Chapter 103: Just in Time
Qin Wenyuan was currently a detainee, originally locked up in the main prison.
Previously, because of Wu Changlu’s intervention, Magistrate Sun had softened his stance and imposed a lighter sentence.
During his time in Fangzhou, Qin was only allowed family visits and was afforded slightly better provisions than ordinary prisoners.
But now things were different. Wu Changlu had struck it rich and suddenly rose to the high rank of Deputy Commissioner of the Southern Mountains Circuit. While Magistrate Sun might have his shortcomings, within his own jurisdiction, he still had to show some deference and ease up.
Therefore, Qin Wenyuan no longer had to stay in the main prison; he was confined instead in the rear courtyard of the government office. One of the government attendants’ dorm rooms was cleared for him to live in overnight.
The attendants knew that Master Qin was now connected to the powerful Deputy Commissioner, so as long as he stayed within the courtyard, he had considerable freedom.
His meals were the same as the attendants’, and sometimes an extra portion was specially prepared and sent to him.
Visiting hours were relaxed and convenient too.
Master Qin’s life was quite comfortable. On a bitterly cold day, he sat indoors by a charcoal brazier, surrounded by a group of attendants.
What was he doing?
Brewing tea.
Tea had existed for a long time but was not popular until the Tang dynasty, when it gradually spread among nobility and scholars.
Common folk knew of tea but few could truly afford it.
Now, as Qin Wenyuan prepared tea, the group of unworldly attendants naturally gathered around to see how these wealthy gentlemen brewed their tea.
“Tsk tsk tsk...” The talkative attendants began to chatter even before Qin finished.
“They say this tea is a luxury us commoners can’t afford. Putting aside whether the tea cakes are expensive or not, just this whole set of equipment must have cost a small fortune, right?”
On the small table before Qin lay a full array: bamboo tea baskets, ceramic stoves, intricately carved copper kettles, gauze-covered tea strainers, tea knives, mortars, scoops, grinders, bowls, containers...
There were over twenty items, each exquisitely crafted and costly.
“What are all these for? It’s just a bowl of tea—why make it so complicated?”
Qin smiled faintly as he brewed, explaining, “Brothers, you must understand that among the seven treasures of the literati—zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea—tea holds a special place.”
“You see, once tea associates with the refined tastes of scholars and nobility, it’s no longer simple.”
“I’m just a humble man trying to imitate, fiddling about. Watch as I brew, and you’ll see.”
The attendants nodded in unison, knowing well that those refined literati were the masters of indulgence.
Rubbing their hands, they said, “Then today, we’ll borrow Master Qin’s skills and taste this tea luxury ourselves.”
“Don’t rush,” Qin replied, adding scallions, minced ginger, salt, and cardamom to the tea broth.
“Ah, by the way!”
The young attendants, restless, couldn’t help chatting while watching.
“What’s Master Qin’s relationship with Deputy Commissioner Wu exactly?”
Qin paused, thinking to himself that there really was no special connection.
Even now, he didn’t know how that Wu Jiulang had persuaded Wu Changlu to stand up for him, and he himself couldn’t understand why he was shown such a favor.
But he couldn’t tell the truth before the attendants.
With a calm smile, he replied evasively, “Deputy Commissioner Wu is warm-hearted and took pity on this old man, helping out out of chivalry. It’s nothing serious.”
He added, “We mustn’t cause any gossip or trouble for the Deputy Commissioner.”
“Pretending!” The more Qin said, the less they believed.
Still, they accepted that Qin wouldn’t want to stir up trouble for Wu Changlu, who was no ordinary man now. Given Wu’s deep entanglements with merchants, he was often criticized.
So the attendants didn’t press further but quietly concluded that Qin’s ties with Wu were special.
One by one, they looked at Qin with envy. “Master Qin’s really lucky this time. He’s climbed up the great tree of Deputy Commissioner Wu!”
“Deputy Commissioner?” Another attendant scoffed, “Can just a Deputy Commissioner settle things?”
“Let me tell you, Wu Changlu’s good fortune is still ahead. Deputy Commissioner is only the beginning!”
“Oh?”
Not only Qin was startled, but all the attendants voiced their doubts.
They knew how high an official rank the Deputy Commissioner of the Southern Mountains Circuit was. Could Wu still want more?
“Tell us, what’s going on?”
One attendant said, “Recently, I heard our Magistrate advising his son to quickly befriend Wu Changlu’s nephew, Wu Ning. Apparently... Princess Taiping is living comfortably down at Xiashan Hollow and doesn’t even return to the city for the New Year!”
“Ah!” They all gasped.
“So that means Wu Changlu has definitely allied himself with Princess Taiping?”
“Of course. If Princess Taiping is pleased when she returns to the capital, she might even recommend to the Empress Dowager to assign Wu Changlu to serve at the palace guards. That’s not impossible.”
...
Silence fell.
They all instinctively looked at Qin.
“Master Qin, you’ve really made it big now!”
Qin was also unexpectedly nervous. How had Wu Changlu risen so quickly?
“Well... it depends on fortune,” he said.
“What fortune?!” Someone started to suggest.
“Master Qin, don’t you have a beautiful daughter at home? Wu Changlu’s son might be out of reach, but his nephew Wu Ning could be worth trying.”
“No!” Qin hastily stopped them.
Connections were one thing. Climbing onto Wu’s big tree was good, but he would never sell his daughter. Besides, he was wary of that Wu Ning.
He shook his head. “I’ve met Wu Ning a few times. Sharp-tongued and cunning... he’s no good match.”
The others agreed.
“That Wu Jiulang’s no pushover either. Last time he came to the government office, before Wu Changlu had risen, that guy just with a few words made the Magistrate’s son look downcast and humiliated.”
“Exactly,” Qin added, “he’s a man of great affairs. How could a small family like mine hope to match him?”
“But wait,” an attendant frowned, “I heard that Master Qin’s daughter and Wu Jiulang are meant to be a pair...”
“What?” Qin was shocked. “Where did you hear that?”
“I heard it from Wei Dalang of the City Guard!” the attendant said honestly.
“That Wu Jiulang cares a lot about your family affairs. While you’ve been detained, he not only helped catch a greedy accountant but also, when the Qin family was short of an accountant, he lowered himself to work at your cloth shop.”
“He’s been there almost a month now. Master Qin, you didn’t know?”
“No... I didn’t know!”
Qin was dumbfounded. A few days ago, Miaoniang had visited him in prison but hadn’t mentioned Wu Jiulang working as their accountant.
“Is this true?”
...
The attendants no longer believed Qin knew nothing. They thought the old man was not being honest. They had only been trying to help him with advice, but it seemed he had already made moves.
Qin was speechless. “I really didn’t know!”
He silently vowed that the next time Miaoniang came to visit, he would scold her thoroughly and then dismiss that sly Wu Jiulang.
...
“Drink your tea! Drink your tea!”
The attendants didn’t know what Qin was thinking, only assuming he was a man who concealed his true nature. It was none of their business.
Seeing the tea was ready, not wanting to embarrass Qin, they invited everyone to drink.
Indeed, on a freezing day, holding a bowl of hot tea and imagining how the literati savored their tea, these rough government attendants surprisingly found genuine enjoyment.
Just then, an attendant on duty rushed in.
“Master Qin, your daughter has come to see you!”
Hearing this, Qin immediately set down the tea utensils.
“Just in time!”
...
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Feeling unwell from something eaten; the next chapter will not come too soon. Don’t wait up, get some rest early!