When he unfolded the letter again, the first things he saw were the characters “Jing” and “Thanks,” each taking up most of the page. The strokes were clumsy, but carried a surprising weight. Beside them were four crooked, not-quite-round circles. On closer inspection, they were four copper coins—the exact number that had just fallen out.
As Shen Guanting gazed at them, the corners of his lips lifted, and much of the weariness in his eyes seemed to fade.
He composed himself and read the letter from beginning to end. It was filled with nothing but ordinary trivia, related in a rather matter-of-fact manner.
They had rented a small house in Huzhou and started a business selling pastries. Business was doing fairly well, with Tigerhead and Sparrow often lending a hand…
As he read on, Shen Guanting’s expression gradually softened. The restlessness brought on by days of travel quietly ebbed away, replaced by a rare sense of peace and comfort. He could almost see those two figures, one large and one small. Once like two seeds drifting wherever the wind took them, they had finally put down roots in the soil of Huzhou, earnestly sending out shoots and leaves day by day.
They had met only briefly in Lingzhou, and he had merely lent them a helping hand. Yet they had managed to take the little warmth offered by another and transform it into the strength to build a steady life for themselves. It was difficult not to be moved—and comforted—by that.
The letter from Tigerhead and Sparrow was just as freewheeling as ever, leaping from one subject to another and rambling on for pages about Lin Wu and Lin Jing. One moment they were praising how good-looking the two were; the next, they were extolling the delicious pastries Lin Wu made and the intelligence and good sense Lin Jing displayed at such a young age. They even claimed that they had fulfilled their duty as hosts and taken excellent care of their elder brother’s friends.
Clearly, in that short span of time, the children had indeed grown close.
Shen Guanting shook his head with a laugh, read through the remaining letters one by one, and placed them gently beside the desk.
The four copper coins still lay quietly on the tabletop. Faint light spilled in through the window, casting a hazy, tender sheen over them.
The coins had traveled over mountains and across seas with the letters before finally reaching his hands. They were light—just like the fate of those travelers, too insubstantial, carried along by the current and ignored by everyone.
Shen Guanting let out a soft sigh.
Since they had been sent along with the Shen family’s correspondence and entrusted to him, he ought to see the errand through. He could not disappoint such a grand “thank you.”
He took out a plain little purse, picked up the coins one by one, and carefully placed them inside.
The carriage rocked gently, and before long it arrived at the warehouse Zhiyun Trading House had established in Nanya.
The warehouse also served as an inn and storage depot. It was quite noisy inside, with numerous workers and porters hurrying back and forth as they moved the cargo.
Shen Guanting stepped down from the carriage and walked straight in, with Shen Quan and Shen Qi close behind.
“What news have there been lately?” Shen Guanting asked as he continued walking.
Shen Quan stepped half a pace forward. “The imperial court has been purchasing more cotton floss throughout the various circuits and has also ordered every prefecture to establish Benevolence and Warmth Houses. The first purpose is to provide winter clothing for the soldiers stationed at the borders; the second is to aid orphans and the poor. As a result, there’s far less cotton floss available in the markets these days, and the price has risen as well.”
Shen Guanting gave a soft laugh. “A benevolent policy, to be sure. But I suspect the ones showing this generosity are the wealthy. Has Grandfather taken another heavy loss?”
Shen Quan nodded. “The Shen family contributed a considerable sum to the Benevolence and Warmth House in Huzhou. There is one other matter. The Canglang Academy is holding a lecture assembly the day after tomorrow, and Master Yun Jianshan will be attending.”
Shen Guanting slowed to a stop for a moment. “That is unusual. Could he have grown tired of the chill in the mountains and decided to come to the academy to spend the winter?”
Shen Qi grinned beside him. “Young Master, if Master Jianshan heard you say that, you’d be in for another lecture.”
“A pity,” Shen Guanting said.
Shen Qi shrugged. “Things are much the same here in Nanya. Nothing particularly new. There are only three matters worth mentioning. First, the exile convoy is on its way. Second, Zhiyun Trading House is coming. And third…” He drew out the pause. “I’ve heard that the higher authorities have recently taken an interest in kapok. They say it’s lighter, softer, and warmer than cotton floss, and have ordered that it be collected on a broad scale. But the season for gathering kapok has already passed. Removing the seeds is extremely difficult and labor-intensive, and the prefectures and counties can’t get the process moving. For now, the matter has more or less been shelved.”
After hearing this, Shen Guanting fell silent in thought for a moment. “Since the imperial court has expressed such an intention, we naturally ought to help solve its difficulties.”
He then asked Shen Qi, “Have the visiting cards for the Nanya prefectural office and Huibei County Office been delivered?”
“They were delivered yesterday. Both offices have replied and are waiting for Young Master.”
Early the next morning, Shen Guanting first went to the Nanya prefectural office to pay a visit to the prefect. That afternoon, he hurried by carriage to Huibei County.
Once the carriage left Nanya Prefecture, the road gradually grew rougher. Lush mountains rose on either side, while signs of human habitation became increasingly sparse.
The Huibei County Office looked far more modest than the prefectural office. Its walls were a drab gray, though the old banyan tree in the courtyard had grown thick and verdant. Upon learning that Shen Guanting had arrived, Magistrate Zhao personally came out to receive him. He appeared to be around forty, with a lean, scholarly face and a half-worn official robe. His smile was polite.
“Young Master Shen is a man of promise despite his youth. Your visit today truly brings light to this humble county office,” Magistrate Zhao said with a cupped-fist salute.
“Magistrate Zhao is too kind. I am the one imposing on you,” Shen Guanting replied, returning the salute.
An attendant brought them tea—the coarse tea commonly served in the region, its liquor dark and cloudy.
Magistrate Zhao pushed the cup toward Shen Guanting. “This county office is terribly plain. I hope Young Master Shen will forgive its shortcomings.”
Shen Guanting lifted the cup. “Magistrate Zhao, I will speak plainly. I have indeed come to discuss a matter with you.”
“Please, say whatever is on your mind. Huibei is remote and sparsely populated. The fact that Zhiyun Trading House is willing to take an interest in us is already a blessing for the county.”
His words were not entirely polite pretense. Huibei was merely a lower county of a little over five hundred households, tucked away in the mountains. Its fields were poor and its people impoverished, and even the county offices had gone unrepaired for years. Serving as an official here was little different from being exiled. If Zhiyun Trading House truly established a branch and began operations here, it would be a rare opportunity for change, both for the county and for Magistrate Zhao himself.
Shen Guanting set his teacup down gently. “Huibei may be remote, but under your governance, its people live in peace. If I did not have faith in you, I would not have chosen this place to test the waters during my first assignment away from home.”
At that, Magistrate Zhao could not help but smile bitterly. “I imagine Young Master Shen has heard. This little county office of mine has recently been handed a hot potato. An exile convoy has been assigned to us, and there are even some…sensitive figures among them. Housing them, supervising them—every aspect is a difficult problem. It has been a real headache.”
“You may be worrying more than necessary,” Shen Guanting said evenly. “Once such people have been exiled here, in the eyes of the imperial court they are no different from ordinary laborers. There should be no need to tie your hands too tightly.”
“I certainly hope so.” Magistrate Zhao let out a long sigh.
Shen Guanting continued slowly, “Since they have been assigned to your care, it means the authorities trust you to handle them properly. I merely feel that, in the eyes of the imperial court, these people may not even matter as much as kapok. There is no need to trouble yourself over them.”
At the mention of kapok, Magistrate Zhao’s brows drew together even more tightly. “Kapok is the real headache! Who doesn’t know how useful it is? But removing the seeds is harder than climbing to heaven, and carding and spinning it is even more impossible. Without suitable tools or skilled craftsmen, how are we supposed to complete the task we’ve been given?”
Shen Guanting went along with him. “That is precisely why the Zhiyun Trading House wishes to do what little it can. It is also the reason I have come to pay you a visit, Magistrate. Since the imperial court places such importance on this material, there must be far-sighted reasons behind it. We intend to establish a workshop in your county, dedicated to purchasing kapok and experimenting with ways to remove its seeds. This will help relieve the court’s concerns, while also providing the local people with more work. Besides, the Zhiyun Trading House has been in the silk and textile business for many years. If we can use this opportunity to develop some new fabrics, it will benefit both the trade and the people.”
Magistrate Zhao’s voice rose with excitement. “Is that really true? If you can truly get it up and running, it would be wonderful indeed. Just tell me what you need, Young Master Shen.”
“For now, we only require a spacious plot of land. Once the workshop is built, we will hire workers from within the county, which is why I have come to inform Your Excellency. There is one other matter. I lack experience in this area, and with winter’s cold weather, many of the men in our caravan fell ill after traveling from Lingzhou to Nanya—more than half of them, in fact. We have doctors with us, but we would like to purchase medicinal herbs locally in Huibei County so that we can treat them without delay.”
“Excellent! All of it is excellent!” Magistrate Zhao clapped his hands and laughed. “Rest assured, Young Master Shen. I will do everything in my power to arrange both the land and the purchase of medicinal herbs.”
Shen Guanting hesitated for a moment, looking somewhat troubled. “There is one more matter. Both the purchase of medicinal herbs and our experiments in removing kapok seeds require people who are literate and sensible. We are not acquainted with the people in the exile convoy, so when we begin hiring, we may inevitably end up employing some of them. The Zhiyun Trading House does not discriminate based on a person’s background; we value ability above all else. I am only worried that this might cause Your Excellency some trouble…”
Huibei County was remote, and its county school was in poor condition. There were very few people locally who could read and write. If they hired from the local population, it was almost certain that some of the workers would come from the exiled group.
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Zhao waved his hand. “Young Master Shen, there is no need to worry. According to the court’s regulations, those exiled here are required to perform half a day of labor for the authorities. They may make their own living during the remaining hours. The county yamen’s grain stores are limited—how could we possibly support dozens of idle mouths? If they seek work for themselves, it violates neither law nor reason. Hire whoever you need, Young Master Shen. So long as they do not neglect their daily half-day of official labor, they are free to do as they please for the rest of the time.”
As he spoke, his voice dropped. “If these people can settle down and work peacefully instead of causing trouble, then for me, it will be one less headache to worry about.”
Shen Guanting cupped his hands. “With Your Excellency’s assurance, I can set my mind at ease. The Zhiyun Trading House will act in accordance with the regulations and will certainly not cause you any difficulties.”
Huzhou, Canglang Academy.
Tigerhead jumped down from the carriage and hurried into the academy with light, eager steps.
As soon as he reached the entrance to the primary classroom, several classmates around his age crowded around him, bombarding him with questions.
“Linzhou, where did you go just now? We haven’t seen you since morning lessons ended.”
“We even guessed that you hadn’t done your homework and had sneaked off because you were afraid the teacher would check!”
Tigerhead gave a soft snort and shook his head. “How shallow! I went to collect a gift from a dear friend.”
“A gift? What kind of gift requires you to make a special trip?”
Tigerhead did not answer. Instead, he pulled out a square brocade box. On the way back, he had begged Steward Liang to stop the carriage and had spent a hundred copper coins of his own money to buy the box, specifically to house the thirty-five-cash bookmark.
Under everyone’s curious gaze, he slowly opened the box.
Nestled against the dark brocade lining lay a single leaf. Its entire surface gleamed with a faint, amber-like luster, while the delicate veins within were as thin as cicada wings. It looked like an object painstakingly carved from jade.
“Wow! What is that? It’s beautiful!”
“It looks like jade…”
“No, no, I think it’s amber. It’s so clear and bright.”
“Linzhou, your friend treats you so well, giving you such an exquisite thing.”
Someone else muttered sourly, “A friend of Linzhou’s, and so generous with his gifts…”
Tigerhead lifted his chin slightly and gave two smug little snorts. “Vulgar! Shallow! This is a bookmark, specially made from a green leaf after a great deal of work. How could it compare with those vulgar objects of gold and silver?”
As he spoke, he picked up the bookmark and placed it inside a book, letting the silk cord dangle beyond the pages. “See? It’s used when reading. It was made from a real laurel leaf, symbolizing the wish that I’ll pluck the laurel in the Moon Palace—that is, succeed in my studies. My friend made it to wish me academic progress.”
“Wow…”
A cluster of little heads pressed closer. They looked at the bookmark, then at Tigerhead, their eyes filled with envy. After all, they were all students of the academy. A bookmark, made from a laurel leaf, carrying such an auspicious wish for success in the examinations—it was truly extraordinary.
“Linzhou, can you ask where your friend bought it? I want one too.”
“That’s right, I’ve never seen anything like it in a stationery shop.”
Tigerhead put the bookmark back into its brocade box, growing even more pleased with himself. “My friend made this by hand. At present, I’m the only person in the entire world who has one.”
The fact that there was only one in the whole world made it even more amazing. But since it had been specially made by his friend, the others could hardly insist on getting one.
Qi Lang, a chubby boy with a round head, round face, and round eyes, sat beside Tigerhead. He reached out and pressed down on Tigerhead’s hand. “Linzhou, your friend is my friend too. Could you ask him to make another one? I can pay.”
With that, he took a small gold bead from his purse and held it out.
“I can pay too!”
“So can I!”
At once, several small hands reached forward, each with bits of silver resting in its palm.
Tigerhead stared at the outstretched hands and blinked. “Well… I can’t decide that myself. I’ll have to ask my friend first.”
“Then you must remember to ask!”
Tigerhead spread open his ledger, picked up a brush, and put on the air of a little shopkeeper. “I’ll record the numbers first. Then I’ll ask whether he’s willing to make more and whether he can manage it.”
Everyone called out their names, and Tigerhead recorded them one by one. Nearly fifteen people wanted one. He could sell all the bookmarks he currently had in stock. And these were only the better-off students in the class. If they learned that each one cost just thirty-five copper coins, half the school would probably want one.
Tigerhead suddenly wondered whether thirty-five copper coins had been too low a price.
“What are you all making such a racket about? Class is starting.”
Master Chen’s voice came from outside the door.
Everyone immediately hunched their shoulders and scurried back to their seats, noisily flipping open their books. As they turned the pages, they could not help imagining how wonderful it would be to have a bookmark like that tucked inside.
Tigerhead was rather distracted during the afternoon lessons. As soon as the bell announcing the end of school rang, he grabbed his book satchel, jumped into the carriage, and urged Little Zheng straight toward Qingshui Lane.
The moment the carriage came to a stop, Tigerhead hopped down and ran inside as though he knew the place by heart.
In the courtyard, Lin Jing was squatting beside the scallion patch. Using a small wooden bowl, he carefully watered each scallion. After he finished, he did not stand up. Instead, he remained crouched there, observing them with complete concentration. Many of the scallion bulbs had already sent up tender green shoots, tiny flecks of green adorning their tops.
But five of the bulbs were still bare, showing not the slightest sign of movement.
Lin Jing furrowed his little brows, looking rather troubled as he wondered whether he ought to give them more water. Perhaps the five scallion bulbs had overslept and needed a splash of cool water to jolt them awake.
Just as he was pondering how best to rouse the lazy little bulbs, he heard Tigerhead’s loud, boisterous voice coming from outside the gate.
He set the small wooden bowl beside the water bucket, went over to the courtyard gate, and rose onto his tiptoes to lift the latch.
The moment the gate opened a crack, Tigerhead’s round face squeezed through.
“Brother Jing!” Tigerhead grabbed him by the arm, his voice brimming with excitement. “You’re going to make a fortune! I brought the bookmarks back to the academy today, and lots of people want to buy them!”
