Chapter 2, Prosperity (II)
"Take it, Xu Guan, or else you will embarrass your uncle!" Zhang Baosheng affectionately patted his nephew's face with his oily hand and quietly commanded. This child was born during the Kaihuang era, raised well in the womb, and clearly had a face that radiated good fortune. Soon after the New Year, he would have to wear his hair up, yet this uncle could not even afford a decent gift for that occasion. Thinking of this, he felt a twinge of desolation in his heart, sighed self-reproachfully, lowered his head, and slowly walked towards the wine cellar in the backyard. Soon after the New Year, he would have to wear his hair up, yet this uncle could not even afford a decent gift for that occasion. Thinking of this, he felt a twinge of desolation in his heart, sighed self-reproachfully, lowered his head, and slowly walked towards the wine cellar in the backyard
The first floor, which can only accommodate a dozen or so tables, actually requires little tidying up. Due to the lack of business, many areas that are seldom occupied have gathered dust. However, Li Xu did not want his uncle to think that he was only good at talking. He took off his outer long gown, grabbed a cloth, and wiped down all the tables and chairs. He then fetched a ladder, climbed up to the door beam, and cleaned the smoke-stained inn sign to reveal its original appearance. Next, he removed the old "sieve" from the wall and replaced it with a half-new one he found in the kitchen. After putting everything back in place, he went to the wooden basin to wash his face.
"You must not, you must not, Xu Guan, you are a scholar and cannot engage in such a lowly profession!" Zhang Baosheng, seeing the youth's seriousness, quickly extended his arm to block him. However, his oil-stained, twisted arm dared not touch the youth's green robe, and he was pushed back repeatedly.
"What are you talking about? Once you have read books, you are no longer my uncle. If my mother hears this, she will definitely come to confront you!" The young man gently pushed aside Zhang Baosheng's arm and nimbly squeezed into the inn
Thinking of the county school and the study of books, he suddenly felt a surge of hope. His nephew was also studying at the county school, and in terms of reputation and talent, he was no less than Zhang's fifth son. Since Zhang's fifth son could return home from the county school today, perhaps his nephew Li Xu would also come back. If he could meet him, the difficulties he faced might find a resolution.
"Uncle, are you busy today? Do you need me to help you wash the dishes?" The young man spoke as he arrived at the inn's entrance. With a press of his hand and a lift of his leg, he nimbly jumped down from the mule's back. He gently tied the reins to the hitching post and walked inside with long strides
Have you gone to scrounge from your maternal uncle again? If the lady finds out, you will surely face another round of nagging! Alas! I have told you before, your maternal uncle is not doing well. The world is getting worse by the day; people can barely fill their stomachs, let alone have spare money to go to him for drinking and feasting
As for the wine and the side dishes, my uncle does not give them away for free. When your father returns from outside, you should ask him to inquire on behalf of your uncle about who has raw cowhide or hides from large livestock such as donkeys or horses available for sale. The government is pressing urgently, and my uncle is willing to pay a reasonable price to buy them. Zhang Baosheng smiled innocently, pleased that he had finally found a suitable excuse for a gift. The young man could not help but decline, hanging the willow basket on the mule's back. In the end, like a performance from a variety show, he took down a leather pouch from his waist and forcefully stuffed it into Li Xu's hands. He was happy to have finally found a suitable excuse for a gift. The young man could not help but decline, hanging the willow basket on the mule's back. In the end, like a performance from a variety show, he took down a leather pouch from his waist and forcefully stuffed it into Li Xu's hands.
The young man understood that this was the hairpin gift from his uncle and did not dare to refuse, accepting it with both hands. The moment he held it, a warm sensation enveloped him, though he could not tell if it was the warmth of his uncle's body or the temperature of the inconspicuous black bow case itself. Upon untying the leather cord on the bow case and looking inside, he saw a two-and-a-half-foot long horn bow lying among the fine fur, its color surprisingly as warm and smooth as jade.
With a mindset of trying his luck, Zhang Baosheng did not close the door with the usual sense of disappointment. Instead, he rubbed his aching back and continued to gaze down the official road. As expected, after about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, a blue-spotted mule came running down the road, and on its back was a tall, well-built young man with long arms who respectfully saluted him from a distance
Compared to the precarious situation of his uncle's family, the Li family is somewhat better off. This is attributed to Li Xu's father, Li Mao, who is robust and can speak a few words of Turkic. Each year, he is able to accompany trading caravans to the border once or twice. On the other side, cattle and sheep are cheap, while tea and linen are scarce, allowing for considerable profit in copper coins with each trip. However, in recent years, the trade routes to the border have become increasingly unsafe, with reports of people losing both their lives and fortunes spreading every month. Fortunately, Li Mao has been traveling these trade routes for several years and is part of large caravans. He is also straightforward in nature and has managed to establish some rapport with the local nomadic tribes along the way, which allows his business to continue and enables him to set aside some money for his son to attend the official school.
This was during the eighteenth year of the Kaihuang era, when several military men who had gone to Liaodong in search of achievements got drunk and ended up in my inn. It has been over ten years, and no one has returned to look for them; it seems they are no longer wanted. My uncle speculated that it must be a fine bow, so he has taken good care of it every year. You can take it to play with; next year you will turn fifteen, and your family, the Li family, values seizing wealth and fortune at once. A good bow is just what you need!
Until reaching his own doorstep, the affection between uncle and nephew continued to warm Li Xu. The uncle's family and his own were similar, both belonging to the lower branches of their respective clans. The land they owned was minimal, and the rent collected from tenants barely sufficed for the family's sustenance. As for the expenses related to dealings with the authorities and the daily social interactions within the clan, they had to rely on other means of livelihood. The Li and Zhang families had both been prominent clans for over a century, renowned for their adherence to propriety, thus trade was regarded as a lowly profession within the clan, despite the fact that the elders often received substantial tributes from the merchant offspring each year.
"That won't do. It takes a lot of effort to brew this jar of wine; it's better to keep it for sale. Besides, my father is away in the frontier handling business and won't be back for some time!" The young man said loudly while putting on his long robe.
"Young Master, you have returned. The Master has inquired at the door several times!" From a distance, Butler Li Zhong approached, helping Li Xu with his mount while quietly complaining. He had followed Li Mao since childhood, and now he single-handedly held the positions of butler, guard, attendant, and accountant, so he spoke to the young master without much formality.
People from Yan and Zhao have a fiery temperament, and they prefer strong liquor even when drinking. However, strong liquor is not easily obtained. To enhance the flavor of yellow wine, brewers must employ secret methods multiple times to remove more than half of the water from the wine, allowing it to reach a concentration that can make one vomit after three bowls. Therefore, a jar of aged wine often costs five times that of ordinary turbid wine. Such a precious gift, even in good years, the youth would hesitate to plunder from their uncle's home, let alone now when Zhang Baozheng's inn is on the verge of bankruptcy. Thus, a jar of aged wine often costs five times that of ordinary turbid wine. Such a precious gift, even in good years, the youth would hesitate to plunder from their uncle's home, let alone now when Zhang Baozheng's inn is on the verge of bankruptcy
Shanggu County, located near the border, was once the station of the renowned General Li Guang. As a result, martial prowess is highly valued among the local populace. Unless from particularly impoverished families, children are often sent to learn skills such as swordsmanship, archery, and martial arts from local masters for self-defense. Thus, with a brief glance, Li Xu could tell that his uncle had gifted him an exceptional bow. If taken to the market, it would likely fetch no less than three to five taels of meat in exchange. At this point, he could no longer afford to be polite and could only bow once more to express his gratitude for his uncle's generous intentions.
How can this be? If I search for you like this, my mother will definitely resort to family discipline when I return!" Li Xu clasped his hands, his face filled with difficulty
Receiving a gift that his nephew likes, Zhang Baosheng felt prouder than if he had earned dozens of taels. While locking the doors and windows in preparation to close up, he reminded, "This bow hasn't been used for a long time, so it's quite stiff. Be careful when you play with it; don't hurt yourself. After all, this is just a toy. You excel in both character and academics, and in the future, when you are recommended as a scholar, pass the imperial examination, and become a county magistrate or a governor, bringing glory to our family, no one will dare to look down on me as your uncle."
"My father is back? When did he arrive? He just happened to bring some wine and dishes from my uncle's house today. Please ask Uncle Zhong to take them to the kitchen and have Aunt Zhong heat them up; consider it my way of hosting a welcoming feast for my father!" Li Xu said with a smile, patting the back of the mule. Aunt Zhong is the wife of the old steward and, like Steward Zhong, serves multiple roles in the Li residence, including cook, the lady's personal maid, and Li Xu's nanny. Usually, Li Mao is often away, leaving only Li Xu and his mother, along with the steward and his wife in the household. The relationship between the master and servants is more familial than formal, beyond mere etiquette.
Zhang Baosheng watched from the side, feeling warm and comfortable in his heart as if he had drunk half a jin of daughter red wine. He had no sons, and after his two daughters married, they rarely returned home. After his wife passed away, the woman he married did not bear him any children, so he had always regarded Li Xu as half a son. Just as he saw his nephew preparing to take his leave, he suddenly remembered that he had not seen the child for more than two months. He patted his waist a few times but could not find a suitable gift for their meeting. He slapped his forehead hard and said, "Look at my memory, don't rush back home just yet. I have brewed a few jars of old wine for your father, following the recipe passed down from the Hu people. Hang it on the mule's back to take back, so your father can keep warm in winter"
Li Xu saw his uncle sighing and realized that his actions had once again saddened the old man, so he could only silently wait in the inn. After a moment, Zhang Baosheng returned, carrying not only a large jar of wine but also placing it on the willow basket, along with two dried deer, and half a bag of dried shepherd's purse and shredded radish.