The boat from Zhi-yun Port cast off its moorings as soon as the hour of the hare arrived.
The vessel rocked gently as it slowly pulled away from the ferry landing.
Mist shrouded the river, white fog streaming across the surface and swallowing the villages along the banks and the distant mountain shadows. The cargo boat broke through the veil of mist and continued steadily onward.
The sky was still a blue-gray, carrying the lingering traces of the night. Reflected on the river, it made the water seem all the deeper and darker.
Shen Guanting was woken by the rocking of the boat.
He rose from bed, threw on an outer robe, and pushed open the cabin window. A rush of river wind swept inside, cool with moisture, dispersing the stale warmth that had lingered in the cabin all night. He narrowed his eyes and gazed outside.
The mist was slowly lifting, and the scenery along the banks was gradually coming into focus. After the Spring Equinox, the days grew light earlier and earlier. The boat was passing a village. From shore came the barking of dogs and the creak of doors opening, while wisps of cooking smoke curled up from the rooftops. A child ran out of one of the houses and squatted by the doorway, playing with something Shen Guanting could not make out.
Watching that small figure, Shen Guanting suddenly thought that Lin Jing ought to have arrived home by now.
He watched for a moment, then drew his gaze away.
Breakfast aboard the boat was noodle soup.
When the servant brought it in, steam billowed from the bowl. Shen Guanting lowered his eyes to look. A few slices of fragrant mushroom and spring bamboo shoot floated in the clear broth, which smelled quite fresh.
He ate slowly, but finished the whole bowl.
When Shen Qi came in and saw that the bowl on the table was empty, he could not help smiling. “It’s always better right after we set out. Young Master gets up early and has a good appetite.”
Shen Guanting set down his chopsticks. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying I usually have a poor appetite and make things difficult for you?”
Shen Qi immediately cried out in protest. “I’m being wronged! I only mean that Young Master has such a hard life. You’d just spent a few peaceful days in Huzhou, and now you have to hurry off to the capital again.”
Shen Guanting leaned back slightly in his chair. “What’s wrong with the capital? All the talented scholars and ambitious men in the realm are eager to go there, yet here you are, turning your nose up at it.”
Shen Qi said, “Wouldn’t it be better to live peacefully in Huzhou? What would I want with that capital? I’m not taking the examinations or becoming an official.”
Shen Guanting shot him a glance. “What a hardship for you. Fine. Once we reach the capital, I’ll ask around and see which government office needs someone to run errands. I’ll find you a minor post so you won’t have to suffer by my side.”
Shen Qi waved both hands hurriedly. “Young Master, you make it sound so terrible. Of course I’m wholeheartedly devoted to following you. No official position could compare to the security of working under Young Master.”
As he spoke, he took two steps forward and leaned closer. “Young Master, how long will it be before we can return this time?”
“The boat has only been away from Huzhou for less than two days, and you’re already thinking about the trip home?” Shen Guanting turned the teacup between his fingers. “We’ll return once the matters concerning the trading caravan are settled. What are you in such a hurry for?”
Shen Qi looked doubtful. “Really? Is it that simple? Then why are you making this trip?”
He naturally knew that someone had been watching the Shen family in Huzhou these past few days. But they had done nothing dishonorable, and no one would be able to find fault with them. Who could have guessed that Young Master would simply announce that he was leaving?
Ever since completing his capping ceremony, Young Master had seemed somewhat different from before. He was becoming harder and harder to read.
“We’ll return when the time is right.” Shen Guanting turned his head, his gaze settling on the river outside. His voice remained flat.
Who would willingly go to a place like the capital? He knew no one there and was unfamiliar with everything. But Lin Wu and the others could not go looking into matters themselves, while he could. He wanted to see what was happening for himself. Hiding in Huzhou and waiting was not a long-term solution. As for the person in the palace… The realm was vast. It was not as though everything everywhere was under his control.
At that thought, Shen Guanting gave a soft snort and glanced down at the empty bowl of noodles.
Eating noodle soup on one’s birthday symbolized a wish for longevity.
There were still many years ahead of him.
It was simply a pity that he would miss their first birthday celebration in Huzhou.
He wondered what Lin Wu would make for the occasion. The thought made him feel even more displeased. Shopkeeper Qian, Commandant Zhao, and those people in the palace had stirred up so much trouble that Huzhou could no longer find peace. Now that he had left Huzhou, he certainly could not let things in the capital go too smoothly for them either.
At the Lin residence, Lin Wu had risen early to make noodle soup. Lin Jing had brought back some spring bamboo shoots from the academy the day before, and she had added a few shrimp as well. Fresh and tender without being heavy, it was the perfect breakfast.
Lin Jing sat at the table with his bowl cupped in both hands, eating with great care. He knew that eating noodle soup on one’s birthday was meant to pray for a long life, so he felt that not a single strand could be broken. Whenever he picked one up, he lifted it gently and slurped it into his mouth, sucking so hard that his cheeks grew tired, yet refusing to bite it in half.
The sight was so comical that Lin Wu could not help laughing. “A Jing is still so young, yet already thinking about living a long life?”
Lin Jing finished slurping one strand and answered with solemn seriousness, “Of course I want to live a long time! Then I can earn lots and lots of money and eat lots and lots of delicious food!”
He took another sip of soup, then turned to look at Laifu, who was crouched beside his feet. “I want to celebrate Laifu’s birthday too, so it can live a long time and stay with us forever.”
After thinking for a moment, he fished a strand of noodle from his bowl and carefully placed it in Laifu’s little dish.
Laifu sniffed it, then swept out its tongue. The noodle vanished in an instant. Its movements were neat and efficient, far more impressive than Lin Jing’s slurping.
After breakfast, Lin Wu began making a steamed cake. She planned to make a large one so that everyone who came could have a piece. It was their first birthday in Huzhou, after all, and the occasion deserved a proper celebration.
Lin Jing took a handful of scallion bulbs and went to the small scallion patch. The weather was lovely that day. A light breeze stirred the air, the sky was a clear blue, and the sunlight was warm. Squatting beside the vegetable garden, he used a small trowel to dig a row of shallow holes, then pressed the bulbs into them one by one and carefully covered them with soil. When he was finished, he fetched half a bucket of water and watered each one with great care.
Laifu followed at his heels, sniffing the soil one moment and pawing at it the next, doing quite a bit to make things harder rather than easier.
The sun climbed higher in the sky when someone suddenly began pounding on the courtyard gate.
“Jing! Sis! We’re here!”
Tigerhead’s voice carried from far away. Lin Jing had not even had time to stand when the gate was pushed open. Tigerhead charged in first, with Sparrow following behind him.
“Happy birthday!”
Tigerhead dashed into the house as if he owned the place, set a cloth bag on the table, and began pulling things out. He took one gift for Lin Wu, then another for Lin Jing.
Lin Wu accepted hers and saw a small brass abacus. It was exquisitely made, its beads sliding smoothly, and it had a satisfying weight in her hand. Lin Jing’s gift was a little porcelain horse, brightly glazed and adorably round-faced.
“Thank you, Tigerhead,” Lin Wu said with a smile.
Lin Jing also held the little horse up and examined it from every angle, thanking him as well. In truth, he had known about it for days. Tigerhead could never keep a secret. He had bought the gift with his own birthday money and had been unbearably proud of it, talking about it in Lin Jing’s ear for several days already.
Tigerhead puffed out his little chest and announced proudly, “The abacus is for Sis to use in the shop. From now on, the business will grow bigger and bigger, and you’ll earn more and more money!”
“Jing wanted a horse, but I can’t afford a real one yet, so this will have to do for now. When I have money in the future, I’ll buy him a real little horse—one as mighty as my Mountain Lord!”
As he spoke, he couldn’t help adding, with righteous indignation, “I bought this at Jizhen Pavilion. It only cost ten wen!”
Sparrow couldn’t hold back any longer and reached out to smack him on the head. “Who tells someone the price when giving them a gift?”
Tigerhead merely grinned, covering his head. “It was such a bargain. Of course I had to say!”
Sparrow shook her head and handed over the two small brocade boxes in her hands. They looked just like Tigerhead’s and seemed oddly familiar—clearly, they too were products of Jizhen Pavilion.
For Lin Wu, she had chosen a small cloisonné sachet, exquisite and delicate, with an intricate pattern. For Lin Jing, she had prepared a set of books, their pages fresh and carrying the scent of ink.
They had barely finished expressing their thanks when Tigerhead pulled Lin Jing over to sit on the threshold and began passing on his “Jizhen Pavilion shopping tips.”
“Jing, let me tell you,” he said, lowering his voice and leaning close to Lin Jing’s ear. “My brother isn’t in Huzhou these days, so there’s no one there to keep tabs on everything. The proprietor at Jizhen Pavilion is really easy to deal with! You’re my brother’s junior fellow disciple, so you can go buy things there in the future too. Maybe you won’t even have to pay ten wen!”
Lin Jing’s little brows immediately drew together, and he hurriedly shook his head. “That won’t do. Don’t buy the agarwood bookmarks—they’re what we’re selling. They cost two strings of cash each. If you buy them for ten wen, we’ll lose money!”
Tigerhead patted him on the shoulder. “Naturally. I know the bookmarks are your business. I wouldn’t buy them cheaply!”
Listening from the side, Lin Wu finally understood why Tigerhead had said that Shen Guanting was losing money in his business. It turned out he was losing it all because of Tigerhead.
Sparrow and Tigerhead were quick on their feet. By the time Little Zheng caught up from behind, the two had already handed over their gifts and had been chattering around Lin Jing for quite a while.
“Shopkeeper Lin, happy birthday.” Little Zheng smiled as he presented two brocade boxes, one large and one small. “Young Master Shen prepared these gifts in advance. Since he had to leave in such haste, he wasn’t able to deliver them himself. Please forgive him.”
Lin Wu was taken aback and quickly accepted the boxes. “Thank you for your trouble, and please thank Young Master Shen as well for remembering me.”
Tigerhead and Sparrow immediately crowded around, their pairs of eyes fixed on the boxes, brimming with curiosity. Neither of them had known that their brother had left gifts behind.
“Open them!” Tigerhead’s little face was practically pressed against Lin Jing’s box.
It was clear at a glance that Lin Jing’s box was something special. It was especially large.
Sparrow immediately grew displeased. “Brother isn’t being fair! Why is Jing’s box so big, while mine is so small?”
Lin Jing had already opened the box.
Inside was a small bow. It was not the sort of toy-like soft bow they had seen before. Though much smaller, this was a true bow rendered in miniature. The curve of the limbs was smooth and graceful, the string taut, and the bow light and comfortable in his hand, with just the right amount of draw weight.
Tigerhead’s eyes lit up at once. He came over to run his fingers along the bow’s limbs and tug at the string, looking utterly envious.
The two boys could hardly wait. Gripping the little bow, they ran out into the courtyard.
Lin Jing drew a small arrow. Its tip was blunt, but it had been made with great care, the fletching neat and even. After practicing with Shen Guanting for several days, he had already learned a respectable stance. He turned sideways, nocked the arrow, drew the bow, and took aim. His little face was taut with concentration, his gaze focused.
Whoosh—
The arrow flew and struck the courtyard wall dead center, giving a muffled thud.
“Wow!” Tigerhead cried out.
Lin Jing himself froze for a moment. He lowered his eyes to look at the bow in his hands, then lifted his head to stare at the arrow in the wall. Slowly, his eyes began to shine, and he could no longer suppress the upward curve of his lips.
He raised the bow high. “The bow is amazing, and I’m amazing too!”
Sparrow’s sharp eyes spotted another sheet of paper beneath the bottom of the box. “There’s writing too!”
Lin Jing pulled it out. Several lines had been written on the paper in a firm, elegant hand. He couldn’t recognize all the characters, so Sparrow took it from him and read aloud:
“Training in martial arts must not be neglected for even a single day. When I return, I will inspect your progress.”
The moment Tigerhead heard this, he took two steps back. “He’s already gone, and he’s still trying to scare people!”
Their brother’s gifts really were dangerous to receive!
Lin Jing carefully folded the paper and put it back into the box together with the bow.
Lin Wu opened her own small box as well.
Inside was a small money pouch. Its workmanship was exquisite, with a moon-white satin surface and fine, closely stitched seams. At a glance, it was clearly no ordinary item. A jade ring was attached to the pouch. It was bluish white, smooth and plain, without patterns or carvings, polished only until it gleamed with a gentle luster. It looked thoroughly unassuming.
Compared with Lin Jing’s finely crafted little bow, the pouch seemed much simpler.
Sparrow leaned over for a look, then glanced at Lin Jing’s large box and pouted. “Brother is playing favorites!”
Lin Wu cradled the pouch in her palm. The jade ring felt warm and smooth against her skin, its bluish-white color clear as water and glowing softly in the sunlight. After examining it for a moment, she noticed another sheet of paper beneath the box.
She pulled it out. Only a few words were written on it:
“A money pouch. Wishing Shopkeeper Lin prosperity and wealth.”
The handwriting was clean and decisive, as though the words had been written casually. The message itself was brief as well. Unlike the note given to Lin Jing, which contained reminders and a promise to inspect his progress, this one seemed more like a simple explanation. There was nothing else.
On the river, the boat moved slowly forward.
The sun hung high overhead, scattering a sheet of shattered gold across the water, bright enough to make the eyes ache. Shen Guanting stood by the side of the boat, gazing at the glittering waves in the distance.
The river breeze swept past, stirring the hem of his robe. At his waist, the jade ring knocked lightly against his sash, producing the faintest sound.
