Book 1: Chapter 17
<strong>White Clouds Meeting & Parting Words Make A Fortune</strong>
<em>Idlers Note: A bonus release! Trying to see how much work is entailed in doing as many releases as possible if I go on a trantion binge We shall see if I can maintain this pace for the week. I might need to drop back down to the original schedule I set for myself afterwards since I will likely need to go back to focusing my attention on my frencing to make up for all the time I spent doing just trantions. I do wish I could just trante without worrying about other stuff since it is a lot funner for me. Sigh The working travails of a frencer ?</em><hr>
Song Jing-gong was a swindler. He had always thought of himself as the most impressive and simply didnt think on other matters, not even knowing to frequentlymunicate and exchange ideas with his peers. So he really could be said to be at a self-involved standstill.<sup>[1]</sup>
Zhang Xiaobao had seized advantage of this psychology of his to endlessly swindle money. Every time was a little bit and he even utilized the gatekeeper.
The morning after returning, the more Song Jing-gong thought about it, the madder he got. For the sake of taking revenge earlier, he brought along the money to rush back here the same night. The one he encountered was still that gatekeeper and with the experience from this morning, this time without waiting to speak, he had already handed over a piece of silver.
It weighed around half a tael</a>, more than double what Mister Zheng had given in the morning. Sure enough, the gatekeeper greeted him with smiles, taking the money and almost flying, ran inside. Not long after, he came back, revealing a helpless expression.
He said: Mister Song, the steward is currently checking the ounts. He probably has no way of meeting with Mister today. Perhapsing early in the day tomorrow would be better.
Then, is the Mistress of your house present? Song Jing-gong had spent half a silver tael</a>. His heart was hurting, ~ne. That much money, ~ah, was just given to the gatekeeper.
Seeing that there was no way to speak to the steward at this time, he presented a new request.
Who knew that upon hearing these words, the gatekeeper who had been dealing him with a smiling face just now, his expression darkened immediately as he coldly said: The Mistress of my house has no need for Misters concern. Please leave, Mister.
Song Jing-gong froze as he suddenly realized that there were two kids to feed. At this time, she must have been breastfeeding the kids, ~ne. His asking after her like this was really too discourteous. His face embarrassed, he didnt dare converse too much as he forced a smile and turned around to slowly take his leave.
After walking tens of steps, he discovered that he was currently walking towards that family that he had requested lodging with yesterday. Thinking of that familys meals, he switched directions, moving towards the Wang Manor there. Who knew that though he had found a household whose appearances looked clean but after speaking of his intent, they had actually wanted 10 wen [cash</a>] in lodging money and the food expenses were likewise doubled.
Thinking that this familys food should be a bit better, he gritted his teeth and epted it. After all, ining here to Zhang Manor to swindle, it wasnt good to go to Ge Manor. Who knew that dinner upon its delivery was actually a dish of chicken eggs and stir-fried garlic chives? And it didnt evenpare to those chicken eggs with stir-fried garlic chives, ~ne. At least that dish had more chicken eggs.
Lying down on that bed whose boards were nearly gnawed hollow, underneath the thinyer of matting was a carpet of thatch straw<sup>[2]</sup> that pierced him ufortably. Just this was bad enough but within the room, there were actually even mosquitoes flying about.
For yesterday nights sleep, that familys people had even lit a piece of rope woven from Chinese mugwort<sup>[3]</sup> to use as mosquito repellent, ~ne. Today had nothing whatsoever; this room was even adjacent to the back of that courtyard.
Through the broken half of the window shutter with the illumination of the moonlight, things that were loudly pping their wings could be seen as they wandered around inside. Song Jing-gong didnt even dare take off his clothes. Using the nket that had an odor he couldnt identify to cover his face with, he waspletely unable to fall asleep.
Outside the window, the crickets sounds were never-ending. In the past, listening to them was another type of vor; today, it was even more of a kind of vor.
Thete night dew was heavy as the vegetables and the fruit trees nted within the courtyard endlessly sent damp air into the room. Song Jing-gong felt that his hands and feet were icy cold. Tossing and turning, he curled his body up into a ball but still had no way of stopping this type of chilliness.
Old Father,<sup>[4]</sup> Old Father, open the door. Lets discuss something.
Song Jing-gong who was finally unable to endure this kind of torture rose to arrive in front of a room next door, gently knocking on the door and speaking up only after hearing a querying response from within.
Whatwhy arent you sleeping when its thiste? Opening the door was a 50-something year old person who yawned as he discontentedly asked.
Old Father, that room of mine is really too cold. I wonder if there is a thin quilt that can be lent for my use? Song Jing-gong didnt expect that a peasant could actually dare to speak in such a way to him and sighed destely in his heart while speaking in a conciliatory manner.
What bedding is there? Its all been put away. Where would I go with you in the middle of the night to find it? Put up with it for a night. What were you thinking earlier before? The old father rejected him.
There really isnt?
Its not like there isntthere is a new bed quilt thats been given to my grandson to use for wedding a wife. It was put in a conspicuous spot; spent an entire 1 silver tael</a> to have people make it. The old father spoke while sighing over the master-familys formidabilitythey had calcted even this.
Ill buy it. A silver tael</a>Ill buy it. Song Jing-gongs eyes were all red. What quilt was 1 silver tael</a>? Could it be satin?
Its still a bothersome effort to go get it. The old father griped while not moving.
Ill add another 10 wen [cash</a>]. Song Jing-gong raised the fee.
Wait here. The old father humphed once and closed the door, probably going inside to find the quilt.
Only after an entire quarter-hour<sup>[5]</sup> did he saunter out and stuff a bundled up item into Song Jing-gongs arms before turning around to close the door and put up the crossbar.
Song Jing-gong hugged the quilt, feeling a bit warmer. Returning to his own room, he spread the quilt toy on top of his body but he still couldnt sleep so he could only look around in all four directions using the moonlight.
As he looked around, he saw the quilt. The more he looked, the more that he felt like something was a bit wrong. He didnt know if it was the moonlight that was originally such a pure white or if it was an issue with the quilts color. When he peered closely at it to see, it was made out of coarse thread. With this one set, 30 wen [cash</a>] would be considered too much; the most expensive couldnt be more than 50 wen [cash</a>] but he had actually spent 1 silver tael</a>.
This was bad enough but seeing that those dyed areas had obviously been starched and washed till they had lost their color and were splotched off-whitethis was called a new quilt?
Song Jing-gong was this mad, ~ah. After thinking on it, he simply didnt sleep and directly stood up to walk in front of the window as he pushed open the other window shutter to look at the night view with the quilt draped over him.<hr>
Several days passed like this. Song Jing-gong had spent quite a bit of money. Excluding what he had given to Zhang Xiaobao, it was enough to be 10 silver taels</a> added up all together, including lodgings, food and drink, as well as gifts yet he had only met Steward Zhang once. He did speak of the matter but had only said that it was a partnership for a profitable business.
But Steward Zhang said he wasnt able to make the decision and needed to report to his Mistress for her to know.
Who knew that this wait would be another several days? If he hadnt spent so much money, hed have already gone backwhod freely loiter here? But the money had been spent yet the business hadnt beenpleted. He wasnt satisfied, ~ah. Today, he finally decided to go to Ge Manor to stay and not spend that wrongful money.<hr>
Xiaobao, weve arrived here for 20 days? On one end of a seesaw under the shade of a tree was Wang Juan, who asked this as she vigorously pressed down to get Zhang Xiaobao on that side raised up.
Zhang Xiaobao shifted his center of gravity to have Wang Juan lift him up as he answered: No, just 19 days. After another 10 or so days, the chicks shoulde out. The earthworms havent grown up yet so put them in the bathrooms of the peasant houses. Oh, theyre called outhouses.<sup>[6]</sup> If they eat maggots, it doesnt matter if theyre buried but Im afraid that theyll fall into the cesspool and die from drowningtheyll need to be fed a bit of food grain.
The sauce, ~ne. Its almost done?
Still early, ~ne. Still needs 20 some days to be done. Zhang Xiaobao estimated the days that Erniu stated.
Are you sure therell be people to buy it? Its no more than a bit of spiciness with meat inside. Wang Juan also energetically moved back to lift Zhang Xiaobao back up again as they used this to exercise the strength of their legs and hips, ying while they were training.
Definitely not a problem. Wait until the saucees out, well include the methods for dishes made using the sauce to be sent together to those inns and restaurants as well as shops. If they sell well, then theylle buy the sauce. Lets rest. Its been 2 hours. My legs have been rubbed raw.
In a while, lets have Xiaohong go to the back kitchen and tell them to make some kelp and bone soupwasnt some kelp bought 2 days ago? Supplement the diet a bit; just drinking milk wont do either, ~ah.
Zhang Xiaobao got down from this end of the seesaw to walk outside where there was sunlight to bask in the sun.
Wang Juan also followed by going there. On that side, Xiaohong hurried over to the kitchen to order people to make stuff, rushed back to take out a small couch to ce it in the center of the courtyard, and raised an umbre. She herself took cover underneath the shade as she watched over the two little ancestors while pondering her own concerns.
Usually, when she had free time, she would make clothes for herself and for Xiaoqi. This time, whatever else said, she didnt dare to. If she let people catch her holding needle and thread while caring for the children, then nobody could help her at all.
Xiaobao, dont keep lying down. See how much money we have. Wang Juan flipped over, resting her chin on the couch as she asked.
There isnt too much money; umted a bit of stuff, though. Lets wait. Waiting till the fall harvest will be good.
What do you want to do for the fall harvest? Keep feeling like youre up to no good. Up to this moment, Wang Juan still didnt know what calctions Zhang Xiaobao was making.<sup>[7]</sup>
How to say, ~ne. If you say up to no good is fine, saying its working with good intentions<sup>[8]</sup> would also doit just depends on which angle you approach this from.
Like? Wang Juan prompted.
Like trade merchants making money, is that good or bad, ~ne? If they want profit, they can only buy low to sell high. Zhang Xiaobao pensively said.
When Wang Juan, who had been lying there, heard these words, she sat up in a sh as she stared at Zhang Xiaobao and said: You want to buy food grains? You want to hoard to corner the market?<sup>[9]</sup>
Dont be silly. How much money can I haveand to hoard, too? Im thinking of buying up food grains locally. Today was a rich harvest here so food grain is cheap; next year, transport it somewhere else to sell and make a great sum. Zhang Xiaobao finally spoke his objective out loud.
What ce?
First, cant say it. If its spoken of with another person, then a secret is no longer secret. Zhang Xiaobao refused once again.
I wont ask at all from now on. You think on that Swindler Song and how hell need to be swindled.
Im not a divine sage and not even a monster, either. Lets wait. Have Steward Zhang get in contact tomorrow; if the soldierse, the general will deal with it.<sup>[10]</sup><hr>
The next day, Song Jing-gong came to the courthouse here as expected. Coming once every day, it had already be a habit. He originally assumed that he wouldnt have any results today but who knew that the gatekeeper would take the money he gave to go inside for the notification and that Steward Zhang himself had actuallye out in wee.
He-he, Mister Song ining here must have waited for a long time? Quickly, follow me inside. Steward Zhang enthusiastically led Song Jing-gong into the parlor room, making Song Jing-gong feel a bit unustomed.
When the two people had sat down, the servants delivered the tea water that had finished brewing. After drinking a few sips, Steward Zhang opened his mouth to say: For Mister Song toe here for this many days, it must certainly be an important matter? Today, Mistress is out on business and will require several days to return. All of the affairs within the manor have all been handed to this Zhang to manage. If Mister Song has something to say, please do.
Upon hearing these words from Steward Zhang, Song Jing-gong was tempted within his heart and tentatively asked: Decisions on financial matters can also be made?
Of course. My family has been the Steward of the Zhang family for generations; the paltry matter of allocating funds is naturally not impossible. Steward Zhang replied with a bit of loftiness.
Oh, if this is as you said, then Steward Zhang is greatly esteemed in this Zhang Manor. Congrattions, Steward Zhang. Song Jing-gong ttered.
Well said, well said. Mister Song might as well speak of the matter that youvee for. Steward Zhang squinted his eyes, appearing to have enjoyed being praised.
Thats well. This Song will speak here, then. I have a store in that Sanshui County<sup>[11]</sup> that specializes in antiques and art.<sup>[12]</sup> Song Jing-gong softly said.
Oh? Could it be to have me go buy some calligraphy and paintings? Steward Zhang asked.
Not so, it is to discuss another important matterthe matter of making a fortune. Song Jing-gong finally spoke out loud words that he considered to be full of temptation.<hr><ol><li>
Gu bu zi feng () is a 4-character couplet that literally trantes to solid step self seal and is used to describe someone who doesnt improve and has closed themselves off from the world. A roughly equivalent English expression would be resting on ones</a> where a person decides to rely on their existing reputation or fame but doesnt bother improving further, running the risk of their rivals or enemies overtaking them in the future.</li><li>
I have literally tranted the name for mao cao (</a>), whose scientific name is Imperata cylindrica</a>. Because it is a grass native to wide swathes of the world including Asia, Africa, and Oceania, it has several other names associated with it. However, in Chinese, its name is mostly derived from its function, which is its use in thatching</a> the roofs of buildings. It can also be used medicinally and in other handicrafts.</li><li>
Ai hao (</a>) is a nt most well known for its use in traditional Chinese medicine</a>. It can also be referred to as ai cao/ (ai grass) or aiye/ (ai leaf) but its scientific name is Artemisia argyi</a>. It has many effects proscribed to it with many applications in different areas.</li><li>
Ive trantedo zhang (</a>) as old father because it is a respectful way to address an older man and zhang/ alsoes up as part of the formal term of address for a father-inw, yue zhang (</a>).</li><li>
Time in ancient China could be divided decimally</a> with the traditional time units</a> for divisions of the day being shichen/</a> (2 hours), fen/ (minute), miao/ or hao/ (second). The exact amount of the time unit of ke</a>/ varied wildly over history but since it had been roughly around 15 minutes before finally being modernized to equal exactly 15 minutes, I have opted to trante ke/ as a quarter-hour.</li><li>
Mao fang () are the ancient Chinese equivalents oftrines or outhouses as they were pits dug into the ground with thatched straw roofs. Obviously, they were an outdoor building separated from the residential areas. Needless to say, theyre a rare sight in China nowadays.</li><li>
The text used here is da de she me suan pan (</a>), which literally means hitting what suanpan</a>/abacus</a>. Complex math calctions were done using the suanpan</a> () in ancient China, the Chinese abacus</a>. Because the character for n or scheme (ji/) also has heavy connotations with making calctions, the act of using an abacus (da suan pan/</a>) would be a natural metaphor for the Chinese to use in describing someone scheming or making ns for their own benefit.</li><li>
There is a bit of wordy here as Xiaobao springboards off of Juan-Juans choice of phrasing to use two 4-character couplets that both contain hao xin (), which means good heart. Ive tranted mei an hao xin () as up to no good while hao xin ban shi () has been tranted as working with good intentions. Hopefully, this bit of wordy is apparent in the English trantion.</li><li>
Tun ji ju qi (</a>) is a Chinese idiom that describes stocking up on goods in vast quantities while the price is low with the intent of waiting for or creating a future situation where its price will skyrocket due to rarity in order to sell it for an exponential amount of profit. Because China historically has had a lot of gues and famines that caused food shortages and a corresponding rise in prices, this expression is politically sensitive in connotation since most often or not, Chinese merchants would profit greatly from the misery of the popce using the unstable food supply as a basis for their fortune. Hence, the bad reputation merchants kept getting in ancient China.</li><li>
This is actually the first half of a 8 character long sentence in Chinese: Bingi jiang dang, shuii tu yan (</a>), which illustrates adapting ones reaction ording to the needs of the moment or the current threat. Tranted, this idiom means: if soldierse, the general will block it; if the waterse, the earth will cover it. However, like with these phrases, the first 4-character couplet (Bingi jiang dang/) is quoted more frequently and tends to act as a mnemonic device for the entire quote. A roughly equivalent English expression would be, What wille wille and we will meet it when it does, which can be simrly abbreviated into What wille wille.</li><li>
Because Ive decided to use pinyin for the names of locations in order to match up with the names of real-life historical ces when they are mentioned, will be transcribed as Sanshui County from now on. Sanshui/ simply means Three Waters.</li><li>The phrase used here is gu wan zi hua (), which trantes to antiques, calligraphy and paintings. Since zihua/ was usually considered collectible art, that is the reason for my trantion choice here. </li></ol>