Lin Wu paused slightly as she gazed at the gates of Jincheng Trading House. It seemed they had a guest today.
Judging by the young man's fine clothes and the handsome horse he rode, he was clearly someone of wealth or status. He had probably come to see the proprietor of Jincheng Trading House, which had nothing to do with her.
She gathered herself and continued on her way.
As she drew closer to the main entrance, she suddenly felt the little hand in hers relax. Looking down, she saw Lin Jing quietly turn his face away and raise his sleeve to wipe at the corner of his eye.
Lin Wu crouched down in front of him, took his wrist, and pulled out a fine handkerchief. She carefully wiped his small face, her voice soft.
“Look, the journey has been so difficult, but we’ve made it through one step at a time. We’re both safe and well now, with no illness or misfortune. You want them to be safe and well, don’t you? I’m sure they feel the same way. All they hope for is that you stay healthy and grow up well. If you’re safe, steady, and doing well, that will be the greatest comfort to them.”
She folded the handkerchief away, then gently embraced him.
“So, whether they’re walking their path or we’re walking ours, the most important thing for now is that we each take good care of ourselves and keep moving forward.”
“Mm.” Lin Jing nodded hard, his voice muffled and thick with tears. His little hand clutched tightly at the corner of Lin Wu’s clothes.
The two of them arrived at the side entrance of the warehouse.
Lin Wu explained their purpose to the gatekeeper. Before long, Xiao Zhao came hurrying out to greet them.
“Sister Lin! What brings you here? Please, come in.” As he spoke, he stepped aside to let them through.
“Brother Zhao, I’m sorry to trouble you.” Lin Wu looked a little embarrassed. “I made some steamed buns today and thought I’d try selling them at the wharf. It would at least give me a way to earn a living.”
She lifted the cloth covering the bamboo basket, revealing the four buns remaining inside.
“I brought a few for you to try while I was passing by. First, I’d like to ask you to tell me what you think of the taste. Second, I’m new here and don’t know the area at all. I’ve been wandering around the wharf every day asking for information, but that clearly isn’t a long-term solution. I’m really at a loss, so I thought perhaps you might be able to tell me something about the areas around Lingzhou and the routes merchants commonly take. Do you happen to have some time?”
“Of course I do!” Xiao Zhao nodded repeatedly. He took the basket, and the fragrant smell of the buns rose at once. He grinned. “You’re too kind. They look delicious. I just finished arranging a shipment, and the proprietor is entertaining a guest inside, so I happen to be free. Come on, it’s quieter in there. We can sit down and talk.”
He led the two of them through the side entrance into the warehouse. Inside was a spacious, square courtyard paved with gray bricks, with tall storehouses lining either side. Several workers were pushing handcarts back and forth, moving crates and sacks. A simple awning had been set up in one corner, with several benches beneath it.
The three of them sat down under the awning.
Lin Wu glanced toward the study and said casually, “I heard you mention that the proprietor was entertaining a guest. As it happens, on my way here I saw a young gentleman heading toward Jincheng Trading House. He was riding a fine horse and looked very impressive. I imagine he must be the honored guest.”
Xiao Zhao nodded. “Indeed. The Shen family’s eldest young master has arrived. He’s speaking with the proprietor in the study at the front.”
“I see. Speaking of which, I still have to thank you and the manager for your help before. The Shen family is truly generous and considerate. When I went to their residence yesterday to lend a hand, they had arranged everything with the utmost thoroughness.”
“The Shen family has always been like that. You should have seen the porridge sheds outside the city—they kept them open for several days in a row. The porridge was thick, the steamed buns substantial, and they even hired a physician to treat people. It was a genuine act of charity, not some empty display.”
Lin Wu nodded and continued along the same line of thought. “At the wharf just now, I overheard several workers talking about them. Everyone says the Shen family is a wealthy and honorable merchant house from Huzhou. Quite a few workers are eagerly waiting to see when Weaving Cloud Trading House will set out, so they can join the caravan and find themselves a good job.”
“I’d say it’ll be within the next few days. Young Master Shen’s visit today is probably to discuss the return journey.”
Lin Wu smiled. “Then the workers at the wharf have something to look forward to. Huzhou isn’t close, is it? Traveling back and forth must be quite difficult.”
“It is far. By water alone, it takes more than a month.” Xiao Zhao waved a hand, his tone relaxed. “But Weaving Cloud Trading House has been running that route for years, so it’s not much trouble for them. They know it like the back of their hand.”
“Then I was worrying needlessly. A merchant house of that size must have every detail arranged properly.” Lin Wu sighed. “Still, there are always unexpected turns on the road. My elder brother and I have been out of contact for many years, and now that I’ve finally come all the way to Lingzhou to look for him, I don’t even know whether he’s still here. I’m afraid that… he may have gone somewhere else to make a living, or perhaps something happened to him along the way…”
Her voice gradually fell.
“Ah, Sister Lin, don’t fret!” Xiao Zhao hurried to reassure her. “That’s just how it is with people who travel for trade. They may be in Lingzhou one year and off in Huzhou the next. Perhaps your brother simply took work with some merchant caravan and has been traveling outside the region these past six months. In this line of work, it’s common enough not to hear from someone for two or three years.”
“You’re right.” Lin Wu’s expression eased slightly, and she followed his lead. “That’s why I thought I should at least learn about the areas around Lingzhou, so I’d have some direction in which to search. It’s embarrassing to admit, but before I came here with Jincheng Trading House, the farthest I’d ever traveled was the county town of Wucang. Now that I’ve arrived in Lingzhou, I’m completely unfamiliar with the place. All I can do is wander around the wharf, and that clearly isn’t going to work.”
“Then you’ve come to the right person!” Xiao Zhao thumped his chest. “I’ve traveled far and wide with merchant caravans for five or six years. I know a fair bit about the surrounding prefectures and counties. If your brother’s movements are as unpredictable as you say, he probably isn’t the sort who works in a shop in the city. He’s more likely someone like me, traveling with merchant caravans to escort goods and run errands. People like us are always moving from place to place, so finding one of us can certainly take some effort.”
As he spoke, he casually poured a little water from the ceramic pot beside him. Dipping his finger into it, he began sketching a map on the stone table.
“Look, Lingzhou is here. To the south, the first major road is the official highway to Lanzhou. It takes three days by fast horse, or about five or six days for a merchant caravan. If we head south by land, that’s the route we have to take. To the north is…”
Lin Wu listened attentively, her gaze following Xiao Zhao’s finger as it moved across the crude route map. Lin Jing was absorbed as well. Before he knew it, he had risen to his feet, his small hands gripping the edge of the stone table as he stared with wide, round eyes.
The three of them sat with their heads close together, looking for all the world as though they were secretly discussing something of great importance.
At that moment, Shen Guanting and Fang Qian emerged from the study. As they passed through the wall gate, they could see the workers moving goods back and forth across the courtyard. Amid all that bustle, the figures gathered beneath the awning, speaking in low voices, stood out rather conspicuously.
Shen Guanting slowed his steps, his gaze drifting toward the awning. "Oh? It looks as if someone is giving a lecture over there. Are the fellows at Jin Cheng Trading so dedicated that they even spend their break time studying the tricks of the trade?"
Fang Qian followed his line of sight and could not help but chuckle. "They are just the shop fellows chatting casually during their rest. How come when it comes out of your mouth, it sounds as if they are slacking off on purpose? Since when did Young Master Shen become so strict?"
"You misunderstand me, Uncle Fang," Shen Guanting said in a calm tone. "I just think their conversation seems more focused on serious matters than ours, and I truly admire how eager your shop's fellows are to improve themselves."
Fang Qian squinted to get a clear look for a moment, then shook his head. "Not all of them are our shop's people. That woman over there looks like Cook Lin, who came to our residence to prepare the banquet yesterday. She must have come to find Xiao Zhao to ask him something."
"Oh?" Shen Guanting's brows lifted almost imperceptibly, and he paused his steps. "Since she is not one of your people, yet they are chatting so enthusiastically, could it be that they are discussing some big business deal that none of us know about?"
Fang Qian laughed. "Then we really ought to go take a look. If there is such a big deal going on, as the owner of the business, I should at least know a thing or two about it."
Shen Guanting's eyes fell on the backs of an adult and a child. He had strictly followed his grandfather's instructions and never bothered that mother and child. This time, they had come right to him on their own.
The two of them strolled slowly toward the awning.
Over at the awning, the speaker was still talking with great devotion, and the listener was paying full attention.
Xiao Zhao was pointing toward the southeast. "If you take the water route, you can board a ship at Lingzhou Wharf, sail down the Cang River, and it will take you about ten days to reach Chunzhou. That place is famous for its silk and tea, and Zhi Yun Trading sends people there two or three times every year. If you keep going further southeast, the farthest place you can get to is naturally Huzhou, the home base of Zhi Yun Trading..."
"Hmm," a clear, melodious voice rang out from the side, picking up the sentence unhurriedly. "The home base of Zhi Yun Trading. Hearing that, it sounds as if you are planning to go and take over our Zhi Yun Trading's lair."
The voice was clearly gentle and laced with a smile, but it made Xiao Zhao, who had been talking excitedly, freeze all over. He jerked his head up and saw the two people who had appeared outside the awning at some point. He quickly stood up and bowed respectfully. "Owner, Young Master Shen."
Lin Wu also stood up, gently pulling Lin Jing to shelter him at her side, then turned to look. She saw two men standing outside the awning. The older one had a kind face and a calm, steady bearing. The younger one was exactly the man in the sturdy outfit she had come across on the road earlier.
Now that she was close to him, she could see that he was tall, and his indigo outfit made his figure look even more slender. The shadow he cast against the autumn sun outlined his sharp, distinct features, with a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing at his lips. Though his brows and eyes looked gentle, refined and strikingly handsome, when his gaze fell on her, the quiet depth in his eyes made people feel an inexplicable sense of distance.
Lin Wu lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze, and curtsied a little awkwardly. "Greetings, Owner, Young Master Shen."
Shen Guanting nodded slightly, his eyes falling on the patch of still-damp water stains on the stone table. His tone sounded peaceful and casual. "From a distance just now, it sounded as if someone was giving a lecture. Mrs. Lin, you are so interested in Zhi Yun Trading's home base..."
His voice rose gently, and his gaze settled back on her. "Are you planning to go to Huzhou?"
Before she could respond, the faint smile on his lips seemed to deepen a little, and his voice remained gentle. "I grew up in Huzhou since I was a child. I wouldn't say I know every inch of it, but I am pretty familiar with the place. If there is anything you want to ask about it, I might be able to give you some answers."
"Thank you for your concern, Young Master Shen," Lin Wu said softly, sounding a little nervous as she kept her head slightly bowed. "Just now, I was asking Brother Zhao about the geography of the prefectures and counties nearby, hoping to find some trace of my elder brother. We happened to be talking about Huzhou, and I wasn't prying into anything on purpose."
Xiao Zhao, standing beside her, quickly added. "That's right. Sister Lin just came to ask for directions, to find out where her brother might have gone."
Fang Qian said warmly. "So that's how it is. Mrs. Lin, your eagerness to find your family is truly admirable. What Xiao Zhao told you just now is mostly correct. But Lingzhou is a hub where roads extend in all directions, and there are far too many trade routes for merchants coming from the north and heading to the south. If you try to find someone only by those few commonly used main routes, it will still be like looking for a needle in a haystack."
"I know that," Lin Wu replied in a low voice. "I never dared to expect to find him right away. I just want to have a clear direction, so I won't be running around like a headless chicken."
Shen Guanting sized up the young woman in front of him quietly. She was wearing a set of slightly worn coarse cloth clothes, looking cautious and awkward. Her skin was a little tanned, and her hands were rough from years of manual labor. She kept her head slightly lowered, looking completely unremarkable at first glance, no different from any ordinary rural woman. But on closer look, her features were well-proportioned and neat, her eyes were clear, and her face did not have the coarse, weathered look left by years of harsh sun and wind.
Most notably, even though she seemed timid, her behavior was awkward, and she did not even dare to look him in the eye, she responded quickly, spoke logically, and behaved with perfect propriety. His simple-minded younger brother had studied the classics for several years, often spouting out disjointed lines of poetry that won him praise from his tutor as "quite a promising student", but when he talked, he would always ramble, get off the point, and never hit the mark.
He found this rather amusing in his heart, but his expression remained calm and unruffled, his tone revealing no emotion. "Mrs. Lin, you just said that you asked Brother Zhao about the local geography. Have you got any leads?"
Lin Wu was slightly stunned, then replied. "Brother Zhao is very warm-hearted. He has already told me roughly about the areas around Lingzhou. I have benefited a great deal."
The answer was respectful and thorough, yet so watertight that it revealed nothing. Shen Guanting fell silent for a moment and stopped pressing her questions. His gaze then turned to the child who had been hiding quietly by Lin Wu's side.
The child was also wearing coarse clothes, looking timid and shrinking back, but on closer look, his body was sturdy and well-proportioned, his complexion ruddy, just like a little sapling that had taken strong root in fertile soil. His own younger brother, when he was not talking or fidgeting as a child, looked exactly like this, but his brother had grown up in silk and satin, with all the finest food and clothes.
At this moment, Fang Qian's gentle laugh broke the brief silence. "Guanting, stop your inquisitive habit. You look as if you are interrogating her."
He then turned to Lin Wu, his attitude kind and generous. "It seems that my goods store today has turned into a post station for giving directions. Mrs. Lin, if you want to ask about anything else later, as long as it is convenient, you can just ask Xiao Zhao to pass a message to us. Jin Cheng Trading deals with merchants coming from all over the place, so our information is more up to date than that of ordinary people."
"Thank you so much for your kindness, Owner," Lin Wu quickly curtsied to express her gratitude.
Shen Guanting seemed to ponder for a moment before he spoke again. His expression and tone remained as calm as ever, impossible to read. "Mrs. Lin, if you find out where you need to go, and it happens to be along the same route as Zhi Yun Trading, you may as well travel with us for a while. If you help out with cooking meals on the road, that can cover your board and transportation fees."
Lin Wu was slightly taken aback, before she could answer, Fang Qian next to him shook his head and laughed. "I was wondering why you have been so enthusiastic today. So you are just thinking about having an extra cook on the trip. You are beating around the bush, trying to hire a temporary kitchen maid, aren't you?"
"Uncle Fang, that's not what this is," Shen Guanting chuckled faintly. "Zhi Yun Trading pays proper wages, and we certainly won't treat Mrs. Lin worse than Jin Cheng Trading. If Mrs. Lin is willing to come work for us, we will not let her suffer any losses."
Fang Qian couldn't help but chuckle. "Listen to that, you make it sound as if Jin Cheng Trading House treats its people poorly on a regular basis."
Lin Wu quickly spoke up. "We have received so much generous support from Jin Cheng Trading House since we arrived in Lingzhou, and we have nothing but gratitude in our hearts."
She then turned to Shen Guanting. "Thank you, Young Master Shen, for your care. I will remember this kindness always. But I haven't found any clear information about my elder brother's whereabouts yet, so I dare not make hasty decisions about my next journey. If we are truly fated to travel together someday, I will put my whole heart into helping, and will never slack off."
After hearing her words, Shen Guanting's gaze lingered on her lowered eyes for a moment before he said, "It's all right, Mrs. Lin. Take all the time you need to make inquiries. Once you have a decision, just send a word through Jin Cheng Trading House."
With that, he turned to Fang Qian, his expression returning to normal. "Uncle Fang, since all the proper business has been wrapped up, I won't bother you any longer. There are still some trivial matters at Zhi Yun Trading House for me to sort out."
The words sounded perfectly casual, but no one could tell for sure whether the "proper business" he referred to was the conversation he had with Fang Qian in the study earlier, or this casual chat under the awning.
"Of course, I'll see you out."
The two of them then gave Lin Wu and Xiao Zhao a slight nod, and walked side by side towards the manor's entrance.
It was not until those two figures vanished outside the door that Lin Wu let out a soft breath, and her shoulders, which had been unconsciously tensed up, finally relaxed a little.
"Sister Lin! This is wonderful news!" Xiao Zhao was elated for her. "It would be absolutely perfect if you end up traveling the same route as Zhi Yun Trading House later. The manager was right after all. With a skill under your belt, you can get by anywhere."
"I hope so too. It would be best if our paths align," Lin Wu responded, but her heart was not nearly as relieved. Things had gone so smoothly that it felt almost abrupt, leaving her with a faint sense of unease. There was an indescribable incongruity to the whole situation, as if a trap had been set up long ago just waiting for her to step into it.
"But Zhi Yun Trading House is going to depart very soon. I don't know if we can find any clues about your elder brother in the next few days. In my opinion, you might as well settle down in Lingzhou first, look for him slowly, and wait for him to come find you on his own. If he knows you are in Lingzhou, he will come to you eventually. Otherwise, if you leave with the caravan, he will arrive here to find no trace of you, and the two of you will miss each other again, won't you?" Xiao Zhao said with a hint of worry, as he thoughtfully planned things out for her.
"What you said makes perfect sense. I was being thoughtless," Lin Wu's heart tightened. What Xiao Zhao had just suggested was the most steady, sensible plan that any ordinary person would come up with. She had her whole family with her, so logically she should find a safe place to settle down and take things step by step to find her brother. But her goal was never to "wait" — it was to keep moving forward.
And that Young Master Shen from earlier, every word he said seemed to take for granted that she would definitely leave Lingzhou.
The thought made a chill run down Lin Wu's spine.
Outside the manor, Fang Qian was also voicing his concerns.
"Guanting, that Mrs. Lin seems steady and honest enough, but her background is probably far from ordinary. If she travels with Zhi Yun Trading House, even if she herself is a calm person, there might be unfinished troubles from her past that could cause unexpected problems along the journey," Fang Qian warned him.
Shen Guanting, however, looked completely calm, as if he did not care in the slightest. He let out a soft laugh. "Grandfather specifically told me not to disturb her. He was actually worried that I would bring trouble down on her instead."
Fang Qian was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then nodded. "So that's how it is. Your father's brother has always been thoughtful. If he gave you such instructions, he must have already worked out a plan in his mind."
Shen Guanting did not say anything more. He mounted his horse, gently shook the reins, and the horse's hooves tapped lightly on the ground before breaking into a trot. Sunlight broke through the clouds and fell on him, flowing over him along with the wind.
Before long, the Shen family manor gates came into view. But Shen Guanting did not pull on the reins to stop. He rode right past the gates, heading further out towards the outskirts of the city.
The further he went outside Lingzhou, the more the scenery on both sides of the road changed. Poor people in ragged clothes huddled in small groups by the walls, their faces gaunt and pale. Some dragged along bony little children, staring blankly at the passing carriages and horses.
Not faread, on an open patch of land next to the official road, two rough cloth sheds had been set up, their roofs swaying gently in the wind. Even though it was not yet time for the porridge to be served, a long queue had already formed in front of the sheds.
Shen Guanting stopped his horse next to an old locust tree not far from the porridge sheds, tied the horse to the tree, and did not leave right away. Instead, he stood in the shade, his gaze slowly sweeping across the long line of people.
He had given explicit orders from the start to prioritize taking care of the elderly, the weak, women and children, so there were many women with small children in the queue. They were all dressed in rags, their faces etched with the hardships of life, their backs hunched and bent from years of toil.
They wore coarse clothes, just like that mother and daughter he had met. But the two of them were completely different — they did not have that tired, worn-down look that long suffering leaves on people. Their clothes were old, but neat and clean, and they held their backs straight, with only their eyes lowered in deference.
To travel over three hundred li from Wucang County to Lingzhou, across mountains and rivers, and make the whole journey safely with a small child in tow, that took far more courage than she seemed to show.
It was easy to look the part, but much harder to have the right spirit.
A gust of autumn wind blew by then, fluttering the hem of his robe. He suddenly recalled the pair of eyes he had caught a glimpse of earlier on his way here — calm, and unshakably firm.
He chuckled softly. It looked like this "unexpected variable" was going to be a pretty big one.
But now that she had appeared right in front of him, and stepped into the net of Zhi Yun Trading House, it remained to be seen whether that net would be strong enough to hold her.
He sighed to himself. Honestly, he was still so young, yet he already carried such a heavy load on his shoulders.
Shen Guanting shook the thought off, then stepped slowly towards the tent behind the porridge sheds.
Wishing everyone a happy new year! [Fireworks][Fireworks][Fireworks]
