south by boat from Red Candle Town for over two hundred li would bring them to towns and stations along the way where they could resupply, Chen Ping'an abandoned some ideas and did not buy large quantities of rice, cured meat, and other food. However, at a medicine shop, he added various ointments and herbs to deal with minor ailments like colds, heatstroke, and falls. When it came time to spend money, Chen Ping'an realized it was similar to his hometown market: a whole silver ingot was a rarity. So he converted the two ingots of snowflake silver into Da Li’s common copper coins—Tianhua ingots. Since the silver in his hands was of the finest quality, the premium alone amounted to over two hundred coppers. This made Chen Ping'an very grateful to that girl Xiu Xiu from the blacksmith shop.
With Station Master Cheng Sheng by his side, everything went smoothly. In a county town, one should never underestimate a petty clerk, especially someone like Cheng Sheng, who dealt with wealthy gentry, big merchants, and traveling officials all year round. In the eyes of the townsfolk, he was a big shot with far-reaching connections. So, every shop Chen Ping'an entered, the owners would earnestly call him "Lord Cheng," nearly worshipping him like a bodhisattva.
Along the way, Li Huai was very timid, practically only daring to peek out from behind A Liang. A Liang teased him for being a coward who only acted tough at home. Li Huai was about to raise his voice and challenge A Liang to a three-hundred-round verbal battle, but when curious glances were cast their way, Li Huai immediately drooped his head and listlessly followed behind A Liang, which amused A Liang to no end. He would occasionally slap Li Huai on the head, and the boy dared not complain, feeling utterly miserable.
Lin Shouyi remained his usual aloof demeanor, as if nothing concerned him. The youth probably would have acted the same even if walking on the imperial avenue of the capital.
Li Baoping, on the other hand, carried her green bamboo box on her back, strutting like a crab, holding her head high and puffing out her chest, as if she wanted to grab any passerby and tell them that her small book box was made by her Little Master.
The market consisted of two north-south main streets. After strolling through Guan Mountain Street, Chen Ping'an and his group were about to cross an alley to head to the next street—Guan Water Street. But they passed a bookshop in the alley that seemed to have little business. The guide, Station Master Cheng Sheng, continued straight ahead, but Chen Ping'an stopped. He called out to the station master, then said to Li Baoping and the other two with a smile: "Each of you can buy one book. Price doesn't matter, as long as we can afford it."
The shop was very small, its entrance only about two zhang wide. Walking inside, there were two tall bookcases on either side. At the far end of the shop sat a young man in a black long gown, on a small bamboo chair, legs crossed, resting with his eyes closed. He held a folded fan, lightly tapping it against his palm while humming a tune.
The young shopkeeper had a handsome, somewhat effeminate face, without the taint of mercantilism like the other shop owners.
When the girl Zhu Lu first saw him, she was startled, probably not expecting to encounter such a refined and extraordinary figure in the bustling market of Red Candle Town.
That land god from Qi Dun Mountain, after breaking free from his bonds and regaining his deity status, had transformed from a short, white-clad old man into a graceful nobleman. But in the girl's mind, Wei Bo was still more associated with that slovenly, disreputable image. Yet this young master before her left a very vivid first impression.
Even Zhu He was full of suspicion. Could this person be a scion of a fallen noble house? He was not at all inferior to his own two young masters.
Without opening his eyes, the young man said lazily: "All books in the shop are non-negotiable. Whether you profit or lose on your purchase depends entirely on each customer's judgment."
Station Master Cheng Sheng whispered to Zhu He: "This shop is rather famous in our Red Candle Town. Most scholars passing through like to visit once. However, the shopkeeper is eccentric; his books are all priced far above market rate, and if anyone dares to haggle, he will throw them out on the spot. He is aloof and not versed in worldly affairs. Once, an official from the Ministry of Revenue traveling incognito stayed at my Pillow Post Station. That official took a fancy to what was billed as a rare edition, priced at three hundred taels of silver. He only offered fifty taels, and the shopkeeper drove him out without any courtesy. The official was so furious that even after returning to the station, he couldn't calm down and almost had the county office seal this little shop. Probably because he thought it would damage his reputation, the shop narrowly escaped disaster."
Zhu He understood in his heart. This was likely another pedantic scholar ignorant of worldly affairs—the type his second young master loved to mock, calling them people who talk philosophy with folded sleeves in times of peace and die for their lord when danger comes. His second young master used to laugh and say that in less than two hundred years, Da Li would be the same.
Thus, Zhu He had always held a poor opinion of scholars from beyond.
This post road passing through Red Candle Town was one of the three main routes from the southern border of Da Li to the capital. Small merchants and officials of modest means, when heading north to large cities including the capital, often chose this route. The other two roads, though wider, had every station along the way packed to the brim. Without sufficient official credentials or military passes, one couldn't even enter the gates, let alone lodge. Every year, many officials and wealthy gentry unfamiliar with these rules lost face because of this.
Scholars from the south traveling to the capital for the imperial examinations, lacking official status, often preferred this route. They usually traveled in small groups, looking out for each other, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way, and occasionally seeking out secluded spots and immortals.
As for officials exiled to the south, depressed and discontented, they enjoyed inscribing poems on the walls of post stations and inns, and they also favored this southbound road. Over time, the walls of the Pillow Post Station in Red Candle Town were covered with poems of travel and grievance by literati and sentimentalists.
Li Baoping tilted her head up to search for books, glancing here and there on a whim, occasionally pulling out a book and flipping through a few pages. If it didn't interest her, she put it back. Finally, the little girl found a travelogue about mountains and rivers, priced at three hundred coppers. She was a bit pained but really liked it, so she turned to look at her Little Master. Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded.
Lin Shouyi's gaze slowly swept across the bookcases, methodically from right to left, top to bottom. Every time he took a book to browse, he started from the title page. The youth finally settled on a feng shui book with no author listed, priced at four hundred coppers. Lin Shouyi looked at Chen Ping'an, who nodded again.
Once inside the shop, Li Huai, free from the noise of the street, immediately reverted to his mischievous nature, like a wild horse that had slipped its reins. He was the youngest and shortest, and he insisted on sitting on A Liang's shoulders to pick a book. A Liang agreed but declared that if Li Huai didn't pick one, he would abandon him on the street after leaving the shop. Reluctantly, Li Huai picked a brand new book from the highest shelf, priced at nine taels and two coppers. Seeing the price, Li Huai was so scared he tried to sneakily throw the book back, but in his fluster, he failed to shove it back onto the shelf, and it fell to the ground.
The young shopkeeper, who had been lightly tapping his fan, opened his eyes and looked at the fallen book. He said bluntly: "Once bought, it's final. One copy of the latest edition of 'Breaking Water at Da Ya,' nine taels and two coppers."
Li Huai didn't dare talk back to a stranger, so he could only put on a mournful face and look cautiously at Chen Ping'an. The latter asked: "Will you read it if you buy it?"
Li Huai nodded vigorously.
Chen Ping'an smiled and nodded: "Then buy it."
A Liang asked: "Chen Ping'an, aren't you buying one for yourself?"
Chen Ping'an, who was already reaching for his money, quickly shook his head: "I haven't even finished learning all the characters. Why would I buy a book?"
Zhu He turned to ask his daughter: "Is there a book you want?"
Zhu Lu had been standing at the shop entrance without moving. She glanced sideways at the bookcases and shook her head.
The young shopkeeper, who was about to collect the money, stood up. He had his hair tied with an ebony hairpin and held a white-boned folding fan. His gaze swept over the little girl in the red cotton jacket and the stern-faced youth, finally resting on the child who was timidly holding 'Breaking Water at Da Ya,' a playful smile on his lips.
A Liang grinned.
As they left the bookshop and headed toward Guan Water Street, Zhu He felt a twitch in his mind and turned back. He found the strikingly handsome young man leaning against the doorframe, watching them leave. When the young man saw Zhu He looking back, he smiled and nodded.
Zhu He turned around, frowning. After exiting the alley, he quickly walked over to the man in the bamboo hat: "Senior A Liang, is that bookshop owner suspicious?"
A Liang adjusted his hat and said something truly strange: "Compared to that guy, the real trouble is still ahead. But it has nothing to do with you."
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The current of Chong Dan River was the most turbulent, with many hidden rocks and dangerous shoals. There were strange sights famous both in court and among the people. In one stretch of the river, numerous large stone pillars jutted out of the water, known as "Spring Bamboo after Rain." Only a single small boat could navigate the gaps between the stone forest; large boats could not pass. Even boatmen raised by the river and familiar with the waters dared not easily take their boats downstream, unless hired by literati who came for the scenery and paid hefty sums. Hence, the saying "paper boat, iron pole man" emerged. Every year, boatmen and outsiders lost their lives on this stone forest stretch of the Chong Dan River.
But tonight, under the twilight on the Chong Dan River, there were many visitors.
The surging river water pounded against the protruding stone pillars. A bare-chested man sat on top of one pillar, casually tossing an empty wine jug into the river. Beside him, three unopened wine jugs remained.
In the distance, a red light grew closer. An old man with a hunched back was carrying a large red lantern, using the stone pillars as steps across the water, skimming lightly and leaping forward.
Suddenly, a mighty figure descended from the sky, landing on top of a stone pillar. The solid rock beneath his feet couldn't bear the weight and instantly turned to powder. He stood there in the midst of the river.
In the water, a woman of average appearance was walking upstream, as if strolling in a courtyard. Above her head, three feet up, floated a snow-white pearl the size of a fist, shining brightly, illuminating the riverbed as if it were daytime.
The woman yawned lazily and said: "I've walked over a hundred li of waterway and haven't found a single treasure. Who told me there was something interesting under the Chong Dan River?"
The drinking man sitting on the stone pillar glanced at the water's bottom and said calmly: "The adult is already in Red Candle Town."
The old man shook the bright red lantern and laughed hoarsely: "The adult himself has come? Then what do the four of us need to do? Sit on a bench and watch the show?"
The man took a sip of wine and said solemnly: "Let's hope so."
(End of chapter)