Chapter Three: The Zhu Family Mission

The rice shop.

The doors were wide open, yet no customers came to patronize it. Even with the support of the neighbors, the official verdict that the shop's salt had poisoned people had spread like wildfire. Soon, the taint of the scandal meant that even the shop's grain could not be sold.

The widow and her son spent half the day waiting, but not a single sale was made. Mistress Zhu was busy auditing the accounts. Upon inspection, she realized that many of the recorded figures did not match the private ledger she had kept. There was a significant shortfall in the funds, which immediately lessened the guilt she felt over Zhu Hao’s accusations against Manager Sun.

At noon, four men arrived at the door. Leading them was Mother Xia, whom Mistress Zhu had sent to recruit help. Following her was an elderly man with graying hair. Zhu Hao recalled that this was Uncle Zhong; he was only forty-two this year, yet he looked no different from an old man of sixty, a testament to the crushing pressure of his life. Behind him were two young men: one, named Yu San, was lean and sharp-featured, while the other was sturdy and honest-looking, someone Zhu Hao did not recognize.

"Mistress, you called for us?" Uncle Zhong asked, bowing in greeting.

"Yes." Mistress Zhu put away the ledger, had Auntie Li close the door panels, and hung up the "Closed" sign. Only then did she say, "Let’s go to the back courtyard to talk. I’m hiring you for manual labor today; we will settle the wages at the end of each day."

...

The group walked through the corridor connecting the shop to the residence and entered the spacious back courtyard. Mother Xia followed them in. In this era, rumors were easily sparked around a widow’s home, especially for a woman known for her chastity. If she were to invite men into her inner courtyard without cause, it would invite gossip, so the presence of the elderly Mother Xia was necessary as a witness. As a matchmaker and intermediary, Mother Xia also served as a witness and, being a neighbor, had a fairly good relationship with Mistress Zhu.

"This is the blueprint. We want to renovate the back courtyard according to it," Zhu Hao said, producing a rough sketch he had drawn with charcoal.

It was merely a draft, outlining the elevations and the specific processes, which he would need to supervise personally. Uncle Zhong did not examine it closely; he merely glanced at it before looking at Mistress Zhu with a bewildered expression. "Mistress Zhu, I have heard of what happened previously, and I am deeply sorry. It is the Zhu family... that has failed you. But you shouldn't destroy a perfectly good courtyard. I fear this will... be detrimental to your reputation."

Mistress Zhu was taken aback. With her high moral character, she did not immediately understand why Uncle Zhong would say such a thing.

Zhu Hao spoke up, "Uncle Zhong, you misunderstand. We aren't destroying the courtyard, but renovating it for the purpose of drying salt."

"Drying salt?" Uncle Zhong looked perplexed.

Mistress Zhu sighed, "To procure the salt, the shop invested over two hundred taels of silver in one go, incurring a massive debt. Now that the salt has been dumped into the ponds, we must find a way to refine it. Little Hao tells me that salt can be extracted through exposure to the hot sun."

Uncle Zhong looked relieved, though he remained puzzled. "The shop’s business was so good; it should have been earning a decent profit. Why would you need to borrow money for inventory?"

Mistress Zhu did not want to elaborate, but Mother Xia, standing to the side, looked indignant. "Isn't it because the main family siphoned it all away? In truth, the Zhu daughter-in-law has been living a very hard life..."

Uncle Zhong nodded in understanding, then pointed behind him. "This is my newly taken apprentice. His father died early, and he grew up with his mother. His name is He Qiang..."

The sturdy, simple-looking young man stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Mistress. My name is Gouzi; the name He Qiang was given to me by my master."

The boy looked a bit slow-witted, but his eyes held a sense of innocence. He was only sixteen or seventeen, a year or two younger than Yu San.

Mistress Zhu said, "The old rules: twenty coins for a day's work, plus ten extra coins for Uncle Zhong to oversee the project. We provide lunch, and you may take the leftovers home in the evening... Any problems with that?"

Uncle Zhong and Yu San were seasoned workers and had no objections. He Qiang grinned foolishly, "We can take the food home? I'd do it for free just for that!"

Zhu Hao reminded her, "Mother, ask Uncle Zhong to hire two more people. We need to hurry, or else... we won't make it in time."

...

Uncle Zhong had originally planned to finish all the work with just three men to stretch the job out and earn more wages. However, since Mistress Zhu insisted on rushing, he had to return to the wharf to fetch three more laborers, making a team of six. Zhu Hao had already surveyed the terrain and immediately instructed the men to start digging from the lowest point of the courtyard.

...

Once the arrangements were made, Zhu Hao finally breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to go out to properly explore the provincial city. The place he wanted to visit most was, naturally, the Xing Prince’s Mansion.

"If I can establish a connection with the young Zhu Houcong, I could become a close minister to the Emperor in the future. How many years of struggle would that save me? Becoming a marquis or a prime minister wouldn't be impossible! But serving a monarch is like sleeping with a tiger; one mistake and trouble ensues... Oh, right, there's also Lu Bing. Everyone around Zhu Houcong basically rose to power with him... but with my identity, getting to know Zhu Houcong is not easy..."

Outside the shop lay the main street running north to south through the provincial city. The road, wide enough for four carriages to pass side-by-side, was lined with shops, their signboards and banners fluttering in the wind.

"Fengsheng Firm, Dade Hall, Liubiju, Fumao Firm, Qingyu Hall, Taihe Manor, Yueshengzhai, Zhibaolin..." As Zhu Hao walked, he saw nothing but shops with auspicious names and tall, prominent signs.

These shops were grand structures of green brick and blue tile, with carved animal patterns on the eaves and intricately crafted window lattices. The materials used were exquisite, and the wooden front panels had all been removed, making the entrances appear exceptionally wide. Inside, all manner of goods were displayed, and clerks and managers bustled about—business seemed to be quite good everywhere.

"Compared to our own business, ours is... sigh..."

The more Zhu Hao strolled, the worse his mood became. He decided to turn back. Upon returning to the shop, he found Mistress Zhu and Auntie Li looking troubled, as if they had encountered more trouble.

"Mother, what happened?"

Mistress Zhu nodded. "While you were out, some creditors came to demand repayment. The debts aren't due yet, but they heard we destroyed the salt and are afraid we'll default, so they came early to press us."

Auntie Li said with a grimace, "They also said that if we don't pay by tomorrow, they’ll bring people to make a scene and cause trouble."

Zhu Hao smiled faintly. The debt collection was undoubtedly a scheme orchestrated by the Zhu family.

"Mother, listen to me. Go talk to the creditors properly. Tell them that we cannot pay them back for now, and if they want to make a scene, let them. If they bully a chaste widow bestowed by the imperial court, they will surely regret it."

Zhu Hao then explained his plan. Mistress Zhu’s eyes widened as she listened, and finally, she said, "Little Hao, we... we really do owe them money. It is only right to repay one's debts."

"It is only right to pay when the debt is due; paying early is an injustice... Tell them, don't think we don't know these debts were actually set up by the Zhu family. The Zhu family needs them now to stir up trouble, but once the shop belongs to the Zhu family, they will surely cast these people aside. If the Zhu family is so ruthless to their own kin, will they spare those who cause a scene at the home of a Zhu family widow? By then, hmph... I fear the benefits they gain won't even be enough to compensate for the damage to the Zhu family's reputation..."

Mistress Zhu and Auntie Li exchanged glances; it was clear that what Zhu Hao described was highly likely to happen. They just didn't understand how he had come up with such a diabolical scheme.

"Mother, we must now break the alliance between the creditors and the Zhu family. Go now, before the Zhu family blocks our path to reconciliation. If it doesn't work, we'll think of another plan."

...

Mistress Zhu followed his advice and immediately went out to negotiate with the creditors. These creditors were honest businessmen in the city and generally had a decent relationship with her. After hearing her analysis, they broke out in a cold sweat, one by one expressing their understanding and agreeing to wait until the debts were due.

The rice shop had escaped another crisis. When Zhu Wanjian heard the news, he was furious and went to complain to Mistress Zhu Jiashi, but he was blocked by Steward Liu.

"Move aside!" Zhu Wanjian barked in anger.

Steward Liu was firm: "The Old Mistress is currently meeting a special envoy from the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the capital. No one is allowed to enter."

"You!" Zhu Wanjian glared at him. This Steward Liu had been brought by Zhu Jiashi from her maiden home and belonged to her inner circle. He managed all the household accounts, and Zhu Wanjian loathed him.

"A good dog doesn't block the path!"

Zhu Wanjian shoved Steward Liu aside and barged in. In the main hall, Zhu Jiashi was meeting a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, dressed in a flying-fish robe and wearing an embroidered-spring blade at his waist. The man, surnamed Lin, was about thirty, tall, imposing, and full of vigor.

"...Old Mistress, I delivered this letter on behalf of Vice-Thousand-Man-Commander Zhu at the risk of losing my head. You should recognize the handwriting. Once you have read it, you must burn it immediately, leaving no trace, or it will be of no benefit to me or the Zhu family." Centurion Lin was extremely cautious.

Zhu Jiashi finished the letter and burned it in the candle flame on the altar table. "My son... is he doing well in the capital?"

"Not very well." Centurion Lin shook his head. "Vice-Commander Zhu was assigned by Eunuch Zhang Yong to guard the imperial tombs last year and suffered greatly. Only after sending a generous gift at the beginning of this year was he transferred back to the Northern Internal Security Bureau. However, he is still stuck with the grueling task of guarding the imperial prison. Fortunately, while he cannot return to his private residence, he at least has a roof over his head. The higher-ups say that the information the Zhu family has sent to the capital over the past two years is insufficient, making it hard for him to answer to his superiors, so... sigh!"

Zhu Jiashi looked sorrowful. "My Zhu family, under the orders of the late Emperor, has been stranded in Huguang for twenty years. But ever since the Xing Prince arrived in Anlu, he has been strictly law-abiding and never associates with court officials. How much intelligence could our family possibly send back to the capital?"

Centurion Lin understood the Zhu family’s situation and gave a bitter smile. "Eunuch Liang Fang of the Imperial Horse Bureau and others conspired with Consort Wan to depose the late Emperor and install the Xing Prince. The late Emperor remained bitter about this until his dying day. Now that His Majesty has been on the throne for some time, he has no heirs, and the Empress Dowager is very concerned about the affairs in Huguang; she has issued imperial edicts to inquire about it multiple times this year."

"The Empress Dowager?"

"Yes. His Majesty rarely asks about the Xing Prince, but the Empress Dowager knows the history well and often makes inquiries. My superior said that if you want to see Vice-Commander Zhu reach the light of day in the capital, you must start with the Xing Prince’s Mansion." Centurion Lin cupped his hands, "I have said all I can."

Zhu Jiashi stood up. "Very well. I shall send Centurion Lin back to the capital... The silver is already in the crates; you may have your men take them."

As she was about to leave, a sharp shout came from the doorway: "...Two junior officers dare to act wildly in my Zhu house? My father is a Thousand-Man-Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard! If you don't step aside, I'll show you what's coming to you!"

It was Zhu Wanjian, who had been blocked by the guards Centurion Lin brought and was now throwing a tantrum. The door to the main hall opened. Zhu Jiashi and Centurion Lin walked out together. Centurion Lin cupped his hands to Zhu Jiashi again and, without even saying goodbye, had his men carry the crates away.

"Drop those crates!" Zhu Wanjian shouted again.

Zhu Jiashi was incensed. "Unfilial son, what business is this of yours? If you don't step aside, I'll have the family law enforced!"

Zhu Wanjian had been pampered by the old lady his whole life and assumed that since his father was bedridden and his brother was in the capital, he was the head of the household. He had not expected his mother to berate him so mercilessly in front of outsiders.

After Centurion Lin and his men left, Zhu Wanjian and Zhu Jiashi entered the main hall, and he immediately demanded, "Mother, who was that? Why does he come two or three times a year, and why do you give him so much silver every time? Our Zhu family isn't running a charity!"

"This has nothing to do with you," Zhu Jiashi said coldly.

"Could it be that my brother is living a life of debauchery in the capital just like his spendthrift son? Our family's harvest is only a thousand or two thousand taels a year. That shop of the third brother's—we went to such lengths to reclaim it, would selling it even fetch a thousand taels? I didn't expect you to turn around and give it to my brother... Mother, can your heart be this biased?"

Zhu Wanjian was agitated, feeling that he worked hard to manage the family business only to be treated poorly.

Zhu Jiashi was furious. "Your brother has been stranded in the capital for all these years, suffering so much! As his younger brother, do you have no sympathy or compassion?"

"Rubbish! He is a Vice-Thousand-Man-Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, powerful and impressive in the capital. I'd love to be in his shoes! Suffering? Hmph, does someone who spends a thousand or two thousand taels a year suffer? If you're biased, then be biased, but don't make up excuses to brush me off... I'm leaving."

The mother and son parted on bad terms. Zhu Jiashi stood at the doorway, watching her son’s back disappear behind the corridor, her face dark and silent.