Chapter 1: Brothers
With a cold snort, Lin Yao straightened up, casting a proud glance at Lin Xiao, who was a head shorter than her, and gracefully walked into the main hall
With a gentle flick of the folding fan, the young master Lin elegantly opened it and waved it a few times. He softly instructed, "If the old man has matters to attend to, that's fine. Hmm, please help me fetch a few ingots of 'Zimei Heyang Dan'"
A small and exquisitely crafted lacquered door by the roadside suddenly swung open, and a delicate voice filled with charm came from within: "Young Master Lin, please remember to come and take care of me next time——"
In the dialect of the Northwestern region of the Great Yuan, the term 'curtain' has a different meaning, referring to a woman's bosom. When Lin Dashao asks the young girl in the sedan chair to lift the 'curtain', he is actually wanting to see her breasts
In the morning, I ascend the cool terrace; in the evening, I rest by the orchid pond, gathering lotus flowers under the moonlight, night after night, I obtain lotus seeds
Lin Yao leaned closer to the pale-faced Lin Xiao and whispered harshly, "You little bastard, you wild woman's illegitimate child! With you, do you think you can inherit the Huichun Hall? Go dream your spring and autumn dreams!"
Sitting foolishly on the cart shaft, Lao San looked towards the southern city gate and scratched his head, then turned back with a silly smile and said: "Young Master, you have been holed up in 'Fenyun Residence' these past two days, how would you know about the news that just came out yesterday? Our Wang family from Guihua City has formed a marriage alliance with the Zhang family from Guiying City to the southeast"
Young Master Lin jumped down from the carriage, his face darkened as he walked up the steps to the main hall. He stood at the entrance of the hall and waved to a doctor who was preparing a prescription inside. The doctor was taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly put down his pen with a smile and respectfully approached Young Master Lin, quietly asking: "Young Master, you have returned?"
Lin Xiao glanced at Lin Yao, who was swaying as he walked into the inner hall, and also sighed, feeling somewhat dejected as he returned to the pharmacy
The doctor, with a hint of goat's beard, smiled warmly, yet deep within his eyes lay a trace of subtle helplessness and a hint of disdain
Sitting cross-legged in front of a mortar, Lin Xiao picked up a pestle and began to pound the medicine with a rhythmic "ding ding dang dang" sound
In the spring, the forest blooms with beauty, the spring birds express much sorrow, the spring breeze, once again, blows with affection, lifting my garment
Plucking hibiscus under the moon, night after night, one gathers lotus seeds
On the left side of the main hall of the Huichuntang, there is a row of pharmacies. At this moment, more than 200 apprentices are diligently busy inside the pharmacy, some preparing medicines according to prescriptions, some compounding medicines for others, and some standing in front of a row of stoves, assisting in the on-site preparation of certain precious decoctions that require precise control of the fire and timing. Along the walls of the pharmacy, a long bench is filled with people of various heights, weights, appearances, and social statuses. Regardless of their backgrounds or identities, these individuals obediently sit on the bench, engaging in aimless chatter with those beside them.
In the depths of the backyard of the Huichun Hall, the sound of clear reading can be heard. It is the child apprentices enrolled in Huichun Hall, reciting various medicinal songs.
Lin Dashao cautiously peered into the deep main hall for a moment, then lowered his voice to ask: "Master Hu, where is the old man"
Lowering his head, Master Hu shook his head and quickly hurried towards the medicine storage behind the pharmacy
The spacious bluestone-paved road in the city was covered with dew, and the smooth, glistening street appeared very clean. A few chickens and ducks waddled across the road. A black dog, with its ears drooping and tail tucked, stealthily followed behind the chickens and ducks. Suddenly, the black dog perked up its ears, shivered slightly, and then took off running, as if a gust of wind had torn through the thin mist, disappearing at the end of the street
The simple-hearted Lao San responded with a sound, hurriedly climbed onto the cart's yoke, and with a gentle flick of the whip, the horse pulling the cart obediently moved its steps, heading north along the main street
Lao San looked at Young Master Lin with a silly smile and shook his head vigorously
Lin Xiao's lips twitched slightly as he lowered his head to ponder for a moment. He gently raised three fingers behind him to signal to Master Hu.
Seeing the girl in the carriage remain completely still, as if she had not heard his calls at all, Young Master Lin couldn't help but shake his head and softly sigh: "What an ice-cold young lady. It doesn't matter; Wang Er and I are brothers through thick and thin. What difference is there between his wife and mine? I will have my chance to see her appearance."
After coughing a few times, the young man spat a thick, yellow phlegm onto the clean bluestone slab, then playfully teased the girl beside him for a while before smilingly letting her go and walking towards a varnished carriage at the street corner. As he walked, he dug at his ears while loudly calling out: "Lao San, Lao San, wake up, wake up! Take me back, young master."
A少年, who is less than five feet tall and appears to be only about fifteen or sixteen years old, is assisting an elderly woman, who is frail and decrepit, as they exit the pharmacy. While helping her walk, he cheerfully says, "Rest assured, madam, with these three doses of medicine, your grandson's illness will surely be resolved."
This grand wedding procession alone is enough to keep the citizens of the city talking joyfully for half a year
The clear and melodious singing grew ever closer, and the faint sound of silk and bamboo instruments drifted over with the morning breeze
The crowd watching the spectacle gradually dispersed, and countless people expressed their admiration, remarking that it was indeed a marriage between the two wealthiest families in this northwestern region. Such grandeur, such a scene—who has ever witnessed anything like it
A sharp pain surged through Hu's heart as he looked at the three pieces of "Zimei Heyang Tie". The young master truly is too wasteful with things
May the heavens be free of frost and snow, allowing the phoenix tree to understand for a thousand years
Just as the sunlight flooded the world abruptly, the once empty streets of the naturalization city suddenly became crowded with people. Heads were clustered together, people were jostling, pressing against one another, and pushing each other. On the main north-south thoroughfare within the city, a narrow passage was left in the center. Groups of robust attendants dressed in red, with red flowers pinned to their chests, emerged from nowhere, wielding bright red hardwood clubs, desperately pushing the crowd back to clear the road as much as possible
A young man, slightly over six feet tall, with a pale complexion and disheveled hair, emerged from the door, his legs trembling. He wore a large red cloak adorned with silver bamboo leaves. A faint smile squeezed out from his face, which was pale with a hint of green, as he turned back and waved his hand, saying: "Remember, remember, hey hey, little Jiao'er, next time you must bring your sister along, I will groom her as well."
"Lin Xiao, you are quite adept at using our Lin family's money to accumulate virtue for yourself!" The young master Lin's face twitched as he waved a folding fan like a windmill
Lin Dashao was taken aback and exclaimed, "Wang Er is getting married today; the wedding procession just passed by. Why is Old Master Wang coming to our shop now?"
Looking up at the parasol tree, the flowers appear particularly pitiful
The young man pulled out a folding fan measuring one foot two inches from his belt, struck it forcefully against his palm, and shouted angrily, "Shut up! Listen, what sound is that?"
The young master nearly got knocked to the ground by the sudden surge of people. Startled, he let out a sharp scream and hurriedly jumped onto the carriage, diving into the compartment. After a while, he finally poked his head out of the window. He looked east and west, carefully glancing at the robust attendants dressed in red, and quickly struck the head of the coachman, Old Three, with his folding fan, exclaiming loudly: "Old Three, what is going on? Is there some commotion in the city of Guihua that I, Lin the Young Master, am unaware of?" He looked east and west, carefully glancing at the robust attendants dressed in red, and quickly struck the head of the coachman, Old Three, with his folding fan, exclaiming loudly: "Old Three, what is going on? Is there some commotion in the city of Guihua that I, Lin the Young Master, am unaware of?"
Lin Dashao was stunned for quite a while, forcefully tapping his folding fan against his brow, he frowned and said: "Wang family? Is Wang Laoer getting married? He was still competing with me in the same room at Fen Yun Ju yesterday, how is it that he is getting married today?" He muttered angrily: "You Wang Laoer, truly lacking in brotherhood, such a significant matter as getting married and you don't even inform your brothers, no wonder you suffer from kidney deficiency! But it's strange, why is the wedding procession so early in the morning? Isn't it customary in our Northwest to have the wedding procession at noon?"
How would I know that you are getting married? If you don't know, how can I possibly know? I am not your father
In the morning, I ascend the cool terrace; in the evening, I rest by the orchid pond
This street is three zhang wide and approximately one hundred zhang long. On the west side of the street, there is a row of shops, featuring various trades. The east side of the street, however, is entirely occupied by a large pharmacy. The one hundred zhang long storefront belongs to this pharmacy named Huichuntang. From a distance, a strong aroma of medicinal herbs wafts over, invigorating one's spirit.
In the early spring morning, there still lingers a hint of biting cold. Thin mist drifts above the largest city in the northwestern border of the Great Yuan, known as 'Guihua City.' The milky white fog gently trembles in the morning breeze, and if one observes closely, it almost seems as if one can hear the faint moans of an unparalleled beauty emanating from within.
"Purple Plum Harmony Pill?" Hu Zhutie was momentarily taken aback, instinctively glancing at Young Master Lin's lower body, then at his pale, bluish complexion. He couldn't help but smile wryly and said, "Young Master, the release of the Purple Plum Harmony Pill requires the old master to issue a signing slip. In our Rejuvenation Hall, we can only produce about one hundred to one hundred eighty finished Purple Plum Harmony Pills in a year."
The singing is enchanting to the bone, and within it lies an endless, tender affection. Listening to the rising and falling melodies, it seems as if nearly a hundred young girls are singing in unison.
"Don't be so rude!" Lin Dashao struck Lin Xiao on the head with a folding fan and coldly remarked, "I, Lin Yao, cannot afford to have a brother like you who is so 'capable' and can 'inherit the Lin family's ancestral business'..."
The ice in the abyss is three feet thick, the pure snow stretches for a thousand miles; my heart is like the pine and cypress, what can your feelings be compared to
Looking up at the parasol tree, the parasol flowers are particularly pitiful; may the heavens bring no frost or snow, and may the phoenix tree understand the millennia
The lacquered carriage turned for a while on the main street and arrived at a large street in the northwest corner of Guihua City
The spring breeze affectionately blows, unfurling my silk garments
The ice in the abyss is three feet thick, and the pure snow stretches for a thousand miles
The sedan chair measures approximately 10 feet in length and width, supported by four intricately carved columns adorned with flowers and birds, holding up a grand three-tiered glazed roof. Countless pearls, each the size of a thumb, are strung together to form curtains that hang down around the grand structure. Through the shimmering curtains, one can see a young girl dressed in a pink gauze garment, quietly seated inside the sedan chair. A veil made of tiny purple pearls, the size of sesame seeds, completely conceals her features, making it impossible for outsiders to discern her appearance through the layers of pearl curtains and the veil.
Hu Zhutie looked at Lin Xiao with helplessness
"Fool!" Young Master Lin angrily scolded, not knowing where his anger came from, and kicked the third brother off the cart.
In the spring, the flowers in the forest are charming, while the spring birds express much sorrow
The few attendants by the side of the palanquin glared angrily at Young Master Lin. Several attendants dressed in golden robes were about to rush over to give Young Master Lin a beating. However, a few attendants in red hurriedly held them back and whispered a few words in their ears. The golden-robed attendants were taken aback, casting a surprised glance at Young Master Lin before reluctantly returning to the side of the palanquin.
On a rather handsome face was a thickly lewd smile. The young man, with one hand groping the girl who was seeing him off, pulled out a silver ingot from his pocket and hurled it fiercely at the black dog that had already disappeared into the mist at the end of the street. He cursed loudly: "Damn dog, it's you again bringing misfortune to this young master early in the morning! Next time, I will surely kill you!"
The singing grew closer. In the distance, the bustling crowd on the street became vaguely visible, and the loud chatter of a group of idlers could be heard more clearly
Lin Dashao opened his mouth, wiped the droplet of saliva that had dripped from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, and stared blankly as the young man was quickly surrounded and chased away by a group of fierce-looking servants.
Just a few steps into the lobby, the self-satisfied Lin Yao turned back and shouted at Hu Zhutie: "Why aren't you quickly going to get me the 'Zimei Heyang Dan'!"
Amidst the thunderous sounds of firecrackers, a young man with thick eyebrows and large eyes, exuding an extraordinary presence, yet with deeply sunken eye sockets and dark circles indicating excessive fatigue, was surrounded by a group of attendants in red. He rode a clean, tall horse, charging down the street towards the south gate. The young man looked around in confusion, glancing left and right, when suddenly he spotted Lin Da Shao, who was leaning out of a carriage by the roadside. He hurriedly exclaimed: "Lin Yao, Lin Da Shao, why, why, why am I suddenly getting married?"
My heart is like the pine and cypress, what can your feelings be compared to
The third brother, without making a sound, got up from the ground and obediently squatted under the cart. The blue-patterned horse pulling the cart cast a cold glance at the third brother, and suddenly flicked its tail, sweeping its long tail across the third brother's head
A disheveled man emerged from the lacquered carriage, tilting his head to glance at the young man a few times. He yawned and asked, "Young master, shall we head back now? Wouldn't you like to go to Jiwei Restaurant for some snacks?"
Listening to these medicinal ballads, Lin Xiao, who had originally felt a heaviness in his heart, gradually revealed a smile on his face
The elderly woman trembled as she repeatedly bowed to the young man, who hurriedly supported her and expressed his gratitude. The elderly woman gently wiped the young man's face and, choking back tears, said: "Young Master Xiao, your family are all good people! If it weren't for you waiving the medical fees for my family, my grandson... sob, sob! Good people live long, and good people are blessed! Young Master Xiao, may heaven bless you; in the future, you will surely have a harmonious marriage, many children and grandchildren, and enduring wealth and prosperity."
The singing grew ever closer, and the muffled sound of the opening gong echoed from the southern city gate.
Behind the twelve escorting bodyguards, there followed a group of handmaidens holding palace lanterns and carrying incense burners. The lanterns were filled with deep-sea merman oil, and the incense burners emitted the finest ambergris. Even at a distance of several hundred zhang, the fragrant aroma nearly caused Young Master Lin to stumble. The handmaidens walked gracefully, singing joyfully, their enchanting voices wafting from their lips.
As the singing drew closer, one could see twelve servants carrying a six-foot square purple-gold gong, rhythmically striking it with a sound of 'dang, dang, dang', their faces beaming with joy as they approached
The main hall of the Huichun Hall stands nearly 6 zhang high, with a width of approximately 20 zhang. Inside the grand hall, eight thick ebony pillars, each about 3 feet in diameter, firmly support this enormous space. Above the entrance of the main hall, there hangs a black lacquered plaque, measuring 8 zhang square, on which three characters, "Huichun Hall," are inscribed in gold paint, now completely worn away. Despite the dilapidated appearance of the plaque and the somewhat absurdly large and dimly lit main hall, they together evoke a sense of reassurance and focus.
The young man Lin Xiao's expression changed suddenly; his previously joyful face became rigid in an instant. His body trembled slightly, and he hurriedly clasped his fists, bowing to the young master Lin, saying: "Elder brother."
With a sigh, he instinctively touched his own backside. Young Master Lin sat cross-legged on the carport, feeling bored, and lazily called out: "Third Brother, drive us back."
A pair of housekeepers and maids walked by slowly, followed by a group of guards dressed in brocade and wielding long swords, with the wedding procession consisting of nearly 1,000 people. Following them were more than thirty red-clad house servants, all smiling as they surrounded the second young master of the Wang family, who appeared dazed and was mumbling something. Behind them was a large red sedan chair carried by thirty-two young women in colorful attire.
The mist in the sky suddenly dispersed, and at the edge of the eastern city wall, a round red sun abruptly rose, generously scattering its bright red sunlight all over the sky and the ground.
Standing on the roof of the car shed, Young Master Lin waved his arms and danced for a while in front of the carriage. Suddenly, he let out a whistle and called out loudly in the direction of the carriage: "Hey, you young lady, lift up your curtain!"
The northwestern prefectures of the Great Yuan Empire were originally not very lively places, and the common people were quite idle. Moreover, in this chaotic era, the populace was filled with a sense of insecurity, fearing for their lives. Today's grand and joyous occasion was enough to alleviate a trace of unease in their hearts—if wealthy families could still openly hold such extravagant weddings, perhaps this period of peace could last for a while longer
The most touching words made the young man grin widely, his face flushed and at a loss for words. After seeing off the old woman, he stood on the steps, gazing at her departing figure for a while. He then gently sighed, his face beaming with joy as he clapped his hands, preparing to enter the main hall. It was then that he noticed Lin, the young master, standing at the entrance of the main hall with an expression of displeasure.
Hu Zhutie, with a raised mustache, said with a smile: "The head of the Wang family has arrived and is currently speaking with the old master at the back"
"My, what a grand display! The royal family and the Zhang family, such grandeur!" Young Master Lin vigorously shook open his folding fan and fanned his face a few times, then hurriedly tossed the fan into the carriage. In a flurry, he called for the third brother to act as a cushion, stepping on his body to climb up to the roof of the carriage, eagerly gazing towards the southern gate.
At that moment, a song was heard coming from the far distance
"When I tell you to go, you go. Why all this fuss?" Young Master Lin suddenly erupted in anger, saying, "Do we need the old master to draw lots? How come some people can easily take medicine from the storeroom? Huh?!"
With his head lowered in contemplation for a while, Young Master Lin clapped his hands and sighed: "This matter is quite mysterious. Early in the morning, the wedding procession, and Wang Er himself doesn't even know he is getting married. It is indeed very strange. How about we go to his house for a wedding banquet? However, that old nuisance at home is truly detestable. Having not returned home for two days, I fear I will have to endure another round of scolding."
The young boy has a charming face. His round, doll-like visage still bears a hint of baby fat, and on his delicate, fair skin, a pair of well-defined eyebrows gracefully arch towards his temples. His large eyes resemble two black gemstones floating in white mercury, exuding an indescribable aura of vitality. Coupled with his prominent nose and rosy lips, along with an air of freshness and a lingering scent of medicine, it is impossible not to feel delighted.
After a few violent coughs, Young Master Lin spat a thick phlegm with a slight trace of blood onto the ground. He frowned, extending three fingers of his right hand to feel the pulse on his left wrist, and his cheeks suddenly twitched violently: "This is bad, I haven't conserved my essence during winter, and my yang energy is excessively depleted. Now that spring has arrived, I am likely to develop internal consumption. If that old fellow finds out, it will be another trouble."